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Tag: Ogun state

  • Gbenga Daniel quits PDP, partisan politics

    A former Governor of Ogun State and Director-General of Abubakar Atiku Campaign Organisation , Otunba Gbenga Daniel, on Saturday announced his departure from the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    In a letter he wrote to the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, he also informed of his decision to quit partisan politics.

    The letter, a soft copy of which was received by our reporter, specified that the resignation of the former governor who ruled Ogun state between 2003 and 2011, on the platform of the PDP, takes effect from March 14.

    During the just- concluded 2019 general election, Daniel also served as the Deputy Chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council (South).

    OGD’s media aide, Steve Oliyide, while confirming the development to The Nation, said :”Yes, the letter is from Otunba Gbenga Daniels.

    “He wrote the letter and it is true that he announced his exit from partisan politics”.

    The ex-governor had directed his supporters to vote for the All Progressive Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Dapo Abiodun in the last governorship election in the state.

    “This is to inform you of my intention to resign from active and partisan politics with effect from today, the 14th day of March, 2019.

    “My decision in this regard is entirely personal to me and having served in various capacities, including as Governor of Ogun State.

    “I have resolved to immerse myself in some other vocations and take on some new challenges,” the letter reads in part.

    Giving an insight into what he intends to do afterwards, Daniel explained: “My decision to quit partisan politics notwithstanding, I have decided to rejuvenate my charity based organization, the Gateway Front Foundation (GFF) which will literally continue to dispense succor to our people in need, address and assist in the areas of some of their health challenges. I also plan on resuscitation of the non-partisan Political Leadership Academy (POLA) which I established some years ago as a platform of political education to our citizens.”

    Hinting on some possible reasons for his decision to leave the PDP and shun partisan politics henceforth, the former PDP national chairmanship aspirant recalled: “Notwithstanding these widely acclaimed achievements however, our party, the People’s Democratic Party ran into trouble waters towards the end of our administration (about the year 2009) which led to the sad loss in the election of 2011, and regrettably ten (10) years after the party has been unable to resolve those internal disputes and challenges. Meanwhile, the PDP in Ogun State was confronted with a very difficult situation in matter of choice.

    Read Also: APC, PDP take INEC to task

    “Whereas the national leadership of our party, recognized one candidate for the 2019 election, by court pronouncements another candidate, and in compliance with those court orders, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognized was on the INEC list.

    “The candidates recognised by INEC were not acceptable to the national leadership of the party.

    “Our situation was then compounded because the candidate which the court and INEC recognized and accepted as valid has also been expelled by the party. This was the dilemma we found ourself as we approached the March 9, 2019 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.

    “Going forward, we have responded to the yearnings of our people and joined others in emplacing an administration that we believe will better serve the interests of our people than what currently exists. The rest they say is now history.

    “I must say that looking back, I do not have any regrets over that patriotic choice and decision, especially as several of our citizens, leaders and stakeholders in the state and outside have commended that singular action.

    “Many stakeholders within and outside Ogun State feel fulfilled, excited and grateful about our decision to join others in putting a stop to a regime that was believed to be against the collective and general welfare of our people.”

  • Ogun APC celebrates Abiodun’s victory

    Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State are still savouring the party’s victory in last weekend’s governorship and state assembly elections , with a party chieftain describing the development as ‘miraculous’.

    Speaking at a get together in Abeokuta, the immediate past Commissioner for Youths and Sport, Afolabi Afuape, hailed party members and supporters whose commitment, he said, brought about the victory in spite of Governor Ibikunle Amosun who threw his weight behind his preferred candidate from another party.

    “It is miraculous, we worked hard, but, he who crowns effort – the Almighty God -has crowned our effort. And I think it is the confidence reposed in our party and our governorship candidate who is now the governor-elect made this possible,” Afuape said.

    He added: “We want to assure the people of Ogun State that we will not betray that trust giving to us. Everybody can see that everyone are in a joyous mood, that shows we are happy with the change of hand. And I want to assure them once again that Ogun State will witness prosperity and rapid development during the tenure of Dapo Abiodun. The entire people of the State will not regret voting him.

    ”What our people actually want from us is very simple. Good governance in terms of security, rural road development, agricultural development, above all, good healthcare system and qualitative education. We would also give empowerment to our women and youths, we will also pay salaries as at when due.”

  • The new governors-elect in Southwest

    Abiodun

    Dapo Abiodun was born May 29, 1960. He is the Governor-elect of Ogun State.  Abiodun is the board Chairman of the Corporate Affairs Commission. He is the managing director of Heyden Petroleum and the founder of First Power Limited.

    He hails from Iperu Remo in Ogun State and belongs to a royal family. He was born into the family of Dr Emmanuel and Mrs Victoria Abiodun from Iperu Remo, in Ogun East senatorial district.

    He studied civil engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University Ife, Osun State and subsequently, Accounting at Kennesaw State University, Atlanta Georgia, United States of America (USA). He is the managing director/CEO of Heyden Petroleum Ltd (HPL), an indigenous player in the downstream, midstream, and upstream oil and gas industry in Nigeria. He is also reportedly the founder of First Power Limited.

    Read also: Polls inconclusive in Kano, Benue, Sokoto, three others

    Abiodun was a member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State. He defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after the 2015 general elections.

     Makinde

    Oluwaseyi Abiodun Makinde, the Oyo State governor-elect, was born December 25, 1967. He is the Group Managing Director of Makon Group Limited, an indigenous oil and gas company in Nigeria. He established his first oil and gas private business called Makon Engineering and Technical Services, (METS) at 29 in 1997, after earning years of work experience with international oil and gas companies.

    Makinde contested for the Oyo State 2015 gubernatorial seat on the platform Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    He was born to a renowned teacher turned accountant, the late Pa Olatubosun Makinde and Madam Abigail Makinde of Aigbofa compound in Oja’ba, Ibadan. He is the third child of the family.

    Makinde went to St Paul Primary School, St Michael Primary School, Yemetu, Ibadan, Bishop Phillips Academy, Monatan, Ibadan and the University of Lagos (Unilag), where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.

     Sanwo-Olu

    Lagos State Governor-elect Babajide Sanwo-Olu was born on June 25, 1965. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos, the London Business School, Lagos Business School and the John F. Kennedy School of Government. He was the Managing Director/CEO of Lagos State Property Development Corporation (LSPDC).

    He holds a B.Sc in Surveying and an MBA from the University of Lagos. He is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) and Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Training and Development (NITAD). He was the treasurer at former Lead Merchant Bank from 1994 to 1997 after which he moved to the United Bank for Africa as the head of foreign money market. He then proceeded to First Inland Bank, Plc (now First City Monument Bank) as a deputy general manager and divisional head. He was the chairman of Baywatch Group Limited and First Class Group Limited. He is a board member of the Department for International Development (DFID/DEEPEN) Fund and Audit Committee of Caverton Offshore Services Group, PLC.

    He began his political career in 2003, when he was appointed Special Adviser on Corporate Matters to the then deputy governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro. He later became acting Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget and the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry. In 2007, Sanwo-Olu was appointed Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions.

  • Kashamu hails Abiodun on election

    Ogun State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Buruji Kashamu has congratulated the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on his election as the governor-elect.

    In a statement he released after Abiodun was announced as the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Kashamu thanked God for giving him the grace to be part of the electoral process.

    The statement reads: “I thank God that all through our intra-party struggle and the campaign itself, no life was lost. I also want to thank all the good people of Ogun State for standing by me. I appreciate all those who voted for me and those who did not. My appreciation also goes to the traditional rulers and various religious and interest groups for their support. To everyone who supported me financially and morally, I am eternally grateful.

    “Kudos to my wife and other members of my family; my running mate, Dr. Reuben Abati; the Director-General of the  Kashamu-Abati Campaign Organisation, Dr. Remilekun Bakare and everyone who worked at the campaign organisation. I appreciate the time and sacrifice that you put into the struggle.

    “Yes, it was a struggle against arbitrariness, injustice and the overbearing attitude of some of our political actors. We put in our best. But, from the outcome of the election, our best was not good enough. May Almighty God take control of the rest.”

    On the outcome of the election, Kashamu said, “It was clear to all that while our opponents were on the field, we spent most of the time going in and out of court because some persons think they could use their wealth to ride roughshod over us. We thank God they did not succeed. We fought like men and contested the election against all odds.”

     

  • Anti-party godfatherism

    In a display of crude godfatherism, Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha shamelessly supported the governorship candidates of political parties different from theirs in the March 9 governorship election. It remains to be seen how their disloyalty will benefit the candidates they backed.

    Amosun and Okorocha of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had clearly carried godfatherism too far. It wasn’t surprising that their party decided to punish them. It was surprising that the party delayed the punishment till March 1 when its National Working Committee (NWC) suspended the governors “for anti-party activities.” In a statement, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the NWC “has also taken a decision to recommend the expulsion of the suspended individuals to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.”

    The APC statement stated that “the NWC had earlier written to the suspended governors on their anti-party activities, and several other steps were taken to ensure they desist from taking actions that are inimical to the interests of our party and candidates. Notably, these individuals have not shown any remorse and actually stepped up their actions.”  The party accused the suspended governors of “serial anti-party activities,” and “noted how the suspended members have continued to campaign openly for other parties and candidates that are unknown to our great party. They have in fact constituted themselves as opposition to APC candidates in their respective states.”

    At the APC presidential campaign rally in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on February 11, Amosun had openly opposed his party.  “You know what to do when it is March 2nd, but please honour me on February 16 and vote for our father, President Muhammadu Buhari,” he had said to his supporters, referring to the governorship election, which was moved to  March 9,  and the presidential election, which was moved to February 23.

    Amosun refused to recognise Dapo Abiodun as the APC’s governorship candidate. Abiodun had defeated Amosun’s preference, Adekunle Akinlade, in the APC primary, leading to Akinlade’s exit from the party and his candidacy on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

    Curiously, Amosun, whose second term ends this year, defied his party by endorsing Akinlade for governor, but chose to run for senate on the APC platform. Interestingly, Amosun won the senate race. Amosun was free to support Akinlade, but it was absurd that he did so at the expense of Abiodun, his party’s candidate. No rationalisation can make this rational.

    There were levels of drama at the January 29 APC presidential campaign rally at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, the Imo State capital. The party’s chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, had presented the APC governorship candidate, saying, “Senator Hope Uzodinma will win and restore good governance in Imo. APC will win in Imo State.”

    Remarkably, Okorocha’s son-in-law and Action Alliance (AA) governorship candidate, Uche Nwosu, was at the APC rally. Okorocha wants Nwosu to succeed him, and had said so loud and clear. Okorocha, who has also won a senate seat on the platform of APC, supported Muhammadu  Buhari for president and Nwosu for governor. Nwosu had defected to AA from APC after failing to get what he wanted.  The state chapter of AA had endorsed Buhari, and promised to secure one million votes for him in the presidential election.

    Buhari obviously needed all the votes he could get. His re-election campaign was a serious matter and he meant business.  Perhaps this explains why he dramatically asked his party members to vote for a candidate of their choice in the Imo State governorship election, and not necessarily the APC governorship candidate.

    A report of the APC rally said: “President Buhari, who broke his silence on the crisis rocking the party since the party’s governorship primaries, urged APC members to vote for any candidate of their choice across party lines irrespective of inter or intraparty squabbles.”

    This means Buhari and Oshiomhole were not on the same page regarding who APC members should vote for in the Imo governorship poll. This also means Buhari and Okorocha may be on the same page concerning the governorship election. Obviously, Okorocha doesn’t want the APC governorship candidate to win.  He wants the AA governorship candidate to win. Though Buhari stopped short of endorsing another party’s governorship candidate, his non-partisanship was odd because he was expected to endorse his party’s governorship candidate. The rally was a partisan event. In partisan politics, there is no room for non-partisanship.

    When Okorocha first publicly expressed his preference for Nwosu, who was the Chief of Staff, Government House, he had said:  ”Uche Nwosu is hardworking and never gets tired. He is a very humble young man. Not proud. Not arrogant. So, power won’t enter his head. In spite of the position he occupies you can’t see him quarreling with anybody or maltreating anybody. He does not segregate against anybody whether from Orlu or Owerri or Okigwe zone… I have checked him in and out; I have not found him wanting… The young man is a team player, who does not use his office to molest anybody. He has the qualities of a good leader.”

    Okorocha added: “You see, you don’t hide a good product. And the joy of every leader is to have a worthy successor. You don’t mind political opportunists. We have done very well as a government and we should be concerned about what happens to the achievements after.”

    Amosun and Okorocha have shown that they are birds of a feather when it comes to their thinking on succession. Believing they must pick their successors at any cost, they seem desperate to remain in power after their tenure.  It is contrived continuity.

    If their governorship favourites win because of their support, it will be a Pyrrhic victory for the governors.  By their anti-party activities, Amosun and Okorocha showed an arrogant contempt for party supremacy. Their suspension and possible expulsion from the APC is bad for their image and good for party supremacy.

    Having been elected to the senate, it is a cause for concern that these dishonourable politicians will sit in the Red Chamber pretending to be men of honour.

  • Abiodun extends lead in Ogun with one LGA to go

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ogun State, has released results of the Governorship House of Assembly elections in 19 Local Government Areas(LGAs) with the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC) leading in 11 LGAs.
    Abiodun’s closest rival, Hon.  Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied People’s Movement(APM) leads in five LGAs, Gboyega Isiaka of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leads in two LGAs while Senator Buruji Kashamu of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDPC) captures one.
    However, the result  for Ado/Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun state is being awaited.
    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Abdul – Ganiu Olayinka Raji, adjourned for 90minutes to await Ado/Ado/Ota result.
    Below are scores of the four major political parties – African Democratic Congress(ADC), All Progressives Congress (APC), Allied People’s Movement (APM) and Peoples Democratic party (PDP) from results of the released 19 LGAs.
    Ijebu – Ode LGA
    ADC – 349
    APC – 13,234
    APM- 4,401
    PDP – 7,289
    Collation Officer  Adewale Salau, FUNAAB
    Odogbolu LGA
    ADC -1001
    APC -12,529
    APM -7,516
    PDD – 3,418
     Collation Officer, Rasheed Adejoro, Federal College of Education, Osiele
    Odeda LGA
    ADC -4,327
    APC -8,030
    APM – 6,454
    PDP -1041
    Collation Officer Sunday Akinyele,
    Federal College of Education Osiele.
    Ijebu North East
    ADC – 541
    APC – 7,268
    APM -2,785
    PDP -3,482
    Collation Officer, Dr. Ayotunde Adebambo (FUNAAB)
    Ewekoro LGA
    ADC – 4,241
    APC -6,492
    APM -7,588
    PDP – 1,418
    Dr. Olubode Olufemi(FUNAAB)
    Sagamu LGA
    ADC -2,486
    APC -23,737
    APM -14,469
    PDP – 4,415
    Collation Officer Adeoti AbdulRateef (FUNAAB)
    Abeokuta South LGA
    ADC – 13,572
    APC – 19,414
    APM – 18,767
    PDP – 1,770
    Collation Officer Sikiru  Olowole(FUNAAB)
    Ijebu East LGA
    ADC – 574
    APC – 10,726
    APM -5,147
    PDP -5,296
    Remo North LGA
    ADC – 947
    APC – 7,437
    APM- 4,897
    PDP – 930
    Ogun Waterside LGA
    ADC – 497
    APC – 8,957
    APM- 5,803
    PDP – 3,211
    Collation Officer: Dr. Jide Olaiya(FUNAAB).
    Abeokuta North LGA
    ADC – 10,453
    APC – 12,130
    APM- 16,708
    PDP – 951
    Imeko – Afon LGA
    ADC – 15,273
    APC – 2,657
    APM- 7,401
    PDP – 529
    Ikenne LGA
    ADC – 653
    APC – 15,109
    APM- 6,553
    PDP – 1,040
    Yewa/Egbado South
    ADC – 9,935
    APC – 8,804
    APM- 13,622
    PDP – 1,721
    Obafemi Owode LGA
    ADC – 5,046
    APC – 13,660
    APM- 8,303
    PDP – 2,233
    Yewa/Egbado North LGA
    ADC – 17,046
    APC – 7,742
    APM -12,208
    PDP – 1,590
    Collation Officer: Dr. Abayomi Adebayo
    Ipokia LGA
    ADC – 3,334
    APC – 12,890
    APM – 26,491
    PDP – 1,846
    Collation Officer: Jamiu Azeez (FUNAAB)
    Ijebu North LGA
    ADC – 1,189
    APC – 10,574
    APM – 7,477
    PDP –  21,851
    Collation Officer : Dr. Gabriel Adewunmi (FUNAAB)
    Ifo LGA
    ADC – 7,260
    APC – 15,642
    APM – 17,614
    PDP – 2,684
    Collation Officer : Dr. Shogunle (FUNAAB)

  • You are vainglorious dreamer, APC replies APM

    The Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to the rejection of results of the governorship and state House of Assembly elections in the state by the Allied People’s Movement (APM).

    APC advised APM, its governorship candidate and principal to approach the court of law if they have issues with the results, warning that if they failed to heed the advice, it might be tempted to drag the complaining parties for manifest malpractices and vote buying allegedly perpetrated by them.

    In a statement by the Publicity Secretary of APC Caretaker Committee in the state, Com. Tunde Oladunjoye, he described APM, the gubernatorial candidate and his principal as “sore losers.”

    Oladunjoye wondered how a party that was hurriedly birthed in January 2019 expects to win an expect it to win the governorship election two months later, dismissing them as “vainglorious dreamers.”

    He stated: “I think it was Shakespeare that wrote that ‘Cowards die many times before their deaths, The valiant never taste of death but once.’

    “Akinlade and his principal are sore losers. What they attempted negates historical antecedents in politics.

    “They are vainglorious dreamers. Or how can you form a party in January 2019 and expect to win the governorship election in a state like Ogun by March 2019?

    “We urged them to go to court, because even if they don’t, we shall, on our own, go to court for manifest malpractices which they perpetrated during the election. In Ewekoro, it was outright vote buying.

    “In Obafemi Owode, One of their candidates was arrested for voters inducement, in Ado Odo Ota, a top serving officer of the state government was arrested with already thumb-printed ballot papers.”

  • Amosun seeks reduction of registered political parties

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reduce the number of registered political parties to six.

    He said the present arrangement where we have 91 political parties is unwieldy.

    Amosun stated this while answering questions from journalists after casting his vote at Ward 6 Unit 8, Itagbangba, Itoku, Abeokuta South West.

    The governor argued that a reduction in the number of political parties will enhance quick release of results.

    “When you look at the ballot papers, imagine seeing 60 political parties and I believe with just six parties, this will reduce the efforts put into collating and announcement of results.

    “As I am going back to Senate now, I am going to canvases for political parties to be reduced to six. I really think we should do something about it,” he said.

    He added that too much political parties put too much stress on the parties, voters and INEC.

    Governor Amosun also expressed conviction that the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) candidate, Adekunle Akinlade would win the governorship election in the state.

    He said the main reason he campaigned for him was because he believed in his capability to govern the state.

    Amosun was elated that turnout of the electorates have been impressive and far more than was recorded during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    He thanked the people of the state for ensuring peaceful and orderly elections devoid of rancour and acrimony.

    Read Also: Buhari, Amosun meet in Aso Rock

    He said the reports from all local government areas of the state were heart -warming.

    In a related development, a former Minister for Mines and Steel, Sharafadeen Ishola also commended the people of the state for ensuring a peaceful conduct of the election.

    Ishola told journalists after voting at his unit Mokola, Abeokuta the conduct of electorates during the exercise showed that democracy has come to stay.

    He noted that the pattern of voting has also shown that the people have become wiser and can now differentiate between parties and individuals wanting to ride on party platform to victory.

    Ishola also commended INEC for the conduct of a successful election in the state.

  • APC’s Abiodun urges contestants to accept poll results

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Prince Adedapo Abiodun voted at exactly 11:50 am, less than 10 minutes after he arrived his ward 3, polling unit 1, Ita Ishoyin, Unit 2 in Iperu, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun state.

    Abiodun expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the polls as well as the peaceful manner the electorate conducted themselves.

    Read Also: Dapo Abiodun woos voters in Ogun Central

    He urged politicians to accept the outcome with an open mind and in the spirit of sportsmanship.

    The governorship hopeful also counselled winners to be magnanimous in victory.

  • Kashamu votes in Ijebu-Igbo, optimistic of victory

    The governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Buruji Kahamu has cast his vote at ward 6, polling unit 26 around 11:49am in Oke – Sopen, three buildings away from his Ijebu – Igbo country home, Ogun State.

    Kashamu whose arrival at his polling unit evoked thunderous applause from enthusiastic supporters, hailed the peaceful exercise and large turnout of voters, saying confidently that he would win.

    Read Also: Kashamu our son, say Remo monarchs

    The Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial district at the 8th Senate, added that  he is desirous of turning the fortune of Ogun people around for better, empower the people and lift them from poverty with the help of God, hence the quest for the governorship seat.

    He also hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for providing adequate security for the election, saying this explained the pervasive peace being witnessed at polling units in Ijebu – Igbo and environs.