Politics
I ‘ll build on Oke’s legacy – Omodewu inaugurates Oyo APC State Excos, LG chairmen
Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state, Mr. Isaac Omodewu, on Monday inaugurated the state executive members of the party and the chairmen of the party across the local government areas in the state.
Speaking at the event which was held at the Oke Ado Party secretariat in Ibadan, the state capital, Omodewu said he will build on the immediate Past Chairman’s legacy, Chief Akin Oke.
The former Commissioner for Lands and Housing, also promised to embark on genuine reconciliation.
“All glories and adorations are due to Almighty God for making today possible. Forever we shall be grateful.
“I consider it a great honour and privilege to stand before this august gathering to perform my first official duty as Oyo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is an official inauguration of other state executives and the 33 local chairmen of our great party.
“Before I proceed with my speech, I would like us to stand up to observe a minute silence in memories of our great leaders and heroes: His Excellency (Dr.) Lamidi Onaolapo Majiyagbe Adesina (Great Lam), His Excellency Senator (Dr.) Isiaq Abiola Adeyemi Ajimobi (Shehu), His Excellency Otunba (Dr.) Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala (Oyato Governor) and all leaders who are no longer in the land of livings. May their gentle souls rest in perfect peace.
“The aforementioned great leaders died in active services. I solemnly pledge to religiously preserve their legacies and aggressively carry on with their unfurnished agenda, which is reclaiming Oyo State in 2023 from the misruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The journey to take back Oyo State in 2023 general elections starts today.
“There is no gainsaying that APC is an hybrid political party – merger of defunct legacy parties, which are ACN, CPC, PDP, APGA, ANPP and LP. Therefore, this great party (APC) belongs to no one but all the members. All members have equal stakes.
“Soldiers go, Soldiers come but the barracks remain! It is on this note I recognise the efforts and sacrifices of the immediate past state, local and ward executives of our great party. It’s my pledge that I’ll build on the achievements of Chief Akin Oke’s more than 8 years achievements as State Chairman of APC. Since a tree cannot make a forest, I therefore commend all other executives, staff and leaders that served with Baba Oke. May Almighty God Preserve you as we jointly lead Oyo APC to electoral victories in 2023 and beyond. Once again, thank you for excellently serving our great party for that long period of years”, the chairman said.
He continued, “Fellow members of our great party, the congresses have come and gone; there is no victor, no vanquished. It’s time to get united and mobilised for the 2023 general elections. Though I am of Ajimobi political bloc, I belong to all forward-looking members of APC. My main tasks are to unite all tendencies within the party and to lead APC to victories in 2023 general elections.
To be in charge of a very sophisticated political party like APC is a heavy responsibility; I assure our teeming members, it is a responsibility we will not take very lightly. I pledge to do my utmost, God being on my side, to justify the faith and the confidence all APC members have imposed on me and other executives at all levels.
“To whom much is given, much is expected. Therefore, I pledge to run an open and transparent administration where all party members will be carried along. Also, our administration will instill discipline, respect for rule of law and constituted authorities within and outside the party.
“Apart from genuine reconciliation and harmonisation, our administration shall also embark on aggressive membership drive. Let me reiterate that APC is a party built on the principles of democracy and human development; the party provides equal opportunity for every party member and any Nigerian that is willing to join the party.
“To the state and local party executives being inaugurated today, I charge you to work in line with the party’s constitution and also ensure you carry all party members along without discrimination or nepotism. You are also expected to work hard to settle all disputes and differences in the party living no aggrieved party member behind.
“While I congratulate all of you on your inauguration, I seek your understanding, cooperation and support in order to pilot the affairs of Oyo APC to electoral victories in 2023.
“I am open to progressive ideas, advises and suggestions. Therefore, feel free to relate with me. According to Winston Churchill, jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war. To this end, I urge you to extend hands of fellowship to members who are aggrieved because we cannot do the tasks alone.
“I thank all former deputy governors, Oyo APC Elders Advisory Council led by His Excellency Barrister Iyiola Oladokun; former first ladies, former speakers, former and serving National Assembly members; former and serving state lawmakers; former and servings political appointees; party elders and critical stakeholders; youth and women wings of our great party. I look forward to your maximum cooperation and support. May we succeed together.
“I am assuring our party leaders, aspirants and their supporters that era of impunity and imposition of candidates is over. Our administration shall create a level-playing field for members jostling for one position or the other in 2023 elections. We’re returning the party to the members; they will determine the faiths of all aspirants. No leader or group will be allowed to impose candidates on the party.
“I’ll close my speech by thanking His Excellency Mai Mala Buni-led APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) for achieving a lot for our great party. I wish our great party, a crisis-free and successful national convention on 26th February 2022”, Omodewu concluded.
Politics
From ‘Books to Shops’: Oyo APC Slams Makinde Over ‘Shameful’ Library Conversion
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.
Politics
Relief as Rep ‘Lafi’ Empowers 300 Constituents Through Skill Acquisition Programme
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.
Politics
Oyo: Olafisoye Facilitates Capacity-Building Training for 300 Constituents
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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