Politics
2023: Kola-Daisi promises to prioritise youth empowerment for economic emancipation
The Accord Party (AP) Senatorial Candidate for Oyo South, Mr Kolapo Kola-Daisi, on Thursday vowed to make youth empowerment his topmost priority for economic emancipation and nation building.
Kola-Daisi, who featured on the ‘The Podium’ a personality forum of the Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ), Oyo State Council explained that he ventured into politics to contribute to nation building and give the much-desired quality representation to the youths.
He said, “As far as I am concerned, we need to realise as a nation that we have to start prioritising our young people.
“I am getting into politics not only for myself, but to be an inspiration for young people.
“I hope when I get there, I will be able to provide that role model type inspiration to young people.
The senatorial hopeful further lamented the negative effects of the nagging industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) on the youth population of the country, urging the government to quickly rescue the situation.
He further described the teaching profession as the most important profession in any country and should not be taken for granted.
“I am not saying that particular demands have to be met, but we are saying that we need to try and redirect a lot of our resources as a nation to start focusing on what is important.
“We need to look at this resource allocation and dedicate a lot more of our budget to help those children be in school”.
The Accord Party chieftain noted that an addition of the jobless youths with students who are not going to school would no doubt bring a lot of unrest to the nation.
“As a government, I think that it is high time we start looking at how we allocate resources when we do our budget.
“Find those things that are unnecessary and redirect them to ensuring that we keep our children in schools. Let them have an education.
“Let them have the best education. Let’s give our teachers also what they need to be able to teach our brothers and sisters the best”, the son of foremost industrialist and the Bashorun of Ibadan land added.
According to the financial expert, such was the only way the students can graduate to contribute meaningfully to human capital development and nation-building.
Kola-Daisi promised to ensure that his experience and professional prowess would be brought to bear in his activities as well as nation-building, stressing that his target was to also ensure bills aimed at empowering youths in the country were adequately and quickly passed into law.
“I have experience in fundraising, I have experience in mentoring, I have experience in working with young people to help them achieve their goals.
“And these are some of the things we plan to do when we begin to serve our constituents,” he said.
Kola-Daisi described Accord as the only progressive party in the state, saying that it had gradually grown to become the main force.
He explained that he alongside Chief Adebayo Adelabu, the party’s governorship candidate and others left APC due to a lack of fairness as well as internal democracy.
“The predominant party in Oyo State at the moment is Accord.
“Anybody who wants to participate on a fair, responsible, welcoming, open, progressive platform which does not discriminate on age, tribe, gender should come to Accord,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, Alhaji Ademola Babalola, the State NUJ Chairman, congratulated Kola-Daisi for being the first to appear on the new platform created by the union ahead of the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
Babalola assured politicians that journalists in the state were for all the parties and candidates, adding that the platform was open to all.
“For us in the exco of Oyo NUJ, we are planning a special programme ‘The Podium’ for the 2023 general elections.
“This platform is available to all candidates from the 18 registered political parties to showcase their manifesto irrespective of their gender and age,” he said.
The maiden edition of the programme was widely attended by media houses in the state.
A former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, has been sworn in as the Chairman of the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging members of the party to rally support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adeyemo formally assumed office on Friday following the inauguration of the newly elected State Executive Committee members who will manage the affairs of the party in the state for the next four years.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the party’s State Secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, marked the climax of the party’s 2026 congresses in the state.
The South-West Zonal Legal Adviser of the APC, Kolawole Majaro, administered the oath of office on Adeyemo and 35 other members of the State Executive Committee.
The executives had emerged through a consensus arrangement during the March 3, 2026 state congress held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, under the supervision of a committee led by Amos Gombi from the APC National Secretariat in Abuja.
In his acceptance speech, Adeyemo described his emergence as a renewed call to service, pledging to strengthen the party and sustain unity among members.
He appreciated party leaders within and outside the state for ensuring a smooth and successful congress process.
Adeyemo also commended members of the Local Organising Committee, particularly Fatai Ibikunle and Afeez Bolaji Repete, for their contributions to the success of the exercise.
He said, “This new State Executive Committee under my leadership is being put in place to add value and strengthen our great party in view of the challenges ahead.
“We have used the opportunity of the congresses to showcase our collective commitment to unity and harmony as progressives and democrats.”
The new chairman expressed optimism that the atmosphere of peace within the party would be sustained ahead of future party primaries and the 2027 elections.
According to him, the party’s target is to secure 90 per cent of the votes in Oyo State for President Tinubu while also reclaiming the state’s Government House in 2027.
Adeyemo praised the President’s leadership, saying the administration was delivering on its promises.
“President Tinubu is, no doubt, performing beyond our expectations and the best way to appreciate his good work is to retain him in Aso Rock until 2031,” he said.
“Against all odds, the President is pursuing his Renewed Hope Agenda with vigour and passion, while the positive results are being felt across sectors of the economy and national life.”
Other members of the newly inaugurated executive include Taofeek Lamidi as Deputy Chairman, Fatai Adesina as State Secretary, Adekemi Opatunde as Woman Leader, Olawale Sadare as Publicity Secretary, Olalekan Oladejo as Youth Leader, and Remi Adepoju as Organising Secretary.
Also inaugurated were Ajiboye Akinsanya as Treasurer, Sunday Aborisade as Legal Adviser, Tinuade Adigun as Auditor, Lukman Owonikoko as Assistant State Secretary, Fatimah Hassan as Deputy Woman Leader, and Jimoh Osundara as the Leader of Persons Living With Disabilities, among others.
The Senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, on Thursday announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring that he had joined the newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa State, made the announcement during a media briefing in Abuja, attributing his decision to what he described as irreconcilable differences within the PDP.
The lawmaker said the emergence of the NDC would strengthen Nigeria’s democratic system by providing a credible opposition platform.
According to him, the party recently received its certificate of registration from the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He said, “Last week INEC issued a certificate of registration and we now have the newest party in Nigeria known as the Nigeria Democratic Congress and our symbol is victory, the victory sign.
“So, my dear Nigerians, you now have a credible alternative opposition party known as the Nigeria Democratic Congress.”
Dickson noted that although the party’s registration took longer than expected, its eventual approval was a welcome development for the country’s democratic landscape.
“Yes, it is coming at this time. We would have wished it started some years or months back. We don’t control INEC and their processes; they delayed. We don’t also control the judiciary, but thank God it has finally arrived,” he said.
The senator also stressed that Nigeria’s democracy must not slide into a one-party system, insisting that political diversity remained vital for national stability.
“This nation cannot be a one-party state. Nigeria cannot be a one-party state. Nigeria is not designed to be a one-party state.
“We are a very diverse nation culturally, religiously and politically and that is the beauty of our country.
“So anyone or any party promoting one-party rule in Nigeria is mistaken. We build political parties and get involved in movements to access power for the good of the people, not for our personal benefit,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission recently announced the registration of two new political parties.
The parties are the Democratic Leadership Alliance and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, bringing the total number of registered political parties in Nigeria to 21.
The announcement was made by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, during the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with political party stakeholders for 2026.
According to him, the Democratic Leadership Alliance completed the required verification process, while the Nigeria Democratic Congress was registered in compliance with a Federal High Court order.
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and member representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, has congratulated the newly elected State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State.
The party, at its state congress held on Tuesday at Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, elected a former Deputy Governor of the state, Moses Alake Adeyemo, as its new chairman alongside other state executive members.
Oseni, in a statement on Wednesday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, described Adeyemo’s emergence as well-deserved, noting that his experience and longstanding commitment to the party would further strengthen its structure in the state.
He said the peaceful conduct of the congress demonstrated the party’s commitment to internal democracy and progressive leadership.
The statement said, “I congratulate our newly elected State Chairman and leader, His Excellency, Moses Alake Adeyemo, and other members of the State Executive Committee on their emergence. This victory reflects the confidence reposed in them by party members across the state.”
Oseni further expressed confidence that the new leadership would reposition the party for greater cohesion and electoral success.
According to him, “This is a critical moment for our party in Oyo State. It calls for unity, reconciliation, and renewed commitment to the ideals that bind us together as progressives.”
The federal lawmaker assured the new executives of his support and cooperation in advancing the programmes of the party and strengthening its grassroots structures.
He urged party members to rally behind the new leadership to ensure stability and secure future victories for the APC in the state.
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