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Tag: Osoba

  • Buhari, Osoba, Dapo Abiodun meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met behind closed doors with former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Also at the meeting was the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Mr. Dapo Abiodun.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Osoba said that one of the reasons for his visit to the Villa was to present the APC candidate to the President.

    He said: “First of all, I want to wish the President a successful election. 2019 will by the grace of God be a defining year for the President.

    “Secondly, we have come to present our candidate in Ogun state; the candidate of the president; the candidate of APC.

    “And the President has raised his hand and told the world that his candidate in Ogun State is Prince Dapo Abiodun and that he has no other candidate. His party in Ogun State is APC. He has no other party in Nigeria other than APC.

    “He has assured us that he will personally come to Ogun State to formally present Prince Dapo Abiodun as his candidate, and he assured us that he is clearing the air of any ambiguity whatsoever, of any name dropping, any blackmail, any misinformation that anybody may be peddling; that in all elections throughout Nigeria, not just in Ogun State, people must vote for APC and no other party.

    “That is the message that the President gave to us this morning, and I also seized the opportunity to present my autobiography, which I am going to launch when the President gives me a date.

    “Because in this book, I reminded him of the letter he wrote to me on June 12, 1984 when he appointed me as the Managing Director of the Daily Times. He laughed and he was happy to see the memory and that he has always known me to be a man with an elephantine brain.

    “So I presented the book to him, and in the book, I showed the judgment in 2003 when he won the election in Ogun State even when he was not the president.

    “So we assured him that if he could defeat an incumbent president in 2003 in Ogun State… a judgment was given where they said the election in Ogun State was fraudulent and was nullified by the tribunal.

    “So I said if he could win in 2003 and defeated an incumbent president, he will win in 2019 by the grace of God.”

    On his part, Dapo Abiodun thanked President Buhari for clearing the air and re-affirming that he (Buhari) is the APC candidate for President and he (Abiodun) is the APC governorship candidate in Ogun State.

    He said: “Naturally, APC is his party and there is no other candidate in Ogun State except me.

    “I think that affirmation could not have come at a better time when there is a lot of ambiguity, when people have attempted falsehood and other kinds of misinformation.

    “So I am very elated, very reassured that the President has stood by the party and stood by me, and I believe that this matter will finally be put to rest and all those that are trying to gain by using the President’s picture on their posters, on their vehicles will finally begin to remove it, because it is actually illegal for you to be putting the presidential candidate of one party on the face of the poster of another party.

    “It is an attempt to confuse and misinform the public. I believe that after today, that will be put to rest and everybody will know that in Ogun State, the only party to vote for is APC from the presidential election, to gubernatorial, to senatorial to House of Reps and the House of Assembly.”

  • APC, Abiodun will form next govt in Ogun, says Osoba

    Former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba has expressed the confidence that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Prince Adedapo Abiodun, will form the next government in the state on May 29, 2019.

    Osoba said with the good support for APC members, supporters and the calibre of its governorship candidate, Abiodun, the party would coast home with victory.

    He enjoined party faithful to work hard for APC’s victory in next year’s general elections.

    The Akirogun of Egba stated this while addressing thousands of party members and supporters at his home in Ibara GRA, Abeokuta, the state capital.

    The occasion was the formal unveiling of Abiodun’s running mate, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele.

    Osoba said the next APC administration in the state would place more premium on zoning political offices to reflect a sense of belonging to all sections, unlike what allegedly obtained with Ibikunle Amosun’s administration where a particular zone benefits more from appointments to the disadvantages of other zones.

    The former governor implored APC chieftains and members to work for the party’s success.

    He said: “Whether they like it or not, Dapo Abiodun has become the Ogun State APC governorship candidate. Those who didn’t wish APC well have been disappointed. The task has begun. We are in the midst of enemies and we should come together as one.

    “I want to urge all that we have just started. I am 80 years old and I am old enough to say things the way they are. We don’t want any group within the APC. It is an insult.

    “We are just going into elections period and we should stop insulting our candidate.

    “From now onwards, let us be one. Leaders, don’t hold group meetings. You should be having APC meeting as a party and it should be for the governorship candidature, Dapo Abiodun.

    “Three-quarters of your posters should bear APC logo, a quarter for a candidate’s picture and another quarter for the party’s slogan.

    “So, as we are moving today, disunity is over. We are fighting a vicious war and we should fight it within the purview of the APC constitution. Go and deliver your polling booths.”

    Party chieftains at the event included the governorship flag bearer, Prince Dapo Abiodun; its running mate, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Senators Biyi Durojaiye, Gbenga Kaka, Gbenga Obadara, Akin Odunsi, Dipo Odujinrin, Tunji Egbetokun and Prince Segun Adesegun.

  • How we caged Obasanjo as governors, by Osoba

    •Udoma: ex-president threatened to prosecute us over onshore/offshore case •Attah honoured on birthday

    FORMER Ogun State Governor Segun Osoba said yesterday that governors, who served under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, were able to cage him and stop him from doing a lot of unconstitutional things because of their maturity and unity.

    Osoba spoke at the 80th birthday celebration of former Akwa Ibom State Governor Obong Victor Attah. His book, “It is well with my soul”, w2as also presented at the event.

    At the event, Minister of Budget and National Planning Udoma Udo Udoma noted how Obasanjo threatened to prosecute the Akwa Ibom Governor for “inciting” his people against the President and the government.

    Osoba, who spoke on behalf of other former governors present at the event, including former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and his successor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, said the governors spoke with one voice and stood against the antics of former President.

    He added that the former governors sued Obasanjo to court on a number of occasions and won.

    He said: “Today, we are happy to celebrate a man of honour. In our time, we do not know the differences in the party you belong to and Obasanjo then dare not play with any of us governors. I am happy to say that Obong Attah was from the PDP. I was from the AD.

    “The AD group, made up of the late Lam Adesina and Bisi Akande, when we speak, to our surprise, Obong, who is of the PDP, will take it up from there contributing intelligently to the issues we raised. It is on the ground of his style of leadership that we were seriously able to cage former President Obasanjo.

    “I used the word seriously because first of all, Abdulsalami Abubakar left a huge sum of money that was to be distributed to the governors. The first thing Obasanjo did was to seize the money and use it to buy vehicles for local government councils.

    “We kicked, went to court and we won. On the Fiscal Responsibility Act, he (Obasanjo) said he will not implement Section 8, where all revenues were to go into an account from where it will be distributed according to the constitution. When it became almost impossible, we went to court and we won. In all of these, it was not resource control. Obong Attah was in the forefront of these struggles.”

    Osoba, who recounted how governors in those days rallied behind Attah and his other Niger Delta counterparts to agitate for resource control, expressed reservations on the quality and character of those aspiring to become governors these days.

    “I want to appeal to all of us. We should go back to the characters that formed government in 1992 and 1999. Twenty-six years ago, most of us who were governors have had exposures. John Odigie-Oyegun was a former permanent secretary. I was former Managing Director of Daily Times. I can go on to give you backgrounds of all those who became governors in 1999. None of us were people you will say: ‘where are you coming from’. We need to go back to those days. Governors of any kind should stop.”

    Minister of Budget and National Planning Senator Udoma Udo Udoma said throughout Attah’s eight years in office as governor, he was the senator representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial district and also served as the leader of the Akwa Ibom legislators’ forum, having been unanimously elected by his colleagues.

    Udoma said: “During our time in the National Assembly, there was no ‘Abuja front’ working against the ‘home front’. Under Victor Attah’s leadership, we were a strong united team and having worked with him, I can say something about his character.

    “He is somebody you can go into battle with because he is fearless and once he gives you his words, he does not turn back; no matter how fierce the battle is.

    The battle to remove the onshore/offshore dichotomy was indeed a fierce one.

    Read also: Corruption war: Federal, state auditors-general offices have failed, says Justice Salami

    “At one point, the three of us, myself, Obong Attah and Senator Ibok Essien were summoned to Abuja and made to appear before the President, Minister of Defence and all the service chiefs and were threatened with prosecution for inciting our people against the President and the Federal Government.

    “But under his leadership, we refused to allow ourselves to be cowed or intimidated. We believed in our course and we did not stop the fight till we succeeded.”

    Attah, while responding to the accolades poured on him, said: “Listening to all the things that have been said, I ask myself, did I actually say all those things? Where did I get the courage to say all those things? But I want to assure you that the fight was not just for a better Niger Delta, but I believed firmly that it would translate into a better Nigeria. So, the fight always and the purpose were for a better Nigeria…

    “Those are the types of battles we had to fight for some of the things that are happening today to happen. But as I have said, in all honesty, I believed that our founding fathers, who agreed on a federal system for this country, a system whereby the region’s had and control whatever they had and contributed to the running of the country at the centre, remain the best and will continue to be the best for Nigeria. I believe strongly that any struggle towards achieving that is worth fighting for.”

    He added:  “I tell people, I enjoyed being governor and sometimes they wonder I say that. It is because of this kind of comradeship.  It is just fantastic working together with people with whom you can argue, reason and at the same time come to a solution.”

    With fond reminiscences of what happened then during his election as Governors’ Forum Chairman, Attah said his emergence came as a coup and that his colleagues referred to him as “headmaster”.

    Those who attended the event, include former Senate President Ken Nnamani; Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; Minister of a Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige; former National Security Adviser Gen. Aliyu Gusau; former Deputy Senate President ibrahim Mantu;  and Vanguard Newspaper Publisher Sam Amuka.

    Also at the event were Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Managing Director Nsima Ekere; former Senate Leader Ndoma Egba; Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel and his deputy; former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Farida Waziri; Executive Secretary of Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate Sharon Ikeazor, former Governors Achike Udenwa and Bukar Abba Ibrahim and others.

     

  • Osoba: I’ve reported drone espionage on my home to Amosun, DSS

    A former Ogun State Governor Aremo Segun Osoba, has said he had discussed the drone espionage on his Ibara, Abeokuta home with Governor Ibikunle Amosun and advised that the matter.

    Osoba said he had also reported the alleged security breach by two persons to the Directorate of State Services (DSS) for investigation.

    The former governor said the DSS operatives drew Amosun’s attention to the incident.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, who addressed party members and aspirants for 2019 elective offices at his Abeokuta home, admitted that a security breach is no issue to be treated with levity.

    But he assured the people that his home was well secured.

    Osoba urged party members who wanted to hold their meetings there not to panic.

    The former governor urged the state chapter of APC to learn from the experience of the party during the last governorship election and stay united, lest the fate of Osun APC befalls Ogun in 2019.

    He added that the planned primary of the party would be by the direct mode, as directed by APC’s National Working Committee (NWC).

    The former governor urged the party’s members to work in harmony.

    The septuagenarian said he refrained from speaking on the happenings in the party because of his status as a statesman and his respect for Amosun, who he said had the capacity to handle the situation and unite the party.

    Osoba said: “I don’t want you, however, to politicise this incident. I have reported to operatives of DSS and asked them to do their investigation. I have also talked about it with the governor. So, let it end there.

    “My compound is a market place; if you like, bring 20 drones. My security is in place. Any of the aspirants can have their meetings here.

    “We just have to learn from the defeat our party last weekend in Osun State. In fact, I have not been able to sleep very well since the result came out. We went into that election very divided.

    “House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Lasun Yussuff went his way; the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Olalekan Adeoti, took another direction. I am here to preach unity. Enough of ‘I am for Amosun; I am for Osoba’. A primary is just a step; the election is the major thing. So, we just have to be united to win the election next year.”

    He urged the party members to come out on Friday with their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari as AP presidential candidate ahead of the 2019 general elections.

  • Osoba to Nigerians: let’s learn from June 12

    •Lagos APC, Adams hail honour

    FORMER Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba has urged Nigerians to learn from the June 12, 1993 election annulment, which he described as the most transparent and credible poll in the nation’s history.

    He advised politicians to emulate the virtue of resilience and principled commitment to goals displayed by the winner, the late Chief Moshood Abiola, who, he said, never surrendered his mandate in the face of intimidation, oppression and repression.

    The Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Aare Ona Kankanfo of Yorubaland and Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Gani Adams, also lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for honouring Abiola and human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN).

    Osoba, who spoke with reporters at the weekend, hailed the resilience of pro-democracy crusaders, saying that their efforts and sacrifices were not in vain.

    The former governor noted that he was the first governor in the country to make June 12 the ‘Democracy Day’ through a gazette he presented to Abiola’s family in Abeokuta, the state capital.

    The former governor declined to join the debate on the alleged real or imagined political tone underlying President Muhammadu Buhari’s action.

    To him, the President has met the popular yearnings of Nigerians.

    Osoba said the call for the release of the annulled results might not be necessary since the appointment of the Chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC), Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, had been terminated. He added that the present Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahud Yakubu, has no business with the past exercise.

    The APC chieftain said Abiola deserved the honour bestowed on him and noted that the same award was given to the sage, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, by President Shehu Shagari in the Second Republic.

    Urging Nigerians to imbibe the “unlimited lessons” of the June 12, Osoba said: “God gave Abiola an unprecedented courage not to renege on his mandate till he died. God gave Abiola the wisdom to lay down his life for the future of Nigeria.”

    The former governor, who doubted the possibility of another Muslim/Muslim presidential ticket, however, said a two party system may naturally evolve in the country.

    Lagos State APC Secretary Dr. Wale Ahmed noted that the declaration of June 12 as the ‘Democracy Day’ was one of the best, altruistic and most justifiable actions of the President.

    Hailing Buhari’s courage and forthrightness, he said the scope of awards should be expanded to accommodate other freedom fighters, who never betrayed Abiola and Nigerians before and after the death of the symbol of democracy.

    Ahmed said: “I also seize this opportunity to advise that it would be better to recognise deserving Nigerians in their lifetime such as Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who is without doubt a champion of democracy and good governance.”

    Reflecting on the annulment, Ahmed, a former member of the House of Assembly, noted the painful sacrifice of Nigerians who lost their lives, their loved ones, their means of livelihood and their careers during the battle for the enthronement of democracy.

    He said Buhari has demonstrated a deep sense of justice, a high sense of responsibility and justice by giving recognition to June 12 and its significance to Nigeria’s political and democratic experience.

    Ahmed added: “Those of us who were members of the Fourth House of Assembly (1999-2003) did what we could then by naming our official quarters after the June 12 hero and that is why we have MKO Abiola Gardens, Alausa, Ikeja, now.”

    Adams said: “The two eminent Nigerians – MKO Abiola and Gani Fawehinmi – were the two heroes that made me. And I count it as a Ramadan gift. The most important content is making June 12 a ‘Democracy Day.’ That is the day Nigerians should not forget, and the mistake of June 12, 1993 should not be repeated.

    “I commend President Buhari for taking this decision. In the last three years, this is the only thing that he has done that is heart-warming. His name will not be forgotten in the history of Nigeria. It is a welcome development.

    “The remaining decision is to restructure Nigeria. If he does that, all progressives will support him. No matter what he has done to offend anybody, restructuring will erase it, if he does it. It will save Nigeria from political instability and economic problems. We are waiting for the next gift, which is restructuring.”

     

  • Like fighting corruption, investigative journalism is dangerous, says Osoba

    ONE-time Ogun State Governor and eminent journalist Chief Olusegun Osoba spoke yesterday on the risks of investigative journalism.

    They are as grave as fighting corruption, he said in Lagos.

    Osoba spoke at a colloquium marking the 60th birthday of a foremost journalist, Kunle Ajibade, who turned  60 on  May 28.

    “It is as dangerous as fighting corruption in our country. They are both extremely dangerous,” Osoba said.

    The former Managing Director of Daily Times was the chairman of the colloquium with the theme: “A brighter future for Nigeria and how to get there”.

    Osoba said Nigerians should be involved in the electoral process, adding that the open ballot system would serve the country better.

    He maintained that the country would get better when the people are allowed to make their choice. In his view, there is hope for a better country, but all hands must be on the deck to achieve it.

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka; Vanguard Publisher “Uncle” Sam Amuka Pemu, Mr. Odia “the poet” Ofeimun; Mrs. Bisi Fayemi; Mr. Femi Falana (SAN); former President of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) Mrs. Ayo Obe and Ambassador Tokunboh Awolowo-Dosunmu were among the dignitaries at the ceremony.

    Many media men, civil society organisations, activists, lawyers and prominent Nigerians also attended the event.

    Ajibade, along with Bayo Onanuga, Babafemi Ojudu, Dapo Olorunyomi, Seye Kehinde and Idowu Obasa formed The News Magazine.

    Ajibade was arrested on spurious charges and “jailed for life” in 1995, after a kangaroo and contrived judicial process, for a story published by the magazine, during the draconian Sani Abacha military junta. He was released after the death of the dictator.

    Speakers praised the author of the books titled: ‘Jailed for Life’ and ‘What a Country’, for his doggedness and commitment.

    “I owe Kunle inestimable debt for dragging him into the dangerous terrain of investigative journalism, which he discharged with deep instigative zeal,” Soyinka said.

    He queried: “It is not enough to trace various bank accounts of a former Inspector General of Police, but where does all the monies come from?

    “He was not even operating most of these accounts.

    “There is a nexus between this expose and how elections are rigged in the country. Who corrupted the IG? Why is it so difficult to pursue the original owners of the loot?”

    Describing Ajibade as a pioneer of investigative journalism in Nigeria, Soyinka noted that the number of journalists killed in the pursuit of investigative journalism is more than those killed covering war.

    The Nobel laureate added that “there is a nexus between that level and pattern of corruption and the degradation of the democratic exercise that we have witnessed in this country. I told Nuhu Ribadu, it is not enough to trace these accounts to an individual. Ask yourself how those accounts got there and were constantly replenished. I said to Ribadu, if we solve that riddle, not only would we have punctured the balloon of corruption in this country, but it also would solve for us how elections are rigged.

    “Journalists should follow up on Ajibade and his colleagues’ expose on Tafa Balogun and his many accounts, and you would have done this country two beneficial deeds. Stem corruption, track it to its original source and solve the issue of democratic failure in this country,” he said.

    Aregbesola said: “With people like Ajibade, there is still reason to be hopeful. I believe that we can succeed in efforts to make the country better. I want to say that the sub-Saharan Africa look up to Nigeria. And my own vision for Nigeria is a Nigeria that will give leadership to other nations, particularly in Great Lake region of Africa where the wealth of the continent lies. Only Nigeria has the potentials, both materials and human, to leading the struggle to rally and harness the resources in the central part of Africa and mainly the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and to some extent, Kenya and Tanzania.”

    “The resources there are so enormous and only Nigeria has the potential both materials and human resources of leading the process of using the resources for the development of black people. Should Nigeria fail, the real danger is that whoever is black in the world is doomed.

    “It is either we believe that we are not sub human and we put everything to it. We must put our heads together to realise our historic position in the world. Solutions have been propounded from the legal angle and social angle, but I am yet to see the engineering angle. What is important is the need for us to live a better and inspiring life. And I want you to read a briefing by Kunle Omotosho in his column, who had pointed a way out of the danger inherent in not making the right decision. Africa looks up to Nigeria and we must not disappoint in that direction.”

    Former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Kingsley Moghalu said Nigeria was not on course, noting that stakeholders must help to salvage it.

    He added that the country was at crossroads because things were not done properly by the leaders. He stressed that those who were supposed to proffer solution to the mounting problems were creating more problems.

    Rights activist Femi Falana (SAN) said for the country to make progress, there must be peace. He added that the wanton destruction of lives and property in the land was alarming.

    He said since the government could no longer guarantee the safety of lives, there was need to train the citizens in combat, to be able to defend themselves.

    He added that the states have abdicated their responsibilities to the Federal Government in the security of the country, stressing that a situation where the President alone decides who becomes the Inspector General of Police (IGP) was at variance with the law.

    Senator Babafemi Ojudu said Ajibade was “a gentleman who could not hurt a fly”. He noted that when he was sentenced to life imprisonment, no few than 13 journalists were on the run because of military clampdown.

    “That is why I must commend this gentleman for his role in ensuring the return of the country to the present democracy. At this junction, we all must play our role to ensure that the country stand tall. We must all play our part to address the challenges the country is facing.”

    The celebrant Ajibade thanked the guests for the encomium showered on him, noting that his wife and friends contributed to his ability to surmount the challenges posed by his incarceration.

    “I thank Aremo Osoba, who came from Spain this morning because of the event. I will like to say Prof. Soyinka has been inspiring; my colleagues have done well to encourage me and importantly, my wife and in-laws from Ikenne Remo, who gave me one of their best daughters,” he said.

    Ajibade thanked the dignitaries and others for their turnout at the colloquium.

  • Ogun APC: Amosun, Osoba harmonise new excos

    Senior Special Adviser on Political Affairs to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Chief Derin Adebiyi, on Saturday emerged the new chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, following a consensus made possible with the harmonization of camps loyal to both Amosun and former governor, Aremo Segun Osoba.

    The 1,749 accredited delegates from the 20 Local Government Areas of the state elected the new party executives who emerged unopposed, according to the chairman, APC State Congress Committee, Revd Peter Obadan, who announced the results at the end of the congress.

    Osoba was absent at the state congresS, but loyalists, such as  Senator Adegbenga Kaka,  Hon. Adekunle Adeyemi and the son of the former governor, Olumide Osoba, were present.

    In his acceptance speech, the new chairman, who was a former Deputy Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and one-time chairman of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), pledged to lead APC to win the 2019 general elections in the state.

    “I want to assure you that this administration will be an all encompassing one. We are going to play politics of inclusion, not exclusion. We are going to obey the leaders and we are going to be firm. The era of indiscipline is gone in this party.

    “We are going to win the next election in a landslide manner. I want to assure you sir, we are not going to betray the confidence reposed in us,” Adebiyi said.

    Also speaking, Amosun hailed the APC members in the state for doing the state proud with the peaceful manner conduct the congresses went. The governor declared that the ruling party will win 2019, urging members to remain resolute in standing by the party. He said, “Election is coming; we are Ogun State. It’s not about fighting. We have what to sell. The governor that is coming after me will do better than me.”

  • Adebiyi emerges Ogun APC chair as Amosun, Osoba harmonize new exco

    The Senior Special Adviser on Political Affairs to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Chief Derin Adebiyi, on Saturday emerged  the new chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State.
    Derin Adebiyi who hails from Ifo Local Government Council in Ogun Central, emerged  the state party Chairman following a consensus  made possible with the harmonization of camps loyal to both Amosun and former governor Aremo Segun Osoba.
    The 1,749 accredited delegates from the 20 Local Government Areas of the state elected the new party executives who emerged unopposed.
    Adebiyi polled 1,712 votes to emerge as chairman according to the chairman, APC State Congress Committee, Revd Peter Obadan, who announced the results at the end of the congress.
    Obadan, who was accompanied by four other members of the congress committee, stated that 18 void votes were recorded during the election.
    He also announced Hon. Patrick Ogunde as the new state Secretary of the party while saying Chief Wole Elegbede was unanimously elected as the Publicity Secretary.
    He lauded the party members for their peaceful conduct throughout the exercise.
     Although Osoba was absent at the state congresses, his loyalists, such as  Senator Adegbenga Kaka,  Hon. Adekunle Adeyemi and the son of the former governor, Olumide Osoba, were present.
    In his acceptance speech, the new chairman, who was a former Deputy Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and one-time chairman of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), pledged to lead  APC to win the 2019 general elections in the state.
     “From reports all over the country, this state witnessed the most peaceful congress. Your Excellency, this is a reflection of your leadership quality. What we witnessed during the congress was not an accident; it was an outcome of a very sensible and meticulous leadership.
    “I want to assure you that this administration will be an all encompassing one. We are going to play politics of inclusion, not exclusion. We are going to obey the leaders and we are going to be firm. The era of indiscipline is gone in this party.
    “We are going to win the next election in a landslide manner. I want to assure you sir, we are not going to betray the confidence reposed in us,” Adebiyi said.
    Also speaking, Amosun hailed the APC members in the state for doing the state proud with the peaceful manner  conduct the congresses went.
    The governor declared that the ruling party will win 2019, urging members to remain resolute in standing by the party.
    He said, “We will work till May 29, 2019. I commend all our party faithful for their commitment to the success of the party. Without the members, there can’t be the party.
    “Election is coming; we are Ogun State. It’s not about fighting. We have what to sell. The governor that is coming after me will do better than me.”

  • Amosun, Osoba camps close ranks in Ogun

    THE main contending factions in the ward, council and state congresses in Ogun State All Progressives Congress (APC) have resolved to work together in the party’s interest.

    Some members are loyal to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, and others to former Governor Olusegun Osoba.

    A meeting yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital, may be a turning point in the three-year old crisis.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some Osoba loyalists, who attended the meeting with the governor’s team, include Sen. Adegbenga Kaka, Sen. Gbenga Obadara, Sen. Akin Odunsi, Adekunle Adeyemi,  Abiodun Adudu-Balogun and  Bukola Braimoh.

    Prominent political leaders, representing the three senatorial districts, are called the ‘Abuja team’, because they served in the 7th National Assembly.

    Speaking to NAN, Osoba confirmed that the meeting had his blessing.

    “Peace, progress and unity in Ogun is of paramount importance. The meeting by the leaders of the senatorial districts has only one message. And that message is that the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State is one,” he told NAN on phone.

    The ex-governor said efforts toward reconciliation had never ceased and that what was playing out was a reflection of such effort.

    “By July I am going to be 79. I must reiterate that I feel insulted when people insinuate that there is a rivalry between me and the governor. I respect the governor. He is the chief executive. He is the head of Ogun State.

    “Therefore, I must accord him all necessary respect due to his office, which I once held on two different occasions. There is nothing like a rivalry,” he said.

    NAN learnt that others at the meeting include the Ogun Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa and several state commissioners.

    In another separate interview with NAN, Sen. Kaka, a former deputy governor of the state, corroborated Osoba’s endorsement of the peace parley.

    “We gathered to reconcile the party. Those issues that brought about discord have come and gone for good. As we go into party congresses, we expect less of acrimony and more of collaboration and unity,” he said.

    Kaka, who represented Ogun East until 2015, is believed to be one of the front-runners for governor on the platform of APC in 2019.

    He told NAN that Amosun would be one of those to determine who governs Ogun in 2019.

    Similarly, and according to him, Osoba would also be another deciding factor.

    “I can say I have the support of both Gov. Amosun and our leader, Chief Osoba. They are both indigenes of the state. Consequently, they both have a say in the race; like every indigene of the state.

    “Since October 2017, I told both of them my ambitions. But beyond that, I rely mostly on the decision of God.

    “On geo-political sensibilities, I must confess that I am not concerned about such feelings. The most important thing on my mind is service to the people. Those whose preoccupations lie in drumming up cleavages can continue to worry about such,” he said.

     

  • Obasanjo, Amosun, Osoba, others pray for Awolowo-Dosunmu at 70

    Obasanjo, Amosun, Osoba, others pray for Awolowo-Dosunmu at 70

    •Dignitaries storm Ikenne

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, his wife, Bola, Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, former Governor Olusegun Osoba and his successor, Gbenga Daniel, as well as other eminent Nigerians yesterday stormed the Ikenne, Ogun State home of Chief Obafemi Awolowo for the 70th birthday of the late sage’s daughter, Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu.

    Obasanjo, Osoba, Amosun, Daniel and scores of eminent personalities from across Nigeria converged on the Our Saviour’s Anglican Church in Ikenne to felicitate with Dr Awolowo-Dosunmu, who is the Chairman of African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles.

    They prayed for her long life, good health and more fruitful service to the nation and humanity.

    It was a double celebration for the former Ambassador to the Netherlands as the 70th birthday and thanksgiving service was also used to confer on her the title of Iya Ewe of Our Saviour’s Anglican Church in Ikenne.

    The officiating cleric, the Archbishop of Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos, Dr Olusina Fape, praised God for granting the celebrant the grace to attain 70 years.

    In his sermon, titled: This is the Day of Joy, Fape said birthday is a time to show appreciation to God for the gift of life.

    The bishop noted that Dr Awolowo-Dosunmu is a blessing to her generation.

    He advised her to put absolute faith in God and rededicate her life to the service of the Almighty and humanity.

    Fape said: “For our dear sister, this is the day the Lord has made; the day is your birth, the 70th year of the same. That our sister has seen this day is by the grace of God. God has preserved your life as it is unto this day.

    “You have reasons to praise God for this day. You have not merely existed for these 70 years, but you have been a blessing to your generation.

    “You have no reason to doubt God that He will sustain you in the years ahead. But then, you need to rely more on Him.

    “You may still have more challenging days ahead. But if you surrender your life to Him completely and find time to grow deeper in the knowledge of God through His word, you will not fail.

    “Our dear sister thinks no evil, sees no evil and talks no evil. All that you need in the years ahead is Christ to stand firm and overcome in the events of vicissitudes of life.

    “You don’t need religion or denomination. It is my prayer for you that your tomorrow will be better than your yesterday and today put together.”

    Amosun, who was represented by Deputy Governor Yetunde Onanuga, hailed the celebrant for her achievements and service to humanity at 70.

    He said: “The celebrant is one of the fruits of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. We want to thank you for the numerous contributions to mankind. We acknowledge all that you have done and we say it is not by mistake that you are adding another feather to all the feathers you already have.”

    Osoba and former Ekiti State Governor Niyi Adebayo hailed Awolowo-Dosumu as a brilliant woman.

    They wished her more prosperous years ahead.

    Dignitaries at the event included the Secretary to the Ogun State Government (SSG), Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa; Osun State Deputy Governor Titilayo Laoye-Tomori; former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; his wife, Bunmi and Chief Ayo Adebanjo.

    Others are: former Governors Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) and Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo; the serving overseer of Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare and his wife; the Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Olatokunbo Olopade, Chief Idowu Sofola (SAN), Senators Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, Femi Okurounmu and Kofoworoola Bucknor-Akerele.

    Also at the ceremony were the Aare Ona Kakanfo of the Yoruba, Chief Gani Adams, Senator Adegbenga Kaka, former Minister of State for Defence, Mrs Olusola Obada, Lisa of Ondo Kingdom, Sir Solomon Oguntimehin, Mrs Kemi Nelson, the Executive Chairman of Safari Books Limited, Chief Joop Berkhout and Chief Akin Osuntokun.

    The former Vice-Chairman of the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof A.B.O. Oyediran Olu Akinkugbe, Banji Akintoye, Iyaloja General of Remo, Mrs. Mercy Owolana, Chief Bola Doherty, former Emeritus Chief Judge of Oyo State, Mrs. Badejoko Adeniji, Maj.-Gen. Seeni Soboiki, old students of St. Anne’s School in Ibadan, the Iya Ijo of Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Mrs Comfort Olutunda, Pa Emmanuel Osibona and Rev. Olusesan Adebajo.