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2023: ‘Don’t destabilize your party’, Oyo APC non-align movement cautions Unity Forum, others

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A group, APC Non Align Movement has cautioned the Unity Forum not to constitute itself as agent of destabilization of the unity and progress of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Oyo State.

This was made known in a reaction to the statement issued by the Unity Forum claiming that it was not consulted in the constitution of the zoning committee set up by the Elders’ Advisory Committee ahead of the state congress of the party.

In a release signed by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Hon. Biodun Jonathan Oladejo and made available to journalists, the group said it was surprised and taken aback by the behaviour and dastard acts of a number of groups within the party on the purported zoning committee put in place by the Party’s Elders Advisory Committee headed by Ex-Governor, Adebayo Alao Akala.

It would be recalled that the nine-man adhoc committee was recently inaugurated to work on the modalities of arranging positions into the three senatorial districts with the aim of having a seamless State Congress scheduled for 16th of October, 2021.

The Adhoc Committee was established with a lifespan to terminate immediately after the zoning is made and popularly accepted.

According to the group, “what is more annoying is that a serving Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who hails from Ogbomoso, the same home state of the Advisory Committee Chairman could be claiming that critical stakeholders were not duly consulted before the decision to inaugurate the adhoc committee was taken while others who are yet to openly associate with the party were consulted.”

“His case must have been that he’s too far from not only the party but his people. The said minister until his appointment never attended any party meeting either in Ogbomoso or the state capital which reflects his indigene-ship by diaspora.

“While the case of the Unity Forum could not be left unattended too, though not a genuine complaint as they claim, two of their leaders were actually listed in the nine-man adhoc committee. The awkward intent of the Unity Forum is to have a sharing formula of 50-50 right from on set as against the Lafia hotel stakeholders generally accepted participation from the ward levels. In this case of State exco congress, what grouse should they have participating in populating a consensus list from their respective zones into the senatorial districts and aggregation at the state? This exercise should make them warm up harmoniously with other recognized stakeholders and elders in their respective zones and senatorial districts. Politics is local.

“The proposal of a 36-man committee as highlighted in their press release could be referred to as a hungry man policy while the various legacy parties that came together as APC and other joiners are more than five in number. How come the Unity Forum which is just a group within the party claims majority and seek 50% sharing formula? Do we need to remind them that they left the party in 2019 and some of them returned after election without winning any polling unit even when they were together? The results of the last general election speak for itself”, the statement said.

It continued, “The nine-man Adhoc committee should as a matter of fact go ahead with the zoning arrangement which should be into senatorial districts ONLY while the stakeholders in each district should work on micro zoning into zones and down to the local government areas. This gives all strata of leadership sense of belonging as the leaders of each LGAs decides on each nominee to zoned positions.

“The committee should also note that their work could be rejected if they go beyond their terms of reference and they must be time conscious as we do not have the luxury of time.

The group also implored the Unity forum and other similar groups to move into their constituencies and work in consensus arrangement as the wish of the party in each Local Government Area because there can never be any percentage sharing formula. Enough is enough, we move”, the statement concluded.

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Oyo Rep, Oseni Pays APC Secretariat Staff Salaries, Donates N10m to Boost Party Operations

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File photo of Hon. Aderemi Oseni

House of Representatives member and Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Engr. Aderemi Oseni, has fulfilled his pledge to support the welfare of the All Progressives Congress (APC) staff in Oyo State.

In a gesture highlighting his commitment, the lawmaker personally funded the salaries of staff at the APC’s Oke Ado Secretariat in Ibadan, reinforcing his dedication to the smooth operation of the party’s activities in the state.

Representing the Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency, Oseni recently visited the secretariat, where he expressed gratitude to party leaders and members for their contributions.

As a further commitment to the smooth operation of the party’s activities, the lawmaker generously donated ten million naira (N10,000,000) as an allowance to enhance the secretariat’s functions.

In a statement released Wednesday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the lawmaker extended appreciation to the secretariat staff, whom he described as the backbone of the party’s daily functions.

He lauded their dedication, noting their essential role in advancing the party’s goals.

“Leadership is about service, and service begins with supporting those who make the party function from within,” Oseni remarked.

“I am proud to honour this commitment to our staff, as they play a crucial role in making our political structures work effectively. This is my way of showing appreciation for their unwavering dedication”, he added.

 

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Oseni Salutes Senator Folarin’s Decades of Service at 61

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Engr. Aderemi Oseni, representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency of Oyo State in the House of Representatives, has paid tribute to former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, on his 61st birthday, celebrating his decades of dedicated service and contributions to Oyo State and Nigeria at large.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, in Ibadan, Oseni, who also serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), lauded Folarin’s unwavering commitment to leadership and the well-being of the people.

Highlighting the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial nominee in the 2023 elections for three terms in the Senate, the lawmaker noted that Folarin’s legacy of service continues to be a guiding light for emerging leaders and a source of inspiration for countless individuals across the state.

“Senator Folarin has built an admirable legacy through years of selfless public service, consistently advocating for progress and unity,” remarked Oseni.

Reflecting on Folarin’s role as the Ikolaba Olubadan of Ibadanland, the lawmaker commended his leadership approach, which has bridged divides, fostered coalitions, and promoted initiatives aimed at stabilising democracy.

“Senator Folarin’s career is an example of visionary leadership,” he added, “and his commitment to public service will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.”

As Senator Folarin marks this milestone, Oseni extended warm wishes for his continued health and success, expressing hope that his exemplary life of service will keep inspiring positive change across the nation.

 

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Ugandan Court Hands Ex-LRA Commander 40-Year Sentence

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In a historic ruling, a Ugandan court on Friday sentenced former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo to 40 years in prison.

This landmark decision, marking the first time a member of the notorious LRA has faced trial for war crimes in a Ugandan court, follows the group’s brutal two-decade insurgency against the Ugandan government.

Kwoyelo, who was convicted in August on 44 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, faced charges including murder, rape, torture, pillaging, abduction, and the destruction of settlements for internally displaced people.

(FILES) Thomas Kwoyelo a commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army rebellion blamed for brutal civilian murders during a 20-year war in the north of the country is brought into a courthouse in the northern Ugandan town of Gulu on July 25, 2011. – A Ugandan court on October 25, 2024 sentenced former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo to 40 years in prison after a landmark war crimes trial over his role in the group’s two-decade reign of terror. The sentence against Kwoyelo, who was convicted on 44 counts of crimes against humanity in August, was announced by Michael Elubu, the lead judge in the case at the court in the northern city of Gulu. (Photo by MICHELE SIBOLINI / AFP)

Michael Elubu, lead judge of the case at the International Crimes Division (ICD) of Uganda’s High Court, delivered the sentence in the northern city of Gulu, underscoring a rare moment of accountability in the decades-long history of the LRA’s violence.

Judge Elubu stated that Kwoyelo retains the right to appeal both his conviction and sentence within 14 days.

Kwoyelo, who was abducted by the LRA at the age of 12 and later rose to a low-level command position within the organization, denied all charges brought against him.

(FILES) Suspected LRA (Lords Resistance Army) member Thomas Kwoyelo is pictured during a pre-trial session at the High Court in Kampala on Februay 1, 2017. – A Ugandan court on October 25, 2024 sentenced former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo to 40 years in prison after a landmark war crimes trial over his role in the group’s two-decade reign of terror. The sentence against Kwoyelo, who was convicted on 44 counts of crimes against humanity in August, was announced by Michael Elubu, the lead judge in the case at the court in the northern city of Gulu. (Photo by GAEL GRILHOT / AFP)

The Lord’s Resistance Army, founded by Joseph Kony in the 1980s, sought to establish a regime based on the Ten Commandments. Under Kony’s leadership, the group unleashed widespread terror across Uganda and neighboring regions, resulting in over 100,000 deaths and the abduction of 60,000 children.

The violence eventually spread to Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the Central African Republic.

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