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  • Two dead, several injured at Oyo APC rally

    No fewer than two people died in a bloody clash between suspected political hoodlums at an All Progressives’ Congress (APC) campaign rally in Igboora area of Oyo State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident occurred immediately after the rally held at the old motor park in Igboora on Saturday evening.

    NAN reports that the campaign train, led by Gov. Abiola Ajimobi, had commenced with a road show from Lanlate through Igboora, Idere, Ayete, Tapa and Igangan before the ralies at Igboora, Eruwa and Omi-Adio.

    It was a peaceful rally which saw the governor and the party’s governorship candidate, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, acknowledging cheers from supporters who had thronged the streets to show solidarity for the party.

    Trouble, however, started immediately after the rally in Igboora as suspected political hoodlums engaged in a bloody clash which left one dead.

    NAN reports that another innocent resident, identified to be a younger brother to an APC leader in the community, was hit by a stray bullet and eventually gave up the ghost.

    Eyewitnesses told NAN that some suspected hoodlums had accosted the APC governorship candidate to demand for money but were blocked by another group of hoodlums.

    This, witnesses said, resulted in heated arguments which later led to the free for all.

    The incident had since resulted in counter allegations and reactions from political parties and residents.

    While the APC accused opposition parties of being behind the mayhem, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) asked APC to look inwards for the perpetrators.

    “Guns were freely displayed by thugs alleged to have been arranged and sponsored by the PDP and some other parties to carry out the dastardly act.

    “The mayhem eventually cost two lives. One of which is a younger brother to the leader of our party,  Alhaji Olayide Abas. We hereby charge security agencies to investigate and unravel the killers of the deceased.

    “It is important to note that the PDP has continually incited the people to cause trouble, having realised that the game is over. The PDP is among the parties that masterminded the mayhem,” APC Communication team said in a statement.

    Some opposition party members, who spoke to NAN, described the incident as very pathetic, saying the APC should investigate themselves on the mayhem.

    They said that several other opposition parties in the state had visited the community to campaign without violence or bloodshed.

    Also, some residents of the community frowned at the sorrowful incident, describing it as a return of thuggery and brigandage to the state.

    They told NAN that the people of the community were not desperate people and have always lived peacefully with each other, irrespective of political affiliations.

    Spokesman for Oyo State Police Command, SP Adekunle Ajisebutu, did not respond to NAN calls and text messages at the time of filing this report. (NAN)

  • Oyo APC to Lanlehin, others: prepare for defeat at polls

    THE  Oyo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has advised those who defected to other parties as their governorship or National Assembly candidates to prepare for defeat in the February 16 and March 2 elections.

    In a statement yesterday in Ibadan, the state capital, by its Publicity Secretary, Dr Azeez Olatunde, the APC said no amount of name-calling and political brickbats would save their political careers.

    The ruling party stressed that the defectors left the most popular party with the best internal democracy for less popular parties.

    Some APC members joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other political parties last year to contest this year’s general elections.

    The ADC governorship candidate, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, also left Accord and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for ADC.

    But the APC said the defectors would not be able to revive their political fortunes by joining new parties.

    The party said Lanlehin, the Oyo South senatorial candidate, Senator Soji Akanbi and other ADC candidates “entered political wilderness and lost their political bearing and relevance the moment they left APC, which is the party with the best people-oriented programmes”.

    The statement noted that Lanlehin went to the Senate on the platform of defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) before it metamorphosed into APC and left with another serving senator.

    It said the duo lost their quest to return to the National Assembly as they were floored at the polls by candidates of the APC.

    The APC said Lanlehin and the other senator were in a better position to explain their travails to the people, adding that they had lost their political relevance.

    The party also said the politicians got themselves in different political squabbles since their departure from APC, the party he described with the best internal democracy.

    It reads: “Senator Lanlehin contested for the seat of Oyo South Senatorial District in 2015 and we all know the result. It is amazing to see someone who cannot win an election in nine local government areas aspiring to win the governorship election where there are 33 local government area.

    “We will like to remind Senator Lanlehin that he won the election in 2011 based on the strength of our party, the then CAN, and not on his personality or popularity. The same thing happened to Senator Akanbi in 2015, when he rode on the popularity of the APC and the laudable achievements of Governor Abiola Ajimobi to win the Oyo South senatorial seat in the National Assembly.

    “We want to tell them and their ilk that no amount of name-calling, brickbats and mudslinging can revive their political career. The people of the state have shown their preference for APC and its candidates.”

     

     

  • Oyo APC vows to give Buhari highest votes in South West

    President Muhammadu Buhari’will kick-start his reelection campaign in the Southwest from Ibadan, Oyo State capital, today.

    He is scheduled to address All Progressives Congress supporters at  Mapo Hall.

    Spokesman of Oyo APC 2019 campaign Organisation, Dr. Azeez Olatunde, said  the President would use the opportunity to interact with stakeholders, including traditional rulers, leaders of religious bodies, community leaders, members of the organized  private sector, market men and women and youth groups.

    He asked APC members and supporters of President Buhari across the political parties divide to turn out in large numbers and give the President a rousing welcome .

    Olatunde said: “It is another opportunity to show the opposition political parties that Oyo State and indeed the entire Southwest is for APC and by extension for Buhari; a president who has done for the Southwest what a Yoruba man deliberately ignored for eight years.

    “Oyo gave Buhari the second highest votes in the whole of the south in 2015, outside Lagos State. In Oyo, Buhari defeated the Peoples Democratic Party by 528, 620 votes to 303, 376. But, if we look at it proportionately, we can even say Oyo gave the highest votes in the entire South.

    “That is if we compare the 5.8m registered voters in Lagos State to Oyo State’s  2.4m registered voters in 2015 and juxtapose it with 792,460 to 528,620 votes recorded respectively by both states we can say Oyo was number one. We set the pace.

    “But, this time around the good people of Oyo State, which now has 2.9m registered voters will triple the 2015 figures by ensuring that President Buhari gets at least 1.5m votes. Oyo State residents are enlightened enough to choose performance over mediocrity.

    Read also: Oyo APC vows to give Buhari highest votes in South West

    “We are major beneficiaries of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway ongoing construction, the light rail project nearing completion, Trader Moni scheme, N-Power scheme that has provided succour for many of our graduates, homegrown school feeding programme, among others.”

    Azeez added that APC and Buhari had earned the confidence and support of the people of the country for a second term judging by the massive infrastructural renewal, improved security, diversification of the economy and the significant arrest of corruption and national drift.

    He said that the President would depart Ibadan for Osogbo, on Saturday, in continuation of his campaign.

  • Oyo APC, PDP in war of words

    THE Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the weekend took a swipe at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Mr. Seyi Makinde, over his recent comments that cast aspersions on the person of Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    Makinde had accused Governor Ajimobi of using arm-twisting tactics to install his anointed candidate as governor, by forcing the Chairman of the Oyo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OYSAA), Pastor Yinka Adepoju, to resign his position.

    The PDP candidate expressed disappointment with the desperate moves of the governor to ensure his candidate wins the election. He also accused Governor Ajimobi of threatening the beneficiaries of the Federal Government N-Power Programme to vote for the APC or the programme would be stopped, saying the threat is a cheap and desperate blackmail.

    But, the APC waved aside what it described as the PDP candidate’s vituperations and urged the people to ignore him as a ranting politician.

    The APC said the recent statements credited to Makinde showed that he is a frustrated man who should not be dignified with response anytime he vents his uncoordinated vituperations.

    The APC Publicity Secretary, Dr AbdulAzeez Olatunde, in a statement, urged Makinde to focus on issues, rather than on personalities, adding that his comments proves that he is very naïve about public governance.

    Dr. Olatunde added that the PDP candidate’s comment on the recent rally organised by the beneficiaries of the N-Power programme was unexpected from a person positioning himself for the exalted seat of a governor. He addedg that an intelligent person will know that the PDP can never initiate, manage or sustain such a laudable and beneficial programme.

    The APC stressed that rather than Makinde condemning the APC for the rally, he should rather urge beneficiaries of the failed Sure-P and YouWin programmes of the PDP to organise a similar rally for the party.

    Olatunde said: “It is a pity the best hand the PDP can put forward for the Oyo governorship election is a novice in public governance. Rather than Makinde to engage on issues based campaign and tell the citizens his plans, he is busy displaying his ignorance with the statements credited to him.

    “Such an individual should always be ignored but in politics, one should always give them a dose of their drug. An intelligent person would have known that an election is not won by billboards. We wonder why we will feel intimidated by Mr. Makinde’s billboard. He had similar billboards in the 2015 election and still came a distant fifth. We do not need any soothsayer to predict that Makinde cannot fair better in the 2019 election.

    “It is understandable that his perennial losses have led to frustration, because if not, it is only a novice that would complain about the N-Power rally which was organised by the beneficiaries themselves. To show their enthusiasm, majority of these N-Power beneficiaries painted their faces before the rally which was also used to launch a programme tagged Build the Future.

     

  • Your threat is empty, Oyo APC replies Shittu

    Oyo state chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC), has said that instead of joining words, it has decided to ignore the utterances attributed to the Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, over his decision not to support the party’s governorship candidate at the 2019 general elections.

    While addressing the press recently, Shittu said he was short-changed by the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, and denied the party’s governorship ticket despite paying a huge amount to purchase the expression of interest form.

    Consequently, he said he would not campaign for the party’s flag bearer or work for  his success in the election.

    Reacting to Shittu’s threat, the state chapter of the APC, in a release issued by the Director of Media, Research and Strategies and Publicity Secretary, AbdulAzeez Olatunde, on Friday, described it as lacking substance and ‘an empty threat.’

    The release entitled, “Rejoinder to Barr. Adebayo Shittu’s gaffe,” challenged the minister to list his results in both 2007 and 2011 in his polling unit, ward and local government against his opponents for the public to know whether he is an asset or liability to the party.

    The statement reads in part, “All Progressive Congress, Oyo State Chapter has been watching the mouth Crossfire being emitted by our honourable Minister of Communication, Barr Adebayo Shittu, in recent times with dismay because of the following reasons:

    “The Party believed that, Barr Shittu’s contribution to the electoral victory of APC and the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 is not traceable beyond 30 minutes cameo appearance in the the public rally in ancient Mapo Hall, yet he is the greatest beneficiary by becoming a Minister.

    “The party challenges Barr Adebayo Shittu to list his poll results in both 2007 and 2011 in his Polling unit, Ward and Local Government against his opponents for the public to know whether you are an asset or liability to the  Party.

    “It is common knowledge that his two elections were colossal failures so this threat not to support Adelabu, lacks condiments of substance and its in fact an empty threat.

    “A translated Yoruba adage has it that: a tree which one rests upon but could not support one, if such a tree decides otherwise, it’s impact would obviously be minimally felt.

    “However, Barr Adebayo Shittu is expected to know that, Oyo state chapter of APC did not screen him as such we are aghast at his transferred aggression.

    “Honestly, as a self acclaimed Islamic cleric, we thought he would live an exemplary life and be a role model, going by Quran 3:26, where it was explicitly stated that “Allah giveth Power to whom thou pleaseth.”

  • APC bombs Shittu over ’empty threat’

    The threat of Minister of Communication Adebayo Shittu not to support Oyo State All Progressives Congress(APC) governorship candidate in 2019 is empty, the party stated on Friday.

    The APC said it has decided to only watch the various utterances of the Minister instead of joining issues with him.
    The Minister told reporters recently he was shortchanged by Governor Abiola Ajimobi and denied the governorship ticket despite paying huge amount to purchase the expression of interest form.

    He threatened not to campaign for the party’s flag bearer or work for its success in the election.
    But the APC, in a statement by its Director of Media, Research and Strategies and Publicity Secretary, Dr AbdulAzeez Olatunde, described the minister for making ‘an empty threat.’

    Titled, “Rejoinder to Barr. Adebayo Shittu’s gaffe”, the statement challenged the minister to release the results of his polling unit, ward and local government in 2007 and 2011 for the public to know whether he is an asset or liability to the party.

    The APC said: “The Party believed that, Barr Shittu’s contribution to the electoral victory of APC and the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 is not traceable beyond 30 minutes cameo appearance in the the public rally in ancient Mapo Hall, yet he is the greatest beneficiary by becoming a Minister.

    “It is common knowledge that his two elections are colossal failures so this threat not to support Adelabu lacks condiments of substance and its infact an empty threat.

    “A translated Yoruba adage has it that, A tree which one rest upon but could not support one, if such a tree decides otherwise, it’s impact would obviously be minimally felt.

    “However, Barr Adebayo Shittu is expected to know that, Oyo state chapter of APC did not screen him as such we are aghast at his transferred aggression.

    “Honestly, as a self acclaimed Islamic cleric, we thought he would live an exemplary live and be a role model, going by Quran 3:26 where it was explicitly stated that “Allah giveth Power to whom thou pleaseth…. “

  • ‘Oyo APC recognises 14, not 27 governorship aspirants’

    •’Others have been dancing on the street’

    The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has said that of the 27 governorship aspirants in the state, only 14 have signified their intention to contest for the seat on the platform of the party.

    It said aside the 14 known governorship aspirants, who had presented themselves to contest governorship race, the party considered the intention of the others as “mere rumour”.

    Speaking at the presentation/declaration of Prof Olusoji Adejumo for next year’s governorship race at the APC state secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, the party’s State Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, said out of the long list of governorship aspirants under the APC, only 14 had approached the party.

    According to him, “we have not seen the rest”.

    Oke, who was with members of the state’s APC executives, noted that there is need for party leaders to prune the list of aspirant to four or five before the primary.

    The chairman attested to Adejumo’s character, saying he contributed to the success of the current administration in the state.

    He said: “The state leadership of APC has attended to just 14 aspirants, who are seeking to contest the governorship election. We have not seen the others. But we are only hearing that they have been dancing on the streets. We wish them the best of luck.

    “We have been hearing about several aspirants who are seeking the party’s ticket. But we will narrow them down to three or five, among whom the party members will decide and pick their candidate.”

    Adejumo urged the party’s leadership to ensure that a strong character should succeed Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    Adejumo, a former chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), said the governor would need a strong successor to build on the series of successes and achievements he recorded during his eight-year tenure.

    He added: “It is often said that we don’t need strong individuals but strong institutions to ensure the survival of the country. While this is true to some extent, we also need strong individuals along with the institutions to work.”

    The APC governorship aspirant said he left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2016, adding that he was the best person to take over from Ajimobi in 2019.

    Adejumo said: “Governor Ajimobi needs somebody with strong character to succeed him. Oyo State can survive by electing a determined and dedicated successor to the governor. Such a person must be bold and intelligent.

    “The two of us may not do things the same way, given the fact that Governor Ajimobi and I are from different backgrounds. He came from the oil and gas sector, while I was from the education and agriculture sector.

    “It is wrong and insulting on the collective intelligence of the people to say that to be a governor is a sacrifice. It is not. Rather, seeking to be a governor is a privilege that must be honoured and sustained.”

  • Oyo APC crisis almost over, says Ajimobi

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi said yesterday that efforts were ongoing to end the post-congress crisis in the state chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said: “We have achieved about 75 per cent level of resolution and some people are already coming back. Some are aggrieved, rightly so; some are aggrieved; wrongly so.

    “But, the most important thing is to appreciate that in all human endeavours, there is bound to be conflicts and there is bound to be resolutions. As leaders, we must continue to accommodate, to give and take. But there will not be winner takes all.”

    The governor addressed reporters after a state-wide party leaders’ meeting at the APC state secretariat at Oke-Ado in Ibadan, the state capital.

    The three-hour meeting was attended by Deputy Governor Moses Adeyemo, House of Assembly Speaker Olagunju Ojo, former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala and a former Deputy Governor Iyiola Oladokun.

    Also at the meeting were members of the House of Representatives: Hakeem Adeyemi, Saheed Fijabi, Dada Awoleye, Gbenga Ayoade and Segun Odebunmi, as well as other APC leaders, led by the State Chairman, Chief Akin Oke.

    The governor said the meeting was called to evaluate the level of success recorded so far in reconciling the aggrieved members, who had earlier formed splinter groups, back to the party’s mainstream.

    Ajimobi expressed delight in what he called the high level of progress in the reconciliation move, adding that 75 per cent of those who left the party had been brought back into the fold.

    He said: “The meeting is about reconciliation. It is about talking with our leaders and about party politics generally. There will always be grievances; there will always be conflict.”

  • Oyo APC receives defectors, Unity Forum members in Saki

    The ranks of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State got a boost yesterday as the Saki West Local Government chapter received thousands of defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and members of APC Unity Forum who declined to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    The new members were received amid fanfare by the Saki West APC Chairmen, Mr Azeez Ayinla, in company of party leaders and elders in the zone.

    Ayinla noted that the impressive turnout of the defectors was an indication that the party had not been shaken by the threat of the opposition as well as members of factional Unity Forum.

    The chairman assured the new members that the APC would win convincingly in Oyo State in next year’s general elections.

    He urged the new members to work for the victory of the party.

    On behalf of the new members, Mr Mutiu Adewale said their action was borne out of the fact that Governor Abiola Ajimobi had not only done well in the last seven and a half years but had also transformed the state in unprecedented ways in the history of the state.

    Ayinla cited the dualisation of Saki township road, upgrade of the health and education sectors, among others, to warrant the support for the APC.

    He promised to work in tandem with party leaders to ensure the party’s victory at the polls.

    The chairmen of Saki West Local Government Area, Dr. Idowu Akano; Asabari Local Council Development Authority (LCDA), Kareem Adegoke and Wewe LCDA, Niyi Olawuwo, called for unity and co-operation among members so that “the policies of Ajimobi’s administration, such as urban renewal, sustainable environment, poverty allegation, industrialisation and employment opportunities could be sustained”.

     

  • ‘Oyo APC is united, stronger’

    An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain  and Federal House of Representatives aspirant, Chief Shina Abiola Peller, has  debunked claims that the party in Oyo State is factionalized.

    Speaking at the flag-off of his aspiration to represent the Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa federal constituency, Peller said APC is united and stronger than ever. He urged Nigerians to ignore the rumour as such news is only being circulated by mischief makers.

    “I don’t believe there are factions within APC in Oyo State, what I believe and preach is that, we are as strong as we are united and we are as weak as we are divided. I know the noise about factions and division is to weaken our strength as a party and confuse us as a people.

    Therefore, I will never ever in my life entertain any faction. APC is one in Oyo State and we will do everything within our power to make sure that unity is maintained,” he said.

    “My people know my worth and my achievements. The young people of Nigeria are the most powerful single block in the country. We would not allow ourselves to be used by people who do not have our interest at heart,” he stated. In his words, the Executive Chairman, Itesiwaju Local Government of Oyo State, Mr. Niyi Adeagbo noted that Shina Peller’s declaration and the wealth of experience he is bringing into politics will set a high standard for 2019 political aspirants in Oyo State.