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Tag: Osoba

  • I’m not competing with Osoba, help me beg him, Amosun tells Ogun people

    I’m not competing with Osoba, help me beg him, Amosun tells Ogun people

    Senator Ibikunle Amosun yesterday said he would do everything within his power to settle the rift between him and Chief Segun Osoba, appealing to the elders and people of Ogun State to help him beg the ex – governor for forgiveness if he has done wrong.

    Amosun said he is neither in “competition with Osoba” whom he called his “leader” nor anybody, adding that he would continue to accord him utmost respect at all times.

    The Governor who spoke during a live programme of the Abeokuta – based Rock-City 101.9 FM radio station and monitored by The Nation, said the Office of Governor is temporary but added that he has come to develop the state and then leave a legacy that would outlive him.

    According to him, he is not ignorant of the fact that no politician would want to go into the general elections with a divided house or in an atmosphere of division and acrimony as such, rarely profit anybody.

    He revealed that the debt profile which stood at about N40bn last month, has crashed to N36bn. He said that, Ogun does not owe the fabulous N300bn debt being peddled about, by “mischievous persons” out to put wool over the eyes of residents and friends of the state.

    Amosun noted that his administration has had to pass through “strenuous and difficult approach” to source funds from banks, to enable it execute its many capital projects among others, across the state in the last three years.

    He said: “opposition said we have borrowed over N300bn debts to finance our projects. They are just liars. No bank in Nigeria can lend any government more than N25bn. What they don’t know is that, we have increased our IGR to more than N5bn monthly from initial N730m we met.”

    According to him, the highest credit facility ever collected at a time by the administration is about N15bn managed in such a way that the debt profile does not exceed N40bn.

    He declared that the administration inherited crippling debt burden, left for it to carry by his predecessor which is being settled in bits. But that in civilized climes, such people that plunged Ogun State into needless liability, should be walking on the streets in palpable remorse, and perhaps made to face justice.

  • Fashola, Osoba, Ikuforiji celebrate Jakande at 85

    Fashola, Osoba, Ikuforiji celebrate Jakande at 85

    It was a glorious day for the first civilian governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, when Governor Babatunde Fashola, former Ogun State Governor Segun Osoba and associates converged on Darlington Hall, Ilupeju, Lagos to celebrate his birthday. He turned 85 yesterday.

    At the occasion, a book titled:  “Jakande: Fountain of Excellence” was presented. The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council sponsored the publication.

    Aremo Osoba described Jakande as a legend of journalism. He said Jakande was co-founder of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), co-founder and first President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and co-founder and twice President of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN),

    The former governor also lauded Jakande’s leadership quality when he abolished in one fell swoop the shift system in Lagos public schools on assumption of office as governor in 1979.

    Lagos State Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji described Jakande as an enigma, a colossus and a giant among men.

    Ikuforiji said no administration had surpassed what Jakande’s achieved in four years and three months as governor. He said it was the Jakande administration that built Lagos- Epe Road, Iba-LASU Road and Egbe-Idimu Road.

    He said: “He tarred more roads in Epe where I come from more than any governments after him. He built affordable houses all over the state that are today referred to as Jakande Estates. Old men like Baba  Jakande that served selflessly are not being respected because they are out of power; that is why we are in trouble today.”

    Ikuforiji, who was the book presenter, urged every Nigerian to get a copy.

    The book reviewer, Mr Gbile Oshadipe, a lecturer at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), described the subject as a role model, a great administrator and the champion of the people.

    Oshadipe said Jakande would be remembered for his laudable achievements in education and 16 housing estates known as Jakande estates he built across the state during his tenure as Governor of Lagos state.

    He is a humanist, trainer of journalists, global activist in journalism profession, consistent and transparent in his dealings. He remains the hero of our time, he added

    Lagos NUJ Chairman Deji Elumoye said Jakande’s biography is one in the series the council plans to write.

    NUJ National President Mallam Garba Mohammed noted that Jakande was a gifted writer whose factual editorials were respected in the days of colonial regime.

    Dignitaries at the event are Fashola, who was represented by Commissioner For Information Lateef Ibirogba, Governor  Ibikunle Amosun, represented by the Information Commissioner Yusuph Olaniyonu, the celebrant’s wife, Abimbola, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Regional Integration Rev Tunji Adebiyi  and a former member of the House of Representatives, Chief Adekunle Ali.

  • Understanding Ogun APC crisis

    SIR: I have lived in Ogun State since 1977 even though I am from Imo State. I can claim to know about the politics of the region as much as that of the South-east. Besides, I am a student of politics and history.

    At the heart of the crisis in the Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is the fear of election. I do not think the problem is strictly between the incumbent governor, Ibikunle Amosun and former governor, Olusegun Osoba. This is because, at every public forum that I’m aware of, the governor has always acknowledged Osoba as leader of the party, although by virtue of the APC constitution, the governor should be the leader. Equally, the former governor has spoken of the unprecedented achievements of the current governor. So the re-election of Amosun is not under any threat just as the position of Osoba as the party leader is not challenged.

    All over the world, there are tendencies within political parties and members usually gravitate towards one party chieftain or the other. But the current problem in Ogun is that current members of the National Assembly from the state want to retain their position in 2015. They gravitate towards Osoba and, from all indications, have his support. However, there are other aspirants who believe the NASS members have performed below expectation and therefore must be replaced. These aspirants claim they have the sympathies of Amosun.

    But from what I gathered authoritatively, Amosun has not supported anyone for any slot. What he wants is a level-playing field where the current elected office holders, including himself can contest against other aspirants within the party. This is the crux of the matter. The incumbent office holders don’t want election but selection.

    All the talk about parallel ward congress on April 5 is a lie because a few days before the election, Osoba and Amosun worked together and also they jointly monitored the election. It was an open contest, free and fair. But since the loyalists of the NASS members did not have the upper hand, the talk of division and parallel congress began to rent the airwaves. Till date, nobody has been able to tell us the exact location of any parallel ward congress in Ogun on April 5.

    The current talk of non-forgiveness, non-harmonisation, and non-reconciliation is unhelpful to the cause of democracy and internal democracy within political parties, except, of course, this people all along had “hidden agenda”. Unforgiveness is neither in the Bible nor Koran.

    Then people should stop name-dropping. The real Awoists are those who do what Awo did or stood for. If you love with your heart the masses, declare free education, revive agriculture, including farm settlements, construct durable roads and bridges, declare free health, provide security of lives and property, etc. then you are the true Awoist, and the majority of Yoruba will always support such a person, come rain come sunshine. It does not matter whether you ate with Awo, slept on the same bed with him during his life-time or not.

    All lovers of democracy should accept elections, go for primaries. The losers should congratulate the winners and vice versa, because in a contest between members of the same family – as Amosun was quoted to have said recently – ‘there are no victors, no vanquished.”

    • James Ikechukwu

    Owerri

     

  • Wait for National APC’s decision on parallel exco, Osoba tells supporters

    Wait for National APC’s decision on parallel exco, Osoba tells supporters

    Former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba has broken his silence on the All Progressives Congress (APC) congresses conducted in the state and the parallel executives that emerged.

    Osoba said the APC’s National Secretariat would look into the outcome of the congresses, urging his supporters to await the decision.

    Addressing his supporters at his Ibara GRA home in Abeokuta, the state capital, he cautioned them against acting in manners that would denigrate Governor Ibikunle Amosun or the office he occupies.

    He alleged that the “crisis” in Ogun APC resulted from the political events of 2003, but which he had decided to “forgive and forget” as a Christian and an elder.

    Osoba said: “Please, let us sympathise with the governor. I sympathise with him but do not abuse him. I did not know it was an offence for me to forgive and forget about the incidents that happened in 2003.

    “I accepted to forgive and forget as a leader and a Christian so that we can wrest power back. You stood like the rock of Gibraltar. I do not want us to abuse anybody. I do not want us to denigrate the office of the governor.

    “I want us to address issues with experience. I have worked with all presidents in the country. I am close to all our past leaders. I did not ask for money from anyone of them as a journalist.

    “Since we have been running a party, there was never a time we did fund raising. None of the past leaders have ever accused me of coming to them for money. I am not one of the journalists that beg people for money.

    “I do not think anyone can rubbish my integrity amongst the leaders. I did not take a dime from the present government despite the fact that I sold my houses in Ilorin and Ibadan to fund campaigns in the two elections.”

    Osoba assured his supporters that contrary to insinuations that he had been bought over, he would not mortgage the interests of the National and State Assembly members loyal to him just to secure a second term ticket for his son, Olumide, a member of the House of Representatives.

    He said: “They say they want to remove all National Assembly members except Olumide. I said no, that will not happen. How could I disappoint all my followers and loyalists because of Olumide? We do not want division in the party.

    “Some now call me a beggar. Somebody wrote in The Nation that I am making demands from the Ogun State government. Should he not have asked of my side of the story?

    “Even if they gave me money, can that pay enough for all what we did? It is my goodwill and good name that I used to campaign. They say they have bought Osoba and he can no longer talk. But that mouth has been unlocked.

    “If they say I am a beggar, I thank God I am no longer begging. They should hold on to their money. Throughout Daniel’s eight years, I did not die. Did I?

    “They have been raining abuses on me that I have been bought. How much can they pay us back for all the troubles we went through in 2007? Leave them, let them keep abusing me.”

  • Osoba mulls regionalism, devolution of powers

    Osoba mulls regionalism, devolution of powers

    Former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, yesterday said that the country should go back to regionalism and take steps to devolve more powers to the federating units. He drew applause from his fellow delegates when he prayed Christian and Muslim prayers to preface his comment, noting that he is at the Conference to preach return to regionalism and devolution of powers. The former governor said a return to regionalism would enable the regions to decide their fate, including creation of local governments the way they deemed necessary.

    Chief Osoba said that it is unfair that Lagos State with over 20 million people would continue to have only 20 local governments while Jigawa State that was carved out of Kano State has 27. The former governor, who came to the conference on the platform of former governors, also said that it is unfair that Ijebu in Ogun State is the only province that is still not a State. He said, “I am here to preach devolution of power and I am happy that the Emir of Gumi has spoken about it; we are making progress. I am here to preach that we should consider regionalism. Lagos State with over 20 million people with only 20 local governments and Kano State used to have the same number of local governments with Lagos, but now, there is Jigawa State with 27 local governments. Lagos state still has 20 Local Governments.

    “Today, people are talking about corruption, governors are corrupt; where are the contractors? How many of the contractors who had been conducting these businesses all over Nigeria without due delivery have been sent to jail. We talk of corruption. What about those officers in pension office, pensioners are suffering; they are the ones stealing the money. We talk of coups, I disagree, only two coups are related to civilian government, 1966 and 1983. All the others were military coups against the military, sponsored by their own contractors, who are civilians.

    “I correct the position of some military officers here who said civilians are responsible for all the coups. We are today to decide whether we want to go the Yugoslavia way. Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Montenegro discovered themselves and separated. If we want to go the Czechoslovakia way, they went their separate ways peacefully or the USSR way in 1991; they went their ways. I pray that Nigeria will not be like that and that is why this conference is important for all of us. I want to beg Mama Market, please don’t castrate us, I beg you …those who commit rape should be banned from holding public office. Some of us are already castrated by nature. If you castrate more, you will be losing more men.

    “Mama Market (retired general Felicia Sani), don’t castrate us. Giving a ban from public office is right because anybody who rapes is not fit to rule in this country. Our problem started after 1900 when the British government created provinces in the North. Today, I come from Ogun State where Ijebu is the only province that is still not a State. It is unfair. Some States have gone up to three, four States. But I am happy that my brother Junaid Mohammed is now more matured. He spoke very well. We were together in 1988 when Dalhatu was firing, today he is more matured.”

    General Paul Omu (rtd) had, in his comment, lamented that the military had been battered by many speakers. He said that it is known that all military coups in the country were instigated by politicians, adding, “All wars that are fought by soldiers were caused by civilians. Military administrations in this country, civilians were over 90 percent.” Omu also said that there was no doubt that the federal, especially the centre, needed to be unbundled. He asked delegates to assist the federal government to unbundle the centre for the good of the country. Professor Akin Oyebode, in his comment, said that the country is operating caricature federation. He drew the attention of delegates to the fact that the National Conference has no legal backing, adding “we have embarked on a voyage without a compass.”

  • Osoba: APC aiming for highest office

    Osoba: APC aiming for highest office

    Former Ogun State governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, yesterday said the All Progressives Congress (APC) is looking beyond winning governorship and National Assembly seats in future elections.

    The former governor said besides other elective offices, the party was planning to win the presidential seat and provide the people with quality governance from 2015.

    Osoba spoke at Ago-Oba in Abeokuta, after registering at Ward 13 at Ago-Oba Centre.

    He noted that Nigerians were embracing APC because of its progressive stance.

    According to him, the thinking within the party is beyond governorship, state or National Assembly offices but the Presidency.

    Osoba, who arrived the registration centre at 12.20pm and registered about five minutes later, hailed the exercise for making “reasonable progress within the urban areas”.

    The APC chieftain described the registration as a democratic process for mobilising the party’s members for elective offices at all levels.

  • Osoba, Fasehun, Sani, others seek Yoruba’s unity

    Osoba, Fasehun, Sani, others seek Yoruba’s unity

    Students, politicians, academics and captains of industry yesterday extolled the virtues of the late Senator Abraham Adesanya, who died on April 27, 2008.

    He was 85.

    At a memorial lecture, organised by the University of Lagos (UNILAG) chapter of the National Association of Ogun State Students, at the Afe Babalola Auditorium of the institution, the elder statesman received encomiums for fighting the cause of the Yoruba and democracy.

    Present on the occasion were: Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu and Chief Jimi Agbaje, Senator Iyiola Omisore; Mrs Bola Obasanjo, who represented her husband, former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Rear Admiral Tayo Sode (rtd), Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora; Ambassador Aminu Shosanya, Mr. Segun Adesanya, Mr. Gboyega Oyewole, who represented former Ekiti State Governor Segun Oni, among others.

    In a lecture titled: The Place of the Yoruba in Nigerian Politics and Development, the guest lecturer, Prof. Alade Fawole, of the Department of International Relations, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, said Adesanya was one of the few eminent citizens, who shared the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s ideology.

    He noted that like the late Western Nigeria’s Premier, Adesanya was among patriotic Nigerians, who did not believe that one had to deny his primordial origin to be a good Nigerian.

    Prof Fawole said: “Like Awolowo, he (Adesanya) believed that a Yoruba man or woman cannot be a good Nigerian unless he or she is a good Yoruba first. There is no contradiction in this as far as he was concerned.”

    The academic recalled that when other Nigerians sought refuge overseas or abandoned the struggle to enthrone democracy, Adesanya stood resolutely to pursue his belief.

    “Pa Adesanya stayed behind in Nigeria and led Nigerians in the pro-democracy struggle from the trenches at great personal costs,” he said.

    The don stressed that Nigerians owed immense gratitude to the late Senator for enthroning democracy, which the nation enjoys presently.

    He said: “For his temerity and activism, he was targeted for callous execution by the late General Sani Abacha’s murder squad. Only God saved him from what could have become a most gruesome, officially-sanctioned assassination.”

     

  • Osoba, Jakande urge media to be fearless

    Osoba, Jakande urge media to be fearless

    For the second time in the history of No. 3, Adeola Street, Somolu, the property pulled a crowd of influential Nigerians. The event was the turning of the sod of the multi-million naira guest house of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council.

    Former Lagos State Governor Lateef Jakande took his steps slowly as he was guided through the crowd to turn the sod for the building of the Lagos NUJ guest house.

    He urged the contractor to complete the project on time and hailed the President of the Guild of Editors, Mr. Femi Adesina; the NUJ President Mohammed Garba and Lagos NUJ Chairman Deji Elumoye for keeping the union’s flag flying.

    Jakande said the media would wax stronger and take the country to greater heights.

    The first time eminent Nigerians gathered at No. 3, Adeola Street was when the NUJ secretariat was inaugurated in 1990. The old bungalow was demolished to pave way for a two-story guest house.

    Jakande was assisted by veteran journalist and former Ogun State Governor Aremo Olusegun Osoba.

    Osoba praised the Lagos NUJ leadership for being “progressive and cost-effective”.

    He said governments should learn how to manage resources from the Lagos NUJ, because this N74 million project would have been inflated, if the project belonged to the government.

    The former governor said: “Journalists have sacrificed a lot for this country. When the going was tough during the military dictatorship, a journalist from the north was the first to die. Before, journalists were seen as the dregs of the society. Today, nobody toys with a journalist.”

    He urged journalists to be courageous and determined in the face of intimidation.

    Osoba recalled Jakande’s passion for journalism, through his column, John West.

    Jakande established the Nigerian Institute of Journalism and built the NUJ property called the Light House, now known as Jakande House.

    Garba urged security agents to stop harassing journalists, adding that such practice was old fashioned and should only be seen during military dictatorship.

    He said: “We have attained a high level of development. Intimidation is old fashioned; it is out of place in a democracy. Suppression of the freedom of expression is bringing the country down.”

    Garba advocated close monitoring of the contents of publications and urged media organisations to guide against being used by politicians as the 2015 general election approaches.

    Elumoye said the guest house would have a car park, reception, restaurant and bar on the ground floor; 10 rooms on the first floor and 10 rooms on the second floor.

    The project, estimated to cost about N74 million, is to be completed in 12 months.

    Elumoye said it would be financed with the accrual of rent from Lagos NUJ property, a four-storey house named after Jakande on Victoria Island, and a bank loan.

    Former Lagos NUJ Secretary, now Deputy Managing Director of This Day, Mr. Kayode Komolafe urged the contractor to deliver the project as scheduled.

  • Osoba, others for NIJ convention

    It will be a great re-union for old students of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, Lagos, as they converge on Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, for their convention on Saturday, December 1.

    In a statement signed by Mr Moshood Adebayo, the Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the association, veteran journalist and former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba would be the chief guest of honour at the convention which holds at the MOKLAND Hotels, GRA Ibara-Abeokuta as Chief Guest of Honour.

    The royal father of the day is the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu, Amororo II and Oba Olufemi Ogunleye, Towulade of Akinale, while the mother of the day is Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief Alaba Lawson.

    The lecture of the convention titled: Government Management of Public Opinion for National Development will be delivered by Dr. Doyin Okupe, the Senior Special Adviser (Public Affairs) to President Goodluck Jonathan.

     

     

     

    Prof. Lai Oso of the Lagos State University, will also deliver a roundtable lecture titled: ‘’Between Iwe Irohin and Emergence of the Social Media: An Assessment of the Credibility of Information’’ on Friday November 30.

     

     

     

    During the convention, election of new national officers that will run the affairs of the Association for the next three years would also hold.