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Tag: Oyo

  • Oyo Speaker empowers 700 constituents

    Oyo Speaker empowers 700 constituents

    The ancient city of Oyo stood still Wednesday, last week when a notable daughter of the town and Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Monsurat Sunmonu, attracted the crème of the society to an empowerment programme for her constituents.

    Hon. Sunmonu, who is representing Oyo East and Oyo West State Constituency in the House, attracted Governor Abiola Ajimobi and his wife, Florence, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, the Aare Musulumi of Yoruba land Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola-Alao, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed and State Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, among others.

    Also at the rally-like event were members of the House of Assembly, local government chairmen and party leaders in the two local government’s areas of her constituency.

    Sunmonu had gathered 700 beneficiaries at the town’s stadium, Dubar, where they were ready to receive various work tools such as freezers, generators, vulcanising machines, tricycles, motorcycles, cooking stoves and cutlasses.

    Others are auto mechanic tools, hairdressing and barbing equipment, carpentry tools, grinding machines, insecticide sprayer, cooking pots, wheel chairs, kerosene tank, bricklaying equipment and sewing machines.

    A new 18-seater Toyota bus was donated to the Alaafin’s Council of Chiefs for transportation to events.

    She put the cost of the items at N26 million.

    The beneficiaries were joined by their families, politicians decamping from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord to the APC. The masses also thronged the stadium, with security agents having tough time controlling the huge crowd.

    The items were as many as the crowd. They were an appropriate response to the harrowing effects of poverty among the people of the constituency.

    The beneficiaries include artisans, traders, farmers and transporters in the ancient town.

    In her welcome address, Sunmonu said there was need for the people to be empowered to earn a decent living through work, hence her resolve to distribute work tools that could assist them.

    Besides, the lawmaker said the effort was in fulfillment of her campaign promises.

    “The grip of poverty and lack on a young life may seem relentless to them but just one act of kindness can stop it in its tracks. That is why I am empowering Oyo indigenes to be the best that they can be. That is why we are not just about dishing out money, as it will not solve the problem.”

    Giving account of her achievements in the constituency in the last two years, the Speaker said: ”I have economically empowered 150 women in business, sponsored over 40 students to sit for UTME exams, distributed scholarship forms to over 50 students, completed over 15 boreholes and 22 deep wells, constructed six mini-parks for okada riders and four public toilets, all within the Oyo East/West constituency.”

    She credited all her achievements to the tactical and wise advice from the Alaafin whom she said has stood by her wholeheartedly.

    Giving his royal blessing, Oba Adeyemi commended the lawmaker for her initiative. He described her as a God-fearing, submissive, humble and caring female politician.

    “Monsurat is one of my daughters and I am very proud of her achievements so far. She deserves to be praised and I want to implore all Nigerians, especially the Yorubas, to always praise our leaders that have performed in office. We should not wait till after death before praising them,” the monarch said.

    Arisekola described Hon. Sunmonu as very religious, humble and kind, adding that she has maintained her integrity since she knew her about 40 years ago. He said he was overwhelmed by the quality and quantity of the tools, stressing that it shows her love for the masses.

    In his own comment, the interim chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Akin Oke, said the masses were already benefiting from the dividends of democracy, he assured the constituents that the party would do more to reduce poverty in the state.

    Speaking on behalf of other fellow state lawmakers, the Majority Leader in the House, Hon. Oyeniyi Akande lauded Sunmonu for her astute leadership. He said the House has been witnessing peace since she assumed the position of the Speaker in 2011 in spite of the fact that members belong to three different political parties.

    Ajimobi also lauded Hon. Sunmonu. He said the tools would go a long way to ease the suffering of the masses.

    The governor, who expressed his joy for the gesture of the Speaker to her people, said he was enthralled by the volume of the materials and tools of the empowerment which cut across various vocations.

    He urged the constituents to continue to support her so that she can bring more dividends to the various communities in the town.

    One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Monsurat Bello, who was given a freezer, thanked the lawmaker for her kind gesture.

    For her, it was a dream fulfilled because, according to her, she had saved severally for the item but was unable to buy it.

    About 50 politicians from other political parties decamped into the APC at the event.

  • Cargo train derails in Ibadan

    A Lagos-bound cargo train skidded off its line in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday.

    However, no life was lost in the incident.

    The derailment occurred in the early morning of yesterday along Akobo-Oju Irin level crossing in the capital city.

    Before the incident, there have been calls on the management of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) to reconstruct a barrier at the junction where the incident happened to prevent loss of lives.

    It was learnt that the train was coming from the northern part of the country when it derailed.

    One resident in the area, Ilori Tolulope, said he heard a loud noise of the train as it fell off the rail line. The accident damaged the rail line and the train, it was learnt.

    Another resident who did not want his name in print said the railway level crossing in the area is so porous that in recent times, many residents have lost their lives, because the barrier/drop down used for closing traffic at the approach of oncoming trains has broken down.

    The Nation gathered that at the approach of a train, officials of the corporation only come out to wave to vehicles to stop to prevent accident.

    Residents who spoke with our correspondent pleaded with the management of the corporation to find an urgent solution before more lives are lost.

  • Alaafin warns against falsification of Yoruba historical heritage, legacy

    THE Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, has warned against the falsification of Yoruba history and heritage.

    Speaking in his palace during an interactive forum, the monarch also alleged that a clique within the Yoruba royal system is desperate to destabilise the region’s royal structure.

    Insisting that the clique is bent on distorting history of the Yoruba race, Oba Adeyemi said: “Their plight and frustration can be likened to the idleness of snoring at noon. It is these people who spent both their money and energy to conquer history in Yorubaland, thus wearing the toga of notoriety and supremacy over the Alaafin. However, enlightened minds know the historical data and criteria that determine the leadership of a people.”

    While pointing out that the core of the Yoruba civilisation, including the language, mode of dressing and diplomacy were bequeathed by the Oyos, the foremost traditional ruler noted, “In addition, the royalty of Oyo remains a standard reference point in Yoruba chronology up till today. In part of Yorubaland, including books authored by Ife indigenes, each major event is brought into relevance by tracing it with contemporary events in Oyo like saying such events happened during the reigns of prominent Alaafins , like Abiodun, Adeyemi, Ladigbolu and so on.’’

     

    The paramount ruler recalled that even a traditional chief in Ife, Odole Atobase of Ife, Chief Ajayi Fabunmi, once linked the era of some prominent past Oonis by drawing corollary between them and the contemporary Alaafin.

    Oba Adeyemi however warned that “any attempt to doctor, alter and deliberately falsify historical heritage and legacy will lead to confusion, like what we are witnessing in Yoruba land today.”

     

  • Man dies at mother’s burial in Oyo

    TRAGEDY struck on Saturday at Awe community near Oyo town in Afijio Local Government area of Oyo State when the eldest son of a woman whose remains were being interred collapsed and died.

    The deceased simply identified as Mr. Agboola, who has two wives and many children, it was learnt, was hale and hearty and has no records of ill-health until last Saturday.

    The Nation reliably gathered that on the fateful day, the man, his wives and children, as well as his younger brothers and sisters accompanied by some relations and invited guests, left for the church, which is very close to their late mother’s residence in a happy mood.

    After the church service, the deceased and his siblings were said to have danced and sang songs of praises to God for their mother’s fulfilled life.

    On returning back home, the man was said to have complained of headache and feverish feelings. Some drugs, including anti-malaria and antibiotics, were hurriedly bought for him with the hope that he would be relieved. But contrary to expectation, the ailment persisted.

    Thereafter, a medical doctor was said to have been contacted who injected him with some intravenous fluids. Eyewitness account informed that the man had some respite and subsequently requested to be taken to toilet.

    But while returning from the toilet supported on both sides by his wives, brothers and sisters, he suddenly slumped and died.

    Remains of the deceased was said to have been brought to his residence in Ikorodu, Lagos State, where he has since been buried.

  • Oyo, FCT win male, female football events’ third-place honours

    Oyo state and the FCT on Friday emerged third place winners in the male and female football events respectively in the ongoing National Youth Games (NYG) in Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the matches were played at the training pitches of the National Stadium’s Package A.

    In the male category, Oyo state thrashed eight-men FCT 4-1 to win the third-place, with two goals coming in each half. In the female category, the FCT female team beat Team Taraba 2-0.

    The coach of Oyo state male team, Sanusi Musiliu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after the match that his team benefitted from the advantage of its opponents being incomplete.

    NAN reports that the male FCT team had been decimated by the loss of some players to the screening exercise conducted at the games shortly before the competition commenced.

    “Our opponents had only eight players. So, we used that to work them up till they got tired. So, the goals just kept coming in for us. But, apart from that, the players performed according to the instructions given while correcting the mistake they made in the semi-finals. Now, we will take this third-place victory as consolation, since we could not reach the final,” Musiliu said.

     

  • Oyo Assembly calls for public participation in budgeting

    Oyo Assembly calls for public participation in budgeting

    The Oyo State House of Assembly has urged the state government to involve the public in the drafting of the annual budget.

    In a motion yesterday, the Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation Bills and Budgeting, Olusegun Olaleye, said in 100 surveys carried out by the International Budget Partnership (IBP) this year, the average score for public participation in the budget process was 19 out of 100.

    He said only Lagos and Ekiti states have involved the public in the process.

    Olaleye said public participation will help the government to be more responsive to the people’s needs, improve the public’s perception of the government and guarantee effective budget implementation.

    He said: “Experience has shown that participatory budgeting will improve the government’s performance by providing better understanding of what the public expects from it.”

    Other lawmakers supported the motion and the House resolved that the executive, through the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budgeting, should involve the public in the preparation of the 2014 budget through Town Hall meetings across the 33 local government areas.

    It said input from civil society organisations should be welcome, adding that the Assembly would organise a public hearing during the consideration of the 2014 budget draft.

  • Oyo community in desperate need of help

    Oyo community in desperate need of help

    The rate of rural urban/ migration in Nigeria is alarming and worrisome, as urban centers are geometrically over-populated due to dearth of social infrastructures needed to encourage and motivate the settlers to contribute to Gross Domestic Productivity.

    One of such rural communities in deplorable conditions is the Olori village in the Oyo-East Local Government area of Oyo State.

    The riverside community, it was gathered had been in existence for over a century, as the inhabitants were said to have originated from the ancient town of Oyo.

    Before the creation of Osun State from the old Oyo State 22 years ago, the villagers were living harmoniously, with their neighbouring communities of Owu and Ife-Odan.

    But shortly after the creation of Osun State in 1991, the Olori villagers maintained their origin of Oyo State, while Owu, Ife-odan and four other communities were ceded to the new state. However the decision of Olori villagers to remain in Oyo State did not go down well with their neighbours who, it was gathered wanted them to be part of Osun State. All efforts to make the villagers change their minds and opt for Osun state, it was gathered fell on deaf ears hence tension began to rise between the hitherto peaceful neighbours.

    Angered by the uncompromising stance of Olori villagers and apparently considering the fact that the village is located in the Forest Reserve richly endowed with natural resources like gold and other tourist attractions, both Owu and Ife-Odan communities it was gathered considered the option of violence, in order to force the villagers to be part of Osun State.

    The simmering tension reached a climax in 2008 when hoodlums allegedly fro m Owu and Ife-Odan communities invaded Olri village and wreaked havoc.

    On that fateful day, the unsuspected villagers, who were predominantly farmers, had gone to their farms when the hoodlums, numbering about 100 and armed with dangerous weapons like guns, cutlasses and knives invaded the village.

    Many of the villagers, including the aged were attacked and sustained serious injuries, while properties estimated to be worth several thousands of naira were destroyed by the hoodlums. That was a huge loss by village standard.

    One of the villagers, Jimoh Adejare, a security guard attached to the maternity centre by the Local Government, who has just returned home from work that fateful day, was murdered  in cold blood by the hoodlums as he was preparing to go to his farm.

    Before ending their dastard mission, the hoodlums abducted 15 of the village elders and held them hostage for four days without food. They were later released on the orders of the Nigeria Police, Zone 11, Osogbo, Osun State capital.

    Three of the elders who narrated their ordeals in the hands of the hoodlums described their experience as saddening and horrible.

    One of them Yekini Ayanfemi aged 70 years displayed to The Nation five of his teeth forcefully removed by the thugs with a big stick after which according to him he was tied with a rope like a ram and severely injured with machete.

    “The hoodlums asked me to lie down and one of them went to the bush and brought a big stick and hit me on the cheek. It was indeed very painful. I was also tied with rope and seriously hit with machete, but God did not allow the cutlass to cut me”.

    Two other elders, Shadiat Oseni (60 years), and Kareem Olawale (80 years), who spoke in the same vein explained how they were abducted.

    Shadiat said “Immediately after abducting us, the hoodlums took us to the Palace of Head of Ife-Odan community, who ordered that we be kept and tortured without food for four days.. On the fourth day, the head of Ife-Odan Community, whose traditional title is ADIMULA, directed the leaders to take us to Ejigbo Divisional Police Command Headquarters, and tell the D.P.O that we came to invade their community”.

    Pa Olawale, who narrated in tears said the Ejigbo Divisional Police Officer turned down the allegation and refused to detain them after which they were also taken to Okefia Divisional Police Headquarters at Osogbo where both the Divisional Crime Officer and the D.P.O refused to accept the allegations levied against them.

    “Thank God, it was at the zone 11 of the Nigeria Police headquarters in Osogbo, where we regained our freedom and were saved from the hoodlums. In fact, one Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ajiboye came to our rescue, as he provided us with delicious food and ordered that four of those who brought us be detained for wrongful and unfair allegation. The Divisional Crime Officer refused to believe that as aged as we are, we can invade a community”.

    Two motorcycles and five grinding machines were reportedly taken away by the hoodlums from the village.

    Also commenting, the widow of the slain security guard, Idiatu Jimoh Adejare ,who was in tears throughout the interview described the murder of her husband as wicked.

    Reigning curses on the perpetrators of her husband’s death, Mrs Adejare said “i am now at the mercy of God with four under-aged children still in school. I have no other means of sustenance, except subsistence farming. I have not been receiving any assistance to take care of the children.’’

    The invasion happened during the tenure of the immediate past administrations of Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola in Oyo and Osun States respectively.

    The two former governors were said to have sought the intervention of the National Boundary Commission in Abuja, which ceded Olori village to Oyo State.

    Following this development, the Akala administration, it was gathered pledged to provide the needed infrastructures like school, primary health care centre, potable water supply, rural electrification and canoe with rudders for the village.

    The Oyo East Local Government was also directed to include in its budget certain amount of money for the well-being of the villagers.

    Besides the establishment of a primary school, all other pledges by both the immediate past administrations at the State and Local Government levels did not materialise.

    The problem in the village is compounded by a long river, Oba, that passes through the community but which had been a threat to the villagers, especially during the rainy season, as movement to and from the area is usually hindered.

    Consequently, a wooden canoe was provided by the villagers, but this has proved inadequate, unreliable and unsafe especially after heavy rains which often increase the water level in the river, leading to its overflow.

    A couple of years ago, ten villagers reportedly drowned in the river when a canoe in which they were crossing capsized when the paddle broke. Some of those that could be rescued were later taken to the hospital for medical attention.

    The incident brought the State Deputy Governor, Moses Adeyemo who represented the Governor to the village on sympathy visit , while the entire members of the State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Monsurat Sunmonu also paid similar visit.

    Both the Deputy governor and the Speaker, who is from the village pledged to come to the aid of the villagers by ensuring budgetary allocations for the construction of a bridge across the river, and provision of other essential needs for the downtrodden villagers.

    The local government also pledged to provide another canoe to the villagers.

    All these promises are yet to be yet to fulfilled.

    Interestingly, both the former Secretary to the State Government during the last administration, Chief Layiwola Lakojo, and the present Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu are from the village.

    Speaking with our correspondent, Head of the community Chief Teslim Adekunle II, said ‘’ our immediate need now is how to construct a bridge across the river.  Without this, the community will be cut off from the rest of the neighbouring villages. We find it difficult to reach our community. Our children are finding it difficult to go to school. We can’t get to where our sources of income are due to the rising water level in the river whenever there is heavy down pour. We urge the state government to come to our aid by fulfilling all the promises made for us.’

    Chief Adekunle however enjoined the state government to investigate the N157million allegedly earmarked to the Local Government for the construction of a bridge across the river by the Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala administration, but which has not been executed.

     

  • Osun, Oyo APC protest

    Osun, Oyo APC protest

    ‘We will all support the INEC if it is doing what is right but we will ask for dissolution of the body by the National Assembly when it starts working against the interest of the people’

    Members of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Osun State yesterday staged a peaceful protest in Osogbo, the state capital, against alleged malpractices in the conduct of the October 16 governorship election in Anambra State.

    Governor Rauf Aregbesola, led members of the party from the 30 Local Government Areas of the state.

    The protesters had converged on the Freedom Park in the Old Garage Area of the town as early as 9.00 am from where they moved to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission along Gbongan Road, Osogbo.

    The protesters described the election as poorly conducted, saying the INEC had failed woefully in the conduct of the poll.

    The interim state chairman of the party, Mr. Adelowo Adebiyi, called for the cancellation of the election.

    About 3,000 aggrieved APC members delivered a protest letter to the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state.

    A letter, whose contents were not known, were delivered to the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr. Rufus Akeju, around 5.50 pm.

    The governor, after the protest, called for outright cancellation of the result of the election, saying that was what would gladen the heart of all righteous Nigerians.

    He said: “We will all support the INEC if it is doing what is right but we will ask for dissolution of the body by the National Assembly when it starts working against the interest of the people,” the governor said.

    The APC in Osun State urged all well-meaning Nigerians, including notable leaders of thought, to prevail on the INEC to ensure that the wish of the people of Anambra counts in the election.

    The party also enjoined the INEC to restore sanity and integrity into the commission in the overall interest of the country.

    Also yesterday, no fewer than 1000 members of the APC in Oyo State protested against the poor conduct of the Anambra state governorship election.

    The protest, which started around 11am from the Secretariat, was supervised by no fewer than 200 policemen. There were also over 50 police trucks and two Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) to enforce the peace and order.

    The protest was led by the APC acting secretary in the state, Mojeed Olaoya, who submitted a letter to the INEC office to press home their demands.

    The youths who carried placards with inscriptions such as “Jega has failed Nigerians,” “Jega INEC should be ashamed and resigned immediately,” “Jega don’t spoil your good name,””A day light robbery,” “No more credibility for Jega,” and “Jega cannot conduct any credible election in 2015,” among others.

    The letter, signed by Olaoya, read:

    “The decision by INEC to conduct another supplementary election slated for the 30th November, 2013 in Anambra State is unequivocally condemned by the entire members of APC, Oyo State chapter. We view that INEC incompetence to conduct a free and fair election in a state in Nigeria is not only embarrassing but portrays a big danger for 2015 general election.

    “ We therefore feel that INEC should be re-organised administratively in preparation for 2015 general election. The total election should be cancelled and we call for a new gubernatorial election in Anambra state.

    “Therefore, our peaceful protest is civil and we believe that our disenchantment with INEC on the Anambra election is noted.”

  • Oyo APC protests against poll

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Ibadan, Oyo State, yesterday marched on the Office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to protest the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State.

    About 1,000 APC members protested INEC’s plan to conduct a supplementary election in Anambra State tomorrow.

    The protest started around 11am from the government secretariat. About 200 policemen with over 50 police trucks and two Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) were on hand to ensure peace and order.

    The protest was led by the APC state Acting secretary, Mr. Mojeed Olaoya, who later submitted a letter to the INEC office to press home the party’s demands.

    The protesters, mostly youths, carried placards with inscriptions, such as “Jega has failed Nigerians”, “Jega should be ashamed and should resign immediately”, Jega don’t spoil your good name and cancel Anambra election”, “Anambra election: a day light robbery”, “No more credibility for Jega”, “Jega cannot conduct any credible election in 2015”, among others.

  • Oyo politics after Lam Adesina

    Correspondent BISI OLADELE writes on the implications of the demise of Alhaji Lam Adesina for the progressive family in Oyo State and how Governor Abiola Ajimobi has been building on the legacies of the departed leader.

    A year ago, former Oyo State Governor Lamidi Onaolapo Adesina died, following a protracted illness. He died at St Nicholas Hospital, Lagos, where he was receiving treatment until he died on November 11, last year.

    Until his death, Adesina was the leader of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Oyo State. He started playing the role, since he was defeated in the 2003 election, which cut short his second term dream.

    Great Lam, as he was fondly called by his admirers, was loved by many. In his moderate Felele, Ibadan home, the former governor welcomed the great and the small. He wielded a great influence.

    Adesina was an astute politician. He was the rallying point for the old and new generation of politicians the elite and the unlettered. He was approachable, simple, unassuming, humorous, but firm. His principles were well known among members hardly did they flout them.

    He stabilised the party among emerging internal blocs and served as the judge on virtually all matters.

    So, when the curtain was drawn one year ago, political watchers feared a depletion or disarray in the party.

    Yet, events of the last 12 months have proved that the ACN (now All Progressives Congress) has the capacity to survive, even without its old leaders. It looks like a system that only needs to be sustained by principles of fairness, forthrightness and decency. Hence, Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Chief Michael Koleoso have paddled the canoe of the party without blemishes after Great Lam’s departure.

    However, the massive urban renewal exercise of the Ajimobi Administration, which peaked in the first quarter of the year, may possibly have taken more time, to accomplish, if Lam were alive. As an elder-statesman, residents that were dissatisfied with any policy of the current administration lodged their complaints to him. After educating them, he would convey their feelings to the governor and offer useful advice. Lam may have advised Ajimobi to move slowly as traders removed from the roads under bridges.

    As the governor ruminates over appointment of new members of the State Executive Council, Lam would have done a good buck of the fixing as he would have offered very useful advice to the governor in making his selection. His house would have become a Mecca of sort for political jobbers seeking position. In a way, Lam was largely handling the political aspect of the administration for Ajimobi when he was alive. The governor now takes care of both governance and full politics.

    That was the experience in the build-up to the 2011 elections when all political office hopefuls thronged his Felele residence.

    As the leader of the party, Ajimobi would have given him some concession, on a few candidates because it was believed that he knew the party and the members inside-out, having stayed so long in the progressive party.

    Today, however, aside the party leadership, a notable Islamic leader and a first-class traditional ruler seem to hold the ace in the administration.

    Lam was a staunch critic of the leader of the Accord Party (AP) in the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja. He had attributed the his loss in the 2003 election to Ladoja, whom he accused of rigging him out against the wish of the people.

    The AP leader has been criticising the Ajimobi Administration, since the beginning of the year. Both Ajimobi and Ladoja fell apart politically last year, due to irreconcilable differences.

    If Lam is alive, Ladoja would have received more verbal attacks from the deceased as he will reel out data on how the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor allegedly destroyed all his legacies when he succeeded him in 2003. He never spared Ladoja and he brooked no criticism from the AP leader. Lam’s death obviously created more breathing space for Ladoja.

    For instance, when the National Assembly election favoured the ACN in 2011, even before the governorship election in which Ladoja (AP) was a candidate, Ajimobi (ACN) was a candidate and Adebayo Alao-Akala flew the flag of the PDP. Lam, while addressing reporters at the Southwest Secretariat office of his party on Old Ife Road, Ibadan, he tongue-lashed Ladoja and Alao-Akala, saying it was “pay-back time” for what they did to him in 2003. Alao-Akala was Ladoja’s deputy governorship candidate in the 2003 election.

    “Both of them rigged me out in 2003. Now is the pay-back time for them. They have already lost this election because the, people of Oyo State have rejected them,” Lam said.

    Adesina also criticized the PDP. In spite of the fact that the party has not been able to pick its pieces in the state, Lam would have sustained its derogation and criticism of its activities, if he is still alive.

    The planned national conference is one development that would definitely have attracted strong comments from Lam Adesina. His view on such important matters which were strong, were always sought by reporters. Lam was a reporter’s delight. His orientation as an activist made him so.

    Members of the older generation of politicians are gradually passing away. Unfortunately, not many cerebral politicians are seen on the political stage in Oyo State again.

    The people of Oke-Ogun, the northern part of the state, are surely missing Great Lam. Lam had a strong political bond with them. They trusted and loved him till the end. Chief Koleoso, with whom he led the party, until his death, hails from Oke-Ogun. They must have missed his visits, friendship and political relationship.

    Though Lam and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, were not in very cordial terms towards the end if his Administration, the monarch and Lam found a common ground again in 2011, to the dismay of many watchers. Therefore, Lam’s hands of fellowship cut across boarders, giving him out as a true leader.

    As the APC faithful and the people of Oyo State remember Great Lam, it is expected that the party will continue us to build leadership on the principles of the deceased who was a man of integrity. Party men, he would emphasize, must subject their personal interest to that of the party. He would advise legislators to vote along party lines and remain faithful to their oath of office.

    He enjoined politicians to keep a simple life and keep service to others as their top priority. Lam urged party faithful to shun corruption but to live a type of life that would ensure they enjoy peace after leaving office.

    It is expected that the APC would keep these ideals as it soars in the administration of the state.