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Tag: Oyelola Ashiru

  • 2027: APC chieftains back Ashiru for governor

    2027: APC chieftains back Ashiru for governor

    All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains in Kwara state have backed the Senate Deputy Majority Oyelola Ashiru for governorship.

    The stakeholders made their position known in a communique at the end of a consultative meeting in Ifelodun local government area of the state.

    They added that the governorship position should not be an exclusive preserve of any bloc, group, or senatorial district in the state.

     Chairman and Secretary of the communique drafting committee, Pastor Elisha Odenike and Mr. Oluwasogo Lawal signed the communique.

    The communique said that all three senatorial districts in the state possess capable and competent progressives.

    “In this regard, the meeting expressed strong confidence in leaders such as the Deputy Majority Leader of the 10th Senate, Senator Lola Ashiru, and strongly encouraged the people to offer themselves for higher service”.

    The people also urged the APC leadership at the state and national levels to guarantee fairness, equity, inclusiveness, and internal democracy in the process leading to the selection of the party’s governorship flag bearer.

    The chieftains, which affirmed that the 2027 general elections present a possible victory for the APC in Kwara state, (both at the governorship level and in legislative contests), added that Kwara South, like the other senatorial districts, is endowed with tested, competent, and progressive leaders whose experience and track records qualify them for higher responsibilities at both state and national levels.

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    The stalwarts frowned at distractions anchored on alleged self-serving narratives, including the so-called “lgbomina Lokan” agitation, saying, “the campaign is a calculated attempt to marginalize credible aspirants of the Ifelodun extraction, particularly in the House of Representatives race to pave way for their own candidates from two local government areas.

    “Notably, these same “Igbomina Lokan” propagandists have dominated the other Kwara South federal constituency for over 25 years to the exclusion of Ekiti and Oke Ero local government areas and now seek to extend such dominance to the Senate seat through political maneuvering. This agenda is unacceptable and will be firmly resisted.

    “We, therefore, call and encourage all credible and competent progressives from the Ifelodun local government area to contest the Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun Federal Constituency seat come 2027.

    On party loyalty and commitment, the meeting reaffirmed its unalloyed loyalty to the APC, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, and pledged unity, discipline, and strategic mobilization in strengthening the party, while legitimately and confidently advancing the political interests of Kwara South and Ifelodun local government in particular.

    The chieftains also expressed sympathy with communities in Ifelodun local government over the losses and displacement suffered as a result of banditry in the last 18 months, while commending the efforts of the federal government.

  • 2027: Kwara APC leaders endorse Tinubu for re-election

    2027: Kwara APC leaders endorse Tinubu for re-election

    Political leaders and opinion moulders from Kwara South Senatorial District have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for second term.

    They said the president has attracted recognition and opportunities to the area, urging him to throw his hat in the ring in the 2027 general election.

    Speaking at the Kwara South Leaders’ Roundtable in Oro, Irepodun local government, the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Oyelola Ashiru, said the district had every reason to align with President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) because of the appointments and federal attention given to their people.

    The theme of the roundtable was: “Unity for Progress: Charting a Sustainable Future for Kwara South.”

    “There will be a new Kwara South. You will be inspired, you will be taught a new lesson, and you will see the changes yourself. If President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not making Nigeria a great nation, I will not remain in APC”, he said.

    Senator Ashiru said that the endorsement was driven by a vision for progress and not politics, adding that “we are saying this because we want Nigeria to be great. We are saying it because we want Kwara South to develop. The President has recognized us and has done so much for us. The best thing any leader can stand on is the interest of his people”, he said.

    Ashiru also praised Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s strides in education, especially in Kwara South, urging him not to retire after 2027 but take on bigger responsibilities at the national level. He further expressed his support for any son or daughter of Kwara South who may contest the governorship in future.

    In his remarks, Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Otunba Abiodun Ajiboye, also emphasized that unity was the foundation for development.

    “Kwara South desires a platform for unity. Only when we are united can we think of development. We must also appreciate our Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for the wonderful work he is doing”, he noted.

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    In his remarks, one of the opinion moulders in the district, Chief Abiodun Dada, called for political harmony among stakeholders, stressing that unity was the key to sustainable growth in the district.

    “Our elders say one tree cannot make a forest. In the same way, no single town or group can build the future of Kwara South alone. Unity is the very heartbeat of development”, he said.

    Dada highlighted the gains of the Renewed Hope Agenda and noted that Kwara South has never enjoyed the kind of recognition it has now, pointing to appointments such as the Deputy Senate Leader, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Group Managing Director of NNPCL.

    “Have we enjoyed political patronage like this before? The answer is no. This is a clear indication that Kwara South has a greater future in this dispensation”, he stated, urging leaders to work towards securing the governorship in 2027.

    Former APC chairman in Kwara state, Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, aligned with the resolution, commending the people of Kwara South for coming together to endorse President Tinubu.

    “Genuine, dedicated, courageous, progressive, forward-looking people of Kwara South have gathered here to endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office given his track record”, Bolarinwa said.

  • Senator, Marwa clash over link to hard drugs

    Senator, Marwa clash over link to hard drugs

    The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Deputy Senate Leader Oyelola Ashiru yesterday clashed over arrests and the discovery of illicit drugs from two  ‘’joints’’ in Kwara State.

    The clash followed allegations by NDLEA Chairman Brig Gen Buba Marwa that Ashiru’s description of his agency as corrupt was borne out of vendetta.

    The Deputy Senate Leader had during his contribution to a debate on a  Bill for an Act to establish the National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation seven days ago, also alleged that NDLEA had become a compromised body.

    He spoke during plenary in the Senate.

    But at a news conference in  Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, Gen. Marwa alleged that the lawmaker’s outburst was because NDLEA was determined to root out ‘’illicit drug networks, including the one operating from his residence in Ilorin”.

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    Last week, Senator Samaila Kawu (Kano South) alleged on the floor of the Senate that some senators were involved in illicit drug. He was ruled out of order by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin who was presiding, for making a comment outside the issue being debated.

    Gen. Marwa, a former Lagos State military administrator, represented at the news conference by  NDLEA’s Director (Media and Advocacy) Femi Babafemi, said operatives of the anti-narcotic agency found in February that Ashiru’s home in the Government Reservation Area(GRA) in Ilorin, was a drug ‘’joint’’ for both dealers and users.

    He added that operatives arrested two aides of the Senator – Ibrahim Mohammed and Muhammed Yahaya – during the February raid.

    The NDLEA boss also recalled that on June 11, 2023, another man and member of   ‘’Senator’s boys,’’ Oluwatosin Odepidan, was arrested with illicit drugs in a “joint” in Offa also in Kwara State.

    Odepidan, according to Marwa,  jumped bail, but was rearrested, prosecuted, and convicted this year.

    In a swift reaction, the Kwara South Senator.said it behooved the NDLEA  to prosecute all those arrested from the “joints” in connection with drugs.

    In a statement, his Special Assistant, Olaitan Adeyanju, said:   “The NDLEA claims to have discovered drugs in Senator Ashiru’s Ilorin house, but there’s no information on which court of law the culprits were charged to.

    “In fact, Senator Ashiru has been vocal about the NDLEA’s corruption and compromise, which might be the reason behind these allegations.

    “However, the senator has challenged the agency to prosecute anyone that is found with illicit drugs.”

     The senator also denied that he sent an aide to influence the dropping of a drug charge against Odepidian, adding that others mentioned by the agency were unfamiliar to him.

    Marwa had while acknowledging the support of the National Assembly explained that he needed to ‘’set the record straight for the benefit’’ of other lawmakers.  

    He said:  “The NDLEA is compelled to call this press briefing because of an unfortunate development earlier last week during plenary in the Nigerian Senate when some uncomplimentary, unfounded, defamatory remarks were made against the agency.

    “While acknowledging the great work of the Senate towards the upliftment of Nigeria and Nigerians, especially their support for the ongoing concerted efforts towards the amendment of the NDLEA Act, the agency, however, is duty-bound to respond to the unprovoked attack against it by Senator Ashiru.

    “There is no doubt that setting up another agency is within the power of the Senate and if we are invited to contribute to the debate, we will be willing to offer our opinion.

    “While we cannot fault the power of the Senate on that, yet for a member of the Upper Chamber to have made such an unfounded and unwarranted categorical statement against the agency led us to look inward to see what could have been responsible for such a carpeting general statement.

    “What we found was shocking, and we concluded that his statement came from a place of vendetta and certainly not out of public interest or any altruistic motive.

    “The personal house of the senator in GRA Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, had been raided in the recent past, where drugs and illicit substances were recovered while two of his aides – Ibrahim Mohammed and Muhammed Yahaya – were arrested.

    ‘’Based on credible intelligence and surveillance which confirmed that the senator’s house was being used as a drug joint for drug dealers and users, the house was raided by our operatives at 1:30 pm on February 4, 2024, during which the two aides were arrested, while a third suspect escaped arrest.

    “In another encounter with the senator, the agency also received intelligence that some of his boys, popularly known as ‘Omo Senator ’ operating from his hometown, Offa, were equally dealing in illicit drugs.

    ‘’A raid was subsequently carried out on their joint in Offa where one of them, Oluwatosin Odepidan, was arrested and illicit drugs such as methamphetamine and cannabis recovered from him on June 11, 2023.

    “The bid to get the agency to drop the case against Odepidan, including a visit to the Kwara State Command headquarters of the agency in Ilorin by the Personal Assistant to the senator, one Omoluabi, was rebuffed as Odepidan was promptly charged to court and prosecuted.

    “Though the culprit jumped court bail in 2023, he was re-arrested in 2024 after the court issued a bench warrant for his arrest. He was eventually convicted and sentenced in June 2024.

    “So, going by this backstory, it is deductible that these encounters that the agency has had with the senator, must have been responsible for his outburst, and unfortunately, false allegation, the type that nobody within and outside of government has ever leveled against NDLEA before.”

  • Senator Ashiru to NDLEA: prosecute anyone caught with Illicit drugs in my house

    Senator Ashiru to NDLEA: prosecute anyone caught with Illicit drugs in my house

    Senate Deputy Leader Oyelola Ashiru has challenged the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to prosecute anyone arrested by its operatives in connection with illicit drugs.

    Ashiru last Wednesday in the Senate during debate on a Bill seeking to establish a National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation, commented that the proposal was a welcome development as according to him, “NDLEA is corrupt and already compromised.”

    But the NDLEA in its reaction to Ashiru’s statement by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in Abuja on Monday, alleged the Senator’s comments were vindictive.

    Babafemi alleged that Senator Ashiru made disparaging comments on NDLEA last week because of his failure to stop the arrest and trial of some persons allegedly found to be involved in drug abuse in his house.

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    In reaction to NDLEA’s allegations, Senator Ashiru’s special assistant, Olaitan Adeyanju, in a statement asked the anti-graft agency to go ahead and charge anyone accused of engaging in illicit drugs to court.

    The statement reads in part: “The NDLEA claims to have discovered drugs in Senator Ashiru’s Ilorin house but there’s no information on which court of law the culprits were charged to.

    “In fact, Senator Ashiru has been vocal about the NDLEA’s corruption and compromise, which might be the reason behind these allegations.”

    The senator’s assistant also explained that Ashiru didn’t send any aide to influence the dropping of drug allegations against Tosin Odepidian and the names mentioned by the agency are unfamiliar.

    “However, the Senator has challenged the agency to prosecute anyone that is found with illicit drugs,” he said.