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  • Oyo APC on bumpy path to 2027

    Oyo APC on bumpy path to 2027

    After the crisis triggered an implosion in 2018, which led to its rout in the 2019 election,  the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State is adjusting to the role of an opposition party. But the chapter is not united. Southwest Bureau Chief BISI OLADELE reports

    That all is not well with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State is a clear fact to party members and observers. The ill-health started after the 2011 election, which saw its return to Agodi Government House when the late Abiola Ajimobi was elected as governor. He tried to manage the various blocs in the party but things went very bad in 2018 when many dissenting voices came together to form the Unity Forum. Most of them eventually opted out of the party and supported the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the time, Seyi Makinde, who defeated the APC candidate Bayo Adelabu in the 2019 election.

    Since then, the party has been struggling to forge a united front. The breaking away of most members of Unity Forum and the unexpected death of Ajimobi in 2020 further compounded Oyo APC’ woes. With Ajimobi’s exit, it became tough to get a leader that commanded the respect of the majority again.

    His predecessor in office, the late Adebayo Alao-Akala, who stepped into Ajimobi’s shoes later in 2020, did not enjoy the respect and loyalty of most old members of the party. Akala defected to the APC after losing the 2015 election on the platform of Labour Party (LP).

    Things went awry again when Akala died in January, 2022, throwing the party into a deeper leadership crisis. The struggle for the soul of the party became intense among a new set of leaders. The state congress that produced a new state executive later in 2022 was marked by intrigues. The party was divided along the lines of those who wanted Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu as the 2023 governorship candidate again, seeing him as a member of the aboriginal members as against the bloc led by former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin. Folarin had joined the party from the PDP in 2017.

    In the end, the Folarin bloc won in the tough race held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke-Ado, Ibadan.

    With his loss to the Folarin bloc, Adelabu moved out of the party with many of his followers to Accord Party, on which platform he contested the 2023 election as governor. Folarin emerged as the APC governorship candidate but his emergence has since further divided the party. Both Folarin and Adelabu lost to Makinde in the election.

    Though the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the last year election was seen as a development that would hasten the healing of wounds in Oyo APC, only little positive development has been seen since then. The appointment of party members from the state has not helped matters meaningfully as many members who remained in the party when Adelabu and his followers left, criticized his appointment as minister, describing it as a disincentive to party loyalty.

    But Adelabu’s supporters also argued that their leader would not have left the party if he was not ‘unfairly’ denied the opportunity to emerge as the party’s candidate in the 2023 election. They believe that they were ‘forced out’ by the Folarin bloc through ‘dirty’ tactics which they say has no place in the Nigerian progressives’ political culture.

    While some members who have been appointed by the Federal Government are appeased, many believe that the party is still on a downward move because of lack of cohesion and oneness among members.

    The Folarin bloc is said to be holding grudges against the president for appointing those who did not work for the governorship candidate of the party. The bloc, which is still in control of the party, is also unhappy with the role the national leadership of the party is playing as it is yet to be given proper recognition by the national leadership and Mr. President.

    Governor Seyi Makinde’s support for Tinubu in the presidential election was a headache for the Folarin bloc. To return the favour in the governorship election, the bloc believes that the president deliberately sacrificed it for Makinde by indirectly supporting the governor to win a second term.

    Read Also: Tinubu canvasses unity at 2nd Africa military games

    Several attempts have, however, been made to reconcile the members in the last 10 years, but the crisis persists. Reconciliatory efforts are usually initiated by the group getting the recognition and patronage each time. For instance, Ajimobi was the one who initiated reconciliation during his time. Akala also did when he became the overall leader. Folarin also reached out to others after his bloc gained control of the party. And the Adelabu bloc is reaching out to members of the other bloc this time.

     Playing opposition role

    In the midst of the crisis, however, Oyo APC has stayed afloat in playing the role of opposition since it fell out of power in 2019. The party has criticized and taken positions on some policies of the Makinde administration. While some of its criticisms are sound and worthy, some can only pass as grandstanding. The internal crisis consuming it also affects its ability to offer strong opposition to the government of the day.

    Paucity of funds is another factor limiting the party from offering strong opposition. With four State Assembly members, eight members of the House of Representatives, three senators and a minister, Oyo APC is not expected to be in financial limbo. But the reality of its financial situation leaves much to be desired.

    A member of House of Representatives Hon. Remi Oseni was the one that came to the party’s rescue last month when he donated N10 million to resuscitate activities at the party’s state secretariat.

    Again, the death of the state chairman Mr. Isaac Omodewu dealt another blow to its ability to function well. Omodewu, who died in the United States (US) in August, was buried in September.

    Generally, Oyo APC has just been managing to put up a reasonable front as opposition in the state, a situation that somehow helps its popularity.

    In recent times, the party has taken on the state government on certain projects and policies. For instance, the party criticized the N679 billion 2025 budget presented by Makinde to the House of Assembly last week.

    APC described the budget proposal as another fictitious document prepared to allegedly further enrich few individuals within the corridor of power as it has been the case since 2019 when the governor assumed office.

    A statement by Oyo APC Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, claimed that the orchestrated presentation was just a ceremony aimed at fulfilling all righteousness as Gov. Makinde did not carry any of the relevant stakeholders along in its preparation while he would not make use of the Appropriation Bill upon its passage by the lawmakers.

    Sadare said: “Experts have had reasons to ask questions on the values which annual budgetary rituals have added to the socio-economic and infrastructural development of Oyo state in the last five years. Apparently, they are aware of the abracadabra which the governor does with the management of the finances of the state without any recourse to public opinion, due process and the need for accountability.

    “As far as Oyo APC is concerned, the claim by Gov. Makinde that the 2025 Budget Proposal had the input of the people of the state is false even as we challenge him to come out clean on the specific projects which would gulp the 51 per center of the total N679billion.

    “Also, we have expected him (Makinde) to quote the exact period which workers should expect the commencement of the payment of the N80,000 minimum wage which he announced recently as well as the monthly total of the state wage bill to justify the amount quoted as recurrent expenditure in the 2025 Budget.

    “Gov. Makinde claimed 70 per cent successful implementation of the N515 billion Budget for 2024 but we do not know the parameters he used to score himself. In the health sector of the state, residents live under the fear of lassa fever, cholera, smallpox among others while the personnel in our understaffed public hospitals groan on account of poor condition of service.

    “But for the World Bank which bankrolls Ibadan Urban Flood Management Projects, the whole of the state capital (Ibadan) would have been washed away by flood and erosion.

    “The administration of Gov. Makinde woke up suddenly a few weeks ago and signed N41 billion as contract sum for the upgrade of the airport in Alakia. While the idea was a good one, it was not contained in the 2024 Budget and there is no record of due process followed in the award of that contract.

    “The Adamasingba Stadium renovation which gulped N5.2billion was another fraud perpetrated by the PDP administration of Engr. Makinde. Years after the release of the full contract sum, basic facilities in that stadium such as swimming pool, training pitch, toilets etc are nowhere to be found.

    “Sad enough, Gov. Makinde recently revealed that he had wasted huge sums of money on two or three occasions in the last five years to fix some inner roads in Ibadan only to realize that what those roads required was total reconstruction.

    “The much advertised Iseyin-Fapote-Ogbomoso Road inaugurated a few months ago has been limited to the use of light cars and motorcycles only and we all know what informed this decision.

    “The whole world would not be surprised to hear about Gov. Makinde awarded a contract for the linking of Eleyele and Asejire rivers together to produce an ocean in Ibadan since his administration must siphon money through fictitious projects.”

    But he was countered by the PDP spokesman, Michael Ogunsina, who stated that the budget was in the best interest of Oyo State, adding that it is critical and important to remind APC that the budget was prepared after thorough consultation with relevant stakeholders which includes traditional leaders, students’ bodies, market men and women majority of who vehemently voted against the APC and their candidates in the last two major elections in Oyo State.

    “It is highly imperative to also note that the newly recruited teaching and non-teaching staff, health officers and other Fresh civil servants have been considered and they will be paid the new minimum wage as provided in the budget.

    “It is important for Oyo APC to stop day-dreaming and learn from Governor Seyi Makinde and the PDP on how to meaningfully lead the people and provide good governance different from what the APC at the federal level is offering Nigerians,” Ogunsina said.

     Oyo APC also knocked Makinde for joining some governors to challenge the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with the aim of forcing the Federal Government to scrap it.

    The party described Makinde’s action as suspect, self-centered and myopic, saying such action did not receive the blessing of the masses, who have been at the receiving end of the alleged misappropriation of funds and wasteful spending of the current PDP administration in the last five and a half years.

    A statement by the party said: “It is recalled that Gov. Makinde instituted a court action against the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) about four years ago when his government was enmeshed in a contract scam relating to the production of several thousands of exercise books at N2,100 per unit.

    “The case is still pending till today but the court granted the relief sought by the state government restraining the anti-graft agency from acting on the matter until when the final judgement is delivered. This particular development gave the Makinde administration the leeway to perpetrate much more severe sleaze since then.

    “The question on the lips of the public now is that; “why would a state government which draws its main source of income from the federal government kick against the agencies of the government at the centre from performing its statutory duty in the states which formed the nation? Why would a governor be averse to reviewing and auditing his administration’s financial activities when he does not have a skeleton in the cupboard?

    “The reasons for Gov. Makinde’s hostilities to the anti-graft agencies are well known to the world but we would like to inform him (the governor) that he can only run, he cannot hide.

    “With barely two and a half months to the end of the year 2024, Gov. Makinde has concluded plans to spend a whooping N79.3 billion in the guise of Supplementary Finance Bill when in fact, there is little or nothing to show for the sum of N438.5 billion originally budgeted for the year.

    “The idea of a supplementary bill indicated that the whole budgetary allocation for the year had been expended but the people of the state cannot see the impact.”

    Any hope of bouncing back?

    With the APC governing Nigeria at the federal level and its positive implications for Oyo APC, and given that Makinde will no longer be on the ballot in 2027, there is hope that the party may bounce back ahead of 2027 elections.  Three senators, eight House of Representatives members, four House of Assembly members, Minister of Power, Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) among other elected and appointed members of Oyo APC are available to sell the party in 2027.

    But the efforts of elected and appointed officials will make only little impact if incohesion and divisions within the party persist. For Oyo APC to bounce back, stakeholders who spoke to The Nation in confidence highlighted two critical factors.

    First, they posited that President Tinubu will need to wade in by inviting leaders of the warring blocs to a meeting at the Villa where he should assure that he has no favourite among them as party leaders and co-labourers in the APC. Then, he will urge them to forgive one another and work for a better future. Thereafter, he should direct them to work together at all costs.

    Two, the president should allow the current state leadership for now to engender stability. A leader said that the current acting chairman Pa Olayide Abas, is an incorruptible septuagenarian who learnt under the late Obafemi Awolowo, Bola Ige and Lam Adesina.

    The sources contended that conducting another congress to elect a new set of leaders will only further polarize the party, stressing that no new leader can be unbiased and old enough to command the respect of party members.

    Towing this path recently, President Tinubu charged leaders and stakeholders in the party to work together as a family with a view to reclaiming power in the state come 2027.

    The president said the Pacesetter state was too important to be missing among the Progressive fold.

    Speaking in Ibadan at the maiden edition of Lam Adesina Annual Lecture Series, on November 11,  the President, who was represented by Adelabu, said to honour memory of late Lam Adeshina, the progressives in Oyo State must come together as one, fight the fight and win the battle come 2027, adding that Oyo State must return to the progressives’ fold.

    As we inch closer to the 2027 elections, all stakeholders expect that the party will move towards the right direction in order to become a formidable force.

  • Oseni meets Oyo APC leaders, seeks unity ahead 2027 polls

    Oseni meets Oyo APC leaders, seeks unity ahead 2027 polls

    A member of the House of Representatives representing Ibarapa East/Ido federal constituency, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, has met All Progressive Congress (APC) leaders in Oyo State to canvass unity ahead of the 2027 governorship election. 

    He urged members of the party to join hands as a stakeholders to foster unity, calling on all executives to come up with a blue print that will return the party to power in 2027.

    Speaking during his thank-you visit to All Progressive Congress (APC) Secretariat in Ibadan, the lawmakers said members of the party must come together to regain power in the State.

    He lamented absence of a leader in the party, whom according to him should have be a rallying point all members can run to during challenges since the demise of late Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    He however said if APC members in the state can unite and work together, the party will bounce back and take it’s rightful position come 2027 election in the state.

    The lawmaker, who is the Chairman, House Committe on Federal Road Maintainance Agency (FERMA), added that Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is ready to fix all federal roads across the nation.

    Read Also: Oseni: Financial inclusion necessary for MSMEs’ growth

    He frowned at deplorable condition of federal roads across the nation, saying Nigerians will soon begin to see good changes on the roads.

    He urged Nigerians to be patient and give Tinubu more time to fix Nigeria, adding that Nigerians will tank Tinubu in years to come for the foundation he is laying down.

    “Tinubu is not the cause of the challenges we are currently facing including bad roads across the nation, the challenges goes beyond the current administration, Tinubu is trying to ensure that all problems created by previous administrations is resolve.

    Acting Oyo APC chairman Alhaji Olaide Abass thanked Oseni for deeming it fit to visit the Secretariat, saying the party is proud of his giant stride of touching lives of his constituents.

  • JUST IN: Oyo APC gets new acting chairman

    JUST IN: Oyo APC gets new acting chairman

    The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has appointed Alhaji Moshood Olayide Abas as its new acting chairman, following the passing of Barr. Isaac Omodewu, the former chairman.

    Abas, who previously served as the party’s deputy state chairman, was elected alongside Omodewu during the last State Congress in October 2021 at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan.

    The APC publicity secretary in the state, Olawale Sadare, announced that Abas’ appointment was ratified by all members of the State Executive Committee during an emergency meeting held at the party’s state secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, on Monday, September 16.

    The statement reads: “Following the transition of our former state chairman, Barr. Isaac Omodewu, the Constitution of our great Party has placed on us an onus to fill the vacuum by elevating the Deputy State Chairman to the post of Acting Chairman and this is exactly what the State Executive Committee did at an emergency meeting earlier today.

    Read Also: Oyo APC chairman, Omodewu finally laid to rest amid tears

    “The new acting chairman belongs to the category of the leaders of the Progressives with an intimidating track record of service as a professional and a politician.

    “Alh. Abas, a certified pharmacist, started his active political career with the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the 70s and he was a direct trainee under the late Uncle Bola Ige. In 1991, he emerged as the Executive Chairman of the old Ifeloju Local Government Area (which was later split into Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North Local Government Councils).

    “He was also appointed the chairman of the Oyo State Hospital Management Board during the first term of late Senator Abiola Ajimobi. In addition, he held various party positions at the state level between 2004 and 2009 under the defunct Action Congress (AC) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).”

  • Oyo APC chairman, Omodewu finally laid to rest amid tears

    Oyo APC chairman, Omodewu finally laid to rest amid tears

    • Ganduje, Senators, Ex-deputy governors pay last respects

    The National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (Oyo North); Senator Yunus Akintunde (Oyo Central); Senator Sharafadeen Alli (Oyo South); Senator Teslim  Folarin; Prof. Adeolu Akande, former Oyo deputy governors, Rauf Olaniyan and Moses Adeyemo were among dignitaries who paid last respects to the late Oyo State APC Chairman, Isaac Omodewu, as he was laid to rest amidst tears yesterday.

    Others are: APC deputy national chairman, Isaac Kekemenke; Hon. Aderemi Oseni; Secretary of APC in the state, Alhaji Tajudeen Olanite; Bimbo Kolade; Toye Arulogun; Hon. Remi Oladeji; Shina Alabi, Abass Aleshinloye and the spokesman of the party, Olawale Sadare among others.

    The funeral service, which was held at the First Baptist Church, Otu in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, was attended by a crowd of mourners who came to bid farewell to the late chairman.

    Omodewu passed away on August 19th in the United States of America after a brief illness at the age of 61 years.

    He was the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, and later Commissioner for Lands and Housing in the administration of late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    In his message at the burial, Ganduje, who was represented by the APC deputy national chairman, Isaac Kekemenke said the party was sad with the death of Omodewu.

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    He commiserated with the family, saying they should take solace in Omoodewu’s death and not be derailed.

    He said APC at the national level will make sure Oyo APC remains one to achieve its aims and objectives.

    In his remark, Senator Sharafadeen Alli described Omodewu as a dedicated and committed party man who worked tirelessly to rebuild APC in Oyo state.

    He stated that the deceased was an astute administrator, adding that the party is going to miss him because his effort and contributions cannot be over-emphasised.

    Also, Senator Fatai Buhari described Omoodewu’s death as a great loss to the party, saying the deceased has left a legacy that can never die.

  • Mogaji Olubadan mourns Oyo APC chairman

    Mogaji Olubadan mourns Oyo APC chairman

    Mogaji Olubadan, Lato’s compound, Labo, Ibadan, Mogaji (Prof) Abiodun Gbolagade, has expressed shock and sadness over the demise of chairman, All Progressives Congress, Oyo State, Isaac Omodewu.

    He described Omodewu as highly refined and consistent political figure, whose position and essence of being in politics wad to build people.

    A statement by Abiodun stated that the contributions of the departed Chairman towards the development and stability of Oyo State chapter of APC will not be forgotten.

    Abiodun noted Omodewu’s death was a huge loss not just to Oyo APC, but to the State and nation in general.

    He added that late Omodewu was a highly committed family man with much integrity, passion, and discipline. 

    Omodewu was reported to have died in the United States of America in the early hours of Monday at  61.

  • Council poll: Oyo APC demands free, fair election from Makinde, OYSIEC

    Council poll: Oyo APC demands free, fair election from Makinde, OYSIEC

    All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has renewed its call on Governor Seyi Makinde and Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) to make the conduct of the forthcoming local government election free, fair and credible, “as all eyes are on them.”

    It said it had rescinded its decision to boycott the election on account of the inability of OYSIEC to deploy Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), as it cited “the interest of the masses who desired urgent discontinuation of attempts by the Makinde administration to render the third tier of government useless”, as reason for its resolve to participate.

    In a statement issued yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC appealed to voters to shun apathy and come out on April 27 to cast their votes for its candidates, as “doing so will be the only antidote to the imminent total collapse of the 33 local governments as well as erosion of democracy from the grassroots level.

    “As a responsible political party, the question of whether we will participate in the planned election has been addressed. For the sake of record, we never shied away from performing our duties as this concerns fielding credible candidates for lawful elections and ensuring citizens participation in constitutional democratic processes.

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    “We insisted on the usage of BVAS for this election because we wanted OYSIEC to be fair to all parties concerned and it should be known that the machines could not function in favour of our party alone on the day of election.

    “But when it became obvious that OYSIEC would not be able to secure the machines from INEC, we mobilised some other serious parties and got assurances of idea to conduct the April 27 poll from the state electoral body.

    “We got the OYSIEC Chairman, Aare Isiaka Olagunju, SAN, and his commission to restate their commitment to a free, fair and credible election as they agreed to the following terms; one, only original and owner of a PVC, who shows up at the polling unit on the day of the election, will be eligible to cast his or her vote.

    “Two, Comprehensive Voter Register will be reproduced and pasted on the wall of each polling unit three or four days to the poll.

    “Three, no Amotekun Corps, PMS employees or officials of security outfits not owned by the Federal Government will be involved in election duty.

    “Four, representatives of each participating political party will be allowed to inspect sensitive poll materials and also follow up on the distribution of same materials to guarantee transparency and accountability.

    “Five, foreign and local organisations who have applied for accreditation to serve as observers and monitors on the day of election will be considered and given special identification tags, as no elected or appointed officials of either local, state or federal government will have the right move round in the guise of monitoring the poll.

    “Last but not least; results are to be processed and announced at each polling unit before transmission to Ward Collation Centre and later Local Government Collation Centre where winners will be declared by the relevant officials.

    “In the same vein, we urge the security agencies and other relevant stakeholders to plan ahead and ensure they play their part before, during and after the election so that Oyo State will be better for it,” Sadare said.

  • 2024 budget proposal: Oyo APC, Makinde exchange in verbal tackles

    2024 budget proposal: Oyo APC, Makinde exchange in verbal tackles

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state has described the 2024 budget proposal of the Governor Seyi Makinde as defective, unrealistic and fraudulent, urging the state legislators to avoid rushing into its passage into law without a thorough job as it has been the case since 2020.

    But, in a swift reaction, the Special Adviser on Media to the Oyo State governor, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, said the Oyo APC acted true to type as charlatans and purveyors of falsehood, urging members of the public to discountenance the sermon of ignorance being preached against the Makinde administration.

    The Nation reports that Governor Makinde had last week Tuesday presented a total sum of N434.2billion as the proposed budget of the state for 2024 before the State House of Assembly members and he tagged it “Budget of Economic Recovery”.

    In a statement issued on Monday and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC faulted most content of the Appropriation document “which passed for another dubious presentation aimed at hoodwinking the good people of the state by a government which has shown that it lacks innovation, policy direction and accountability over time.

    “Pundits and economic management experts have had to express worries over the future of the Pacesetter state in view of the fact that the administration of Gov. Makinde has done little or nothing to improve the economy and create wealth as being done in some other states across the country. To make it worse, an expert recently said that Gov. Makinde has reduced Oyo state to ‘Land Grabbing and Okada/Keke economy.

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    “Credence was again given to the observation of pundits last week when the governor tabled before the House of Assembly an proposed budget for the 2024 which contained nothing but opportunities to further enrich himself (Makinde) and few individuals who are very to him. In the document, N434.2billion is quoted as the total budget for the year but N260billion is the total amount of funds expected in revenue leaving over N170billion in deficit. How realistic is this?

    “A whopping sum of N21billion is budget for the Office of the Governor without any breakdown of what they intend to do with it in specific term while another N485million would go Cabinet and Security service. The ruins in public facilities, in the state, is feasible in the deplorable condition of all the monumental structures in the Agodi State Secretariat while the Government House has been reduced to eyesore now harboring all sort of strange persons.

    “Yet money has been allocated and released for the maintenance of these facilities since 2020 but there is nothing to show for it.

    “Again, the governor attempted to play a fast one on the public by quoting 20 per cent allocation to education but the pertinent question is; what happened to the previous allocations because virtually all public schools have suffered neglect while pupils carry chairs and table to classrooms from home. Parents pay learning materials such books as well as WAEC and NECO fees on their own.

    “As if that was not enough, questions are being asked as to what success Oyo has recorded in the area of agriculture, commerce, job creation and so in the last four years. We rely on the North for beans, tomato, peppers, cow, onions, rice etc when we have massive arable land and human resources.

    “Ogun and Lagos states remain manufacturing and industrial hubs but in Oyo state, investors are being chased away with multiple taxes and confiscation of their land and properties as this was the case of one Ayo Mafikuyomi whose N800million factory was seized by the state government recently in Ibadan.” Oyo APC alleged.

    When contacted by The Nation, Governor Makinde’s Media Adviser, Olanrewaju noted that the accusation of land-grabbing against Governor Makinde is not only laughable but outright baseless, as according to him, the state government has not taken any land that does not belong to the state and that all lands put to use have derived the best benefits to the state.

    The governor’s aide equally described the N434 Billion Budget of Economic Recovery presented by Governor ‘Seyi Makinde as people-oriented and well-detailed, noting that the “budget proposal captured the yearnings and aspirations of Oyo State people with regards to short, medium and long term development.”

    He added that the revenue projections in the budget were also realistic enough, noting, however, that no one expected the APC to understand or appreciate the 2024 budget that targets restoring the economic powers of the people and uplifting the state, because the APC in Oyo State is anti-people and focusless.

    He said: “One reads with amusement a statement credited to the Oyo APC in which the party embarked on a voyage of falsehood and an advertisement of ignorance about the 2024 Budget and land use under the current administration.

    “The party falsely accused Governor Makinde of land-grabbing and also went ahead to discredit the 2024 Budget Proposal presented to the House of Assembly by the Governor. This shows only one thing, the Oyo APC’s wounds from the last elections are yet to heal.

    “However, it needs to be made clear that the 2024 Budget Proposal is a product of rigorous planning and it captures the yearnings and aspirations of Oyo State people.

    “The Budget is realistic with regards to the revenue projections, recurrent and capital expenditure outlooks.

    “The governor clearly highlighted the focus of the Government to drive the Budget with revenue projections including federal allocation, VAT, capital receipts and an increased IGR of N72 Billion at the rate of N6 Billion monthly.

    “In his Budget speech, he also expressed how his administration took the IGR from around N1.8 Billion in 2019 to over N4 Billion in October 2023 and also clearly itemized how the government will arrive at the projected IGR without necessarily increasing taxes.

    “But in a funny twist, the Oyo APC accused the Makinde administration of not creating wealth, leaving one to wonder how a Government that brought about the massive increase in IGR and got Oyo State among the first six states with the highest IGRs could be so accused.

    “In its trademark falsehood-mongering, the Oyo APC cited faceless experts to justify its accusations against the Governor, but one can only wonder if the party, indeed, is on the ground in the state, as the views of the teeming people of Oyo State are far different from the ones held by the Oyo APC.

    “The reality in Oyo state is that the people are happy with their Governor and the massive laudations that have continued to follow the 2024 Budget proposal is a testament to this fact.

    “The people know their governor and love him, having seen the positive results of his initiatives and the same people rejected the APC and would continue to reject it because they know the party does not mean well for the masses.”

  • Why opposition must celebrate Ajimobi, by Oyo APC

    THE Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that  Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s achievements have attracted a world recognition, UNESCO Award, which is to be received by the incoming Governor, Seyi Makinde, in Medellin, Colombia..

    The governor-elect is slated to travel to Medellin, Colombia between October 1 to 3, 2019 to receive the international award on behalf of the government and people of Oyo State.

    The APC believed the opposition should celebrate the outgoing governor for raising the bar of governance and massively transforming the state to attract world recognition.

    In a statement issued by Oyo APC Public Relations Officer (PRO), Dr.  AbdulAzeez Olatunde, the party said the international award is in addition to the letter of the UNESCO Award on January 3, 2019, recognising Ibadan as a learning city globally.

    The APC hailed the outgoing governor for the giant strides, which, it said, no other governor in the history of the state has ever achieved.

    It said: “No wonder, the out-going Governor of Oyo State has made a lot of seemingly impossible tasks to be possible, culminating in the on-going commissioning spree, starting with Oba Akinbiyi Model School at Oke-Itunu, Mokola, Ibadan, which is all Tiles-floor 40 classrooms with UNESCO Standard Child-friendly facilities like ceiling fans in all the classrooms, 16 water closet toilet facilities on each of the floors, separated as eight for each of the male and female sex.”

    The statement further enunciated that what made the Model School another reference point “is that it is equipped with three standard air-conditioning laboratories for Physics, Chemistry and Biology and also has air-conditioning Art Studio, tastefully furnished Home Economics Laboratory, air conditioned Libraries, separately for staff and students and of course air-conditioned Computer Laboratory with Wi-Fi.

    “The uniqueness of the model school is better appreciated by the provision of handicapped route staircase to the topmost floor of the two-storey building, which eliminated any discrimination towards the physically-challenged pupils.

    “There is fully air-conditioned multipurpose hall that can equally serve as Examination Hall for Final year and Public Examination students. Standard Lawn for Handball, Basketball, Volleyball, Lawn Tennis, Badminton etc for Sports and Leisure complete the facilities without forgetting the borehole for the water needs of the school.

    “Other model schools like Islamic High school, Bashorun Ibadan and Baptist High School, Saki, also have exactly the same facilities as of Oba Akinbiyi Model School.”

    Against the claims of the opposition, the party noted that the achievement of Senator Abiola Ajimobi on Education “is not restricted to building Model Schools alone. In fact, Mr. KOSELERI impact on Education with innovative approaches for Schools Governing Board (SGB) and OYOMESI intervention approach did not only attract about N5 billion to the Schools Facelift but also UNESCO Award, which is to be received by the in-coming Governor, Seyi Makinde in Medellin, Colombia between October 1st to 3rd, 2019.

    “Imagine that, State General and Maternity Hospital at Agbadagbudu-Yemetu was commissioned in 1928, U.C.H was built in 1959 while Ring Road State Hospital was built in 1977 and since 42 years ago, no governor or government deemed it fit to consider the astronomically expanding population of Ibadan until now, 2019 that Ajimobi proved Martin Luther King right that “intelligence plus character is the goal of true leaders”, which has reflected with about to be commissioned Abiola Ajimobi Maternity and Paediatrics Centre, Olodo.”

    Oyo APC insisted that when one considers the population of the axis of its location, Olodo and the distance to the State Hospital, Yemetu, we can only praise Sen Abiola Ajimobi for his vision and foresightness.

    Among other notable achievements of the outgoing governor, the party said, were the establishment of additional mediation centre aimed at decongesting courts, beautification of Ibadan city, massive investment on security, acquisition of agricultural equipment, and providing permanent solution to the hydra-headed perennial flooding in the city amongst others.

  • Oyo APC to Makinde: your electoral promises already haunting you

    THE Oyo State All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the reaction of Governor-elect Seyi Makinde to the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage law as a signal that he is being haunted by his electoral promises, even before receiving the baton of governance.

    Makinde has faulted the fixing of the N30,000 minimum wage by the Federal Government, saying the individual state should have been allowed to determine what they could afford.

    He said he planned to set up a committee to negotiate with labour unions as soon as he is sworn in despite ongoing labour’s negotiation with the outgoing APC government.

    But, the Oyo APC, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Dr. AbdulAzeez Olatunde, said it was too early for Makinde to renege on his electoral promises.

    He admonished the governor-elect to focus on the art of governance and work towards fulfilling his electoral promises.

    The party was reacting to the statement credited to the governor-elect’s spokesman, Prince  Dotun Oyelade, who warned the APC against twisting Makinde’s interview in Abuja on the N30,000 minimum wage.

    The APC said the governor-elect and his handlers were just trying to stave off criticism on his unpreparedness to govern the state.

    The statement reads in part: “Makinde said during his electoral campaign that Oyo workers deserved more than N30,000 as minimum wage. Now, he was quoted by the media in Abuja that he can’t pay the N30,000 minimum wage. We (APC) decided not to comment on Makinde’s electoral promise U-turn because we want the electorate and the people of Oyo State to judge him while the party would not hesitate to provide the necessary constructive criticisms when the need arises.”

    The party advised Makinde and Oyelade to be ready to face governance from May 29 instead of acting like the opposition continually.

    The statement added: “The people of Oyo State deserve the best and we hope Makinde’s PDP will try not to disappoint, which is doubtful. It is too early for Makinde to be reprimanding others for his mistakes. APC was not the media that reported what Makinde said in Abuja. We expected Makinde to rather clear the air on his statement instead of blame shifting. We wish him the best in his endeavours, but with a caution that it is too early to renege on his electoral promises.

    “We want to urge him to tread softly on the issue of Hajj operations. He should by now know that pilgrimage is structured with timing for all, participating pilgrims throughout the world. It is not just about Oyo State pilgrims. We appeal to him to stop displaying his naivety about governance and remind him that not everything, especially pilgrimage is politicized.”

     

  • We’ve no candidate for ministerial slot, says Oyo APC

    THE Oyo State All Progressives Congress (APC) has faulted speculations in the media that it was nominating the next ministerial candidate for the new cabinet expected to be put in place by President Muhammadu Buhari after his second term inauguration on May 29.

    There have been sustained rumours of alleged backing of a particular individual by the leadership of the party in Oyo State for the ministerial slot against the interest of other contenders.

    In a statement signed yesterday by the APC Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, the party said the President has not contacted it for nomination of candidates for the ministerial slot.

    The party regretted that a national newspaper (not The Nation) could throw caution into the wind, when it published a story of a fake nomination, which it could not even substantiate.

    Read also: Oyo Assembly nullifies council bosses’ sack

    “To set the record straight, there was never a time Mr. President or any of his aides contacted us for ministerial nomination and as such, we could not have made any effort to suggest or nominate anyone to represent the state in the new cabinet. Moreso, such nomination and appointment is the prerogative of Mr. President and the law of the land is clear on this.

    “As much as we crave for the appointment of a competent hand from our dear state, who would add value to the cause of a better nation and contribute his quota to the revitalisation of Oyo APC, we have no reason to influence President Buhari’s choice of nominee.