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Tag: Ajimobi

  • ACN felicitates with Ajimobi

    The Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Oyo State, Chief Akin Oke, has felicitated with Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Christians on the Christmas Day celebration.

    He described 2012 as the “year of peace in Oyo State”.

    Speaking through the party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dauda Kolawole, Oke hailed the governor for ensuring a chaos-free 2012.

    He said: “In less than two years, the Ajimobi administration has touched the life of every resident through its projects. By the time these projects are completed, Oyo would have regained its pace-setter status.

    “The governor’s purposeful leadership and administrative qualities are highly commendable. This is the first time in the history of Oyo State that we are celebrating various festivals in a year without chaos. This is a wonderful year.”

    Oke prayed for God’s protection and guidance on the governor and residents.

    He urged Nigerians to reflect on the lessons of Christmas, which he said are humility and obedience to God’s will, and prayed for good tidings in the New Year.

    Oke said: “The coming year will undoubtedly witness greater joy and happiness and everybody will enjoy the dividends of democracy promised by Ajimobi.”

    He thanked the people that attended the 40th day prayer of the late Alhaji Lam Adesina.

     

  • ALGON hails Ajimobi

    The Oyo State branch of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) yesterday lauded Governor Abiola Ajimobi for changing the face of the state.

    ALGON, in a statement by its Chairman and Secretary, Mr. Yekeen Popoola and Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye respectively, said that Ajimobi achieved this feat in less than two years through the various developmental projects his administration initiated.

    The association, which also felicitated with the governor on his 63rd birthday, explained that the beautification project, infrastructural development and urban renewal programmes embarked upon by the governor has successfully improved the aesthetics of Ibadan, the state capital and other parts of the state.

    The statement read in part, “It is clear to all that this administration came in with a clear vision and a determination to pursue it for the overall benefit of the people of the state. The massive developmental efforts at the grassroots also complement those at the state level to drive the transformational agenda which is aimed at improving the standard of living of the good people of Oyo State as well as attract investors to the state.

    “In accomplishing these lofty goals, Senator Ajimobi is creating opportunities for our people to create wealth and earn a decent living in an atmosphere of peace.

     

  • Ajimobi receives 2,000 PDP, AP members to ACN

    Ajimobi receives 2,000 PDP, AP members to ACN

    Over 2,000 members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord Party (AP) recently defected to the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Atisbo Local Government Area of Oyo State.

    The defectors were received by Governor Abiola Ajimobi at the local government headquarters in Tede during his official visit to the council area.

    The governor, while speaking at the ceremony, commended the defectors for deciding to join ACN, which he described as a progressive party, assuring them that they will not regret their action.

    He called on old members of the party not to discriminate against the new ones, saying that they should all see each other as stakeholders in ACN.

    The governor also called for unity and cohesion within the party, warning against the promotion of splinter groups which, he said, was capable of polarising the party and weakening its structure.

    “ACN is ACN. The party is one and it should be seen as such. There should be no splinter group within the party because it will not promote unity and cohesion. We should all hold the party together so that it can be stronger,” he said.

  • Ajimobi calls for unity among ACN members

    Ajimobi calls for unity among ACN members

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday urged members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to remain united.

    He urged members to set their differences aside and embrace peace in the interest of the party and the state.

    Ajimobi spoke yesterday at the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, during the presentation of empowerment materials worth millions of naira to ACN members by Senator Femi Lanlehin (Oyo South District).

    He said the party experienced some setback due to disaffection among members, adding that division is harmful to any group.

    Ajimobi said: “We can be our own enemies. Unless we unite, we may not win future elections. The dividends of democracy will go round, if we come together.

    “I urge aggrieved members to bury their hatchet. No one knows how long anybody will live. The party and the people of the state have suffered for too long and we need to cooperate to make things better.

    “Some call themselves Lamist group, some Senaco group and others Integrity group. You are using this to make money for yourselves. I can boldly say that I, Ajimobi, am the number one Lamist in the state.

    “There cannot be progress where there is animosity. If we do not win more defectors from other parties, it would be difficult to win the next poll. We all own the party and should embrace one another. I appeal to the women, especially, to cooperate.”

    The governor said instead of promoting unhealthy rivalry, there should be positive competition among members.

    He said: “What Senator Femi Lanlehin did today is significant and worthy of commendation. It is exemplary. He has done very well. I was once a senator but I never did a thing like this.

    “Also, no governor in Oyo State has done what we did in less than two years. With what we have done, no party should defeat us. But, we can be our own enemies. Unless we come together and unite, we may not win future elections.”

    Ajimobi said the death of the party’s leader, Chief Lam Adesina, should not polarise the party.”

    Items donated to members include cash, power generating sets, grinding machines, sewing machines, deep freezers, motorbikes, mechanical tools, hair dryers and clippers.

    The beneficiaries are Nureni Alayande, Wale Babalola, Dupe Ajeniya, Adewumi Adeyemi, Nurudeen Amusan and Funke Moroundiya, among others.

    Lanlehin said the gesture was to thank members for their support for him and other elected office-holders.

     

     

  • Why we’re moving traders, by Ajimobi

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday said his administration’s “aggressive” Urban Renewal Programme is aimed at cleaning up Ibadan, the state capital, which was once tagged the filthiest city in Nigeria.

    He said the clean up would attract investors to the state and stop accidents which claim the lives of street traders and hawkers.

    Ajimobi spoke while addressing traders under the Molete Bridge, whose shops were demolished at the weekend.

    The governor, who came to the venue with members of the State Executive Council, said the Urban Renewal Programme would not come without pains.

    He urged the people to take the demolition as their sacrifice towards improving the state.

    Ajimobi said the state had gained notoriety for dirt over the years.

    He said the state government was building six to eight markets close to their former squatting points.

    The governor said: “Though you were squatters under the bridge where you sold illegally, but being a government with a human face and well-articulated welfarist programmes, we will provide good modern markets for you.

    “One of the reasons for building the new markets is to change the name tag of Ibadan as the dirtiest city in Nigeria. We also want to prevent unnecessary accidents which occur here and claim the lives of our people.”

    Explaining the risk of trading under the bridge, he said the government has started collating the names of affected traders.

    Ajimobi warned against the inclusion of fictitious names on the list.

    He said those whose shops were demolished would be relocated, adding that gone were the days when top government officials and their allies bought market stalls meant for traders.

    Explaining that the market developers were already on ground, Ajimobi said: “The markets would be to help you. We will not collect money from you initially, but later, you will be paying developmental and management fees. The money will not be exorbitant. It would be paid to your associations and they will remit it to the government.

    “Those that are given the shops will be the eventual owners. They are not entitled to lease or transfer them, as anyone who does so will have it forfeited.”

     

  • Ajimobi alleges plan to unleash violence in Oyo

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday alleged that some “disgruntled” politicians have been holding nocturnal meetings with some state officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), who are on the police wanted list.

    He alleged that the meetings were aimed at causing violence in the state.

    The governor spoke at the foundation-laying of Funduk Intravenous Fluid Factory in Ibadan, the state capital.

    He said: “The government is aware that many of those who benefitted from the past reign of terror have been holding nocturnal meetings with some wanted men of the NURTW to return Oyo State to that despicable time.

    “I assure you that this government will not allow that. We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring peace and tranquility. We shall not allow the return of violence, brigandage and a culture of impunity in our state.”

    The governor urged residents to be vigilant and alert security agencies of suspicious activities.

    He said: “But for the peace and tranquility that God has helped us to bring to Oyo State, it would have been very difficult for Funduk to invest in our state.”

    Ajimobi described the establishment of the factory as a milestone in his administration’s quest to industrialise Oyo.

    He said: “This administration believes industrialisation is the guarantee for economic development and the social and economic advancement of our people.

    “We have formulated many initiatives to encourage investors, including the reduction in the cost of land, provision of public infrastructure and tax rebate.”

    Minister of Trade and Investment Olusegun Aganga agreed with the promoter of the intravenous industry, Prof. Dupe Olatubosun, that it was difficult to obtain credit in Nigeria.

    He said the President Goodluck Jonathan administration was doing everything possible to address the issue.

    Aganga said through the Bank of Industry (BoI), the government had been luring investors to the country.

    He said Nigeria was one of the most worthy ports of investment in the world.

    Olatubosun said 95 – 98 per cent of intravenous fluid used in Nigeria was being imported.

  • Police have failed Nigerians, says Ajimobi

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday justified the call for the establishment of state police.

    He said the federal-controlled police have failed to maintain internal security in the country.

    The governor called for the amendment to the 1999 Constitution to accommodate the establishment of state police. He said it was the only way to address the nation’s security challenges.

    Ajimobi spoke at the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan (UI), while delivering a lecture, entitled: “The police issue in federal Nigeria: A shoe wearer’s perspective”.

    He said: “It is suffice to say the Boko Haram uprising in the North, the kidnappings and mob killings in the Southeast and Southsouth, as well as the ceaseless armed robberies and assassinations in the Southwest have raised questions on the ability of the police to secure Nigeria.

    “The current command structure of the police prevents governors from truly serving as Chief Security Officers of their states. They merely wear that title like an honorary chieftaincy title.

    “Governors, who have been entrusted with securing their states by the electorate, deserve to have the powers and facilities to meet the expectations of the electorate.”

    Explaining that the police had been abused by past federal administrations for political ends, Ajimobi cited the arrest and deportation of Alhaji Abdulrahman Shugaba of the defunct Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP), who was a former Majority Leader of the Borno State House of Assembly, by the Federal Government-led National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the Second Republic.

    He said the police featured prominently in the manipulations of the 1983 elections in Oyo, Ondo and Imo states.

    Ajimobi said: “Since 1999, the police had been used by the Peoples Democratic Government (PDP) government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to harass and intimidate governors, who either belonged to different parties or were not in good terms with the former president.

    “The instances include the abduction of former Anambra State Governor Chris Ngige and the police-assisted impeachment of many governors, including former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja. Instances of police culpability in the rigging of elections against opposition parties have also been rampant.”

    The governor said one of the major consequences of the abuse of police power and inadequacy of the force was the emergence of multiple groups, ranging from neighbourhood vigilance groups to organised pseudo-security outfits, such as the Bakassi Boys and the Odu’a People’s Congress (OPC), among others.

    Ajimobi dismissed fears that governors would use state police to oppress their political opponents and that states lack the resources to maintain the police.

    He said: “If the fear of abuse of police power is enough reason not to create state police, then the Federal Government, which has repeatedly abused such powers, does not deserve to monopolise police power.

    “If Nigeria is persuaded that states should perform police functions, the revenue allocation formula will have to be restructured to reflect the withdrawal of such function (or part of it) from the Federal Government and its enlistment as a state function.

    “Besides, the deployment of resources by the state is a function of the priorities of the government. I am yet to see a government that has not listed security as a priority.”

    The governor said the N319.65 billion allocated to the police in the 2013 budget triples that of Oyo State’s Budget for 2012.

    He said: “We need to ask, as a nation, if we have a national bureaucracy to effectively deploy N319.65 billion in a single agency of government.

    “Besides, my experience is that in spite of this staggering allocation, state governments have had to support the operations of the police in their respective states.

    “Without going into details, let me state without any fear of contradiction that state governments today, alongside the Federal Government, are jointly responsible for the operations of the Nigeria Police.

    “This expenditure has no place in their legislative list, yet governors incur significant expenses to support police functions in their respective states.”

    Ajimobi said the provision for state police should come with checks and balances that would preclude governors from abusing the Force.

    Also at the lecture were Prof. O. Nwolise; Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Olawale Ogunkola; and the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Mechanised Division, Ibadan, Maj.-Gen. M. D. Abubakar.

  • Ajimobi drops three commissioners

    Ajimobi drops three commissioners

    The Oyo State Government has dropped three commissioners. They are Yunus Akintunde (Works), Kazeem Adedeji (Trade, Investments and Cooperatives) and Bosun Oladele (Information and Orientation).

    The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Waheed Olajide, announced the sack yesterday after the State Executive Council meeting.

    He said Governor Abiola Ajimobi took the decision to ensure the success of his transformation agenda.

    Olajide said the name of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Taiwo Otegbeye, had been sent to the House of Assembly for confirmation as a Commissioner.

    The portfolios of six commissioners were also changed yesterday.

    Mr. Peter Odetomi of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs was moved to the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

    Mr. Lowo Obisesan was moved from the Ministry of Establishment and Training to the Ministry of Environment.

    Mr. Adebayo Olagbenro was moved from the Ministry of Applied Science to the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Investment.

    Mr. Bimbo Kolade was moved from the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to the Ministry of Lands and Survey.

    Mr. Isaac Omodewu was from the Ministry of Lands and Survey to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.

    It was learnt that Oladele’s sack was shocking to workers at the Ministry of Information and Orientation and some of them burst into tears.

    Oladele thanked the government for giving him an opportunity to serve his people. He also thanked workers at the ministry for their support.

    It was learnt that Oladele was sacked for not being in the good books of a top government official, who is close to the governor.

    Oladele initiated some good innovations in the ministry during his 15 months in office.

    The Nation gathered that Akintunde was sacked following a row between him and a major traditional ruler in the state, who nominated him for the appointment.

    His ministry executed many road projects under his leadership.

    It was unclear as at press time why Adedeji was sacked. He was a contender for the governorship ticket of the ACN last year.

    Special advisers to the governor are apprehensive, following news that changes in their portfolios would be announced today.

    A Special Adviser, who did not want to be named, said: “My brother, only God knows who will still be here after tomorrow (today). Some commissioners have been were dropped and others redeployed. SAs are afraid but we will know our fate tomorrow (today).”

  • I was not arrested in London, says Ajimobi’s wife

    I was not arrested in London, says Ajimobi’s wife

    Wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, yesterday denied the story of her arrest by the London Metropolitan Police.

    The PM News yesterday published a piece entitled: “Anxiety over Florence Ajimobi’s alleged arrest in UK”, which it claimed was written by an online agency, Newsleak.

    The publication claimed that the governor’s wife was arrested in London for money laundering.

    It said Mrs. Ajimobi had travelled abroad 52 times since her husband assumed office.

    The Metropolitan Police and the United Kingdom Border Control Agency said it did not interrogate Mrs. Ajimobi.

    An official of the Metropolitan Police said: “We have no knowledge of the arrest.”

    Speaking with reporters on the telephone yesterday, Mrs. Ajimobi said she was not arrested. She described the news of her arrest as the handiwork of the opposition to discredit her husband’s administration.

    Mrs. Ajimobi said: “I do not know what they are talking about or where they got the information from. I left Nigeria on Sunday and I was not arrested. “

    Asked if she was invited by the police on her arrival in London, she said: “No, not at all. I came here with my daughter on Sunday and I am preparing to return home. I was not invited by the police and I do not know what this is all about.”

    On the reason for her trip abroad, she said she took her 14-year-old daughter back to London, where she is schooling.

    Mrs. Ajimobi said: “I have a 14-year-old daughter, who has been in London for seven years. She has been here since 2007. She came to Nigeria for two weeks and we left Nigeria on Sunday morning. That is my mission here.

    “I read the report here in England and I was shocked. There is no truth in it. I am surprised that some people can descend so low to write falsehood. I am disappointed in the reporter that allowed himself to be used to carry out the hatchet job. I am expected back in the country tomorrow morning (today).

    On the allegation that she had travelled 52 times since the inception of the administration, she said: “Then it means I am not living in Nigeria. When I return, I will show you my passport, so that you can count how many times I have travelled. I want you to deal with facts. I have an underage daughter that has been schooling in London since 2007. If you look at my passport since 2007 and compare the way I travelled then with the way I travel now, you will discover that I travel less now.

    “My daughter complains that I do not visit her regularly. I make her come to Nigeria more because I cannot afford to spend 10 days or more abroad.”

    An aide of the governor, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “So far, the governor has spent 68 weeks in office, how do you reconcile the claim that his wife has travelled 52 times since the inception of this administration? Does it mean that she travels every week?”

     

  • Ladoja scores Ajimobi high

    Ladoja scores Ajimobi high

    Former Oyo State Governor and leader of the Accord Rashidi Ladoja yesterday scored Governor Abiola Ajimobi high.

    He said Ajimobi “is meeting” his expectation with his transformation of the state.

    Ladoja hailed the governor for improving infrastructure and beautifying Ibadan, the state capital, within a short period.

    He gave the commendation during a live programme, Bulls Eyes, on Splash 105.5 FM Radio, Ibadan.

    The former governor said Ajimobi was living his dream because “he is executing projects he dreamt of for the state”.

    Ladoja said he had the dreams of building overhead bridges, circular roads and other structures to improve traffic in the city.

    He said he planned to extend the overhead bridge being built at Mokola Roundabout to Sango, when he was governor.

    Ladoja said: “I designed the overhead bridges. I also designed the circular road. It was a dream I had nursed for a long time. Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala was there for four years and he did not touch it. Now, I see someone who shares my dream and I praise him and appreciate his efforts.

    “As far as I am concerned, Ajimobi is living to up to expectations and he improving the aesthetics of the state capital. He deserves our support and commendation.”

    Ladoja did not say whether or not he is interested in contesting the 2015 governorship election, he simply said “only God can decide”.

    He said he contested the 2011 election to prove Alao-Akala wrong that his case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would prevent him from contesting.

    Ladoja said things have changed because he has a good relationship with Alao-Akala, adding that there is no permanent friend or enemy in politics.

    He said: “In 2011, I did not want to contest, but when Alao-Akala reported me to the EFCC and there was jubilation in his camp that the EFCC would not allow me to contest, I laughed and decided to run to dare him. Till today, no EFCC has come for me.”

    Reflecting on the 2011 polls, Ladoja said he contested against many forces, one of which was the Ibadan Elders Forum.

    He said: “Maybe they were afraid that Ladoja cannot be controlled if he is elected.”