The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Adelabu

  • Unity Forum pledges support for Oyo APC guber candidate

    Members of Unity Forum, the break-away faction of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Oyo State, have agreed to work for the governorship candidate of the party, Adebayo Adelabu in the Saturday election.

    They came to this agreement at an emergency meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Tuesday.

    In a statement by the coordinator, Alh. Fatai Ibikunle, the group said it “bowed to pressure from the national leadership of the APC and resolved to team up with their former party to ensure victory for Chief Adebayo Adelabu in this Saturday gubernatorial election in the state.”

    The statement continued: “The Forum, which is made of many aggrieved Oyo APC faithful, had broken away in the wake of crises which engulfed the ruling party during its Congresses in May last year. It is also recalled that members of the Unity Forum later scattered as most of them landed in popular opposition parties such as African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Democratic Party (ADP) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    “But the fall-out of the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections which clearly indicated that Oyo APC might be facing a difficult task in its desire to produce another executive governor as a successor to Senator Abiola Ajimobi had sent a signal to the national leadership of the APC which swung into action immediately the results were announced by calling for a truce among the warring factions.

    “In an emergency meeting held on Tuesday at a private location in Ibadan, leaders and members of the Forum unanimously considered the reports of a delegation which had earlier met with Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu and agreed to unite for the sake of peace and progress of the pacesetters state.

    “According to the leader of the delegation which recently had an interface with Tinubu in Lagos home, all the issues that led to the schisms within the Oyo APC were presented and treated accordingly while far reaching agreement were reached by both parties with a view to facilitating victory for the APC gubernatorial candidate, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, on Saturday.

    “Immediately after the February 23 elections, serious-minded stakeholders across party line took stock and realized that no group or political party was in a vantage position to win the March 9 gubernatorial poll. The APC, at the national level, also discovered the need for urgent realignment and reconciliation with the estranged Unity Forum became an option for the good of the entire state.

    “The unanimous decision is that we will all mobilize across the geo-political zones of Ibadan, Oke-Ogun, Ogbomoso, Oyo and Ibarapa to actualize the dream of Oyo State not falling into opposition for obvious reasons. Although majority of us are not hitherto in the APC, the agreement takes good care of our members who hold either ADC or ADP tickets for House of Assembly but detail of this will be made public later.

    “Notable party chieftains at the meeting include; Alhaji Isiaka Alimi, Dr. Hammed Ayinla (Oyo ADC Chairman), Dr. Adebayo Adewusi, Chief ‘Goke Oyetunji, Chief Tijani Balogun, Alh. Lekan Kazeem, Engr. Azeez Adeoye, Elder Egbetokun, Chief Sunday Owoade, Chief Emmanuel Oyewusi, Hon. Lasun Adebunmi, Mrs Victoria Adegbuyi, Alh. Sikiru Anibire, Alh. Ganiyu Alade, Hon. Kayode Obisesan, Hon. Abiodun Alade, Chief Mathew Fashola among others.”

  • Oyo: Ajanaku returns to APC, pledges support for Adelabu

    As part of plans to ensure the victory of the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo state, the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party for Ibadan North West/South West Federal Constituency in the just concluded National Assembly election, Dr Rotimi Ajanaku has made a return to the ruling APC.

    Ajanaku, accompanied by thousands of his supports at his Oke Ado base noted that his absence and that of his supporters was felt in the APC camp.

    He said his return to the APC was made possible by the “timely and uncommon intervention of the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi who unequivocally fast-tracked the whole process, through his assurances of immediate re-integration of my followers into the party hierarchy and other worthy considerations.”

    Reading his text entitled; “I am back to my root”, the business mogul noted that his consultations with his supporters, loyalists, party leaders, elders approved the request and insistence of the APC governorship candidate for him to return to the ruling party.

    He vowed to work for the success of the APC candidates at the governorship and house of assembly levels.

    Ajanaku said, “The only constant phenomenon in life is change.

    “In my press statement when I joined the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), after my unpalatable experience in the All Progressives Congress (APC), as I was denied the House of Representatives ticket, I emphasized that my supporters and loyalists are the determining factor in every political decision I take.

    “I do not always decide without their consent. These people were severely embittered and they insisted that I must run on any available platform since there was no provision for independent candidacy.

    Read Also: Yoruba group drums up support for Adelabu

    “You may recall that I reiterated that leaving the progressives bloc was a painful decision for me, judging by my investment and unquantifiable contribution since my foray into politics in the late 90s.

    “The outcome of the last National Assembly elections showed that my political camp is a formidable force to reckon with in Ibadan Northwest /Southwest Federal Constituency. Though, I didn’t win the election, the results of the election reflected our conspicuous absence in the APC.

    “Having consulted widely with the relevant stakeholders – the party hierarchy, public opinion leaders, supporters, loyalists and well-wishers, including the APC Governorship Candidate, Chief Adebayo Adelabu (Penkelemesi), who personally insisted on my comeback, I , Otunba Rotimi Ajanaku hereby succumbed to the public pressure to return to All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “This became necessary in order to support the governorship and state assembly candidates of the party and to further brighten their chances at polls on Saturday, March 9, 2019.

    “In view of this, I hereby direct my followers to start mobilising for the APC in their respective wards. Henceforth, all our campaign vehicles, billboards and other promotional materials should wear APC looks.”

     

     

  • Yoruba group drums up support for Adelabu

    The ambition of Oyo State All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate Adebayo Adelabu, fondly called Penkelemesi, at the weekend received a boost from the leadership of Yoruba Patriotic Movement (YPM).

    Its President Chief Oladosu Oladipo assured Adelabu of the group’s backing while welcoming him to his Bodija home, with over 3,000 members in attendance.

    Oladipo said: “Politics in Yoruba land has gone beyond allowing mediocre to be in government. In Yoruba land, we have brilliant people, holders of doctorate degrees and professors virtually in every home. So, we have no choice than to support Chief Adelabu that has an intimidating profile.

    “Chief Adelabu started his banking career as a manager in First Bank before he got an appointment as Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), where he resigned his job to contest for the office of Oyo State Governor.

    “We have done our investigation among all the contestants for the seat of governor and Adelabu Penkelemesi is the best for this state in the current political dispensation.

    “This is not our first time that YPM, a movement that has it members in rural areas across Yorubaland, is declaring our support for a candidate that is credible.

    “As you can see, our members here present are over 3,000 and we have resolved to mobilise our people from the grassroots for your success.

    “We cannot afford to be disconnected from the central government and we know that Adelabu can further the good work started by the incumbent.

    “We agreed and work for the success of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo because of our faith in them and now we are transferring the same to Adelabu and we are sure he is the next Oyo State governor by God’s grace.”

    The APC candidate thanked the YPM leadership and members for the belief and trust in his pedigree to move the state to its next level

    He seized the opportunity of the meeting to enlist as a member of YPM to the admiration and applause of all.

    He was later received and decorated with the emblem of the group.

    The APC candidate  promised to be its good ambassador and ensure that he uplifts the state in the areas of agriculture, education, economy and commerce to make the state the best in the Southwest and the country.

    “I promise to be a good ambassador of this group worldwide. I will do all the necessary things for the group and make sure I did not disappoint you when I become the state’s governor with your support come Saturday’s election,” he said.

    As part of plans to ensure victory for the APC governorship candidate, the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party for Ibadan North West/South West Federal Constituency in the just concluded National Assembly election, Dr. Rotimi Ajanaku, has made a return to the ruling party.

    Ajanaku, accompanied by thousands of his supports at his Oke Ado base, noted that although he did not win the election, his absence and that of his supporters was felt in the APC camp.

    He said his return to the APC was made possible by the “timely  intervention of the Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who fast-tracked the whole process, through his assurances of immediate re-integration of my followers into the party hierarchy and other worthy considerations.”

  • Adelabu: I will rebuild PHCs, pet schools in 100 days as governor 

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Adebayo Adelabu, has hinted that he will rebuild primary health centres (PHCs) and public primary schools in his first 100 days if elected on March 9.

    Adelabu, who has intensified his campaign to the grassroots for the third time, said he has been involved in rebuilding schools as a form of giving back to the society, adding that handing him the mandate as governor would empower him to do the work at a larger scale to reach many more schools and PHCs.

    The governorship hopeful told the electorate in Ibadan that PHCs are closest to the people and that their effectiveness will bring healthcare delivery to the masses. He pointed out that a healthy people are a wealthy people, stressing that his administration would take healthcare delivery as one of the major priorities.

    Adelabu also promised to light up Oyo State by embarking on Operation Light Up Oyo in his first 100 days in office. He said major roads in the five zones of the state would enjoy street lights to ease intra-city travels at night and also boost night life in the cities and towns across the state.

    If elected, the APC candidate also pledged to embark on Operation Zero Potholes in the cities and communities, pointing out that he will ensure that most potholes in the major roads across the state will be filled for improved road usage by residents.

    Adelabu (aka Penkelemes) assured voters that he would not let them down in any way, promising to run an inclusive governance system that will address the needs of communities and groups in the society.

    He said Oyo State is among the committee of strategic states in Nigeria which should be governed by somebody who has a rich mix of public and private sector experience in Nigeria.

    He stressed that as an indigene, he has investments in the state which employed over 500 people, confirming that he has a stake in the state and would not do anything to destroy the state. Besides, the former banker said he has a heritage to protect as a grandson of a notable and respected late Ibadan politician, Sir Adegoke Adelabu (aka Peculiar mess).

    He urged the electorate to vote for him and all the APC House of Assembly candidates in the March 9 election, stressing that the APC has achievable programmes for the development of the state.

    Adelabu added that with the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari on February 23, Oyo State will do well to elect APC candidates in the next election to guarantee a perfect relationship with the federal government.

  • Council of Yoruba to endorse Adelabu, Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun

    Agbarijo Egbe Odo Yoruba (Grand Council of Yoruba Youths) has expressed its gratitude to Nigerians for voting President Buhari and the APC National Assembly candidates’ last election.

    The council is also to hold a lecture to be delivered by Senator Biyi Durojaiye, under the Chairmanship of Senator Ayo Fasanmi, the Leader of Afenifere. The lecture is to hold tomorrow at House of Chiefs, Agodi, Ibadan, by 11am.

    The summit is to endorse the candidature of Chief Bayo Adelabu, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Prince Dapo Abiodun, the APC Governorship Candidates of Oyo, Lagos and Ogun States. The Special Guest of Honour is the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while General Alani Akinrinade (rtd) is the Guest of Honour.

    Discussants are Comrades Soliu Moruf Adekunle (Africa) and Adekitan Luqman (Too Nice), the SW Presidents of the National Youths’ Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) .

     

  • I’ll respect gender balance as Governor, says Adelabu

    The Oyo State candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the March 2, 2019 gubernatorial election, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has promised a gender-balanced cabinet if he wins the election.

    Adelabu made this declaration at a gubernatorial debate held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, on Tuesday.

    The debate was organised by Splash FM and Lagelu FM, both private radio stations based in Ibadan.

    According to him, “My administration is going to abide by the UN prescription on involvement of women in governance.

    “It’s incontrovertible that women don’t have the propensity for corruption like men, as such we’re going to have women of proven integrity in our administration,” Adelabu declared.

    In response to a question on the projects being undertaken by the incumbent administration, Adelabu promised to continue and build on the good work of Governor Abiola Ajimobi-led administration.

    He also promised to pay the N30,000 minimum wage to workers in the state, while working to have an improved educational and healthcare delivery systems.

    On the office of the First Lady, Adelabu said he would have a wife of the governor and not first lady.

    Other candidates that participated in the debate included Senator Olufemi Lanlehin of ADC; Mr Olalekan Ayorinde, of ANRP; Mrs. Bolanle Asabi-Sarumi of NIP; Mr Seyi Makinde of PDP and Chief Sarafadeen Alli of ZLP.

    The organizers said that the debate was organised to provide a window of opportunity for the electorate to have direct interface with the candidates to assess their level of preparedness for the coveted office.

    The candidates were unanimous on the need to work out an amicable solution to the seemingly intractable crisis facing the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, (LAUTECH).

    The debate was the third in its series by the stations ahead of every governorship election.

  • Adelabu: why I’m the best man for Oyo top job

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Bayo Adelabu, has said his background in public finance management, experience at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), youthfulness and energy put him in good stead for the state’s top job.

    He urged the electorate to give him the mandate to govern the state in the March 2 election.

    Adelabu told reporters yesterday in Ibadan, the state capital, that his qualities and achievements set him apart from the others jostling for Agodi Government House.

    The APC candidate bagged a First-Class degree in Accounting from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife and joined PriceWaterhouse, an international chartered accountants and management consultants firm, from where he worked with other firms before joining the CBN.

    According to him, public finance management is the most critical qualification for anyone aspiring to govern a state because the key responsibility of the office involves making good use of state resources to improve the lots of the masses while ensuring accountability.

    Adelabu said he is contesting principally to use agriculture to drive prosperity through the sector’s value chain, as laid out in his Seven-Point Prosperity Agenda for Oyo State residents.

    The APC candidate said Governor Abiola Ajimobi has made his job easier as the incoming governor with what he called unprecedented level of development witnessed in the state in the last eight years.

    He said: “If there is anything we can say we have comparative advantage over others, it is agriculture. So, we can’t treat it with levity. In fact, our industrialisation, which we are envisioning for the state, will be agro-allied-based. So, agriculture is going to be the focus of our government and a lot of jobs will be created through the agricultural value chain.”

     

     

  • Oyo 2019: Is Shittu a threat to Adelabu?

    The Oyo State All Progressives Congress (APC) post-primary crisis is far from being over. Minister of Communication Adebayo Shittu, has vowed not to campaign for the governorship candidate, Mr Adebayo Adelabu. Can the minister’s threat affect the party’s performance at the poll? LEKE SALAUDEEN examines the implications of division in the ruling party.

    The war of attrition in Oyo State All Progressives Congress (APC) over the governorship primary is yet to abate. One of the aspirants and Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has threatened not to campaign for the flagbearer or work for his success in the election. Analysts believe the face off is an extension of the political rivalry that played out between Governor Abiola Ajimobi and the minister at the governorship primary.

    An indication that the minister was not ready to abide with party supremacy emerged when he said the peace and reconciliation committee set up by the APC National Working Committee (NWC) was chasing shadow. According to him, there would be no peace in APC and the Oyo State chapter in particular without restitution and justice. He said: “I will be a bastard to support the APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, Adebayo Adelabu, after I was defrauded out of the party’s primary election held last October”.

    Shittu narrated his ordeal in the hands of the APC leaders thus: “They asked us to pay N22 million for nomination form and didn’t advertise any condition other than as provided in the constitution. After we have been screened and certified, the chairman of our party, Adams Oshimhole, unilaterally and in violation of the constitution got me out of the way so that they can impose a new comer on the party; somebody who was barely two months in the APC.

    “You cannot expect me at my level to support such candidate. I believe I gave enough warning. You don’t expect me to support such a candidate. Before you talk of reconciliation, you must talk of restitution. It is heartening to say we must have peace even if there is no justice. As for me, I don’t recognise the candidate of the APC. I’m in court and I believe I will triumph over those who were less than intelligent to foist a stranger on our party in Oyo State.

    “You don’t expect me to support such candidate. Before you talk of reconciliation, you must talk of restitution. It is hearkening to say we must have peace even if there is no justice. As for me, I don’t recognise the candidate of the APC. I’m in court and I believe I will triumph over those who were less than intelligent to foist a stranger on our party in Oyo State.

    “Of course, they had the opportunity and they had missed it and the party will certainly pay for it. I have passed that stage where any party will be threatening me. The temporary loss is not for me, but that of the people of Oyo State who deserves the best in governance. We are not going to beg them. They can go to blazes. If justice is not done, there will not be peace. If people will not talk about restitution, we will not talk about reconciliation,” Shittu added.

    But, Oshiomhole explained that  the APC disqualified Shittu to protect the party’s core values. He said the minister was not cleared because he did not participate in the compulsory one year National Youth Corps Scheme (NYSC). “He admitted that he did not do the mandatory NYSC as provided for under the law, and in his own judgment, his being a member of the Oyo House of Assembly and now as a minister of the Federal Republic were enough sacrifices,” he said.

    Oshiomhole added: “But for us as a party, we know NYSC is a mandatory scheme. It is not something you may elect to do or abstain from doing. So, for us, not participating in the NYSC raises very serious moral issue as well as legal issue. If he did not do NYSC, that for us was enough to disqualify him and we had to find the courage to do so.”

    Shittu said without him as governorship candidate, APC would lose Oyo State. He said he would not mind picking Adelabu as his running mate for the sake of winning the election. The minister said only him has what it takes to win the election.

    However, the Oyo APC has described the utterances of Shittu as empty threat. The party’s Director of Media and Publicity, Dr Abdul Azeez Olatunde, said “Adebayo has no electoral value and should stop making empty threat”.

    He challenged the minister to release the results of his polling unit, ward and local government in 2007 and 2011for the public to know whether he is an asset or a liability to the party.

    According to him, Shittu was very ignorant of the party’s procedure in screening the aspirants. “The screening of National Assembly aspirants and governorship aspirants was handled by the APC National Working Committee (NWC). He was disqualified by the NWC because he failed to present NYSC certificate. Why should he transfer his aggression to the leadership of Oyo APC? It was not the state chapter that disqualified, but the the NWC for failing to satisfy the requirements for governorship ticket.

    “He is making noise to create the impression that he is relevant in Oyo politics. The APC has decided to only watch the various utterances of the minister instead of joining issues with him.

    “The party believes that Shittu’s contribution to the electoral victory of APC and the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 was not beyond his 30 minutes  appearance in the public rally in ancient Mapo Hall, yet he is the greatest beneficiary by becoming a minister.

    “It is common knowledge that his two elections (2007 and 2011) were colossal failures. So, his threat not to support Adelabu lacks condiments of substance and it’s in fact an empty threat. A Yoruba adage has it that: ‘A tree which one rest upon but could not support one, if such a tree decides otherwise, its impact would obviously be minimally felt.

    “Barrister Shittu is expected to know that Oyo State APC did not screen him as such we are aghast at his transferred aggression to us. As a self acclaimed Islamic cleric, we thought he would live an exemplary live and be a role model, going by Quran 3: 26 where it was explicitly stated that ‘Allah giveth power to whom thou pleaseth’, the APC spokesman concluded.

    A chieftain of APC from Oke-Ogun where Shittu hails from, Chief Adebimpe Ajayi, blamed the media for promoting the minister. According to him, Shittu has no political base, even in his home town, Saki; he can’t win councillorship election in his town.

    Ajayi said if Shittu had been allowed to participate in the governorship primary, he would have failed woefully. “He is just making noise in the media. Ask from people of Saki if they reckon on him as a political leader, they will ask you who bears that name. He has no link with the people at the grass root.

    “In fact, APC leaders in Oyo State should ignore him. He doesn’t have electoral value. If he leaves the party today, it won’t affect the fortunes of APC come 2019. The good work of Governor Ajimobi will win election for APC in Oyo State. The people of Oke-Ogun are solidly behind APC “

    Read also: Why I closed Buhari’s campaign office in Oyo- Shittu

    A lawyer, Mr Tunde Olajide, cautioned the party against what he called over confidence. He said politics is a game of number. The election is won by simple majority; APC should not feel comfortable with many of its leading members that defected to other parties at the height of the crisis over the party primaries.

    His words: “APC leadership in Oyo State should not shut its door against aggrieved party members. Agreed, Shittu has his own excesses, but the party should find a way of accommodating him. I will advise Adelabu to reach out to those who left the party for one reason or the other to consolidate the APC chances in 2019.  This is not the time for celebrating exit of members. All hands must be on deck.”

    APC  youth leader in Oke-Ogun, Mr Adedayo Ayoola, corroborated the statement of the APC spokesman on the performance of Shittu during the 2007 and 2011 elections when he contested for governorship election. According to him, “Shittu was floored in his ward and unit on both occasions. It is annoying that a political liability is now boasting of being a political juggernaut. In 2007 and 2011, Shittu scored about 5,000 votes as governorship candidate”.

    Ayoola said he was lucky to have been appointed a minister by President Buhari. What qualified him was because he was governorship candidate in 2011 on Buhari’s former political party, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). Shittu is not popular in his ward, unit and Saki his home town. He should stop deceiving people that he was political leader of Oke-Ogun.

    “His loyalty to APC is in doubt. He was the ring leader of the so– called APC Unity Forum in Oyo State that attempted to destabilise the party. Most of his foot soldiers have defected to Obasanjo led– African Democratic Congress (ADC). Shittu should summon courage and join his political associates in their new found political party. He should stop making ridiculous statements that without him, APC can’t win in Oyo State. I don’t expect a loyal party man to make such statement. It’s subversive. That is enough to prove that Shittu is no longer a committed APC member.”

    “The leadership of APC should sanction him for predicting electoral defeat for the party. He had closed down the campaign office he purportedly opened in Ibadan for the re-election of President Buhari in 2019. He did that because he lost governorship ticket and he was not sure of political appointment in the next dispensation, given the baggage he’s carrying. I wonder why he should stop campaigning for Buhari the man that rescued him from misery”.

    In his defence, Shittu said: “I think the whole idea that I stopped campaigning for Buhari is nonsensical. I was the first cabinet member who started campaigning for Buhari’s re-election. I’m still part of this government and part of the APC.  In fact, I’m a foundation member of the APC. My interactions and relationship with Buhari are not just starting. I was his party’s governorship candidate in Oyo State in 2011. President Buhari has continued to earn my respect and adoration because he is one President who was either the first or second to willingly reduce his salary by half.  I think the first leader to do that was Gen. Murtala Muhammed, who is late now.

    He added: “If Buhari can reduce his legitimate salary so that Nigerian state can utilise that second part for the good of this country, why would I do that? I think the story is mere mischief. We had a rented apartment which is not my property. We rented it for three million naira (N3m) per annum and we simply could not afford to pay that and the landlord was impatient with us. He said we either pay or get out and we simply took the most sensible option by vacating the place.

    “We are in the process of looking for another office space for the campaign. We hope to get something cheaper. So, it is not true that for whatever reason, I would say that I’m no longer campaigning for Buhari. It was the handiwork of mischief makers and a section of the media cannot be exonerated from that.”

  • Why I want to govern Oyo, by Adelabu

    The governorship aspirant on the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has said his interest in succeeding Governor Abiola Ajimobi was borne out of his desire to continue with the programmes of the administration.

    Speaking in Ibadan, the state capital, he said the state is so richly blessed such that if its natural resources are optimised, there will be no need for it to wait on Abuja every month for federal allocation. He said with vast arable land and weather congenial for livestock and other types of farming, the state internally generated revenue (IGR) would be grown through improved collection process.

    Adelabu who scored the Ajimobi administration high, said the only way to sustain the tempo of development in the state was through a successor that believes in continuing the people-oriented programmes of the governor.

    He said: “Well, it is the passion for me to continue with the current transformation the government has embarked upon; to take it up from there and to take it further. I am very pleased and happy with the performance of the government so far, and our fear is, can this continue? And that question is best answered by who is going to take the baton from him when he leaves. So, it is to continue from where the current government stops and even take it a little higher.  Government, as it is today has built the foundation that we need for subsequent leaders of the state to build upon.”

    He expressed satisfaction with the performance of the government, particularly in the education sector, promising to continue with the legacies of the governor.

    He added: “I am very pleased with the education sector of the state, because I am also involved. I am the chairman of the governing board of Lagelu Grammar School where the incumbent governor finished from in 1968. I also finished from that school. The man believes so much in my capability, in what I can do, before he made me the chairman of the governing council of Lagelu Grammar School. And on that, I will not say much. I will advise that you go to that school and see the transformation that has taken place in one year of my appointment as chairman of the governing council. We have transformed the entire school from physical infrastructure to teaching equipment, to even personnel. You can go and check yourself.

    “When you talk about all these rots, not just in education, in almost all the critical sectors, especially social infrastructure, they did not have allies. This is as a result of several years of neglect, several years of abandonment. And we have close to about 2000 primary schools in Oyo State. We have about 1000 secondary schools in Oyo State. We also have about the highest number of tertiary institutions in Oyo State. And if a government decides to turn things around, we should also know that every school cannot be touched at the same time.

    “I believe it is a gradual process. The only thing we need to do is to speed up the pace at which we will cover these schools. As you identified a school with dilapidated building, I can also tell you five, six schools that have experienced transformation in their physical infrastructure. It will get there, I am telling you. And like I keep telling people, if a government has four years to spend, and it had limited resources, it cannot take on all the schools at the same time. If it’s 200 primary schools every year, 100 secondary schools every year, you focus on this. In four years, you would have touched 800 primary schools and 400 hundred secondary schools. That will be monumental. Sincerely, that is how it can be planned for. You need to have specific percentage of your budget dedicated to such important sectors of the economy. Education is number one.”

    Adelabu said the state is about the most blessed in this country because it is the largest state in land mass down south of Nigeria with over 28000 sq km, which is equivalent to the size the entire five eastern states, Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo, and this is not just ordinary land, this is fertile land. If you throw anything out there, the following week, it grows, with or without fertilizer.

    He said the climate, the weather up north in Oyo State, which is good for livestock and is also the capital for poultry industry in Nigeria.

    Adelabu said: “So, on agriculture alone, I believe we can generate so much; this state alone can produce the entire food for the country giving the land that we have farming. If we are saying Lagos State alone, with that kind of population consumes about 6000 cows on a daily basis, what stops Oyo State from supplying 1000 cows to Lagos State?

    “Do you know how much we are going to make from this? If it is N100,000 per cow, we will make 100 million per day. In thirty days, we are looking at N3 billion. In 12 months, we are looking at N36 billion accruable to the government. How much are we getting from Abuja in terms of federal allocation? That is just one of it. Number two, we have hundreds of solid mineral deposits here in Oyo State in commercial quantities. How much of this have we mined?”

     

  • Adelabu to Nigerians: Don’t despair

    Adelabu to Nigerians: Don’t despair

    Former Ekiti State Deputy Governor Prof Modupe Adelabu has urged Nigerians to look into the future with hope.

    She spoke at a reception for All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in Ado-Ekiti and other stakeholders.

    Addressing the gathering, Mrs. Adelabu said the foundation for a better tomorrow was being laid by the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    Her words: “With a committed and forthright leader, Nigeria is on the path of economic recovery. But we all have contributions to make by praying for the success of the Buhari-administration.

    “The on-going revelation has shown how the nation’s commonwealth was plundered and the patrimony squandered. The investigations are aimed at avoiding the pitfalls of the past.

    “Once the loopholes are blocked, there would be resources to run the people-oriented programme that the APC promised.

    “We should also pray against the antics of fifth columnists that want the status quo and are uncomfortable with the APC government.”

    She encouraged party members to be steadfast and hopeful, assuring them that truth would always triumph over evil.