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2023: Youths shutdown Ibadan with ‘walk for Tinubu’ {Photos}

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Ahead of the September 28, set aside for the commencement of the campaign for Presidential and National Assembly elections, a group of youth on Thursday put Ibadan, the Oyo state capital on a major standstill as they staged a walk in solidarity for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

The youths, adorned in various customized T-shirts, face-cap and other attires with inscription and APC logo, embarked upon a solidarity walk tagged “Youths in Ibadan Walk for Asiwaju/Shettima” to sensitise the electorates as well as to garner support for their candidates which took them from the Oke-Ado party secretariat to Dugbe axis and back to the state’s party office.

The epoch-making event had in attendance the party’s governorship candidate, Sen. Teslim Folarin, Hon. Isaac Omodewu, APC Chairman, Engr. Aderemi Oseni, APC candidate for Ibarapa East/Ido federal constituency, late governors Lam Adesina and Adebayo Alao-Akalas’ sons, Hon. Adedapo Lam-Adesina and Hon. Olamiju Alao-Akala.

Others include Hon. Saheed Fijabi, Hon. Akin Alabi, the party’s spokesman, Alhaji Olawale Sadare, Hon. Mojeed Olaoya, the Oyo south senatorial chairman among others.

Addressing journalists, the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Oyo state, Senator Teslim Folarin noted that of all the presidential candidates jostling to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, only Tinubu can deliver good governance for Nigerians.

Folarin added that other contenders for the former Lagos state governor do not have the ability and track records necessary to drive the much-needed positive changes Nigerians desire.

According to him, “We have not come here to campaign today but just to test the Mic. We are hearing that three candidates are contesting; Tinubu, Atiku and Peter Obi. Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) is only a presidential candidate for social media users, Atiku plunged us into where we are today. I’m happy with what I’m seeing here today, we’re only testing the mic, what would happen when we start the campaign proper?

“Considering Tinubu’s track records and his transformational programmes in Lagos, it is obvious that none of the other presidential candidates has Tinubu’s capacity to deliver.

“Either we support him or not, Asiwaju already has 60% votes in Oyo state, but with our collective support, he will score 80 to 85% votes. We also need to do the same thing for our National Assembly candidates because Asiwaju will need the support of members of the National Assembly who are from his political camp. Asiwaju’s election is the bulldozer that will clear the road for us in other elections.” Folarin declared.

Also in his remarks, the National Vice Chairman, APC South West, Mr Isaac Kekemeke described the event as just a preamble of what APC is planning to do when the campaign starts, warning any party member that engages in anti-party activities to stop doing so as such will not be tolerated in the party.

“There is only one APC in Oyo State and only one gubernatorial candidate which is Senator Teslim Folarin. There is only one party Chairman which is Isaac Omodewu. It is not possible to be in APC and belong to another party. I said this earlier and they abused me. Our party is one and this is what I want you the youth to go out and tell those that are outside. We won’t allow indiscipline in our party. We can’t afford to miss this opportunity that we missed in 1963 and 1993 again in 2023. Go to anyone you know that is our member and still engaging in anti-party activities, appeal to them but if they remain adamant, we will change strategy. We cannot allow that”, the APC chieftain warned.

In a related development, one of the conveners of the programme, Hon. Adedapo Lam-Adesina described the event as a wonderful one which has shown that Tinubu is an acceptable product that does not need to convince people before he was accepted.

The son of late governor Lam -Adesina who is the party’s candidate for Federal House of Representatives in Ibadan South East/North East Constituency, also clarified that the event was just for the youths within the 11 local government areas in Ibadan metropolis and not the entire Oyo APC youth.

He said, “With this mammoth crowd, you could imagine if it is Oyo APC youth and we just planned this in less than a week.”

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Oyo Rep, Oseni Pays APC Secretariat Staff Salaries, Donates N10m to Boost Party Operations

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File photo of Hon. Aderemi Oseni

House of Representatives member and Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Engr. Aderemi Oseni, has fulfilled his pledge to support the welfare of the All Progressives Congress (APC) staff in Oyo State.

In a gesture highlighting his commitment, the lawmaker personally funded the salaries of staff at the APC’s Oke Ado Secretariat in Ibadan, reinforcing his dedication to the smooth operation of the party’s activities in the state.

Representing the Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency, Oseni recently visited the secretariat, where he expressed gratitude to party leaders and members for their contributions.

As a further commitment to the smooth operation of the party’s activities, the lawmaker generously donated ten million naira (N10,000,000) as an allowance to enhance the secretariat’s functions.

In a statement released Wednesday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the lawmaker extended appreciation to the secretariat staff, whom he described as the backbone of the party’s daily functions.

He lauded their dedication, noting their essential role in advancing the party’s goals.

“Leadership is about service, and service begins with supporting those who make the party function from within,” Oseni remarked.

“I am proud to honour this commitment to our staff, as they play a crucial role in making our political structures work effectively. This is my way of showing appreciation for their unwavering dedication”, he added.

 

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Oseni Salutes Senator Folarin’s Decades of Service at 61

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Engr. Aderemi Oseni, representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency of Oyo State in the House of Representatives, has paid tribute to former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, on his 61st birthday, celebrating his decades of dedicated service and contributions to Oyo State and Nigeria at large.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, in Ibadan, Oseni, who also serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), lauded Folarin’s unwavering commitment to leadership and the well-being of the people.

Highlighting the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial nominee in the 2023 elections for three terms in the Senate, the lawmaker noted that Folarin’s legacy of service continues to be a guiding light for emerging leaders and a source of inspiration for countless individuals across the state.

“Senator Folarin has built an admirable legacy through years of selfless public service, consistently advocating for progress and unity,” remarked Oseni.

Reflecting on Folarin’s role as the Ikolaba Olubadan of Ibadanland, the lawmaker commended his leadership approach, which has bridged divides, fostered coalitions, and promoted initiatives aimed at stabilising democracy.

“Senator Folarin’s career is an example of visionary leadership,” he added, “and his commitment to public service will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.”

As Senator Folarin marks this milestone, Oseni extended warm wishes for his continued health and success, expressing hope that his exemplary life of service will keep inspiring positive change across the nation.

 

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Ugandan Court Hands Ex-LRA Commander 40-Year Sentence

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In a historic ruling, a Ugandan court on Friday sentenced former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo to 40 years in prison.

This landmark decision, marking the first time a member of the notorious LRA has faced trial for war crimes in a Ugandan court, follows the group’s brutal two-decade insurgency against the Ugandan government.

Kwoyelo, who was convicted in August on 44 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, faced charges including murder, rape, torture, pillaging, abduction, and the destruction of settlements for internally displaced people.

(FILES) Thomas Kwoyelo a commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army rebellion blamed for brutal civilian murders during a 20-year war in the north of the country is brought into a courthouse in the northern Ugandan town of Gulu on July 25, 2011. – A Ugandan court on October 25, 2024 sentenced former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo to 40 years in prison after a landmark war crimes trial over his role in the group’s two-decade reign of terror. The sentence against Kwoyelo, who was convicted on 44 counts of crimes against humanity in August, was announced by Michael Elubu, the lead judge in the case at the court in the northern city of Gulu. (Photo by MICHELE SIBOLINI / AFP)

Michael Elubu, lead judge of the case at the International Crimes Division (ICD) of Uganda’s High Court, delivered the sentence in the northern city of Gulu, underscoring a rare moment of accountability in the decades-long history of the LRA’s violence.

Judge Elubu stated that Kwoyelo retains the right to appeal both his conviction and sentence within 14 days.

Kwoyelo, who was abducted by the LRA at the age of 12 and later rose to a low-level command position within the organization, denied all charges brought against him.

(FILES) Suspected LRA (Lords Resistance Army) member Thomas Kwoyelo is pictured during a pre-trial session at the High Court in Kampala on Februay 1, 2017. – A Ugandan court on October 25, 2024 sentenced former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo to 40 years in prison after a landmark war crimes trial over his role in the group’s two-decade reign of terror. The sentence against Kwoyelo, who was convicted on 44 counts of crimes against humanity in August, was announced by Michael Elubu, the lead judge in the case at the court in the northern city of Gulu. (Photo by GAEL GRILHOT / AFP)

The Lord’s Resistance Army, founded by Joseph Kony in the 1980s, sought to establish a regime based on the Ten Commandments. Under Kony’s leadership, the group unleashed widespread terror across Uganda and neighboring regions, resulting in over 100,000 deaths and the abduction of 60,000 children.

The violence eventually spread to Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the Central African Republic.

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