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Tag: Oyo state

  • Opposition to Makinde: resist pressure to plunder Oyo

    AN opposition party in Oyo State, the Justice Must Prevail Party (JMPP), has advised the governor-elect, Seyi Makinde, to beware of praise-singers and be fair to all residents, irrespective of their political leanings.

    The party gave the advice in a statement in Ibadan yesterday, stressing the need to resist the pressure to “share the money”.

    The statement, which was signed by its governorship candidate, Mr. Oluseye Smith, advised him to be careful of praise-singers and party members, who may see his electoral victory as an opportunity to corner state resources.

    He said Makinde must resist the pressure from sycophants, who might be “mounting pressure on him to share the money”.

    Congratulating Makinde, the party also advised him against pursuing vendetta.

    The statement reads: “The governor-elect must ensure that the resources of the state are not cornered by a few, who might be seeing his victory as theirs. The resources of the state must be geared towards developing both human and capital projects that will benefit all. He must not be seen to be pursuing vendetta. He should endeavour to form an all-inclusive government to move the state forward. He must resist pressure from his supporters to plunder the resources of the state.”

  • Southwest APC urges Oyo chapter to plan for 2023

    THE Southwest Zone of All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged members in Oyo State to restrategise towards winning the next general elections.

    In a statement by its Zonal Secretary, Mr. Ayo Afolabi, the party hailed the efforts of party leaders and members in the just concluded election

    It urged them to shake off the party’s loss in the state and work harder to reposition it for the next general elections.

    It also congratulated elected candidates on its platform in the just concluded National Assembly, governorship and state assembly elections across Southwest states.

    Afolabi expressed deep gratitude to the party’s supporters in the region, particularly those who voted to ensure the electoral victory of its successful candidates and promised a renewed commitment to the party’s manifesto.

    “We congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Governors-elect Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dapo Abiodun of Lagos and Ogun states respectively, all the elected National Assembly and state legislators.

    “While also encouraging our people in Oyo State not to lose heart because of the temporary loss, we wish to call on all our party supporters throughout the Southwest to unite and reposition the party for effective governance and increased trust of the populace,” the statement said.

    “It is crucial that each state chapter support one another and that we operate as a unit in the region, for the sake of the generality of our people, who desired good governance that only our party can deliver,” the statement read.

  • Oyetola, Makinde pledge support for LAUTECH

    Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola and Oyo State governor-elect Seyi Makinde have promised that their administrations will work to ensure that the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State, succeeds.

    LAUTECH is co-owned by the Osun and Oyo State governments.

    Oyetola and Makinde spoke when the university management visited them in their states.

    Governor Oyetola said his administration is proud of the high standard of education obtainable in the institution, and promised to support it to combat its challenges.

    The governor promised that his door would be opened at all times to the Governing Council and Management.

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Michael Ologunde, appealed to the governor to empower his management to put a permanent end to incessant strikes occasioned by inadequate funding.

    Makinde promised to “rescue the school from the claws of death”.

    The governor-elect urged the Prof. Ologunde-led administration to consolidate on the university’s leadership position, saying his government was not against disciplining students and workers, provided it is done with human face.

    Prof. Ologunde reiterated that the school management had no hand in the suspension of the Students Union President, Mr. Abiodun Oluwaseun.

    According to him, proscribing the union became the last plausible option to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

     

  • Witness’ absence stalls Akala, others’ hearing in N11.5b fraud suit

    The trial of the former governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, and two others for alleged N11.5 billion fraud was on Wednesday adjourned to May 2, 2019 due to absence of the prosecution witness.

    The witness was to give evidence in support of the 11-count charge preferred against the accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Justice Olalekan Owolabi of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan, granted the EFCC’s request after its counsel, Dr. Ben Ubi, told the court that the second witness, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, who is also the current Head of Operations in the commission’s Port Harcourt zonal office, was unable to make it to the court.

    The former governor is standing trial alongside former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters during his tenure, Sen. Hosea Agboola, and an Ibadan-based businessman, Femi Babalola.

    The charge against them borders on conspiracy, awarding a contract without budgetary provision, obtaining by false pretence, acquiring property with money derived from an illegal act and concealing the ownership of such property, among others.

    Read Also: APC: we didn’t bribe Akala to support us

    Among the offences, according to the information on the court papers, was a road contract worth N8.5bn, which Alao-Akala allegedly awarded between 2007 and 2009 to Pentagon Engineering Services, Babalola’s company, without budgetary provision.

    The said contract was executed on behalf of the 33 local governments in the state.

    Also in the charge is the allegation that the former governor ordered the supply of drilling machines on behalf of the 33 local governments in the state to the tune of N3.5 billion.

    Apart from the allegation of conspiring with Agboola to withdraw N2.9 billion from the Oyo State Local Governments Joint Account, the anti-graft agency is equally prosecuting the former governor for allegedly illegally acquiring some property on Old Bodija Road, off Rotimi Williams Road, when he was in office.

    The offences were said to contravene Sections 22 (4) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act and 1 (18) of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act.

    The case was originally filed in 2011, and has witnessed series of adjournments due to the volume of evidences and witnesses prepared to reinforce the prosecution’s argument.

    Though, the court was to continue with the trial yesterday, it was not possible because the witness billed for cross-examination was not present.

    Dr. Ubi told the court that the witness was unable to attend the proceeding because he was involved in election duties.

    Counsel to the first and third defendants, Hakeem Afolabi (SAN) and his counterpart holding the brief of the second defendant, Richard Ogunwole (SAN), did not oppose the prosecution counsel.

    The judge adjourned the matter to May 2, 2019 for continuation of trial as he ordered the prosecution to make its witnesses available at the next date.

  • Oyo police hold suspect in Olatoye ‘Sugar’ murder

    POLICE in Oyo State said yesterday they are getting closer to arresting those involved in the gruesome killing of House of Representatives member Temitope Olatoye (a.k.a Sugar) on Saturday.

    Commissioner of Police Shina Olukolu said a team of police investigators, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), has succeeded in arresting one person (names withheld) in connection with the killing of the federal lawmaker.

    The state police command had on Sunday vowed to ensure that the killers of Olatoye during the Saturday’s polls were arrested and made to face the law

    The Commissioner of Police, who spoke through the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Olugbenga Fadeyi, a Superintendent of Police, said the police have arrested one of the killers, who has made confessional statement linking him to the killing of the lawmaker.

    According to the state police boss, the police are closer to arresting all those involved in the Saturday’s killing.

    Confirming the suspect’s arrest, Olukolu said others were being sought for, expressing assurance that there would be other developments.

    “We have arrested one person in connection with the killing of the lawmaker and he is helping the police with useful information that will eventually lead to the arrest of all those that have hands in the dastardly act. I can tell you that we are getting closer to the killers,” he said.

    The police said aside the suspect linked with Sugar’s case, about 18 persons, six guns, nine live cartridges, axe, knives and other miscellaneous items were recovered.

    Stating that Sugar’s death was in no way connected with the elections that took place on the day he was killed, the police commissioner said there were enough facts and evidences available to the police that would lead to the arrest of the other culprits.

    Temitope (a.k.a. Sugar), before his demise, was a member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Lagelu/ Akinyele Federal Constituency and the Chairman, House Committee on Urban Development and Regional Planning.

    Olatoye was a member of the Action Democratic Party (ADP). He was allegedly shot during the governorship election. He was 47 years.

     

     

  • Ajimobi to election losers: Embrace peace, prepare for next election

    Go to court if you’re not satisfied with election outcome, Ajimobi

     

     

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state has challenged all those who lost in the recently concluded general elections in the country to in the spirit of sportsmanship embrace peace and begin to prepare for the next election.

    Instead of fomenting troubles, Ajimobi said all those who think they have issues or suspected any untoward action or activities in the election result as announced by the electoral umpire should go to the court of law.

    He gave the charge while addressing journalists on Tuesday at the Governor’s office.

    Ajimobi who had congratulated the governor-elect, Mr Seyi Makinde of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) charged the incoming administration to learn and sustain the good things of his APC led government while also working on the areas he (Ajimobi) might have been perceived not to have done well.

    He warned trouble-makers not compromise on his legacy of peace and security of lives and property until the last day of his administration, urging the incoming government to ensure that the state does not slip back into the days of brigandage, adding that such will be antithetical to development.

    Ajimobi said “In all things, we must appreciate God and God has been very kind to our government. First, we have been able to for the first time, use eight years, and it was eight years of peace, security, safety and of development on all fronts.

    “When you talk about this last election, from the results that we have seen, the declared winners, the usual thing as a sportsman and democrat is to congratulate all those who won and to encourage those who lost to accept the losses.

    “Also, is the fact that we encourage sustainability of peace and development. We must not allow Oyo state to slip back to the days of brigandage. It is antithetical to development.

    Read Also: Ajimobi and the power in the tongue

    “So, all those who lost should accept and if they find reasons why they lost, and they believe that some maneuvering or manipulations have been done, they should take the legal course.

    “But if you believe that nothing untoward has happened, you leave it and prepare for the next time. My admonition is that our people should maintain and sustain peace.

    “This government will not leave until the 29th of May. Between now and the 29th of May, we are in government and will ensure peace and tranquility which is the hallmark of our administration. And we believe that all hands must be on deck to maintain this.

    “With regard to the newly elected governor, he should also toe the line of peace, encourage the people to toe the line of peace. Even if we have done badly in some areas, we have done many good things that outweigh those supposedly bad things and in anything in life, there are pros and cons.

    “Once our pluses are more than our minuses, it should be encouraged. The fact that we lost does not mean that we should throw away the baby with the bath water. I think there are good things he can learn from us, there are good things we will be ready to give him to take from and he should adjust and improve on the bad ones so that we can go to the next level.”

  • Adelabu congratulates Makinde, charges him on governance

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr Adebayo Adelabu and his African Action Congress (AAC) counterpart, Mr Akinwale Laosun has congratulated the winner of the Saturday polls in Oyo state, Mr Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The duo in their separate statements also congratulated the people of the state and thanked them for their support during the electioneering processes.

    But while Laosun said he accepted the result of the election as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Adelabu said his party (APC) is studying the incidents of violence and various reported cases of electoral malpractices to determine further course of action if necessary.

    INEC on Sunday night declared PDP’s Makinde winner of the poll after scoring the highest number of votes in the election conducted.

    Makinde scored 525,621 votes to beat Adelabu (APC) who scored 357, 982.

    Laosun, speaking through his Campaign Office urged the Governor-elect to make sure he serves the people of Oyo State by bringing free education, youth employment, good and affordable health care to the residents.

    He added that there is a need to improve the economy of the State and not plunge the state into further debt.He ended the address by praying for the governor elect that God will grant him wisdom and surround him with knowledgeable and selfless individuals who would work assiduously to improve the fortune of  Oyo State residents.

    Adelabu said “I am full of gratitude to God and to every single one of you for the journey so far. I offered myself up for service for the good of Oyo State. We ran a campaign that was issues based and was above board all through and I am quite proud of that.

    “No life is worth being lost for any reason, I sincerely sympathize with the families of the bereaved, May their souls rest in Peace.

    “While my party is studying the incidents of violence and various reported cases of electoral malpractices to determine further course of action if necessary, I congratulate Seyi Makinde of PDP.”

  • Combat-ready soldiers deployed in Ibadan

    There was palpable fear and tension within Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday, ahead of the announcement of the final winner of Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly election,

    The fear, according to investigation, was as a result of political clash that resulted in the death of a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Olatoye Sugar.

    Military operatives were seen mounting security checkpoints at Idi-Ape and Agodi-Gate – the road leading to the Agodi Government House among others.

    Sporadic gunshots were heard around Iwo Road, Gbagi-Wema, Alakia-Isebo, Iyana Church and Monatan, which is believed to be the stronghold of the late politician.

    But nobody was seen arrested, as heavy security patrols also moved around the affected areas

    Olatoye was shot in the eye in Lagelu area of the state and later died at the University College Hospital (UCH).

    The ever-busy Alakia-Isebo, Gbagi-Wema, Iwo Road- Ife Expressway, Monatan-Iyana-Church, Iwo-road-Idi Ape road and Idi-Ape-Agodi-Gate Road were deserted as residents only peep from the frontage of their homes to watch events on the street.

    Residents, who have businesses which required them moving around, were seen raising their hands. Vehicles were subjected to serious search by the stern-looking military men.

    As at the time of filing this report, many commuters were also seen stranded and walking from and to their various destinations.

    Many of the transporters and commercial motorcycles that commuters talked to said they were not ready to go beyond specific areas for the fear of unknown.

    However, commercial motorcycle operators who were bold to convey passengers did so as exorbitant rates.

  • Oyo APC demands arrest of PDP’s Makinde

    As the final collation of results across the local governments is ongoing, the Oyo state chapter of the ruling All Progressive Congress has submitted a petition against the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate Seyi Makinde to the electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The APC petition accused Makinde of what it described as “breach of electoral laws” and thereby demanded for his immediate arrest and prosecution.

    Read Also: APC sweeps 25 of 26 Assembly seats in Ekiti

    The petition addressed to the Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner and entitled “Petition Against Engr. Seyi Makinde on Electoral offences committed in breach of electoral laws “, was submitted to the Agodi office of the commission on Sunday.

    According to the petition, Makinde was accused of releasing a video in the early hours of Sunday where the PDP candidate “pointedly proclaimed himself winner of the governorship election in Oyo state when INEC, the authorised umpire has not concluded same nor declared any such results.”

    The petition signed by the APC state secretary, Mr. Mojeed Olaoya, said Makinde by the action is clearly inciting the citizenry against an eventual credible outcome of the elections.

     

     

  • Adelabu, running mate lose councils to PDP’s Makinde

    Chief Adebayo Adelabu, the APC governorship candidate in Oyo State and his running mate, Samuel Egunjobi lost their local governments to the PDP in the March 9 governorship election.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adelabu lost in Ibadan South- East while Egunjobi did so in  Iwajowa Local Government Area.

    Mr Abiodun Olapade, an Associate Professor from University of Ibadan and the Returning Officer for Ibadan South East announced that Adelabu polled 13, 277 as against PDP’s 24, 556 votes.

    Similarly, Mr Bashir Awodoyin, Associate Professor, who is the Returning Officer for Iwajowa Local Government announced that APC polled 8, 459 as against PDP’s 9,358 votes.

    However, Mr Seyi Makinde, the governorship candidate of PDP won his Ibadan North East Local Government Area with a margin of 18,271

    Mr Sunday Olukayode, Associate Professor from Universty Ibadan while announcing the result, said Makinde polled 30,824 to defeat his close rival, APC which polled 12,553 votes.

    NAN reports that collation of results was ongoing at the State INEC office at the time of filing this report while the final announcement after the collation will be made by Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos

    NAN