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Tag: Agunloye

  • Mambilla power project: Agunloye faults Obasanjo’s mismanagement claim

    Mambilla power project: Agunloye faults Obasanjo’s mismanagement claim

    A former Minister of Power and Steel, Dr. Olu Agunloye, has refuted claims by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo that he mismanaged the Mambilla Power Project.

    Agunloye described the former President’s claims as “baseless, false, and malicious”.

    The erstwhile minister also showed proof to disclaim Obasanjo’s allegation.

    He said the initial contract for the Mambilla Power Project was awarded on the basis of Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) in May 2003 under his watch.

    According to him, under this model, the contractor, Messrs Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (Sunrise), was to source for funds and execute the project with its own funds.

    The Federal Government was not obliged to pay any amount to Sunrise, the former minister said.

    Agunloye explained that the investment the firm required to complete the Mambilla hydroelectric project was estimated at a maximum of $6 billion by four Ministers of Power and former President Obasanjo before his (Agunloye’s) tenure ended.

    Read Also: Obasanjo was wrong, says Adeniyi

    According to him, Obasanjo’s claim that he awarded a $6 billion contract (N800 billion in 2003) to Sunrise was “inaccurate and misleading”.

    The former minister stressed that for 20 years, he was not questioned or interrogated about issuing any unauthorised Mambilla contract by any former President, including Obasanjo.

    He explained that this was because they all knew that he did nothing wrong.

    Agunloye queried the change of contract model for Mambilla Power Project after his tenure, claiming that ex-President Obasanjo had decided to split the Mambilla Hydropower Project into smaller components.

    The former minister’s rebuttal was contained in a 53 paragraph, 14-page statement, supported with 15 attachments in an 82-page document as an affidavit to courts in Nigeria and France.

    The document was copied to Obasanjo through his legal team.

  • Agunloye hails peaceful conduct of poll

    The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr Olu Agunloye yesterday voted in Erusu where majority of the voters were women.

    Agunloye who is the first governorship candidate in the state to pick a woman as his running mate expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the election.

    He said without good governance and credible leadership, the state would not move forward.

    The former Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has mapped out various ways to improve the life of the citizenry in the state if given the opportunity to govern the state.

    His running mate, Erelu Modupe Akindele Martins voted in Ore, Odigbo local government said the election was devoid of violence.

    She appreciated women for supporting her and the party’s candidate, Agunloye.

  • Review monarchs’pay, Agunloye told

    The Olowo of Owo, Oba Victor Olateru-Olagbegi, has called for better welfare packages for traditional rulers.

    He decried a situation where Ekiti State monarchs were being treated better than their counterparts in Ondo.

    Olowo spoke when the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Olu Agunloye visited his palace during his campaign tour of the community.

    The monarch said Ondo needs a man of integrity for its rapid development.

    Agunloye’s sister Mrs M. Oladeledescribed  him as a good Ambassador of Owo.

    She said her brother has what it takes to move the state higher.

    Agunloye noted that all their entitlement, opinions and advice would be given consideration in the running of the affairs of his administration.

    He assured that he will not forget Owo, his source and ancestral home and contributions of those that made it possible for him to win the election.

  • Farm settlers support Agunloye

    Farm settlers support Agunloye

    The people of Kajola Farm Settlement in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State have declared their support for the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr. Olu Agunloye.

    Kajola Farm Settlement is the base of the SDP National Chairman, Chief Olu Falae.

    It has suffered neglect since it was established over 32 years ago.

    The people expressed their  delight in Agunloye for being the first governorship candidate to visit the area.

    The settlement, covering over 10 kilometers,  comprises Ilado, Ala, Orisunbare, Baba Egbe and Kajola.

    Addressing the people, Agunloye promised to transform the farm to a larger settlement with the provision of better roads, potable water and a standard health centre.

    The SDP candidate assured the people that his administration will give road construction a priority along with other infrastructures.

    Addressing the people of Ilu- Aabo in Akure North Local Government yesterday, Agunloye promised to apply wisdom to govern the state for the benefit of all.

    He promised the youth that he will create an enabling environment to generate ideas, which can improve the state’s economy.

    The AD candidate  advised the people to go and collect their Permanent Voters Cards PVCs.

    Falae appealed to the people to vote for Agunloye who he described as his political son.

    “Agunloye is my candidate and he will empower the youth to be self independent.”

    He appealed to the SDP candidate to complete the Airport/Ilu aabo/Ayede Ogbese roads.

  • Akoko drivers, students support Agunloye

    Akoko drivers, students support Agunloye

    Members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the four local government of Akoko Division in Ondo North have pledged their support for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate, Olu Agunloye.

    They described the former minister as an illustrious son of Akokoland, who had served meritoriously.

    At a meeting with NURTW leaders by the executive of the Akoko Consultative Forum (ACF), the NURTW leaders pledged to mobilise for Agunloye. They noted that the Erusu-Akoko born politician recently upgraded some roads in Akokoland.

    Students in the four local governments in Akoko embarked on solidarity trekking round Ikare-Akoko for Agunloye as part of mobilisation strategies.

    The students described the SDP candidate as a good leader, who has the youth’s interest at heart. They promised to work to ensure his victory.

  • Akure monarch hails Agunloye

    Akure monarch hails Agunloye

    The Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, has described the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Olu Agunloye, as a man of integrity.

    Oba Aladetoyinbo spoke when the SDP campaign team visited his palace. He said the state would be better if people like Agunloye are given the opportunity to rule.

    The monarch prayed for Agunloye and the SDP, “having discovered that he (Agunloye) has Akure blood running in his veins”.

    This fact was corroborated by the party’s National Chairman, Chief Olu Falae.

    The SDP candidate expressed his readiness to develop Akure and to pursue the development of Ondo State at large, ‘’even when there is little or no money”.

  • Falae presents SDP’s governorship flag to Agunloye

    Falae presents SDP’s governorship flag to Agunloye

    The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party(SDP)Chief Olu Falae yesterday handed over the party’s flag to its Ondo state governorship aspirant,Dr Olu Agunloye in Akure,the state capital.

    At the event graced by many leaders and supporters of the party from across within the state and outside,Falae said if Agunloye is elected on November 26,all outstanding salaries of the public servants would be paid within the next three months in office.

    Besides, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation(SGF)within one year of SDP government in the state,100,000 youths would be employed to cushion the effect of unemployment in the state.

    Falae said for the first time in the state,the party will based its appointments on intra-party basis,thereby discourage the idea of ‘winners take all’rampant within the successive governments.

    He pointed out that Agunloye is a ‘concensus candidate’ and should be voted into office by people in the state,irrespective of party affliations.

    Falae described Agunloye as honest and responsible politician that would elevate the state with his deputy,Erelu Modupe Akindele-Martins.

    According to him,both Agunloye and Martins have good antecedents that if in office would transform the state to an enviable heights within the shortest possible time.

    Agunloye said he would adopt good programmes in all the past administrations of Adefarati,Agagu and Mimiko and add his own to bring positive change in the state.

    The former Minister of Defence said wages,pensions and other emoluments would be paid to workers on regular basis.

    According to him,the sunshine state will move from Job seekers state to that of Job providers,adding that he would rescue the state by rebuilding it to become viable economically.

    The Deputy governorship candidate,Erelu Modupe Akindele-Martins who is the first woman to be a running mate to governorship candidate urged the citizenry particularly the women folk that has the largest voting population to vote for the SDP.

    She assured that Agunloye’s government would not disappoint the people.

    At the event were the party’s Deputy National Chairman, Dr Ahmed Abdul, Agunloye’s wife, Abimbola, National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Alfa Mohammed and other National Officers of the party.

  • Physically-challenged back Agunloye

    Physically-challenged back Agunloye

    •SDP candidate begins house-to-house campaign

    Physically-challenged residents in Ondo State have declared their support for the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr Olu Agunloye.

    At a meeting in Ikare-Akoko, Akoko Northeast Local Government, their coordinator, Donatus Monday, said going by the track record of the former Minister of Defence, they have decided to give their votes to him.

    According to him, of the 28 candidates, the SDP candidate is the most trustworthy and God-fearing.

    Monday urged the governorship candidate to provide jobs for the physically challenged and offer them political appointments to reduce street begging.

    In another development, Agunloye and his running mate, Erelu Modupe Akindele Martins, went on a house-to-house rally at Ilutuntun in Okitipupa Local Government.

    Agunloye displayed his familiarity with the ancient town as he moved from house to house distributing hand bills and soliciting for votes.

    Addressing supporters, the SDP candidate said what the state got from the Federation Account in the last four years is more than what former Governor Olusegun Agagu received in six years.

    He promised to resuscitate and complete most of the projects Agagu started in Ikale land, such as hospitals, roads and provision of portable water.

    In her own contribution, Mrs. Martins said Governor Olusegun Mimiko deliberately tried to suppress Ikale kingdom.

    She appealed to the people to give Agunloye the opportunity to put things right by voting for him on November 26.

    Oba Williams Akinlade Akinmusayo, the Halujagbo of Aye, appealed to Agunloye to treat traditional rulers well by uplifting their standards and prompt payment of salaries.

    At Ikoya, Oba Jigbi Fagbile, the Abodi of Ikale, praised the SDP for appointing Mrs Martins as the Agunloye’s running mate.

  • I’ll introduce palace autonomy, says Agunloye

    I’ll introduce palace autonomy, says Agunloye

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate, Olu Agunloye, will restore dignity to traditional culture with the introduction of palace autonomy.

    Agunloye, who made the promise at Igbo-Out in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State, said such autonomy will give monarchs the power to make necessary corrections to those in authority and demand for the right of their people at all times.

    When the custom is respected, he said, government will no longer have the authority to intimidate the custodians of ‘’our tradition and culture’

    While sympathising with the people of Arogbo, he assured that his administration will bring development to Gbalue kingdom within the shortest period of time.

    He noted that development had eluded the kingdom in the past due to ‘’greed and selfishness’’ by those in power over the years, adding that Arogbo kingdom shall be connected to National Grid to ensure uninterrupted power supply.

    Responding, Oba Ade Ajayi described Agunloye as a man with enviable records during his days as the Pioneer Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and as a Minister of Power and Steel.

    He expressed surprise that people like Agunloye can live above board in a nation where ‘’robots’’ are being installed.

  • Students declare support for Agunloye

    Students declare support for Agunloye

    Students of the Federal School of Agriculture (FECA), Akure, the Ondo State capital, have called for support for the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr Olu Agunloye.

    Student Union President  Ogunleye Babatunde, who spoke during a visit to Agunloye, said the SDP candidate has a solid reputation.

    He said of all the contestants only Agunloye will not make unfulfilled promises, going by his antecedent.

    The student union leader said they are ready to support the former minister, saying 95 per cent of them have their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) with which they will vote Agunloye into power.

    The SDP candidate told the students that they should be ready to cooperate with others to rescue the state.

    He cautioned them against being deceived with pledges of bursary, which is their constitutional right.

    The SDP candidate decried the lack of amenities, such as hospitals, roads and potable water in the four local governments that constitute Akokoland.

    “We cannot continue with the old system,  there is need to overhaul governance by ensuring that people have records through which provisions could be made for them when planning policies,”Agunloye said.