Politics
Alleged anti-party: Fayemi nails self, says Adeyeye
Former Minister of Works, Senator Dayo Adeyeye has said that the recent condemnation of the formation of South West Agenda for 2023, (SWAGA) by Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, is a confirmation that the governor is out of tune with party developmental practices and a seal on earlier allegation of being the mastermind of the suspension bid on Ado Ekiti Ward 8 Caretaker Chairman, Clement Afolabi
Media aide to the Chairman of the South West Agenda for 2023, (SWAGA) Sen. Adeyeye, Mr. Gboyega Adeoye, said this while reacting to a statement credited to Governor Fayemi that SWAGA was formed against a standing order by party hierarchy that no group should be formed within the All Progressives Congress, (APC).
Adeoye, in a statement issued on Friday and made available to newsmen described the reaction as mere kicks of a confused, dejected bigot, just as he expressed disappointment that a leader whose house is gradually being decimated could settle for “petty name-calling as response to critical anti-party indictments.”
According to him, “the nucleus of our statement was on the bid to suspend Hon. Clement Afolabi, the Caretaker Chairman of Ado Ekiti Ward 8, which coincidentally is the home Ward of one of our Leaders in Ekiti APC and current Senior Special Adviser to Mr President on Strategy and Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu.
“We, as well as the overwhelming majority of the people of Ekiti State know where such plot was coming from and we promptly reacted to check the consequence of an irrational plot we feel would further divide the party. Rather than facing the message, they are after the messenger,” the statement said.
Governor Fayemi, who reacted through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications, Segun Dipe, had stated that: “Just last year June (2020), the Lagos APC, led by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu dissolved all groups within the party into the APC structure in the state,” noting that “a communique duly signed by the Governor’s Advisory Council, which is the highest decision-making body within the Lagos APC, all groups, including the two most powerful – The Mandate Group and Justice Forum – ceased to exist. The resolution, Tinubu himself said, was to restate the often-stated position that the only group known is the APC and not any of the factional groups.”
But, Adeoye, in the statement questioned, “Our response to this is a further explanation from the mischief makers on how the formation of SWAGA is connected with how a party squabble was resolved in Lagos?”.
He continued, “I think our people really need some education on SWAGA, which is an idea of a group of party loyalists from the western part of the country to present a common, credible and articulate candidate from the South West for the 2023 presidential election.
“By APC standard, it is expected that presidency should rotate back to the South after the expiration of the incumbent President Mohammadu Buhari’s eight years tenure. And these like minds put heads together to present a front to search for an aspirant that can bid favourably and creditably with whoever may aspire from the other geographical parts of the south. And they found a suitable person in Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“SWAGA has been operating openly since January and it has been inaugurated in four western states of Oyo, Osun, Ogun and Ondo States with funfair. And we ask: Why is it now that preparation is in top gear to launch in Ekiti that this noise gets audible; how does a bread suddenly became stone at the turn of a toothless man?
“And to nail their own coffin the statement added in testimony to their illusion that: “the comments credited to the governor during last week’s ‘The Platform’ event in Lagos was a testimony of his altruistic and democratic acumen.
“While fielding questions on the agitations by the youths, Governor Fayemi said the young people should stop agonising and start organizing. And that if they don’t like what APC is doing, there’s only one way: Let them organize, go to a party of their choice and vote against us”, the statement added.
Adeoye further opined that the statement is self-indicting as it is expected of a leader, close to governance, to use such opportunity to enlighten the public on the intricacies of leadership at this time of global crises, engendered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the effect of the crash of oil price in the international market and the attendant negative effects on our economy.
“To this, we say there can never be a better way to a leaders’ viciousness and democratic ignorance. Leaders build, leaders educate, leaders don’t destroy”, 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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