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Tag: Sen. Ademola Adeleke.

  • Osun: Obasanjo congratulates Adeleke, lauds tribunal

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday congratulated Sen. Ademola Adeleke over  his victory at the Osun Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Friday in Abuja.

    A statement issued in Abeokuta on Saturday quoted the former president as commending Adeleke for his “statesmanship in going to court to seek justice.

    He described the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate decision to head to court as the right thing to do in a democracy.

    “This is the right and proper thing to do in any decent society.

    “Going to court must be encouraged and not discouraged as some people are now attempting to do.

    “While I have refrained from commenting on the 2019 elections because one of the parties has gone to court.

    “May I point out that those who call themselves our development partners and friends and preach sacrificing justice on the altar of so-called stability are enemies of justice, democracy and Nigeria.

    “We will continue to sustain Nigeria in stability and unity on the altar of justice, equity, fairness, freedom, human rights and democracy.

    ” Stability cannot be successfully built on injustice, corruption, inequity, and divided nation, and incompetence, nepotism and one-sidedness.

    “Nigeria will march forward with or without those who will want to feed us with diet of values and actions that are not acceptable in their own countries.

    “Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians. We will respect as friends those who believe that what is good for their country should be good for Nigeria.

    “Yes, we are Africans, but we have values that are consistent with international standards,” he said.

    According to Obasanjo,  the court is part of Nigeria’s democratic process and must be approached by anybody who wants to get justice.

    “Court is part of our democratic process and it must be used when necessary if only to achieve justice, stability, unity and progress for our country,” he said.

    Obasanjo also commended the tribunal for “its courage in nullifying what was clearly an illegality.

    “This action by the judicial officers, albeit a first step in the legal process, gives renewed confidence in the judiciary at a time when there are coordinated efforts by some political leaders to undermine, if not destroy, it.

    “As I have repeatedly said, the world is watching events in Nigeria with keen interest.

    ” What we do or do not do right in our electoral process will have implications not just for Nigeria but for Africa and indeed the world.

    ” By correcting what was clearly a desperate attempt to change the will of the Osun people, the tribunal has saved Nigeria from great embarrassment and started the process of saving and strengthening our democracy.” (NAN)

  • Osun tribunal judgment: PDP supporters celebrate Adeleke’s victory

    Supporters and sympathisers of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun were in celebration mood across the state on Friday following tribunal judgement declaring Sen. Ademola Adeleke winner of September 2018 governorship election.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that many residents of Ile-Ife were in joyous mood as party faithful and residents trooped out en-masse to celebrate the victory.

    NAN correspondent in Ile Ife reports that PDP supporters were seen jubilating from Ilode to Enuwa, Iremo, Lagere, Mayfair, Iloro, Oka road in celebration of the judgement.

    PDP party faithful were also seen in their large numbers moving to their party leaders’ residences to celebrate the party’s victory at the tribunal.

    Mr Wale Ojo, PDP Ife/Ijesa Senatorial Leader, commended the judiciary for delivering a “truthful judgment, devoid of bias”.

    Mr Rotimi Adeyenuwo, Ife Central PDP Leader, who could not hide his feelings, congratulated Sen. Ademola Adeleke and other party members for the victory.

    Also in some parts of Osogbo, the state capital, some residents were seen jubilating over the declaration of Adeleke as the winner of the Osun governorship election.

    NAN reports that there were shouts and songs of joy along Oke-fia, Lameko Junction and Dada Estate areas of the state capital.

    Commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as Okada riders, were seen jubilating with various displays of their bikes and shouts of ” Imole” Imole” (the campaign slogan of Sen. Ademola Adeleke).

    At Dada Estate area, also in Osogbo, residents trooped out with excitement on hearing the announcement of the tribunal’s judgment.

    However, NAN reports that people of Fakunle, Olaiya, Egbeda, Baruwa and Ogo Oluwa areas of Osogbo carried on their business activities as if oblivious of the tribunal’s judgment.

    Some shop owners and artisans were, however, seen in small gatherings discussing the tribunal judgment.

    A tailor in the Egbeda area of Osogbo, who spoke under anonymity, said he and other tailors were happy about the judgement but could not express their joy or celebrate the victory because their landlord was an APC chieftain.(NAN)

  • NANS hails tribunal declaration of Adeleke as Osun governor

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has hailed the tribunal declaration of Sen. Ademola Adeleke as governor of Osun State, saying it is hope awakening.

    Mr. Adeyemi Azeez, National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the association, made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

    According to Azeez, NANS describes the tribunal victory of Adeleke as a clear hope for the nation’s democracy.

    READ ALSO: NANS canvasses Abians, students to re-elect Gov. Ikpeazu Okezie

    “NANS equally commends President Muhammadu Buhari for once again proving to Nigerians that he is a man of integrity and would not for any reason manipulate or economise the integrity of this country’s democracy for any selfish or party interest.

    “We commend the determined sincerity and commitment of the Osun guber tribunal for not compromising the truth.

    “NANS hereby implores other states gubernatorial tribunals, to emulate the worthy and sincere practise of the Osun tribunal,” he said.

    Azeez added that the judgment would go a long way in restoring, redeeming and repositioning the integrity of Nigeria’s hard earned democracy.

  • Osun Poll: Adeleke files petition at tribunal

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Gubernatorial Candidate in the just concluded election in Osun, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, on Tuesday filed a petition at the tribunal challenging the outcome of the poll.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the petition was brought against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the All Progressive Congress (APC) and it’s candidate, Chief Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola.

    The PDP Chairman in Osun, Mr Soji Adagunodo, who spoke to newsmen after the petition was filed at the Osun Governorship Election Tribunal, said the party believed that the judiciary would return the mandate to Sen. Adeleke.

    Adagunodo said the party was battle ready with a sizeable legal team comprising of senior advocates and reputable lawyers to ensure justice and reclaim the mandate.

    He called on party supporters and the people of Osun not to loose hope and assured that the legal process embarked upon would yield a positive outcome.

    NAN reports that the legal team would be headed by Mr Kanu Agabi (SAN), Mr Emeka Etiaba and Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu, among others.

    INEC declared the Sept. 22 Osun Governorship election  inconclusive and the APC candidate Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola was declared winner after the supplementary election on Sept. 27.(NAN)

  • Oyetola: I will run community-based, consultative governance

    The Osun State governor-elect, Gboyega Oyetola, has revealed that his administration would be consultative and community-based.

    He also pledged to engage more women and focus more on welfare of his people.

    Oyetola disclosed this in an interview with TV Continental (TVC) monitored in Osogbo Friday.

    Read Also:Osun: Oyetola will build on Aregbesola’s legacies -APC

    Oyetola, who defeated Sen. Ademola Adeleke, his topmost contender in the election by 498 votes, stressed that rather than foist projects on communities, he would consult with them and allow them come up with what project is best for them.

    Oyetola, who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), promised to bring together all stakeholders in the state who share his vision in his efforts to take Osun to the next level. “I am not the governor of APC alone but the governor of the entire state.”

    The governor-elect was responding to how he would address the complaints of the people of the state as well as how to be magnanimous in victory.

    On how to rejuvenate the economy, Oyetola promised to introduce creative ideas in generating more revenue without necessarily putting tax burden on the masses.

    For instance, he said his administration would bring more people who should pay tax into the tax net and also explore mineral resources and tourism through Public Private Partnerships (PPP).

    While doing that, the governor-elect said he would sustain infrastructural renewal started by the Rauf Aregbesola administration because, according to him, infrastructural decay in the state is massive.

    He pointed out that no meaningful economic development can be achieved without infrastructural renewal.

    He said: “We will look more closely into agriculture and its value chain to create jobs and empower our people. We will also develop our tourist attraction sites which are many all over the state. We can make a lot of money by developing tourists sites. Will go into PPP on them. We also have abundant mineral resources all over the state. But we are yet to convert them. We will embrace PPP arrangement to tap all of these. We will create an industrial park. We are even likely to hold an economic summit.”

    On payment of salaries and pensions, Oyetola revealed that there would be a marked improvement this time because there would be more money once the government looks inward to increase the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). He added that two major loans – capital market bond and SUKUK loan will end in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

    “Once that happens, we will have some relief in terms of cash flow. We will also grow our IGR without necessarily increasing tax. We will bring people that should pay tax into the tax net. That will help us pay salaries and pensions more easily.” He said.

    On the perception that there is concentration of infrastructure building on Osogbo alone, Oyetola said it is understandable why the state capital has earned more than any other town in the state. But he said his administration would focus more on rural development.

    “The Osogbo development is understandable being the state capital. Yet our rural areas should be well developed. I will be paying attention to rural development to additionally stem rural-urban migration.” He said.

    The governor-elect also promised to empower the masses in various ways. He said any programme that is not aimed at empowering the people would be embraced by his administration.

    He said: “Our programmes will be tailored towards those that need help and the masses generally. My administration will be people-focused.”

    On the coalition with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Oyetola said the coalition will only focus on what is best for the state.

    Thanking the people of the state for giving him the mandate, the governor-elect promised to allow women play a key role in his administration, adding: “Won’t run an elaborate administration. But women will have adequate number of appointees.

    “I thank the people of the state for giving me their mandate to serve them. I assure them that I will do everything to justify the confidence reposed in me through accountability, prudent management of resources, consultation etc.  I’m here to serve. I expect them to involve themselves in governance. I want to see communities decide what they want. It is going to be community-based governance. We will work for the best of Osun State. We will be more consultative.”

  • Why I shunned PDP’s offer for APC’s, by Omisore

    The candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the Osun State governorship election, Sen. Iyiola Omisore, has given an insight into why he rejected the offer by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to cooperate with it in today’s rerun election.

    Omisore and SDP leaders revealed in a number of communique that PDP leaders and the party’s candidate, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, are ‘not trustworthy, reliable and dependable in their past dealings’ with them.

    They added that judging by many standards; Gboyega Oyetola is a far better candidate than Adeleke who will likely do well for Osun State.

    The communiques were issued after meetings of leaders in each zone of the state including Iwo, Ijesa land, Ikirun and Ile-Ife.

    The SDP leaders recalled how Sen. Adeleke, with the collaboration of the National Chairman of the party, Chief Uche Secondus, “masterminded the conduct of another congress which rubbished the earlier congress already approved by the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) which favoured Otunba Omisore.”

    According to them, Adeleke has confirmed at different times as somebody that cannot be trusted judging by his previous alleged betrayals.

    The incidents, they claimed, include his initial agreement not to throw his hat into the governorship ring when he approached Omisore for his senatorial ambition; an agreement to have at least one legislative assistant ‘selected through each of the aspirants that stood down for him on which he reneged till date and alleged failure to respect the agreement to compensate Dr Akin Ogunbiyi with the deputy governorship slot, even when the election was at sight.”

    Now that the election would be over, the SDP leaders wondered how such a man can honour any agreement made.

    The SDP leaders also expressed the fear that the PDP governorship candidate would most likely be prosecuted for ‘aiding and abetting’ before he is sworn in or even be impeached for frivolous reasons by the House of Assembly shortly after his swearing-in.

    Additionally, the leaders viewed the control of the Federal Government by the All Progressives Congress (APC) as an advantage, stressing that the PDP is the ‘architect of the present predicament.’ They posited that joining forces with the party can spell doom for the SDP.

    They also stated that numerous leaders within the PDP will not allow the party to function well because “too many cooks spoil the dish (broth).’

    They added: “Because of the fact that we want the best for our people in Osun State, we see Oyetola as a more capable and qualified candidate.”

    They also posited that they would enjoy more possible positions and privileges in the APC government than in a PDP government.

    “The APC is a more reliable party than the PDP. For instance, the APC promised Isiaka Adeleke the senatorial ticket of Osun West and it was honoured unlike the promise made by the PDP to Dr Ogunbiyi which it reneged on.”

    Based on the above, the leaders concluded that the APC would be more beneficial to the state and SDP members.

    The communiques were signed by virtually all the leaders in the zones.

  • Osun 2018: Saraki, Fayose accuse INEC, police of compromise 

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, have accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigerian police of colluding with the Federal Government to rig elections in states.

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains made the accusation while addressing reporters in Ede, Osun State after the party’s mega rally for its governorship candidate, Sen. Ademola Adeleke.

    Read Also:Oyetola: why Osun deserves govt of continuity

    Saraki said he has observed a trend in recent elections where results declared by INEC shows a huge invalidated number of votes with a narrow margin with which candidates win.

    He said the trend showed in the Bauchi National Assembly bye-election and Ekiti State governorship election.

    Saraki warned INEC and the Federal Government to desist from the trend, saying it is the latest style of rigging the elections in favour of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates.

    He said the trend must not repeat itself in tomorrow’s governorship election in Osun State.

    He faulted the declaration of Sen. Adeleke wanted by the police two days before the election.

    His words: “There is a pattern that we have seen and we hope that in this election of Osun we will not see that. When you look at the margin of victory between the party that wins and that party that loses, and you look at the amount of cancellation, you tend to see that the difference is almost the same. We are seeing that trend here, we saw it in Bauchi bye- election and to me, there’s something fishy going on.

    “And so it’s important in a credible election, there should not be that amount of cancellation. And I think INEC needs to step up. In the 2015 election, we never saw this level of cancellation. This is a new trend that is very disturbing and I hope that in this election INEC will show how credible it is and ensure invalid votes should not be like that. When cancellation is more than the margin of victory, then that election carries a big question mark.

    When asked about the level of confidence with which PDP was going into the Osun election, Fayose said the process was already compromised.

    He said: “It is not about level of confidence. We are talking about the process, the process leading to an election. INEC has been compromised, police have been compromised. When they want to arrest they will arrest PDP. When they are doing vote buying it is PDP that will be arrested, not APC. It is whoever police call a criminal that is a criminal. When already police are taking sides, what do we say to that? When you are telling us what level of confidence?  It is about the system, the process. If I come here and arrest you with gun what will you do? If they have the effrontery to say they are declaring the candidate of PDP in an election that is 48 hours away as the criminal to create a perception, you can imagine.”

    He added: “They are taking this state one after the other and they forget that nothing will last forever. We must all condemn this unnecessary, unwarranted assault on democracy…

    “For APC to come here and start talking about corruption, we have had enough of that. I wrote to EFCC that I will be coming on the 16th. I am still a sitting governor, you are declaring me wanted. You said they should be looking for me. I am here today. When I was passing the airport I had to look for Customs officers to tell them ‘I am here if you need someone to arrest.’

    “This is not the country of our dream; this is not the democracy of our dream. For anybody to say PDP wants to rig this election it’s exactly what they want to do that they are now laying on others. You saw what happened in Ekiti. Have you ever seen a governorship election won by under 20,000 votes? They won with 19,000 votes and voided votes were 18,000. The one the Senate President was talking about, their strategy is to invalidate most of the votes when they know that it is not adding up for them. This is not the spirit at all.

    “And I want to say to them if they like they should set Nigeria ablaze. They must remember the children yet unborn. Those who are benefiting from this wickedness should remember that if the last administration were to be like this they would never have got there.”