The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Alao-Akala

  • I left PDP due to lack of justice, says Alao-Akala

    I left PDP due to lack of justice, says Alao-Akala

    Former Oyo State Governor and the Labour Party governorship candidate Adebayo Alao-Akala has said he left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because of lack of internal democracy and justice.

    He said his new party would win next year’s election.

    Alao-Akala said this when he received the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) governorship form at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja at the weekend.

    Speaking to reporters, Alao-Akala said: “I wanted justice and fairness and I did not get them from there that is why I decided to go to where I think they will recognise me. I know that in everything we do, we must be fair to one other; basically that is why I left.”

    On why he wants to go back to the Government House, he said: “I did not leave anything behind but I just felt service is still needed and that is  the only way I can contribute to better people’s lives.

    “I have done it before and if I did  it wrongly I won’t have thought of coming back because I am aware of what I did to make people happy so I want to put smiles back on their faces.

    “My priority is how we can manage the economy and make life more abundant to the people,” he said.

    The LP has explained why it accepted the former governor to run for governorship  on its platform, saying the ex-governor has agreed to implement its worker-friendly policies and programmes, if elected.

    The party, defending its choice, said in a statement by the National Secretary, Kayode Ajulo, that  there was nothing strange in fielding Alao-Akala , adding that his administration carried along workers during his first term.

    “It is just a matter of water eventually finding its level. The issues must be put in correct perspective. It is not enough to limit ourselves to mere tooth picking analysis or fixated social media opinion.

    “The former governor worked his way rigorously and painstakingly up the ladder. He was endorsed by all those who matter in the party after a thorough check on his renewed commitment to the cause of the common man. He indeed had the support of other aspirants who acknowledged his worth and surrendered everything to him,”he said.

  • Alao-Akala picks Oyo LP ticket

    Alao-Akala picks Oyo LP ticket

    Former Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala emerged yesterday the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for next year’s election.

    His emergence followed the decision of other aspirants to step down for him to fly the party’s flag.

    They are Sarafadeen Alli, Nurudeen Aknyo, Kazeem Adedeji, Olu Abiala and Olatunji Sadeeq.

    The aspirants discussed for about three days before they gave the nod to Alao-Akala’s candidature.

    It was learnt that Alli, the leading aspirant before Alao-Akala, accepted to be his running mate.

    Alao-Akala, last Monday, ditched the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the LP. This was after the emergence of former Senate Leader Teslim Kolawole Folarin as PDP candidate.

    In his acceptance speech, Alao-Akala, who thanked the aspirants for their love, expressed his readiness to work with them to ensure victory for the LP.

    He said: “The events of the recent weeks spurred us into taking this very bold step. A step that has put stop to rumours, gist and speculation within the political circuit in Oyo State and Nigeria.

    “I want to take you down political archive of this state in the last 35 years. No politician or group of people has ever being a monopoly of winning formula for all elections till date. The indices keep on changing every season even while our generalissimo, the late Chief Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu, was alive.

    “This year, against all expectations, something unique and historical happened. That has always being the peculiarity of political Algebra in Oyo State and this has continually goes beyond any human ability or permutation.

    “From the time of the late Cicero, Uncle Bola Ige (1979 to 1983), late Chief Kolapo Ishola’s short term of 1992-1993, Alhaji Lam Adesina, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, my humble self’s first stint as governor of the state and the current administration, the formula has never being the same.”

    But there was confusion in Ibadan last night over an alleged nullification of the candidature of Folarin. It was learnt that following the defection of Alao-Akala, the national leadership of the PDP decided to revisit the primary that produced Folarin.

     A reliable source said the party has agreed to allow all aspirants hold an acceptable primary.

    “It is believed that Alao-Akala will come back if the party provides a level-playing field to all aspirants,” the source said.

    When contacted, the Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Oyo State, Mr.

    Kehinde Salawu, denied that Folarin’s candidature has been nullified.

  • Akala picks Labour Party governorship ticket

    Akala picks Labour Party governorship ticket

    Former Oyo State Governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, on Wednesday emerged the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the state.

    His emergence followed the decision of other aspirants to withdraw from the primaries.

    Those that withdrew from the governorship race are Sarafadeen Alli, Nurudeen Aknyo, Kazeem Adedeji, Olu Abiala and Olatunji Sadeeq.

    The aspirants were in deep discussions for about three days before they all gave in to Alao-Akala.

    The Nation gathered that the leading aspirant before Alao-Akala’s arrival, Alli, accepted to be his running mate.

    Akala had on Monday ditched the Peoples Democratic Party for the LP. This was shortly after the emergence of former Senate Leader, Teslim Kolawole Folarin, as the candidate of the PDP.

    In his acceptance speech, Akala, who thanked the aspirants for their love, expressed his readiness to work with all of them to ensure victory for the LP in the state.

  • Alao-Akala urged not to contest

    Alao-Akala urged not to contest

    Former Oyo State Deputy Governor Hazeem Gbolarumi has “advised” former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala not to contest the governorship election.

    Gbolarumi, who was aspiring to lead the state, argued that Alao-Akala was the longest serving governor in the state.

    He said: “He should give room to others to also govern the state. He is the longest serving governor in Oyo State in recent times.

    “I don’t know what he is looking for again. I see no reason why he should still be seeking election. He should allow other people; it is not a monarchy.”

    Expressing dissatisfaction  at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ward congress, the deputy governor confirmed that the congress was interrupted by thugs.

  • Knocks for Alao-Akala

    Knocks for Alao-Akala

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has slammed former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala’s claim that ‘APC thugs’ attacked his supporters in Ibadan.

    Following the departure of the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, some thugs attacked residents before some policemen and security operatives stopped the violence at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex.

    Alao-Akala’s supporters accused the APC of attacking and sponsoring the attack.

    APC’s Director of Publicity and Strategy Olawale Sadare described the allegation as “a futile attempt to attract public sympathy by a political player with record of violence.

    “It is an incontrovertible fact that the ruling party abhors political violence and thuggery. The world gives credit to the present administration for restoring peace and order to all parts of the state.

    “There was no attack of such before, during or after the First Lady’s visit.

    “Therefore, we urge Alao-Akala and his foot-soldiers to look inward and fish out the ‘mutinous’ members of the groups, if such attack was recorded at all.”

  • PDP congress: Senator decries Alao-Akala’s tearing of ballot papers

    PDP congress: Senator decries Alao-Akala’s tearing of ballot papers

    •Filani protests illegal imposition of candidate

    Senate Deputy Whip Hosea Agboola has described the tearing of ballot papers by former Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala at the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Southwest zonal congress as “a show of shame.”

    Agboola spoke in Ibadan at the weekend in reaction to the former governor’s alleged action and outbursts over the purported removal of the name of his candidate as a zonal youth leader at the party’s congress by “some forces that were against him.”

    The development nearly turned the congress, which was held last Saturday at the Apex Multipurpose Hall, Agodi in the state capital into a pandemonium when Alao-Akala expressed his dissatisfaction with the conduct of the election and angrily collected the ballot papers from the state’s delegates and tore them up.

    The former governor was shouting as he expressed his grieviance to the Chairman, Screening Committee of the congress, Senator Emmanuel Anozike and the financier and Chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation Committee of the PDP, Prince Buruji Kashamu.

    But speaking, Agboola denied playing a fast game on his former boss (Alao-Akala).

    He said: “I was casting my votes for aspirants of my choice when he emerged from my back and tore the ballot paper in my hand. It beats my imagination that a person of former governor’s status could resort to self-help in a matter as this.

    “His action caught me unawares because I never expected it and the truth was that we reasoned that since he, like some of us, was instrumental to the formation of the state executive under Yinka Taiwo’s leadership, there was the need for us to allow the Minister of State for FCT, Jumoke Akinjide, whose people were not included in the state executive, to present the candidate for the office of the party’s zonal youth leader, to give them sense of belonging.

    “The party is bigger than everyone of us and as for me, we should eschew bitterness and unhealthy rivalry if we genuinely have the interest of our party at heart. It is high time all of us joined President Goodluck Jonathan in his transformation agenda beyond 2015. And that is what we have been doing with Senator Folarin and Hon. Muraina Ajibola among others in the last few weeks.”

    The congress would have turned violent if not for the quick intervention of the Ekiti State governor-elect, Mr. Ayo Fayose and Kashamu, who pacified Alao-Akala and later called a meeting to resolve the issue.

    The Southwest Caretaker Committee Chairman of the PDP, Chief Ishola Filani also protested the imposition of a late aspirant at the congress.

    Filani, who appeared briefly at the venue, presented his protest letter to the chairman of the congress committee.

    He also copied the party’s national chairman; the chairman, Board of Trustees, Chief of Staff to the President, Governor Segun Mimiko, Governor-elect of Ekiti State Mr. Ayo Fayose and the party’s Board of Trustees in the zone through Chief Olabode George.

    The aggrieved PDP chieftain noted that till last Thursday, he was the only aspirant contesting the National vice-chairman Southwest.

    But some undisclosed forces imposed the present the Chairman of PDP in Ekiti State, Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe, against him, which he said, was a breach of the party’s constitution.

  • Alao-Akala floats radio station

    Alao-Akala floats radio station

    Former Oyo State Governor  Adebayo Alao-Akala has established Parrot FM, the first private radio station in Ogbomosho, his hometown.

    Alao-Akala, speaking at the inauguration of the station,  said it was established to fill the communication gap in the area.

    He added that a television station would soon be established.

    The former governor had, last month in Ibadan, the state capital, launched his bid to return to the Agodi Government House next year.

    His son, Olamijuwonlo, who is chairman of the station, said it was established to facilitate information dissemination to the people.

  • Ibadan agog for APC, Alao-Akala, Ladoja

    Ibadan agog for APC, Alao-Akala, Ladoja

    Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, was agog yesterday with politicians from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) trooping in for political programmes.

    The city also hosted eminent personalities for the eighth day Fidau prayer for the late Madam Alimot Ladoja, mother of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja.

    APC leaders from the Southwest states also besieged the hilltop Premier Hotel for their first zonal assembly while thousands of supporters of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala converged on the city for his governorship declaration for the 2015 election.

    Alao-Akala, who was the state governor between 2007 and 2011, was defeated by the incumbent, Abiola Ajimobi. The former governor is out to battle for the PDP governorship ticket.

    At the same time, dignitaries thronged the popular Ibadan Recreation Centre near Sabo area for payers for Ladoja’s mother. Ladoja was governor between 2003 and 2007.

    The three events caused gridlocks in places such as Mokola, Parliament Road, Old Ife Road and Sabo.

    Alao-Akala But, at the governorship declaration, appealed to the citizens to forgive him for his misdeeds when he was governor, pleading for his re-election in 2015.

    He stated that none of his actions were deliberate or personal vendetta, adding that it was aimed at making life better for the populace.

    “Inevitably, we might have offended some people in our desire to make life better for the populace or in pursuit of equity and justice. None of our actions were deliberate or personal vendetta. I therefore seek your understanding and forgiveness,” the former governor said.

    Alao-Akala said he decided to join the governorship race following hundreds of phone calls, thousands of text messages and personal visitations.

    He promised that if re-elected in 2015, he would ensure an all-inclusive governance and quality leadership.

    “We shall also consolidate on our previous achievements in the areas of education, health, commerce and agriculture. I make bold to state that every village and major town in Oyo State desire even development. Hence, we shall continue with our policy of uplifting the rural areas as well as the urban centres with execution of people-oriented projects.”

    He called on other PDP governorship aspirants to work with him to deliver the state to PDP in 2015.

    Earlier in his remarks, a PDP chieftain, Alhaji Adebisi Olopoenia, who spoke on behalf of Ibadan indigenes, said the people were yearning for the return of Alao-Akala.

    Also, political leaders and business tycoons yesterday showered praises on the late Madam Ladoja for her exemplary life and legacy as Muslim clerics offered prayers for the repose of her soul.

    Dignitaries at the event included Governor Abiola Ajimobi; his Osun State counterpart, Rauf Aregbesola; Ekiti State governor-elect, Mr. Ayo Fayose; former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel; two former Oyo governors, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo and Alao-Akala.

    Others were former Senate leader, Teslim Folarin; Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; Chief Kola Daisi; a former Minister of Industry, Chief (Mrs.) Onikepo Akande; wife of the former Bayelsa State Governor, Mrs. Margaret Alamieyeseigha; Chief Shuaib Oyedokun; Elder Wole Oyelese and Professor Taoheed Adedoja.

    Also present were Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi; wife of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Ayo Olaitan Bankole; Chief Sharafadeen Alli; Adebayo Shittu; Alhaja Bose Adedibu; National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Najeem Yasin; Dr. Saka Balogun; Sunbom Owolabi; sons of the late Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola-Alao; commissioners, caretaker chairmen and others.

  • Party cautions Alao-Akala

    Party cautions Alao-Akala

    OYO State  All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied any plan to disrupt the governorship declaration of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala billed for Ibadan tomorrow, describing the allegation as baseless and unfounded.

    The party debunked a statement by a group, Southern Nigerian Youth Forum (SNYF), in which it was alleged that Governor Abiola Ajimobi and the APC had perfected plans to storm the venue of Alao-Akala declaration with some political thugs and disrupt the event.

    The APC’s Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, described the allegation as “a false alarm coming from the camp of some noise-makers who had been rejected by the people.

  • APC: Alao-Akala is day-dreaming

    APC: Alao-Akala is day-dreaming

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has told former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala to stop day-dreaming about returning to power.

    It was reacting to Alao-Akala’s statement that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would “capture” the state in 2015.

    Alao-Akala was quoted in the media yesterday as saying: “There is nothing that can stop the PDP from winning in 2015. We want to capture the state and we have all it takes to do so.”

    In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dauda Kolawole, APC told the former governor to “wake up from his slumber”, adding that PDP had become an empty shell, “weakened and splintered into unrecognisable cells and not capable of winning even councillorship seats”.

    The statement reads: “Alao-Akala is a joke and he knows that that statement was mere grandstanding. The PDP has been terribly hit by the greed for power of its leaders, so much so that it can hardly muzzle up enough votes to fill a basket. The former governor apparently woke up on the wrong side of his bed or merely wanted to gladden his heart on his birthday. The truth is that he was merely daydreaming.”

    The APC asked Alao-Akala to tell the world which faction of the PDP he was referring to when he expressed hope that Oyo PDP would come back to power.

    It said: “Elder Wole Oyelese, one of the founding fathers of the PDP, a few days ago, said there are, at least, seven factions of the party in the state. Was Alao-Akala referring to his faction, the Jumoke Akinjide faction or the Teslim Folarin faction of the PDP when he expressed that less-than scientific optimism? Was it is birthday wish or a prayer to God? We need to ask him.”

    The APC said Oyo people could not forget “the PDP years” in a hurry, adding: “How can our people forget their reign of impunity in a hurry? Alao-Akala, Rashidi Ladoja and the parties they represent, to our people, leave very bad tastes in the mouth. Is it the thousands of our people that were murdered during needless partisan meddling in the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) crisis in the state? Is it the shameless backwardness they inflicted on Oyo State? Is it the image of dirt, deaths and bloodshed that they perpetrated for eight years? For Alao-Akala, who was a major cast in this bloody theatre, to grandstand that they are coming back is an insult that our people will resist on the election day.”