Politics
Fayose’s Deputy, Olusola has no experience to govern Ekiti – APC Chieftain
AHEAD of the forthcoming governorship election in Ekiti State, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State, Prince Akin Olayisade has predicted that the State Deputy Governor and governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof Kolapo Olusola, will lose the July 14 election on account of inexperience.
Olayisade said the present administration, led by Mr. Ayodele Fayose has created so much mess for the State and needed experience person like the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Kayode Fayemi to cleanse the aegean’s stable and return the state to the path of sanity.
The party chieftain, who spoke in Ado Ekiti appealed to the electorate to vote massively for APC in the interest of the State.
Speaking with journalists on the coming governorship election, Olayisade urged the Ekiti electorate to forget about emotion and vote the right person with good track records to pilot the affairs of the State.
Olayisade, close ally to Hon Opeyemi Bamidele added that available statistics from the Debt Management Office (DMO) revealed that Fayose’s government has plunged Ekiti into N56 billion debt and that the state needed an exposed person to put the state back on the track of progress.
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His words, “the state today is owing workers between four and eight months and the debt profile had risen to N56b under him.
“The State Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) under Dr Fayemi was between N400 million and N600 million. As we speak, Ekiti might not be making as much as the immediate past government was able to make because of lack of innovative thinking.
“With these, it was evident that the next dispensation will be difficult to manage unless Ekiti’s allocation from the federation improves considerably.
“That is why it imperative for the voters to vote the right person. Dr Fayemi had governed Ekiti and had also served as a Minister. We need experienced person to take over from Governor Fayose to avert a situation whereby the state will become rudderless”.
Olayisade also applauded Fayemi for retaining his principal, Hon Opeyemi Bamidele as the Director General of his campaign organization.
He stated that Fayemi has demonstrated that he was a worthy and dependable leader by retaining Bamidele in such a strategic position even when election is close by.
Bamidele and five others were shot by a policeman on June 1, 2018 during a rally organized in Fayemi’s honour.
“On behalf of Bibire Coalition, the umbrella body for all the supporters and admirers of our leader, Hon. Bamidele, we appreciate for not betraying confidence and long standing friendship he had established with our principal.
“We are assuring Dr Fayemi of our unalloyed loyalty to the course of reclaiming Ekiti on July 14 for him to be able to restore and reclaim of lost values under PDP ignoble rein in Ekiti.
“The Bibire Coalition assures that the love he exhibited has imbued us with more passion and glowing winning spirit as we begin electioneering campaign to reclaim Ekiti from the PDP”, he added.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Tuesday received an enthusiastic reception from supporters and residents of Ihima community in Kogi State, despite a state government ban on rallies and processions.
By 8 am, crowds from the five local government areas of Kogi Central Senatorial District, which Akpoti-Uduaghan represents, had flooded the Ihima community in Okehi Local Government Area (LGA) to welcome the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker.
Several local musicians entertained the gathering as they eagerly awaited the arrival of the senator. Their patience was soon rewarded when Akpoti-Uduaghan arrived in a white helicopter, prompting cheers and jubilant applause from her supporters.
Addressing the crowd, Akpoti-Uduaghan acknowledged the state government’s ban but dismissed concerns that it applied to her visit.
“Yesterday, we heard on the news that rallies and gatherings will not be allowed, that roads will be blocked, and convoys leading into the state will not be permitted. I knew that we were the targets. But then I said, this is not a political season, this is not campaign time,” she said.
“We are not having a rally. This is just me, the Senator representing Kogi Central, coming down to her people to celebrate this festive time – Sallah – with you, and there is nothing wrong with that. I am breaking no law. This is Nigeria. We have the right to be free, to express our choice in gatherings and celebrations.”
Her visit came just hours after the Kogi State Government imposed a ban on public gatherings and processions, citing security concerns. The restrictions were further reinforced by a curfew imposed in the area by Okehi LGA Chairman, Amoka Monday, and a police warning advising her to cancel the event.
Despite these measures, Akpoti-Uduaghan remained defiant, insisting that no authority could prevent her from visiting her home.
“Nobody and nothing can stop me from coming home. I’m an Ebira woman; this is my land. I’m the daughter of the late Jimoh Abdul Akpoti. I know my roots; I’m not a bastard, and I’m not afraid of anybody,” she declared to the cheering crowd.
Ahead of her homecoming, the senator alleged that any security breach during the event should be blamed on Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has been in the headlines in recent months, having been suspended from the Senate for allegedly violating its rules. Her suspension coincided with a sexual harassment allegation against Senate President Akpabio. Additionally, a recall process against her is currently underway. However, she maintains that her political travails are the result of a witch hunt.
Adewole Adebayo, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has declared his willingness to step aside in the 2027 elections if a stronger candidate emerges to lead the party.
Adebayo made this statement on Sunday during an appearance on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television, monitored by Mega Icon Magazine.
“Everybody knows that I have an aspiration. I’m working on it, but God is the author of tomorrow; we don’t even know who is going to be around in 2027,” he said.
The lawyer and politician emphasised that his ambition would not stand in the way of a more capable leader who could address Nigeria’s challenges.
“It is my prayer to God that if there is a person who God thinks is better than me to fix the problem of Nigeria, my ambition should not stop that person because we want a country that works. That is the kind of thing we are working on at this time,” he added.
Adebayo assured Nigerians that the SDP would present a candidate worthy of national support, capable of unseating President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next election.
He further stressed that the SDP would avoid divisive politics based on religion and ethnicity.
“What used to be an easy discussion – with religion and ethnicity – has become explosive now. So, we will not use the SDP forum to try to bifurcate our people into different zones,” he noted.
According to him, the party aims to produce a candidate whose emergence will be met with widespread approval.
“When we make a choice in the SDP, there will be resounding joy outside the SDP, and Nigerians will say: ‘Okay, finally, this platform has given the country a chance’,” Adebayo said.
The lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency, Engr Aderemi Oseni, has congratulated the Oyo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Moshood Olayide-Abas on his appointment as the Board Chairman of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Kaduna, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Oseni, who also serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), described Olajide’s appointment as a recognition of his dedication to the party and his contributions to its growth in Oyo State.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, the lawmaker commended President Tinubu for considering competent and loyal party members for key federal appointments.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our leader, Prince Abas Olajide on this well-deserved appointment. His leadership and commitment to the APC in Oyo State have been exemplary. I have no doubt that he will bring the same level of dedication to this new role,” Oseni stated.
He also congratulated other notable figures from Oyo State who were appointed to federal boards, urging them to justify the confidence reposed in them by delivering on their mandates.
“This is not just an opportunity but a call to service. I encourage all appointees to work diligently in support of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” he added.
Oseni expressed optimism that these appointments would further strengthen governance at the national level and reinforce the APC’s political structure in Oyo State.
