Politics
Oyo 2023: Group wants Buhari to contest for governor, vows to mobilize resources
Ahead of the 2023 general election, an emerging political pressure group, under the aegis of Pan Oyo Movement (POM), has expressed its readiness to mobilize all available resources to encourage a serving federal lawmaker from Oyo state, Senator AbdulFatai Buhari, to join the gubernatorial race and emerge the next governor of the state after Engineer Seyi Makinde whose tenure expires on May 29, 2023.
Sen. Buhari, is a second term lawmaker representing Oyo North Senatorial district in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, Abuja. Having been a member of the House of Representatives in 2003 when he represented Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South/Oriire Federal Constituency, Sen. Buhari emerged a Special Adviser and later Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs under the administration of late Governor Abiola Ajimobi. He was first elected as Senator in 2015 and won a re-election in 2019.
Contained in a statement issued on Thursday and made available to newsmen in Ibadan by its Acting Chairman, Engr. Adewale Abdulsalam, and Secretary, Pastor Matthew Ajiboye, POM declared that it was fully prepared to do everything “legally, morally and socially allowed to compel Sen. Buhari to throw his hat into the ring and contest the 2023 gubernatorial election under his party (APC) with a view to ensuring that Oyo state reclaims her Pacesetter status again in the area of people-oriented, honest and focused leadership.
The statement read, “First and foremost, we in the group (POM) are made up non-partisan professionals and patriots who want the best for the society. We have watched events in the political space in recent time and come to a conclusion that it is time we mobilised like minds and get involved fully in every stage of our democratic process in the build up to the next general election particularly as this concerns who takes over the mantle of leadership as Oyo state governor in 2023.
“Meanwhile, certain fundamental lapses and errors being witnessed in the performance rating of the current leadership are the reasons we cannot built on our support for the incumbent administration of Engr. Seyi Makinde. Or how do we convince the world that the PDP government would still rise up to the occasion and do away with misplaced priorities, frivolities, poor management of resources (including those who worked for its emergence) and giving tacit support to hoodlums and capital flight agents.
“And since it is not possible to approach other states for an all round competent, experienced and promising governorship candidate, we embarked on an independent from within only to discover the present lawmaker representing Oyo North Senatorial district as the ideal man for the job. The passion with which Sen. Buhari serves his constituents and the commitment he has brought to the cause of uplifting the society have stood him out over the years as record shows that he has served as a member of the House of Representatives, Special Adviser to the Governor, Commissioner and so on without any blemish.
“In a few days time, we will embark on a statewide tour to present our case to all critical stakeholders in the affairs of the Pacesetter State. We shall meet traditional rulers, religious leaders, political gladiators, trade unions, civic society organisations, interest groups and individuals to woo them for the project which is devoid of any sentiment or sinister motives. Our motivation as a people revolves around the fact that the person of Sen. Buhari is a tested and trusted figure who is good enough to change the story of our dear state for the better.
“Finally, we are using this avenue to urge the holder of doctorate degree in Public Policy to start preparing his Blueprint and strategies with which he would lead us to the Promise Land from 2023 by the Grace of God. We see him as one who would rise above the primordial sentiments of town of birth and religion to deliver the good and guarantee that all the nooks and crannies of the state develop as desired in no time”, the statement concluded
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.
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.
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.
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