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Tag: Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola

  • Why I’m establishing two institutions in my hometown — Osun ex-governor

    Why I’m establishing two institutions in my hometown — Osun ex-governor

    The former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola on Friday unveiled the establishment of two institutions in his hometown, Okuku, headquarters of Odo-Otin Local Government area of the state.

    The Nation recalled that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola visited Oyinlola to inspect the facilities of the two institutions in December 2023.

    Oyinlola unveiled the Alolade Oyinlola College of Health Sciences and Information Technology at a press briefing attended by the former Executive Secretary of the National University Commission(NUC), Professor Peter Okebukola; former Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Prof Eyitope Ogunbodede amongst others.

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    Oyinlola explained that the reason for siting the school in Okuku and naming it after his mother was because his father ensured that he gave formal education to all his over 60 children.

    He added: “If by chance in the next generation, people ask who Olagunsoye Oyinlola is if there is no Lagos State again the name will not reflect in history, unless, if there is no Okuku again that is when people will forget that there was one Oba Moses Oyewole Oyinlola who has passed. In 250 years, who will remember the woman who gave birth to Olagunsoye Oyinlola, hence the naming of this institution after her.”

    Okebukola disclosed that about 35 professors both within and outside Nigeria will be adjunct lecturers for the institutions as it commenced operations.

  • 2019: It won’t be winner takes all, Atiku promises GNU

    The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has declared that it won’t be a winner takes all affairs if he emerges victorious in the 2019 presidential election.

    Atiku said the PDP would run an all-inclusive government with the institution of a Government of National Unity (GNU), which according to him, will be drawn from membership of other political parties in the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP).

    Speaking Friday at a meeting with leaders of about 45 political parties that adopted him as sole candidate, Atiku said there will be no room for any cabal to operate under a government of national unity.

    Atiku said, “I want to commit myself to the continuation of the doctrine of government of national unity.

    “We believe as a political party in a government of national unity and there must be stability before you can do anything- implement your economic programme and implement your healthcare programme.

    “Right from the beginning, I have been a member of the PDP and I know we have always believed in a government of national unity. It takes a long time for a country as diverse as Nigeria to be united and stable even before we start talking about which ethnic group we come from or which religion we practice.

    “I want to assure you that as long as we are having a government of national unity, there will not be a cabal”

    He encouraged parties in the coalition to make public their decision to adopt him as sole candidate for the benefit of Nigerian voters.

    Also speaking at the meeting, President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, said since his election in 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari has demonstrated a lack of capacity to find solution to the question of hunger and poverty ravaging the country.

    Saraki called on the parties in coalition to step up their campaign to ensure victory for Atiku.

    Saraki said, “The message everywhere we go is that this country must move forward and we have agreed that the existing President must give way because he is not leading us in the right direction.

    “We have met with Nigerians all over the country, the old, the not-too-old and the message is that the President cannot lead us the right way.

    “We must be part of the process to usher in a new direction. The most important thing is that we want a change, a new direction. We want a man that understands the issues.

    “We have been to three zones and there is a common message and that message is one of insecurity and hunger. Everywhere in this country, hunger and poverty are the issues.

    “So the challenge before us is how to bring back prosperity to this country. Unfortunately, our President today cannot do it. He cannot do it because he does not have the ability to do so.

    “Government alone cannot bring prosperity to this country because close to 80 percent of government revenue goes into personnel cost and servicing of debts. The remaining percentage cannot bring about development.

    “To bring development to this country today, you need an environment that encourages people to bring in investments. Nigerians are even afraid to bring their monies out and so they need somebody that they have the confidence will bring about the right environment for their business.

    “At the moment, the verdict is that this government and this President do not give that confidence and without that investment, we are going nowhere”.

    The chairman of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, said 15 other parties have indicated interest in joining the 25 parties that have adopted Atiku as sole presidential candidate.

    According to him, consultations were still ongoing to ensure that other parties in the coalition officially write to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw their presidential candidates.

    Oyinlola, who chairs the CUPP, is expected to coordinate events leading to the formalisation of the adoption of Atiku as consensus candidate and the official withdrawal of presidential candidates of other parties in the coalition.

     

     

  • Edo APC crisis: We were fair to all- Oyinlola

    Edo APC crisis: We were fair to all- Oyinlola

    Former Osun State Governor and a member of the Board of Trustees of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has declared that the peace committee he headed on the Edo governorship primaries carried out its assignment with fairness to all the groups.

    Oyinlola, in a statement on Friday, said he was shocked to read one of the aspirants, Casely Omon-Iraboh quoting him in a newspaper report as endorsing one of the groups in the contest.

    “Omon-Iraboh, who was quoted as declaring that he was withdrawing from the race, said my committee informed aspirants to support the choice of Governor Adams Oshiomhole because he was the greatest governor Edo ever had. That statement was false and Omo-Iraboh knew it was not true. I never uttered those words ascribed to me.

    “At the meeting he spoke about, a member of the state executive committee of the party described Oshiomhole as the best governor ever in that state, given his record­­­—- and I asked that what about Samuel Ogbemudia, then many of them there said it was actually Ogbemudia who proclaimed Governor Oshiomhole as the best. I then said, well, if you people know the governor has done so much, it means that whoever emerges as our candidate has a great legacy to leverage on. I thereafter, appealed to all of them to give peace a chance, while assuring them that the party would give everybody a chance to compete in a free and fair primary. We didn’t endorse anyone.

    “It is unfortunate that the gentleman said all those things he said in that publication. However, I state on behalf of other members of the committee that his comment cannot remove the fact that we did the assignment truthfully and with the fear of God. We are happy the national secretariat of the party even lauded the sincerity of purpose of the committee and the integrity of its report,” Prince Oyinlola said.

  • I remain authentic PDP national secretary, says Oyinlola

    I remain authentic PDP national secretary, says Oyinlola

    Former Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has warned that no one should parade himself as the national secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said he remained the only authentic secretary .

    At a rally organised by the PDP in Osun Central in Okuku, his home town, Oyinlola said he had challenged the PDP national leadership on his suspension.

    He said: “Until the court decides otherwise, I remain the PDP national secretary. I am the only authentic national secretary of the PDP. Any other person, who claims that office, is an impostor and should be treated as such. If any other person acts as the PDP national secretary, it can affect our party in future because other parties can use that against us.

    “Only the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) has the right to discipline a NEC member. I have studied the constitution of our party and as a lawyer I know that the state chapter of the party or any other organ within the party lacks the prerogative to discipline me.”

    Recalling that the crisis in the PDP at the national level led to the birth of the new PDP, Oyinlola said: “There is only one PDP in Nigeria now and I belong to the party. There is no old PDP or new PDP again. We are all in PDP.”

    The former governor, who explained that he had no link with the All Progressives Congress (APC), said he was invited to join the party.

  • PDP crisis: Anenih gives Oyinlola condition to return

    PDP crisis: Anenih gives Oyinlola condition to return

    •Says: ‘You cannot serve two masters’

    •I have fought my case with decorum, due process, says Oyinlola

    •Uncertainty over G-7 meeting with Jonathan today

     

    THE Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Tony Anenih, has told the suspended National Secretary of the party, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, to dump the New PDP before his case can be considered by the party.

    Oyinlola is battling for re-instatement as National secretary following his victory at the Court of Appeal.

    The court ordered his return to office.

    But the PDP has sent him and three others on suspension and ordered their trial for alleged anti-party activity by a disciplinary committee.

    He said if Oyinlola truly craves reconciliation, he cannot afford to be claiming to be National Secretary of the PDP and at the same time hobnob with the New PDP.

    Anenih made his feelings known in a letter to Oyinlola.

    The PDP BoT Chairman said Oyinlola can only be reinstated if he defines where he belongs.

    But a source close to Anenih said the letter was in response to an earlier one written by Oyinlola for the BOT Chairman’s intervention.

    Anenih’s letter was delivered on Friday when Oyinlola was already out of Abuja, it was gathered.

    Although none of the two leaders was ready to make the letter public, a reliable source said: “The BOT Chairman told Oyinlola that elders of the party are prepared to look at his case for reinstatement on merit but they cannot do so if he remains with the rebellious New PDP.

    “Anenih said Oyinlola cannot claim to belong to old and New PDP at the same time. He asked him to renounce New PDP to pave the way for genuine and meaningful intervention.

    “It is left to Oyinlola to take to Anenih’s advice since he has legal basis for coming back as the National Secretary of PDP.”

    A source in Oyinlola’s camp said: “Oga is away from Abuja, he is the only one who can talk on the letter and his position.”

    Oyinlola, however, yesterday restated his commitment to due process in order to resolve the crisis in the party.

    He said he did his best to explore dialogue in fighting his cause with decorum.

    He made his position known through a statement in Abuja by his Principal Secretary, Mr. Femi Adelegan.

    He denied circumventing due process and spoke of efforts he made to “dialogue with the national leader, President Goodluck Jonathan and communicated my grievances to him in writing a number of times.”

    He said he also “made representations to the Chief Tony Anenih Committee; I submitted a memorandum to the PDP Governors Panel headed by Alhaji Ibrahim Shema; consulted with the Prof. Jerry Gana Committee; and also had informal consultations with Governor Seriake Dickson’s Reconciliation Committee through a member of the Panel, Chief Dosu Fatokun; and expressed intention to discuss with them, among other moves to find an amicable solution to my illegal removal from office.

    “Up till now, there have been no revelations about the outcome of these peace initiatives. I am surprised that some people have continued to trail Oyinlola with rabid and unimaginable downbeat intentions.

    “I pray that history will be merciful in judgment to all actors in this saga; and that some people will refrain from continuing to take actions that could enter their names on the negative pages of history.’’

    Oyinlola raised the alarm over recourse to impunity by some leaders of the party, especially some members of the PDP National Working Committee.”

    He alleged “an indecent haste to nail us” and said “most of the stakeholders – legislators, state governors and elders of the party are unhappy at the trend of impunity and disregard for the Rule of Law and fundamental human rights exhibited by some members and attempts by some elements to push us out of the PDP at all costs.

    “They have only kept quiet in the interest of their belief in reconciliation and hope that the leadership would tread the path of moral rectitude. If the NWC that ought to have called seven meetings of NEC since inception 20 months ago has succeeded in calling only two meetings, do you think stakeholders would be happy at being shut out?”

    There were indications last night that the meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and the G-7 governors scheduled for today may not proceed after all.

    Sources said not all the governors had been reached in respect of the meeting.

    One of the governors said: “Outside what we read in the newspapers, I have not been communicated and I know one or two others who have not been contacted.

    “We are not sure whether the session will hold or not. And with the little health challenge of the President in London on Thursday, no one is sure if there will be resumption of talks.”

    A November 12, 2013 letter addressed to the Leader of the G-7, Governor Babangida Aliyu, said the session would be held on Sunday, (24th November) in the First Lady’s Conference Room.

    The letter, which was signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Mike .A. Oghiadomhe, reads in part: “ I write to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 6th October, 2013, addressed to Mr. President, wherein you requested for the resumption of the postponed discussion between Mr. President and the seven governors.

    “I am to invite you and the other governors to the follow-up meeting scheduled to hold in the First Lady’s Conference Room, State House, Abuja on Sunday, 24th November, 2013 at 21.00 hours.

    “Please convey the message to other governors and accept the assurances of my warm regards.”

    The President has not been able to meet the demands of the G-7 and the New PDP.

    The conditions tabled by the G-7 governors for peace are :

    • The sack of a factional National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga

    . Reinstatement of the sacked National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and other members of the NWC

    • Return of party structure to governors in Adamawa, Rivers, Kano, and other states

    • Sticking to one -term tenure by the President by foregoing re-election in 2015

    • Resolution of NGF and Rivers crises, including the lifting of suspension of Governor Rotimi Amaechi

    • Stopping harassment of governors by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

    But the President had so far made the following concessions which had been in the breach

    • Immediate lifting of the suspension of Governor Rotimi Amaechi by the Bamanga Tukur-led PDP.

    • Return of party structure to all the governors, including those of Rivers and Adamawa states.

    • Raising a committee to visit Rivers State, like it was the case with Adamawa State, to build consensus and restore party structure to the governor.

    • The governors and party leaders should tarry a while and leave Jonathan to decide the fate of the factional National Chairman of PDP, Tukur.