Tag: Aiyedatiwa

The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure has upheld as valid, the primary election that produced Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

It said the appellant, Olugbenga Edema, who was candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) for the November 16, 2024 governorship election, refused to obey an earlier order of the court.

Edema had asked the court to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the nomination and publication of the names of Governor Aiyedatiwa of the APC and his deputy as the party’s candidates.

He urged the court to interpret the applicability of Section 15 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) over the nomination of the APC candidate.

But Justice Toyin Adegoke held that omission of the name of NNPP as one of the plaintiffs rendered the suit impotent and subsequently dismissed it.

Read Also: FULL LIST: Nigeria, others not indebted to IMF

Not satisfied with the High Court’s ruling, Edema urged the Appeal Court to invoke its power to assume jurisdiction as the trial court as well as overturn the court’s decision to dismiss the suit.

Justice Oyebisi Omoleye, who read the judgment, said the three-man panel unanimously resolved all the issues formulated against Edema and consequently dismissed the appeal for abuse of court process and for lack of merit.

A fine of N1million was awarded against each of the respondents.

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has said the Managing Director of Bank of Agriculture (BoA), Mr. Ayo Sotinrin, was not using any private firm to seize land in the state.

Aiyedatiwa, who declared some protesting farmers as illegal occupants of forest, said it was malicious, unfounded and clear attempt at character assassination to accuse Sotinrin of land grabbing.

He said SAO Agro-Allied Services had been operating under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement since 2021 and that the firm’s acquisition and development of agro-industrial zones followed due process.

Aiyedatiwa, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, said none of SAO Agro activities involved unlawful takeover of legally-secured farms.

He denied making any promise during electioneering campaigns to support illegal occupants of government land or forest reserves.

The governor insisted that many of the aggrieved farmers currently occupying parts of Oluwa Forest Reserve breached and encroached on restricted forest zones without authorisation.

He said: “Other farmers have failed to comply with the agreed land use terms, posing environmental and security concerns.

Read Also: UK to restrict visa applications from Nigeria, Pakistan, others

“Where litigations are ongoing, every step taken has been guided by legal counsel, verified surveys and documented notifications. No action has been taken arbitrarily.

“It is equally important to clarify that Sotinrin is the managing director of Bank of Agriculture, a Federal Government institution. Allegations implying that he is using a private firm to seize farmland are malicious, unfounded and a clear attempt at character assassination.

“SAO Agro-Allied Services, on its part, has been operating under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement approved by the state since 2021. The firm’s acquisition and development of agro-industrial zones have followed due process and are under full government oversight. None of its activities involves the unlawful takeover of legally-secured farms.

“His administration remains committed to legal, inclusive and forward-looking agricultural development. Investigation is ongoing to identify genuine farmers with verifiable claims, separate from speculators and unlawful occupants.”

Farmers operating inside Oluwa Forest had accused SAO Agro of land grabbing and destruction of their crops despite their payment of annual land rent to the state coffers.

But Vice-President of SAO, David Olijogin, said the firm lawfully secured the 10,000 hectares and had been paying N40million annually to the state government.

He said the firm risked losing N6.5billion if it did not plant 123,000 seedlings of oil palm within limited time frame.

The immediate past Commissioner for Water Resources in Ondo State, Hon. Sunday Akinwalire, has described last week’s flag-off of the dualisation of 10-kilometre Akure-Idanre road by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as a bold decision aimed at relieving Idanre cocoa farmers of the burden of transporting their farm produce.

A statement issued on Saturday by Akinwalire, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain from Idanre area of the state, said farmers in Idanre cherished the new lease of life, as the Aiyedatiwa administration had not only embarked on access roads to communities bearing cocoa farms, but had also assisted farmers in the state through regular supply of farm inputs.

The statement reads: “All our farmers, traders and entrepreneurs are solidly behind the governor in his massive transformation of grassroots communities in Ondo State, most especially the cocoa hub of Idanre where its farmers have all the while been constrained gaining easy access to urban communities to sell their produce.

“By flagging off the dualisation project of the Akure-Idanre road last week, Governor Aiyedatiwa had brightened the hope of our cocoa farmers and other farmers and traders alike, of improved sales.

Read Also: Aiyedatiwa approves renovation of technical colleges, secondary schools

“Besides, Mr. Governor has done a lot to rehabilitate and construct where necessary, link roads to the farms; apart from assisting our farmers with various grants and farm inputs,” the former commissioner lauded.

He added that the tourism potentials in the iconic Idanre Hills in the area could be fully harnessed once visitors are able to gain easy access to the ancient town, noting that the governor’s multi-pronged vision for the state in transforming the rural areas deserves commendation.

According to him, the masses have begun to feel the ‘Our EASE’ agenda of the governor in initiating sectoral infrastructural projects covering road networks, education, health, urban renewal, industrial development, water supply, electricity projects, and others.

He noted that while he was in the saddle last year as commissioner, the governor approved an expanded water scheme to supply potable water to several communities in the Ondo Cenral Senatorial District, of which Idanre communities are beneficiaries.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has said that his administration accomplished reduction of domestic debt by an unprecedented 82.6 percent within one year by implementing sweeping cost-control measures.

 Governor Aiyedatiwa said he achieved the feat without halting public services or sacrificing workers’ welfare.

 Data from the Debt Management Office (DMO) on states’ debt comparison between 2023 and 2024 showed Ondo State at the top in reducing domestic debt from N74bn in 2023 to N12bn in 2024, a difference of N61billion and a percentage of 82.6.

Aiyedatiwa said the reduction was not merely statistic but a reflection of deliberate policy choices, strong leadership, and responsible governance.

Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, Aiyedatiwa said the development has made significant on the economy of the state and restored investors’ and residents’ confidence in his administration.

Read Also: I am committed to doing things appropriately, says Aiyedatiwa

 “This outstanding achievement is attributed to the strategic economic reforms and financial prudence of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s administration since its inception.

 “Since coming into office in December 2023, Governor Aiyedatiwa has made a top priority payment of backlog of salaries, gratuities and contractual obligations owed by the state government.

 “In the first quarter of 2024 alone, Ondo State recorded a 77 percent domestic debt reduction, amounting to ₦55.11 billion. The state’s debt profile dropped from ₦71.5 billion in December 2023 to just ₦16.4 billion by March 2024. This feat placed Ondo second only to Jigawa State in terms of domestic debt reduction during the period under review.

 “With this achievement, Ondo State stands out as a model for fiscal discipline, financial resilience, and strategic planning in Nigeria’s public sector.”

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has said his administration would complete road projects across the state, including the ones inherited from previous administrations.

He made the promise yesterday while launching phase one of the 10-kilometre dualisation of Akure-Idanre Road project.

Aiyedatiwa said the project was putting action to fulfil one of his major electioneering campaign promises.

He said the project would feature modern traffic systems and solar-powered streetlights, adding that it was designed to accommodate heavy vehicular traffic with its robust pavement structure.

Read Also: Industrialist hails Aiyedatiwa for spending Easter at seaside

The governor said the new road would boost tourists’ visit to Idanre hill site, as well as promote economic growth through increased connectivity, trade, job creation and ease of movement.

He said: “This project stands as a powerful testimony to the resolve of our administration to build an Ondo State where opportunities are not just promised, but are also accessible. A place where every citizen can thrive in an environment of progress and shared prosperity.

“For what has seemed like an eternity, this road has been a source of daily frustration for commuters and a bottleneck for the movement of agricultural produce from Idanre to Akure markets. Today, we begin to change that story.

“Other features of the road include dual carriageways with a width of 9.3 metres, 1.5-metre walkways on each side, a 3-metre utility bay, line drains and medians, and traffic lights at critical intersections.’’