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Lanlehin Says Oyo People Await an ADC Governor in 2019

By
Peter Ayoade
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“Lanlehin noted that once the leadership of the party was able to get it right in this direction, victory at the polls next year would be assured since the people of the state had already thrown their support for ADC”

 

A frontline governorship aspirant on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Oyo State, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, has called on members of the party to remain calm “as the party takes the critical but necessary step of nominating its governorship candidate for the 2019 general election.”

Lanlehin, in a statement by his media assistant, Damola Adeoye, on Monday, said the call became necessary as the task of selecting the party’s governorship candidate was the most demanding assignment for the leaders of the party.

At the expiration of the deadline for party primaries, the party leadership announced a temporary governorship candidate, Dr Dele Ajayi, following disagreement between the leaders and some of the governorship aspirants on the consensus mode.

A written test was administered on the aspirants on the platform of the party at Premier Hotel in Ibadan last Wednesday by the collegiate leadership of the party as part of efforts to ensure only the best emerge to represent the party in next year’s elections.

But in the statement, Lanlehin noted that once the leadership of the party was able to get it right in this direction, victory at the polls next year would be assured since the people of the state had already thrown their support for ADC.

The former Oyo South Senator, who praised the leadership and members of the party as well as the people of the state for their continued love and support for the party, thanked his supporters across the 33 local government areas in the state for their loyalty as the announcement of the party’s governorship candidate was being awaited.

“Senator Lanlehin wishes to note that though last few days have been hectic; full of intense politicking and consultations, as the race for who picks the sole ticket revs into first gear, the spirit of comradeship, friendship and conviviality on display by all the eminently qualified 13 aspirants is novel and worth emulating by other parties.

“This is so because the need to salvage our dear state from the current neo-capitalist and vice-like grip of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) supersedes individual ambitions. Much more, the individual decisions by all aspirants to abide by the decisions of the collective in determining the party’s candidate rightly underscores this point.

“To this end, the seeming long wait for the Oyo ADC governorship candidate, more than anything else, reveals the party’s deference to all shades of opinion, and the belief in the importance of all members; attributes which are the hallmark of a truly representative democracy.

“As we wait on the party’s leadership to finalise the process of candidate nomination, Senator Lanlehin adds, that our love for the party, respect for party supremacy and desire to deliver the true dividends of democracy to the people of Oyo State be the driving force of our actions, believing that as the party succeeds in the general elections, we all have succeeded,” he said in the statement.

 

 

Niyi Akintola Explodes: Yes I have Been Wronged and Betrayed to the Point of Perfidy But..

By
Peter Ayoade
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By Yakubu Temitope
The dust generated by the recent gubernatorial primary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state is yet to settle as a frontline aspirant, Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN who reluctantly stepped down for the eventual winner, Mr. Bayo Adelabu, asked those spreading rumours of his imminent exit from the ‘progressives bloc’ to pick either governorship or senatorial ticket of another party to perish the thought!
Akintola has therefore described the insinuations gaining currency that he had accepted the offer to flag another party’s ticket for elective office in 2019 as the handiwork of busy bodies.
According to a correspondence exclusively obtained by Pacesetter News, Akintola wondered why some unnamed individuals were crying more than the bereaved.
His position in the said letter was later corroborated by his media assistant, Ayodele Olaitan who said: “please, take my words, Chief Adeniyi Akintola SAN, remains in APC, he has been in the progressive movement all through his political life, even in the face of death, noting can change his political orientation as a progressive minded politician.
“Chief Adeniyi Akintola SAN did not obtain any political party nomination form for any elective office. Please ignore the rumour,” Olaitan added.
Chief Akintola himself had earlier written to his associates as follows: “Just now I got a call from my respected compatriots, Senator Teslim Folarin and Dr Fola Akinosun seeking confirmation from me over my “purported” Senate ambition. I wouldn’t know why anyone would want to shave my head behind me. I have not obtained Senatorial form of any political party nor entered into any pact for political alliance with anyone.
“I have set for myself a standard of political behaviour below, which I can never descend no matter the circumstances. I had invested so much of my energies, intellectual and professional resources into the progressive family set up. I cannot take a unilateral decision on my next political steps without wide spread consultations with the gate keepers of progressive ideals. Yes the last one week has been traumatic for me.
“I have been approached by various interest groups and political parties with offers of Oyo South Senatorial ticket. Some budding political parties offered their Governorship tickets for free and at no costs to me but I have not given anyone or any political party my consent or approval.
“I am still a bona fide member of APC and besides, there are some characters I cannot associate with politically. Judging by my political antecedents and pedigree, people should appreciate this truism and even in my absence should vow for me. For those who have axe to grind with the political establishment in the state, I appreciate their constitutional rights to be aggrieved and freedom of movements but sad to say that I don’t take panadol for someone else headache.
“Yes I have been wronged and betrayed to the point of perfidy but I have a principle that is very dear to me. In fact it is a concept called “Omoluabi” in Yoruba land. Our forefathers would say “Ore dao, iwona fe da ore, Odale adimeji”. I would not allow the pernicious act of one to cross the lines against the noble ones.
“I appreciate all and sundry who have been trailing me in the last one week and even those that ignored me. You will all hear from me very soon and I will sure not disappoint you. The truth is that I have been out of the country since Wednesday and I am due back from Europe today. So long and God bless,” Akintola maintained.

Polaris Bank Absorbs 61 Graduate-Trainee from its Ibadan Business School

By
Peter Ayoade
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By Our Reporter
The Group Managing Director of the Polaris Bank Limited, Mr. Tokunbo Abiru over the weekend expressed optimism that the bank formerly Skye Bank Plc would transform into one of the best five in the industry within the next five years.
He spoke at the graduation of 61 graduate trainees of Polaris Business School, held at Polaris Bank Training School, Jericho GRA, Ibadan.
 
Notwithstanding the recent development, Mr. Abiru assured that under his watch, the bank’s current asset and deposit would triple in a couple of years.

Abiru premised this resolve on the continued implementation of the July 2016 regulatory intervention to include entrenching sound corporate governance and risk management practices and transforming Polaris into full fledged retail and commercial bank with strong digital backing.

He added that the Polaris bank boasted of a strong market share going by several transformative business initiatives and remained one of the most liquid and most capitalized banks in Nigeria.

“We are a systemically important bank and we also currently rank number nine in the banking industry, so our emphasis will be on all the improvements we have achieved in terms of corporate governance which has laid a very strong foundation for us, very robust risk management.

“What we see in the future is a bank that in the next three to five years is one of the first five banks in Nigeria; a fully fledged retail bank with strong digital backing. So our stakeholders will get more of enhanced values which are clearly different from the bank of the past.

“What we see in the next five years is a stronger retail and commercial with an underpinning for digital transformation. I see a major transformation of the bank. Part of the initiatives we continue to deliver following the July 2016 regulatory intervention include stabilizing the institution, entrenching sound corporate governance and risk management practices, and the restoration of depositors’ confidence,” Abiru said.

He also tasked the graduating students on commitment to service, problem solving, economic development of the country and on the need to place high premium on ethics and corporate governance.

“We are building the foundation of our financial institution and the bedrock has to be training. We must let them know the values they should stand for and the kind of understanding that they must bring to bear when they are coming into the real world. It’s about inculcating our values in the new set of graduates that we are bringing on board.

“They have to buy into the values of the institution and topmost on that is the need to place high premium on ethics and corporate governance.

In their remarks, two of the newly employed staff of Polaris bank, Chinonso Nwakaudu and Sandra Onachukwu, lauded the training for teaching them work-life balance; how to manage people, tolerance and resilience.

2019 Race: Why I didn’t join ADC, PDP, Says Alao-Akala

By
Peter Ayoade
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“They ought to come to me and say excuse sir, you are owing so so amount and I would have told them that we have been paying only that we need to streamline the payments. We have been paying to the local government in charge and in fairness to the said council, they are in charge.”
Former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala and 2019 gubernatorial candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala on Monday said the fear of the unknown and perceived ideological differences stopped him from rejoining his former party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and another opposition party, African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Pacesetter News recalls its recent publication on how Alao-Akala met with his erstwhile boss, Senator Rashidi Ladoja to discuss possible ways of working together ahead of the 2019. The recent 60minutes parley between the two leaders was held behind closed door in the Ladoja house, five days to the governorship primary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) which Alao-Akala boycotted.
Speaking at a Yoruba interview programme on Lagelu FM 96.7 monitored by this reporter, Alao-Akala pointedly declared that, “once beaten is twice shy”.
According to him, moving to either PDP or ADC after he boycotted the APC governorship primary that produced a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Bayo Adelabu may end up exposing him to another round of unpalatable experience likening to be ‘from frying pan to fire.’
Said he, “I have seen what APC did to us and we must be highly cautious this time. Abinitio, we didn’t join APC because of positions and I told my supporters too that they shouldn’t expect much there. I, however hinted that if we were offered positions, we would accept them.
“I have been governor before and there is nothing new in my aspiration again if not for the need to heed the clarion call of the masses. I have left the APC and I am now in Action Democratic Party.”
Asked why he didn’t join forces with the PDP flagbearer, Engr. Seyi Makinde, he replied thus: “I am his senior in PDP and we left same time. He has gone back to PDP. He is a gifted personality with the rare gift of bringing people together. But maybe because of the people around him, he didn’t listen to advice. I can’t join forces with PDP this time around although no permanent enemy or friends in politics.”
On the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Alao-Akala said, “LAUTECH issue normally brings sadness to me because I saw it’s current problems coming when I was in office and that was why I moved to severe the relationship with Osun. We have shared our assets before I left but I became worried when the government of the day reviewed it and this is where it has led us.”
On the shutting down of his business complex ‘Ile Itesiwaju in Dugbe business district’ of Ibadan, Alao-Akala said he called the attention of the Oyo SSG to it and he denied the government’s knowledge about it. And for me, among animals, they have leaders. Among humans, it is the same. I have been a leader here in the state and nobody can wish that away. And as Yorubas, we should know how we treat ourselves with respect.
“They ought to come to me and say excuse sir, you are owing so so amount and I would have told them that we have been paying only that we need to streamline the payments. We have been paying to the local government in charge and in fairness to the said council, they are in charge.”
Asked to reintroduce himself, Alao-Akala said “My names are Chief Dr. Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala (a.k.a ATM).
The inquisitive moderators further sought his clarification on his alias ‘ATM’ and he jokingly said people believe once they get to him for assistance, he readily offers to help and nicknamed him as ATM machine. And he did confirm on air that he loves being called ATM or Oyato Governor.

Despite Hiccups in Oyo ADC, Sharafadeen Alli Optimistic of Party’s Victory

By
Peter Ayoade
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Despite hiccups and misunderstanding that trailed the choice of candidates especially gubernatorial in Oyo state chapter of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), one of its gubernatorial aspirants, Chief Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli on Monday said the party would still win the 2019 elections in the state.

A press statement by his Director of Media and Publicity, Comrade Taiwo Ibrahim said Sharafadeen also expressed his appreciation to the teeming members of the party who thronged out in large numbers at the venue of the party primaries yesterday to elect a candidate of their choice.

Sharafadeen observed that despite the hot weather, the people still expressed their unflinching love for the party and ready to partake in a democratic process that will carry their flag.

The gubernatorial hopeful also appreciated the doggedness of the members of the National Executive Committee as well as that of the state executive of the party for their desire to entrench an unparalleled democratic process as a cardinal principle to bring a new order to Oyo State politics.

He said this couldn’t have been much better if not for the experience and the steadfastness of all the leaders of the party to have a a party that will serve as a model for others to worship.

He stressed that in politics, there will always be paramount issues to arise and the ability to put them in right perspectives make people to distinguish the bron from the brain.

“Let’s appeal for calm as a glorious dawn has come and we shall all have cause to glorify our God,” Sharafadeen Alli concluded.

Expect Quick Resolution of Gubernatorial Candidate, Others, Ladoja Tells Oyo ADC Members

By
Peter Ayoade
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Former Governor of Oyo State and the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Rashidi Ladoja has said that he was aware of the anxiety that pervaded the atmosphere over the October 7th INEC’s deadline for the conduct of primaries.
High Chief Ladoja, according to a statement issued by his spokesman, Alhaji Lanre Latinwo stated that he is working round the clock to find lasting solutions to all the issues.
He therefore assured members that all anxieties would be addressed and resolved within the next few days.
Ladoja also called on all members ‘to please remain calm.’
Pacesetter News recalls the charged atmosphere at Premier hotel Ibadan on Sunday following disagreements on the choice of the gubernatorial candidate of the party.
The development led to the announcement of a national officer of ADC, Dr. Dele Ajadi as the Oyo state protem gubernatorial candidate pending the amicable resolution of the impasse.

PRIMARIES: Oyo APC Youths Petition Oshiomhole, INEC Over Ibadan North Federal, State Constituencies

By
Peter Ayoade
-

Concerned youths in Ibadan North chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state have petitioned the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party over the imposition of candidates to represent them in the forthcoming federal and state house of assembly elections.

The youths who expressed their displeasure over the decision of Governor Abiola Ajimobi to impose candidates on the party for the 2019 general elections, also copied the state chapter of the party; its national party headquarters and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The governor’s action, according to their petition, a copy of which was made available to Pacesetter News, “is contrary to the resolution proposed by the Governor on the 9th of September 2018 and agreed to by all aspirants for Federal House of Representatives and State House of Assembly to adopt the indirect primaries method for the election of candidates to the various legislative positions.

“This action of imposition is not in the spirit of democracy as all aspirants purchased nomination forms and also expended resources in campaigning for the primaries, only to be told by the Governor on the day of the primaries (October 3rd ) that aspirants must step down for each other and support the candidate he (governor) has anointed.

“We as loyal party members are not only worried, but aggrieved by the actions of the Governor as this disregard for the party constitution and resolution reached with aspirants on the 9th of September has caused a lot of disaffection within the rank and file of party members which does not augur well for the fortunes of the party in the upcoming elections in 2019.

“Party members in Ibadan North Local Government are today in disarray and confused because the Governor decided to impose his chief detail (Saheed Aderonmu Adeshina) who joined the party about three months ago and he is unknown to a majority of party members prior to his declaration for House of Representatives.

“Saheed Aderonmu Adeshina is from Oyo town and not Ibadan. The Governor also directed other Federal aspirants to step down their ambitions and offered them the 2 House of Assembly tickets in Ibadan North Local Government.

“This unilateral action has therefore denied the 13 House of Assembly aspirants who purchased forms and campaigned vigorously in the expectations that there will be Indirect Primaries as adopted in Oyo State for electing candidates for the upcoming elections in 2019.

“We are writing this petition to formally put on record that there was no primaries elections in Ibadan North Local Government for both Federal House of Representatives and State House of Assembly.

“Against this background, we want to appeal to the National Working Committee and the National Chairman of the party to please redress this great anomaly and injustice,” the petition stated.

Those who signed the petition are Adewunmi Adepoju (Ward 12); Aliu Segun (Ward 11); Rauf Nurudeen (Ward 3); Iyiola Taiwo (Ward 3); Baba Ibadan (Ward 6); Abdullahi Ayodeji; Esther Adedokun (Ward 6); Abubakar Ibrahim (Ward 5); Oyedokun Abel (Ward 3)
Usman Ishola (Ward 5); Taiwo Akeem (Ward 12); Ibrahim Murphy (Ward 12)
Lamidi Kazeem (Ward 12); Amina Oke (Ward 11) and their Secretary, Usman Ishola.

Alao-Akala: My Son Not a Bastard, Can’t Accept to be Running Mate of Bayo Adelabu

By
Peter Ayoade
-

A Former Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala on Saturday spoke on the insinuations making the rounds that Governor Abiola Ajimobi was planning to make his son, Olamiju Alao, emerge as the running mate to the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bayo Adelabu. He described it as ‘laughable, unfounded and diversionary’.

The former Governor who was a guest of a Yoruba programme ‘Bosenlo’ on Lagelu FM in Ibadan said Olamiju, currently serving as the elected Chairman, Ogbomoso North local government would never accept to be Adelabu’s running mate.
Alao-Akala, one of the gubernatorial aspirants of the APC ahead of 2019 race boycotted last Sunday governorship primary which produced Adelabu as potential Ajimobi’s successor.
Represented on the programme by one of his associates, Chief Wale Ohu, Otunba Alao-Akala said his son was not a bastard and would never accept such an offer to deride him. He then catalogued many failed promises of Ajimobi to him in Oyo APC.
Alao-Akala disclosed that the governor has never honoured their pact as spelt out by the National leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu that both should superintend the party for the good of the members and future electoral successes.
He alleged that the governor has been sidelining his supporters in the running of the party at all levels; non-provision of appointments for them to serve as Commissioners or as Boards’ Chairmen and the highhandedness in the running of the party activities which climaxed with the gubernatorial primary he boycotted.
On the next line of action, he said
God would show him the way, though there are reports that he may likely emerge as the gubernatorial candidate of Action Democratic Party (ADP) within the next 24hours, to meet up with the October 7th date set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for all political parties to conduct primaries and present candidates for elective offices in 2019.

No President Globally Can be as Irresponsible as Nigerian President, Says Kukah

By
Peter Ayoade
-

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, has said that no President of any country in the world can be as irresponsible in the usage of power as a Nigerian president.

He made this known in Akure, Ondo State on Friday while delivering the annual Ulefunta/Oyemekun Festival lecture entitled “Building blocks for a good society” held at the Francis Idibiye Lecture hall of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).

According to Kukah, the structure of the Nigerian presidential office makes the holders of the office extremely powerful, so much that he can deploy power the way he want.

“No president in the world has the kind of power the Nigerian president has and as such, no president in the world can be as irresponsible as the Nigerian president. His power is so much that he can give oil bloc to his girlfriend and many others. You thus can’t be a man of honour and live in a country like Nigeria and not be angry,” he said.

Kukah said that from the first Nigerian Prime Minister, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa to President Muhammadu Buhari, virtually all of them were dragged into the presidential office, maintaining that this was unlike the presidency of the United States of America where the president does not emerge by circumstance.

“What is the problem? It is the dilemma of leadership. In America, there are basic expectations of what  a president should be. For instance, he must have gone through Harvard as an institution, he must have language and track records, not even wealth. You can’t surprise the system. Here in Nigeria, local government chairman wants to be governor; the governor wants to be president and the president doesn’t want to go! Many states have two governors representing them at the National Assembly. Governors have control and monopoly of resources of state and they use same resources to oppress them,” he said.

Kukah, who said that the Nigerian society is in ferment, maintained that although Instability, the type that Nigeria faces as a country is inevitable in any system, however said that developing mechanisms that will confront the instability is the hallmark of great countries.

“In Nigeria, it is not a question of looking for trouble because trouble is already here. The Nigerian state has no capacity to protect itself and there is no loyalty to Nigeria from its citizens but to those who help individuals to get to positions in the system,”  he said.

Kukah however singled two former Nigerian leaders out of the leadership rot, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Alhaji Aminu Kano, whom he called “architects of a good society.”

“Awolowo, for his major quintessential evidence as somebody who already figured out what he would do with power if he got it. He understood the building blocks for an egalitarian society. Aminu Kano single handedly took on the feudal class in Northern society and had a deep understanding of society, even as he textually talked about a free society in a way and manner that didn’t offend religion,” he said.

While stating that it is not enough for a people to have the building blocks of a good society alone, Kukah also maintained that Nigeria has not been able to build a good society because the country has not obeyed the rules of design.

“We have to understand the building blocks of society which is not too different from the rules of building a house. A good society is not different from the building blocks of society. When a building collapses, it didn’t collapse in a day. It began to collapse a long time ago. For us to build a good society, we have to have eyes that monitor the needs, growth and development and feelings of that society. Then you can be sure of the quality of that society,” he said.

While reviewing the lecture, Professor Kole Omotoso, lauded Kukah for what he called a very profound lecture and said that the only point of departure he had in the lecture was Kukah’s submission that education has the potential to remedy the problems of Nigeria’s existence.

Guests at the occasion included the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, the chairman of the occasion, and many others.

 

 

Oyo ADC Fumes Over Imposition, Consensus Arrangement to Pick Candidates

By
Peter Ayoade
-

With less than 72hours to the deadline in presenting candidates for elective offices to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by all political parties, the Oyo state chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) appears undecided over mode of primary to undertake in presenting candidates for the 2019 elections.

A press release issued by the party’s PRO, on Thursday, Comrade Adedapo Ademola bears it all.

 

Read details below…

 

PRESS RELEASE:
THE POSITION OF THE ADC OYO EXECUTIVES ON THE CONDUCT OF THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS IN OYO STATE.

Good afternoon.

Upon assuming office as officers of the greatest party in Oyo State being the African Democratic Congress (ADC), our major task was to mend all hitherto broken fences, harmonize all warring factions and give a solid backing to every development-oriented programmes calculated to bringing electoral victory to our great party in the forthcoming elections coming up in Oyo State.

Political interests such as Labour Party, Accord Party, CNM, Unity Forum, Old ADC, some PDP members and other political groups came together and berthed ADC. Then we believed that to achieve a major breakthrough as a political party, all factions must forge a common front and speak a common language without any discord or fractionalization. That was the philosophical underpinning behind the emergence of the ADC in Oyo State.

However recent developments in recent times in our dear party shows that the conduct of some persons within the party is now becoming overbearing.

Some days ago the national leadership of our great party sent in the guidelines for party screening and primary elections for the 2019 general elections.

This document was ably signed by Chief Anayo Arinze the national coordinator of electoral matters and INEC liaison. Inherent on the face of the guideline is the fact that the National Working Committee of our great party desires a rancour free primary elections and even left it at the discretion of the State to choose the mode of primary elections we want to take provided it will aid in winning elections.

 

It is most saddening to posit sagaciously that despite the provisions of paragraph 1 of the guidelines empowering the State Working Committee to set up the 7 man State Primary Election Local Organizing Committee, officers from the national level in connivance with some persons within the state went ahead to turn the selection of the committee into an esoteric and mysterious subject. Names were imposed on the Oyo State Working Committee without dues consultation with the leadership of the party at the state level.

Current events point to the fact that all the representatives of the national Working committee did was to play a divide and rule game with the state executives by selecting members of the State executives and coopting them as members of the primary elections committee without consulting the State chairman. This is with respect, not healthy for the survival and unity of the party. It is an effrontery on the authority of the state chairman.

Without donning the garb of preposterousness, it is also apt to posit that the 7 man election local organizing committee had been operating within Oyo State without carrying the state chairman along. It defies all political permutations and commonsense for national officers of the party to visit a state without paying a courtesy call to the state leadership of the party most especially when the national officers are even from Oyo State. Attitudes such as these are tantamount to injuring the goodwill, unity, zeal and oneness of the party.

All things being equal, though paragraph 8 of the electoral guideline of the party provides that the decision of the national Working Committee shall be final on all primary elections, it is also provided in the same guidelines that particularly at paragraph 13 that simple majority of aspirants in each state shall decide on the electoral system at a pre-election meeting that shall be conducted by the state primary election Committee with the state working committee members as observers. It is not only unfortunate but most unfortunate that the electoral Committee is bent on imposing candidates on every other aspirants as there is no move by the electoral Committee to either work in partnership with the state working committee or call all aspirants to know their wishes on the kind of primary elections they prefer.

I say this without any spirit of immodesty that the only means of allowing and maintaining the unity of all groups comprising the ADC and to also ensure fair play among all aspirants is to allow transparency and democracy come to play. Every aspirants and every stakeholders must be carried along.

 

The general consensus is to allow the members of the state working committee perform their duties. Any imposition attempts by anybody will not lead anywhere. All blocs, groups and interests must be protected. We hereby urge those concerned to consider the statement of the greatest President of America of all time Abraham Lincoln when he said in quote: “I shall do more whenever I believe what am doing helps the course. I shall do less whenever I believe what am doing hurts the course. I shall correct errors when shown to be errors and I shall adopt new views so far as they appear to be true views.

To this effect, the State Working Committee of the African Democratic Congress Oyo State hereby resolves as follows:

1. That no primary election has been conducted into any political office within the Party and as such any form of imposition from any quarter is outrightly illegal. No form of imposition or consensus candidate should be adopted so as to give room for internal democracy within the party.

2. That the Oyo State Executive committee of ADC hereby dissociates itself from any kangaroo consensus candidates into any political office of the party.

3. That both the Oyo State Primary Election Local Organizing Committee and the State Working Committee will meet within the next 24 hours to fine-tune the modalities for the meeting with all aspirants in the party to determine the type of primary elections the aspirants desire.

4. That members of the Oyo state Working Committee are set to partner with the national working committee in a bid to achieving the much desired result of winning all elections in Oyo State come 2019.

5. That all stakeholders within the party be fully and maximally carried along.
It is our strong belief that all these factors put together will strongly position the party well ahead of the 2019 elections without any internal wrangling. It is better to err on the side of surplus than err on the side of decrease.

SIGNED

Comrade ADEDAPO ADEMOLA
State PRO
African Democratic Congress
Oyo State

 

PZ Wilmar Launches Devon King’s Seasoning Cubes in Ibadan

By
Peter Ayoade
-
The PZ Wilmar has launched a new product in Ibadan ‘Devon King’s seasoning cubes’ to breach the nutrients gap in food consumption with lesser spending by the family.

The management of the company said the latest product has been imbued with the 30 percent recommended daily allowance for healthy living in food intakes.

A representative of the management, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Popoola Dania said Devon King’s Seasoning Cubes comprises 15percent zinc and another 15 percent iron to cater for the health needs of the families.

Dania said the company chose Ibadan for the flag-off because of the love residents of the city; neighbouring Abeokuta, Osogbo and other cities closer to Ibadan have in Mamador products over the years.

With improved taste, and edible variants, Dania said the new product requires no condiments to give consumers value for their money.

Dania further remarked that Devon King’s seasoning cubes was specially formulated to reduce money being spent on cooking.

She said even without chicken or beef, consumers can still enjoy every semblance of their taste required in their food consumption adding that, “Devon King’s chicken cubes remains the best in the market for all types of meals or cooking”.

At the official launch in Ibadan were Chioma Mbanugo (Category Marketing Manager), Ipsit Chakrabarti (Sales Director), PZ Wilmar Foods Ltd, Matanmi Abideen (Regional Sales Manager); Austin Ezeji (Regional Sales Manager); Adesina Segun (Head of Sales, Neighborhood Market); and Mohit Kumar (Head of Sales, Open Market).

A consumer, Dr. Adeyoola Olaitan recommended the new product for young and old.

#Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect new details

Akin Fagbemi Flees PDP Primary with Delegates, Supporters over Threat to Lives

By
Peter Ayoade
-

A Federal House of Representatives aspirant for Ibadan North West and Ibadan South West constituency and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mogaji Akin Fagbemi on Wednesday fled from the primary of the party at the NTC area of Iyaganku Sharp corner in Ibadan when thugs numbering over 200 stormed the venue and threatened to kill his supporters and delegates should anyone cast votes for him.

A message which read “Vote Akin Fagbemi, vote for Acid. Vote Akin Fagbemi, vote for death” was severally received by delegates believed to be sympathetic to him and this made him to alert the police and the DSS.

Sensing that the security agents appeared helpless, Fagbemi with scores of his supporters told journalists at an hideout in Ibadan that they had to run for their lives.

Fagbemi regretted that the PDP that he and a few others started its rebuilding process since July, 2015 through various empowerment programmes and supports to party members in the state have been hijacked for selfish ends by those who came to join later.

He recalled how the party chairman in Ibadan South West and a State Officer of PDP in connivance with some elders in the area threatened to deal with him should he go ahead with his ambition, a threat he rebuffed, believing that “in a democracy, people’s votes should count not knowing that desperadoes would not allow free, fair and credible election to bring out the best candidate.”

Akin Fagbemi added: “200 thugs armed to the teeth were brought to the venue of the primary and they were all over the place threatening to kill or maim whoever identify with me. They came with liquid contents suspected to be acids. We are law abiding people and we left the venue for them. We wrote a letter to the committee that we cannot go to this primary unless security was provided abinitio and our fears were later confirmed with the threats to my life and those of my supporters.

“He who fights and run away, lives to fight another day and I also believe that tough times never last but tough people do. God’s promise for us shall come into fruition in the fullness of time,” Fagbemi averred.

Chief Akin Fagbemi who hailed from Ibadan North West has therefore called on his supporters and well wishers to remain calm and await the next line of action as he could no longer cohabit with ‘desperadoes’ in a party he used his hard-earn wealth and energies to labour hard to rebuild in Ibadan North West and Ibadan South West constituency.

Housewife Begs Court for Divorce After Pregnant for Another Man in Ibadan

By
Peter Ayoade
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A housewife, Jelilat Mustapha on Tuesday secured a judgment of a Customary Court in Ibadan for dissolution of her eighth year-old marriage with her husband, Moshood Mustapha after she became pregnant for another lover.

 

Moshood had told the court that divorcing his wife was a bitter pill difficult to swallow for him but since she had been impregnated by her lover, he had no choice.

 

In suit no 394/2018 filed by Jelilat, she claimed that her husband was wicked, crude and stubborn who can never  be pleased.

 

The mother of three who said her husband failed to pay bride price on her, insisted that she regretted knowing Moshood, let alone marrying him.

 

She alleged that Moshood had attempted to set her belongings ablaze before the intervention of their neighbours.

 

Jelilat said she moved out of his house when she discovered that he was not ready to change his ways. “I am no more interested in him. One of our children is with me while the other two are with him. I cannot cope  with him any longer.  I want this court to separate us so that I can enjoy my life.”

 

Reacting to her allegations, Moshood said he loved his wife so much but since she had been impregnated by her lover, he was no more interested.

 

He said: “my lord, we never had grudges before I left home for work that very day but to my surprise, she moved out of my house without my consent. Meanwhile, I warned her against the caliber of friends she is keeping. Those friends taught her wayward life. There was a time she left my house and I accepted her back a year later because I loved her.  She finally left my house in 2016 and to my surprise, she is carrying another man’s baby now.  I am no more interested,” Moshood said.

 

The president of the court, Chief Ademola Odunade dissolved the marriage and granted custody of the last child of the family to the plaintiff, while he ordered the defendant to take care of the other children.

 

Buhari Gets APC Delegates’ Nod for 2nd Term in Senate

By
Peter Ayoade
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With affirmation and unanimous consent of over 97% of the delegates in Oyo North senatorial district of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, has won the second term ticket of the party ahead of the 2019 general election.

Buhari who was declared unopposed, got 3,599 out of 3,997 delegates accredited for the primary election held on Tuesday in Iseyin area of Oyo state.

The exercise which was conducted by representatives of the National body of the party like Mr. Ejiro Etaghene, Dr Hassim Adda and Sarah Egye Amiyawa, was supervised by security agencies and members of staff of Independent National Electoral commission (INEC).

The affirmation which started around 10pm lasted few hours with all the delegates making voice affirmation and declaring total support for Senator Buhari’s return to the senate.

Dr. Adda lauded the delegates for their patience and understanding and urged them not to relent in their effort in ensuring that APC win subsequent elections in the state.

He maintained that the party was poised to strengthen democracy and make life better for all and sundry in the country through provision of basic amenities, infrastructural development and creating enabling environment for promotion of commerce and industry.

In his acceptance speech, Senator Buhari thanked the party leaders and members for entrusting him with their votes and pledged not to disappoint them.

“In 2014, we did the same exercise here and you supported me, and pray for me to succeed, together we have been able to achieve what we are able to do so far in the area of empowerment, infrastructural development and legislative duties.”

“Today you have demonstrated another level of courage and believe in me to further represent you at the upper chamber of the National Assembly and I want to assure you that you will not regret it because I wont betray the confidence you repose in me”

“I will continue to work to enhance the progress of my constituents and constituency in accordance with the party manifesto to promote the integrity and ideology of APC”.

AgricOyo: Oyo Cultivates 24 Hectares of Grains

By
Peter Ayoade
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The Oyo State Government has cultivated 24 hectares of maize grains under the Oyo Agricultural Initiative (AgricOyo) in the 2018 planting season.

 

The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Mr. Oyewole Oyewumi, during his inspection to the farm at Paapo village, Iseyin noted that agricultural practices under the present administration in the state has moved from the olden method to mechanized farming which has facilitataed many agro-allied investors in the state.

 

Mr. Oyewumi, at the farm cultivated by Iseyin Local Government, explained that efforts of the government in the Agricultural sector cannot be visible within the short period of time like the construction of roads, saying that the AgricOyo initiative is a systematic approach which has started yielding a positive result with the cultivation of the 24 hectares of grains.

 

The Commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Victor Atilola stated that AgricOyo is one of Governor Ajimobi’s agricultural initiatives aimed at improving job creation, poverty alleviation and food security through massive engagement of human and material resources through the agricultural value chain to position the state as the food basket of the Southern States.

 

He said the vision of Governor Ajimobi in launching the AgricOyo in 2016 has made people appreciate the importance of mechanized farming, saying that this is contrary to insinuation that the programme is a waste as it has started yielding results.

 

Mr. Oyewumi commended Iseyin Local Government for complementing the efforts of the state government in achieving its vision for AgricOyo, enjoining other agrarian local governments and the general public to imbibe the spirit of farming as agriculture is the bedrock of the nation.

 

In his address, the Chairman, Iseyin Local Government, Hon. Yekini Akanni speaking through the Vice Chairman, Hon. Adeniyi Adekunle, appreciated Governor Abiola Ajimobi for launching the AgricOyo in his Local Government, saying that he has been working earnestly to ensure that the initiative yielded positive results.

 

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Head of Iseyin Local Government Administration, (HLA), Mr Taiwo Adewale pointed out that Paago was the root of Agric Oyo in 2016 which has assisted the development of  Iseyin Local Government.

 

He therefore commended the State, Local Government and his team for a job well-done in the realization of this landmark among the agrarian local governments in the state.

 

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