The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Osun Central

  • Basiru dedicates victory to Osun Central

    The senator-elect for Osun Central Senatorial District, Dr Ajibola Basiru has dedicated his victory at the poll to the people of the zone.

    Basiru thanked his supporters across the senatorial district, particularly Osogbo, for standing by him through thick and thin, which made it possible for him to win.

    Addressing a crowd of supporters that stormed his residence to rejoice with him, the senator elect was full of praises to All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders and members in the state. He also hailed his campaign organisation for a job well done saying the results worth the efforts. However, he advised them to be humble in victory and humane in jubilation.

    The immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice thanked the Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, Osogbo elders’ caucus, elites, religious bodies, market men and women, artisans and student body for their support throughout the struggle.

    He assured the people that his representation at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly will bring fortune to them as he would endeavour to fulfil all his promises.

    He appealled to the electorates to complete the victory for APC  by voting for the party candidates in the House of Assembly election scheduled for March 9, 2017.

     

  • ‘APC will review sale of Osogbo Steel Mill, others’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Osun Central, Dr Ajibola Basiru, has said President Muhammadu Buhari will reverse the sale of Osogbo Steel Rolling Mills and the Nigeria Machine Tools by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

    Basiru told APC supporters at a rally in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, that the sale of some public assets to some individuals by the Obasanjo administration would be reviewed, if the APC is re-elected.

    The senatorial candidate said the Obasanjo government set up the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), chaired by the former Vice-President and current Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    He regretted that the Obasanjo government did not only sell the two firms in Osogbo but also made them idle for several years.

    Basiru noted that if revived, the companies will provide jobs for youths and shore up the state’s economy.

    The immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice said most of the firms sold in the privatisation programme are not performing, hence the need to review their ownership to enhance productivity.

    He reminded the people that the Buhari administration had taken youths off the streets through its social protection programmes, such as N-Power, Achor Borrower, Tradermoni and others.

    Basiru said no other government had taken empowerment of youths as serious as the Buhari administration.

    The former attorney general assured the people that more beneficiaries would be added in the next phase to take more youths off streets.

    He listed the achievements of the APC administration to include nipping the herdsmen/farmers crisis in the bud, decimating the insurgents and investing heavily on road and rail infrastructure.

     

  • SDP members in Osun Central endorse Basiru

    The senatorial ambition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Osun Central zone, Dr Ajibola Basiru, received a boost as members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Odo-Otin Local Government have endorsed him as their candidate for the February 16 election.

    Basiru whose campaign team toured the local government was warmly received by the traditional rulers and APC members in all the communities visited.

    The Ajibola Basiru Campaign Organisation (ABCO) was received by the traditional ruler of Asi-Asaba, Oba Isaac Oyewale Olasunkanmi in his palace along with his chiefs; market women and artisans were also in attendance. The monarch recalled that the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice played a critical role during the kingship crisis in the community.

    Olasunkanmi said: “I will support a credible candidate and you (Basiru) you are one. I and my subjects have decided to vote for you. I pray that you will win the senatorial election and offer us quality representation at the red chamber.”

    Thereafter, APC candidate received hundreds of SDP members in Wards 9 and 14 in Asi-Asaba who declared their support for his candidacy. The SDP chairman in Ward 9, Mr Joseph Adeyemi expressed happiness over the merger of the party structures with APC in Osun State. To him, this would boost the APC fortunes in all elections in Osun State. He said the SDP members have embarked on a house-to-house campaign for Basiru and other APC candidates.

    In his response, Basiru appreciated the goodwill of the traditional ruler and people of Asi-Asaba and promised to resuscitate the community’s health centre which is in a deplorable condition.

    At the palace of Oloyan of Oyan, Oba Kilani Adekeye Oyedare commended the humility of the APC senatorial candidate. He described Basiru as a politician with great virtues. The traditional ruler recalled Basiru’s efforts towards the electrification of some neighbouring communities in Oyan.

    Oyedare said Oyan has always been progressive since the era of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He assured Basiru that his people would vote for him. The APC candidate thanked the Oba and his subjects for the good gesture and promised them vibrant representation if elected as senator. Thereafter, Basiru received hundreds of SDP members who formerly declared for APC. They promised to vote for him.

    Similarly at Ijabe, Basiru was given a warm reception at the palace of Oba Felix Oyeniyi with his chiefs in attendance. The APC candidate for Odo-Otin State Constituency, Mr Adeyinka Adetoyi urged the people to vote for the part in order to attract development for the community.

    The campaign train also moved to Igbotelele, Alapataand Ilaodo communities where party supporters, Fulani community and other well-wishers trooped out to declare support for the APC senatorial candidate.

  • ‘My agenda for Osun Central’

    Former Osun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Dr Ajibola Basiru is the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Osun Central. He served as Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties in the first term of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola. In this interview by LEKE SALAUDEEN, he speaks on his programme for the district.

    Why do you want to represent Osun Central District in the Seanate?

    The reason basically is about using God endowed knowledge and experience in governance over the years into the service of the people of Osun Central Senatorial District. I believe the position of a senator is critical to the success of executive arm of government at the federal level. I believe by contesting and winning the senatorial election, I will be in a position to support and ensure the implementation of the noble and progressive policies of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    What is your agenda for the people of Osun Central?

    I have clearly formulated and articulated my agenda which has been published in a document titled ‘My pact with the people of Osun Central’. There is Yoruba version also. The document enlightened our people as to the responsibilities of senator by law so that there will be no confusion over what is expected of an elected senator.

    The document highlighted three principal roles. As a senator, the  primary responsibilities are lawmaking to ensure good governance and welfare of the people; oversight function of the executive arm to ensure judicious, expeditious and transparent use of public resources and lastly to scrutinise and where applicable confirm the appointees of the Federal Government of Nigeria as stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution and other enabling laws.

    Beyond this, we promised continuous consultation with our constituents; sponsorship of beneficial bills, establishment of skills/vocational training centres across Osun Central Senatorial District; annual employability/career training/Job Fair for graduates in the Senatorial District to ensure that our graduates are not just qualified but employable and facilitation of a Tech/ICT Hub for youth in the District.

    Our promise also include annual medical outreach/ health awareness programmes; creation of Senator Ajibola Basiru Food bank for Osun Central Senatorial District; Quarterly Town Hall meetings with constituents; Ajibola Basiru’s water project; sponsoring of bill to establish a Federal Medical Centre in Osun Central Senatorial District and an all inclusive qualitative representation at the Senate.

    The flag-off of your campaign was witnessed by a mammoth crowd but the opposition said it won’t translate into victory for you at the poll. What is your reaction?

    We thank God for the overwhelming support demonstrated by the mass of our people who turned up at the flag-off of our campaign in Osogbo. It is not the size of the crowd that excited me but the enthusiasm shown by our people. It was more of carnival.

    It is crystal clear from election results since 2007 that Osun Central Senatorial District is the bastion of progressive politics in the state. In the last governorship election, the margin between the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was more than 13,000. We believe it will be more in 2019. We are coasting home to victory with other candidates in 2019. Our people are with us. We are the pivotal of the policy and programme of former Governor Aregbesola’s administration on welfare of the people. Our score card is rated high by international agencies and National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Human beings and human capital development was the focus of Aregbesola’s administration.

    What steps is Osun APC taking to bring back those who defected during the governorship primaries?

    It is not our business to chase them. If they want to come back, they are welcome. In politics there is free entry and free exit. Some of them have returned and they were embraced. It is in their own interest to re-trace their steps if they want to remain relevant in the politics of Osun State.

    Will the alliance between APC and the Social Democratic (SDP) formed during the governorship election play out in 2019?

    If you were at the rally, you would have noticed the presence of SDP members. They turned up in large number. They are giving us massive support. The collaboration between APC and SDP is on course. I had a meeting with Bolorunduro Local Government chapter of SDP before the rally was held. I’m impressed by SDP attitude towards governance. They place a lot of premium on improving governance which is in line with APC policy. We treat them as collaborators.

    Many APC senators would not return in 2019 including the senator representing your senatorial district. What do you think is responsible for this?

    Democracy is not monarchy. Democracy is about generating fresh ideas, limited tenure and periodic elections to chose leaders. It is true that Professor Sola Adeyeye who is representing my senatorial district will not return in 2019. By the grace of God, I will take over from him. I will bring fresh ideas and ensure qualitative representation.

    Going to the Senate, I should also be looking to when I will not be there again. The incumbent senator (Prof. Adeyeye) has been giving me a lot of support for my ambition. I appreciate him for that. Let me also express my profound gratitude to the former governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande and the National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for their unflinching support.

    You were in the legal team that fought for the retrieval of Aregbesola’s mandate. How would you reflect on the legal battle?

    It was the longest in the history of electoral petition handled by electoral tribunal. It was novel of its kind in terms of legal requirement of proofs and In terms of legal reference. The outcome of the case had led to a review of electoral law in Nigeria. The Aregbesola’s case lasted three and a half years. It was thereafter that a timeline of six months was set for the conclusion of electoral petition by the tribunal. The issue of subpoena that compels witnesses to appear was also addressed. Since that historic judgment was delivered, there has been reluctant of the courts to reject experts’ evidence. I have written a comment on this which was published in the Nigeria Bar journal.

    Who are your mentors in politics?

    Different people impacted on me in politics. First I got to know Aregbesola through Dr Muiz Banire, former National Legal Adviser of APC. I followed their style and moved very close to them. The APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is also my mentor. Locally in Osun, I have people like Pa Wale Lasisi, Pa Idowu Esuleke (a.k.a. the Boy) and several others. I have learned one or two things from them especially on how to approach political issues and direct mobilisation of people.

    What are the unique qualities that you admire in Aregbesola?

    Former Governor Aregbesola is a case study in contradiction between simplicity and complexity. He combined both. The key words to explain him are: He’s a teacher- he explains his rationale, thinking and policies to many of us who are his mentees. He’s passionate about the development of the black people. He always lament on poverty, hunger, destitution and hopelessness of black people. He always asks why it was so with black. He’s committed to the development of not only Nigeria but the black people.

    Aregbesola is very soft and strong in principle. He wouldn’t like people to be hurt even his adversaries. He’s compassionate. He’s a good family man. I learnt a lot from him on how to deal with my family. He’s not attracted by worldly things; he lives a life of an ordinary man despite the aura of office. Discussing with people is his hobby.