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Oyo 2019: Why Senator Buhari is The Preferred Choice || By. Abdulwahab Adegoke
THE scramble for the number one man in Oyo state has started and a lot of contenders are throwing their hats into the ring for the contest. Though many are yet to declare their intention but already there are about 30 people in the race from the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), while PDP and other parties too have numbers of aspirants .
In a time like this, both pretenders and serious contenders will be moving round to convince people , pasting posters and seeking for people’s support, but one thing that is certain is that only one person will emerge and I wish the next governor is Distinguished Senator Abdulfatai Omotayo Buhari
My choice of Fatai Buhari as a preferred candidate and the most competent man to succeed Ajimobi is buoyed by the fact that he has demonstrated his genuine passion in serving the people. He has been tested and trusted and it won’t be out of place to entrust him with the number one position in the state because he will do well.
Apart from adequate representation and contributions on the floor of the house as a member of the the National Assembly, Buhari while at the lower chamber of the National Assembly set an unprecedented record of achievements in Nigeria politics through some of his activities which include: donation of cars for commercial purposes to 47 members of his constituency and organizations, payment of WAEC for students in all secondary schools in Ogbomoso South and Oriire Federal constituency, provision of loan facilities for petty traders and business women, donation of educational supports for students and Bursary award to students in tertiary institution, secure Federal Job for many members of his constituency and many others.
His tenure at the ministry of Water Resources where he served as Special Adviser to the Governor and Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy matter where he served as a commissioner also witnessed some level of improvement. As a commissioner, he ensure that payment of primary school teacher’s salary did not exceed 26th of every month, he made it possible by arranging with banks to release the fund for payment of salary as and when due and retrieve it as soon as the allocation from the Federal Government is released for the state. Many council chairmen, politicians and even technocrats will not forget his contribution to their success stories through prompt response to their demands and support for their council .
Fatai Buhari score card at the Senate in the last three years is another fantastic attestation to his credibility as a politicians who is passionate about his people and the growth of Nigeria at large. He is one of the 10 Senators with the highest numbers of motions and bills, his intellectual contributions to issues at the plenary are always apt and given adequate consideration. For instance, the motion on public debate for president, and governors will go a long way in reshaping the political development of Nigeria.
Another significant bill which is ongoing is that of Establishment of University of Agricultural Technology in Oke Ogun. The bill if sail through will hasten the development of the region and make Oyo state another food basket of the nation. He is also working on making Ikere Gorge dam to function to his capacity, rehabilitation of Oyo-Iseyin road, Okeho- Iseyin road and many others.
His two major empowerment programs are not only the best in term of numbers of items distributed but they were empowerment programs with the largest number of beneficiaries in the history of Nigeria. No fewer than 2,000 people benefited at each program; this asides the one he has been doing without making noise.
For instance , in November, the lawmaker paid WAEC Fees of about 6,000 pupils of secondary schools in his constituency, and also donated mini bus for Federation of Oyo State Student Union and built ICT centres in schools across the 13 local governments in Ogbomoso and Oke Ogun. He has facilitated trainings, skill acquisitions and financed over 3,000 artisans and school leavers and job seekers.
The lawmaker is humble and highly principled, he doesn’t underrates anybody. He is a man loved by the people and his humility and kindness was attested to by many traditional rulers, civil servants and many others. Governor Abiola Ajimobi, last month in Iseyin during the empowerment program held at NYSC camp said, “since I have been meeting people as a governor, I have never seen a humble man like Fatai Buhari, he is humble and hardworking”. The governor said further “it will not be out of place to say Senator Buhari is the best Senator Oyo state ever produced, I was once a senator too and I never did something like this while at the Senate “.
Ajimobi’s statement is an automatic endorsement for Senator Buhari gubernatorial ambition, APC chairman, Chief Akin Oke and other stakeholders who spoke at the program also joined Ajimobi in eulogizing and commending the efforts of Senator Buhari in alleviating the suffering of the masses and contributing to the development of the state, all these statements testify to the claim that the Ogbomoso born Senator is a competent person who will not betray the confidence reposed in him by the electorate .
During his visit to the APC secretariat in November 2017 to declare his intention, he was commended by the party echelon for his support for the party.
“Apart from his regular donations for the party he is also responsive to any request from us . It shows he is a party man and the party is enjoying him and I believe will enjoy him better if given the opportunity to serve in a higher position”, said one of the party chiefs in his comment .
Apart from his wealth of experience and entrepreneur background, the Senator is highly connected at the National level and he has a blueprint for the development of Oyo state. Part of his agenda include: qualitative education, good health care delivery, infrastructural development, youth empowerment, job creations, and many others.
I want to concluded by urging the people of Oyo state to always consider Senator Buhari as the next governor of the state/ He is a selfless leader, a defender of the masses who has demonstrated his genuine intention to move the state forward and an highly connected politician who will use his contacts and links both within and outside Nigeria to develop human capacity, hasten infrastructural development and promote unity and progress in Oyo state .
Abdulwahab Adegoke, writes from Saki, Oyo State.
Residents of the Hotoro area of Kano were thrown into panic after a woman allegedly set her co-wife and two children ablaze in a late-night domestic attack.
The incident occurred on Monday night in the Mai Allo area of Hotoro, leaving four persons with varying degrees of burns.
The victims — a 28-year-old woman and her two children aged seven and three — are currently receiving treatment at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala and Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital.
Their father, who reportedly sustained injuries while attempting to rescue the victims from the inferno, is also undergoing treatment.
A relative of the family informed that they received a distress call around 3am informing them that the woman, her husband and the children had been set ablaze.
According to the source, the victim had spent less than two weeks in her matrimonial home before the attack occurred.
“She is about 28 years old. The children are from her previous marriage. They are stepchildren to the husband, who works as a tricycle rider,” the relative added.
Residents of the area described the incident as horrifying and called on security agencies to ensure justice was served.
“We are shocked by what happened. This kind of violence has no place in our community,” a resident said.
The suspect has since been taken into custody at the Mariri Police Division.
As of the time of filing this report, the Kano State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
The Federal Government on Wednesday disclosed that no fewer than 226 Local Government Areas across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory fall within high flood-risk zones in 2026.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, made this known during the public presentation of the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency held at the State Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Utsev said a total of 14,118 communities in 266 LGAs across the affected states and the FCT had been identified as highly vulnerable to flooding.
He listed the states as Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, and the FCT.
The minister added that 405 LGAs in 35 states fall within the moderate flood-risk category, with Ekiti State as the only state not captured under this classification.
He further noted that 923 communities in 77 LGAs across 24 states would experience minimal flooding.
“Low flood risk incidences are expected in Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Sokoto, Taraba, and Zamfara,” Utsev said.
The minister also disclosed that the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook introduced a community-based flood forecasting system designed to provide location-specific predictions for faster response and intervention.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening emergency response systems and promoting sustainable development nationwide.
Represented by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, the President said the government had reviewed existing challenges and acknowledged the critical role of rescue teams in mitigating disasters.
He noted that efforts were ongoing to enhance the capacity and coordination of relevant ministries for more effective and timely emergency responses.
Tinubu stressed that improved communication, strategic planning, and collaboration remained vital to addressing emerging challenges and ensuring better service delivery.
The President added that with strengthened systems in place, the government was confident of mitigating risks and improving outcomes for citizens.
The event, themed ‘Smart Water Resources Management: Moving From Oil To A Water-Based Economy’, was attended by ministers and key stakeholders in the water and environmental sectors.
Police authorities in Ondo State have confirmed a robbery attack at the Basic Health Centre in the Oke-Ijebu area of Akure, the state capital, in the early hours of Saturday.
It was gathered that three suspects armed with pump-action rifles and cutlasses invaded the facility after arriving in a black Toyota Venza, which they parked along the main road. The assailants reportedly scaled the perimeter fence to gain access to the premises.
During the attack, three health workers on duty were forcefully dispossessed of their personal belongings, including mobile phones and a Point of Sale terminal. The suspects subsequently whisked the victims away towards the Olokuta Correctional Centre axis along Ondo Road.
The spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Saturday.
According to him, “Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspects ordered them to remove their clothing and subsequently abandoned them in the bush before fleeing the scene. The victims, however, found resort from nearby staff of the Correctional Service.”
Jimoh disclosed that security patrols had been intensified, while collaboration with other security agencies and local vigilante groups had been strengthened to enhance safety across the state.
He urged residents to remain calm, vigilant and law-abiding, adding that members of the public should promptly report suspicious activities or useful information to the nearest police station or other security agencies.
The police spokesman assured residents that the command remained committed to safeguarding lives and property and would not relent in efforts to rid the state of criminal elements.
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