Politics
Fuel /Naira Scarcity Protests: Oyo APC accuses Makinde, PDP of sabotage
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state has fingered Governor Seyi Makinde and the state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the brains behind the pockets of protest being witnessed in parts of Ibadan ostensibly to express dissatisfaction with the current scarcity of fuel and the redesigned naira notes nationwide.
Residents of Ibadan, capital of Oyo state, woke up on Wednesday to see an assemblage of some youths in popular junctions such as Orita Challenge, Sango, Eleyele, Iwo Road, Ojoo, Agodi-Gate, Bodija-Oju’rin, Total Garden and Beere where they mounted road blocks while chanting anti-Federal Government and APC songs.
While reacting to the development through a statement issued today and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC appealed for calm and patience among the citizenry warning that violent protests and unrest would not solve the problems as “fuel and naira scarcity are the handiwork of some unpatriotic elements who want to frustrate the smooth conduct of the general election as scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“There are all indications that the pockets of protest being witnessed in some major parts of Ibadan were coordinated and sponsored by the PDP government of Oyo state to frustrate the Presidential Rally of our great Party (APC) which was moved from Tuesday last week and rescheduled for tomorrow (Thursday) as it became imperative for us to act in the mood of the nation.
“Since it has been discovered that the scarcity situation was the brainchild of some anti-democratic forces, we have chosen not to play into their hands and we enjoin all well-meaning citizens of the country to reject all actions capable of derailing the schedule of the general election. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the candidate to beat for the presidential candidate and reality does not go down well with certain influential personalities who are now hellbent on instigating violence for obvious reasons.
“In the case of Oyo state, they have found a willing tool in the hands of the PDP governor and his party men who started with sponsoring of miscreants to vandalize campaign materials of all APC candidates, including those of Sen. Bola Tinubu and Sen. Kassim Shettima. Just last week, they brought out some misguided youth around the UI-Agbowo community to carry out needless protests and they discontinued their activities immediately after we announced the postponement of the event. Meanwhile, we have some unimpeachable facts regarding the identities of the real sponsors and coordinators of these violent protests and they are all domiciled around Agodi Government House.
“Today again which is the eve of the rescheduled Presidential Rally, we have started getting reports of coordinated protests all over the city of Ibadan. Ordinarily, we should all be involved in peaceful protests against the hardship foisted on the citizenry by the NNPC and CBN but a critical appraisal of the development got us convinced that civil unrest should not be encouraged. We need diplomacy and courage to free Nigeria from the shackles of domestic colonialists and this is what the like of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, and Sen. Teslim Folarin preach at this crucial time.
“Rather than seeing the current imbroglio as an opportunity to fester his penchant for populism and bad politicking by encouraging protest against the federal government, Governor Makinde should join Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Governor Yahaya Bello and Dr. Abdullah Ganduje of Kaduna, Kogi and Kano states respectively in fighting for the rights of the masses through legal means as being done at the Supreme Court at the moment. Oyo governor should also borrow a leaf from his Ogun state counterpart, Prince Dapo Abiodun, by instructing residents to await the final decision of the court on the suit challenging the February 10, 23 deadlines for the expiration of the old naira notes if indeed, he is pro-masses”, APC said.
House of Representatives member and Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Engr. Aderemi Oseni, has fulfilled his pledge to support the welfare of the All Progressives Congress (APC) staff in Oyo State.
In a gesture highlighting his commitment, the lawmaker personally funded the salaries of staff at the APC’s Oke Ado Secretariat in Ibadan, reinforcing his dedication to the smooth operation of the party’s activities in the state.
Representing the Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency, Oseni recently visited the secretariat, where he expressed gratitude to party leaders and members for their contributions.
As a further commitment to the smooth operation of the party’s activities, the lawmaker generously donated ten million naira (N10,000,000) as an allowance to enhance the secretariat’s functions.
In a statement released Wednesday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the lawmaker extended appreciation to the secretariat staff, whom he described as the backbone of the party’s daily functions.
He lauded their dedication, noting their essential role in advancing the party’s goals.
“Leadership is about service, and service begins with supporting those who make the party function from within,” Oseni remarked.
“I am proud to honour this commitment to our staff, as they play a crucial role in making our political structures work effectively. This is my way of showing appreciation for their unwavering dedication”, he added.
Engr. Aderemi Oseni, representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency of Oyo State in the House of Representatives, has paid tribute to former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, on his 61st birthday, celebrating his decades of dedicated service and contributions to Oyo State and Nigeria at large.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, in Ibadan, Oseni, who also serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), lauded Folarin’s unwavering commitment to leadership and the well-being of the people.
Highlighting the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial nominee in the 2023 elections for three terms in the Senate, the lawmaker noted that Folarin’s legacy of service continues to be a guiding light for emerging leaders and a source of inspiration for countless individuals across the state.
“Senator Folarin has built an admirable legacy through years of selfless public service, consistently advocating for progress and unity,” remarked Oseni.
Reflecting on Folarin’s role as the Ikolaba Olubadan of Ibadanland, the lawmaker commended his leadership approach, which has bridged divides, fostered coalitions, and promoted initiatives aimed at stabilising democracy.
“Senator Folarin’s career is an example of visionary leadership,” he added, “and his commitment to public service will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.”
As Senator Folarin marks this milestone, Oseni extended warm wishes for his continued health and success, expressing hope that his exemplary life of service will keep inspiring positive change across the nation.
In a historic ruling, a Ugandan court on Friday sentenced former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo to 40 years in prison.
This landmark decision, marking the first time a member of the notorious LRA has faced trial for war crimes in a Ugandan court, follows the group’s brutal two-decade insurgency against the Ugandan government.
Kwoyelo, who was convicted in August on 44 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, faced charges including murder, rape, torture, pillaging, abduction, and the destruction of settlements for internally displaced people.
(FILES) Thomas Kwoyelo a commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army rebellion blamed for brutal civilian murders during a 20-year war in the north of the country is brought into a courthouse in the northern Ugandan town of Gulu on July 25, 2011. – A Ugandan court on October 25, 2024 sentenced former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo to 40 years in prison after a landmark war crimes trial over his role in the group’s two-decade reign of terror. The sentence against Kwoyelo, who was convicted on 44 counts of crimes against humanity in August, was announced by Michael Elubu, the lead judge in the case at the court in the northern city of Gulu. (Photo by MICHELE SIBOLINI / AFP)
Michael Elubu, lead judge of the case at the International Crimes Division (ICD) of Uganda’s High Court, delivered the sentence in the northern city of Gulu, underscoring a rare moment of accountability in the decades-long history of the LRA’s violence.
Judge Elubu stated that Kwoyelo retains the right to appeal both his conviction and sentence within 14 days.
Kwoyelo, who was abducted by the LRA at the age of 12 and later rose to a low-level command position within the organization, denied all charges brought against him.
(FILES) Suspected LRA (Lords Resistance Army) member Thomas Kwoyelo is pictured during a pre-trial session at the High Court in Kampala on Februay 1, 2017. – A Ugandan court on October 25, 2024 sentenced former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo to 40 years in prison after a landmark war crimes trial over his role in the group’s two-decade reign of terror. The sentence against Kwoyelo, who was convicted on 44 counts of crimes against humanity in August, was announced by Michael Elubu, the lead judge in the case at the court in the northern city of Gulu. (Photo by GAEL GRILHOT / AFP)
The Lord’s Resistance Army, founded by Joseph Kony in the 1980s, sought to establish a regime based on the Ten Commandments. Under Kony’s leadership, the group unleashed widespread terror across Uganda and neighboring regions, resulting in over 100,000 deaths and the abduction of 60,000 children.
The violence eventually spread to Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the Central African Republic.
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