Politics
2023: Alaafin endorses Tinubu for president
T he ambition of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu got a boost on Monday as the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III endorsed the candidacy of the former Lagos state governor for the office of the President of Nigeria in 2023.
The revered monarch, Oba Adeyemi announced his endorsement of Tinubu while receiving in Courtesy visit delegation of South West Agenda (SWAGA ’23), a group of rainbow coalition of like minded politicians of South West extraction, in his palace.
The group, led by a former Minister, Prince Dayo Adeyeye also had, former Senator Adesoji Akanbi, Otunba Abayomi Ogunnusi; Hon. Bosun Oladele, Alhaja Kafilat Ogbara, Tinubu’s son in-law, Oyetunde Ojo; Toba Oke, son to former Lagos State Governor, Deji Jankande; former Secretary to the State Government in Ondo State, Abegunde Abena; Mutiu Okunola, and Makinde Rotimi among others; as its members.
SWAGA’s agenda is to mobilize all well meaning South-Westerners to encourage, market and support the candidature of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the office of the President of Nigeria in 2023.
Oba Adeyemi, who declared that he believed in the mission of the group, also added that its mission is well thought of, noting that covenant is very important, which must be fulfilled either written or not.
He warned, “In Yoruba land, covenant is very important. We believe that with law of retributive justice, if you break covenant the repercussion is great. You may think it (race for 2023) is too early but it is never too early to start”.
The custodian of culture, who decried the spate of insecurity in the country further submitted , “you said you have defeated Bokoharam technically. You also made various claims , but the point is that nothing has happened, people are being killed. The latest of such was last week, the Boko Haram knelt people down and slaughtered them like goats. We cannot continue like that.
“If you want to have a country that is forward moving, there must be federal system of government. There is no sincerity in Nigeria politics, lack of fate in the political arrangement of Nigeria is one of the major set back facing the country.
“Things have not changed in this country; there is insincerity. We need to have a president who can listen.
“We have not been fortunate to have the kind of president that we deserve. We are the first to build skyscraper, cocoa industry, we had always been ahead. Money was used for the purpose for which it was meant for, so we were prepared and developing. If education during the time of Chief Obafemi Awolwo was on concurrent list, there would not have been free primary education in the South-West.
“I said it at different fora that the illiterates cannot govern the literates, it cannot work. If the Queen of England was invited to the Parliament, she must appear.
“Your mission is well thought of, be strong, hopeful and your aspiration shall be met
“I believe in your mission. The Yoruba believe that everything that you want to do requires prayers. I pray that you will succeed in this mission”, Oba Adeyemi concluded.
Earlier in his remarks, the former Minister of Works , Prince Adeyeye explained that SWAGA’s goal is driven by desire for a common front to push the Yoruba Agenda for leadership of Nigeria.
He maintained that there is an agreement in both APC and PDP that the Presidency should be a rotational between the North and the South. The APC chieftain,also added that after the eight years of President Buhari, it is the turn of South, comprising of the South-west, South-south and South-east geo-political zones
In his words, “Today, we are at home. Our mission is political. Politics has started and everyone is scrambling. We, the Yoruba people, see it as our turn because it is the agreement that presidency would be rotational. We have both written and unwritten contracts. After President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years, it is the turn of the Yoruba.
“In the South, we have South-East, South-South and South-West. We have a joker in the South-West and the joker is Asiwaju Bola Tinibu, who was part of the struggle for democracy. I was the Media Adviser the late MKO Abiola. There are fundamentals of governance and we want someone who is versed in politics to go into the race. We see that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has the clout and he is qualified. As experienced politicians, we see that Tinubu is qualified.
“After MKO Abiola, who defeated his opponent in his ward, Senator Tinubu is the only person who can pull the stunts. We are here on our own accord We were not sent by Asiwaju but we believe in him”, Prince Adeyeye added.
Leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo South Senatorial District have endorsed a member of the House of Representatives, Aderemi Oseni, as their consensus candidate for the 2027 senatorial election.
The endorsement was announced on Wednesday at a stakeholders’ meeting held at Alice Hall, Ibadan, with party leaders, stakeholders, local government chairmen and state executive members from the nine local government areas in attendance.
The councils represented at the meeting are Ibadan North, Ibadan North-East, Ibadan North-West, Ibadan South-East, Ibadan South-West, Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa North and Ido.
The stakeholders expressed satisfaction with Oseni’s aspiration, describing it as timely, credible and anchored on tested leadership and grassroots appeal.
Those present at the meeting included Chief Timothy Jolaoso (Ibarapa East); Alhaji Kamorudeen Ajisafe (Ido); Chief Abdulrauf Bello (Ido); Alhaji Muili Oluokun (Ibadan North-West); Alhaji Mufutau Adisa (Ibadan South-East); Alhaji Bello Oladeji (Ibadan North); Prince Gbade Lana (Ibadan North-East); Engr. Olatunji (Ibadan South-West); Comrade Wale Gbadamosi (Ibarapa North); and Alhaja Moji Adetona (Ibarapa Central).
Other party officials in attendance were the senatorial chairman, Alhaji Mojeed Adebayo; the secretary, Fatai Adesina; Welfare Officer, Sunday Babalola; Deputy Women Leader, Alhaja Fatimah Hassan; Auditor, Alhaja Tinu Adigun; Youth Leader, Lekan Adebayo; Ex-Officio member, Kola Amoo; Treasurer, Lateef Ajiboye; and Senatorial Youth Leader, Olalekan Olowe.
A chieftain of the party in Ibadan North Local Government, Hon. Shina Alabi, moved the motion for the lawmaker’s endorsement, which was seconded and unanimously adopted by the stakeholders.
Alabi said Oseni’s decision to abide by President Bola Tinubu’s directive to step down his governorship ambition for the senatorial race underscored his loyalty and commitment to party unity.
He said, “Hon. Oseni has demonstrated uncommon commitment to the welfare of the people. His leadership style is inclusive, responsive and development-driven. We are convinced that his emergence as the APC candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District will strengthen the party’s chances and guarantee effective representation.”
He also urged party members to remain united and rally behind credible aspirants with proven capacity and electoral value.
In his remarks, Hon. Aderemi Oseni said his decision to pursue the senatorial seat followed the presidential directives, noting that he accepted the decision in the interest of party cohesion, progress and stability. He recalled that he had earlier prepared for the Oyo South senatorial race in the 2023 general elections, having already purchased the nomination and expression of interest forms as part of an arrangement reached, before stepping down following appeals by party leaders.
The lawmaker, who chairs the House Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), said the party must close ranks to reclaim political dominance in the senatorial district.
According to him, “There is a huge task ahead, especially with several House of Representatives seats in the district currently held by the opposition. We must work together, mobilise effectively and secure victory for our party and leader, President Bola Tinubu”.
Oseni thanked party leaders and stakeholders for the confidence reposed in him and assured them of his commitment to advancing the interests of Oyo South Senatorial District.
The meeting also had representatives from all nine local government areas, with about 10 leaders from each council in attendance.
The lawmaker representing Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency of Oyo State, Olafisoye Akinmoyede, has denied allegations of violence at the All Progressives Congress (APC) state secretariat, describing claims that he assaulted a party member as false and politically motivated.
An online platform, IMPARTNEWSNETWORK, had alleged that Akinmoyede assaulted one Gafar Oyebade during a meeting convened by the state chairman of the party, Alake Adeyemo, to resolve issues surrounding the executive list of the APC in Lagelu Local Government Area.
However, Akinmoyede, in a statement on Tuesday, said the meeting was peaceful and attended by key members of the state executive, including the chairman, deputy chairman, and secretary, who witnessed the proceedings.
He clarified that contrary to Oyebade’s claim of being the party secretary, the official list presented by the state leadership recognised him as the Public Relations Officer.
According to the lawmaker, following the clarification, the state executive directed the Lagelu Local Government chairman, Fatai Awoyoola, to proceed with the swearing-in of other party officials.
Akinmoyede also faulted attempts to link the incident with the 2019 killing of a former federal lawmaker, noting that a court of competent jurisdiction had already ruled on the matter.
He said, “In Suit No. I/70c/2019, delivered by Justice Mufutau Adegbola on January 23, 2020, all those accused were discharged and acquitted.”
The lawmaker expressed concern over what he described as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, alleging that Oyebade, a public school teacher under the Oyo State Government, should not be involved in partisan politics.
He described the allegation as a “recycled script” aimed at tarnishing his image ahead of political activities, urging constituents to remain calm.
Akinmoyede also called on journalists to verify information before publication and urged security agencies to take action against individuals who file false reports.
“These tactics surface every election cycle. Those behind them should learn to accept the outcomes of political processes. They failed before and will fail again. Power comes from God,” he added.
The lawmaker representing Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Olafisoye Akinmoyede, has denied allegations of assault levelled against him by a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagelu Local Government Area, Mr. Gafar Oyebade.
Akinmoyede described the allegation as “false” and “a lie taken too far,” insisting that no physical altercation occurred.
The denial was contained in a statement issued on Monday by his Legislative Aide, Dr. Isiaq Akintunde.
Oyebade had alleged that he was hospitalised following a confrontation during a meeting held at the office of the state party chairman in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, convened to resolve a leadership dispute in the local government.
But the federal lawmaker maintained that the meeting was peaceful and attended by top party officials.
“The meeting was convened to clarify Mr. Oyebade’s position within the local executive, and it was attended by the State Party Chairman, his deputy, the secretary, the publicity secretary, and other key state executives, all of whom witnessed the peaceful proceedings,” the statement read.
He added that contrary to Oyebade’s claim of being the party secretary, the official list presented by the Lagelu Local Government Party Chairman, Hon. Fatai Awoyoola, identified him as the Public Relations Officer.
According to Akinmoyede, the state executive thereafter directed Awoyoola to proceed with the swearing-in of the remaining members of the local government executive.
The lawmaker accused Oyebade of fabricating the allegation to advance political interests.
“I wonder why Mr. Gafar Oyebade, a secondary school teacher, would claim he was assaulted in the presence of the State Executive. This is an attempt to justify money allegedly collected from an aspirant to tarnish my image,” he said.
Akinmoyede further claimed that Oyebade was seen walking freely after the meeting and was not hospitalised as alleged.
He also raised concerns over Oyebade’s involvement in partisan politics, noting that civil servants are restricted from active participation in political activities.
The lawmaker called on security agencies and the media to investigate the incident at the party’s Oke-Ado office to ascertain the veracity of the claims.
Efforts to reach Oyebade for comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
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