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Tag: Governor Abiola Ajimobi

  • Ajimobi, Shittu, others for communications retreat

    Ajimobi, Shittu, others for communications retreat

    Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi will declare open a two-day communications retreat being organised by Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    Shittu will deliver the keynote address on the occasion.

    Other participants at the retreat include National Assembly members, key Ministry officials, chief Executive Officers of NCC, NIGCOMSAT, NITDA, NIPOST, Galaxy Backbone Ltd and Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), industry bigwigs and major stakeholders are set for Ibadan, the Oyo State capital this weekend to attend the 2016 Communications Sector Retreat.

    The two-day retreat, according to a statement by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Victor Oluwadamilare, with the theme: Repositioning the Nigeria Communications Sector as the Key Driver of the Nigerian Economy, is slated for International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan and will be held between Friday 22 and Saturday 23, January 2016.

    Barrister Shittu, in his avowed determination to reposition the Communications Sector in tandem with the Change Agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari, since assumption of duties as Minister of Communications, had embarked on various inquisitions and fact-finding exercises, the result of which culminated in the forthcoming retreat.

    It was discovered that considerable efforts made in the past to mainstream ICT into vital aspects of life in the country, have unfortunately been undermined by the lack of an integrated framework for utilisation of ICT for socio-economic development.

    In the ensuing scenario, the Minister of Communications had to re-examine the status quo ante in order to formulate new strategies for doing things differently so as to fast track the realization of the vision of a new Nigeria, hence the all-inclusive retreat.

    Towards this end, the 2016 Communications Sector Retreat was designed to achieve among others: Define a Strategic Roadmap for Government on ICT; Provide a Common Platform for Sector Stakeholders to Share Common Vision for ICT development in Nigeria and to form a precursor for the Minister to unveil his vision for the ICT sector that will be beneficial to all.

    The fulcrum of the Minister’s new initiative is job creation, revenue generation, efficient service delivery and infrastructural development.

    Some of the technical papers expected to be delivered by seasoned Nigerians and a couple of foreign technical experts include ICT Local Content and Innovation for Employment Generation; Accelerating Wealth and Job Creation in Nigeria through ICT Skills and Capacity Development; Economic Diversification: Increasing Government Revenue from the ICT Sector and Repositioning NIPOST for Enhanced Revenue Generation and Efficient Service Delivery.

    Others are Creating Enabling Environment for ICT Development; Enhancing Policy Framework for Accelerated ICT Infrastructure Development and Leveraging on the e-Government Master Plan for Efficient, Effective and Transparent Governance.

    The two-day retreat is expected to draw over 300 industry stakeholders and policy makers to the ancient City of Ibadan, the first of its kind in the history of the Ministry.

     

     

  • ‘Olubadan didn’t promote high chiefs to spite Ajimobi’

    ‘Olubadan didn’t promote high chiefs to spite Ajimobi’

    The first son of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1, Prof. Allan Femi Lana has said the promotion of high chiefs by his father was not intended to spite the directive of the state governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi.

    He disclosed this on Wednesday in his appreciation message to the critical stakeholders that resolved the face-off between the Olubadan in Council and Governor Ajimobi over the promotion of nine chiefs by the monarch on January 1, 2016.

    Prof. Lana explained that the promotion was effected to avoid a court injunction which the Seriki in Ibadan Chieftaincy System had threaten to issue to stop their promotion exercise.

    “Olubadan did not ask the high chiefs to disobey the governor but they did it for a simple reason to beat any form of injunction which the Seriki line may want to take to stop their promotion exercise. If they had done the promotion exercise for the high chiefs on Friday or Saturday the promotion might not have taking place.

    “A long time ago there was a supreme court judgement that says when two high chiefs die the same time in Ibadanland, one member of the Seriki line should be brought in to replace them in either the Balogun or Olubadan line, whereas Seriki line which is the third line cannot become the Olubadan because their line was not recognised before, but it was the supreme court judgement that made them to be recognised.

    “That has happen now because we have lost high chief Omowale Kuye and Omiyale the same time. So the high chiefs anticipated that the Seriki line may go to court to stop their promotion. But the mistake which the high chiefs made was that they did not inform the governor about their plan. They should have even acknowledged the governor’s letter and promise him that they will follow due process later. Although I believe they ignore it because the governor was their brother,” the prince said.

    He noted that the governor does not have any agenda or ulterior motive on the issue but only wanted the high chiefs to follow due process in their promotion exercise.

    Prof Lana who thanked all Ibadan Elders Forum members that waded into the crisis between the chiefs and the governor, added that his father is very proud of them.

    He further added that: “The consultations before the meetings that resolved the issue was explosive, especially on the 48 hours ultimatum given by the governor. We thank God that our elders and notable individuals stepped into the matter and resolved it amicably, but before it was resolved it was tough for the Ibadan elders who had to call separate meetings for the parties involve to pour out their grievances.

    “Different people came in with their own bitterness, concerns and unfavourable impressions about the high chiefs and the governor, but in the end the high chiefs agreed that there was one step missing before their promotion which they did not take.”

    According to the prince, within 24 hours that this crisis started there was tension in Ibadan and people were wondering what will be the outcome of the ultimatum the governor issued on the high chiefs.

    He added that: “Each of the parties have identify their lapses, and the high chiefs have accepted where they were wrong and have promise to follow due process in the promotion level. The governor too has giving provisional approval for them to retain the positions but should follow due process later.

    “Appreciation should go to the President of Ibadan Elders Forum, Ambassador Olu Saanu for playing a pivotal role in settling the dispute between the governor and the high chiefs by inviting the high chiefs to his house to caution them on the governor’s ultimatum.”

     

  • Ajimobi: Bail-out can’t bail us out

    Ajimobi: Bail-out can’t bail us out

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has blamed extreme dependence on oil for the nation’s dwindling economy.

    Speaking on a radio programme monitored in Ibadan, Ajimobi warned that if proper measures were not put in place to redirect the economy, Nigerians may suffer for the current dip.

    Aside from falling oil prices, the governor said the entry of other oil- producing countries into the business has further worsened the economy.

    Ajimobi said: “Today, the federal allocation has plummeted. We were taking N5 billion when we came in 2011  but now it has been reduced to N3 billion.

    “With this shortfall, our average monthly wage bill stands at about N5.2 billion. Even without political office holders, salary stands at N5.2 billion. We cannot do any tangible projects again because of the workers’ salary.

    “What this means is that monthly when we get the federal allocation and add our internally generated revenue to it, it can only be used to pay wage bill. What this means is that we will continue to owe workers.

    “Hopefully, we should access the bail-out next week. We owe four months’ salaries, which is N21.3 billion .

    “As soon as we finish paying the outstanding salaries, we will start owing again as we still have to scramble for more money.”

    Though the governor said talks were ongoing with labour unions on the needs to cut salaries, he allayed the fear of workers on possible sack.

    According to him: “We will not sack anybody but we will restructure them to productive areas, though we know we have an over-bloated workforce.”

    On the ways out for Oyo State, he said: “We want to set a template like Lagos on our IGR and I promise that by September 2016, we should be able to increase our revenue from N1.2 billion to N2.3 billion. We will also block leakages .

    “The bail-out is like a long term bond which will be serviced with 9 per cent. It is illegal to do otherwise and not pay workers’ salaries with the bail-out.”

    On the introduction of development levy in public secondary schools, he reiterated: “I would not call that fees. We pay N54, 000 on each student.

    “Before we arrived at this, we have convened a stakeholders’ meeting where it was recommended that each student should be made to pay N10, 000 annually but I said no; that it should not be more than N1000 per term, making N3000 per session.

    “However, we will consider the poor but indigent students as the scholarship board will be strengthened to cater for them.”

    He said the stoppage of sponsorship of pilgrimage was temporary, adding, as the last pillar of Islam, hajj is  for those who could afford it.

    “Oyo was the highest sponsor of pilgrimage in the last four years. Though we would have loved to continue but the dwindling economy would not allow us. So, they should bear with us pending the time the economy will improve.”

    He said he has not appointed political office holders because he was taking his time to get the best to man the 13 ministries.

  • Don’t waste your votes, Ajimobi tells Oyo voters

    Don’t waste your votes, Ajimobi tells Oyo voters

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday urged residents to vote for him and all All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates on Saturday.

    He said a vote for other candidates would be a waste following APC’s victory at the centre.

    The governor made the appeal on an MITV programme, monitored in Ibadan, the state capital yesterday.

    Ajimobi said any vote for  the Accord, Labour Party (LP) or Social Democratic Party (SDP) is a vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said having demonstrated their love for change and progress by voting for Muhammadu Buhari and its National Assembly candidates on March 28, Oyo State cannot operate as an opposition state again.

    According to him, many initiatives of his administration requiring Federal Government’s approval or cooperation could not succeed because the Federal Government allegedly refused to play its role.

    But now the APC has taken over the centre, Ajimobi urged the people to vote for him and the party on Saturday as they did on March 28.

    Declaring that he would win on Saturday, the governor recalled that his policies have endeared him to the people.

    “We are confident of victory by the grace of God and by the love people have for us as demonstrated in the last election,” he said.

    He recalled that his administration succeeded in bringing peace, improving social infrastructure, such as roads, water supply in Iseyin, Ayete, Saki and Ibadan.

    “Oyo State people have demonstrated their acceptance of change. They should repeat the same thing on Saturday.

    “Don’t waste your vote, I beg you. If you vote for the Accord, it’s PDP. If you vote for SDP, it is PDP. If you vote for Labour; it is also PDP. And PDP has crumbled as you know,” Ajimobi said.

  • How Ajimobi led APC to victory in Oyo

    How Ajimobi led APC to victory in Oyo

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) went into last Saturday’s National Assembly elections with no senator in the Upper Legislative Chamber. It had three members in the House of Representatives. But, the table has turned. Correspondent BISI OLADELE examines how the party last weekend won the three seats in the Senate and 12 in the House of Representatives.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has cause to celebrate. It has resolved the crisis that engulfed it within one year to emerge winner in all categories in last Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

    When the party won the governorship election in 2011, it also produced two senators and five members of the House of Representatives, as well as 13 members of the state House of Assembly.

    But, just after one year in the saddle, the coalition that produced the victory began to crack due to the ambition of some of its leaders, who questioned Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s style of leadership.

    The power blocs were unwilling to shift ground. The governor equally stuck to his gun, saying that his leadership style is in the best interest of the state. The party tried to manage the crisis internally for one year. But, the bubble burst last year, when  two senators —- Ayo Adeseun (Oyo Central) and Femi Lanlehin (Oyo South) — defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord respectively.

    Two members of the House of Representatives —Hon. Kola Olabiyi (Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Iwajowa/Kajola Constituency) and Kamil Akinlabi (Oyo Constituency) decamped to Labour Party (LP) to team up with former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala who is currently the governorship candidate of the LP in the April 11 election.

    Aside opposition to Ajimobi’s style and vision, the aggrieved party chieftains criticised his urban renewal policy and noted that their political future was unsafe in an Ajimobi-led APC.

    Observers, politicians and others saw their departure as the APC’s death knell. This is bacause they were believed to have gone with their supporters and that the development may deplete the membership and support for the APC. This raised fears among political observers as the general elections approached. Having lost such number of leaders to other parties, it was widely believed that the state would fall from the hands of the APC.

    Fear also gripped APC leaders in other states, particularly within the Southwest region. They expressed serious concern about the future of the party in Oyo State. But, Ajimobi remained resolute and focused on the job on his hands.

    As the 2015 general elections approached, opposition parties and their candidates prepared for the polls with uncommon confidence, believing that the APC would suffer defeat at the polls.

    But, when the results of Saturday’s National Assembly elections started to trickle in, it became clear that the people of Oyo State appreciated what their governor has been doing. In a massive electoral victory, the APC did not just win the seats they initially had in 2011, its candidates trounced all those who defected from the party and even won additional seats at both chambers of the National Assembly.

    Besides, the APC returned the remaining three members of the House of Representatives with all its candidates defeating their rivals comfortably.

     

    Oyo Central

     

    The following are the factors that worked in the candidates’ favour in Oyo Central. The incumbent senator representing the district, Ayo Adeseun, hails from Ogbomoso. Two councils in the town — Surulere and Ogo-Oluwa — belong to the district. The remaining nine are in Oyo and Ibadan.

    The moment Adeseun decamped to the PDP last year, the seat became the agenda of Oyo Zone, which has not produced its occupant in the last 16 years. Realising the interest of the town, the APC quickly zoned the seat to the ancient town, which has four local governments. Hon. Monsurat Sunmonu, who is currently the Speaker of the House of Assembly, hails from Oyo. She picked the ticket during a keenly contested primary.

    With the APC already doing very well in two out of the five councils in Ibadan and its growing fortunes in Egbeda and Ona-Ara, Sunmonu’s chances were considered bright. The party’s soaring strength in Oluyole also helped a great deal.

    In addition, Ajimobi’s performance had increased the fortune of the APC in Ibadan generally. The governor also embarked on a tour of the 33 local governments towards the end of last year to explain his policies to the grassroots people and mobilise support for his administration. The tiring exercise paid off eventually, as the votes from the five councils in Ibadan helped Sunmonu to emerge as the new senator. This combines with her gender appeal. The result: APC 105, 378 votes, Accord 84, 675, PDP 44, 045, Labour 27, 490 and SDP 7, 362

     

    Oyo South

     

    The incumbent senator, Femi Lanlehin, was also defeated by Hon. Soji Akanbi, who hails from the same ward with the former in Ibadan North West Local Government.

    Except in 2007, when the PDP was believed to have rigged elections across Southwest, this district has always been represented by progressives.

    The incumbent also won the seat on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2011 before he decamped to the Accord Party. That was probably why the APC picked Akanbi, a traditionally progressive politician of no mean strength, to contend with his brother. Ibadan South West Local Government factor also played a part in the victory. Ibadan South West is the most populated local government in the state and this is the local council where Governor Ajimobi hails from.

    With Ajimobi’s performance, particularly in Ibadan, the population strength of Ibadan South West, the granting autonomy to a satellite campus of the state’s college of education in Lanlate, as well as granting the Eruwa satellite campus of the Polytechnic, Ibadan full autonomy, among others, it was easy for the APC candidates to coast to victory in the entire district. Lanlehin defeated Akanbi only in Ibadan North East where the Accord Party has been holding sway since 2011.

    Most people were also not impressed with the decision of Lanlehin to defect to Accord and his attempts to rubbish what Governor Ajimobi has been doing. Many observers believe that he should have waited for Ajimobi to complete his two terms before expressing interest in the governorship race in the state. In some quarters, his actions were viewed as betrayal and a display of discontentment, having defected then from the PDP to the defunct ACN to contest for the governorship ticket and eventually landed at the Senate.

    These factors, among others worked in favour of the APC candidate.

    The result: APC 147,583, Accord 93,256, PDP 47,152, LP 28,993 and SDP 11,54

     

    Oyo North

     

    This district presented perhaps the most shocking result in the election. The new senator, Hon. Fatai Buhari, hails from Ogbomoso South, one of the three councils in Ogbomoso that was merged with the 10 councils in Oke-Ogun area to make up the district.

    In spite of the fact that the serving senator, Hosea Agboola, hails from Oke-Ogun and that the LP candidate, Hon. Tajudeen Kareem, who is also from the zone, is a serving member of the House of Representatives, Buhari successfully built on the various developmental projects of the Ajimobi administration in Oke-Ogun to corner the votes from the zone. The developmental project of the Ajimobi administration in the zone include: the dualization of Iseyin Road, the granting autonomy to the Saki campus of the Polytechnic, Ibadan and the offering of several appointments to politicians from the zone, as well as the recruitment of 2,000 primary school teachers from among the people. This helped to catapulte the party to victory in nine of out of the 10 local governments in the zone.

    With this impressive result, the governor has ended up as the highest contributor to the success of the APC from Southwest. Consequently, with victory in the kitty, it is convincing to believe that Ajimobi is leading the APC to final victory on April 11, 2015.

  • ‘I supported Ajimobi’s second term bid’

    ‘I supported Ajimobi’s second term bid’

    Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, who represents Oyo South District in the Senate, defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Accord Party last year. In this interview, the lawmaker, who is seeking re-election, explains his relationship with Governor Abiola Ajimobi and his expectations at the general elections. He spoke with OSEHEYE OKWUOFU.

    WHY did your relationship with Governor Abiola Ajimobi suffer a setback?

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi and I enjoyed a robust and cordial relationship even before we came together in the same party. We started on a very friendly basis. We came closer when we found ourselves in the same party. We were both gunning for the same position and we had the same goal as at that time. We were both aspiring for our party’s ticket to run for the governorship of Oyo State. Despite everything that happened then, I still related well with him and worked in tandem with him for the realisation the goal of the party: to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people. From day one, I have nothing personal against him or anybody. Indeed, we still relate well on a personal level.

    Was there any agreement within the party that Ajimobi should do only one term, to give room for you to realise your ambition as governor?

    Although Ajimobi had said he would do only one term on several occasions, I never for once expected him to do only one term. I expected that naturally, he would aspire for another term. Indeed, I had assured him on several occasions in public and private that I intended to supported him for his second term, if he carries out the party’s programme and policies. That is, making the people of Oyo State happy with our party and his government and provided our party members are equally happy with him, for carrying them along and running an inclusive government.

    But, he did not do the needful by carrying the people of Oyo State along. We as members also expected so much from the government. But, he did not run an inclusive government, as expected. He was not comfortable with normal way of party democracy; he has more or less been running a one-man show. Before we parted ways, I noted this severally in private and public discussions and in the presence of our party leaders and elders, but nothing changed.

    Why were you not able to iron out these differences?

    We had so many interactions, both formal and informal and we had so many meetings at the instance of our leaders. We had over nine formal meetings, some called by our departed leader, Alhaji Lam Adesina, who chaired meetings in respect of this matter and subsequently we had different meetings with the party leaders. Even when Lam Adesina was on his hospital bed, other party leaders were trying to broker peace between us. It is not just me alone, but also with other party faithful who felt that he was not carrying everybody along. A lot of people were grumbling, because they were not happy. Many of them could not say it to his face, but some of us who felt that we owe it a duty to him, to the party and the public felt it is our duty to tell him that he is not doing the right thing. Some of us went round the nooks and crannies of this state, knocking on people’s door, banging on people’s gate and asking for their vote on the premise that I belong to a party that will run a government that will take care of their needs. So, having made so many promises across the length and breadth of Oyo State, I cannot but be held to my word of promise. So, it is not a matter of only him been responsible to the people of the state, I saw it as a collective responsibility because this is the party in whom we all invested, laboured to serve the people, and I believe nobody should rather desecrate or bring any harm or rupture to that platform. I thought I owe a duty to him as a party colleague and somebody whom I share a great relationship with till now, so a lot of meetings were held and some situations were reviewed on both sides and some positions were arrived at, but nothing changed. So, when it became very obvious that these meetings, conferences and whatever will come to nothing, I felt that there was no point in flogging a dead horse.

    Can we consider this as Ajimobi’s style of governance or is it a case of an external influence at work?

    I don’t know his intention, but all I could see is that what he was doing and the way he was doing it was not in the best interest of the people and our party. I felt duty-bound to speak up because the platform upon which he is standing belongs to all of us and nobody should do anything to make it less useable in the future. Those of us who have ears of the ordinary man on the street, those of us who are still accessible were hearing what the common citizens of Oyo State are saying. I am not saying the governor have not done anything right; of course, he has done commendable things, but at the end of the day what matters is the people; the people should be  the centre-piece of any activity, policy, of any action and the policy of the government. A sovereign depends on what the people gets out of the system, out of the policy. When the people thinks they are being disregarded, ignored, brutalized and uncared for, then it is our duty to tell the governor in whom we all repose our common trust and to whom we all gave our common heritage to look after. So, I did tell him the truth, but nothing happened and so I just have to stop.

    What are other things you have against the governor?

    The issue of demolition of shops, structures and all that contributed towards negative feelings of our people towards the government. One is not saying that there should not be any development, every society craves development and every development also comes with some pains, some challenges and sacrifices. But, it must be balanced. You must not inflict irreparable damages to our people in the name of development; he ignored human capital development and he ignored the existence of our people in the name of beautifying the environment and developing the place.

  • Accord, APC trade blame over Ibadan violence

    Accord, APC trade blame over Ibadan violence

    Accord Party and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State yesterday traded blames over Friday violence by hoodlums in Oke-Ado area of Ibadan.

    Violence had erupted in the area as Governor Abiola Ajimobi was winding up his state-wide tour in Ido Local Government, prompting him (the Governor) to suspend his visit to the area as earlier scheduled to be the last place of visit. A policeman was killed in the encounter with the hoodlums.

    In a statement by the Accord yesterday, the party called for a ‘high-powered’ investigation into the attack which it said was undertaken by members of the APAC.

    But the latter accused the opposition of infiltrating its ranks to perpetrate the attack having been intimidated by the huge success of its huge achievements, peaceful tenure as the success of the two-week state tour.

    The Accord statement by Prince Dotun Oyelade, read in part: “Accord Party in Oyo State has called for a high-powered investigation into the attack that led to the killing of some policemen and wounding of others after an attack by thugs at an APC rally in Ibadan over the weekend.

    “For a party that brandishes peaceful reign as its cardinal achievement in four years, the unprovoked killing of policemen and random shooting to intimidate by hired thugs barely 12 weeks before the next election is a danger sign that must be stopped.”

    But the APC lamented the violence, saying that its rank was infiltrated by thugs wearing the party’s vests. It distanced itself from the violence.

    The statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Wale Shadare said, “The opposition parties, apparently overwhelmed by the success of the governor’s meet-the-people tour and distribution of letters of appointment to teachers, embarked on the violence to embarrass the governor and take the shine off the “successive tour”.

    “Why was it that this happened on the last day of the tour? Why did they choose the governor’s local government to inflict the mayhem?” The party asked.

    The Chairman, Caretaker Committee, Ibadan South West Local Government, Taoreed Adeleke has also explained the circumstances surrounding the attack, saying thugs invaded the proposed venue of the visit by the governor.

    In a statement on his behalf by the council’s Head of Information Unit, Prince Segun Adeyemo, Adedoja said: “The fact of the case is that the hoodlums who impersonated the members of the APC came out of the blues and unleashed terror on the mass of the people who had gathered at the Oke Ado Rally Ground since 12 noon that faithful day. The hoodlums even engaged the police in a gun duel, disrupting the peace in and around Oke Ado area.”

    Adeleke further stated that at the time of the sad incident, he, along with other top functionaries of the council were at former headquarters of the local government at Town Planning Area, Oluyole Estate which was designed as first place of visit of Governor Ajimobi before he would proceed to Oke-Ado.

    He therefore asserted that the opposition used the hoodlums to cause violence so as to instill fear in the minds of the people. In its reaction, the Police Headquarters deployed the attacj=k and killing of its officer.

    Force Spokesman, Emmanuel Ojukwu, said in a statement, “The Inspector-General of Police has condemned in very strong terms the unwarranted attack on Police Officers providing security at a political rally in Oke Ado area of Ibadan, Oyo State, during which one Police Inspector was shot dead and five others sustained grievous injuries.

    “While ordering a thorough investigation into the shooting incident and the attendant death of a service personnel, the Inspector-General of Police reiterated his warning to political actors to desist from the use of thugs in pursuing their agenda.

    “The IGP reaffirmed the resolve and determination of the Nigeria Police to provide a safe and secure corridor for all political competitors, stressing that offenders of the Electoral Act will face the full wrath of the law.”

     

  • With a divided house, Oyo PDP to battle APC

    With a divided house, Oyo PDP to battle APC

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is warming up for the next governorship election in Oyo State. BISI OLADELE takes a look at the aspirants, their pedigree and odds against them.

    The die is cast between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State.

    Prominent PDP chieftains eyeing the governorship have returned to the drawing board. They are reactivating their politicl structures across the local governments.

    However, the strength of the ruling APC is that Governor Abiola Ajimobi has been endorsed as the consensus candidate for the 2015 poll, following his sterling performance. Therefore, the party will not go into the election with acrimony.

    Unlike the APC, the PDP is more divided. Analysts have predicted a hectic primaries. There are other scenarios too. Sources said that the third party, Accord Party (AP) may team up with the PDP to battle the APC.

    The road is rough for the PDP. In the absence of peace in the party, it may find the next election dificult. There are many caucuses in the party. This is also a disadvantage.

    The APC is waxing stronger. The achievement of the governor is a factor. Although he has not declared his second term bid, many beleive that whenever he unfolds his aspiration, Ajimobi will not have any rival. Some aspirants may spring up, but they may later tep down for the governor because he is popular in the party.

    In the AP, former Governor Rashidi Ladoja towers above other chieftains. Sources said that he is interested in bouncing back as the governor. He lost the seat in 2007. However, if he contests again, there is no assurance that he will regain the seat. The odds are against him.

    The PDP has greater number of governorship aspirants.. They include the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Jumoke Akinjide, former Minister of Power and Steel Elder Wole Oyelese, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin and a business man, Mr Seyi Makinde.

    There is no strong leadership in the Oyo PDP. There is no leader who has the clout of the late “strongman”, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu. All the aspirants are leaders and no one is ready to bow for another person.

     

    Jumoke Akinjide

     

    A brilliant lawyer, Oloye Akinjide rode to the limelight largely on the fame of her father, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice in the Second Republic. She contested for the Senate in the Oyo Central Senatorial District in 2011, but lost to Senator Ayo Adeseun. She was later rewarded with the ministerial appointment by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Since her declaration of intention, Akinjide has been building her political structure. She has become a philanthropist, particularly to the people in her constituency. Although she spends most of her time in Abuja, the minister maintains regular contacts with her constituency. She oils her political structure, which seems to be expanding at the grassroots.

    Akinjide has also been playing a role in mending fences among feuding party leaders. Many of them have not been able to forge a common ground against other parties, due to strife, rancour and battle for supremacy. The caucuses see her as a uniting force.

    But the odds against her are many. They include the negative gender stereotype, particularly among Muslims. Similarly, interested party elders have pointed out that she is not popular beyond Ibadan, her place of birth. However, she is a serious contender.

     

    Oyelese

     

    A former minister and and party elder, Oyelese is believed to be interested in the exalted office. He signified interest in 2011, but intra-party squabbles prevented him from flying the party’s flag. His faction of the party remains neutral, according to analysts, because members of the faction have not been participating in the primaries since 2011.

    An experienced politician, who enjoys the respect of other party leaders acros the zones, Oyelese may pull some weight, if he is able to leverage on his connections and work with other stakeholders within the party.

    But he would definitely need more leaders and supporters on his side to gather the weight he needs to fly the party’s flag. Oyelese would also need to accommodate younger politicians, who have a different orientation to politics.

     

    Adeojo

     

    Adeojo is a veteran aspirant. He has been nursing the ambition for two decades. But success has eluded him. He is a party leader, who lacks followership among the four factions. He belongs to the old generation of politicians, who have a different orientation in politics.

    Adeojo has a lot of work to do. It appears that the mood of the party will accommodate younger aspirants.

     

    Alao-Akala

     

    Alao-Akala was defeated by Ajimobi in 2011. Many have alleged that the former governor lost power because he promoted violence and did not perform well in ofice. But, others have arguued that these are debatable.

    Alao-Akala still wields a great influence in the party. He commands a large followership, particularly in Ogbomoso, his town of birth, some parts of Oke-Ogun and Ibadan, the state capital.

    He is believed to have a large financial war chest. He is a courageous politician.

    But his alleged poor performance and the N11.5 billion fraud case are not good for his image as an aspirant. He was under attack for the way he also ran the party when he was in power. Sources said that some members are still nursing bitterness against him. Therefore, they are not willing to surrender leadership to him the second time.

    Alao-Akala will also have to contend with some elders, who are also interested in the position. It is doubful, if he can garner support in Ibadanland. Ibadan alone has about 55 percent of voters in the state.

     

    Teslim Folarin

     

    Senator Folarin has been eyeing the governorship, since his days in the Senate. In fact, the murder case he faced at the twilight of the 2011 election was believed to be the ploy by other power blocs within the party to stop him from participating in the primaries.

    Folarin currently controls the party machinery. The party officers were sponsored by him. But, under his leadership, the party is unable to pull a meaningful weight without the support of other factions.

    Besides, Folarin, analysts believe, lacks financial muscle and the political structure that can win a governorship election.

    Makinde

    Makinde, a business mogul, contested for the Senate in the 2007 election. He contested under defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP). But he lost hi deposit. He defected to the PDP in 2011, but could not secure the ticket for the seat.

    Makinde is young and resourceful. He is a serious contender. He has no bargage. He also has the financial strength to pursue his ambition.

    But PDP leaders see him as a man that should wait for his turn. Therefore, he can only make progress, if they sup[port a generational shift. He can only emerge as the candidate, if the leaders dump their ambitions, shun bitterness, and allowa neutral, younger person to ride the ladder.

    Apart from Alao-Akala, other contenders hail from Ibadan. This factor, it is believed, will shape the party primaries.

  • Stop awarding doctoral degrees to undeserving people, Ajimobi tells varsities

    Stop awarding doctoral degrees to undeserving people, Ajimobi tells varsities

    GOVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has decried the indiscriminate award of honourary doctoral degrees by some universities in the country to undeserving members of the society, urging them to stop the practice. The governor stated this while receiving members of the management team of Lead City University, Ibadan who were on a courtesy visit to him in his office in Ibadan on Friday. He said that the proliferation of honourary degrees among undeserving members of the public had reduced the respect associated with such degrees. Governor Ajimobi, however, commended the authorities of Lead City University for their contributions to human capital development in the country. He also charged the authorities of the institution to support the urban renewal policy of the state government by redeveloping and improving the structure of the entrance to the university located in Ibadan. Earlier in his remark, the Chancellor of the university, Professor Gabriel Ogunmola commended Governor Ajimobi for his urban renewal policy which he said had changed the face of the state.

  • Ajimobi employs 66 ‘disabled’ persons

    Ajimobi employs 66 ‘disabled’ persons

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has employed 66 people with disabilities into the civil service.

    Special Assistant to the Governor on People With Disabilities (PWD) Prince Paul Adelabu announced this yesterday at a three-day workshop by the government in partnership with the MALE Knowledge Limited.

    It was held at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Ibadan, the state capital.

    Adelabu said they would work across the 33 councils, adding that the Ajimobi administration was sensitive to their plight.

    He said in the last two years, over 1,000 physically-challenged were empowered and 20 deaf people given jobs at the State Waste Management Agency.

    Adelabu said they had talents and could contribute to the society’s growth.

    On the workshop, he said: “MALE Knowledge Limited and other Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have partnered us to train 120 ‘disabled’ leaders on entrepreneurial skills.

    “The purpose is to teach them how to handle business and access funds. These people talents and potential, so we are exposing them to business.”