Politics
Ibadan stands still as Akala, Dare, Adeyemo, Shittu, Lanlehin, Adeseun, Akande others attend Oyo APC’s stakeholders meeting
A new chapter was opened in the history book of the Oyo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday as virtually all gladiators attended its stakeholders meeting help in readiness for the commencement of the party’s membership registration and revalidation exercise.
The impressive turn out of those described as critical stakeholders at the meeting which took place at the Party’s new State Secretariat at Oke-Ado, Ibadan may have finally put an end to the intraparty bickering which Oyo APC has had to battle with since 2018.
In his Welcome Address, the State Caretaker Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, did not mince words in expressing his delight over “the collective resolve of all leaders, chieftains and members of the Oyo APC to work together as one and thus reposition the party for the task of winning future elections in the state.
“Although the main objective of today’s meeting is to deliberate on how to mobilize for the success of the party’s membership registration and revalidation exercise, we must express our happiness and joy on account of the attendance of this meeting by all the critical stakeholders including our leaders who were aggrieved at one time or the other. It is a new dawn and we salute your courage for putting behind all issues of grievances to channel a new cause for the good of our dear party and the nation as a whole.” Oke said.
In his own speech, former Governor of the state, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, appealed for greater commitment and synergy among all stakeholders with a view to making the party stronger. “We must swing into action immediately as we have no luxury of time ahead of the next general election in which we would do everything humanly possible to reclaim power in Oyo state.
“As much as we are ready to mobilize for the success of the party’s membership registration and revalidation exercise, we also need to take a step further by setting appropriate modalities in place for Oyo APC faithful to work together as a family and dislodge the PDP from power.” Alao-Akala submitted.
While addressing the meeting, the minister of Sport and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, eulogized the Akin Oke-led state executive committee for organizing the meeting which he described as “very important at this critical time when all hands must be put on deck to save the state from the PDP whose conduct in government, so far, leaves much to be desired”.
Other speakers at the meeting include; the lawmaker representing Oyo Central Senatorial district, Sen. Teslim Folarin, former minister of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu, Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin, former deputy-governor, Chief Moses Alake-Adeyemo, Sen. Ayoade Adeseun, former Secretary to the State Government, Alh. Olalekan Alli, Hon. Tolulope Akande-Shadipe (Oluyole Federal Constituency) and the Minority Leader of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Asimiyu Alarape.
Resolution made at the meeting are as follows; that Oyo APC shall be democratic in all its political activities as this concerns entrenchment of internal democracy particularly in the area Party Congresses and elective positions.
Second, that Oyo APC is now an indivisible family poised to win all future elections in the state. Third, the Stakeholders also resolved to work together with the National Secretariat for the overall success of the Membership Registration and Revalidation exercise.
And finally, that the Stakeholders have placed a total ban on the inimical activities of divisive groups such as Lamists, SENACO, PDP Reform and Unity Forum within Oyo APC.
Other APC dignitaries who attended the meeting include; Prof. Adeolu Akande, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, Alh. Fatai Ibikunle, Hon. Akeem Adeyemi, Hon. Olajide Olatunbosun, Hon. Olaide Akinremi, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Mr. Zaccheus Adedeji, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela, Hon. Olatunbosun Oladele, Alh. Isiaka Alimi, Hon. Jacob Bamigboye, Hon. Isiaka Kazeem, Hon. Wumi Oladeji, Hon. Rt. Hon. Olagunju Ojo, Hon. Folake Olunloyo-Osinowo, Hon. Bimbo Kolade, Dr. Isiaka Kolawole, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, Alh. Abu Gbadamosi, Hon. Modepoola Eegunjobi, Chief Kunle Sanda, Alh. Wasiu Dauda, Alh. Olalekan Kazeem, Hon. Lasun Adebunmi, Engr. Idris Adeoye, Hon. Abisoye Fagade 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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