Tag: Adegboyega Oyetola

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has been exonerated from allegations levelled by Osun State House of Assembly that he interfered in the running of local governments in the state, disbursement of their funds as well as issuing directives to banks on how the third tier of administration operates in the state.

Special Adviser Media to Oyetola, Dr Bolaji Akinola, described the assembly’s claims as fabricated and malicious, affirming that all local governments in Nigeria have full financial autonomy.

Reacting to a statement issued by the Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, on Sunday, Akinola said the attempt to link Dr Oyetola to the administration or disbursement of local government funds was a reckless propaganda designed to distract the public from the state government’s own failures and ongoing legal battles.

He said the minister had no constitutional or statutory role in local government finance and had neither issued directives to banks nor interfered in the running of local councils.

Akinola said the statement attributed to Egbedun merely recycled the same discredited narratives earlier pushed by Governor Ademola Adeleke, describing them as a desperate attempt to unlawfully reassert state control over local government funds, in defiance of binding court judgments.

According to him, Osun State Government and the House of Assembly are uncomfortable with the reality that local governments have full financial autonomy protected by the Constitution and the Supreme Court.

He said the Supreme Court judgment delivered on July 11, 2024 unequivocally granted full financial autonomy to all local governments in Nigeria, affirming their independence and expressly barring governors from interfering in their affairs or hijacking their funds.

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He said the judgment was clear, final and incapable of being overturned by statements or political threats.

Akinola also recalled that a valid and subsisting judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered on February 10, 2025 reinstated the duly elected local government chairmen in Osun State.

He emphasised that Osun State Government chose not to appeal the judgment, making it final, binding and enforceable in law. By that decision, the reinstated chairmen are lawfully entitled to administer their councils, a fact he said the state government has persistently but unsuccessfully sought to undermine.

He dismissed as false and intellectually dishonest, the repeated description of the chairmen as “illegal”, stressing that they were duly elected, duly reinstated by a superior court of record and remained fully protected by binding judicial pronouncements.

He said no amount of political rhetoric could nullify or wish away those judgments.

He said Osun State Government had instituted no fewer than 12 court cases on the matter, thereby creating administrative bottlenecks and for which the government must now wait for judicial outcomes, rather than resorting to propaganda.

He further accused the Adeleke administration of instigating and sponsoring an 11-month strike by local government workers, thereby paralysing the councils in an attempt to frustrate the autonomous functioning of the councils and create a false narrative.

He asserted that the local governments have full authority to administer their funds without recourse to Governor Adeleke or Osun State House of Assembly, and they have their own duly elected councillors who constitutionally form the legislative arm of local government administration.

Akinola condemned what he described as deliberate and calculated misinformation being pushed into the public domain by the Speaker of the House, accusing him of misrepresenting settled legal issues to mislead the public.

He cautioned Egbedun to exercise restraint in his public utterances, particularly against making reckless and insulting remarks against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, warning that public office does not grant immunity from responsibility or consequences.

He called on Nigerians, civil society organisations and all supporters of constitutional democracy to stand in defence of local government autonomy and to condemn ongoing attempts by Osun State Government and House of Assembly to circumvent the Supreme Court judgment of July 11, 2024, insisting that the rule of law must prevail over political desperation.

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru and others have plotted a winning strategy for the forthcoming Osun State Governorship election billed for August 8th 2026.

The discourse, organised by the APC’s Progressives e-Group, was held at the Alubarika House, Alekuwodo, Osogbo, Osun State.

A statement by the National Coordinator of the group, Prince Abiodun Collins, noted that the group aimed to strengthen internal cohesion and promote issue-based political discourse ahead of the governorship election and pull support for the candidature of Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji(AMBO).

Oyetola, who was represented by the Executive Director, Projects Implementation, Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Oluremi Omowaiye, urged APC members to remain united, disciplined and focused.

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He expressed confidence in the APC’s chances of reclaiming power in Osun State, declaring that the party was fully prepared to defeat the incumbent administration in the next governorship election, noting that “we remain a formidable political force.”

Also, the Deputy Editor and Head of Politics at The Sun Newspapers, Ismail Omipidan, who served as the Chief Press Secretary(CPS) to Oyetola, when he was governor of the state, blamed the APC’s loss in the 2022 election on complacency, internal sabotage, leadership lapses, weak media engagement, poor election management, indiscipline and unresolved intra-party grievances.

He outlined critical steps for APC’s return to power, including total reconciliation and unity, full integration of new members, professionalised and coordinated media engagement, issue-based campaigns, youth inclusion, strategic voter-targeting committees, strict party discipline and credible election logistics.

He warned that internal disunity remains the party’s greatest threat, adding that victory in 2026 would naturally strengthen APC’s prospects in 2027 due to the advantage of incumbency.

Similarly, APC Media Director, Chief Kola Olabisi, noted that unity, reconciliation, inclusion, effective candidate branding and grassroots mobilisation remain the pillars of APC’s strategy towards victory in 2026.

He added that several party leaders and stakeholders laid credence to APC strategies, including Senator Ajibola Basiru (PhD), gubernatorial aspirant, Prince Dotun Babayemi, Senior Special Assistant (SSAP) on Protocol to President Tinubu, Ambassador Issah Niniola, Hon. Taiwo Olukemi Oluga, Hon. AbdulRahman Olalekan Badmus, Pharmacist Leke Ogunsola, among others.

…APC’s unity will not be threatened after guber primary—NPA Boss

The initiative of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has empowered 1,000 market women in four Local Government Areas of Osun State with business grants to tackle poverty and improve small-scale trading.

The initiative, tagged Ilerioluwa, which is sponsored by the Executive Director of Marine and Operations at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Olalekan Badmus, is the fifth edition in the series.

Badmus said, “For this fifth edition, over 1,000 women have benefited from Oyetola’s empowerment initiative. We have other strata of the empowerment scheme, which we target: admission seekers, youths, women, the aged, and the vulnerable in our society.

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“As one of the mentees of the Minister, I have learnt that he prioritises people’s welfare even when he was the governor of Osun State. He used to feed thousands of households monthly. From what he has taught us, I commenced the initiative after the government in his name.”

He explained that, “The major aim of this programme is to give back to society. It is organised for residents of Osun State across the federal constituency, which comprises four councils, to encourage women involved in small-scale businesses by providing grants to support their ventures.

“This is the fifth edition, and over 1,000 individuals are benefiting from the initiative. Plans are underway to increase the number.”

The NPA boss, speaking, boasted that the unity of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osun State, will not be threatened after the December 13th, 2025, governorship primary among the aspirants.

He said, “APC has its own mechanism to maintain the unity of the party. I am confident that the party leadership is working diligently to ensure that all gubernatorial aspirants are united before, during, and after the primary.”

The pioneer Field Commander of Osun State Amotekun, Comrade Amitolu Shittu, said, “Since Oyetola left government in 2022, his organisation, Ilerioluwa, is the only political group that attends to the needs and welfare of the people of the state individually.”

Nigeria intensified its final round of diplomacy ahead of next week’s crucial election into Category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council, with the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, delivering a persuasive appeal to delegates at a well-attended lunch reception on Thursday at the IMO headquarters in London.

The event, which drew representatives from more than 150 countries, formed a major pillar of Nigeria’s last outreach efforts before the council election scheduled for Friday, 28 November 2025.

Addressing ambassadors, Alternate Permanent Representatives and maritime policymakers, Oyetola said Nigeria is not just a contender but as a country whose actions in maritime security, environmental responsibility and blue-economy reforms have directly advanced global seaborne trade. He stressed that Nigeria’s candidature rests on tangible achievements rather than promises, noting that the country has demonstrated consistent leadership in improving safety across the Gulf of Guinea.

Oyetola highlighted the transformation of the region from a high-risk zone to a maritime corridor experiencing unprecedented stability. He reaffirmed that Nigeria has recorded zero piracy incidents within its waters over the past four years, citing data from the International Maritime Bureau. According to him, regional cooperation and Nigeria’s Deep Blue Project have played decisive roles in curbing maritime crime, thereby safeguarding international shipping and reinforcing confidence among seafarers, insurers, and investors.

The minister assured IMO member states that Nigeria’s policies remain firmly aligned with the organisation’s long-term priorities. Through the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, he explained, Nigeria is deepening reforms aimed at improving port efficiency, promoting sustainable ocean-based industries, and protecting its marine environment. He noted that the country’s bid for Council membership seeks to strengthen partnerships rather than prestige, emphasising shared responsibility in preserving global maritime order.

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In his appeal for support, Oyetola invited countries to lend Nigeria their “trust, friendship, and votes,” stressing that the nation stands ready to contribute constructively to the Council’s work across safety, security, environmental stewardship and maritime development. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to a future where all coastal and seafaring nations, regardless of size, benefit from secure oceans and open trade routes.

The minister also expressed Nigeria’s solidarity with member states recently affected by severe hurricanes and other natural disasters in the Caribbean and the Philippines. He conveyed heartfelt sympathy, reminding delegates that global maritime cooperation must be underpinned by compassion and unity, especially in moments of national grief.

Oyetola also thanked the delegates, the IMO Secretariat, regional organisations, and industry stakeholders for their continued dialogue and collaboration, noting that their presence at the reception affirmed the spirit of collective purpose that defines the IMO.

“The seas unite us far more than they divide us,” he added.

As Nigeria enters the decisive final phase of its campaign, the country is enjoying broad goodwill among the international maritime community, raising expectations ahead of next Friday’s vote.