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Tag: Akin Oke

  • Group faults vote of confidence on Ajimobi

    The vote of confidence recently passed on governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state by some leaders of All Progressives Congress (APC) after of the ‘abysmal’ performance in the last general elections has sparked off crisis within the party.

    A group, APC reformers described the vote of confidence passed on Ajimobi as self-deceit.

    The group admonished President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Leader of the Party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu not to recognize the Oyo state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi for any appointment for the interest of the party.

    They also faulted a recent vote of confidence passed on Ajimobi by the party stakeholders in the state.

    APC reformers which comprises of APC former political appointees and leaders in Oyo state in a statement signed by its acting secretary, Sulemon Ramoni, described the vote of confidence as a continuation of self-deception by a congress of charlatans that lead to the monumental failure of the party at the just concluded elections.

    The statement reads: “After spending almost eight years in office, the people of Oyo state have passed a vote of no confidence in Ajimobi by ensuring that he lost his unit, ward, local government and the state in the last election.

    “Of what benefit would the decision of his self-appointed leaders and handpicked executive be for the party, democracy and the good people of the state?

    READ ALSO: Prioritise welfare of citizens, Ajimobi tells Ogun governor-elect

    “Mr President and the national leadership of the party including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu should not be misled by the charlatans to consider Ajimobi for a ministerial or any federal appointment which is their motive.

    “Any federal appointment for him will worsen the situation of the party in the state, make reconciliation impossible and lead to more loses in future elections.

    “The party lost the presidential election in Oyo state because it held on the same day with Ajimobi’s senatorial election.

    “The State elections were lost because of his influence and interference.

    “After the 2015 general election, Ajimobi scolded the party chairman, Chief Akin Oke for losing his unit and ward, as a matter of fact he advised him to resign.

    “Some local government caretaker chairmen were also removed by him for losing their constituencies. Now that he has lost woefully, he deserves no reprieve.

    “The APC Reformers advised the national leadership of the party to immediately dissolve the APC executive in the state from the wards to the state and constitute a caretaker committee to rebuild the party.

    “The president was also advised to opt for young, vibrant and progressive minded people from Oyo state for ministerial and other federal appointments instead of the completely rejected Ajimobi and his ilk.”

  • I won’t impose any candidate – Ajimobi

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has assured members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state that he would not impose any candidate on the party for the 2019 general elections.

    He gave the assurance on Monday at the Oyo South Senatorial District stakeholders meeting of the party held at Lafia hotel in Ibadan.

    The meeting was attended by State Executive Council members, local government chairmen, councillors, local government executives, ward executives and other stakeholders in the district.

    District is made up of the nine local governments of  Ibadan North, Ibadan North-West, Ibadan South-East, Ibadan South-West and Ibadan North-East.

    Others are Ido, Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa North and Ibarapa East.

    Ajimobi, who said that he does not have any anointed candidate among the aspirants, expressed the belief that the APC has more qualified aspirants than other parties.

    He also said that every governorship aspirant within the party would be given the same opportunity provided they could afford the party’s nomination form of N22.5 million.

    Read Also: ‘Ajimobi has been unfair to Lam Adesina’

    “All the aspirants took permission from me and I told all of them to go ahead. I did not call any of them, they called and I supported it.

    “I am not going to impose anyone. They are all qualified provided they can afford the nomination form,” he said.

    Ajimobi also expressed confidence that whoever emerged as the APC flag bearer would eventually become the governor of the state.

    He also disclosed that most of the governors prefer indirect primary at the last deliberation of the party in Abuja.

    Ajimobi, however, assured the members that further consultations would be carried out with party leaders to ensure that the best option was adopted in the state.

    The Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Akin Oke, said the large turnout of aspirants within the party was a reflection of the performance of the governor.

    He urged all aspirants within the party to accept the outcome of the primary election in good faith.

    Earlier, Mr Adekanye Adefioye, the APC Chairman in Oyo South Senatorial District, said the large turnout at the event was a reflection of the unity within the party.

    Among those present were an APC chieftain, Alhaji Olayide Abas, Sen. Adesoji Akanbi, Dr Olusola Ayandele, Mr Joseph Tegbe, Mr Niyi Akintola(SAN), Mr Adebayo Adelabu, Dr Azeez Adeduntan and Dr Fola Akinosun.

    NAN

  • LG Polls: We won’t impose candidates – Ajimobi

    LG Polls: We won’t impose candidates – Ajimobi

    Gov. Abiola Ajimobi has assured members of the All Progressive Congress ( APC ) in the state that the party leadership would not impose candidates in the May 12 local government election.

    The governor made the disclosure on Tuesday in Iseyin at an empowerment programme organised by Sen. Abdulfatai Buhari (APC-Oyo North).

    He said that the party leadership in state would abide by the decision of the majority on the process to select party’s candidates.

    Some members of the party in the state had on Monday besieged the party’s state secretariat in Ibadan with placards, alleging plans by the leadership to impose candidates.

    “We won’t impose candidates for the forthcoming local government election. I am appealing to you at every local government council area to come together and work in unity so that we can present a common candidate.

    “There are types of primary election, which could be direct or indirect. The direct type allows party members to come together to choose, while the indirect allows the election through delegates.

    “I want you to talk to yourselves on your choice, I will be okay by your decision,” he said.

    Ajimobi lauded members of the senatorial district on the choice of Sen. Buhari as their representative, saying his qualities reflected in the standard of the empowerment programme he organised.

    Buhari, in his remarks, said that the effort was to ensure the people of the senatorial district benefit dividends of democracy.

    The lawmaker said it was the second of such empowerment programmes, apart from the various other projects executed in the district.

    He assured the people of quality representation, saying he been very active in the performance of his legislative duties in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

    Among the items distributed were cars, motorcycles, refrigerators, sewing machines and other equipments.

    Meanwhile, the party in the state has warned aspirants against blackmail, noting that such would do nothing good to the party.

    The party gave the warning in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Olawale Sadare and made available to newsmen in Ibadan on Tuesday.

    It described the allegations of planned imposition of candidates as a figment of the imagination of the protesters and their sponsors.

    The party urged the public to regard it as cheap blackmail antics to cause unnecessary tension.

    “We are indeed embarrassed at the level which decorum was thrown into the air by these set of people, whom we identify as APC members in the state.

    “Peaceful and purposeful protests are some of the essentials of democracy, but when cheap blackmail is involved, it becomes condemnable.

    “The allegation of planned imposition of candidates is not only a hoax but also something that should not feature in the present scenario,” it stated.

    The APC said that its state executive committee led by Chief Akin Oke has earned itself a reputation for upholding the sanctity of internal democracy as enshrined in the party’s constitution.

    It said that the governor has also demonstrated personal commitment to the ideals of the party.

    According to the party, “the delay in the release of guidelines by the party was caused by the new development explained to all stakeholders by OYSIEC at a meeting last Wednesday.

    “The stakeholders meeting indicated that the recent delineation of wards exercise done in the state would be implemented at the May 12 poll.

    “The implication is that additional wards have been created but they have not been made public.

    “It then became imperative to wait on OYSIEC which had promised to release the map and necessary documents this week to guide all participating political parties.”

    NAN

  • Aggrieved Oyo APC members protest alleged imposition by Ajimobi

    Aggrieved Oyo APC members protest alleged imposition by Ajimobi

     

    Scores of members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in Oyo state on Monday,  protested against what they described as planned imposition of candidates by the State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi ahead of the May 12th local government election in the state.

    The aggrieved members, who stormed the Oke-Ado State Secretariat of the party which also doubles as the campaign office of the governor since early hours of Monday, insisted that there will be no local government election in the party without free, fair and credible primary which will encompass all groups within the party from wards to local governments.

    However, the state party Chairman, Chief Akin Oke said there is no tangible reason why some groups in party could decide to protest an invisible list of candidates.

    Chief Oke while reacting to the protest alleged that those protesting were being misguided by some disgruntled elements in the party, those who do not wish the party well.

    But , adamant aggrieved members who claimed that list of aspirants were being manipulated , alleged that the governor has perfected plans to substitute the delegates’ list with his own people so that only those who are loyal to him can emerge as candidates of the party.

    Read Also: Hold APC liable for killings in Nigeria – Secondus

    The protesters carried placards with different inscriptions such as “Stop imposition of candidates Ajimobi”, “APC do not belong to SENACO alone”, “No  credible list, no election” etc .among other unprintable words .

    They blocked the popular Molete-Oke Ado- Dugbe Road for several hours , leading to traffic gridlock in the area.

    It took concerted efforts of the men of the joint state security outfit, code named “Operation Burst”  to bring the situation under control.

    Later, the State Secretary of the party, Mr. Mojeed Olaoya who was asked to speak on the protest accused two leaders of the party –   former Special Adviser on Political Matter to the governor,  Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle and  ex- Chairman, Caretaker Committee for Ibadan North West local government, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun of orchestrating the crisis in the party.

    The state scribe while speaking further said he was surprised that journalists have bombarded the secretariat to monitor the protest as he accused them of being biased.

    Olaoya said “When the governor was here to address party members on the proposed local government election, none of you were here, now that some members of the party that have benefitted immensely from the party, Fatai Ibikunke and Wasiu Olatunbosun who have benefited from the party are now sponsoring some people against the party. “