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Tag: Alao-Akala

  • Oyo 2015: Fresh hurdles for Alao -Akala

    Oyo 2015: Fresh hurdles for Alao -Akala

    The aspiration of the former governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, to return to Agodi Government House, Ibadan, may have suffered many setbacks, reports Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan

    The aspiration of former Governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, to return to the Agodi Government House in 2015 may have suffered major setbacks following the failure of his legal team to quash the alleged misappropriation of N11.5 billion suit filed against him and his former aides by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFFC) and reports that the leadership of his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) may have resolved to ensure the emergence of a gubernatorial candidate of Ibadan extraction for the 2015 election.

    Political activities came alive within the ex-governor’s political camp soon after the New Year celebration with his posters flooding strategic places in Ibadan and other major cities of the state. Akala remains a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and sources close to him say he is interested in a return as governor in 2015.

    And following series of meetings in Ibadan and Ogbomoso, Alao-Akala has come out severally to say he has been working behind the scene to bring together aggrieved PDP members in Oyo State in a bid to re-unite and strengthen the party ahead of the 2015 general election in the state.

    But findings by The Nation revealed that the ex-governor may have been busy plotting his re-election agenda. He intends to seek the governorship position once again on the platform of the PDP. This perhaps explains his desire to re-unite the warring factions within the troubled party.

    According to reliable party sources, his efforts led to a town hall meeting held at Plaza de Aruna in Oyo in December 2013, where he met with some of the members from Oyo Federal Constituency, comprising Afijio, Atiba, Oyo-East and Oyo-West.

    Also the Ogbomosho-born politician has revived all his political machineries ahead of the gubernatorial contest. “There is no doubt that Akala is interested in returning to the Government House. He is working gradually towards clinching the PDP ticket and we are with him,” a former commissioner in the state said.

    But with the Court of Appeal in Ibadan dismissing the suit Akala filed against his prosecution by the EFCC on charges bothering on criminality, there appears to be some fresh hurdles for him to cross in his bid to return as the governor of Oyo State in 2015.

    Alao-Akala, Senator Hosea Agboola, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters and an Ibadan-based business man, Mr. Olufemi Babalola, had appealed an earlier ruling delivered on December 12, 2012 by Justice Akintunde Boade of the Oyo State High Court that they had a case to answer.

    The EFCC had arraigned the appellants before the court on 11-count charge of conspiracy, contract awards without budgetary provisions, and obtaining by false pretence. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    While delivering judgment on the ruling, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem said the appeal against the ruling of the lower court was premature. The judge reasoned that the former governor should have waited for the trial to go mid-way at the High Court before appealing it.

    According to her, Otunba Alao-Akala failed to produce sufficient proof to convince the court to quash the ruling of the lower court.

    Following the judgment, fellow party members and supporters of the former governor have been worried about its effect on his aspiration. According to a reliable insider, Akala himself has been very worried about the development.

    “He is worried. Like every serious politician, he is considering the effect of the development on his ambition to rule the state again. His legal team worked assiduously to get earlier judgement quashed but failed. With the new judgement, it means Akala may be prosecuted any time. There is really a big reason to be worried,” an associate of the former governor said.

    To further make the ambition of the former governor an obviously difficult one, there are indications that the leaders of the PDP in Oyo State are now shopping for a gubernatorial candidate of Ibadan origin for the 2015 polls following indications that the two other leading parties in the state will field candidates from the state capital.

    Giving indications that Governor Abiola Ajimobi, an Ibadan indigene, will fly the banner of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), elders and stakeholders of the party met recently in Ibadan and endorsed him for another term from 2015.

    The party stalwarts in control of 11 local government councils in Ibadan land said they took the decision in order to ensure continuity in governance. The state Acting Deputy Chairman of the party, Alhaji Isiaka Alimi, who read the communiqué at the end of the meeting, said members in the 11 local government areas in Ibadan, after the meeting, passed a vote of confidence on Ajimobi for his good performance in office.

    The communiqué was signed by 11 members representing different zones and council areas. They include Alhaji Isiaq Akeem, Alhaji Ganny Alade, Dr. Busari Adebisi, Hon. Oyeniran Oyeniyi, Hon. Awoleye Dada, Hon. Mojeed Olaoya, Alhaji Najeem Abbass, Chief Laoye Sam, Chief Ayo Eniade, Mrs Matel Williams, and Chief Jamiu Adewale.

    “Further and in consonance with the tradition of our progressives predecessors and in consonance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, “We hereby unanimously adopt Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi as the sole candidate of our party in the eleven local government councils consisting Ibadan land as the gubernatorial candidate for 2015 governorship election in Oyo State,” the APC leaders said.

    Also, leaders of the Accord Party recently adopted Rashidi Ladoja, another Ibadan indigene as the party’s candidate for the forthcoming governorship election come 2015. Ladoja served as the state governor on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2003, but was controversially impeached by a section of the state House of Assembly and replaced with his deputy Alao-Akala.

    He was, however, reinstated by the Supreme Court after being kept out of office for 11 months. The former governor later dumped PDP for Accord Party where he contested for Oyo governorship seat but lost to incumbent Abiola Ajimobi in 2011.

    Rising from a meeting of leaders of the Accord Party in Oyo South recently, party leaders said they believed the former governor was the only candidate that has what it takes to take the state to an enviable level.  Ladoja, who is the national leader of the party, hails from Ibadan North Local Government Area.

    Among the leaders who attended the meeting where Ladoja was adopted are Messrs Tunji Adeoye, Dele Adigun, Nureni Adeniran, Tayo Sarumi, Remi Ayodele and Bimbo Adepoju. Others included the party’s local government chairmen and secretaries.

    The Nation learnt from sources close to the PDP leadership that the elders position on PDP candidature was informed by pressure being mounted on it to win the state at all cost in 2015. “The insistence of our national leadership that we do all things possible to win the state in 2015 and obvious plan by the two other leading parties in the state to field a gubernatorial candidate from Ibadan land is behind the move.

    The reports we got from the field, after a survey sponsored by the party, is to the effect that to win the 2015 governorship election, we need to field an Ibadan candidate. That way, we will avoid the mistake we made in 2011 when we left the bulk of the votes to the ACN in Ibadan and struggled to get votes where the population is,” a party leader said.

    Our source also said recent insinuations that the party may have zoned the governorship ticket to Oke Ogun in a bid to clear the way for Alao-Akala, are mere wishful thinking.

    “The party is not thinking in that direction. It is the imagination of those saying that. You are aware that our party leaders in the same Oke Ogun area of the state have dissociated themselves from a recent media publication insinuating they back the rumoured bid of the former governor of the state, Mr. Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, to re-contest the state’s gubernatorial election in 2015.

    PDP leaders in the zone pointed out that the recent media report attributed to one Alhaji Yusuf Sarafadeen Alani, popularly known as Ali Wajud, to the effect that the PDP in Oke Ogun had been “begging and persuading Alao-Akala to take another shot at the governorship seat, remained the imagination of the sponsor of the report.

    They informed that the party is stoutly opposed to the moves by anybody within it to canvass for the return of Alao-Akala as governor of the state in 2015. They clearly said that the alleged clamour was in the imagination of the author or sponsor of the report, apparently for selfish or parochial interest.

    The PDP in Oke Ogun then warned party members to be cautious of their campaign for 2015 general election which it claimed was still far away, concluding that “2015 belongs to the Almighty God and that there is also the need for us to get to the stream before crossing the bridge. That should show you the thinking within our party,” our source recalled.

    Before now, the ex-governor’s camp has been worried over the large number of aspirants seeking to get the nod of the PDP to contest the 2015 governorship ambition. Unlike in 2011, when he was nearly the sole aspirant on the platform of the party, Akala will now have to slug it out with not less than 10 other aspirants ahead of the 2015 polls.

    The latest entrant to the race is the CEO of Jogor Centre, Engr. Femi Babalola. Babalola submitted his letter of intent to the party’s leadership few days back. By his declaration, he has joined the likes of former governor of the state, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala; former state chairman of the Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Soji Adejumo.

    Others in the race include Senator Teslim Folarin, a former Senate leader; Prof. Taoheed Adedoja; former deputy governor of the state, Hazeem Gbolarumi; renowned Ibadan-based engineer Seyi Makinde; current Minister of State of FCT, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide and former deputy governor, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja.

     

  • Alao-Akala loses bid to quash ‘criminal’ charges

    Alao-Akala loses bid to quash ‘criminal’ charges

    The Court of Appeal in Ibadan on Tuesday dismissed a suit filed by Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, a former governor of Oyo State, to quash the N11.5 billion suit filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    Alao-Akala, Sen. Hosea Agboola, and a business man, Olufemi Babalola, had appealed a December 12, 2012 ruling by Justice Akintunde Boade of the Oyo State High Court which held that they had a case to answer.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the EFCC had arraigned the appellants before the Court on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, contract awards without budgetary provisions, and obtaining money by false pretence.

    They accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, held that the preliminary objection by Alao-Akala was premature.

    Dongban-Mensem held that the former governor should have waited for the trial to go mid-way at the High Court before appealing.

    She held that Alao-Akala did not provide enough evidence to warrant the court to quash the ruling of the lower court.

    The former governor was ordered to return to the High Court for his trial.

     

  • Guber poll: 10 vie for PDP ticket in Oyo

    The number of aspirants seeking to clinch the Peoples Democratic Party gubernatorial ticket ahead of the 2015 general elections in Oyo State has increased to 10, the latest entrant to the race being foremost engineer and CEO of Jogor Centre, Engr. Femi Babalola, who submitted his letter of intent to the party’s leadership over the weekend.

    By his declaration, Babalola has joined the likes of former Governor of the state, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala; former State Chairman of the Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Soji Adejumo; former Deputy Governor of the state, Hazeem Gbolarumi; renowned Ibadan based Engineer, Seyi Makinde; current Minister of State of the FCT, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide and former Deputy governor, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja.

    Others who had earlier declared their governorship ambitions are – Senator Teslim Folarin, a  former Senate leader and Prof. Taoheed Adedoja.

    The divergence of interests, notwithstanding, The Nation can authoritatively report that Akala had started making moves to reconcile various feuding factions within the party.

    Babalola, who happens to be his aide and close associate, believes that the former governor’s efforts were yielding positive results.

    According to him, Akala had succeeded in settling the scores between him and Akinjide.

    Both politicians had been at loggerheads before the current truce.

     

  • 2015: More PDP chieftains join Oyo guber race

    2015: More PDP chieftains join Oyo guber race

    A head of the 2015 general elections, more chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State are throwing their hats into the ring to contest the gubernatorial election.

    While the party is still struggling to rid itself of the intra-party crises that have weakened it tremendously since it lost to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2011, sources say not a few of its chieftains are warming up to pick its governorship ticket.

    Prominent names among the new entrants included that of the immediate past governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao- Akala,  Nigeria’s  Ambassador to Jordan, Taofik Arapaja, and Asim Gbolarunmi, all of the PDP.

    Before now, Alao-Akala was rumored to be warming up to represent the Oyo central senatorial in the national assembly. Arapaja  and Gbolarumi were  both former deputy governors to Alao-Akala .

    Another aspirant, who recently declared his interest in the race, is Mr. Seyi Makinde, also of the PDP.

    Alhaji Kamal Badru, a PDP stalwart,  said the growing number of aspirants is a sign that the PDP in Oyo State is still a force to reckon with.

    “It is not a bad thing. In fact, I will say it is good for the party to have as many aspirants in the race as possible. It will help to create awareness about the new form of the PDP in the state. The party is back and better. It is a sign that the PDP is still very popular in Oyo State,” he said.

    He, however, cautioned the aspirants  involved  not to do so in a manner that will divide the party. “If they go about it properly, the party will benefit from their aspirations. Only one person will finally get the ticket to contest but all of them would have worked to further promote the party in the minds of the people of the state,” he said.

  • Olamiju Akala marries Okoya’s daughter

    Olamiju Akala marries Okoya’s daughter

    In a move seen by many as a union of two wealthy families, Olamiju, son of former Oyo State governor, Alao Akala, last Sunday tied the nuptial knot with Hadiza, daughter of billionaire businessman, Alhaji Rasaq Akanni Okoya. The wedding saw a section of Nigeria’s high and mighty gathering at the magnificient Oluwa Ni Sola compound of the Eleganza boss. Twenty-five-year-old Hadiza, who only recently returned to her father’s house after sojourning in the UK for many years, and her heartthrob had been the subject of discussions at social circles around Lagos in recent times. The traditional wedding put paid to all the rumours that had been flying around that the proposed wedding had been called off.

    First, it was speculated that theirs was a mere friendship without any emotional attachment. Then the rumour flew around that their romance had broken up because Olamiju was becoming uncomfortable with the overbearing disposition of the Okoya family towards the relationship. But all that later proved to be nothing more than a figment of the imagination of rumour mongers who were ignorant of the depth of the lovebirds’ feelings for each other.

    While their relationship was said to have once been threatened by some stormy issues at the early stage, the storm was later calmed as they grew together in love.

  • I will declare my 2015 ambition soon – Alao-Akala

    I will declare my 2015 ambition soon – Alao-Akala

    A former governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, on Friday said that he would soon decide on his 2015 ambition.

    Alao-Akala told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ogbomoso that “I am still consulting.

    “When you want to make such decisions, you must consult and after that the decision will be made public.

    “I will soon make a decision and everybody will be carried along on what I intend to do,’’ he said.

    Commenting on the posters, he said they emanated from his followers who still had confidence in his leadership.

    “The people who are interested in me are the ones behind the posters. They are the ones telling the world that they believe in my leadership and still wants me,’’ he said.

    He said that the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State was united, adding that individual interest could override that of the party.

    Alao-Akala said the party in the state would soon get it right and make its plans known to the people.

    “When the chips are down and the time comes, we will separate the men from the boys or the boys from the men,’’ he said.

     

     

     

  • Alao-Akala celebrates Tukur’s ouster

    Alao-Akala celebrates Tukur’s ouster

    A former Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala yesterday expressed joy over the removal of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Dr Bamanga Tukur.

    In a statement last night, Alao-Akala said: “We join millions of PDP members to celebrate the official removal/disgrace from office of Bamanga Tukur at today’s (yesterday’s) PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. Today’s (yesterday’s) belated action has finally brought to an end the two-year reign of impunity, incompetence, propaganda and politics of Bubayaya and destruction visited on PDP by Tukur.

    “We salute the courage of democrats and stakeholders (in and out of the PDP), whose patriotic resistance brought Tukur’s reign of political darkness to an end today. We urged (members of) the PDP NEC, as they meet next week, to chose a new chairman – in compliance with Article 47 – to first of all install the substantive PDP National Secretary, (Prince Olagunsoye) Oyinlola and reverse all impunities/evils committed by Tukur before peace can ever return.”

  • 2015: Alao-Akala’s posters flood Ibadan

    2015: Alao-Akala’s posters flood Ibadan

    Former Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala’s campaign posters for the 2015 governorship election flooded Ibadan, the state capital, yesterday.

    Decked in a glittering aso oke (sanyan) with a traditional hat (abetiaja) to match and a smile on his face, Alao-Akala’s appearance conveyed glee and determination to contest the election.

    The posters, on which the umbrella logo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appeared, was all over Mokola Roundabout, Sabo, Queen Elizabeth Road, Agodi and Yidi, among others.

    The message on the posters read: “Mo n bo; mo n bo” (I am coming back; I am coming back).

    The posters finally confirmed months of speculations on whether or not the Ogbomoso-born politician would contest the poll.

    Posters of the PDP announcing a new dawn in the state also flooded several areas of the city.

    Alao-Akala was defeated by Governor Abiola Ajimobi in the 2011 election after a four-year term.

  • Ex-PDP members berate Alao-Akala

    Ex-PDP members berate Alao-Akala

    Former leaders and members of Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under the aegis of Senator Ajimobi Re-Election Movement (SAREM), have said former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala is a “politician with a dead conscience.”

    They noted that instead of Alao-Akala being “remorseful and seek divine forgiveness for his bad governance, he goes about polluting the political atmosphere with his bad utterances”.

    The movement was reacting to an interview the former governor granted a national newspaper (not The Nation) on the merger of the new PDP governors with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Alao-Akala was quoted as saying Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s second term in office was uncertain and that the APC was like a car without a driver.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Oyo town, the Chairman of the movement and a former Special Adviser to the former governor, Akinrogun Segun Taiwo, said no party could boast or parade eminent personalities of redoubtable character as the APC.

    Taiwo said: “If the PDP had the like of General Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Alhaji Aminu Masari, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, former Abia State Governor Ogbonnaya Onu, the party would not have been sinking and be in abysmal shred.”

    The former governor’s aide described the merger of five G7 governors and members of the new PDP as a ray of hope.

    He hailed the former PDP governors for their courage.

    According to him, the only way to change the country from impunity and messy governance of the PDP-led administration was to join hands with the progressives to wrest power from the PDP.

    On the merger, he said: “It is a welcome development. It will create a viable and credible alternative. It is incontrovertible that everybody is fed up with the PDP-led Federal Government. It’s a government, which is providing the cover for its corrupt officials and making them sacred cows and untouchables…”

  • Ilaka: AP in alliance talks with Alao-Akala, not PDP

    Ilaka: AP in alliance talks with Alao-Akala, not PDP

    Former Accord Party (AP) senatorial candidate in Oyo North District Chief Oyebisi Ilaka spoke on the Ajimobi Administration, prospects of AP and proposed alliance bewteen the party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). EMMANUEL OLADESU was there.

    What is the future of Accord Party in Oyo State?

    The future of the Accord Party in the state is bright. Since the birth of the party, we have been playing the role of the opposition. Before we came, it has always been the two horse race between the PDP and the ACN, now the APC. We have tried both parties in the states and they have not actually brought succour to our people. We represent the new order, in terms of political philosophy. If you are well aware, you will notice that the party was brought to the state, shortly before the 2011 election. Literarily, it was about three months to the election. Since then, the party has been waxing stronger and on monthly basis, we have been having people defecting to the party. And the trend will continue because we really believe that as they come, they will reap the benefit of their inclusion.

    Some people have a lot of reservations about the leadership style of the AP National Leader, Senator Rashidi Ladoja. What is your view?

    When he got elected in 2003,the challenge he had then was the distinction between the party and government. the issues he had with Baba Adedibu and former President Olusegun Obasanjo really stopped him from delivering on what he set out to deliver, but in the state today, people still reminisce on what he did. They remember then, that classrooms were not as overcrowded as we have now, it was then 30 students per class, civil servants were well treated, there were job creation, industries were sited in the state and there was a coherence philosophy and ideology, which was articulated to all and sundry. Even beyond that, I have met some of those people who worked with him then. They described his government as more inclusive, that they discussed issues as they arrived and he did not run a one man government. In a nutshell, his style was not napoleonic. He does not rule as if he is an emperor. For instance, I have to introduce some things into the party which he really appreciated and imbibed. He remains a major innovator and I think this is what we need in the state. In Oyo state, what we need is an agenda for reform. What we have as at now does not fit the challenges of the age we live in.

    If the APC makes overtures to the Accord Party for the renewal of the alliance, what will be your reaction?

    I think those overtures don’t have any wing to fly. Such a proposition, as far as I am concerned, is dead. We are the only opposition to them in the state and, if we really want a plural society, things should remain as they are now.

    We heard that former Governor Ladoja and his erstwhile deputy, former Governor Alao-Akala, have resolved their differences. Does that translate into a romance between Accord and PDP?

    No, their differences had been resolved. Not only did they work together as governor and deputy, they had a brotherly relationship. Those issues have been resolved, but on the political front, there are discussions. Consultations are still going on, but they haven’t been finallised. Let me add here that the discussion is between Accord and Alao-Akala and not PDP. Yes, we are in alliance talks with him. We recognised him as a political force in the state, particularly in the Ogbomosho and Oke-Ogun areas. We believed that having contested two elections in the state, he has followership across the state. Ours is a party that seeks to grow organically. So, if, in the path of our growth, we consummate this affinity, I think there is nothing bad in it but we are not in any discussion with PDP.

    My assessment is that the government is not coherent and it is strictly disjointed. More so, there is a major disconnection between this administration and the people. But our government in Accord is going to be a government that will have a human face and take into consideration what the electorate wants. We will connect with them at all level. We have also said that our elected officials will live within where they were elected.

    This administration constantly feels that its agenda is contract-driven and not people-driven. So, this is where we have major ideological differences. They are talking about urban renewal, but our philosophy is that, until we fix the rural area, until we develop our agricultural sector, until we develop our industrial sector, until we have proper job creating initiatives, which are enduring, not dead end jobs. We understand that jobs will not only give you a way, but help you build and sustain your family. We are not talking about dead end Oyes jobs, where half of the time, they don’t get paid for it. We have a vision. They call us dreamers, but we have a vision of where we want Oyo State to be. We want people to see what our dreams for the state are and show them our pathway.

    You have traversed three parties within one year because they refused to give you ticket. What will happen, if Accord equally fails to give you the ticket?

    I am in Accord Party for the long run. I left, PDP for the same reason. I and brothers and fellow-travellers left either for the ACN or Accord. I first left for the ACN. Now, I am in the Accord for the long run, for the foreseeable future.

    Many have said that Governor Ajimobi has lived up to expectation. Do you believe in this assertion?

    The state has a team that is not our third eleven, but a mosquito team. They do not have a plan because, when you have a plan and you get to office, what you have to do is to immediately begin to delegate responsibility. We have heard a lot about that executive council. When somebody said people do not contribute, yes it is true, because they do not want to be shouted at by the chief executive, who knows all. The bulk stops on his table because he chose those who work with him.