Top Stories
Insecurity: Be more proactive, Oyo APC Chieftain, Oyegoke urges Makinde
A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state, Pastor Oyewale Oyegoke has urged Governor Seyi Makinde to take urgent steps to end the alarming insecurity in the state.
Pastor Oyegoke, who lamented the increasing rate of criminal activities in Oyo state, also implored the governor to put in place modalities that will address the activities of the hoodlums and criminals disrupting the peace of the state.
He made the plea recently while featuring on Fresh FM’s Cross Fire in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital. He described as intolerable, the current wanton destruction of human lives and properties in the state.
The legal practitioner, however urged Governor Makinde to be more proactive and pragmatic in his approach to solving problems , especially security issues.
He said: “I want to emphasize on two Issues, proactiveness and pragmatism.
I want to emphasize that the meaning of proactiveness is taking control of a situation before it happens. Now we have lived in this country for a very long time and we are familiar with Bokoharam insurgency, banditry, cattle rustling and others. I expected when Mr. Governor stepped into the shoe of a big man would be ready or he would have a kind of plan on ground to address all these issues .
“This is not the first time that the issue of insecurity is happening in Oyo state, of course we may not have perfect information here but when we put forward all the circumstantial evidences together, we would see that Mr. Governor has not been proactive enough.
“The pragmatism aspect is that the issues, even when they arise, he has not been responding with practical steps. The governance is so weak , the leadership is so weak, we can see the evidences of a failing state. Now we could have learn from other governors before, we could have even learn from the experiences in Oyo state, these things are not strange.
“I could remember when the one million boys were burning houses here and there in 2015 or 2016 thereabout, Mr. Governor, the late Ajimobi went to the scene , walking round with his entourage talking to the victims, showing empathy for them, that’s pragmatism. Not only that, he launched a lot of security outfits to help himself out and we could see what follow after .
“Governor Seyi Makinde has not led well, he has failed in his leadership, he has failed in the oath of office he took to protect lives and property. He’s the Chief Security Officer of this state and the whole thing has degenerated under his watch”, Oyegoke alleged.
Justifying his submissions, he further observed: “one thing I have noticed is that communication is the life wire of organization’s relationship. When you needed the votes of these people you know how you reached out to them. As a matter of fact, there was a day when we were preparing for election that I got a direct call from him (Governor Makinde), I wouldn’t know how he did it and he called many people as well when he was seeking for votes.
“This time around, he has abandoned these people , he has no local connection with them. I could remember the last two weeks he visited them, some chiefs and Baales wanted to say something , they were telling him that they were coming to see him in camera, that means they have not been talking. And I want to tell you that as a passionate Oyo state citizen on several occasions too I have actually try to communicate Mr. Governor, of course he’s my governor too. I will send him some sensitive information, there’s no day he has acknowledged any of these information .
“The former governor, Ajimobi before he even knew me personally I have also communicated him on several occasions and he will reply. On two to three occasions he has directed people to invite me to his office without even knowing if I’m APC member or not, that is proactiveness. You don’t build fortresses around yourself as a leader, if you think you can protect yourself by building fortresses around yourself, is actually the crowd that are meant to be your protection not the fortresses you are building.
“So in that aspect, he has lost it because he lost direct connection with the people that voted him into power. There could have been a lot of information dropping at his doorstep , especially as a governor because there are several means and mediums through which information reach out to them, but it has not been opened.
“That’s the governor that even said that he couldn’t pick up the call of his mum before the late woman passed on, so we can understand that is his nature and that has to change because we can’t continue to be a snobby, it won’t happen”, he continued.
Oyegoke stressed the need for the state government to strengthen its political will collaboratively with the security agencies to put off the ugly situation before it is too late.
He, thereafter advised the governor to establish a strategic relationship with the police, saying that he ought to have a sense of control over them.
According to him, “Oyo state is a controllable environment and there are somethings you can do within your power in the state as a governor to address the issue of insecurity and we should stop taking alibi that it is national problem. We can separate the national aspect of it, the banditry, and others from the local cultists that are fighting here and there.
“He takes decision (s) so late, and that is what I am talking about proactiveness. Even after the #ENDSARS, what has he done? He went to the IGP and has the Police been effective enough, the police that are shooting his own Amotekun on the leg? There is no relationship and there should be connection. He has not done enough that’s what we are saying. We are only telling him to be proactive and save some lives more.
“You will always need the police , though they are controlled from the federal but you’re the one that is servicing them through some means, and you should have a sense of control.
“So, it is not about I did this and that but a strategic relationship management”, the APC chieftain submitted
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday held a high-level strategic meeting with the Oyo State chapter of the party as part of efforts to reposition the APC for victory and prevent internal crisis ahead of the polls.
The development was first scooped by OYOINSIGHT.COM which quoted multiple party sources familiar with the closed-door deliberations.
Sources disclosed that the meeting, held in Abuja, focused largely on a consensus arrangement being considered by stakeholders of the party in Oyo State, in line with political templates reportedly being adopted in Lagos and Ogun states ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Party insiders said the move was aimed at strengthening unity within the fold of the opposition party in the state, minimising rancour during the primaries and presenting a formidable front against rival parties in 2027.
It was further gathered that some members of the state executive committee may have been subtly informed about preferred consensus candidates being considered for elective positions across the state.
Though details of the deliberations were still sketchy as of press time, sources hinted that the national leadership stressed the need for cohesion, discipline and strategic alignment among stakeholders to improve the party’s electoral fortunes in Oyo.
Those at the meeting included the Oyo APC Chairman, Moses Alake Adeyemo; the state secretary, Fatai Adesina Adeniyi; the Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare; the Organising Secretary, Aderemi Adepoju; and the Legal Adviser, Sunday Aborisade.
Others were the Women Leader, Adekemi Opatunde; the Youth Leader, Olalekan Oladejo; Joshua Oyebamiji; Tunde Oloyede; Sunday Babalola; Joseph Omoniyi; and Mojeed Adebayo.
As of the time of filing this report, the party had yet to issue an official statement on the outcome of the meeting.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, on Monday assured aspirants and party members that the party would conduct transparent, peaceful and credible direct primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adeyemo declared that no aspirant would be victimised or denied a level playing field, stressing that the party leadership remained committed to internal democracy and progressive ideals.
The former deputy governor spoke while receiving members of the APC Screening and Appeal Committees deployed from the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja at the APC Secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan.
He disclosed that although the party initially explored consensus arrangements across elective positions, prevailing realities indicated that direct primaries would be conducted in some areas, including the governorship contest.
Adeyemo said the party had already put necessary structures in place to ensure a hitch-free exercise capable of strengthening unity within the APC.
He said: “We set machineries in motion for us to achieve the aim of consensus across board but reports available to me indicate that we would have to go by the second option which is direct primary in certain cases including the governorship ticket.
“To this end, we shall work towards organising free, fair and credible exercise in all the affected areas even as we cannot rule out the possibility of some aspirants having a rethink and supporting the consensus arrangement as necessary.
“Where we have more than an aspirant, Abuja would send people to conduct primaries and we at the state level would provide the required support to make everything work out in the interest of our great party.”
The APC chairman explained that all registered party members would participate fully in the exercise at their respective wards on dates to be announced by the National Secretariat.
According to him, affirmation would be adopted in areas where consensus candidates emerge, while voting would be conducted wherever direct primaries become necessary.
“For consensus, members will lend their voices for affirmation while voting will be done in the cases of direct primary,” he added.
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the Screening Committee and former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Taofiq AbdusSalam, assured party faithful that the committee would carry out a thorough, transparent and unbiased screening process.
He said only eligible aspirants would be cleared to participate in the primaries and eventually fly the APC flag in the forthcoming elections.
Other members of the Screening Committee are Kamal Sanusi (Secretary), Smart Oluwole, Tunde Kolade and Olabamiji Agunloye.
Members of the Screening Appeal Committee are Jibola Oduwole (Chairman), Abimbola Jack (Secretary) and Jelil Jimoh.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress on Saturday zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria, declaring that the party’s candidate would serve a single four-year term if elected.
The decision was reached during the party’s national convention held in Abuja amid growing momentum within the opposition platform following a wave of high-profile defections from other political parties.
Announcing the development on its official social media handle, the party stated, “NDC presidential ticket is zoned to the South!!”
The party also resolved that its 2031 presidential ticket would be ceded to Northern Nigeria as part of efforts to maintain regional balance and internal equity.
The convention comes as key opposition figures, including former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former New Nigeria People’s Party presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, joined party leaders and delegates at the Abuja gathering.
Saturday’s convention is expected to ratify several recent decisions taken by the party’s National Executive Committee, including zoning arrangements, amendments to the party constitution, and the election of new national executives.
According to the convention agenda obtained by journalists, discussions centred on zoning, ratification of the amended constitution, and leadership restructuring ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The NDC has in recent weeks witnessed a surge in defections from rival opposition parties, particularly the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
On Tuesday, no fewer than 17 members of the House of Representatives defected from the ADC to the NDC.
Their defections were formally announced during plenary at the House of Representatives.
The lawmakers include Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Adamu Wakili, Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi, Lilian Orogbu, Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, Peter Aniekwe, Mukhtar Zakari, George Oluwande and Munachim Umezuruike.
Others are Emeka Idu, Jesse Onuakalusi, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Afam Ogene, Murphy Omoruyi and Abdulhakeem Ado.
The defections came barely two days after Obi and Kwankwaso formally joined the NDC from the ADC.
The duo were presented with the party’s membership cards last Sunday shortly after a closed-door meeting with party leaders.
A former Governor of Bayelsa State and NDC national leader, Seriake Dickson, officially welcomed the opposition figures into the party.
Obi had attributed his exit from the ADC to worsening internal crises, external interference and what he described as increasing hostility within party structures.
The former Anambra State governor said Nigeria’s political environment had become increasingly toxic, marked by intimidation, insecurity and sustained scrutiny of opposition figures.
He also lamented that institutions meant to protect citizens were now often deployed against them, while individuals committed to genuine public service faced mounting pressure both publicly and privately.
-
Politics2 days ago2027: Oyo APC Set for Credible Direct Primaries, Says Alake Adeyemo
-
News1 week agoTCN plans power outage in Ibadan over substation maintenance
-
News5 days agoTegbe clarifies: No 3-month promise on power grid, outlines realistic reform timeline
-
News5 days agoYoruba Heritage Festival Honouring Ogedengbe Begins July 29