The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Oyo

  • ‘PDP can’t bounce back in Oyo’

    Former Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He spoke with Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU on his ambition, the recent controversial congress of the party, the agitation for power shift by the people of Oke-Ogun, and the chances of the party in next year’s general elections.

    What are issues or factors that will shape next year’s governorship election in Oyo State?

    It has to do with the people of Oyo State. The people of Oyo know the type of person they want to vote for. I don’t think that my party will like to gamble. They should be able to present an acceptable candidate to the electorate. They will like to vote for somebody that they know, not somebody that will be introduced to them by somebody else. It is better to have a known person to go for the election. It is about personality, not about party. The election in 2019 is crucial. You have to present your self well. You have to have a good personality and be acceptable to the people.

    What are the qualities you expect from the person that will succeed Governor Abiola Ajimobi next year?

    I have told you what is very important. Apart from the constitutional requirements, I have told you what is required. People will to vote for personality, not necessarily party.

    It is being said that you are going to throw your hat into the race again. Why do you want to return to the Agodi Government House?

    There have been calls on me to run. They have seen my performance while in office. If you have tasted a soup before, perhaps, you will want to have it again. There are constitutional provisions. I still have the constitutional right of contesting again. There have been calls on me. I am considering the calls. I will soon come up with my decision. I told them to allow me to do some consultations. You don’t take decisions without consultations. Very soon, you will hear from me on that particular issue.

    Is zoning likely to play a role in the selection of the governorship candidate?

    I don’t think there will be any zoning. Somebody who is also aspiring to be governor of Oyo State said in an interview in your paper that there is no zoning. So, there will be no zoning. We just want a good man to lead Oyo State. That’s all.

    What is your assessment of the recent APC state congress in Oyo?

    It was okay. Politics is about conflict resolution. You need to make sure that you solve problems in politics as they arise. We are talking to the aggrieved. The governor is doing his best by inviting everybody on board. I know the governor will soon see what he can do to persuade them to know that united we stand and divided we fall. So, if we are united, the opposition will not be able to get anything in 2019.  Crises and division are very dangerous. So, we are appealing to the aggrieved that they should come and let’s reason together and talk. Politics is just like that. In politics, you will always see people who are aggrieved. We have to talk and resolve it.

    Are the aggrieved chieftains now responding to the reconciliation?

    They are responding. They have started. We will resolve every issue and move forward as a united family.

    You came to the APC from the PDP. What is your assessment of the struggle for power now by the APC and the PDP in Oyo State?

    I am telling you that the APC is on ground. We are going to win. The PDP has no chance. We just have to sit together, talk together and understand one another. We know one another. We know people to talk to. PDP can’t have any chance any longer. Unfortunately for them, I have left them. I was the soul of the PDP in Oyo State. You can ask anybody. I was the soul of the PDP in Oyo State. Since I left the PDP, The PDP has never been the same again. It was a painful decision for me to leave the PDP. That’s why I said the PDP will not be the same again in Oyo State. They are battling with the constitution of their exco. Only today, they published in The Nigerian Tribune that they have harmonised their exco. They can’t win the election. APC will win. Our president, Muhammadu Buhari, will also secure a second term.

    Why did you leave the PDP, where you enjoyed so much relevance….?

    One thing is this: I told you it was a painful decision for me to leave. I couldn’t stand the impunity again. They were behaving as if you are nobody. Then, you have to prove to them that you are somebody. If your interest is not being protected, then, you leave for another place. That’s why I left. When they were engaged in a lot of impunities and they thing they could go away with it, I had to leave. The PDP is not the only party in Nigeria.

    The people of Oke-Ogun are clamouring for zoning. Zoning is not in the constitution of your party. How do you see their agitation for power shift?

    Everybody have the constitutional power to agitate for anything in democracy. I told you that politics is about interest. The agitators want to be part of what is going on in Oyo State. A lot of indigenes of Oke-Ogun have shown their intention to contest for governor in 2019. It is their constitutional right. They have the right and freedom of association, assembly and expression.

    There are many people in the race for governor in Oyo APC. Would that not result into chaos?

    There were so many people in the race in Ekiti. Only a person was chosen as the candidate. Most of them were qualified. So, in Oyo, many people want to be governor. When the time comes, we will choose a candidate that will make us win. There were so many aspirants in Ekiti before a candidate emerged. That is what will happen too.

    How can the strife and rancour that marred the Ekiti exercise be averted?

    We will avoid it. That is why we have started now. We still have some months to prepare. But, what is important is that we should first of all get the party right. Let’s have a very strong party. Restructure and nurture the party. Reposition the party. We need to build the party and take it to a more enviable level. After that, things will work. We will continue to engage in talks. That’s why they say politicians talk too much. We will continue to hold meetings upon meetings to resolve issues. When we get to the bridge, we shall cross it.

    What are the selling points of the Oyo APC? What are you going to tell the electorate that will make them to vote for your party in next year’s elections?

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi has done a lot. He has a lot of achievements to showcase to people as what he has done. He has a lot of accomplishments. He has done a lot of projects. Has done many things to contribute to ‘life more abundant’ in Oyo State. So, we will showcase all these. If you add to achievements of Governor Ajimobi to mine, we will have a lot to tell our people. I know what I have done for the people of Oyo State. So, when we join the two together, we will have a lot of things to tell them. The records are there.

    Outgoing governors used to have anointed candidates. Are you one?

    With due rest to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, any out-going governor who is interested in installing a successor should not use the word ‘anointed.’ It connotes that you can do it alone. People have to be carried along. With due respect to Governor Ajimobi, I don’t think he has an anointed candidate. You need to carry along a lot of people. People should not be seen as candidates of somebody. In politics, you don’t portray yourself as the candidate of a particular person so that you don’t miss a whole thing. What is happening is that, as time goes on, we will all sit down. It is not possible for a particular person to anoint. Anointing a candidate will not work in Oyo State. It has to be through consensus. A consensus candidate is better. Everybody will support a consensus candidate.

    Is it not confounding to you that while the APC is still the ruling party in Oyo State, you are losing a by-election in Ibarapa?

    It is one of those things. We have seen where we got it wrong. We are addressing the issues.  Some people are aggrieved. There is a lot of in-fighting. Some people decided to work against the party. If they didn’t work against the party, the PDP cannot win. But, they worked against the party by supporting the candidate of another party. We just open our doors for enemies to come in. but, we have realised the mistake. We will correct it. It won’t happen during the general elections. We will move ahead.

    People are saying that during the nominations for next year’s poll, a big crisis will break out between you and the governor….

    There will be no crisis. We are grown up people. We will put the prophets of doom to shame. If there is conflict in our party, we will always resolve it. The party is more important than the individual ambitions of members. We will apply maturity to whatever we do. We are adults and senior people in this business of politics. We will not fight.

    As your party prepares for election in Ekiti, how would you advise the chapter there?

    They should carry all the chieftains along. You should secure the commitments of aspirants who contested with the candidate, possibly through writing. They should be given opportunity to participate in the campaigns and in the government after winning the election. Nobody should be sidelined. You should carry everybody along. We should watch the movement of our opponent there, who has the power of incumbency. If we are really united, I don’t think we have problem in Ekiti. Unity should be the watchword. Everybody should be brought on board. The candidate should commit the aspirants in writing that this is how we will go about it. It is like people going for hunting. When people are going for hunting, somebody can bring a club for killing small rats. Some will come with their hunting dogs. Some will come with double barrel for killing elephants. When the chips are down, you gather the animals you killed during the hunting expedition, you know that somebody who brought gun is entitled to a big part of the elephant. Those who also brought cutlass to kill rats will have from the share of the elephant too, but you will first consider those who brought gun and cartridges to kill big animals. Going for an election is like going for a hunting expedition. After winning, you allow those who contributed to victory to be part of the government.

    Your party is preparing for a national convention. What are your expectations?

    We will have a successful convention. We have started by putting things right. There will be a lot of politicking before the exercise. The high command of the party is making preparations. I forsee a rancour-free convention.

    How can your party ensure amicable or cordial relations between the Presidency and the Nationl Assembly?

    The party got it wrong from the beginning. They got it wrong from the beginning. Look at our brother, Comrade Adams Oshiomole and how he is moving. He has not become the chairman, but he has started consultations with the National Assembly caucus of the party. Our national chairman has never done that. With due respect to him, he disconnected himself from the National Assembly. He shouldn’t have done that. He has allowed a lot of things to happen between the executive and the legislature. If don’t talk to me, I won’t know your intention towards me. I will try to defend myself first. That is what the national Assembly is doing against the executive. The party is supposed to be in charge. They are not in charge. You don’t talk to them. They feel they are not wanted. It is like O-Y-O, you are on your own. They will misbehave. But, our incoming chairman, by the grace of God, will solve the problem. He has not become the chairman. But, he has visited the APC National Assembly caucus. The party caucus is important. There must be caucus before caucus. You have to lobby. In the United States where we copied our political system, they lobby. Before the executive takes anything to the National Assembly, they would have discussed it at the party caucus. You can’t just rely on just normal correspondence or mere transmission of letters to the National Assembly. The party caucus would have discussed it and there will be party supremacy. The party should have ratified it before any correspondence between the executive and the legislature. The president may be busy. But, the party and the liaison officers to the Senate and the House of Representatives should actively work together.  That’s why there is a logjam. How can the president of a ruling party with the majority in the National Assembly send something to them and they say no. Why? It is because there is gulf. We should return to party caucus. The foundation has been faulty. That is why we are having problems.

    What do you expect President Buhari to focus on in this last lap of his first term?

    Security, security and security. The president should please, for God’s sake, fund the Nigerian police. Funding of the police is very important. Police is a civil organisation. If the police is well trained and well funded, there will be security. With what is happening now, with soldiers all over the place, we will soon be having civil-military conflict. Let the president establish more police stations. Instead of establishing military posts here and there, what we need are more police units. Recruit more police personnel, train them and fund them. I am emphasizing training. In those days, before you were promoted, you had to go for course.  You can’t get promotion without going on course. If there is no training, they will not be prepared for the work. The role of the police is to tackle insurgency. But, are they properly trained? We were trained. In those days, when you heard about mobile police, you shivered. They were called ‘kill and go.’ Do you how where we started failing. Gozer is where the training used to take place. Boko Haram captured the place. No tool to fight Boko Haram. Let’s fund the police. Soldiers will not be there forever. Police will be there forever. Build police stations in those areas liberated by the army.

    The president is trying in other areas. But, he should develop the police, train the police and fund the police. I am not talking about this because I am a former police officer. If our police are well trained and well equipped. I know they will perform. If you interview  people at the United Nations, they will tell you that our policemen were the best in peace-keeping. The police should not promote any policeman who has not gone on course.

    What is the chance of President Buhari in next year’s elections?

    There is nobody who can beat President Buhari as at today. Snot in the PDP. I am a politics and I know this country very well. There nobody yet who can beat Buhari. I have not seen any. May be, as time goes on, there can be other candidates. But, today, there is none. He will get more votes than he got the last time. I don’t see anything that has changed. The opposition is not preparing yet. I don’t see anybody who can beat him now. In politics, some politicians have political value. Others have electoral value. Fortunately, Buhari has the two; political value and electoral value. If the election holds tomorrow, Buhari will win.

     

  • Kudos to Oyo over refurbished classrooms

    Sir: I commend the Oyo State government for the repair works ongoing in some selected public secondary schools in the state. One of the banes of infrastructure decay in Nigeria is lack of maintenance. Also, each successive administration prefers to embark on its own project rather than continue the one met on ground. Another bane is the shoddy jobs usually done by contractors or ministry concerned, if it is a direct labour propelled projects. That is why most of our infrastructures are derelict within a short time.

    Many people are of the opinion that instead of building new classrooms in our schools, many derelict ones should be repaired and that would save the state a lot of money that could be expended on other projects.

    This is what Ajimobi administration is doing in the state and deserves kudos. Another thing is that the contractors or whosoever handling the projects in Ogbomoso North deserves commendation also. At least I see those of Community Grammar School, Ori-Oke and Ogbomoso Girl’s High School. The work being done on the roofing is thorough and the planks durable. One hopes that the gesture would be extended to the primary schools with priority given to the rural areas.

     

    • Adewuyi Adegbite,

    ayekooto05@gmail.com.

  • Democracy Day: Abiola, others didn’t die in vain – Ajimobi

    Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Monday said  the late Chief MKO Abiola and others who paid the supreme price for the actualisation of  the  June 12, 1993 presidential election result  did not die in vain.

    This was contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr  Bolaji Tunji, and made available to newsmen in Ibadan.

    The governor said that the declaration of June 12 as the new Democracy Day by President Muhammadu Buhari was a vindication of the 25 years  clamour for the recognition of Abiola’s sacrifice.

    Ajimobi congratulated the people of the state and all democrats across the country on this year’s commemoration of the June 12 annulment, saying  the struggle of many years  are beginning to yield the desired dividends.

    He said that this year’s occasion presented a veritable opportunity for the people to celebrate and also reflect on the ideals that Abiola and other pro-democracy activists lived and died for.

    The governor advised the people to continue to defend democracy and its institutions against anti-democratic forces no matter the odds.

    Ajimobi described the late politician and business mogul as a symbol of democracy, praising him for his strong conviction that bordered on the freedom of Nigerians from the shackles of oppression and poverty.

    “His conviction that Nigerian masses should be freed from oppressors and that the destiny of the whole nation should not be held to ransom by a cabal propelled him to stand by his mandate to the last.

    “Apart from Abiola, the democracy that we all are enjoying now was also made possible by the likes of Chief Abraham Adesanya, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief Frank Kokori, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu among others.

    “We must continue to do everything to preserve the memory of June 12, which was the day that Nigerians shelved ethnic or religious biases to take their destinies in their own hands,” he said.

    The governor prayed for the repose of the souls of Abiola and other Nigerians who died  in the June 12 struggle. (NAN)

  • PDP wins Ibarapa East State by-election in Oyo

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  on Saturday declared Mr Debo Ogundoyin,  the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP ), as the winner of the Ibarapa East State Constituency by- election in Oyo State.

    Announcing the result, the  returning officer,  Dr Ayodeji Omole of the  University of Ibadan, said Ogundoyin polled 6,277 votes to defeat Mr Olukunle Adeyemo of the All Progressives  Party (APC), who came  second with 4,619 votes.

    Omole said Adebodun Adepoju of  Accord Party scored 2,859 votes while  Rasheedat Oyewumi of Fresh  Democratic Party garnered  33 votes.

    Others were Adekemi Raheem of Hope Democratic Party,  14 votes;  Grace Olarinde of  Nigerian Peoples Congress,  60 votes   and Matins Adeyemo of Mega Party of Nigeria,  9  votes.

    He stated that 14,332 voters were accredited and voted out of  the 44,077 registered.

    “ Total votes cast are 14,179 while valid votes are 13,871 and 308 votes were rejected,’’ he said.

    He declared Ogundoyin as the winner  “ having scored the highest votes as stipulated in the electoral law.”

    The by-election that was held in 140 polling units in all of the 10 wards across the constituency was necessitated by  the death of Michael Adeyemo, the occupant of the seat in the State House of Assembly, on April 27.

    Mr Adedeji Soyebi, the National  Electoral Commissioner for Oyo, Osun and Ekiti, said the election was successful and  commended  the people of the constituency for conducting themselves peacefully.

    “  We had  little issue with card readers unlike previous elections because we used enhanced smart card readers now, ” Soyebi said.

    He also commended security personnel deployed to the area for their efforts in ensuring a  peaceful and violence-free exercise.

    A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN),  who monitored the  election in Eruwa and Lanlate, reports that there was heavy presence of security operatives led by Mr Abiodun Odude, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police.

    Polling officials and election materials had arrived early in all polling units while accreditation and voting started on schedule in  all the polling units visited.

    Only the three agents of Accord, APC and PDP were present at  polling units  visited in Lanlate and Eruwa, although seven political parties participated in the exercise.

    The turnout of voters, however, was low in  Ward 6, polling units 001 – 005, Sango area, LA Primary school , Ward 05, polling units 001-006 as well as  other polling units visited.

    Mr Hamza Adamu, the presiding officer  in Ward 09, polling unit 002, Lanlate, said the exercise  was peaceful and hitch-free.

    Mrs Abigael Folorunsho, the PDP agent at Ward 05, unit 002, Eruwa, Mrs Abigael Folorusho, attributed the low turnout to the perceived likelihood  of  violence as being speculated.

    Folorunsho, however, commended INEC for providing a  level playing ground for all participating political parties.(NAN)

  • Oyo: We’ll forgive aggrieved members -Ajimobi

    Sequel to parallel state congresses held in Oyo State yesterday, Governor Abiola Ajimobi has expressed willingness to accommodate aggrieved members of the party, if they are willing to repent.

    Noting that politics was usually ridden with agitation, interests, conflict and reconciliation, he avowed that he would be magnanimous and humble to accept aggrieved members who he expects to beg to return to the mainstream of the party.

    Ajimobi who spoke just after the congress of the party held at Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, however, said he will accommodate those persons who propagate progressive ethos and eschew brigandage and thuggery.

     

     

    He charged the Chief Akin Oke-led state executive council, which was returned through consensus, for another four years term, to continue to work for the unity and peace of the party and accommodate everybody.

    Speaking on the need to restore peace in the party, Ex-Governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala expressed the willingness to lead the cause of reuniting the ruling party, noting that he had offered himself to the governor to pursue the course.

    Addressing journalists, the State Congress Committee Chairman, Mr. Abdullahi Gwarzo, said the committee was unaware of any other congress apart from the one it coordinated at Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba.

     

  • No parallel congress in Oyo, says APC

    •Ajimobi urges winners to be magnanimous

    OYO State All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman Chief Akin Oke yesterday dismissed the claims that parallel local government congresses were organised in the state.

    According to him, the party followed the APC national secretariat’s guidelines in organising the exercise.

    Oke insisted that any election conducted without the party’s guidelines “is unknown to the party”.

    He said: “The constitution of our party is clear. There cannot be any parallel congress. As far as the National leadership is concerned, party congress is an internal affair of the party. The executive (of the party at state level) was directed to conduct the congress.

    “So, congresses are only organised by the party. So, if anyone goes against the guidelines of the constitution of the constitution, it is not recognised.

    “The dissidents felt we never bought form for the election, they forgot that materials for the congresses were delivered to the party. So, as far as I’m concerned, there is no parallel congress. Going to organise the so-called parallel congresses is unconstitutional. The congress committee is here and it will turn in its report after the exercise.”

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi, however, congratulated winners in the state’s local government election and the LG congresses, urging them to be magnanimous in victory.

    The governor conveyed his message through a statement by his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Bolaji Tunji, after the release of the results of the LG election by the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission yesterday.

    Similarly, Ajimobi said that he was thrilled by the peaceful and orderly conduct of the rescheduled local government congress of the APC, which was held across the 33 LG headquarters.

    He called on losers in both contests to eschew violence and to be gallant in defeat, in the realisation that in every contest, including elections, there would always be winners and losers.

    The governor urged APC faithful across the state to be orderly and law-abiding in their conduct, while he advised those that might be aggrieved with the outcome of the LG election and APC local government congress to explore lawful channels to seek redress.

    But Minister for Communications Adebayo Shittu said the National Congress Committee that conducted the congresses was compromised.

    Shittu, who belonged to the state APC Unity Forum faction, wondered how the committee refused to collect forms from the candidates, who purchased the forms as stipulated by the party guidelines.

    He declared that by “collecting the forms from Ajimobi’s candidates and shutting the doors against us, the congress committee has shown that they are bias and compromised”.

    The minister stated that unless the party’s national leadership ensures that justice is done, the aggrieved would seek redress in the court to nullify the exercise.

    Shittu, who spoke to members of Oyo State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ibadan at the weekend, described the election as a fraud.

     

     

    Tinubu to party chieftains: embrace dialogue

    ALL Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday reflected on the rancorous local government congresses in Oyo State, urging the party chieftains to embrace dialogue and peace.

    The former Lagos State governor cautioned against using the names of party leaders, including President Muhammadu Buhari and himself, for advancing their positions without their consent.

    He said the solution to the parallel congresses is for the two factions in the disputed exercise to embrace compromises, instead of fixating on transient personal differences.

    In an advertorial in The Nation newspaper today titled: ‘Oyo State: Re-Open Letter To Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,’ he acknowledged the open letter to him by the members of the APC Unity Forum, who he described as progressives in the democratic family with ties of collaborative efforts, both in the Southwest and the country.

    Urging them to refrain from taking “precipitous action”, Tinubu said despite their right to voice their opinion and seek elective offices, there was a limitation to the efficacy of political prayers.

    He urged the aggrieved chieftains to emulate him by making use of the party’s appeal processes and structures to ventilate their grievances and seek redress.

    Tinubu said the warring chieftains should not allow themselves to be swayed by “behind-the-scenes enticements of forces outside the party,” noting that these “false voices” may want to motivate them to break into a rival group that would be dangerous to the democratic journey and the future of Oyo State.

    He urged them to cooperate with the party chairman, Chief Akin Oke, who he described as a committed and fair-minded leaders, and the Ward and Local Government Congress committees, to enable them discharge their assignment in a free and fair atmosphere.

    Noting that all candidates cannot win during elections, Tinubu advised them to make sacrifice as a fitting tribute to the memories of their past heroes, including the slain Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, and former Governor Lam Adesina.

    He stressed: “We must recognise there may be many good candidates for a particular office, but only one person can win the party nomination for that office. We have encouraged all who seek the party’s nomination for an office to freely exercise that core right. Yet, we must equally encourage you to close ranks and accept the results once a contest is over. The party and its fair processes take precedence over individual ambition. That is why we must cooperate with the party hierarchy.”

    Tinubu appealed to the forum to bury its hatchet, forgive the perceived shortcomings and cooperate with Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who he said, must have reached out to the protesters to promote an inclusive culture.

    He noted that the governor has demonstrated openness by welcoming into the fold defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin, Chief Taofeel Arapaja, Chief Ayodele Adigun and Segun Odebunmi.

    Urging the Oyo APC family to imbibe the spirit of give and take, Tinubu said the party faithful should make compromises and contribute to the efforts to win future elections.

    He added: “As elders in the party, we seek to play an impartial role and not allow ourselves to be used to sow seeds of division.”

     

     

  • Communication Minister faults APC Congress, LG poll in Oyo

    The Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu at the weekend alleged that the National Congress  Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the Chairmanship of  Musa Halilu-Ahmed, that conducted the ward congress in Oyo state was compromised .

    The state APC is divided among two groups ; the Lamists and the Senaco .

    Shittu who belonged to the Unity Forum of the state APC wondered how the Musa Halilu -Ahmed led Congress Committee refused to collect forms from the candidates who purchased the forms as stipulated by the party guidelines but instead disappeared when they ought to collect the forms.

    “By collecting the forms from Governor Ajimobi’s candidates , and shutting the doors against us, the Congress Committee has shown that they are bias and compromised,”  he declared.

    He stated that unless the national leadership of the party ensures that justice is done , the aggrieved will seek redress in the court of law to nullify the Saturday’s poll.

    Shittu  who played guest  to the Oyo state Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ) , in Ibadan at the weekend  described the election as a fraud, saying that  he has foreseen the voters apathy that marred the election, hence , his reason for boycotting the poll.

    ” The Congress Committee knew very well that the governor’s group had not obtained any form as at Friday . And that only our group that has purchased forms . At the stakeholders meeting of Saturday , all that the governor wanted to do was to present a list of candidates to the committee and get their endorsement,  but he was blocked.

    “We had paid for our forms with tellers . On Sunday , after the violence at the Saturday’s stakeholders meeting, we came to submit our forms, what we saw was heavy presence of armed policemen and an armoured tank which was used to block the entrance to the Oke-Ado party Secretariat , yet the governor and his group and the committee’s members were right inside the Secretariat. The case is like a student who obtained WAEC exam form and after writing the exam, the supervisors ran away and refused to collect the answer sheet from the student. That is the case in Oyo APC , ” Shittu said.

    He however declared the election as not only illegal, unconstitutional but conducted in an atmosphere of what he described as a ‘Wuruwuru’.

    He said the circumstances that surrounded the conduct of the election such as the pending court cases, boycott of the election by the major opposition parties and the shunning of the election by a group within camp of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), “Unity Forum” in the state, will not make the election stand the test of time.

    He added that the election will not be recognised by the constitution because it was conducted in LCDAs that are yet to be recognised by the constitution and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    For these reasons, Shittu declared that the election will not stand the test of time and will not be recognised.

    Shittu said “On the conduct of the local government election held today, first, that is after 6 years, now is doing ‘Wuruwuru local government election.

    “He claimed that there is a case in court, now there are two court cases in court.

    “Number two, can you organise election in a local government which INEC has not delineated. Local government in Nigeria are created by the constitution and before it is done, the INEC will say there are areas where each ward will be. The last time they were in court in Abuja, the court could not take a decision because there are two counsels to APC, and the court said that until the legal adviser of the party come to clarify who is the authentic counsel.

    “The election that the generality of the people have shunned, it is ‘Wuruwuru’, it is injustice. I can’t be part of ‘Wuruwuru election’. I can’t be part of such election.

    “Why the rush after six years?  The rush that he does not have six years ago, now a year ago to the election. He thinks he can just use ‘Wuruwuru’ to do. We will not succumb and allow him to do ‘Wuruwuru’.

    “A lot of people are taking the opportunity of being a progressive that even in banana republic is not allowed.

    Shittu further added that he is of the opinion that the leadership of the party will intervene and save the party from further degeneration.

    He said “I want to believe that the party leadership will intervene”.

  • Update: Oyo LG Polls: APC wins 65 councils, 610 wards

    The candidates of the ruling All Progressive Congress have been declared the winners of the 610 wards, 33 local governments and 35 local council development areas elections held  last Saturday in the state.

     

    The announcement of the results which started at about 2pm Sunday did not end with the final local government was announced at about 8: 10 pm.

     

    Baring last minute changes, the newly elected council chairmen and councillors will be sworn in on Monday at the House of Chiefs, Parliamentary Building, House of Assembly Complex, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan.

    The election was conducted in the 33 LGAs, 33 LCDAs, 610 wards and 4, 783 polling units across the state where 12 political parties participated.

     

    Chairman of OYSIEC, Mr. Jide Ajeigbe who declared the party the eventual winner appreciated the good people of the state for conducting themselves orderly and peacefully throughout the period of the exercise.

     

    He said “kudos need to be given to contestants for organising a violent-free electioneering campaign. Your conducts have been shown the kind of political maturity that Oyo state is known for.

     

    “It is, therefore, hoped that this kind of political maturity exhibited before and during the conduct of the election will be sustained now that the election is over so that good democratic values be further achieved at the grassroots.”

     

    Addressing the press after the final announcement of the result, spokesperson of the team of independent observers, Comrade Friday Maduka commended all the stakeholders including the government, the electoral umpire, the political parties, the security operative and the electorate for working together to achieve a successful election.

     

    He noted that, although the team observed high turnout of electorate in urban areas, he said same could not be said of the electorate in the rural areas.

     

    He particularly commended the electoral umpire for providing a level playing ground for all the political parties to participate in the election, the Oyo state government for considering it necessary to conduct LG Polls and providing the conducive environment for the participants to participate in the election.

  • Enlist in military, NYSC boss urges corps members

    Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ), has urged corps members to consider enlisting in the armed forces.

    Kazaure gave the advice in an interview with the News men on Tuesday at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Sagamu, Ogun.

    The director-general, who inspected various physical and combat activities of the 2018 Batch ‘A’ corps members deployed to Ogun, said he was impressed by their level of discipline.

    Kazaure, who also watched the quarter-guard,  Man-O-War regiment, martial arts combats as well as the  band display of the corps members, said   he was certain that they would excel in the military.

    He described the Ogun Orientation camp as one of the best in the country, noting that it had been persistent over the years in maintaining excellence in the training of corps members.

    “With what I have witnessed here today, I can confidently state that this has been by far the best set of corps members ever received in Ogun State camp.

    “Their level of discipline and adherence to the teachings of their instructors has been excellent and I urge them to maintain the status quo.

    “The orientation programme was designed to help prepare corps members for the challenges ahead during their service year and these ones will do very well to cope.

    “To join the army, there are guidelines. You must be physically, medically and mentally fit.

    “The army will subject you to a lot of exams both written and oral before the final selection. If you meet all the required indices, you will be enlisted,” he said.

    Kazaure also said he was inspired by the display of the band to pioneer the NYSC inter-state band competition for corps members with added rewards for outstanding groups.

    He urged the corps members to be good ambassadors of the NYSC during their service year by promoting the ideals of the scheme.

    Read Also: NYSC DG laments poor state of Ebonyi orientation camp

    Kazaure added that the NYSC would be considering posting more corps members to farms under the scheme in Oyo, Abuja, Bauchi and Kebbi.

    The Ogun NYSC State Coordinator, Mr John Okpo, thanked the director general for the visit while reiterating the commitment of the NYSC in Ogun in complementing the scheme in nation building.

    He said the 2018 Batch ‘A’ corps members comprising 2,513 individuals including 1,161 males and 1,352 females distinguished themselves by arriving very early in camp.

    Okpo urged the corps members to equip themselves with the necessary skills for self-reliance through the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development ( SAED ) programme.

    The NYSC official said the orientation, which commenced on April 19, would close on Wednesday.

    NAN

  • National committee: Oyo records success

    THE National Congress Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that conducted the ward congress in Oyo State yesterday described the exercise as successful, free and fair.

    It followed the initial violence that led to the shifting of the congress to Sunday.

    Chairman of the committee, Musa Halilu-Ahmed, while briefing reporters and stakeholders at the state party secretariat, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, yesterday explained that despite the initial skirmishes, all aggrieved members were brought together to hold a peaceful and successful congress in line with the party’s constitution.

    At the news briefing were Governor Abiola Ajimobi, the party’s chairman, Chief Akin Oke, members of the State Executive Council, members of the State Working Committee, federal lawmakers, including Hon. Saheed Fijabi and Akeem Adeyemi as well as the Police Commissioner Abiodun Odude.

    The conference, which held amidst heavy security presence, also saw large numbers of the party supporters who stormed the party secretariat jubilating and chanting songs of victory.

    Halilu-Ahmed said: “On Saturday when the congress was to be conducted, there was an violence initiated by some aggrieved members of the party, which resulted in some members of my committee sustaining injuries. Despite intimidation and threats to our lives, we stood our grounds.

    “Due to this development, the committee was left with no option than to reschedule the ward congress to Sunday to re-strategise. And I am glad to tell you that the congress held successfully in all the wards.

    He urged any participant, who was aggrieved, to channel his or her grievances to the appeal committee headed by Mrs. Binta Muazu. The appeal committee will work on petitions for three days beginning yesterday (Monday).

    Addressing reporters, Ajimobi noted that the state is known for peace and that no effort would be spared at ensuring that all differences that came up during the congress were amicably resolved.

    He added that as the oldest governor, he was a father figure to the aggrieved members of the party and would do everything to ensure that they come back to the fold.