Politics
Oyo 2019: I have political clout to win Feb. 16 poll, says Semiu Alao
THE Candidate contesting for Ibadan North East/ South East Federal Constituency under the flagship of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Mr. Semiu Oladimeji Alao has boosted that he has the clout to win the February 16, 2019 election.
Alao while speaking with Mega Icon Magazine on Saturday during a ward meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital averred that the Buhari tsunami that stood majority candidates of All Progressive Congress (APC) chances to win popular votes in 2015 Presidential and National Assembly elections will not happen in this year’s election.
According to him, people are wised up because instead of voting for a party, they will rather vote for the credible candidates. “Buhari tsunami that made all APC’s candidates worn in 2015 election can’t happen this year’s February 16, 2019 election because people are wised up. They don’t follow party anymore but candidates’ credibility. All persons in ZLP are people’s favourites like Baba Ladoja, Sharafadeen Alli and my humble self because of my good political antecedents and I believe I have the political clout to win the forthcoming election.
“The incumbent member representating my constituency is not doing well enough, and I promise with my credibility in the political circle, I’m the candidate to beat come 2019. I have made people happy through my empowerment programs and other ways I have helped people. This yuletide, I organized a Christmas party for all the children in 12 wards each from two local councils in the constituency because I learnt many people don’t have money to celebrate Christmas with their children and a reason we made them laughed home with gifts. Therefore, I’m people’s best friend”.
Speaking on his missions to contest for the electoral position, Alao said: “my aim is to give best ever representation in the National Assembly and secondly, to correct past anomalies of act of neglects by the past and present members of representatives. And lastly is to answer the call of my people and God by doing their wishes.
“The issue of bench warmers, is the reason some of us are showing interest to ensure we represent our constituents better by raising motions and presenting bills that will contribute to the wellbeing of the constituents. I’m promising members of my constituency that I will not go there to do ‘I support’ but render services to better their lives because the crop of lawmakers we had in the past, didn’t contribute to development of their constituency and a reason for so much underdevelopments.
“We need to understand that federal executives can’t know all the problems confronting our people at the grassroots. That’s why we are representatives to bring those problems to the knowledge of the federal government so that they can find lasting solutions to them. That is why people need a caring person like me to show care they deserve”, he said.
Also speaking on the party status, Alao continued: “ZLP at the moment has no problem and the beauty of the political party to be honest with you is that, is free of impunity, godfatherism or cabal. Here in the party, everybody has a say. You can see the mammoth crowd at the ward meeting. This shows all is well with the party. So, we are thankful to God because He had made the impossibility possible for us”,
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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