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Tag: Senator Ibikunle Amosun

  • Leave Buhari, Tinubu, Osoba out of my cabinet list delay — Dapo Abiodun

    He also warned that serving as a commissioner in his government will not be a jamboree, because every appointee will be made to sign a performance bond to meet a set target within a stipulated period, failing which he or she will be kicked out.

    Governor Abiodun also dispelled the rumour that he was bitter about the emergence of Architect Lekan Adegbite, the candidate of his immediate predecessor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, as the ministerial nominee from the state, saying that whoever emerged as the ministerial nominee would not diminish his plans to deliver quality service to the people of the state.

    He asked indigenes of the state who are used to the lousy style of some governors to prepare their minds for a huge disappointment if they expect him to adopt same, because it had never been his style to be loud, much less make a show of any action he has to take.

    He was reacting to a question as to why he was yet to be seen on the television and other media platforms like some of his counterparts, ordering the demolition of structures or taking some other rascally actions to give the impression that they are working.

    “If I am not making a noise, it is because it is never in my nature to do so. I will rather do what I want to do without necessarily making a noise about it,” he said.

    He recalled that in the build-up to the 2019 elections, he came under pressure from many concerned people who felt that he had yielded the media space completely to his rivals. He said that when the pressure became intense, he decided to honour an invitation extended to him by a popular television station to appear for an interview, but it turned out to be one of the most embarrassing moments of his life.

    He said for reasons he could not fathom, his interlocutor became so aggressive and sentimental such that he came away with the impression that the interviewer was doing someone’s bidding.

    Read Also: Challenges before Dapo Abiodun

    He said: “I had never been so embarrassed. I only stopped short of asking the interviewer, ‘Did someone pay you to do this to me?’ There and then, I decided that we would do the rest of our campaign quietly. And as God would have it, we came out victorious.”

    He was quick to add, however, that his position should not be construed to mean that he considers talking to the media as noisemaking, saying that he sees the media as partners in progress.

    “If I had not been talking to the media or granting media interviews before now, it is probably because I was media shy,” he said, vowing that all that would change now that he is in the saddle as the governor of Ogun State, because he will have to continuously reach out to the people that elected him as their governor.

    The governor had started the media interaction by rolling out his plans for the state in such areas as education, health, agriculture, security, infrastructural development and job creation, which he said were all aimed at making life easier for the people of the state.

    On education, for instance, he said the state government had resolved to build one standard primary school in each of the 216 wards in the state as the first step in the effort to rescue the sector from decay. The state government, he said, is planning to build farm settlements around the state, equipped with extension services as the first step in his administration’s effort to turn the state into the nation’s food basket.

    The governor said there were plans to revive the dilapidated government-owned hospitals around the state towards making efficient health care services available to the people. Already, he said, a panel had been raised by his government to look into the conditions of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) and make the necessary recommendations for its revival.

    He said there were plans to rebuild many of the state’s strategic roads, including the Atan-Agbara Road and others at the state’s borders with Lagos. He noted that apart from the jobs that these would generate for the hordes of unemployed youths in the state, there are other deliberate plans aimed at job creation.

    Asked how he intended to generate funds for the numerous programmes he had outlined, Governor Abiodun said the plank for funding would be private/public partnership (PPP). This option he believes would not be difficult to explore, given his background as a businessman with lots of goodwill in the private business sector.

  • Rescheduled Elections: Give INEC benefit of doubt, Amosun enjoins Nigerians

    The Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has called on Nigerians to exercise patience with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and give it the benefit of doubt.
    Reacting to the rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly elections, as announced the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), during inspection of some road projects in Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode, he said
    “as disappointed as we are as a nation, we should give them the benefit of doubt, because they said it was to give Nigerians a free, fair and credible election.”
    The governor commended the people of the state for conducting themselves in a civil manner, following the announcement.

    Read also: Election: UN, Intl observers urge INEC to strictly adhere to dates

    Amosun, who inspected ongoing road projects across Ogun East Senatorial district with his Deputy, Chief (Mrs.) Yetunde Onanuga and some members of his cabinet, assured the people that his government will work till the very last day in office.
    On complaints in some quarters that his government neglected the district in project implementation, the governor noted that aside the construction of four flyover bridges, his administration has constructed Ejinrin-Oluwalogbon, Ikangba-Ilese roads in Ijebu-Ode and Oba Erinwole-Sabo road in Sagamu.
    He inspected the Degun, Italapo-Obalende, Balogun Kuku-Oke Aje and Igbeba roads, in Ijebu-Ode, which are in various degrees of completion as well as the ongoing 250-bed modern hospital in Oke-Mosan, Adigbe and car wash-Adatan roads all in Abeokuta, the state capital.

  • More troubles in Amosun’s camp

    Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, is fighting the political battle of his life. While the cracks on the walls of his political family continues to widen unabated ahead of the forthcoming general elections in the state, the national leadership of his party dissolved the state leadership of the party over allegations that it is involved in anti-party activities. Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, reports that it is no longer at ease within the camp of the Ogun governor.

    The political camp of Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State is now in disarray with many of his associates pulling in different directions in the aftermath of their decision to ditch the All Progressives Congress (APC). Members of the group had initially agreed to move en masse into a single party on leaving the APC after losing out in the contest for the party’s governorship ticket.

    But in the last few days since the first group left to pitch tent with the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), other members have opted for either the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) or the Labour Party (LP) while Amosun and some key members of his group are staying back in the APC. The governor’s decision to remain in the APC has not gone down well with some of his supporters who fear they may have been thrown under the bus by their leaders.

    One of those who switched to the APM is Amosun’s favoured governorship candidate, Adekunle Akinlade. The strategy of the Amosun group is that by moving en masse into a single party, they would be able to wield their influence and actualise Akinlade’s governorship aspiration there. But many of them no longer believe they can make the desired impact the way they are now scattered in at least four parties.

    Apart from Akinlade, other prominent members of the Amosun group who were denied APC tickets on account of alleged imposition by Amosun include the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Suraj Adekunbi, who lost out the ticket of the Yewa North/Imeko-Afon Federal and the State Commissioner for Special Duties, Leke Adewolu, who lost the Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency ticket to Ibrahim Isiaka.

    Others are the incumbent lawmaker representing Abeokuta North/Odeda/Obafemi-Owode Federal Constituency, Hon. Mikhail Kazzim, who lost out to Hon. Olumide Osoba, son of former governor of the state and chieftain of the APC, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, as well as current Majority Leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Yinka Mafe.

    Following Akinlade into APM were 26 Amosun-favoured members of the House of Assembly. Also on the move is the chairman, the state local government service commission, Rotimi Rahman; the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Adedayo Adeneye; and the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Modupe Mujota, among others.

    A reliable source in the political family told The Nation that contrary to the governor’s expectation, some of his allies chose not to go with Akinlade to the APM for various reasons. The source said:”The plan is to move into one party and continue the struggle to install Akinlade as the next governor of the state. It took us time to agree on APM. Before then, we have considered a couple of other options like the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), the Labour Party (LP), among others.

    “But at the end of the day, the leadership of the group settled for the APM and instructed that we all move into the party. Sadly, some of our prominent members decided to stay put in the APC, while some others moved over to the DPP and the LP. We even have some who announced their resignation from politics outright. All these are making it difficult for us to mobilise the whole house for the governorship election ahead of us.”

    The Commissioner for Sports, Afolabi Afuwape, Amosun’s Senior Special Assistant on Environment, Dewunmi Onanuga, and Hon. Lanre Edun, another highly placed ally of the governor, have stayed put in the APC as its candidates for the House of Representatives election while there are indications that Hon. Kazeem may have opted to contest on the platform of the LP instead of joining the APM.

    Continuing, the source said:”We are aware of their decisions and when asked, they all gave various reasons for choosing to stay out of the movement to APM. But as politicians, the question we are asking them is: how they will work for Akinlade’s victory while running on the platforms of other parties? “We really don’t see how this will play out easily and everybody is worried over that.”

    It was also gathered that the senatorial contest in Ogun west is another issue currently tearing the governor’s camp apart. While Amosun’s Chief of Staff, Tolu Odebiyi, is running as the candidate of the APC, another of the governor’s close aides, Bolanle Gbeleyi, who was a consultant to the governor, is the senatorial candidate of the APM in the same election.

    “It is not true that the governor is using any of the two politicians to tackle the other. They are both loyalists of the governor and there is no rift between any one of them and His Excellency as being insinuated. What happened is that one of them is merely refusing to follow the directives of our political family as agreed. But I believe it will soon be resolved.”

    The Nation also gathered that some of the governor’s allies whose names appeared on the list of DPP’s national assembly candidates a few weeks back may have resolved to still run as candidates of the party in the forthcoming elections. It was gathered that most of those planning to do this had again lost out in the race for the APM ticket contrary to their expectations.

    “We were told we would be given the ticket of any party we moved to. That was why we agreed to leave the APC in the first place. But following the move, we were left out of the list sent to INEC as candidates of the APM. Good enough, we have our names with INEC as DPP candidates. We have met and we have decided to go on with our aspirations,” one of those concerned told The Nation.

    On the DPP list as candidates for the House of Representatives are former APC chairman for Egbado South Local Government, Odebiyi Safiu Abiodun, a younger brother to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Adekunbi Fatai Aremu, Alhaji Taofeek Olabode and a serving chairman of Abeokuta North Local Council Development Area.

    Others on the list are the General Manager of the State Housing Corporation, Olajumoke Akinwunmi, the current chairman of Odogbolu Local Government, Wale Shittu, Odumosu Olugbenga, a Commissioner in the Civil Service Commission, Mojeed Ekelojumati, the current chairman of APC in Ifo LG, Saheed Ariori, and Lamidi Rasheed from Ado-Odo/Ota.

    Oshiomhole’s hammer

    And just as the governor and his men were working round the clock to bring all their men together before the official flag-off of the governorship candidate of APM, Akinlade, the national leadership of the APC, in a move that further troubled Amosun’s political family, dissolved the executive committees in Ogun states at the state, local government, and ward levels.

    The dissolved executives, who are staunch loyalists to Governor Amosun, are accused of anti-party activities ahead of the 2019 general elections. “So those executives, right from the state to the ward level are not people we can trust to work honestly, for the success of our party in the next election,” Lanre Isa-Onilu, spokesman of the APC said while giving reasons for the dissolution which also affected the APC leadership in Imo state.

    He said the party viewed such action as anti-party activities. Therefore, it will not be in its interest to allow their structure to be used to undermine their chances in those states. “It is within our powers to ensure that we protect the interest of the party and also to activate relevant sections of our constitution which prohibit members from carrying out activities that are inimical to the interest of the party,” he said.

    In their place, the NWC said it would inaugurate caretaker committees that would take charge of party affairs in the two states ahead of the general elections. Findings by The Nation however revealed that the move by the NWC may have further decimated Amosun’s support base across the state as many of his staunch loyalists are now reconsidering their continued support for the governor’s actions against the party and its candidates.

    “Governor Amosun assured us that the national leadership of the party will not sanction us. He said he has an understanding with some prominent leaders of the party to do anything he feels is right ahead of the 2019 governorship election. But look at what happened. It is now clear he is fast losing relevance in APC and we are seriously considering what actions to take next as it is,” a member of the dissolved executive committee told The Nation.

    Expectedly, Amosun’s loyalists have dismissed the dissolution of the state executive committee of the APC by the NWC. The chairman of the dissolved Ogun APC executive, Derin Adebiyi, described the dissolution as “an exercise in futility.” He said the matter was sub judice, “as it is before a court of competent jurisdiction, presided over by Hon. Justice Jude Okeke of the FCT High Court, Abuja.”

    “The Ogun APC views its purported dissolution as a brazen disregard for the judiciary, hence the Nigerian constitution and flagrant abuse of power by the Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee. The action of the NWC is patently illegal; it is an assault on the APC constitution and outside the bounds of acceptable standards in the conduct of party affairs the world over.

    It was such acts of impunity that led us in the first place to seek legal protection for a four-year mandate freely given to us by the overwhelming majority of party members in Ogun State in May 2018. There is no iota of truth in the charge of anti-party activities levelled against us, as we remain committed to the ideals of the APC. You cannot dissolve a legally constituted body, such as Ogun APC exco on a whim. When a matter is in court, all parties are expected to maintain the status quo.

    “What Oshiomhole-led NWC has done amounts to self-help and bare-faced attempt to render nugatory the judicial powers granted the courts by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We condemn this attempt to foist a faith accompli on the judiciary, undermine its powers and turn it into a toothless bulldog. The NWC is legally represented in the present suit. We urge it to allow the judicial process to run its full course,” Adebiyi said, setting the stage for a fresh crisis in the party.

     More cracks

    And while the governor and his lieutenants are battling to resolve the issues forcing their loyalists into diverse political parties, more cracks are appearing on the wall of Governor Amosun’s political home as more and more of his erstwhile trusted aides and allies are pitching their tents with Abiodun, the APC gubernatorial flag-bearer he vowed never to support.

    During the week, leaders of the ruling party met at Frontier Hotel, Ilaro, Yewa South in a well publicised attempt to rally support for the Ogun APC governorship candidate, Abiodun, in the zone amidst widespread fears that the people of Yewaland may have resolved not to have anything to do with Abiodun’s aspiration following the refusal of the party to pick one of them as its candidate.

    The Ilaro meeting, held last Friday, was actually a follow up to an earlier stakeholders’ meeting held in Abeokuta on Monday. Following uncertainties over which of the APC bigwigs in Ogun West are actually with Abiodun in his quest to rule the state, it was agreed that a meeting of APC chieftains in the zone be called so that a roll call of pro-Abiodun members of the APC in Ogun West can be taken.

    “Before the Friday meeting, we were hearing all sorts of things about how many of our leaders in Ogun west have allegedly resolved to work against the candidate of the party in the next election. Many of them, being known allied and aides of Governor Amosun, were not even asked for their position on the crisis within the party before being tagged anti-party.

    “It was for this reason we resolved to have a meeting where those of us in the zone who are ready to let bygone be bygone and remain with the party would be present and all doubts would be cleared. The decision turned out a good one because many of those being labelled anti-Dapo Abiodun showed up at the meeting to the happiness of many of us. Even those some people claimed have joined the APM were at the meeting,” a source told The Nation.

    The Nation gathered that the leaders who attended the Ilaro meeting included Senator Akin Odunsi, former chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, (SUBEB), Chief M.A Ajibola, Hon. M.A.O Obanla, former Commissioner, Hon. Samuel Aiyedogbon, Ogun APC governorship aspirant, as well as Hon. Hunye Abayomi and Hon. Tunji Akinosi.

    More surprising were the presence of Ogun West APC Senate candidate, Tolu Odebiyi, who was, until a couple of days ago, the Chief of Staff to Amosun, Yewa South/Ipokia APC House of Representative candidate, Hon. Biyi Otegbeye. Both Odebiyi and Otegbeye were key members of the governor’s political camp and have been tipped to be among those who will follow his dictates against Abiodun.

    Speaking at the meeting, Odebiyi said he told the governor that he can’t leave APC for another party while the governor stays back in APC. He also said he told the governor that he has a root in politics and he won’t want to destroy that all because of selfish interest. He made it clear that it is very absurd to go to another party and campaign for President Buhari while some stay in APC and also campaign for another party’s candidate.

    “Odebiyi’s presence at that meeting and his utterances have shown that the political family of Governor Ibikunle Amosun is no longer in harmony. It is true that many of his associates are frowning at his decision to remain in the APC while encouraging them to move out and populate the little known APM in pursuit of Akinlade’s governorship ambition.

    “As we speak, the inability of all our people to assemble in one political party as earlier agreed, and the continued recanting of people like Odebiyi, who are now openly identifying with Abiodun contrary to Governor Amosun’s dictates, are sources of fresh worries within the camp. And until and unless these worries are promptly allayed, the struggle to enthrone Akinlade as governor will suffer more setbacks,” another source added.

  • Fresh worries in Amosun’s camp

    Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, is fighting the political battle of his life just as the cracks on the walls of his political family continue to widen unabated ahead of the forthcoming general elections in the state, reports Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan.

    The political camp of Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State is now in disarray with many of his associates pulling in different directions in the aftermath of their decision to ditch the All Progressives Congress (APC). Members of the group had initially agreed to move en masse into a single party on leaving the APC after losing out in the contest for the party’s governorship ticket.

    But in the last few days since the first group left to pitch tent with the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), other members have opted for either the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) or the Labour Party (LP) while Amosun and some key members of his group are staying back in the APC. The governor’s decision to remain in the APC has not gone down well with some of his supporters who fear they may have been thrown under the bus by their leaders.

    One of those who switched to the APM is Amosun’s favoured governorship candidate, Adekunle Akinlade. The strategy of the Amosun group is that by moving en masse into a single party, they would be able to wield their influence and actualise Akinlade’s governorship aspiration there. But many of them no longer believe they can make the desired impact the way they are now scattered in at least four parties.

    Apart from Akinlade, other prominent members of the Amosun group who were denied APC tickets on account of alleged imposition by Amosun include the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Suraj Adekunbi, who lost out the ticket of the Yewa North/Imeko-Afon Federal and the State Commissioner for Special Duties, Leke Adewolu, who lost the Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency ticket to Ibrahim Isiaka.

    Others are the incumbent lawmaker representing Abeokuta North/Odeda/Obafemi-Owode Federal Constituency, Hon. Mikhail Kazzim, who lost out to Hon. Olumide Osoba, son of former governor of the state and chieftain of the APC, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, as well as current Majority Leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Yinka Mafe.

    Following Akinlade into APM were 26 Amosun-favoured members of the House of Assembly. Also on the move is the chairman, the state local government service commission, Rotimi Rahman; the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Adedayo Adeneye; and the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Modupe Mujota, among others.

    A reliable source in the political family told The Nation that contrary to the governor’s expectation, some of his allies chose not to go with Akinlade to the APM for various reasons. The source said:”The plan is to move into one party and continue the struggle to install Akinlade as the next governor of the state. It took us time to agree on APM. Before then, we have considered a couple of other options like the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), the Labour Party (LP), among others.

    “But at the end of the day, the leadership of the group settled for the APM and instructed that we all move into the party. Sadly, some of our prominent members decided to stay put in the APC, while some others moved over to the DPP and the LP. We even have some who announced their resignation from politics outright. All these are making it difficult for us to mobilise the whole house for the governorship election ahead of us.”

    The Commissioner for Sports, Afolabi Afuwape, Amosun’s Senior Special Assistant on Environment, Dewunmi Onanuga, and Hon. Lanre Edun, another highly placed ally of the governor, have stayed put in the APC as its candidates for the House of Representatives election while there are indications that Hon. Kazeem may have opted to contest on the platform of the LP instead of joining the APM.

    Continuing, the source said:”We are aware of their decisions and when asked, they all gave various reasons for choosing to stay out of the movement to APM. But as politicians, the question we are asking them is: how they will work for Akinlade’s victory while running on the platforms of other parties? “We really don’t see how this will play out easily and everybody is worried over that.”

    It was also gathered that the senatorial contest in Ogun west is another issue currently tearing the governor’s camp apart. While Amosun’s Chief of Staff, Tolu Odebiyi, is running as the candidate of the APC, another of the governor’s close aides, Bolanle Gbeleyi, who was a consultant to the governor, is the senatorial candidate of the APM in the same election.

    “It is not true that the governor is using any of the two politicians to tackle the other. They are both loyalists of the governor and there is no rift between any one of them and His Excellency as being insinuated. What happened is that one of them is merely refusing to follow the directives of our political family as agreed. But I believe it will soon be resolved.”

    The Nation also gathered that some of the governor’s allies whose names appeared on the list of DPP’s national assembly candidates a few weeks back may have resolved to still run as candidates of the party in the forthcoming elections. It was gathered that most of those planning to do this had again lost out in the race for the APM ticket contrary to their expectations.

    “We were told we would be given the ticket of any party we moved to. That was why we agreed to leave the APC in the first place. But following the move, we were left out of the list sent to INEC as candidates of the APM. Good enough, we have our names with INEC as DPP candidates. We have met and we have decided to go on with our aspirations,” one of those concerned told The Nation.

    On the DPP list as candidates for the House of Representatives are former APC chairman for Egbado South Local Government, Odebiyi Safiu Abiodun, a younger brother to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Adekunbi Fatai Aremu, Alhaji Taofeek Olabode and a serving chairman of Abeokuta North Local Council Development Area.

    Others on the list are the General Manager of the State Housing Corporation, Olajumoke Akinwunmi, the current chairman of Odogbolu Local Government, Wale Shittu, Odumosu Olugbenga, a Commissioner in the Civil Service Commission, Mojeed Ekelojumati, the current chairman of APC in Ifo LG, Saheed Ariori, and Lamidi Rasheed from Ado-Odo/Ota.

    More cracks

    And while the governor and his lieutenants are battling to resolve the issues forcing their loyalists into diverse political parties, more cracks are appearing on the wall of Governor Amosun’s political home as more and more of his erstwhile trusted aides and allies are pitching their tents with Abiodun, the APC gubernatorial flag-bearer he vowed never to support.

    During the week, leaders of the ruling party met at Frontier Hotel, Ilaro, Yewa South in a well publicised attempt to rally support for the Ogun APC governorship candidate, Abiodun, in the zone amidst widespread fears that the people of Yewaland may have resolved not to have anything to do with Abiodun’s aspiration following the refusal of the party to pick one of them as its candidate.

    The Ilaro meeting, held last Friday, was actually a follow up to an earlier stakeholders’ meeting held in Abeokuta on Monday. Following uncertainties over which of the APC bigwigs in Ogun West are actually with Abiodun in his quest to rule the state, it was agreed that a meeting of APC chieftains in the zone be called so that a roll call of pro-Abiodun members of the APC in Ogun West can be taken.

    “Before the Friday meeting, we were hearing all sorts of things about how many of our leaders in Ogun west have allegedly resolved to work against the candidate of the party in the next election. Many of them, being known allied and aides of Governor Amosun, were not even asked for their position on the crisis within the party before being tagged anti-party.

    “It was for this reason we resolved to have a meeting where those of us in the zone who are ready to let bygone be bygone and remain with the party would be present and all doubts would be cleared. The decision turned out a good one because many of those being labelled anti-Dapo Abiodun showed up at the meeting to the happiness of many of us. Even those some people claimed have joined the APM were at the meeting,” a source told The Nation.

    The Nation gathered that the leaders who attended the Ilaro meeting included Senator Akin Odunsi, former chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, (SUBEB), Chief M.A Ajibola, Hon. M.A.O Obanla, former Commissioner, Hon. Samuel Aiyedogbon, Ogun APC governorship aspirant, as well as Hon. Hunye Abayomi and Hon. Tunji Akinosi.

    More surprising were the presence of Ogun West APC Senate candidate, Tolu Odebiyi, who was, until a couple of days ago, the Chief of Staff to Amosun, Yewa South/Ipokia APC House of Representative candidate, Hon. Biyi Otegbeye. Both Odebiyi and Otegbeye were key members of the governor’s political camp and have been tipped to be among those who will follow his dictates against Abiodun.

    Speaking at the meeting, Odebiyi said he told the governor that he can’t leave APC for another party while the governor stays back in APC. He also said he told the governor that he has a root in politics and he won’t want to destroy that all because of selfish interest. He made it clear that it is very absurd to go to another party and campaign for President Buhari while some stay in APC and also campaign for another party’s candidate.

    “Odebiyi’s presence at that meeting and his utterances have shown that the political family of Governor Ibikunle Amosun is no longer in harmony. It is true that many of his associates are frowning at his decision to remain in the APC while encouraging them to move out and populate the little known APM in pursuit of Akinlade’s governorship ambition.

    “As we speak, the inability of all our people to assemble in one political party as earlier agreed, and the continued recanting of people like Odebiyi, who are now openly identifying with Abiodun contrary to Governor Amosun’s dictates, are sources of fresh worries within the camp. And until and unless these worries are promptly allayed, the struggle to enthrone Akinlade as governor will suffer more setbacks,” another source added.

  • Amosun opens software centre at Gateway Poly

    Determined to ensure that the youth explore opportunities in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, Ogun State Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun has opened the Gateway ICT Polytechnic application development centre.

    The centre, which focuses on software and mobile application development, was inuagurated during the institution’s second convocation.

    Representing the governor at the event, Commissioner for Education, Modupe Mujota, said the government would work to ensure that the institution achieve its goals through partnership with global players in mobile application development.

    She said: “We are expecting the newly commissioned centre to bring out the creativity of our youths. We are also going to connect the school with globally acclaimed tech firms, which have links and capacity, such as Google to look at what we are doing here.”

    Speaking on what necessitated the centre, the rector, Dr Isaiah Oyeyinka, said the aim was to train undergraduates, who will be independent, imbibe entrepreneurial spirit and become self-reliant.

    He said: “Not only that we will train people on apps development, we will also do technology incubation and nourish tech companies to grow before we release them to the society. We took the cue from places like America where they incubate their technology and that is why there are great things coming forward from such a place.”

    Dr Oyeyinka said the polytechnic remained committed to providing quality teaching in engineering, science and technology, and ICT within the mandate of the national policy on education and subject to regulations of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

     

  • Ambode, Amosun, Gowon, Akiolu, others celebrate Williams at 99

    …He’s A True Nigerian We Should All Be Proud Of, Says Lagos Gov

     

    Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and his Ogun State counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun on Thursday led other eminent Nigerians to celebrate the first African to qualify as a chartered accountant, Chief Akintola Williams who clocked 99, describing him as a true Nigerian who worked assiduously to lift up the country.

    Speaking to reporters at a special birthday reception held in honour of Williams at his Lagos residence, Governor Ambode described the celebrant as the doyen of accountancy profession and elder statesman who deserved to be celebrated for his contribution to the growth and development of the country.

    Read Also:Ambode, Utomi advocate transformational leadership

    According to the Governor, “The main reason why we are here is to celebrate a true Nigerian and for somebody who has actually contributed to the development of Nigeria and he is still alive at 99, is worth celebrating and this is like a prelude to the centenary that we are waiting to celebrate next year, and that is why you can see that Ogun State Governor is here too.

    “Apart from the fact that Chief Akintola Williams is the Doyen of the Accountancy Profession, we see him as a founding father of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN); he is also the founding father of the Musical Society of Nigeria. So, he has too many parts and this is one Nigerian that we are proud of and we are willing to celebrate him every day,” Governor Ambode said.

    He particularly commended Williams for his role in the development of Lagos, saying the State Government would continue to celebrate true Nigerians like him.

    “That I am here today is more or less to say a big thank you to him for lifting up Lagos; for lifting up Nigeria and we also wish him well on behalf of all Lagosians. We will continue to celebrate true Nigerians and he (Chief Williams) is just one true Nigerian, an elder statesman that we should all be proud of,” Governor Ambode said.

    Responding, Williams appreciated all those who found time to be with him on his special day, and wished them long life as well.

    Aside Governors Ambode and Amosun, other eminent Nigerians at the event include former Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd); first Military Governor of Lagos State, Brigadier-General Mobolaji Johnson (rtd); Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu; foremost banker and founder of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Otunba Subomi Balogun; legal luminary and philanthropist, Chief Chris Ogunbanjo; former ICAN Presidents, among other captains of industries and members of the diplomatic corps.

  • Unite your people, Amosun urges monarch

    Ogun State Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has urged the new Olota of Ota, Prof. Adeyemi Obalanlege to unite his people.

    He also advised the monarch to collaborate with other traditional rulers in carrying out his his duties in order to attain success.

    On the other hand, Amosun urged the people of Ota and Awori to co-operate with the new monarch.

    While presenting the staff and instrument of office to the new monarch at the Ansarudeen School playground, the governor said when there is co-operation among the people and the monarch and everyone is committed to improving the well-being of the community,  it will engender peace, progress and development of the community in particular and the state in general.

    He also pledged his administration’s commitment to strengthening traditional institutions, given its important role in socio-economic development of the society.

    Also speaking at the event, the Proprietor of Crescent University, Abeokuta, Prince Bola Ajibola praised Obalanlege’s  contributions to the University’s development when he was there as a teacher.

    Ajibola said he was gratified that the monarch was selected while still teaching at the institution.

    Kabiyesi Obalanlege used to teach Digital Advertising and PR Campaign Management, News Writing and Editing and other allied courses at post-graduate and undergraduate levels.

    He served as Sub-Dean in the College of Arts, Social and Management Sciences (CASMAS).

    Before joining Crescent University as Senior Lecturer, Oba Obalanlege had served on the Editorial Board of ThisDay newspapers.

    In his acceptance speech, Oba Obalanlege thanked Amosun and others who attended the event, even as he assured them that Awori land would experience progress during his reign.

  • Unite your people, Amosun urges monarch

    Ogun State Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has urged the new Olota of Ota, Prof. Adeyemi Obalanlege to unite his people.

    He also advised the monarch to collaborate with other traditional rulers in carrying out his his duties in order to attain success.

    On the other hand, Amosun urged the people of Ota and Awori to co-operate with the new monarch.

    While presenting the staff and instrument of office to the new monarch at the Ansarudeen School playground, the governor said when there is co-operation among the people and the monarch and everyone is committed to improving the well-being of the community,  it will engender peace, progress and development of the community in particular and the state in general.

    He also pledged his administration’s commitment to strengthening traditional institutions, given its important role in socio-economic development of the society.

    Also speaking at the event, the Proprietor of Crescent University, Abeokuta, Prince Bola Ajibola praised Obalanlege’s  contributions to the University’s development when he was there as a teacher.

    Ajibola said he was gratified that the monarch was selected while still teaching at the institution.

    Kabiyesi Obalanlege used to teach Digital Advertising and PR Campaign Management, News Writing and Editing and other allied courses at post-graduate and undergraduate levels.

    He served as Sub-Dean in the College of Arts, Social and Management Sciences (CASMAS).

    Before joining Crescent University as Senior Lecturer, Oba Obalanlege had served on the Editorial Board of ThisDay newspapers.

    In his acceptance speech, Oba Obalanlege thanked Amosun and others who attended the event, even as he assured them that Awori land would experience progress during his reign.

  • All set for Amosun’s 60th birthday

    All set for Amosun’s 60th birthday

    If Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, were a stock traded on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, it would cost a fortune to acquire even a single share. Such is the massive appreciation in the governor’s popularity since he took over the running of affairs in the Gateway State. Little wonder power brokers, captains of industry and celebrities are getting set to celebrate him as he turns 60.

    Friends and associates of the two-term governor are prepared to shake the earth in ensuring that the welfarist governor has a diamond jubilee to remember, especially as this is likely to be his final big celebration before he vacates office next year.

    The dude from Ogun Central is one of the rare souls whose popularity has enjoyed meteoric rise on the back of their people-oriented policies. Elected to the Senate in 2003, he became the governor of Ogun State at the second attempt in 2011 and easily won a second term four years later.

    Under him, Ogun State has transformed from a relative wasteland to a land brimming with opportunities for investors.

  • Omotola, Ali Nuhu, Imasuen get BON Awards

    Omotola, Ali Nuhu, Imasuen get BON Awards

    The ninth edition of the Best of Nollywood ( BON ) Awards holds today, Saturday, December 16, at the Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun state.

    This year’s edition which will be hosted by the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led Ogun State government will have Kannywood sensation, Rahama Sadau and Tinsel star cum model, Gbenro Ajibade, act as comperes while Jaywon and other artistes would perform at the ceremony.

    “The current administration in Ogun State is proud to be identified with this event and we promise to give all the needed support to ensure that this year’s edition is an even greater success story,” Dayo Adeneye, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, said.

    And with expectant nominees straddling different categories, the trio of Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde, Ali Nuhu and filmmaker, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, are the recipients of the Best of Nollywood Awards 2017 Special Recognition award.

    Speaking on the Special Recognition Award, the executive producer, Seun Oloketuyi said, “Every year, we take it upon ourselves to recall the sacrifices and strides of those elders whose arts and artistry have catalysed the growth and global acceptance that Nollywood enjoys today. We don’t want to wait until these veterans are dead to give them posthumous awards, which is why we have decided to celebrate them while they are still alive and active. Besides, this year’s honourees are a source of inspiration to young actors and budding filmmakers across Nigeria and beyond.”

    Meanwhile, leading telecommunications company, Airtel, according to Oloketuyi, has thrown its weight behind this year’s awards ceremony.

    “We are happy to have Airtel on board this year. We hope the partnership would be even more mutually beneficial in the years ahead,” Oloketuyi said.