Politics
CONGRESS: Oyo APC C’tee concludes screening, asks party stakeholders to replace disqualified aspirants in 24 hrs
As the All Progressives Congress (APC) warms up for its Congress in Oyo state which has been rescheduled for this Saturday, the Panel set up to screen aspirants vying for various state executive positions has called on relevant stakeholders to send fresh names to replace those that have been disqualified to participate as contestants in the exercise.
The Panel headed by Engr. Idris Adeoye had to suspend its activities last weekend following the announcement of the suspension of the state congress earlier slated for Saturday October 16, 2021 but it resumed sitting again on Monday and concluded its assignment today(Wednesday) after attending to over 100 aspirants from across the 33 local government areas in the state.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Secretary, Hon. Afeez Bolaji Repete, the Committee revealed that it disqualified “all aspirants eyeing the post of State Assistant Youth Leader and four out of the five who sought to vie for Senatorial Youth Leader position because they were found to be over-aged.
“At the end of the screening exercise, we found out that majority of party members eyeing Youth Leadership positions across board have passed the age bracket of between 18 and 35 years stipulated in the guidelines released by the National Secretariat of our great Party and they were summarily disqualified. Unfortunately, we lost one of the aspirants for the position of Assistant State Youth Leader on Sunday, a day after he appeared before the screening committee (Hon. Ogundiran Sunday).
Also disqualified are all aspirants who jettisoned the Zoning arrangements prescribed by leadership of the party in the state and thus sought offices outside their geopolitical zones.
“As a result of this development, we urge aspirants who attended the screening exercise to contact the Secretariat of the party in Oke-Ado to ascertain their status- whether qualified or disqualified. We also use this medium to call on relevant stakeholders to forward fresh nomination to replace those that have been disqualified on or before 12 noon tomorrow (Thursday).
“Also, it may interest the public to know that four eminent members of the party from Oke-Ogun Zone 1 expressed their desire to emerge as the next State Chairman and they all have good account of themselves at the screening exercise. They are; Alhaji Abu Gbadamosi Adejare (Kajola), Mr. Dele Akinleye (Itesiwaju), Engr. Abolade Yekeen Akanni (Iseyin) and Hon. Isaac Ajiboye Omodewu (Itesiwaju).
Alhaji Olaide Abass was the only one screened for the position of State Deputy Chairman
Equally, 4 aspirants were screened for the position of Secretary, they are; Hon. Musibau Ayodele Amuda ( Oyo East),
Prince Tajudeen Olanite( Oyo East),AbdulGaniyu Qusim Okanlawon ( Afijio) and Hon. Okunlola Taiwo( Oyo East)
“It is worthy of note that Oyo APC can boast of quality hands as all the aspirants who appeared before the Panel demonstrated zeal, readiness and competence to excel in the post being sought if given the opportunity to serve as individuals. Finally, we use this medium to appeal for calm among gladiators and major players within Oyo APC as the National Secretariat is doing everything possible to conduct a hitch-free Congress this Saturday.
“We use this medium to equally thank the chairman of the screening committee ( Engr. Idris Adeoye) for displaying exemplary leadership”, 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.
