Connect with us

Politics

2023 Presidency: Tinubu, Olufunmilade lead other Yoruba aspirants to declare interest

Published

on

The race for 2023 general elections has began in earnest.

In the next six months, the presidential candidates of all political parties must have emerged.

The INEC, among other schedule, had fixed February 2023 for the presidential contest. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, every political parties is expected to field a southern candidate, but politics being a game of intrigue and unpredictable, this calculation may change.

Since the current president comes from the North, many are expecting that Buhari’s successor ought to come from the southern part.

Considering the Yoruba extraction of the southern presidency, two aspirants seem to have shown serious interest to contest. Even though, it is being rumored everyday that the vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Ekiti state governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi are interested in the contest, they have not publicly declared their intentions

It is however no longer  news that the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, after his visit to President Mohammadu Buhari last week, had opened up on his aspiration. Now it is no longer vague that the former governor of Lagos will contest 2023 presidential election.

Tinubu, one of the founding fathers of APC is considered a serious contenders. As at today, he is the only Yoruba man to publicly declare his intention on the platform of the party.

He was the governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007 and his tenure is considered as golden era.

Another notable figure, an academic and political scientist, Prof. Femi Olufunmilade has also declared his intention to gun fur presidency.

Olufunmilade is not new in the terrain, he was as well a presidential aspirant in 2019 general elections under the platform of Social Democratic Party (SDP).

“I will be vying for the highest office in Nigeria at the next general elections. I want to rise beyond being sad over the mess this country has become with no hope in sight, to offering our people an alternative path to a government that will do them proud in their lifetime,” Olufunmilade declared.

Olufunmilade, a vocal and ardent supporter of “restructuring” of  Nigeria, was also member of the APC presidential campaign council in 2015 and 2019.

To underline the seriousness of his presidential quest, he has produced a presidential policy book, detailing his programmes for the people of Nigeria in 18 chapters.

The policy book discusses and furnishes remedies to diverse perennial challenges presently confronting Nigeria in diverse sectors.

Another Yoruba aspirant that wants to become president in 2023 is Dr. Adebayo.

The Ondo State born lawyer, recently declared his intention, saying Nigerians will have another opportunity to choose a new leader.

According to him, “we should learn not only the bitter lessons of what the government is doing or failing to do, we should also learn the positive lessons of our ability to make the corrections.

Comments

Politics

From ‘Books to Shops’: Oyo APC Slams Makinde Over ‘Shameful’ Library Conversion

Published

on

 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has criticized the alleged forceful conversion of public reading and learning facilities in Dugbe, Ibadan, into shopping malls and lock-up shops by the state government, describing the development as shameful, ill-conceived, and unacceptable.

 

In a statement released over the weekend by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the APC also raised concerns about the alleged sale of the modern motor park facility at Wema Area on New Ife Road, Ibadan, built during the administration of the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

 

According to the party, the motor park has been sold to a pastor who presides over a popular church near the facility.

 

Residents of Ibadan, the state capital, were reportedly stunned when they noticed the sudden erection of massive private business complexes within the premises of the Oyo State Library Board.

 

The facilities, built by the defunct Western Region government, had served as public libraries and archives for decades, benefitting students, researchers, and tourists until recently.

 

“It is a sad reality that the buildings which used to serve as public libraries and archives in Dugbe axis of Ibadan have now paved the way for the development of commercial and business structures,” Sadare said.

 

“The implication is that education and research development have been relegated to the background in the state by an administration that has done little to address the poor reading culture among young students.”

 

The APC expressed alarm over what it termed the erosion of public heritage under Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration, alleging that public properties are being sold or leased to private individuals and groups under questionable circumstances.

 

“How can a government wake up one day and convert public reading facilities and archives into lock-up shops in the name of making money, thereby subjecting society to the dangers of illiteracy and ignorance?” the statement queried.

 

The party also cited other instances of alleged mismanagement of public assets, including the concession of OYSADEP Guest House in Saki and Agbowo Shopping Complex in Ibadan, warning that the trend poses a serious threat to the state’s socio-economic development.

 

“Sad enough, the ignoble activities of the governor and a few other characters around him as they involve mismanagement of land and other resources belonging to the state have paved the way for a surge in land grabbing cases in most parts of the state capital. There are many cases involving appointees of the governor, PDP lawmakers, local government officials, and party chieftains,” the statement added.

 

The APC called on well-meaning individuals and stakeholders in the state to demand accountability from the Makinde administration and halt what it described as the systematic erosion of public resources and heritage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continue Reading

Politics

Relief as Rep ‘Lafi’ Empowers 300 Constituents Through Skill Acquisition Programme

Published

on

By

 

Over 300 constituents of Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency in Oyo State benefitted from a skill acquisition and empowerment programme organized by their representative in the National Assembly, Hon. Akinmoyede Olafisoye.

The event, held at Faith Joe Event Centre, Alegongo, Akobo, Ibadan, aimed to address the challenges of unemployment and economic hardship by equipping participants with practical skills and financial support.

The programme focused on empowering youths, students, and unemployed graduates to become self-reliant. Each participant was provided with a certificate, a Point of Sale (POS) terminal, an umbrella, and ₦100,000 as a startup grant to kickstart their businesses.

The tools and financial aid were designed to enable beneficiaries to establish sustainable sources of income.

Participants received comprehensive training, gaining hands-on experience to ensure they could effectively utilize the tools provided. The POS machines were configured with the personal details of the recipients, ensuring proper use and discouraging unauthorized transfers.

Addressing the participants, Akinmoyede who is the Chairman House Committee on Nigeria/ Mexico Parliamentary Friendship enjoined the beneficiaries to explore the opportunity for their benefit by ensuring that they use the machines for the purpose it was meant for.

He added that all the machines have been configured with the documents of individual beneficiaries which will make it very difficult to transfer to another person.

In his goodwill message, the Oyo Central Senatorial chairman of APC, Hon. Joshua Oyebamiji said comparing what the lawmaker has been doing in the area of dishing out empowerment and palliatives to his constituents, it is difficult to tag him a first-timer at the national assembly.

While appreciating Akinmoyede for his gesture at the event, former APC Deputy State Chairman, Alhaji Isiaka Alimi, Hon. Fatai Awoyoola, and Hon. Akinbode Emmanuel said they were yet to discover the magic wand being used by the lawmaker for his constant and habitual empowerment programmes.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke at the end of the training, Afolabi Kuburat, Akinropo Akindotun, Ajala Abisade Iyabo, and Grace Anuoluwapo Ayinde lauded the lawmaker for giving them the opportunity to be self-reliant at this time when Nigerians are facing economic hardship.

Continue Reading

Politics

Oyo: Olafisoye Facilitates Capacity-Building Training for 300 Constituents

Published

on

By

The House of Representatives member representing Akinyele/Lagelu federal constituency Oyo State, Hon. Prince Akinmoyede Olafisoye Wasiu has initiated another skill acquisition and capacity-building training for no fewer than 300 members of his constituency.

The initiative which is being organized in partnership with Federal Cooperative College, Ibadan is part of a strategic effort by the lawmaker to foster rural development of cooperative for their economic emancipation and break the shackles of poverty so as to alleviate the impact of the high cost of living among the people in Akinyele/Lagelu federal constituency he represents.

The training programme is coming up on Monday 18th November, 2024 at Faith Joe Event Centre hall. Alegongo, Ibadan by 8.00am.

A statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media to the lawmaker, Alimi Abdullahi stated that the capacity-building is designed to equip participants with essential entrepreneurial skills with a view to building sustainable livelihoods and improve the quality of lives of the people of Akinyele/Lagelu federal constituency.

All the participants for the training are expected to be at the venue by 8am so as not to miss any part of the training.

Continue Reading

Trending