Politics
Oyo 2019 Elections: Surprises And Challenges Ahead || By Akinyode Ishola
I don’t know what to write when the much anticipated February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections sprang expected and unexpected surprises as well as disrupting the permutations and calculations of the political analysts.
The poll was also a tedious exercise for the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), especially the Presiding Officers, Returning Officers, Chief Returning Officers and Domestic and Foreign Election Observers.
Members of the fourth estate of realm were not left out especially in the area of informing the public on the happenings and giving situation reports of the elections to their respective media houses.
The Presidential and National Elections held on Saturday February 23, no doubt sprang some surprises and challenges that changed the political permutations and calculations; hence the need for realignment in the Oyo state politics.
Since the Nation’s return to uninterrupted democracy in May 1999, battle to take over the Agodi Government House always attract more attention within and outside the state, the reason is that Ibadan has remained the political headquarters of the Southwest where political decisions were usually concluded.
Now, all political parties have tested their strengths and perhaps know the weaknesses as well as identified the strongholds ahead of the March 9 Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections
The big question is who will occupy the Agodi Government House?
No doubt, with the permutations and calculations on ground, especially with the outcome of the February 23 Elections, one can easily concludes that the battle is between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic party (PDP).
Even on social media platforms and newspapers’ stands, the discussion is about Adebayo Adelabu of the APC and Seyi Makinde of the PDP, while some members of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Oyo State was allegedly canvassing for Seyi Makinde, some Muslim Organizations drummed their supports for Adebayo Adelabu making the battle more interesting.
However, statistically, the APC has formidable structure in all the 33 local governments across the state plus 35 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) plus the unprecedented achievements of the state government in the last seven and half years. It is expected nothing less than victory at the poll.
Although APC won 9 House of Representatives’ seats and two senatorial districts, but poor results from Ibarapa land and some local governments in Ibadan which
necessitated the loss of Oyo South Senatorial District to opposition can not make the APC to rest comfortably.
On the part of the PDP, the results of Saturday February 23 elections was a greater improvement when compared to the outcome of 2015 elections
The Presidential election results also revealed that PDP won Oyo state with margin of 1000 votes, meaning that they are ready to slog it out with the progressive
Transfer Window
The term transfer window is not new to lovers of round leather game,the two leading political parties now signed new players ahead of the Oyo 2019 political champions league final.
The new signing of APC, as learnt included, Former Governor of Oyo state, Otunba Adebayo Alao- Akala, Hon Olatoye Sugar, Hon Adigun Hammed, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, Hon Dapo Lam Adesina, Sen Monsurat Sunmonu, Sen Adesoji Akanbi and other members of the African Democratic Party (ADP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC)
The new signing will join the already established team led by the incumbent Governor of the State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, former Senate leaderand Senator elect, Teslim Folarin, Senator Fatai Buhari and others ready for Saturday Final Clash.
The new signing in the PDP Camp, though yet to be sealed as at the time filling this report; are Former Governor of Oyo state and Ibadan High Chief, Rashidi Ladoja, Senator Femi Lanleyin, Barrister Sarafadeen Alli and others.
This new signing will work harmoniously with Team Seyi MAKINDE of the PDP led by Senator- Elect Muhammad Kola Balogun, Bisi Ilaka, former House Leader, Mulikat Adeola among others.
Of course, the referee will be the Chief returning officer of the state, Barrister Mutiu Agboke, Assisted by state Returning officer and Presiding officers at various polling units with security agents serve as Video Assistant Referees.
According to a Communist Tyrant Josef Stalin “Those who cast the votes decide nothing, those who count the votes decide everything ”
Without Iota of doubt, the March 9 polls may be the most keenly contested governorship election in Oyo state as all eyes are on who will succeed ‘Mr Constituted Authority’ (CA) in the race to Agodi Government House.
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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