Politics
Ondo Guber Race: PDP rejects OAU VC as Chief Returning Officer, says don is Akeredolu’s crony
The National Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for the October 10, 2020, governorship election in Ondo State, on Thursday rejected the appointment of Professor Eyitope Ogungbenro Ogunbodede, the Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, as the Chief Returning Officer for the election.
Chairman of the Campaign Council, who is also the Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, who addressed newsmen in Akure raised the alarm, declaring that the people of Ondo State could be shortchanged if Ogunbodede is allowed to serve as the Returning Officer.
He said that the VC is a crony of the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Areredolu (SAN), adding that such a situation cannot guarantee a free and fair election.
According to him, there appears a high plot to sabotage the will of the voters in the state by ensuring that they do not get a free and fair election.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as saying that the appointment of Ogunbodede, a crony of the incumbent Ondo State Governor, who is also the standard-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), will compromise the election.
Besides being a crony of the Ondo State governor, Ogunbodede equally hails from Owo town, the governor added.
Makinde called on INEC to replace Prof. Ogunbodede as Chief Returning Officer with a neutral individual, adding that such a sensitive position must be held by someone who has no affiliation with any of the parties in the election.
The PDP National Campaign Council also declared that Professor A.S. Bamire, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who conducted the training for returning officers, is not a neutral party for the purpose of the election.
The statement also indicated that the governor called on all lovers of democracy around the world to be alert to the machinations of the APC-led Federal Government to rig the Ondo State governorship election.
The campaign council urged the United Nations, the European Union, the United States of America and the United Kingdom and all lovers of democracy to call INEC to order, stating that it is already compiling names of all actors and would not hesitate to recommend the same for visa ban based on their actions and inactions in Saturday’s election.
Makinde said: “All the hard work and support that we have provided for our candidate, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), who will help us reclaim Ondo, comes down to one date, the 10th of October, 2020.
“However, it has come to our notice that the people of Ondo State will not be getting a free and fair election if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as presently composed, will be overseeing the election in Ondo State.
“We are speaking in particular about the appointment of Professor Eyitope Ogungbenro Ogunbodede, the Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife as the Chief Returning Officer of the Ondo State governorship election.
“The PDP totally rejects Prof. Ogunbodede, who is acting as the Chief Returning Officer. The reasons are very clear. He is a known crony of the current governor of Ondo State, who is also the candidate of APC, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN). He hails from Owo, the same hometown as the candidate of the APC. He cannot be a fair party in the proceeding by the virtue of their association.
“We also want to state that Professor A.S Bamire, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who conducted the training of returning officers, is not a neutral party for the purpose of this election.
“We, therefore, call on INEC to stay true to their names and replace Professor Eyitope Ogungbenro Ogunbodede with a disinterested party. The Chief Returning Officer should have no affiliations with any of the participating parties in the election.”
Governor Makinde, who called on the international community to be alert to what the APC-led administration in the centre is trying to do in Ondo, said: “We also take this opportunity to call on all lovers of democracy around the world to pay attention to what the APC-led administration in the centre is trying to do in Ondo State.
“We call on the United Nations, European Union, United State, and the United Kingdom and, indeed, and indeed, all allies of democracy, to call INEC to order.
“We are compiling the names of the people involved in there and I believe those people will be good candidates for the visa ban, because if they try to rig this election and they stay here with us, then we will reach out to them after the election to either say thank you or show them what it is if they allow themselves to be used to deny the people of Ondo State the free will to choose their leader.”
The governor commended security agencies in Ondo State for doing well so far, warning, however, that they should not allow themselves to be used as tools to subvert the will of the people.
He further said: “We call on all security agencies in Ondo State not to allow themselves to be used as a tool against the will of the people.
“So far, they have done very well. So, we take this opportunity to commend them for what they have done so far. But we still have a long way to go. Until we see to the end of this process and a governor-elect is declared, it is going to be eternal vigilance for us. So, we urge the security agencies to still do more.
“Please, don’t forget that history and posterity have never been kind to people who allow themselves to be used as a tool for injustice. We urge our security agencies to read the mood of the people and act accordingly.
“Well, politicians, I am one, will come and go, but the people will always remain; and our state and our country will remain. And everyone should remember the world is watching us.”
Former Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Adeolu Akande, has made a fervent appeal to factions within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State to reconcile and unite ahead of the forthcoming local council election.
Addressing party chairmen and chairmanship candidates from the 10 local government areas of Oke Ogun zone, Akande emphasised the critical need for solidarity within the party ranks to secure victory in the elections scheduled for this month.
Highlighting the significance of unity within the party, the former Governor Ajimobi’s aide underscored that Oyo State is inherently an APC stronghold, but internal conflicts hampered the party’s performance in the previous election.
He urged members to set aside their differences and focus on the common goal of delivering a progressive government to the people of the state.
Speaking during the gathering in Otu, headquarters of Itesiwaju Local Government area, Akande stressed the imperative of forgiveness and reconciliation, emphasising that the party’s success hinges on unity. He lauded the efforts of the national leadership in fostering reconciliation, urging members to embrace the spirit of unity.
As a gesture of support, the ex-NCC gaffer provided financial assistance amounting to N500,000 to each of the 10 local government areas to bolster their preparations for the upcoming April 27 election.
The event was attended by APC Chairmen and Chairmanship candidates from the Oke Ogun Zone, alongside 21 former local government chairmen, demonstrating a collective commitment to the party’s success in the forthcoming election.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state was in Ido town, headquarters of the Ido Local Government to campaign for himself on Monday.
Local Government Election have been slated for April 27 of this year and the Governor is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that he is declared winner by OYSIEC.
Do I sound confusing? Definitely not.
Governor Makinde is the contestant for the position of Local Government Chairman in the 33 Local Governments in Oyo state.
Reason? The Governor doubles as the State’s Chief Executive as well as the de facto Chairman of the 33 Local Governments while the 33 clowns parading themselves as the Councils’helmsmen are just Chairmen de jure.
What the Yorubas call “Esin inu iwe”.
I will use two incidents that happened simultaneously today to prove what is already known and accepted by the general public, albeit, arguably.
While Governor Makinde was dancing to some Fuji music in Ido town during the campaign rally, the chairman of Ibadan South West Local Government, one Hon. Kehinde Akande was in a live debate at Fresh FM with the APC candidate, Dr. Abogun and his statements were quite revealing.
A direct question regarding his view about autonomy and independence of Local Governments was put to him by the moderator, Isaac Brown and his response leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
The fellow, sadly and slavishly said that he has no problems with the decision of the Governor (Seyi Makinde) to directly monitor the expenditures of the Local Governments, since, according to him, it was for the purpose of probity and accountability!
This was coming from the Chairman of one of the most populous if not the most populous in Oyo state.
Like his peers who have one time or the other appeared on Radio, he could not point to any tangible project done by him and why would he?
The Governor calls the shots.
This is just on a lighter note, Hon. Kehinde Akande can not correctly identify the collation centre for ward 12 in a Local Government where he had been chairman for almost four years.
That underline the level of redundancy of this fellows parading themselves as Council Chairmen and on whose sake Governor Makinde incurred billions of Naira as judgment debts.
Now, to Governor Makinde’s campaign in Ido.
Is it not interesting that the Governor was in Ido and he didn’t Commission any project done by the Local Government?
In the times of his predecessors, such occasions were used to Commission projects done by the Local Government Chairmen but what will Governor Makinde Commission?
Nothing.
Nothing, because all the projects he mentioned during the campaign rally like the Omi Adio – Ido Road and others were attached to the state Government, even though, the funds were that of the Local Government.
Similarly, all the projects he promised to embark upon in the coming months within the Local Government like the modernisation of the Omi Adio market are projects he will usurp as usual, using the Councils’funds.
If not for the fact that Governor Makinde requires some pliant individuals who will sign out the Councils’funds for him to expend, I bet, there won’t be Local Government Chairmen during his tenure.
A lot of examples abound to confirm Governor Makinde’s illegal usurpation of the functions of the Local Government Chairmen.
Akesan Market is another typical example.
The April 27 Local Government Election is between Governor Makinde as grand Chairman of the 33 Local Governments and the opposition political parties.
The 33 gentlemen flying the tickets for the PDP are just necessary proxies.
I will not dissipate energy on the Governor’s uncharitable boasts that the opposition should wait for another three years, when he would still be the Governor to conduct another election.
I will rather call on the people of the state to be united in removing the “Ajeles” he has foisted on the Local Governments.
Oyo state can not afford another three years of Governor Makinde’s mismanagement of the Local Government resources.
He has bled the state enough through over bloated contracts and debts.
All residents of the state should consider the April 27 Local Government Election as an opportunity to at least salvage the 33 Local Governments from the suffocating hold of the Governor.
Like I said earlier, Oyo state can not afford another three years of continual looting of the Local Governments through the proxies of the Governor.
One would wonder what business the Governor has in the ” modernisation” of Omi Adio market.
Maintenance of the market is purely the responsibility of the Local Government Chairman but under Governor Makinde, even the Parks and abattoirs are directly run by the Governor.
That is the reason why the Local Governments have become comatose.
They have no means of generating IGR as all avenues have been taken away from them by the Governor.
Now, you tell me, Isn’t Governor Makinde not the one contesting on April 27?
Sola Abegunde writes from Oyo State
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, faces a tumultuous time as members of his ward, the Ganduje Ward in the Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State, have suspended him.
It was announced by the Executive Council of Ganduje Ward, led by Haruna Gwanjo, during a press briefing in Kano on Monday.
The suspension comes amidst lingering corruption allegations, notably surrounding a viral video from 2017 depicting Ganduje allegedly receiving bundles of dollar notes as a bribe and stuffing them into his garments.
Despite Ganduje’s initial denial and maintenance of innocence, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) administration, under Governor Abba Yusuf, has reopened the case.
The Kano High Court is set to arraign Ganduje on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, on charges including bribery, diversion, and misappropriation of funds.
Mega Icon Magazine gathered that the allegations involve the purported acceptance of $413,000 and N1.38 billion in bribes. The State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Dederi, confirmed that Ganduje, along with his wife and six others, will face trial.
The Yusuf administration has vowed to present 15 witnesses to testify before Justice Usman Na’aba of the State High Court, indicating the seriousness with which the case is being pursued.
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