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Tag: Senator Abiola Ajimobi

  • Ajimobi inaugurates 26-member transition committee

    As the May 29 change of political baton approaches, Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi on Thursday inaugurated a 26-man committee to prepare the ground for the event.

    The Committee christened “Koseleri” comprises 16 members from the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) led administration while the incoming People’s Democratic Party (PDP) government has ten members.

    Speaking at the brief inauguration which held at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s office, Governor Ajimobi recounted the various historical feats his administration had achieved in the political and governance trajectory of the state.

    He said, “We make history again today as the first administration in Oyo State that the incumbent governor will inaugurate the Transition Committee comprising of representatives of both the incumbent and the incoming governments, more in a congenial atmosphere.

    “Consequently, today’s event is another ‘koseleri’ in the annals of the history of our dear state. It is also pertinent to note that for the first time in the history of Oyo state, an incumbent Governor formally received in audience a governor-elect.

    “These for us are not just stunts for making history but a demonstration of our strong belief in the true tenets of democracy, good governance, politics without bitterness and the ‘Ajumose’ spirit of collective responsibility. Hopefully, future administrations will sustain such a collaborative spirit and not make it ‘koselemo’.

    “We have carefully selected a team that we believe possesses a cooperative spirit and cerebral capacity for the job at hand. Worthy of note is that this is the first time that individuals in the Oyo state cabinet will be nominated by an incumbent government to serve as Transition Committee members.

    “This emphasizes our conviction that governance is a serious business to be supervised by competent hands.  More importantly, it is an expression of the commitment of government in ensuring the success of this all-important process that will impact positively on the progress and development of our state.”

    The governor further gave the terms of reference of the committee to “liaise between the outgoing administration and the incoming administration in the state with a view to ensuring a smooth transition arrangement.

    “Evolve the framework for the handing-over, and organize befitting handing-over and taking-over ceremonies.

    “I wish to emphasise that the major assignment of the Transition Committee is to organize befitting handing over and taking over ceremonies. It is not designed to disturb the smooth running of government until the constitutionally stipulated date of hand-over, though there may be needful clarifications.

    Ajimobi inaugurates 26 man committee
    L R; Oyo State Governor,Abiola Ajimobi;OyoState PDP
    Leader’s,Sen.Hosea Agboola and Bisi Ilaka during the Inauguration of
    Transition Committee Members of incoming Government in Oyo State held
    at Governor Office Agodi Ibadan 25/04/2019,PHOTO FEMI ILESANMI IBADAN

    “The hand-over notes to be evolved shall be a farewell message of the incumbent government introducing the incoming Chief executive to the rudiments of his expected activities. The essence of the hand-over notes is therefore to serve as a platform for the take-off of the new administration in the reins of government.”

    The committee is to serve for a month with effect from the inauguration to submit its reports to the governor.

    The committee to be chaired by the Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Mr Olalekan Alli has top government functionaries including the governor’s aides, commissioners, special advisers and civil servant. Mr David Olatunde (Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Commission) will serve as the secretary.

    Other members include the Head of Service, Mrs Hannah Ogunesan, Ajimobi’s Executive Assistance on Administration, Mr Soji Eniade, Commissioners Toye Arulogun (Information, Culture and Tourism), Mr Oluseun Abimbola (Attorney-General/Justice), Isaac Ishola (Environment and water resources), Mr Oyewole Oyewumi (Agriculture, natural resources and rural development) and Dr Azeez Adeduntan (Health).

    Others are Commissioners Isaac Omodewu (Lands, housing and survey), Mr Abimbola Kolade (Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters), Prof Joseph Olowofela (Education, Science and Technology) and Mr Abimbola Adekanmbi (Finance, Planning and Budget).

    The Special Advisers in the committee include Dr Isiaka Kolawole (Economic Planning and Budget), Dr Ayandele Ayanyinka (Efficiency) and Mr Segun Bolarinwa (Security).

    The Governor-elect team includes a former Senate Deputy Whip, Hosea Agboola, the PDP candidate for Oyo Central Senatorial district in the last election, Mr Bisi Ilaka and the lawmaker representing Ibarapa East state constituency, Mr Debo Ogundoyin.

    The list also has, Miss Loalde Ajibola, Mr Adeniyi Babatunde, Mr Seun Ashamu, Dr D.V Bello, Mr Wale Adepoju, Mr Temi Adibi and Mrs Oyedijo Ayo-Famola.

  • Obasanjo, Obaseki, Ajimobi, others extol legacy of Pa Abebe

     Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, his Oyo State counterpart, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Friday extolled the legacy of late Dr. Christopher  Abebe.

     

    The dignitaries joined the family, friends and well-wishers at the Funeral Mass of late Dr. Abebe held at the Stella Maris Catholic Church, Iruekpen in Esan West Local government Area of Edo State, on Friday.

     

    Bishop of Uromi Diocese, Donatus Ogun, during the homely, extolled the quality and exemplary life of late Dr. Christopher Abebe, calling on the congregation and Nigerians in general to emulate Pa Abebe, as he lived for God.

    Read Also:Buhari commiserates with family of Christopher Abebe

    Ogun described late Dr. Abebe as a true soldier of Christ, whose life has positively influenced the society.

     

    First son of the deceased, Mr John Abebe, thanked Governor Godwin Obaseki for his support, especially in the area of logistics, which accounted for the success of the burial.

     

    John Abebe also thanked the former president of Nigeria and an in-law to the family, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for standing with the family at their time of grief.

     

    Dr. Abebe who died at the age of 99 was at various times the first Nigerian Chairman/ Managing Director of the United African Company Nigeria Limited, and the first Nigerian Chairman of Nigerian Breweries. He also served at various times as the pro-chancellor of the University of Benin, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the University of Calabar.

     

    Other dignitaries at the event included former governor of Edo State, Prof. Osarheimen Osunbor,  Senator Daisy Danjuma, and Odion Ugbesia, among others.

  • ICYMI: Ajimobi, Amaechi, Ganduje, Abubakar in private meeting in Ibadan

    ICYMI: Ajimobi, Amaechi, Ganduje, Abubakar in private meeting in Ibadan

    The governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi is presently playing host to his counterparts from Jigawa and Kano State, Governor Badaru Abubakar and Governor Umar Ganduje respectively as well as the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi and the APC national secretary, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni.

    Ajimobi and his visitors, as at the time of filling this report are still in the Oyo State Government House, Ibadan where they were having a private meeting.

    Although the issues being discussed were not made known to the journalist, feelers have it that the private meeting had to do with the sundry issues within the party and the recent incursion of herdsmen across the country. 

    Ajimobi was overheard while welcoming the visitor commending the Governor Ganduje on his initiative of addressing the cattle ranching issue that has been causing serious misunderstanding between farmers and herdsmen across the country.

    None of the visitors addressed the press nor answered any question when approached by journalists.

    The visitors who stormed the Agodi Governor’s Office at about 6: 40 pm, was initially received by the governor himself in his private office before leaving for the government house House in their convoy of vehicles, where the private meeting is holding.

    Journalists who had stormed the governors private office where visitors were usually hosted, expecting to be briefed and address on the mission of the visitors were jolted and disappointed when on the entry of the governor to the private office, were told to excuse the group, with Governor Ajimobi emphasizing that the visit is a private visit.

    As at the time of filing the report, no report, no news has been released on the visit by the visitor who was also gathered that would be on their way to Lagos immediately after the private meeting.

  • Ajimobi appoints new Head of Service, outgoing HOS becomes gov’s aide

    Ajimobi appoints new Head of Service, outgoing HOS becomes gov’s aide

    Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has appointed Mrs. Hannah Ogunesan, as a successor to the outgoing Head of Service, Mr. Soji Eniade, with effect from Thursday, February 8, 2018.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Olalekan Alli, who conveyed the appointment through a statement, on Friday, said the new development was a sequel to the retirement of Eniade from the state’s civil service.

    The statement also announced the appointment of the outgoing HOS as Executive Assistant, Administration, to the governor “in view of his sterling performance” during his tenure as the number one civil servant.

    His appointment also takes effect from Thursday, February 8, 2018.

    Ogunesan, who joined the public service of the state on April 1, 1989, has served in various capacities before her current appointment as permanent secretary in the state’s ministry of local government and chieftaincy matters, on July 1, 2015.

    The new HOS is an alumnus of the London School of Economics’ Executive Summer School, where she completed an approved programme on Strategic Decisions in Management.

    She holds a Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Business Administration from Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye) and the University of Ado-Ekiti (now Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti), respectively.

    Eniade becomes the second EA to the governor, who had earlier appointed a two-time commissioner in the state’s education and agriculture ministries, Dr. Moronkola Thomas, in a similar capacity in March, 2017.

  • 2019: Ajimobi, Shittu tear Oyo APC apart

    2019: Ajimobi, Shittu tear Oyo APC apart

    The fierce political battle between Oyo state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and the Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu is not abating. If anything, the crisis is assuming more worrisome dimensions as observers fear it may damage the chances of the ruling party during the 2019 governorship election in the state, writes Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor.

    AHEAD of the 2019 governorship election in Oyo state, the political battle to determine who succeeds current governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi is already attaining feverish pitch with almost 20 sons and daughters of the state, especially chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) already criss-crossing the nooks and crannies of Oyo towards the actualization of their gubernatorial ambitions.

    A prominent name among those jostling to succeed Ajimobi is that of the incumbent Minister of Communications, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu. Like the Governor, Shittu is a chieftain of the ruling APC. But insinuations that the Governor’s camp within the party may not be favorably disposed towards the Minister’s governorship dream is at the root of a crisis that is threatening to tear the ruling party apart before the next election.

    The Nation gathered that currently, the party in the state is divided into two groups with members loyal to the two gladiators and their camps respectively, instead of being loyal to the party structures in the state. Reliable insiders claimed that though the party machineries are firmly under the control of Governor Ajimobi and his loyalists, those supporting Shittu are optimistic that the national leadership of the party will back his aspiration.

    So rife is the crisis in the party that some party chieftains and members are openly showing disdain and disrespect to the state leadership of the party which is believed to be loyal to the Governor. On many occasions, party members have defied directives of the state executive committee, preferring instead to abide with instructions from one of the rival political groups within the party.

    “The situation is not healthy. In Oyo now, we have within the party, the Ibadan leadership and the Abuja caucus. While the Ibadan leadership is loyal to the Governor, the Abuja caucus takes directives from the Minister. Even the state executive committee and other party organs are divided. On many occasions, we have had party members clashing with one another because of group loyalty.

    “It is now so bad that the Governor and then Minister are engaging themselves in media brickbats while their supporters are fighting publicly all over the state. The Minister is even setting up parallel structures all over the place. That is the whole idea of Buhari Campaign group he came up with. And he really got a lot of party members hooked that way. You can now understand why the Governor and party leaders in the state were not at the unveiling ceremony,” a party executive committee member said.

    The Nation gathered that tempers rose again during the week following Shittu’s decision to petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari over what he described as the ‘unbecoming behavior of Governor Abiola Ajumobi. Party sources say many chieftains of the party in the state are miffed by the Minister’s action which they viewed as unwarranted and divisive.

    “Coming at a time when concerted efforts were being made by stakeholders within and outside the state to resolve the differences between the two camps in the interest of the party, Shittu’s petition is in bad faith. It is a sign that he is not interested in making peace with the Governor and the leadership of the party in the state. For a man who wants to lead the state, it is unfortunate,” a chieftain of the party lamented.

    But sources close to the Minister insisted that Shittu’s letter is a precautionary move following realization that the Governor’s camp is bent on frustrating his governorship aspiration by ensuring that the party leadership in the state make things difficult for him and his supporters. An associate of the Minister even added that it is the Minister who is interested in reconciliation.

    “When people make allegations, they do it as if those listening to them are not wise. How can anybody accuse the Minister of frustrating peace moves? He is the one who has made all the moves towards peace. While they are shutting him out of the party, he organized a program and made them all chief host and special guests. What else is he supposed to do. He wrote a petition when he realize that their is a plot to frustrate his ambition and that is in order,” the Minisiter’s associate said.

     

    Crossfire of allegations

    In his petition, Shittu accused Ajimobi of nepotism, arrogance, disenfranchising members and also creating division within the party in the state. He also accused the governor of ordering the demolition of his computer based test centre which was still under construction. He said the governor is miffed over his acceptance of a chieftaincy title from the Olubadan of Ibadan land and his 2019 governorship ambition.

    “I am constrained to bring to your notice the unsavoury development in our great party in Oyo State and the unbecoming behaviour of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who is expected to provide sound moral and exemplary leadership to the citizens of our dear state. This line of action becomes imperative in view of the sad turn of events in the Oyo State APC. It is an open secret that the fortune of the APC has nose-dived in the state.

    “This is due to Governor Ajimobi’s undue arrogance, grandstanding, nepotism, caustic and unguarded utterances and creating unnecessary divisions among party leaders and members, thereby balkanising the party along group lines. In doing this, I don’t have anything personal against Governor Ajimobi, but to stress the importance of him not destroying the very platform that made him governor.

    “Signs that Ajimobi is set to destroy the party are glaring to political watchers as the voting population in the state is becoming disillusioned more than ever before,” the Minister of Communication said in the petition addressed to President Buhari, copies of which were also sent to John Odigie-Oyegun, chairman of the APC and Bola Tinubu, national leader of the party.

    But the state chapter of the APC, in a statement signed by its Director of Media and Strategy, Abdul-Azeez Olatunde, described the Minister’s outbursts as deliberate falsehood because, claiming that Shittu’s desperation to become the next governor of the State in 2019 is driving him to work at cross–purposes with the government and the leadership of the APC in Oyo State.”

    “Contrary to the reckless insinuations made by the minister, the Oyo State APC is doing extremely well. Rather than loose any member to the opposition, the Oyo State APC under the leadership of Governor Abiola Ajimobi has been moving from strength to strength. Barely one month ago, the rank and file of the party membership experienced unprecedented growth and development because of a bumper harvest when notable political stakeholders from major opposition parties in the state declared in an open rally where they submitted themselves to the leadership of the governor.

    “We must state very clearly that the decampees include a former governor, former deputy governor, former Senate Leader, serving and former members of the House of Representatives, former Senators, former Secretary to the State Government, former senatorial candidate, former State Chairman of the PDP, former state Secretary of the PDP, former Speaker of the House of Assembly, present and past state House of Assembly members, former commissioners and former local government chairmen and several others.

    “It is quite saddening, highly disheartening and a monumental disservice to our party that a serving minister of Oyo State origin will as a matter of habit stand the truth on its head and close his eyes to the reality of the rising political profile of not only our party but also of our leader. The fact is that his petition is rooted in falsehood and premised on cheap blackmail.

    “It must be stated that while Ajimobi and other leaders of our party have been working assiduously to develop our great party, Bayo Shittu in his characteristic manner has been moving from one local government to another sowing seeds of discord all in the name of his desperate and inordinate ambition to govern the state. Shittu was never part of the developmental process of our party.

    “Having lost the governorship primary election in 2015, Shittu abandoned every activity geared towards victory for the party including the presidential campaign. He further took the party to court on the eve of the 2015 governorship election and was working for the opposition Accord Party where his former boss and benefactor contested the governorship election. Today he is reaping from where he did not sow,” the statement read in part.

     

    A threatened aspiration?

    Observers of the politics of the state, while warning that something urgent need to be done to halt the festering crisis within the ruling party if APC is desirous of winning the next gubernatorial election, are quick to add that the crisis may not be unconnected to indications that Governor Ajimobi, ably supported by the leadership of the party in the state, may be working for the emergence of another aspirant aside Shittu, as the next governor of the state.

    The Nation gathered that reading the governor’s body language and some developments within the party, Shittu, who had earlier showed great optimism that he will emerge as the APC governorship flagbearer in the state, became worried about the possibility of his chances and decided to seek help from the national leadership of the party and the presidency.

    “If they are angry that he petitioned the President and the leadership of the party, what were they expecting him to do when it is obvious that he cannot get a level playing ground here in Oyo? When the Governor and the party leadership here are daily plotting on how to impose a candidate on the party. Should he have kept quiet or take to the streets and start fighting? These are the questions we are asking Ajimobi,” a supporter of the Minister said.

    But a party leader who sought anonymity because he has not been instructed to speak on the matter, explained that the whole crisis is a continuation of the age-long rivalry between the two politicians. According to the Ogbomosho-born politician, it is an open secret within the party that Ajimobi will never support Shittu’s aspiration to succeed him as the next governor of the state.

    “The crisis is not caused by anything but the mutual distrust they both have for each other. The governor will never back Shittu’s aspiration. The Minister, who was hoping things will change between them, is now cock-sure that Ajimobi will not work for him. So, it is the fear of one another that is at the root of the crisis. They have been like this for years. Their rivalry didn’t start today.

    “Don’t forget that Shittu contested the governorship seat against Ajimobi in 2011 on the platform of the defunct CPC and lost. He even went to the tribunal and also lost. They were brought together by the idea of a mega party, the APC in 2014. They resumed hostilities during the state congress of the APC. That was why Shittu refused to campaign for the re-election of the governor, but rather chose to campaign for the then presidential candidate of the party, General Muhammadu Buhari,” the source claimed.

  • Ajimobi pardons 21 convicts as Oyo celebrates Independence day 

    Ajimobi pardons 21 convicts as Oyo celebrates Independence day 

    The Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has granted reprieve to 21 convicts in exercise of his prerogative powers of mercy pursuant to the provisions of section 212 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in commemoration of the 57th Independence Day Celebration. Also, the government will today organize a march past at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan.
    The event is for pupils and students in both public and private schools in the state. The government said Military and Para-Military agencies, as well as voluntary organizations, such as Boys Scouts, Girls Guild amongst others, are expected to participate in the event, adding that Senator Ajimobi will declare the ceremony open by 9a.m and take the march past salute.
    The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Seun Abimbola, explained that seven persons were granted release from prison, having spent varying terms of their sentences, 13 convicts had their life sentences reduced to a term of years, having spent considerable terms in prison,  while one person had his death sentence commuted to a life sentence.
    “This is part of the commemorative efforts in celebration of the Independence day celebration. The records of the benefitting convicts suggests they have undergone reform while some of them have while incarcerated passed their GCE exams, obtained a first degree from the National Open University (NOUN) , with others at varying stages of a degree course at Noun in diverse courses. It is our hope that this gesture by his Excellency will be reciprocated by the beneficiaries by ensuring they are of good conduct when they are released, and become useful to themselves and the society at large,” the Attorney General said.
    The Commissioner disclosed that the wife of the Governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi will visit homes within Ibadan metropolis to donate food items and some daily needs for them, stressing that there will also be an Interdenominational service at the Government House Arcade to pray for the sustainability of peace, unity and progress in Nigeria by 2:00pm.
  • Oyo inaugurates education marshalls to instill discipline in students

    Oyo inaugurates education marshalls to instill discipline in students

    Ahead of secondary schools resumption later in the month, the Oyo state government is set to inaugurate a special group codenamed “Education Monitoring Marshalls.”

    The state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela made the disclosure, Wednesday at the presentation of book list for 2017 to 2020 academic programs for schools in the state.

    He said the policy is imperative in view of the declining moral behaviours among secondary school students, and particularly the need to discourage students from wandering around during school hours. 

    Explaining the initiative, Professor Olowofela said that the policy will help in raising more disciplined school children as the special tax force will be empowered to arrest and discipline students caught wandering out of school premises.

    He assured the policy will in no long time change students attitude positively towards learning.

    According to the education commissioner, the problem of indiscipline on the parts of the students have made many gone wayward and engaging in acts capable of promoting moral decadence in the society.

    Speaking on the new list of books, he noted that the presentation of the books to the schools is response to the agitations for required book from different quarters across the state ahead of the school resumption slated for September 18.

    Related: Osun deploys 600 education marshalls

    While noting that the list of books will be available for free, Olowofela disclosed that, what is important is the contents of the books, which was the reason the reviewers checked the lists to ensure it is in line with recommended standard.

    •Graph of mathematical equations

    He further said that the effort is according to the requirements of the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi to reposition and restructure education in the state.

    He said: “The recommendations of 31 member committee birthed School Governing Board, SGB initiative, ‘No Automatic Promotion’ and among other policies on education and have repositioned education in the state.

    “The books recommended were carefully selected to achieve greater feat in education because Oyo State is the intellectual capital of the country and we have to maintain the tempo.

    “The state government is also sanitising the system by removing from service those that are working with fake results and the intention is to have an efficient workforce”, the commissioner said.

    Corroborating Olowofela’s view, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Ariyike Adekanmbi said the use of the list of books is sacrosanct because it is developed according to the curriculum used to set examinations.

    She encourage the Local Inspector of Education, LIEs to monitor the compliance of all Schools to conform to the state government’s directives on education.

    Also speaking, the Deputy Speaker, Oyo House of Assembly, Hon. Musa Abdulwasi commended the Ajimobi-led administration for executing unprecedented achievements in area of education in the state.

    He said: “we have been engaging the ministry of education because it has greater impacts on the society and we thank the commissioner because he has not been found wanton.

    “The agitations recently that the state government wanted to sell schools in the state, was the handiwork of the mischief makers. And the last year’s WAEC rating where it was gathered that Oyo State scored 29 per cent was not also true as it is not a true reflection of students’ performances in the state”, the lawmaker said.

  • Adebayo’s death, monumental loss to Yoruba nation – Ajimobi

    Adebayo’s death, monumental loss to Yoruba nation – Ajimobi

    Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has described the exit of a former Military Governor of the old Western State, General Adeyinka Adebayo (Retd.) as a monumental loss, not only to the Yoruba nation but to the country as a whole.

    In a statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, the governor said that the late General was a bridge builder and patriot who dedicated his entire life to the unity of the country.

    Ajimobi said, “Even though Gen. Adebayo departed this world at the ripe age of 89, his exit has created a vacuum which will be very difficult to fulfill. He lived and breathed his last for the unity and indivisibility of Nigeria.

    “As the President of Yoruba Council of Elders, the late General rallied his fellow elders to ensure the emancipation of Yoruba land and that the Yoruba nation was given its pride of place in the scheme of things in Nigeria.

    “Papa Adebayo was a father of all, particularly those of us who have the opportunity of presiding over the affairs of the states created out of the old Western Region. We have all drank from his fountain of knowledge while his wise counsel has been of great benefit to us. ’’

    Ajimobi noted that the family should be proud of its illustrious patriarch whose children have also taken to a life of public service, citing a former Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, as a quintessential chip off the old block. 

    The governor said he was proud and privileged to sit in the same hallowed office where great men and patriots like Gen. Adebayo once sat as governor of old Western State, which includes the present Oyo State.

  • Ajimobi urges prayer for Buhari, others 

    Ajimobi urges prayer for Buhari, others 

    Oyo state Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has advised citizens of the country to continue to pray for the well-being of President Muhammadu Buhari and leaders in other levels of government instead of peddling unfounded rumours about them.

    The governor gave the advice in an interview with journalists while dispelling the rumour on the president’s alleged ill-health shortly on his return from an official trip to Abuja.

    Ajimobi said that he was in Abuja for a scheduled meeting with World Bank officials, stressing that no governor was invited to any imaginary meeting to discuss the health status of the country’s leader as being speculated.

    Ajimobi said, “There is no iota of truth in the rumour making the rounds that governors were summoned to Abuja for an emergency meeting to discuss the health status of our dear President. We should desist from circulating callous insinuations aimed at denting the image of prominent citizens.

    “Instead of peddling unfounded rumours, I will advise Nigerians to continue to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders, including governors, because their well-being is tied to the well-being of the people.

    “The rigours of governance require that leaders take time off to relax and recoup for the daunting challenges ahead of them. We should be fair to our leaders, because they are also human beings with feelings.

    “It is pertinent to state here that the President only went for a break and to use the opportunity to undergo routine medical check-up. To the best of my knowledge he was not even admitted into any hospital for any ailment.

    “There is nothing wrong with the President taking some time off to rest and meet with some people abroad unofficially. I’m reaffirming the fact that our President is hale and hearty.”

    Recalling the negative comments that trailed his recent interaction with the protesting students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, in the social media, the governor said it was high time the medium was regulated to forestall its abuse for the good of all.

    Acknowledging the importance of the new media for social mobilization and creation of awareness on development issues, policies and other positive intents, he said the medium was also being abused by some individuals.

    Ajimobi said, “The social media is a veritable platform to disseminate developmental ideas, policies, mobilization for good intent as well as for entertainment, but some people would always hijack good innovations to destroy the peace and harmony of the country.

    “The social media was recently used by the fifth columnists to do a smear campaign against me when they doctored the video where I was conversing with the LAUTECH students on the impasse between them and their management.

    “Something drastic must be done before those who have good intentions for the people will be running away from politics just because they would fear some people would be somewhere lurking to unleash the social media on them for imaginary reasons.”

  • Ajimobi: ‘I love challenges’

    Ajimobi: ‘I love challenges’

    Oyo State Governor, ‎Senator Abiola Ajimobi while resuming to the office, after a week, stated that he was elected to face and tackle challenges in the state, expressing that he loves challenges and all will be solved.
    The state governor who stormed his office in high spirit on Monday looked charming and was chatting with journalist and security operatives, saying: “How are you today, hope you are fine. Don’t worry, I was elected to solve and tackle challenges. I love challenges and all will be solved.”
    Just last week, a Federal High Court in Abuja restraints the state Independent Electoral Commission, Oyo State (OYSIEC) from conducting the scheduled February 11 local government election.
    “How are you this morning. You are looking fine and I am sure you are happy. I am happy this morning. I am happy to see you. Though we have challenges, I love challenges, this‎ is why we are here. We are here to tackle challenges,” he said.