The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Henry Ajomale

  • 2019: Ajomale predicts victory for APC

    •Ex-Rep member Ajata hits 80

    The immediate past Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Chief Henry Ajomale has predicted victory for the ruling party in the next year’s general elections.

    Ajomale said Nigerians would not allow people that ruined the economy and entrenched corruption into the system return to power. He spoke to reporters at the 80th birthday celebration of a veteran politician and former Member of the House of Representatives, Chief Joseph Jaiyeola Ajata held in Lagos yesterday.

    The former APC Chairman said if not for the APC government led by President Muhammadu Buhari  that came to rescue the country in 2015, Nigeria would have been worse. He said:  “Nigerians should not be deceived by those who want to destroy the country. Buhari should be given another chance.  We don’t have to be in a hurry to destroy this country. We should allow Buhari to continue his good work by re-electing him in 2019.”

    Asked why he has not been active in politics since he left office as APC Chairman, Ajomale said: “I have not retired from politics. I’m still in APC. I still work with our leaders for the good of the party. I served as Chairman for 12 years. I had to give way for younger people to come in with fresh ideas on party management.”

    On the chances of Lagos APC in 2019, he said: APC will win in Lagos. “The people of Lagos can’t be taken for granted. Since 1999, the progressive party has been in power in the state which has promoted infrastructural and economic development. The state is far ahead of other states because it is endowed with tested and educated leaders.”

    He described Ajata as a sincere, reliable, well respected and regarded politician. According to him, “we have been together for the past 22 years. He represented my constituency, Oshodi/Isolo II. He carried along his constituents through regular consultation. I wish him many happy returns of the celebration in good health and prosperity”.

    At a well attended reception, Ajata told the audience that “the inception of the journey of my life was not too smooth as I never enjoyed the warmth of my parental care because they travelled out  of town for greener pasture in Lagos. As early as my primary school days, I had been made to live with one uncle or another.

    Read also: Ajudua to Bamaiyi: show proof of source of $8.4m

    “Ideally, this more than anything else should have given me the opportunity to live a wayward live ,, but this indeed is a reality that tough time doesn’t last but tough people do and that when the going gets tough the tough gets going.”

    Ajata, who represented Ohodi- Isolo II Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2011, advised Nigerians to elect people that have fear of God and those that would serve their interest during the 2019 general elections.

    His auto- biography titled: “Adventures in Life, Business and Politics was presented to the audience. Dignitaries present on the occasion were Onisolo of Isolo, Oba Kabiru Agbabiaka; former Governor of Central Bank, Chief Joseph Sanusi, and Akaramu of Ikaramu-Akoko, Oba Momodu.

     

  • No crack in Lagos APC over Oyegun – Party Chieftain

    No crack in Lagos APC over Oyegun – Party Chieftain

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos, Chief Tajudeen Olusi, says there is no crack in the state’s chapter over its opposition to the tenure elongation of Chief John Oyegun-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

    Olusi and other party elders in the state met in Lagos on Tuesday to take a position on the Oyegun-led executive’s extended tenure.

    The state chairman of the party, Chief Henry Ajomale, had on Feb 27 attended a National Executive Council meeting of the party in Abuja where tenure extension for Oyegun-led executive was ratified by one year.

    The party‘s NEC also approved a year extension for state executives of the party.

    Ajomale is the chairman of the Forum of APC state chairmen.

    Olusi told our reporters in Lagos that the state chapter’s position on the issue, despite the fact Ajomale was present at the Abuja NEC meeting, did not mean a crack in Lagos APC.

    Read Also: APC, Okowa, Kalu greet ex-president

    “There is no crack in Lagos APC. Nothing like that at all. Our opposition to the tenure elongation should not be misinterpreted.

    “Yes, Chief Ajomale was in Abuja where the tenure of the National Working Committee was extended by one year. That was in Abuja.

    “He came back home to Lagos and submitted his report to the party here for deliberations and consideration.

    “The elders of the party in the state met yesterday on the issue and we took the state position, which is that we are opposed to the tenure elongation.

    “We based our position on the party’s constitution which was clear about tenure of executive officers.

    “It is normal in a democracy to have different people having different positions on issues.

    “What we did  was just an expression of our democratic right,” he said.

    Asked if Ajomale was present at the Lagos meeting where the position was taken, Olusi gave an affirmative response.

    He said the position was the consensus of everyone present, including Ajomale himself.

    He said the atmosphere after the meeting was lively, indicating that Lagos APC was one house.

    “Chief Ajomale was at the meeting as well as other elders. The atmosphere was lively. We took photographs and exchanged pleasantries. There is no problem in Lagos APC,” he said.

    Efforts to speak with Ajomale on the issue proved abortive as he did not respond to phone calls.

    NAN

     

  • Raji was compassionate, loyal – Aregbesola

    Raji was compassionate, loyal – Aregbesola

    The Governor of Osun State, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, on Monday described the late Lateef Raji, who was a commissioner in the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, as a compassionate man who touched many lives.

    Aregbesola gave the description at the 8th day Fidau prayer organised for the deceased by his friends and political associates in Lagos.

    Represented by Mr Bola Ilori, the governor said Raji was a great mobiliser who would be sorely missed by many.

    “Raji was a compassionate fellow who touched the lives of so many people he came across.

    “Also, he was a loyal party man who did a lot for our great party, APC.

    “His demise is a great loss to us in the party and to us in Osun State.

    “We are greatly pained by his death and we pray for his peaceful repose and fortitude for the family to bear the loss. “he said.

    The governor expressed special condolences to the wife and children of the deceased, and promised that he would always be in touch with them.

    Also showering encomiums, a former commissioner in Lagos State, Mr Lateef Ibirogba, said Raji was a good friend and a sophisticated politician.

    “I was the commissioner for Information in the cabinet of former governor Babatunde Fashola while Raji was Special Adviser on Information.

    “He was a jolly good fellow and a complete gentleman.

    “He was a very good politician and touched so many lives when he was alive.

    “Raji lived a fulfilled life. I am going to miss him,” Ibirogba said.

    He prayed for the peaceful repose of Raji’s soul and that God should be with the family he left behind.

    Mr Kayode Opeifa,who was also in Fashola’s cabinet with the deceased, described Raji as a friend and a colleague.

    He said the deceased was loved in the party and by cabinet members.

    “His exit is painful. We will all miss him. He was a vivacious fellow and a great party man,” Opeifa said.

    The Chairman of Oshodi/Isolo Local Government, Mr Muse Ariyo, said hosting the prayer at the council secretariat was not enough to appreciate the great work of Raji.

    He said the deceased left an indelible impact on the lives of the people in the area and his life and times were worth celebrating.

    “We are pained by his demise and we pray that Allah grant his soul peaceful repose,” he said.

    Dr Said Timehin, who gave the sermon, urged Nigerians, especially leaders, to touch the lives of others.

    “Everything in life is vanity. So we should stop all this primitive accumulation.

    “We should spend our money on Allah’s course and humanity, just like late Raji. ” he said.

    Timehin described Raji as a compassionate fellow who made impact on people’s lives.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that prayers were offered for the peaceful repose of the deceased at the programme.

    The prayer attracted prominent APC faithful, including the state chairman of the party, Chief Henry Ajomale.

    Politicians from other parties, officials of the state government and residents also graced the programme.

    NAN reports that Raji died on Aug. 14, at the age of 55.

    He has since been buried in his Ido-Ani hometown,Ondo State according to Islamic rites.

  • Buhari’s health critical to APC government’s vision, says Ajomale

    Buhari’s health critical to APC government’s vision, says Ajomale

    The Chairman of the Forum of APC States Chairmen, Chief Henry Ajomale, on Wednesday declared that the health of President Muhammadu Buhari is critical to the vision of the ruling APC government.

    He said this while addressing State House correspondents after the All Progressives Congress state chairmen’s meeting with the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, at Aso Villa.

    According to Ajomale, who is the Chairman of the party in Lagos State, the Forum discussed at length the situation in the country and “then our anxiety for the health of the President.”

    “We are grateful that God in His infinite mercies has made him whole which is very critical and important to the vision that we have for this country as APC government.”

    He explained that the Acting President was able to brief the forum about the situation in the country, the economy, and steps taken so far to address the challenges facing the country.

    “We are very impressed with his explanations and we will go back to our various states and let the people know that the government has very good intentions.

    “And that we should be part and parcel of the government in order to ensure that the poor people of this country are getting better deal.

    “In a nutshell, we are very happy for what we heard from government and we intend to carry it to our states,’’ the forum chairman said.

    On the specific issues discussed, Ajomale said members expressed concerns about the economic situation in the country.

    He noted that the situation was not totally the fault of government since it was a global problem with the economic recession taking its toll on every country.

    He expressed delight that the Buhari administration was trying to diversify the economy following a slump in oil prices.

    Ajomale said:“We also discussed diversification into agriculture, especially rice production, the level of children’s welfare (Home Grown School Feeding programme).

    “And then we talked about corruption also which is the key among the problems that the president is particular about.

    “I think that the people of this county are particular about this too that corruption cannot continue and a systemic method had been put in place to ensure that it is cut down.

    “Although it is not totally eradicated but it is far better than what we had during the President Goodluck Jonathan regime.”