Politics

Oyo 2019: Adelabu, An Enemy of Himself !

Published

8 years ago

November 26, 2018

By Idowu Ayodele, and Taiwo Oluwadamilare, Ibadan

FOLLOWING various crises in Oyo State political space, the All Progressives Congress, APC appeared to have edge over the oppositions in the state.

However, after the APC governorship candidate, Mr Adebayo Adelabu won the party’s ticket, he seems to be fueling intraparty crisis by creating enmities among members of the ruling party.

It would be recalled that during primaries which eventually produced Adelabu as flag bearer, all the aspirants enjoyed supports from party stalwarts especially the leading aspirant, Engr Olasunkanmi Tegbe who enjoyed total support from the people at the corridors of power before the pendulum swung and stepped down among other contestants for Adelabu as a result of Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s intervention.

After the emergence of Adelabu, the expectation of the party faithfuls was for him to reconcile, resolve differences among warring party members to stand better chances in the forthcoming poll. But surprisingly, Adelabu is busy pointing accusing fingers to those who supported his contemporaries in the primary most especially, Tegbe.

The cabinet members and others at the corridors of power who are the governors’ think tank are yet to resolve with Adelabu, an internal crisis which could best be described as ‘cold war’.

The political strategists and influencers whom could also contribute to Adelabu’s victory are now his ‘perceived enemies’ because they didn’t support him during the race to the primary.

According to sources, the guber nominee, Adelabu has been alleged to have constituted his cabinet when the election is less than 3 months to be held. As a result of the aforementioned, the emergence of Adelabu as the APC’s standard bearer in the 2019 governorship election is now causing commotions among the progressive fold.

The incidence of an APC party member can be regarded as an evident instant of crisis rocking the ruling party after emergence of Adelabu.

Isiaka, popularly called ‘Adedibu’ who resides around Monatan axis of Ibadan, Oyo state capital recounted his ordeal in the hands of Adelabu’s boys for allegedly supporting one of his co-contestants, Dr. Azeez Adeduntan in the APC’s guber primary.

Isiaka, nicknamed Adedibu in a chat with our reporter on Friday

Isiaka, the APC member on evening of Friday, November 23, 2018 around 9:01pm while speaking with Mega Icon Magazine said he went to Adelabu’s hotel situated at Jericho, but on getting there, he didn’t see anybody around. He said: “I went to his hall where we used to hold meetings, also located around the same Jericho axis in Ibadan.

“When I got to the hall, I met them there and other people. But, surprisingly when they saw a face cap on me, with an inscription of Ganiyat Olawore Omo oku orun (Former Special Assistant to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Political Matters, Community Relations and Agriculture), the Adelabu’s boys fumed that Ganiyat didn’t worked for them during the primaries but rather worked for Dr. Azeez Adeduntan.

But I quipped, “Ganiyat (Omo oku orun, who also secured APC ticket for state Assembly) is our person”. And I can tell you that I have not benefitted anything from Adeduntan. It is based on the governor’s instruction that we should continue to work for the party irrespective of individual differences that made me give my support to Ganiyat. That’s why I deemed it necessary to go to Adelabu to get some posters to paste around my axis in Monatan.

“But when Roma, one of Adelabu’s aides and SA to the Governor saw me with Ganiyat’s face cap, he said I have told you before that this guy (me) isn’t Adelabu’s loyalist, saying that I am Ganiyat’s loyalist working for Dr Azeez Adeduntan. Another one said I am Tegbe’s loyalist and I told them that I am for Adelabu. All of a sudden, they started beating me , stabbed me with bottle, hit me on the head with stones.

“My head, hands and body were stabbed which mutilated my skin through other sharp objects. They are many, Adelabu was there, even his Personal Assistant, Boye”, Isiaka narrated further.

As a result of related issues like this, some APC members in the state are ready to work for candidates in their respective areas but not for ‘Penkelemesi’, (Adelabu’s branded name) due to alleged fences around him or intra-party crisis caused by Adelabu and his men.

It would be recalled that when Governor Abiola Ajimobi inaugurated his campaign committee in 2007, 2011 and 2015 respectively, the committees were comprised of people with familiar faces and the doors to his Oluyole private residence were opened to everyone.

“Any candidate eyeing the Agodi Government House must be submissive and decline hiring a reputable construction companies like Julius Berger (JB) to construct fences around him like that of biblical ‘Jericho wall”, another source submitted

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Politics

Oyo South: Oseni restates commitment to people-centred legislation

Published

3 hours ago

October 9, 2026

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Oyo South and member representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Engr. Aderemi Oseni, has reaffirmed his commitment to people-centred legislation, saying the needs and aspirations of constituents must remain central to lawmaking and governance.

Oseni said effective representation must go beyond the passage of bills to addressing the challenges confronting communities, promoting sustainable development and facilitating interventions that improve the welfare of the people.

‎He stated this in a statement issued on Friday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, and made available to journalists in Ibadan.

‎The lawmaker recalled that he had championed a community-based governance approach during the last election, emphasising grassroots participation and the need to incorporate the views of constituents into decisions affecting their lives.

‎According to him, the initiative was designed to strengthen communication between elected representatives and the people, enabling him to identify local priorities, understand emerging challenges and pursue appropriate solutions through legislative and other institutional channels.

‎Oseni said the approach had provided opportunities for engagement with community leaders, artisans, traders, market men and women, religious leaders, youths, women, teachers and other stakeholders. He added that the interactions had sustained dialogue on community needs and reinforced the importance of listening to constituents.

‎“This people-centred approach has strengthened trust in governance and reaffirmed our conviction that democracy works best when leaders listen,” he said, stressing that regular engagement was necessary to understand the concerns of different groups and ensure that their voices informed decisions affecting them.

‎He further said people-centred legislation should translate into tangible benefits through the facilitation of essential infrastructure, social interventions and other development initiatives. Such efforts, he added, should focus on improving livelihoods, strengthening local economies and expanding access to basic amenities through appropriate legislative and institutional processes.

‎The APC chieftain maintained that the responsibility of elected representatives extended beyond lawmaking to protecting the interests of constituents, encouraging innovation and supporting initiatives that could improve their welfare. He said representation should ultimately be measured by its contribution to addressing the everyday challenges of the people.

‎“Our responsibility as lawmakers goes beyond passing laws. It also involves protecting people’s dreams, nurturing innovation and safeguarding their welfare. We intend to expand and extend this initiative so that everyone can participate in our shared vision of building an Oyo South that works for all,” he said.

‎Oseni expressed his determination to deepen grassroots participation and strengthen collaboration among communities and development stakeholders, saying inclusive governance was essential to achieving sustainable development. He said his vision was to ensure that the concerns of constituents received appropriate attention and that representation translated into meaningful development across Oyo South.

Politics

Oyo: Alli condemns attacks on wife, APC candidates, alleges APM involvement

Published

18 hours ago

October 8, 2026

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The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation has raised the alarm over alleged attacks on the wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Alhaja Tawakalitu Alli, and two other APC candidates during separate political activities in Ibadan on Wednesday.

The organisation alleged that suspected supporters of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) were responsible for the incidents, which occurred at Ayeye, Orita-Merin and Idi-Arere areas of the state capital.

Mrs Alli was allegedly attacked during a medical outreach she organised at Ibikunle House, Ayeye, while the campaign trains of the APC candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, Aderemi Oseni, and the party’s candidate for Ibadan North-West/Ibadan South-West Federal Constituency, Folake Olunloyo-Oshinowo, were also reportedly attacked during separate campaign events.

Reacting to the incidents, the Director of Media and Publicity of the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation, Bisi Oladele, described the attacks as “unwarranted” and “barbaric,” warning that political violence must not be allowed to return to the state.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Oladele called on Governor Seyi Makinde and the APM governorship candidate, Bimbo Adekanmbi, to rein in their supporters and ensure that political activities in the state were conducted peacefully.

He said, “The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation is at the least miffed by the unwarranted and barbaric attacks by Allied Peoples Movement hoodlums on Alhaja Tawakalitu Alli during a medical outreach she organised at Ibikunle House, Ayeye, Ibadan, on Wednesday.

“Sponsored hoodlums also attacked the APC candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, and the party’s candidate for Ibadan North-West/Ibadan South-West Federal Constituency, Hon. Folake Olunloyo-Oshinowo, during separate campaign events at Agbaje Market, Orita-Merin, and Idi-Arere, Ibadan.”

The organisation urged security agencies to investigate the incidents and bring anyone found culpable to book.

It further accused those behind the alleged attacks of attempting to create an atmosphere of fear ahead of the 2027 elections, insisting that APC candidates would not be prevented from meeting with voters across the state.

Oladele said the right of political parties and candidates to campaign peacefully was guaranteed by law, adding that political differences should not become a justification for violence.

He said, “APC candidates and supporters in Oyo State will not surrender our inalienable rights to freely associate, gather and campaign within the ambits of the law. No amount of threats will deter the party from campaigning across Oyo State.”

The campaign organisation also appealed to the state government and political parties to focus on issue-based campaigns and allow voters to freely assess the programmes and candidates seeking their support.

It said, “The good people of Oyo State deserve issue-based campaigns, not violence. We advise Governor Makinde, Adekanmbi and other political parties to focus on presenting their programmes and policies to the electorate, not visiting violence on the people.”

The organisation maintained that the alleged attacks would not stop APC candidates from taking their campaigns to the people, urging political actors to place the peace and security of the state above their individual ambitions.

It also called on the security agencies to ensure that political campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections were conducted in an atmosphere free from intimidation and violence.

Politics

Alli hails Tinubu, Uzodimma over rescue of 20 Oyo corps members

Published

2 days ago

October 7, 2026

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Senator Sharafadeen Alli, the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Oyo State, has commended President Bola Tinubu, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, and security agencies over the rescue of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members abducted in Imo State.

The prospective corps members, who were travelling from Oyo State to their NYSC orientation camps, regained their freedom on Wednesday, seven days after they were abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State. The police confirmed that the victims were rescued at Amakohia Ubi Village following sustained search-and-rescue operations.

Alli, in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of Media and Publicity of his campaign organisation, Bisi Oladele, described the development as a welcome relief to the victims, their families and the people of Oyo State.

He said the successful rescue demonstrated the commitment of the Federal Government and security agencies to protecting the lives and property of Nigerians.

The APC candidate commended Tinubu and Uzodimma for their leadership, while praising the security agencies for what he described as their courage, professionalism and coordinated efforts in securing the release of the victims.

Alli said the development was particularly reassuring because the victims were young Nigerians on their way to commence the mandatory national service when they were abducted.

He, however, urged security agencies not to relent, calling for stronger intelligence gathering and closer inter-agency collaboration to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The senator also called for the perpetrators of the abduction to be identified and brought to justice, saying the successful rescue should be followed by efforts to ensure that those responsible face the law.

He appealed to members of the public to support security agencies by providing timely and useful information that could assist in preventing crime and protecting lives.

According to him, the safety of citizens cannot be left to security agencies alone, stressing that government and the public must work together to create a safer society.

Alli expressed sympathy with the victims and their families over the ordeal, praying for the speedy recovery of the rescued prospective corps members and emotional healing for their relatives following the traumatic experience.