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Tag: Ajimobi

  • Impostors have cloned my voice, Ajimobi’s wife cries out

    Wife of the Oyo state governor, Dr Florence Ajimobi has raised an alarm that some members of the opposition parties have started circulating false audio files using her voice.

    On Thursday, while Mrs. Ajimobi was addressing the women of Oyo state at an empowerment program at the Lekan Salami Stadium Ibadan, told the women that an audio manipulation aimed to discredit her husband and claim that her husband, Governor Abiola Ajimobi is retiring from politics because of age.

    She urged the people not only to discountenance the audio broadcast but to also support her husband’s ambition to return to the Senate as the representative from Oyo South Senatorial District.

    At the event which was attended by women groups, market leaders, non-governmental organisations, youth groups, among others, one thousand women were empowered with various small scale business equipment and N20, 000 cash.

    Some of the items distributed to the women include, sewing machines, industrial cookers, freezers, hair dryers, grinding machines, and popcorn making machines.

    Speaking on the purported audio broadcast circulating on the social media, Mrs. Ajimobi lamented that she couldn’t have imagined that people would stoop so low and to the extent of defaming her and her husband all in the name of politics.

    Although, she agreed not to mention the name of any particular politician to have been behind the schemes, she was vehement in pointing accusing fingers in the direction of the opposition parties.

    She said, “Yesterday, some people mimicked my voice and said that my husband is no longer interested in politics because he’s too old. I didn’t say anything of such and the audio broadcast is not me.

    “Besides, age is just a number. Some persons are fifty something years old and they are not as sensible and reasonable as my husband.

    “I have handed them over to God. As they plan to defame me, God will defame them. I will not mention their names; they have started circulating it online.

    “I am scared, I thought those who go on holy pilgrimage regularly should be holy and righteous, but they are just wicked people. Some of them were given tickets in APC, yet they betrayed us and left for another party and diverted all the benefits that should have come to our people.

    While noting that the government is not coming with the empowerment because of the election, the first lady reminded the people of various similar efforts that had lifted the people from poverty.

    She however urged the beneficiaries of the empowerment program to ensure that they vote for APC in the general election.

    She said “Don’t think that this is a campaign, we have been doing this before now. There is no party that can do what we are doing today.

    “There is no party that can cater for women like this party. It takes only someone with the fear of God to do this kind of empowerment in a hard time like this. Let’s not go backwards, only Buhari can take this country forward.”

    The Governor who later joined the event seized the opportunity to introduce the All Progressive Congress governorship candidate, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu to the people, assuring them the APC candidate has all it takes to build on the foundation he had laid in the last seven and half years in the state.

    In the various responses, the women groups all pledged their support to the APC candidates in the forthcoming elections, adding that they will reciprocate Mrs. Ajimobi’s kind gestures since assumption of office with massive votes for all the candidates of the APC.

  • Ajimobi promises efficient representation

    Candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District Abiola Ajimobi has promised efficient and effective representation that will impact on the district and rub off on the Southwest.

    Ajimobi, who is the incumbent governor, made the promise when he led the party’s supporters on a road show through major areas of Ibadan, the state capital, yesterday.

    He is contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    On the campaign train were the governorship candidate, Adebayo Adelabu, party leaders and other.

    Ajimobi urged the electorate to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari, Adelabu and other party candidates.

    According to the governor, he is better positioned to offer the best possible representation having served as a principal officer in the Upper Chamber, and the first two-term governor in the state.

    Read also: Hold Amosun responsible for Ogun APC campaign violence, says Odunsi

    He said: “You know us very well, and you know the APC major challengers in the coming election like the back of your hand. We are the progressives, and you know that we stand for the promotion of the people’s welfare.

    “The APC remains the best option for a country still battling to recover from the 16 years of crass ineptitude and misapplication of funds. We should not entrust this fragile economy in the hands of those who will use our commonwealth to enrich their friends.

    “I’m soliciting your vote for President Muhahmmadu Buhari and all of us contesting in this election on the platform of APC. Only our party has what it takes to take our country to the next level of development.

    “Today, the Senate has become a place where states desirous of rapid development send their best hands. Send me, and I promise you effective and efficient representation.”

  • Why I want to return to Senate, by Ajimobi

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi is the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Oyo South District. He broke the second term jinx as governor in 2015. Will he return to the Senate? Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines his chances at the poll.

    Four years ago, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, governor of Oyo State, made history. He broke the second term jinx, thereby becoming the first governor to be re-elected for a second term. As the second term expires on May 29, the Ibadan-born politician hopes to return to the Senate, where he served as Deputy Minority Leader between 2003 and 2007.

    The poll will not be a walk over for him. His rivals are Adesoji Akanbi of African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Dr. Kola Balogun of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The three major contestants are campaigning vigorously.

    If Ajimobi is re-elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), he will be a ranking senator and elder statesman whose experience will assist in guiding proceedings in the Upper Chamber. He is highly respected in the APC, where his experience has been useful in mobilisation, reconciliation and crisis resolution.

    When he was in the Senate, Ajimobi was not a bench warmer. As governor, he has endowed the Agodi Government House, Ibadan with honour. Ajimobi is perceived as a matured politician and a team player.

    As a senator, he ploughed back to the constituency. Ajimobi established the first and the largest free vocational training centre in the history of Oyo State, offering training in computer engineering, computer operations, telephone engineering, fashion designing, hair dressing, tie and dye etc. The center has turned out over 20,000 students to date, who have secured employments in many reputable industries. The center has also been recognised and certified as a partner and training center by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF). Ajimobi also identified communities that lacked potable water in his district. He sunk boreholes. He also carried out many empowerment programmes in the district.

    As governor, he enjoys tremendous goodwill. His greatest asset is maturity, which age, experience and wisdom could confer. He inherited a state in turmoil in 2011. Brigandage and violence had become the order of the day. Killings by factional drivers’ union defiled solution. Armed robbers were on the prawl in broad day light and banks were not insulated from their attacks. How to restore peace and security into a state of pandemonium where the rule of brawn had displaced the rule of law was his major priority.

    Between 2011 and 2019, Ajimobi has restored sanity. Prevention, in his view, is better than cure. The starting point was the establishment of a well-equipped joint security outfit codenamed ‘Operation Burst.’ The governor also introduced the ‘Safe City’ project. Closed Circuit Television cameras were installed in many flash points. The efforts paid off. Criminals relocated from the state. Bank robbery stopped. To avert ethno-religious conflicts, the  Oyo State Inter-religious/Ethnic Committee was set up to foster understanding in some heterogeneous communities.

    The governor built on this achievement by establishing the Security Trust Fund that has donated multi-million naira equipment to security outfits and refurbished many grounded patrol vans. Due to security, night life was restored.

    Ajimobi also fought the infrastructure battle. He was appalled by the poor environmental sanitation in Ibadan, the state capital, which earned it the unenviable sobriquet of the dirtiest state capital. The governor embarked on road construction across the state. Where necessary, flyovers were constructed. Other projects include the construction of ‘Restoration Bridge’ and dredging of rivers to avert flooding and its attendant loss of lives and property, restructuring of the solid waste management system for a cleaner and healthier environment, the initiation of the First Ibadan City Master Plan, and the Ibadan Beautification Project through the creation of green areas, parks (Temidire and Podo) and gardens (Agodi Gardens).

    The governor’s attention is not diverted by the electioneering. He is still supervising the rehabilitation and reconstruction of existing roads, and the dualisation of entry roads into major towns. These include the on-going construction of 110km Ibadan Circular Road, the construction of 49.02km roads and rehabilitation of 684.12km roads by Oyo State Public Works, the activation of Ibadan City Master Plan, Ibadan Drainage Master, Ibadan Solid Waste Management Plan and Ibadan Urban Flood Management programme in conjunction with World Bank.

    The Ajimobi administration has defended education in Oyo State. It has established the first technical university in the state. Owning to the provision of conducive leaning environment, the state got the best West African School Leaving result in 18 years. The School Governing Board was able to attract more than N2bn non-governmental investment in the education sector. The governor also introduced the Education Trust Fund.

    The 628 secondary schools now have Governing Boards, which have injected over N2b into their infrastructure development. This is now being understudied for Southwest states. also, the introduction of Oyo State Model Education Intervention (Oyomesi) as a structured character building curriculum, the launch of the Digital Literacy Drive, Science and Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; and the professional training of teachers have been applauded. Besides, three model schools have been constructed and many secondary schools are being rehabilitated.

    For ease of transportation, Ajimobi introduced the first mass transit system for the people. While citizens ride the buses at rock bottom controlled price, civil servants ride them free to and from their homes. Many people have hailed the governor for repositioning the Oyo State Transport System with 90 units of 63-seater buses at subsidized rates and providing another 100 units of 18-seater buses, in collaboration with the Industrial Development Bank. Also, modern motor parks and garages at Temidire and Podo were constructed.

    In the health sector, the governor’s achievements are commendable. Under his leadership, Oyo became the first state to introduce the Health Insurance Scheme. A N50bn health endowment fund was lunched, in addition to the free health missions across the zones. Government also distributed medical equipment worth $2m to health facilities in the state.

    Other achievements are the upgrading of the Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, schools to colleges of Nursing and Midwifery, and the School of hygiene to College of Health Technology.

    To promote industrialisation, the administration has provided a conducive atmosphere for investment to thrive. Thus, the state was rated as the fourth investment-friendly state by the NBS in 2016. According to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), no fewer than 36 new companies sprung up and 3,884 people were employed. Also, direct Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) worth N22.8b was attracted.

    Other achievements in the areas of trade and investment include Trade and Investment include the introduction the first State Industrial Policy in collaboration with UNIDO, four-Star rating as a well-qualified state to facilitate foreign and domestic investors by the Nigeria Investment Promotion Council (NIPC 2018), attracting FDI worth N22.8bn (NBS 2016), establishment of Polaris Free Trade Zone and Industrial Park on Lagos Ibadan Express way, upgrade of Oyo State College of Cooperative and Entrepreneurship Studies to an OND & HND Certificate Awarding Institution, Biometric Data Capturing for Informal Sector Operator, and onstruction of phase II of Bola Ige International Business Complex (BIIBCO), Gbagi through PPP to decongest phase I of the market.

    Ajimobi has rehabilitated the existing water supply schemes at Eleyele and Asejire, resulting in 72 per cent water production in Ibadan and environs and improved water supply generally across the state. He completed the  Iganna, Ayete, Ogbomoso,  Asejire Waterworks and Eleyele mini-waterworks, and constructed six booster stations to boost urban water supply.

    The state’s land, housing and survey has been restructured to prevent fromgrabbing, speculations and allocations based methods through automation, resulting in 60 days processing of Electronic Certificate  of Occupancy (C of O), Home Owners Charter, Geographic Information System (Data Capturing), Land and House Enumeration in conjunction with Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV). The government also enacted the Land Grabbing Law. Stakeholders have also hailed the good foundation being laid in agriculture. These include the establishment of Oyo State Agricultural Initiative, AgricOyo; purchase of 388 units of tractors and implements for mechanized farming as 6,282ha of arable land was operated resulting in 40 per cent increase in land cultivation by farmers, establishment of Oyo State Pace Setter integrated organic Farm, Songhai Model, provision of 250,000 hectares of farm land to Agric investors in the state new agricultural land policy, N9 investment in rice production by Dangote group of companies, construction of 10,000mt mega silo in Oyo, establishment of two fertilizer blending plants in Oke Ogun and Ibarapa, construction and rehabilitation of 8,032.92km access roads across 28 Agrarian LGAs  with 5,023,060 beneficiaries in the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) across the state, cconstruction of 500km of rural roads to promote Agric economy, and disbursement of N1.0bn soft loans and grant to farmers and N250m for anchor borrowers’ programme.

    In solid minerals, Ajimobi established the Mineral Development Agency and incorporation of Pacesetter Mineral Development Company. He resuscitated the moribund Nigeria Marble Mining Company, Igbeti, and explored Talc Deposit in Ilero and environs

    Youth and sports development have not been neglected.  No fewer than 2,000 have benefitted from entrepreneurial training. The Permanent site of the NYSC at Agbakuta, Iseyin was inaugurated. Aslso, 5,000 were trained through the Oyo Ajumose Business Leadership programme OYO ABLE; N200m was released for youth empowerment through the Bank of Industry, and 300 artisans and tradesmen supported through the Oyo Nise Oyo Leko initiative. Government has also embarked on the estructuring, reorganization and inauguration of all sporting associations to enable them achieve the desired result and support the ‘Catch them Young’ initiative of the government, which has led to the increase in under age sporting activities.

    In women development, Ajimobi has accorded priority to poverty alleviation. An important achievement is the passage a law to prohibit violence against women. Others include the training and release of grants to young persons for business in photography and video production, barbing, hand-made jewelry, computer centre operations; rehabilitation of Centre for People with Disabilities and equipped with equipment for ICT Training and shoe making with support from British American Tobacco (BAT), and educational and nutritional support for 10,514 children, including orphans, vulnerable, trafficked children.

     

  • Ajimobi seeks support for Oyo APC candidates

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has solicited the support of traditional rulers and indigenes of Oke Ogun for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The governor spoke at the weekend as the party rounded off its three-day road shows and campaign rallies in the zone.

    He said his administration had kept faith with residents of the area since 2011, promising that the APC would do more for the zone if its governorship candidate, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, is elected in the March 2 poll.

    Ajimobi, who is the APC candidate for Oyo South, led the campaign train of the party to the zone – from Wednesday to Friday – touring all the 10 local government areas and the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

    At each stop, he also canvassed support for President Muhammadu Buhari, Adelabu and other APC candidates ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

    Addressing the party’s supporters in Igboho, the governor said the next administration would further harness the agriculture potential of Oke Ogun in furtherance of APC’s agenda to make the zone the food basket of the country.

    Ajimobi said his administration was not owing any member of the House of Assembly whether salaries and allowances.

    The governor said he labelled the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their ilk a band of liars.

    He said: “I heard he claimed he could not do projects because his late predecessor had been paid all the entitlements accruable to the constituency. I want to state categorically that this claim is a lie from the pit of hell.

  • Senate Race: Ajimobi is best choice for Oyo South

    By this time exactly a year ago, political pundits within and outside Oyo State had begun to pile pressure on the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, to mull over having another shot at the Senate. This is against the backdrop of his public pronouncements that he was calling time on active politics, climaxed by his jinx-breaking election as governor for two uninterrupted tenures.

    He had vowed not to mount the soap box again, except to canvas for votes on behalf of his protégés. In the governor’s reckoning, 2019 is the destination point for his illustrious political career, having also served Oyo South Senatorial District in the Senate between 2003 and 2007 under the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD).

    In the February 19, 2018 edition of the Punch Newspaper, a respected Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Adeniyi Akintola, said, “Ido Local Government is launching the campaign to endorse him (Ajimobi) to go to the Senate and by the grace of God, he shall make it. Of course, this isn’t his first time; he wasn’t a bench warmer there as he gave quality representation. In the Senate, he will be a pride to Oyo State and the South West.”

    And since this move by the patriotic Ido elders and leaders, many other groups and individuals have asked the governor to take another shot at the Senate in the best interest of the state and the region. Having surrendered to the superior argument of his supporters, the governor participated in the October 2, 2018 National Assembly primaries of the All Progressives Congress. To underscore the beauty of democracy, his main challenger, Dr Fola Akinosun, refused all entreaties by party stalwarts to step down for the governor in deference to the political tradition that respects position and experience in such circumstance. But Akinosun eventually lost by 168 votes to Ajimobi’s 2659 as announced by the Chief Ademola Seriki-led electoral panel. Thus began another journey to the hallowed Red Chamber for the governor to represent Oyo South Senatorial District if elected by the historically appreciative and reflective electorate in the district.

    In a short acceptance speech after the primaries, Ajimobi had said, “I look forward to going back to the Red Chamber to contribute my quota to the national debate and the progress of the nation. I wish to bring to fore my parliamentary experience to grow a Nigeria that the next generation will be proud of.”

    Many reasons had been adduced by the proponents of Ajimobi should go to the senate, ranging from his enviable corporate and political experience, integrity, record of achievements, clout, robust political capital, inexhaustible physical agility, intelligence and most importantly because of his mettlesome disposition. Although, the uninitiated have derisively dubbed the Senate as the retirement place for two-term governors, but in advanced climes the Senate is populated by senior citizens who are regarded as the bulwark of democracy. Advanced age is seen in western democracy as an asset rather than liability.

    For instance, since 1981, the average age of representatives and senators in the US Congress has jumped from 49 and 53, respectively, to 57 and 61, according to Quorum. In the today’s 116th Congress of the US, Dianne Feinstein of California is the oldest sitting member of the Senate at 84 years old. She is known for being a liberal, left-leaning politician who has dedicated her life to serving the people of California.

    Another asset that Ajimobi possesses is his impeccable educational attainment, having bagged a BSc in Business Administration and Finance from The State University of New York, Buffalo. He also obtained an MBA in Operations Research and Marketing, with a concentration in Finance, from the Governor’s State University, Park Forest, Illinois.

    In 1979, Ajimobi became the youngest Manager at the National Oil and Chemical Marketing Company in Nigeria, and rose to the position of the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil and Chemical Marketing Company. As Managing Director he substantially improved the profitability of the company and the shareholders’ fortunes. In 2003, he voluntarily retired after 26 years of meritorious service in the Oil and Gas industry.

    Whether at the regional, national or international platforms, Ajimobi is consistently acknowledged as one of Nigeria’s most gifted and effective leaders with the ennobling characteristics of great and noble statesmen.

    During his first spell at the Senate in 2003, the governor and his AD colleagues, who were just six in number (with three others from Lagos State and one each from Ondo and Ekiti States), were hampered by their numerical disadvantage. In a sharp contrast, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had an overwhelming majority of 78 members, while the All Nigeria Peoples Party had 25 members.

    To underscore the respect his colleagues had for him, he was appointed the Deputy Minority Leader of the 5th Senate.

    In addition to his ably-discharged primary responsibility as a lawmaker, Governor Ajimobi deployed his personal resources and goodwill to carry out several grassroots projects in Oyo State, including the establishment of the first and the largest free vocational training center. The centre offers training in computer engineering, computer operations, telephone engineering, fashion designing, hair dressing, tie and dye etc. So far, the centre has turned out over 20,000 students. It has also been recognized and certified as a partner and training centre by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) of the Federal Government.

    Between 2003 and 2007 Senator Ajimobi also identified communities that lacked potable water, where he sunk boreholes. He also carried out many empowerment and grassroots programmes for his Senatorial District.

    During the infamous ‘third term agenda’ of the third republic it was alleged that some political jobbers, including National Assembly members, fell for the filthy lucre transported in the wee hours of the night in hefty Ghana Must Go bag by agents of the evil plot. It is on record that Ajimobi was among the very few that resisted the allure of the mint N50m doled to each pliant lawmaker to oil the botched civilian coup. Ajimobi was and is never afraid to speak truth to power no matter whose ox may be gored. When you talk about a contended man of integrity and patriotic zeal, Ajimobi stands tall. In the Senate, his views will be respected and he will not be in the league of absentee lawmakers or those whose voice are only heard during voice votes.

     Apart from his unprecedented achievements in the past eight years, Ajimobi has also amassed enormous goodwill and respect within the top hierarchy of the APC. Today, he is a leading light of the party at the national, regional and state levels judging by the several assignments he had been saddled with, including his appointment as chairman of the APC national convention committee and chairman of the party’s 2018 presidential primaries national convention. The governor is highly connected to the centre, having been robbing minds with the topmost echelon of the leadership of the country and the APC in the last eight years.

    It was not by fortuitous design that Ajimobi broke the second term jinx in Oyo State, having been the first governor to be re-elected by the good people of Oyo State and for two successive tenures. The governor had unwittingly wormed himself into the hearts of the people when on assumption of office in 2011he decided to challenge the status quo mediocre leadership. He braved the odds to tame the roughnecks disturbing the peace of the land, while he embarked on infrastructural revolution that changed the entire landscape of Ibadan, the state capital.

    That the respected Vanguard Newspaper named Ajimobi as the Governor of the year 2018 is not by happenstance, but recognition of his hard work. According to the newspaper, he was given the award “for his outstanding unfurling of infrastructural revolution in the state and his numerous accomplishments in the education sector.”

    In 2011 when Governor Abiola Ajimobi took over the reins of power, the state of affairs in the state was aptly captured in Thomas Hobbes state of nature, where there was perpetual fear and strives. Pre-2011, the rule of brawn superseded the rule of law; live was simply “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.”

    Brigandage and violence was the order of the day, headlined by incessant attacks and killings by rapacious drivers’ unions, as well as fatal bank robberies.

    Between 2011 and 2019, Governor Ajimobi restored sanity, peace, security, law and order by establishing a well-kitted and equipped joint security outfit codenamed ‘Operation Burst.’ Not intent on resting on his laurels, the governor introduced the Safe City project, which witnessed the installation of Closed Circuit Television cameras across flash points in the state. The latest initiative is, of course, meant to nip criminality in the bud.

    And to the credit of the Ajimobi-led administration, not a single incident of bank robbery has been recorded in the last five years unlike before. The establishment of a Security Trust Fund, which has donated multi-million naira worth of equipment to security outfits and refurbished many grounded patrol vans, has also boosted these efforts.

    Ajimobi has also in the last eight years impacted on the environment, education, health, civil service, a feat that has earned him the appellation of the builder of modern Oyo State. Sentiments apart, it is now up to the good people of Ibarapa North, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa Central, Ido, Ibadan North, Ibadan South-East, Ibadan South-West, Ibadan North-East and Ibadan North-West to reward Ajimobi for his eight years of service to the good people of Oyo State by voting him as their next Senator. Undoubtedly, it is a person of his stature and track record that has what it takes to take Oyo State to the next level of development.

     

    • Oyedele is the Senior Special Assistant on Media to Oyo State Governor

  • Two dead, several injured at Oyo APC rally

    No fewer than two people died in a bloody clash between suspected political hoodlums at an All Progressives’ Congress (APC) campaign rally in Igboora area of Oyo State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident occurred immediately after the rally held at the old motor park in Igboora on Saturday evening.

    NAN reports that the campaign train, led by Gov. Abiola Ajimobi, had commenced with a road show from Lanlate through Igboora, Idere, Ayete, Tapa and Igangan before the ralies at Igboora, Eruwa and Omi-Adio.

    It was a peaceful rally which saw the governor and the party’s governorship candidate, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, acknowledging cheers from supporters who had thronged the streets to show solidarity for the party.

    Trouble, however, started immediately after the rally in Igboora as suspected political hoodlums engaged in a bloody clash which left one dead.

    NAN reports that another innocent resident, identified to be a younger brother to an APC leader in the community, was hit by a stray bullet and eventually gave up the ghost.

    Eyewitnesses told NAN that some suspected hoodlums had accosted the APC governorship candidate to demand for money but were blocked by another group of hoodlums.

    This, witnesses said, resulted in heated arguments which later led to the free for all.

    The incident had since resulted in counter allegations and reactions from political parties and residents.

    While the APC accused opposition parties of being behind the mayhem, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) asked APC to look inwards for the perpetrators.

    “Guns were freely displayed by thugs alleged to have been arranged and sponsored by the PDP and some other parties to carry out the dastardly act.

    “The mayhem eventually cost two lives. One of which is a younger brother to the leader of our party,  Alhaji Olayide Abas. We hereby charge security agencies to investigate and unravel the killers of the deceased.

    “It is important to note that the PDP has continually incited the people to cause trouble, having realised that the game is over. The PDP is among the parties that masterminded the mayhem,” APC Communication team said in a statement.

    Some opposition party members, who spoke to NAN, described the incident as very pathetic, saying the APC should investigate themselves on the mayhem.

    They said that several other opposition parties in the state had visited the community to campaign without violence or bloodshed.

    Also, some residents of the community frowned at the sorrowful incident, describing it as a return of thuggery and brigandage to the state.

    They told NAN that the people of the community were not desperate people and have always lived peacefully with each other, irrespective of political affiliations.

    Spokesman for Oyo State Police Command, SP Adekunle Ajisebutu, did not respond to NAN calls and text messages at the time of filing this report. (NAN)

  •  Vote for APC, Buhari will enhance Yoruba relevance in polity, says Ajimobi

    The Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has disclosed that a vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates and President Muhammadu Buhari in the coming election will be a vote for the continued relevance of the Yoruba nation in the country’s polity.

    He also said that the state would collaborate with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant agencies of the Federal Government to ensure a hitch-free, credible and free election.

    The governor, who is also the candidate of the APC for the Oyo South Senatorial District at the forthcoming election, disclosed this during the party’s campaign rally at Lalupon, in Lagelu Local Government Area of the state.

    He used the occasion to present the APC governorship candidate, Adebayo Adelabu, and others, including the candidate for Oyo Central Senatorial District, Senator Teslim Folarin.

    Ajimobi warned that the full weight of the law would be brought down on any person or group of persons that might attempt to disrupt the peace of the state before, during and after the elections.

    He assured the people that a vote for him would be a vote for the sustenance of the achievements of Ajimobi, adding that he would open up the state for greater development if elected.

    In a separate event, the wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo, on Friday, said no politician or political party is worth dying for and called on women, to ensure that no member of their families, including husbands, children and relatives are used as tools of political violence in the forthcoming general elections.

    She charged women to constitute a peace vanguard and oppose any form of political violence, which could make them become victims, should anything happen to their children or spouses.

    She made the call during a special town hall meeting which held at the Ibadan Civic Centre, Idi Ape, Ibadan, with various women groups in the state.

    Osinbajo said, “We are here to discuss the next general election because of our children. Our children should be very much dear to us. Every woman must take the upbringing of her ward as a major priority. We must ensure that our children are guided to the right direction in life.

    “We must ensure that our children, husbands and relatives do not involve in any form of violence during and after the election. No politician is worth dying for.”

    She urged the women to only vote for political parties that have compassion for their children and the people of the state, recounting that the administration of President Buhari, has obviously shown compassion as evident in the various social intervention and welfare programmes for the people.

  • Restructuring: Kolade chairs VOR roundtable

    In a bid to further consolidate on the demand for restructuring of Nigeria’s Political, economic and political structures, a renowned Yoruba Interest group, Voice of Reason (VOR) will on Wednesday January 30th 2019 host all the candidates of major political parties in South West, Nigeria to a roundtable meeting at Oranmiyan Hall, Airport Hotel, Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos.
    In a statement made available to News Men on Wednesday in Lagos, the Chairman of the group, Dr Olufemi Adegoke said the roundtable, with the theme: ‘Imperatives of Restructuring For National Unity, Development and Security’ will be chaired by a former Nigerian High Commissioner to United Kingdom, Dr. Christopher Kolade, CON.
    On the aims and objectives of the roundtable, Adegoke said the town hall meeting is being convened to sensitise all aspiring candidates for elections to the Executive and Legislative Arms of Government in South West on why the restructuring of Nigeria’s Political, Economic and Social Structures is key to the progress of Yoruba Land.
    “We want to lobby all aspiring candidates for election to the Executive and Legislative Arms of Government in South West for their support to back the restructuring of Nigeria for the sake of the future of Yoruba Land and the survival of Nigeria and to also find out from the candidates on how they plan to get this constitutional request actualized if elected in 2019.
    “Most importantly, we want to foster Unity, Harmony and Cohesion among Aspiring Candidates in South West so that Yoruba Land can speak with one voice on Restructuring”
    The statement further said that the draft of the proposed constitution written by VOR for Nigeria will be introduced to all the candidates during the roundtable for a possible adoption when they get the insignia of power.
    According to the statement, invitation has been sent to all the Candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), Action Democratic Party (ADP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) across South West geo-political zone through their state party chairmen.
    “Governors who are running for Senatorial elections like that of Oyo and Ogun States, Senators Abiola Ajimobi and Ibikunle Amosun respectively and former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi, Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa and the Governorship Candidates of APC, PDP and ADP in Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu, Jimi Agbaje and Babatunde Gbadamosi respectively are expected to grace the event” the statement said.
    All candidates are expected to be seated at 9am.

  • Oyo workers shun NLC/TUC directive, attend prayer programme

    Despite the decision of labour leaders under the aegis of Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, Oyo state councils, workers under the employ of the Oyo state government on Monday in their hundreds attended the Annual Interreligious service organised by the government to officially begin the working calendar year.

    The labour leaders while responding to an earlier invitation sent to it by the organisers, noted that it resolved at an emergency meeting convened to discuss the matter to boycott the event.

    The letter dated January 11, 2019, and signed by Comrades Kofo Ogundeji and Mayowa Falegbe, NLC and TUC state secretaries respectively also added that members have been “directed to continue with their daily communion with their creator.”

    But the event was not only well attended by the workers from across all the local governments of the state, it also saw 47 workers bagging the awards of “Most Efficient Civil Servants/Public Servants”, from across the government Ministries, Agencies and Departments.

    The award also attracted cash prizes to promote and encourage efficiency among the government workforce.

    The event was also attended by government officials, members of the state executive council, members of the state house of assembly, representatives of the judicial arms, permanent secretaries among others.

    At the event which was the last for the Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration saw the Governor bidding the workers farewell while charging them to sustain the tempo and culture of efficiency and effectiveness which his administration has brought into public service.

    However, the labour leaders cited many anomalies and maltreatment of the workers as the reasons for directing the workers to ignore the prayer programme.

    The letter of the labour leaders reads in parts, “that the tense atmosphere among the workforce in the state where promotion was earned and treacherously withdrawn will not attract workers to honour any prayer programme organised by the state government.

    “That where the issue of unpaid 3-18 months arrears of salaries of tertiary institution was not generally addressed will not convince our members to attend such prayer programme.

    “That the suffering and anguish of retiree Primary Schools teachers and retired local government employees arising from unpaid arrears of gratuity and pensions will not allow attendance at such prayer programme.

    “That the hostile stance of government towards the workers of the state cannot attract our members to the programme.

    “Based on the above, labour movement in the state is not interested in the prayer programme and had resolved to boycott the event. Instead, our members have been directed to continue with their daily communion with their creator.”

    While addressing the workers, Governor Ajimobi urged them to be diligent, hardworking and efficient, saying such was a factor to attain greater height.

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    He pointed out that laziness, truancy, misappropriation, disloyalty, negligence have their rewards while hardwork, innovativeness, creativity, diligence, professionalism, dedication enjoys spiritual and material benefits.

    Ajimobi said, “My speech this afternoon shall be in two-fold; to appreciate the good people of Oyo State and to bid you all farewell. There is a saying that there is nothing that has a beginning without an end.

    “The journey which is gradually coming to an end in the middle of this year started with a bold step on May 29, 2011. In the face of many challenges, ups and downs, we were still able to sail through, courtesy of the wisdom of God as well as perseverance and endurance of the good people of Oyo State.”

    The governor said that his administration which remained 135days and 10 hours has successfully delivered on the benefits of democracy in the state, noting that he has also succeeded in changing the attitude of the civil servants which has helped the workers improve tremendously.

    Earlier in her welcome remarks, Oyo State Head of Service, Mrs Hannah Ogunesan, appreciated the governor for his unparalleled achievements as governor of the state, saying he has raised the bar of good governance.

    Ogunesan challenged workers in the state to ensure they all earn their pays through rededication to service, continuous self-development and commitment to enhanced productivity.

    The awards recipients including Miss Modupe Fehintola, a Senior Reporter with the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State(BCOS) and Mrs Ojo Aboyede, a Senior Information Officer, with the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, expressed gratitude to the state government for the award, promising that the honour would spur them to do more.

  • We’ll make workers smile soon-Ajimobi

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has said that his administration will soon put smiles on the faces of its worker when the issue of national minimum wage is addressed.

    He also assured workers their pay will soon rise in compliance with the new wage law.

    Ajimobi spoke on Tuesday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital while addressing the Oyo State chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress in his office at Agodi, Ibadan during a peaceful protest by NLC to demand for the implementation of N30,000 as the new national minimum wage.

    Ajimobi, speaking through his deputy, Otunba Moses Adeyemo, said every reasonable person knows N18,000 which is the current national minimum wage is very small because the price of goods and service had increased in the country.

    He pointed out President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to the welfare of the workers, adding government will ensure speedy passage and implementation of the new national minimum wage.

    He also assured he will soon deliver a letter from the labour unions to the president, urging the workers to be calm as all their grievances would be addressed and look into.

    Chairman of NLC in Oyo State, Comrade Waheed Olojede, said the essence of the peaceful protest was to call on government to quickly pass the recommendation of the tripartite committee to the National Assembly so that they can enact it into law

    “We come today to express some of our demand particularly the implementation of the new national minimum wage as recommended recently by the committee constituted by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    “We are calling on the presidency to present the recommendation to the national assembly so that the national assembly can enact it into law.”

    The Oyo State NLC chairman added workers were worried with delay in passing a bill to the National Assembly on the new minimum wage.

    Olojede pointed out that long after the commencement of the national minimum wage, other nation’s in West Africa had since concluded and implement their minimum wage.

    “Nigeria as the giant of Africa should do the needful and see Nigerian workers as human being, not as use and dump,” he said.

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    “