Politics
Fijabi, a bad loser, yet to recover from 2019 electoral defeat, Odidiomo hits back
Hon. Stanley Adedeji Olajide representing Ibadan Southwest/Northwest Federal Constituency, on Tuesday took a swipe at his predecessor, Hon. Saheed Fijabi for what he described as reckless, unwarranted and venomous attacks on him in a last weekend radio interview in Ibadan.
Jettisoning other mega empowerment programmes of Stanley Adedeji Olajide better known as ‘Odidiomo’ within the last two years, Fijabi who represented the federal constituency from 2011-2019, singled out February empowerment programme for the widows and aged women, and berated his successor for distributing goats to them.
Olajide described such statement as a verbal diarrhea intended to cause disaffection between him and the great people of the constituency.
The lawmaker explained that the recent empowerment of over 1,000 constituents in the third phase of such mega empowerment programmes in the outgoing year, had obviously jolted Fijabi because he had no such record while his inglorious representation lasted.
Odidiomo, has therefore described Fijabi as “a bad loser, who obviously is yet to recover from the 2019 electoral defeat in the constituency”.
He said within the outgoing year, he, had empowered the people and engaged them on different occasions, three of such being opportunities for him to empower them in February, July and December respectively, a development he said was unprecedented in the history of the constituency.
The lawmaker said in February, he facilitated animal husbandry training for old women and widows in conjunction with a Federal Government institute and ensured that special breeds of goats capable of ensuring economic power for his people were distributed to them.
He said the affected women in their hundreds demanded for such an empowerment with cash backing saying the feedback from the beneficiaries whose goats have been producing offsprings are encouraging and showed that they were truly interested in the animal rearing business to shore up their economic base.
Odidiomo also recalled that in July, precisely on the eve of Salah (Ileya celebration), constituents in their hundreds were rewarded with cash supports which enabled them to increase their trades; leapfrog their economic powers and greatly assisted them in becoming financially buoyant since then.
He said there was no basis for comparism between him and Fijabi because “shoe gets size” and I am more educated, refined, exposed and responsible” than engaging in any form of gutter politics of the likes of Fijabi, who before venturing into politics had no known occupation or enterprise one can ascribe to him”.
Hon. Olajide Odidiomo counseled Fijabi to be more civil and truthful to himself and the people who gave him the mandate to represent them in the past and stop destruction of the ongoing projects he is spearheading for the good of the same people.
Stanley Adedeji Olajide Odidiomo listed other projects God has used him to facilitate for the people of Ibadan Southwest/Northwest federal constituency to include provision of infrastructural facilities in schools, ICT centres, scholarship for students, supports to youth, women and other vulnerable people in the council, among others.
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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