Tag: ONDO

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state has insisted that its state chairman, Fatai Adams, remained suspended.

It said the comments by the national publicity secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, were embarrassing.

The Ondo PDP said the comments about developments in the party in Ondo state were contrary to the party’s constitution as amended.

A spokesman for the Ondo PDP, Kennedy Peretei, in a statement, argued that all levels of the party have powers to discipline erring members of their Executive, whether at the ward, local government, state or zonal levels.

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He said: “The State Chairman, Fatai Adams is a member of the State Working Committee and can therefore be sanctioned in the face of his activities with flagrant disregard for SWC decisions. To this end, the suspension of Fatai Adams stays.

“Unfortunately, Hon Ologunagba who is from Ondo State appears not to have up-to-date information about the party in Ondo State. If he did, he would have been the last person to issue such a misleading statement.

“Nine out of the Eleven State Working Committee (SWC) members signed the suspension letter. That alone is a confirmation that Fatai Adams has overstayed his usefulness as State Chairman.

“Finally, we wish to reiterate that, by the provisions of our Constitution, every level of the party can discipline any officer of the party at that level. Therefore, Ologunagba’s personal opinion should not be misconstrued as the provisions of our Constitution.”

A former deputy speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mayowa Akinfolarin, has promised to focus on the informal sector if elected as governor of the Sunshine State.

Akinfolarin, who served in the House of Representatives for eight years, said Ondo state needs to be reconfigured.

Akinfolarin said he would reconfigure the developmental structure of this state to bridge the gap between the government and the people.

He said his planned focus on the informal sector was because it employed the majority of residents in the state.

The former Deputy Speaker said his desire to govern the state was to correct the wrongs of the past.

On the death of Akeredolu, Akinfolarin said the people would be unkind to the late former Governor if nothing was done to immortalize him.

He said: “We will be very unkind to Aketi if nothing is done to immortalize him. This was a man that came with good intentions, he did his best, he was not a pretender, he was a practical person and ensured not only the state but the entire southwest region was safe through the Amotekun Corps.

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“I am the bridge between successive governments, having been a key part of the late Dr Olusegun Agagu’s government and that of Dr Olusegun Mimiko. I know where the gaps are and I know how to feel it in.

“I’m properly rooted in this state, so I know what it takes to govern the Ondo state and with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, some of us think that we need to come together to move this state forward.

“Based on my experience and antecedent, I have really navigated both the economic and political terrain of Ondo State, I know what governance is, I know what can be done to give succour and hope to our people. People are no longer have confidence in what the government is doing, we need someone to energize the system, we need someone to give assurance, we need someone to let us know that this government is our government.”

Crisis has hit Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of next month’s by-election for Akoko Northwest/Akoko Northeast Federal Constituency seat.

The crisis escalated yesterday when the State Working Committee (SWC) sacked the state Chairman of the party, Mr. Fatai Adams.

In a statement issued at the end of the Ondo PDP SWC meeting and signed by nine members, the SWC said Adams was removed pursuant to Section 58(1b. c, f. h. and i) of the party’s constitution as amended in 2017.

The statement said Adams was removed for anti-party activities and engaging in activities likely to bring the party to disrepute.

“He is accordingly advised to appear before the State Disciplinary Committee for further interrogations within the next one week.

“The party wishes to state that it will deal with any incursion by the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), into its ranks,” it said.

Adams described the members that signed the statement as jokers.

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He said his removal was null and void, noting that only the National Executive Committee could discipline him.

Adams said those that signed the statement were sponsored by “elements within and outside the party.”

It was gathered that trouble started in the Ondo PDP after Adams rejected the report of a 20-man committee to assess aspirants for the February by-election.

The committee had advised the party to sponsor Olalekan Bada as its consensus candidate for the by-election into Akoko North East/Akoko North West seat in the House of Representatives.

Sources said Adams was in support of another aspirant that came third in the committee’s ranking.

A chieftain of the PDP said: “We will not allow Adams lead us to defeat again. He is supposed to be neutral, but he picked sides. What we want is victory at the polls.”

Ondo State House of Assembly passed the 2024 Appropriation bill of N395.2 billion on Friday.

The passage followed the adoption of the report of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, presented by its Chairman, Mr Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, during the plenary session.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that Acting Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa recently presented a N385 billion Appropriation Bill to the Assembly.

NAN reports that the proposed budget comprised Capital Expenditure of N222.2 billion with the Recurrent Expenditure of N172.9 billion.

Ogunmolasuyi, who represents Owo Constituency 1/APC, said that the estimate passed by the assembly was higher than what the governor presented by over N10.7 billion.

“The committee after an interface with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for defense of their estimates, amended the original bill and recommended N395 billion.

“The state government should take necessary steps to ensure that internally generated revenue is sustained and improved and that the budget meets the needs of Ondo State people.

“The Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget and Ministry of Finance, in conjunction with the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service, should ensure that they boost revenue of the state with details of extant laws,” he said.

The lawmakers unanimously adopted the report thereafter.

The bill was read for the third time by the Clerk of the House, Mr Benjamin Jayeola, as directed by the Speaker, Chief Olamide Oladiji.

Commenting on the bill, Oladiji said that if signed into law, it would turn around the state and trigger development and growth.

He said that with the bill, the governor would be well equipped to serve people of the state and deliver dividends of democracy.

Oladiji prayed that God would grant the state governor wisdom and wherewithal to steer the state to a destination of fulfilment.

He commended the committee for its promptness and timeliness as regards the bill and extended the appreciation to the state Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget for a job well done.

The lawmakers also passed the N6 billion Appropriation Bill for the services of the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS) for 2024.

The ODIRS Bill has N5.4 billion for the Recurrent Expenditure while N855.4 million is for the Capital Expenditure.

The lawmakers earlier paid tribute to late Governor of the state, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who died on Wednesday.

Mr Olatunji Oshati (APC/Ose) said that late Akeredolu was a unifying personality with honesty, asking all especially politicians to toe the path of the former governor to ensure good governance.

Similarly, the speaker said that the news of the demise of the late governor was devastating, describing him as a fighter for justice and humanitarian services.

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He said that he would be remembered for good legacies, having stood for fairness and equity.

According to him, late Akeredolu was a visionary leader, saying that his massive projects cut across the state.

He was able to reduce the bar of poverty in the state through increase of revenue of the state to embark on projects that could touch lives of the masses.

Oladiji prayed that God would grant the deceased eternal rest and comfort his immediate family and the state.

There was a minute silence observed in honour of the late governor and the lawmakers before the parliarment went on a recess for 28 days.

(NAN)