Politics
ALAO : A Heart to Serve, The Passion to Bring Hope
IN the history of every great nation there are always great exceptional few, those whose lives and action shape the destiny of the people, those who have an indomitable spirit to develop and contribute passionately to improve the people’s lives. Among such few is Semiu Oladimeji Alao.
Forty one years ago, the renowned family of Arisekola-Alao of Adigun village via Ajia in Ona -Ara Local Government Area of Oyo state was blessed with a baby boy christened Semiu Oladimeji Alao. He started his success story with a brilliant academic career at Omolewa Nursery&Primary School, Ibadan. He was at various times a willing pupil and student at Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan and Government College, Ibadan where he completed his SSCE/WASSCE. He also had a brief stint at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, before his parents decided to relocate his studies to the United Kingdom.
Semiu acquired his A’ levels equivalent at the famous Bellerby’s College in Brighton and the zeal to acquire more knowledge motivated him to later proceeded to the prestigious University of Leicester for his Bachelors degree. He bagged his first degree in Business Economics. In search of the golden fleece, this golden fish enrolled at the celebrated Buckingham University in the United kingdom and obtained a postgraduate degree in Computing.
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The fire of learning kept burning for the ambitious Semiu as he obtained a master degree in Information Technology and Management incorporating SAP from Sheffield Hallam University.
After his jubilant sojourn through the world’s ivy league institutions, Semiu began his working career in the United Kingdom where he holds sway as a SAP consultant for companies like Britvic, Cerox and also managed some companies as Business Executive before returning to Nigeria to contribute his quota to the enhancement of his family business group including the Lister Corporation where he was enlisted as Manager and later an Executive Director in the group’s Oil & Gas Division at the Lister Tank Farm, Apapa Lagos.
He is also a non Executive Director in a number of Nigerian based companies and leading business concerns in Nigeria and overseas.
Aside his international exposure, his love for service to humanity and desire to cause a positively remarkable change in his generation and to the unborn generation to come informed his voyage into the Nigerian political clime when in the year 2014 in his native Oyo state and hometown of Ibadan land. He aspired to represent his people at the lower chamber of the Federal House of Representatives, Abuja, having pitched his tent with the then Accord Party (AP) led by Senator Rasheed Ladoja.
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However, his first attempt at picking up with political relevance was overshadowed by intrigues and the overwhelming resistance to his rising popularity by the powers that be, who believed it was too early to bestow such eminent privilege to a relatively inexperienced and politically innocent young man.
Semiu is a welfarist politician whose candid philosophy is immersed in strong human feeling towards the wellbeing of his constituents and the Nigerian masses as a whole. As a matter of his consistent commitment to his astute belief in the general welfare of his people as well as his immediate constituents, Semiu Alao committed massive funding into a welfare empowerment scheme to his constituents in Ibadan North East/ South East Federal Constituency towards the run up of the 2015 general elections in his rare generous bid to galvanise support for his political party at that time. This gesture was one rare feat which till date remains the talk of the town as one act of benefaction very unusual in the political terrain coming from a person who is yet to benefit any returns for whatever reason from the political system of the country or any spoils of office whatsoever even at a time when incumbent holders of same offices and political privileges were at large and at a contemptuous distance to their constituents.
Hence, the gesture earned him the popular accolade bestowed on him by the people of Ibadan land as ‘Omo Oloore’, as his popular political slogan during his campaigns.
Semiu Alao is a young, vibrant and resolute Nigerian politician whose vision for a better Nigerian society is undeterred and unstoppable. He remains focused in his unimpeded bid for the realisation of a better Nigerian nation and religiously committed to the actualisation of a free egalitarian society where Nigerians irrespective of tribe or religious leanings will be able to live to fulfill the full cause of their God’s given potentials.
He has dutifully obliged his People’s calling in his native Oyo state and hometown of Ibadan land to ‘re -present’ his bid to represent his primary political constituency of Ibadan North East/ South East Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, National Assembly, Abuja come 2019 God’s willing.
His political conviction is rested on the dictum of service to humanity and dear fatherland .This is the main crust of his involvement and venture into the hot seat of the Nigerian political stream to bringing his best to bear in rendering the best alternative, in the missing narrative of good leadership which the Nigerian political system has over the years been lacking.
According to him, “our mission like ever is as solid and better reinforced and intact. As well, our commitment to the cause of the common people is unshaken, salient and second to none. The recurring purpose of our mission Is also as clear and ever dynamic.
“My constituents in Ibadan North-East/South East Federal constituency deserves a responsible and responsive representation and a diligently humane leadership. I am inspired to offering myself for service and diligently committed to serving them with all my God’s given strength and resources”, Semiu concluded.
Semiu is contesting under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Former Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Adeolu Akande, has made a fervent appeal to factions within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State to reconcile and unite ahead of the forthcoming local council election.
Addressing party chairmen and chairmanship candidates from the 10 local government areas of Oke Ogun zone, Akande emphasised the critical need for solidarity within the party ranks to secure victory in the elections scheduled for this month.
Highlighting the significance of unity within the party, the former Governor Ajimobi’s aide underscored that Oyo State is inherently an APC stronghold, but internal conflicts hampered the party’s performance in the previous election.
He urged members to set aside their differences and focus on the common goal of delivering a progressive government to the people of the state.
Speaking during the gathering in Otu, headquarters of Itesiwaju Local Government area, Akande stressed the imperative of forgiveness and reconciliation, emphasising that the party’s success hinges on unity. He lauded the efforts of the national leadership in fostering reconciliation, urging members to embrace the spirit of unity.
As a gesture of support, the ex-NCC gaffer provided financial assistance amounting to N500,000 to each of the 10 local government areas to bolster their preparations for the upcoming April 27 election.
The event was attended by APC Chairmen and Chairmanship candidates from the Oke Ogun Zone, alongside 21 former local government chairmen, demonstrating a collective commitment to the party’s success in the forthcoming election.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state was in Ido town, headquarters of the Ido Local Government to campaign for himself on Monday.
Local Government Election have been slated for April 27 of this year and the Governor is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that he is declared winner by OYSIEC.
Do I sound confusing? Definitely not.
Governor Makinde is the contestant for the position of Local Government Chairman in the 33 Local Governments in Oyo state.
Reason? The Governor doubles as the State’s Chief Executive as well as the de facto Chairman of the 33 Local Governments while the 33 clowns parading themselves as the Councils’helmsmen are just Chairmen de jure.
What the Yorubas call “Esin inu iwe”.
I will use two incidents that happened simultaneously today to prove what is already known and accepted by the general public, albeit, arguably.
While Governor Makinde was dancing to some Fuji music in Ido town during the campaign rally, the chairman of Ibadan South West Local Government, one Hon. Kehinde Akande was in a live debate at Fresh FM with the APC candidate, Dr. Abogun and his statements were quite revealing.
A direct question regarding his view about autonomy and independence of Local Governments was put to him by the moderator, Isaac Brown and his response leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
The fellow, sadly and slavishly said that he has no problems with the decision of the Governor (Seyi Makinde) to directly monitor the expenditures of the Local Governments, since, according to him, it was for the purpose of probity and accountability!
This was coming from the Chairman of one of the most populous if not the most populous in Oyo state.
Like his peers who have one time or the other appeared on Radio, he could not point to any tangible project done by him and why would he?
The Governor calls the shots.
This is just on a lighter note, Hon. Kehinde Akande can not correctly identify the collation centre for ward 12 in a Local Government where he had been chairman for almost four years.
That underline the level of redundancy of this fellows parading themselves as Council Chairmen and on whose sake Governor Makinde incurred billions of Naira as judgment debts.
Now, to Governor Makinde’s campaign in Ido.
Is it not interesting that the Governor was in Ido and he didn’t Commission any project done by the Local Government?
In the times of his predecessors, such occasions were used to Commission projects done by the Local Government Chairmen but what will Governor Makinde Commission?
Nothing.
Nothing, because all the projects he mentioned during the campaign rally like the Omi Adio – Ido Road and others were attached to the state Government, even though, the funds were that of the Local Government.
Similarly, all the projects he promised to embark upon in the coming months within the Local Government like the modernisation of the Omi Adio market are projects he will usurp as usual, using the Councils’funds.
If not for the fact that Governor Makinde requires some pliant individuals who will sign out the Councils’funds for him to expend, I bet, there won’t be Local Government Chairmen during his tenure.
A lot of examples abound to confirm Governor Makinde’s illegal usurpation of the functions of the Local Government Chairmen.
Akesan Market is another typical example.
The April 27 Local Government Election is between Governor Makinde as grand Chairman of the 33 Local Governments and the opposition political parties.
The 33 gentlemen flying the tickets for the PDP are just necessary proxies.
I will not dissipate energy on the Governor’s uncharitable boasts that the opposition should wait for another three years, when he would still be the Governor to conduct another election.
I will rather call on the people of the state to be united in removing the “Ajeles” he has foisted on the Local Governments.
Oyo state can not afford another three years of Governor Makinde’s mismanagement of the Local Government resources.
He has bled the state enough through over bloated contracts and debts.
All residents of the state should consider the April 27 Local Government Election as an opportunity to at least salvage the 33 Local Governments from the suffocating hold of the Governor.
Like I said earlier, Oyo state can not afford another three years of continual looting of the Local Governments through the proxies of the Governor.
One would wonder what business the Governor has in the ” modernisation” of Omi Adio market.
Maintenance of the market is purely the responsibility of the Local Government Chairman but under Governor Makinde, even the Parks and abattoirs are directly run by the Governor.
That is the reason why the Local Governments have become comatose.
They have no means of generating IGR as all avenues have been taken away from them by the Governor.
Now, you tell me, Isn’t Governor Makinde not the one contesting on April 27?
Sola Abegunde writes from Oyo State
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, faces a tumultuous time as members of his ward, the Ganduje Ward in the Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State, have suspended him.
It was announced by the Executive Council of Ganduje Ward, led by Haruna Gwanjo, during a press briefing in Kano on Monday.
The suspension comes amidst lingering corruption allegations, notably surrounding a viral video from 2017 depicting Ganduje allegedly receiving bundles of dollar notes as a bribe and stuffing them into his garments.
Despite Ganduje’s initial denial and maintenance of innocence, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) administration, under Governor Abba Yusuf, has reopened the case.
The Kano High Court is set to arraign Ganduje on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, on charges including bribery, diversion, and misappropriation of funds.
Mega Icon Magazine gathered that the allegations involve the purported acceptance of $413,000 and N1.38 billion in bribes. The State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Dederi, confirmed that Ganduje, along with his wife and six others, will face trial.
The Yusuf administration has vowed to present 15 witnesses to testify before Justice Usman Na’aba of the State High Court, indicating the seriousness with which the case is being pursued.
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