Politics
Oyo 2019: Lanlehin tests popularity, kicks off roadshow in Ibadan {SEE PHOTOS}
AHEAD of the forthcoming general elections, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Oyo state, on Tuesday participated in a roadshow in Ibadan, the state capital, aimed at canvassing support for his political ambition.
During the roadshow, Senator Lanlehin gave an insight into how he intends to bring smiles to the faces of the citizenry immediately he is sworn in as the Governor of Oyo State.
Addressing newsmen, the Director of Public Communication, New Media and Tertiary Institutions of Senator Olufemi Lanlehin Campaign Organization, Engr Akeem Olatunji, informed that Lanlehin’s integrity, antecedents of his late father whom he said was described by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo as loyal, honest and incorruptible politician coupled with his own performance as former House of Representatives member, former Commissioner and Senator of the federal Republic of Nigeria would form the major plank of the ADC template in delivering good governance with human face to the good people of Oyo State.
While at Idi-Arere area of Ibadan where he saw the extent of carnage perpetrated by gangsters, the ADC guber candidate described this development as one of the several security challenges that Oyo State has been keeping away from the media and the outside world. Condoning with the victims and the general citizens of the state who have been living in fear, Sen Lanlehin, however vowed to ensure adequate and effective security of lives and property once he is elected as the governor of the state.
Also, he faulted the APC led administration over security levy, just as he challenged the party’s gubernatorial candidate, who doubles as the Chairman, Oyo State Security Fund Raising Committee, Chief Adebayo Adelabu to come out clean on his role in the disbursement of funds in relation to what he tagged, ‘the deplorable security situation’ of the state.
Sen Lanlehin, also assured those who lost their investments in the carnage of his readiness to compensate them as soon as he takes over reign of governance. In a related development, he promised to put Oje market on the world map thereby making it attractive for international business communities to patronize the the market.
Speaking further, he flayed the Ajimobi led APC government for making an issue out of the location of Gate Spare Part Market, accusing the administration of clandestine plan to allocate the age long market’s land to top members of the ruling party without considering the biting poverty amongst residents of Oyo State and economic crisis it may cause.
Sen Lanlehin, therefore advised the traders to bear their present predicament as he is poised to wipe out their tears once elected.
Good road, toilets, portable water, health facilities and revolving loans for the traders are part of plans he has in stock for the traders within one year of his administration.
According to him, “We don’t have any problem at all in ADC, We are very okay and nothing suggest that anybody leave our party because we are even stronger, bigger, peaceful, purposeful, well organized and more cohesive than it was about two months ago. Everyone is a very important personality (VIP) in ADC of today and that is evident in our rallies either in Iseyin, Ogbomoso, Oyo and Ibadan.
“No party can boast of arrays of tested and trusted politicians in ADC fold. The likes of Sen Monsurat Sunmonu, Sen Adesoji Akanbi and Barrister Bayo Lawal are some of the very few eggheads Nigeria can be proud of and that’s why we are putting them forward as our candidates because Oyo State deserves the best brains.
“We expect Sen Ajimobi and APC to go to the 33 local government areas in Oyo State and apologize profusely and demonstrate remorsefulness which they have failed to do.
“And they keep going to different places to organise campaign rallies to insult the people who they have impoverished through nonpayment of salaries and gratuities most especially to primary school retirees and other pensioners while the 6 state owned tertiary institutions including LAUTECH are been owed salaries ranging from 10 months to 23 months.
“The ADC campaign is about one issue; the character of persons who have come forward to say he wants to impose a successor. We are going to bring character of Sen Abiola Ajimobi into focus as his godson can’t be better than the worst his government is known for. And for APC guber candidate, we won’t go too far.
“The best way to review who you are is your boss, the person who is recommending you. Bayo Adelabu and APC have failed the integrity test to continue governing Oyo State beyond May 29 2019”, he continued.
Similarly, the Director General of Senator Lanlein Campaign Organization (SOLANCO), Architect Bashiru Lawal, in his remarks re-echoed the determination of Sen Lanlehin’s administration as from May 29t, to ensure that all abandoned projects are completed and the issue of diversification is given prompt attention so that Oyo State will no longer be relying on federal allocation for her survival, adding that the state economy will be the one that you have contribution from agriculture and from solid minerals, making solid impact in our GDP. Hence the need to vote ADC candidates in all elections.
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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