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Tag: Shittu

  • Shittu appeals disqualification from Oyo APC governorship race

    The Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, yesterday said he had appealed his disqualification from the Oyo State governorship race by the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    In a statement, the minister, who obtained a leave from his ministerial service to pursue his governorship ambition last month, also said he was not alone in the skipping of the compulsory National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

    Titled: This Time Would Pass, the statement reads: “It is no longer news that I, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, was purportedly disqualified from participating in Sunday’s governorship primary of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Oyo State on the baseless allegation of not possessing the NYSC certificate.

    “I also received the news, like any other person, with shock and disbelief, having successfully gone through the screening process by the party’s Governorship Screening Committee. The intent of the cowards behind the saga is becoming clearer by the day.

    “May I appeal to supporters and well-wishers across Oyo State and beyond – many of whom have bombarded my mobile lines with calls and text messages – to remain calm and be loyal to our great party as we resolve the issue politically.

    “Let me assure you that the APC, which I took part in writing its constitution, is a party built on the rule of law, justice and fairness. This I believe the National Working Committee (NWC) would uphold at all times.

    “On the issue of NYSC, I had made my position known and there’s no need to repeat myself, but I wish to add that the position of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), is unambiguous on the qualification for participating in governorship election.”

    “I want to believe that the NWC was wrongly advised to disqualify me. I do not want to agree that a script is being acted; if at all, it is poorly written.”

  • Governorship race: APC disqualifies Shittu, Alhassan

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday disqualified two ministers from contesting tomorrow’s governorship primary.

    The Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu and Minister of Women Affairs Hajia Jummai Alhassan, are among the six aspirants who were disqualified after screening.

    One aspirant from Yobe State withdrew from the race after filing his nomination, while 166 others were cleared to contest the shadow poll.

    The report of the screening panel indicated that Shittu was disqualified for not possessing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.

    The communications minister confirmed that he did not participate in the mandatory youth service because he went straight from the university to the old Oyo State House of Assembly as the youngest elected member in 1979.

    He claimed that his service in the Assembly is equivalent to national service.

    No reason was given in last night’s statement by the APC National Working Committee (NWC) for Alhassan’s disqualification. Eleven aspirants were cleared to contest in Taraba State.

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dr. Obafemi Hamzat were cleared to contest.

    Governors of Niger, Kebbi and Jigawa are unopposed as their opponents were not cleared to contest.

    Former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, was cleared to challenge Governor Jubrila Bindow for Adamawa State ticket. Also to contest for the ticket is Mahmood Halim Ahmed.

    Borno State has 21 aspirants, the highest.

    Zamfara State has nine aspirants for the ticket and Nasarawa has 11.

    Six aspirants were cleared to run in Ogun State. They are: Jimi Lawal, Dapo Abiodun, Bimbo Abiodun, Adegbenga Kaka, Adekunle Akinlade and Abayomi Hunye.

  • APC disqualifies Shittu, Alhassan guber race

    The All Progressives Congress has disqualified the Minister of Communication, Barrister Adebayo Shittu and his Women Affairs counterpart, Aisha Jummai Alhassan from participating in Saturday’s governorship primaries of the party.

    While the party said Barrister Shittu was disqualified for not presenting his NYSC discharge certificate, no reason was given for the disqualification of the Minister for Women Affairs popularly known as Mama Taraba.

    Four others were disqualified from participating in the exercise while 166 other aspirants were cleared to participate, with one withdrawing from the contest.

    Among those cleared is the National Secretary of the party, Mai MALA Buni believed to be the anointed candidate of the Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Nsima Ebere.

    Others disqualified are Chief Osiobe Eric Okotie (Delta), Ejikeme Ugwu (Enugu), Ibrahim Mohammed Mera (Kebbi) and Danladi Envulu-Anza (Nasarawa)

    The party however shifted the governorship primary from Saturday, September 29 to Sunday, September 30, while all other primaries are to go ahead as scheduled.

  • I didn’t violate the Constitution by skipping NYSC, says Shittu

    The Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, has said that he had not violated the Constitution by not participating in the compulsory one year National Youth Services Corps Scheme (NYSC).

    The minister stated this while speaking with newsmen on Friday in Abuja, arguing that his case could not be compared to that of the former Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun.

    The minister who is one of the All Progressives Congress(APC) governorship aspirants in Oyo State, spoke after being interviewed by the APC screening committee.

    The media had been awash with reports that the minister did not participate in the mandatory one year NYSC program after his graduation from the University in 1978. The compulsory NYSC programme began in 1973.

    Former minister of finance, Adeosun resigned last week Friday following allegations that she forged the NYSC exemption certificate.

    Shittu stressed that whereas the former Minister of Finance submitted a fake NYSC exemption certificate, he didn’t obtain any certificate.

    He added that he considered his service at the Oyo State Assembly as, “a higher service”. He said that he had not infringed on any law in the country’s Constitution by skipping NYSC.

    “Nigerian Tribune even reported that I left University in 1979, but in actual sense , I left in 1978 and left Law School in 1979.

    “And the Constitution says anyone who qualifies to contest an election or who has gone through an election and wins, he is obligated to move through the House of Assembly which I did for four years.

    “So it is a form of higher service as far as I’m concerned, and even now, I am still in service.

    “I don’t think I have violated the law except someone has a superior argument and can prove it,”the minister said.

    He stressed that his case was not like that of Adeosun, because according to him, there are differences.

    “Unfortunately, Kemi had a fake certificate, I didn’t present any, I didn’t have one.

    “I simply followed the constitutional requirement that if you are qualified to contest an election, it is compulsory for you to serve the nation in the capacity that you won an election,”he said.(NAN)

  • Buhari meets Lalong, Shittu, Kalu, Amosun in Daura

    Plateau State Governor Solomon Lalong, Communication Minister Adebayo Shittu and former Abia state Governor Orji -Uzor Kalu, yesterday met with President Muhammadu Buhari in his country home in Daura, Katsina state.

    The meeting lasted for more the 30 minutes when the All Progressives Congress (APC) chiefs arrived from the venue of the conferment of a chieftaincy title ‘Danbaiwan Hausa’, (Gifted son of Hausa Land) on Kalu, by Emir of Daura Dr. Farouq Umar Farouq.

    They were ushered in to see the President at about 2.40 p. m.

    The governor left at 3.30p.m while Kalu and Shittu followed five minutes later.

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun also visited the President.

    Shittu told reporters that they were at the President’s residence to “pay obeisance”.

    He said: “We came here to pay obeisance .You know the President recently returned from a trip abroad, and we were unable to see him because soon after the security meeting on Monday he left for Daura’’

    “Contrary to the claim by his detractors that he is not fit to run for second time, the President is not only fit to trek 800 meters as reported by the media, he is fit mentally and physically to continue to pilot the affairs of our great country for the next four years after the 2019 elections.”

    Shittu said he attended Kalu’s turbanning to reciprocate his kindness and liberal attitude to all Nigerians irrespective of tribes or religions.

    He blamed the Igbo for ‘’ostracizing’’ themselves from mainstream Nigerian political life and urged them to queue behind Buhari this time around.

    While turbanning Kalu, the Emir of Daurasaid he gave him the title because of his contribution to the unity of Nigeria and for his (Kalu) love for President Buhari’s administration and for championing his reelection bid.

  • 2019: Shittu, Akande, others team up against Ajimobi

    As All Progressives Congress prepares to elect its 2019 governorship candidate in Oyo State, Sunday Oguntola reports on the ongoing intigues to challenge Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s alleged bid to install a preferred aspirant

    MINISTER of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu and Chairman of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Prof. Adeolu Akande, are believed to be leading forces bent on frustrating Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi from installing his successor in 2019.

    Ajimobi, who has not declared his anointed aspirant, has been engaged in an intense battle for the soul of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state with Shittu, Akande and several other bigwigs in the party.

    Incidentally, Shittu and Akande, the two most senior political appointees from the state at the federal level, are nursing the ambition of succeeding Ajimobi in May 2019. It is however said that the governor is seriously opposed to their ambitions and prepared to snuff them out politically.

    Investigations revealed that the two federal political appointees have teamed up with other forces within the APC to wrest power from the governor and truncate plans to install his preferred aspirant. Though Ajimobi has not been forthcoming on his choice, the coalition believes he is grooming Adebayo Adelabu, the grandson of late Ibadan strongman, Adegoke Adelabu, popularly known as Penkelemesi.

    The younger Adebayo retired as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently and has been engaging in several empowerment projects in the state. He has also built businesses in Ibadan, the capital, to dispel the notion that he is more of a ‘foreign-based’ politician. The businesses, including event centres, hotels and factories, have provided employment opportunities to youths, shoring up his image as a grassroots politician.

    Though Ajimobi, privately or publicly, has not declared his preference, it is widely believed among members of the Shittu/Akande coalition that Adelabu is the governor’s candidate as successor. They claim Ajimobi’s widely reported support for power shift to Oke-Ogun is just a gimmick aimed at shielding his real choice.

    Incidentally Shittu and Akande are from Oke-Ogun region of Oyo-North that has never produced a governor since the creation of the state. The situation has created a loud cry for power-shift to the agricultural bastion of Oyo State. Shittu is from Saki in Saki West local Government Council while Akande is an indigene of Otu in Itesiwaju Local Government Area.

    Our correspondent gathered that the duo is behind the Unity Forum, a splinter group in the state APC. The group held a parallel congress in May with the Chief Akin-Oke-led group backed by the governor.

    The APC National Working Committee (NWC) however recognises the government-backed faction, forcing the unity forum, which also comprises loyalists of former Governor Lam Adesina, to ditch the APC last month.

    It boasts of nine of the 14 House of Representatives members, two of the three senators and several members of the House of Assembly, including the Deputy Speaker. Spokesman of the forum, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, said its members were joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    Olatunbosun said: “We had no option than to look elsewhere for opportunity. We ventilated our anger through the appropriate channel but President Muhammadu Buhari reportedly said the party’s soul should be delivered to the governor and that we in the Unity Group should apologise to the governor.

    “We considered this as an insult despite all we have done to make the party leadership see reason. This is someone who has done us and the party so much harm. So, we concluded to seek solace in ADC.”

    But it was learnt the defection to ADC is only one of the several measures to stop Ajimobi from having the upper hand in the power struggle. While some members of the forum have left the party, many others are still within the APC to block every move of the governor.

    The Unity Forum members who left were said to be disposed to the idea of winning tickets for their different political ambitions in ADC where they have been more or less guaranteed support. But even though they are in the ADC, they have been briefed to maintain regular contacts and interests in the happenings within the APC.

    Among them is Akande, who is strongly tipped to pick the governorship ticket of the ADC, all things being equal. Akande served as Chief of Staff to Ajimobi in the first term. The Professor of political science is Director of Centre for Presidential Studies, Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State.

    It is believed he is pretty close to bigwigs at the Presidential Villa, a factor that got him chairmanship of NITDA. His posters and bill boards are the most visible in Ibadan, fuelling speculations he has many moneybags backing him.

    Many other aspirants are also in the ADC to pick up tickets before slugging it out with those backed by the governor at the general election. For them, it appears they are out of the APC but retain several structures and components in the ruling party to spring surprises at the deadliest moments.

    Those who remain with the APC are also said to be aggrieved and shut out of contests by the governor and his men. But they have an understanding to play along and not give away the fact that they are enchanted. This is to enable them serve more or less as moles, while gathering intelligence that could give the APC much troubles in the weeks ahead.

    They are expected to give Ajimobi’s men a big run for his money, especially since the party structure appears to be firmly in their  grips. This segment is allegedly headed by Shittu, who has remained confident of picking the governorship ticket given a level-playing ground. The Minister has a long battle ahead, considering the party’s delegates are not loyal to him. He is believed to be working on convincing some of them to switch camps through constant engagements and dialogues.

    Shittu’s biggest asset is his closeness to President Muhammadu Buhari, dating back to their days in the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). The Minister according to a source, considers himself the only man Buhari admires and finds trustworthy in Oyo State.

    He also claimed to be the most experienced politician in Oyo State, having served as a local government chairman, Commissioner, House of Assembly member and Minister. But there is the perception he is not a generous politician despite his deep pocket.

    With him still in the APC, Ajimobi won’t find it easy to install his preferred candidate. A member of theUnity Forum, who spoke with our correspondent under strict anonymity, said: “We won’t concede the party to them at all. We will stay put and fight from within.

    “We are eager to see it whatever they plan to do will materialize with our number and influence. The truth is we are far more than them but they are using state powers to appear like the more popular. When it comes to the time to decide who gets what, I assure you we would emerge victorious.

    “You know they appear to have won round one. But there is still round two and round three. That is where our strength lies. You will be amazed how much swings we would pull at that moment. Then the governor will be shocked to realise he is not as popular as he thinks he is.”

    The gang-up within and without against Ajimobi, it was learnt, will receive more impetus in the coming days and weeks with several planned defections and unexpected twists within the APC.

    “We are more than determined to pull the rugs from under them. You know they are under the delusion they are in charge but we will let them know who the master here is really,” the source further stated.

    Checks revealed that the governor’s camp is fully aware of a few of the measures. It was gathered there is an ongoing onslaught against those considered to be inimical to its interests within the APC fold. This, it was learnt, was responsible for last week’s expulsion of Deputy Speaker Musah Abdulwasi by Saki West chapter over alleged anti-party activities.

    But Abdulwasi has denied the purported expulsion as a laughable ruse. He said he remains a bona fide member of the party and cannot be expelled without recourse to the dictates of the APC’s constitution.

    A source in the governor’s camp said: “The weeding process is ongoing. We have identified those who are with us and those against us. In the coming days, we shall give them the appropriate treatment they deserve.

    “You can be rest assured we would do the needful as we discover them one after the other. Everything they plan is within our view and earshot.”

  • Ambode, Shittu, honoured at online merit award

    KEY drivers of Nigeria’s online revolution were recently honoured at the maiden edition of Nigerian Online Merit Awards (NiOMA) for outstanding contributions to the success and development of internet in the country.

    The event, which held in Lagos, was in three categories. First category: Newspaper website of the year. Bank website of the Year; second category: MDA website of the year, state innovation e-project of the year and state website of the year;  and third category: ICT Icon of the Year, e-Governor of the year and the Minister of the year.

    Among the awardees were: e-Governor of the Year, awarded to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State; Minister of the Year, which went to the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu and ICT Icon of the Year, awarded to Zinox Group Chairman, Leo Stan Ekeh.

    Akwa Ibom State went home with the Best State Website of the Year. State Innovative e-Project of the Year award was won by Abia State and the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) won the Best MDA Website of the Year.

    In the Bank Website of the Year category, Zenith Bank International Plc won Platinum, Fidelity Bank  won Gold and Access Bank won Silver. The Newspaper website of the year Platinum Award went to Vanguard, The Guardian won the Gold Award, while Daily Trust went home with the Silver Award.

    Speaking at the event themed, Leveraging the Internet Revolution to Leapfrog Nigeria’s Development, was ICT expert and former Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Ernest Ndukwe. Ndukwe, who was chairman of the occasion, emphasized on the need for government to embrace ICT, as well as make internet access free in major cities across the country, especially Lagos, as this would contribute immensely to the growth of the nation’s economy. Ndukwe said: “It is important for us in this country to harness the potentials of this very important technology and I just hope that our various leaders would take it very serious. When I was with NCC as the chief executive officer, it was actually a tall order getting the state governments and some of our important leaders to appreciate the transformation role that ICT can make in people’s life. It was so difficult in those days I was at the NCC to convince governors to give what is usually referred to as right of owner to operating companies to be able to roll out service that will improve the lives of the citizens.”

    He noted that much hasn’t changed in the sector. “A few of them have embraced that knowledge today but quite a large number are still looking for how to generate revenue from operating companies, instead of looking at how to empower their people with knowledge which is what ICT in their neighbourhood can bring to them. So, we keep praying that our people will continue to understand the need to lace this country with optic fibber infrastructure, to lace this country with transmission infrastructure and a city like Lagos should have internet facility all over the place at a very good speed. That will help us do what we want to do and improve the standard of living for our citizens.”

    Ndukwe asserted that they (ICT experts) will continue to “talk and do what ever that is necessary to convince our leaders, policy makers and decision makers to ensure that ICTs continue to play the role it is suppose to play. That is why it is generally referred to as infrastructure in infrastructure because it actually enables efficiency in nearly every aspect of human endeavour.”

    Present at the ceremony were: Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru, Chairman Guardian Editorial Board Prof. Wale Omole and Leo Stan Ekeh, who was the guest speaker.

    NiOMA was conceived by News Express Nigeria, a Lagos-based online media service after a rigorous study of the nation’s digital landscape. The medium is of the belief that soon, the host of Nigerian media will be setting the agenda to stimulate thinking and provoke thinking on what can be done to our nation with relevance to the ICT revo lution.

    Members of the organising committee comprise Lanre Alabi, chairman; Isaac Umunna, administrator; Sunny Okim, Secertary and Afam Nnaji, Moshood Isamotu and Ruth Onyeike.

    Speaking, the committee chairman said “It is a merit-based award adjudged as the most authoritative, factual, objective awards on companies and institutions’ online performance.”

    The objective of the award, he said, is to foster the growth and development of the online platform for the promotion of business. “The evaluation is done by our prestigious judging panel consisting of communication experts from all over Nigeria. Our panel looks out for the best and brightest achievements in digital communication.”

  • We are ready to fight for justice in Oyo APC , Shittu insists

    The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, on Sunday, vowed that the aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State would not relent until justice prevailed.

    Shittu made the remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the ongoing APC Convention venue in Abuja.

    NAN reports that the minister, who never hides his intention to contest for the governorship seat in the state on the APC platform come 2019, has been having a running battle with Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State over who controls the party’s structure in the state.

    Ajimobi was reported to have said that he would not support Shittu in his bid to succeed him as governor of the state.

    Against the backdrop, the recently-concluded elections to elect party’s executives in the state witnessed parallel congresses.

    The minister, who said his camp was already in court to seek a redress regarding the state congress election, said he was sure that justice would be done.

    ‘’We are already in court. So to that extent, we will have to await the final outcome. There has been disagreement as to the congresses which we held.

    ‘’You remember there were parallel congresses. Parallel congresses because those who never bought forms for ward congress eventually are the ones who have been sworn in as the state’s executives of the party.

    ‘’Obviously that is injustice by the party. So we, loyal members, who have made effort to build this party, we have taken this disagreement to court and we believe that justice will be done at the end of the day,” he said.

    He, however, assured that despite the development in the state, his loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC was still hundred per cent.

    ‘’If my loyalty is not 100%, I won’t be here. Nobody forced me to be here. My loyalty is to the president and to the party.

    ‘’Those who are creating problems for us in Oyo State are not the founders of the party. They are not the reason why we are in APC.

    ‘’We are in APC as foundation members and by the grace of God, my loyalty is 100% to the party because I believe, at the end of the day, what the temporary executives of the party have not been able to do, the court will do it for us,” he said.

    Shittu, who described the party’s convention as a success, commended the security agencies for what he called ‘’a wonderful job.” NAN

  • Posers for National Assembly, by Shittu

    Lagos lawyer and university teacher Wahab Shittu has raised some posers for the National Assembly, warning it against playing to the gallery.

    To him, the issues raised in resolutions do not amount to impeachable offences as President Muhammadu Buhari alone cannot be blamed.

    Shittu said: “Constitutional provisions, particularly impeachment, are reserved for serious and proven acts of misconduct and not meant to be deployed to settle private scores or get even with the executive or the President.

    “What indicators are on ground to prove the President is not acting in the best interest of Nigerians, given the prevailing circumstances?

    “The other question is whether the National Assembly is not complicit in the present unsavoury economic realities? Therefore, if the National Assembly cannot exonerate itself from blame, where is the moral authority to proceed against the President?

    “My view is that the ruling, including the National Assembly, have a collective response to rescue the economy and guarantee improved living standards to our people and this require constructive engagement. This will not include grandstanding or playing to the gallery by our lawmakers.”

    Shittu said while there are concerns about growing insecurity which has resulted in needless killings, the Buhari administration’s efforts in addressing the challenges ought to be appreciated.

    On allegations of selective prosecution, the frontline prosecutor said: “We can also not say in all conscience that appreciable progress is not being recorded in the anti-corruption crusade of the administration.

    “There is, however, some merit in the advisory that the war should not be selective. The question to ask however is whether anyone is being prosecuted who does not have questions to answer?”

    On the issue of intimidation, the senior lawyer said: “The question of reign of fear and intimidation is subject to proof and l would expect further particulars.”

    On the vote of no confidence passed on the Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris, Shittu said: “The allegations against the IGP remain suspect against the background of ongoing investigation against some members of the National Assembly by the police.

    “Are we right to sanction the lGP for performing statutory functions? This vote of no confidence on the lGP does not make sense to me and that is the popular view.”

  • Ajimobi, Shittu in war of words

    MINISTER of Communications Adebayo Shittu yesterday accused Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi of being afraid of him (Shittu).

    He said Ajimobi was afraid because of going to jail if he succeeds him in office, owing to mismanagement of the state’s resources.

    But the governor said it was the minister, who should be afraid because of the allegations against him.

    Shittu, who spoke to reporters during his visit to the All Progressives Congress (APC) national secretariat in Abuja on the outcome of the party’s ward congresses, said: “I want to say that if anybody is desperate in the Oyo political firmament, it should be Governor Ajimobi, who believes that if Barrister Shittu succeeds him, he will be in jail. That is what he is reported to have always told people who mentioned me to him.

    “He thinks that I am too principled, firm, unbendable and uncompromising when it comes to the issues of morality. It is he who is desperate to stop me, not me being desperate to become governor.

    “The rules are clearly there and like somebody who believes in the rule as a lawyer and man of law and order, if I follow the rules to contest the primaries in a free, fair and credible poll and did not win, I will take up something else.

    “I am not desperate to become the governor of Oyo State. It is the other way round because the governor is desperate to stop me for whatever reason.”

    On whether he had taken advantage of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s APC Reconciliation Panel to bring about a solution to the disagreement between him and the governor,  the minister said: “I can say straight away that I am like any other Nigerian that heard that a committee was constituted. No invitation was extended to me for any purpose of discussions, negotiations, reconciliations or whatever. Nobody can blame me for that.”

    Shittu said Ajimobi had failed in so many things “including human relations and others I cannot say openly in the media”.

    He queried: Why is he afraid of going to jail if another Buhari like me comes to power in Oyo State? Why is he afraid of primaries?”

    However, a statement issued by Ajimobi’s Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy, Mr. Bolaji Tunji, quoted him as saying that the minister should be the one to be afraid of going to jail in view of the damaging allegations made against him by all his aides, who resigned en mass following his refusal to pay their emoluments.

    “In any case, Shittu should be the one that should be afraid of going to jail in view of many allegations made against him as minister. Few of these are his alleged illegally-acquired property in Ibadan and Abuja and sudden unexplainable and stupendous wealth not commensurate with his emoluments.

    “In addition, his recent attempt to covert and appropriate a parcel of land belonging to Saki community, which was stoutly resisted by his own people, has shown his level of greed, avarice and penchant for appropriating what does not belong to him.

    “Governor Ajimobi remains a distinguished senator of the country who had successfully traversed the corporate world and got to the peak of his career as the Managing Director and Chief Executive of a multinational; a position that requires a high degree of integrity, ability and capability.

    “All these attributes have reflected in the way he has successfully managed the affairs of the state in the last seven years, which has transformed the face and fortunes of the state and had attracted unmatched number of investors to the state.”

    The governor advised aggrieved stakeholders in the just concluded ward congresses to explore the party’s internal organs for seeking redress rather than engaging in actions capable of further sowing the seed of discord within the party.

    As leaders and stakeholders in the party, the governor said it would be counter-productive to engage in actions and utterances that tend to further divide the party, adding that he would on his own part keep doing the best for Oyo State.