Politics

2023: South West PDP resolves to back Atiku, insists Ayu must go

Published

4 years ago

September 14, 2022

South West leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday resolved to back the presidential aspiration of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his running mate in the 2023 election, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, declaring however that the National Chairman of the party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu must resign.

Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, who spoke on the details of the resolution of the South West PDP, said that the zone had classified its demands from Atiku into two, including pre-election and post-election demands, adding that for the party to feel reassured that the party is being inclusive, the lopsided sharing of its national positions must be reversed before the elections.

Makinde spoke on Wednesday, at the South-West PDP Stakeholders’ Interactive Session with the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Senate Ifeanyi Okowa, held at the Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, Ibadan, noting that the South West leaders believed that Atiku is capable of moving Nigeria out of the doldrums the All Progressives Congress (APC) had plunged it in seven years.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as describing Atiku as a unifier, adding that he was confident the party’s presidential candidate can reposition the country.

The statement, however, quoted Makinde as telling Atiku to look inwards by first supporting the restructuring of the party and uniting its members before the elections.

Governor Makinde, who explained that the insistence of Governors Nyesom Wike, Samuel Ortom, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and himself, that the PDP must play a politics of inclusion by allowing the National Chairmanship post to move South, should not be seen as having a problem with the party or the presidential candidate, as according to him, the governors have left the issue of presidential primaries behind them.

He maintained that the message of the South-West PDP to Atiku is that the National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, must step down and the Working Committee of the Party should be restructured to reflect national unity.

He said: “I want to thank everyone for coming for this meeting and I think, at this point, we have to tell ourselves nothing but the truth.

“What we will do here is to speak the truth to ourselves. Yes, others have spoken here about the positive side of things but we do have challenges and issues to address in our party. But one good thing is, that we can address those issues.

“Of course, I have seen people abuse me on social media, saying this issue is about Wike, Makinde, Ortom and Ugwuanyi, but the truth is we don’t have any issue either with our party or our presidential candidate.

“If there are challenges, we must bring them to the table so that we can address them to ensure that our journey is smooth and we can get to our destination. So, this is not about individuals.

“I see some people talk about what cropped up during and after the presidential convention when somebody was selected as vice-presidential candidate. Truth is, those are issues that are behind us. They have happened and they have happened but this is where we are. Are there issues coming out of those that we need to address so we can be successful at the end of the day? The answer is yes and we will address them. Integrity and honour must be a part of our national psyche.

“We have spoken about the movement; the youth and we have spoken about what they are looking for. Our people are in a state of hopelessness, which the APC brought upon us and it is the reality but we are supposed to give hope to our people. We want them to listen to us, to hear our message to them. For us to be able to do that, we must lay a good example.

“We say we want to rescue Nigeria. Our candidate is a unifier and he will unify Nigeria. We want to restructure Nigeria. I have listened to our candidate both publicly and privately and we have had several interactions. Our party is talking about a government of national unity because close to eight years of APC have left us badly divided. Well, the issue is, that we must practise what we preach.

“If we want to unify Nigeria, we must unify the PDP first. If we want a government of national unity, the faces of the PDP must reflect national unity. If we want to restructure Nigeria, we must have the willingness to do what is right to bring inclusivity into PDP. Do we have the capacity? Do we have a candidate with the capacity? The answer is a resounding yes.”

In his speech, the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Abubakar, said what Governor Makinde and others were calling for is achievable, but the party’s constitution, rules, regulations and procedures must be adhered to.

Atiku said: “I feel happy to be in Ibadan today to interact with you the stakeholders of our party in the South-West.

“The most important event facing us today is the election of 2023 and how to win. From what I have seen in Lagos and Ibadan, I can tell you that we can win the election if we want to and it is possible for us to take over all the Southwestern states.

“More so, the new Electoral Act has improved our electoral processes and has made it difficult for people to write results. They cannot do it anymore and they cannot rig. If they send thugs to snatch ballot boxes, they will not be counted. So, the era is over. The most important thing for you is to make sure you are registered to vote and protect your vote.

“PDP is the oldest political party in Nigeria and since the return of democracy. Over time, the PDP has developed its constitution, electoral processes, zoning of offices, power sharing and others, which will bring about the unity of the party and that of the country. I have no problem with wherever any of the members of the party comes from but it must be done by our constitution, regulations and practices.

“Therefore, what Governor Makinde is calling for is achievable under our constitution, rules, regulations and procedures. So, those institutions must serve as guides to whatever changes we make. That is why we cannot do anything outside the constitution unless it is amended to reflect what we want them to be.

“Of course, we don’t say people should not have different views but all views must go through our constitution, rules and practices. Otherwise, we cannot give this country the kind of leadership they want. So, it is time for us to return the PDP to power.”

Earlier, the vice-presidential candidate, Senator Okowa; chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke and the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Iliya Damagun former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Senator Biodun Olujinmi all spoke on the need for the party to forge ahead as a united front adding that the PDP has demonstrated the readiness to win the Presidency and liberate Nigerians from the hardship brought upon the country by the APC.

Related Topics:2023: South West PDP resolves to back Atiku insists Ayu must go

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Politics

‎Oyo: Oseni Supports Gbagi/Ogunpa Traders With N50m, 5 Boreholes, 200 Solar Lights

Published

13 hours ago

August 12, 2026

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• rallies support for Tinubu, APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, has supported traders at Gbagi/Ogunpa Market in Ibadan with a N50m grant, five boreholes and 200 solar-powered lights.

Oseni, who represents Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, announced the interventions during an enlarged meeting with the leadership and members of 11 traders’ associations in the market on Tuesday.

According to the Chairman, House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), the N50m grant was to strengthen the traders’ businesses and helping them cope with the challenges affecting their businesses.

‎The lawmaker said the five boreholes would improve access to water in the market, while the 200 solar lights would enhance security and trading activities. He added that the lights were also part of his support for the traders’ ‘Light Up Ogunpa’ initiative.

Oseni urged the traders to support President Bola Tinubu and other APC candidates, saying the Federal Government’s economic reforms were aimed at addressing some of the challenges confronting the country.

He cited the removal of fuel subsidy, the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and increased investment in infrastructure as some of the measures being implemented to redirect resources to areas with wider social and economic benefits.

“Some of these reforms have come with sacrifices, but we must also look at what they are intended to achieve. Resources that were tied down can now be deployed to infrastructure, education and other areas that directly affect the people,” Oseni said.

The APC chieftain also said the reforms in the foreign exchange market had addressed the previous multiple-rate system, adding that periods of relative stability showed that the measures were beginning to address some of the distortions in the system.

“We may not have reached where we want to be, but there have been changes. The foreign exchange market has been reformed, and now the benefits of these reforms are gradually reaching ordinary Nigerians,” he said.

The traders, represented by the leader of the Footwear Dealers Association of Oyo State, Elder Kolawole Alabi, and the President of the First Gbagi Ogunpa Joint Traders Association, Olaitan Adams, commended Oseni for the interventions.

They described the engagement as significant, saying it demonstrated that the lawmaker understood the challenges confronting traders and small business owners.

The traders pledged their support for Oseni, Tinubu and other APC candidates in the forthcoming elections.

Contained in a statement by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, and made available to journalists, the lawmaker stressed that the intervention was part of his continued engagement with traders, artisans and other stakeholders across Oyo South.

‎The statement added that Oseni would continue to support initiatives capable of improving livelihoods and strengthening grassroots businesses, maintaining that effective representation must produce tangible benefits for the people.

Politics

‎Rep Oseni Gives Ibadan Motor Parts Dealers N90m Support, Donates 100 Solar Lights

Published

4 days ago

August 8, 2026

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, Aderemi Oseni, has unveiled a N90 million support package for motor parts dealers at the Araromi Gate Market in Ibadan, Oyo State.

‎Oseni, who represents Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, announced the intervention on Saturday during an engagement with traders at the market.
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‎The package comprises a N50 million interest-free revolving loan and a N40 million grant for traders operating in the four major sections of the market — car, lorry, tyre and iron.
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‎In addition to the financial support, Oseni donated 100 solar-powered streetlights to the market and pledged to take responsibility for the monthly salaries of the market’s Baale and chiefs.
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‎The lawmaker said the intervention was designed to strengthen the businesses of the traders and improve their contribution to the local economy.

He said, “The motor parts dealers are critical drivers of the local economy. We must continue to support them so that they can expand their businesses, improve their livelihoods and contribute more to the economy.”
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‎Oseni explained that the N50 million revolving loan would be provided without interest, while the N40 million grant would serve as an empowerment package for traders across the four sections of the market.
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‎He said the provision of solar-powered streetlights was also intended to improve security and extend the conducive environment for commercial activities within the market.
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‎The APC candidate further called on the traders to continue supporting the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the Federal Government’s reforms were beginning to produce positive results.
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‎He also appealed for the support of the traders for APC candidates in the state, expressing confidence that the party would emerge victorious in the forthcoming elections.
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‎Earlier, the Chairman of Araromi Gate Market Motor Parts Dealers, Alhaji Ojo Azeez, commended Oseni for his contributions to the development of Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency.
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‎Azeez said the traders had confidence in Oseni’s leadership and ability to fulfil his promises.
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‎“We believe in your achievements so far. By the grace of Almighty God, you shall defeat your opponents hands down,” he said.
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‎The chairmen of the four sections of the market also pledged their support for Oseni, President Tinubu and other APC candidates.
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‎The meeting was attended by the Baale of the market, Alhaji Raimi Ewebiyi, as well as leaders and representatives of the various groups and sections within the market.

Politics

Oyo APC: Makinde Would Have Sold Nigeria If He Were President

Published

1 week ago

August 5, 2026

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The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has launched a fresh attack on Governor Seyi Makinde, saying Nigeria was fortunate not to have elected him President in 2023, alleging that he would have “sold the country to interested buyers” for personal gain.

The opposition party made the claim while responding to Makinde’s recent criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, which the governor reportedly described as ill-conceived during the unveiling of candidates of the Allied People’s Movement for the 2027 elections in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Monday.

Makinde, who was represented at the event, also declared his determination to ensure that the APC is voted out of power in the 2027 general election.

Reacting in a statement issued on Wednesday, the Oyo APC, through its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, dismissed the governor’s remarks, insisting that no amount of criticism would persuade Nigerians to replace President Tinubu with Makinde.

The party said Tinubu’s record, experience and leadership credentials were far superior to those of the Oyo governor, adding that Makinde’s political ambition for the presidency stood little chance in 2027.

“The difference between President Bola Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde in terms of experience, reputation and results is like the distance between heaven and earth. No amount of warped criticism or shadow boxing will make Nigerians choose a failed governor over a performing President,” the statement read.

The APC further argued that although Tinubu’s economic reforms had attracted criticism in some quarters, they had also received commendation from international financial institutions and development partners, who, according to the party, acknowledged the administration’s efforts to stabilise Nigeria’s economy.

It also accused the Makinde administration of failing to translate increased federal allocations into meaningful development in Oyo State, alleging that the state had little to show in critical areas such as infrastructure, security and job creation.

The party further alleged that Makinde had transferred many of the state’s assets to private interests, claiming that if he had been President, he would have considered selling national assets as a solution to Nigeria’s economic challenges.

“As a matter of fact, Governor Makinde would have considered selling Nigeria as the best option if he had been President and faced with the challenges President Tinubu inherited in 2023. Nigerians will never make the mistake of entrusting him with the country’s mandate,” Sadare stated.

The APC maintained that President Tinubu remained focused on repositioning the country despite prevailing economic difficulties and expressed confidence that Nigerians would renew the party’s mandate in the 2027 general election.