Metro

Oyo 2019: Why Senator Buhari is The Preferred Choice || By. Abdulwahab Adegoke

Published

9 years ago

March 20, 2018

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.

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Metro

Alli Visits Slain APC Member’s Family, Pledges Support for Pregnant Widow

Published

5 days ago

October 21, 2026

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Senator Sharafadeen Alli, the APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, has called for justice over the killing of a party member, Khalid Adeyemo, popularly known as Paul Moor, while pledging continued support for his pregnant widow.

Alli made the pledge on Monday during a condolence visit to the deceased’s family in Ward 06, Ibadan South-West Local Government Area.

Moor was reportedly killed last Friday in an incident allegedly involving hoodlums associated with the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

Describing the death as painful and tragic, Alli called on security agencies to investigate the incident, apprehend the suspected perpetrators and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice.

The senator, who represents Oyo South Senatorial District, said the circumstances surrounding the killing must be thoroughly investigated and the family assured that justice would be served.

During the visit, Alli provided financial assistance to the deceased’s pregnant wife and mother, promising to support the widow and ensure she receives necessary care after childbirth.

The Oyo APC Chairman, Chief Moses Adeyemo, also commiserated with the family, urging them to draw strength from their faith as they grapple with the loss.

He prayed for God’s comfort and strength for the bereaved family to bear the tragedy.

Metro

Gunmen abduct 20 NYSC members in Imo

Published

4 weeks ago

October 1, 2026

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Gunmen have abducted 20 members of the National Youth Service Corps travelling to various orientation camps in the South-East and South-South states.

The corps members were reportedly travelling in a commercial bus from Ibadan, Oyo State, when the vehicle was intercepted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road by Umunoha community in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.

The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, has triggered a fresh search operation by security agencies in the state.

Confirming the abduction, the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, told Channels Television that the corps members were on their way to their respective orientation camps when they were attacked.

Okoye said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Audu Bosso, had visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.

He added that the police, alongside other security agencies, had intensified efforts to rescue the victims safely and arrest the perpetrators.

According to him, security operatives were combing the surrounding bushes in search of the abducted corps members, while a Rapid Response Team had also been deployed to track the kidnappers.

The police spokesman said the operation was aimed at securing the safe and unconditional release of the victims.

The latest incident comes weeks after another group of NYSC members was abducted in Kogi State while travelling along the Aloma-Egane Expressway in the Ofu Local Government Area.

PUNCH had reported that armed men emerged from the bush around Ogene Zaria, near the Ogene Zaria/Onicha-Igo Junction, and blocked two buses travelling in opposite directions.

Several passengers were abducted, while others escaped into the surrounding bush.

The Kogi State Police Command later confirmed that 11 victims, including drivers of the two buses, had been rescued, while security operatives continued the search for other victims.

The military subsequently announced the rescue of 21 kidnapped victims, including 15 corps members, from the Egume-Ochaja forest in Kogi State.

The repeated attacks involving corps members travelling between states have renewed concerns over the safety of young Nigerians travelling to fulfil their national service obligations.

For now, the focus of security agencies in Imo remains the safe recovery of the 20 abducted corps members and the apprehension of those behind the attack.

Metro

Ondo alcohol deaths: 29 die, 60 affected

Published

1 month ago

September 12, 2026

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No fewer than 29 people have died after allegedly consuming a suspected contaminated alcoholic beverage in Araromi-Obu and other communities in the Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Awolowo-Ajaka, disclosed this on Friday while briefing journalists in Akure.

Awolowo-Ajaka said 60 cases had so far been recorded, with three victims currently receiving treatment in hospitals and 27 others under medical observation.

He said 95 per cent of those affected were males aged between 16 and 55 years.

According to him, the affected communities include Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu, Newtown, Odole, Okele and Oniparaga.

The commissioner said the victims exhibited symptoms including headache, body pain, general weakness, visual disturbance, difficulty breathing and altered consciousness.

He added that some of the victims deteriorated rapidly, leading to death within a few hours.

Awolowo-Ajaka said the pattern of illness and the reported history of exposure had raised strong epidemiological suspicion that the victims were exposed to a toxic alcoholic substance.

He, however, stressed that the exact cause of the deaths had not been established through laboratory testing.

“The pattern of illness and reported history of exposure have raised strong epidemiological suspicion of exposure to a probable toxic alcoholic substance. However, we are yet to have laboratory evidence of the cause of the deaths,” he said.

The commissioner disclosed that 36 blood and urine samples had been collected from victims for laboratory analysis, while samples of the suspected alcoholic substances had also been submitted for toxicological investigation.

He said the investigation was being conducted in collaboration with relevant regulatory and security agencies.

As part of measures to contain the situation, the state government has imposed a temporary ban on the production and sale of locally brewed alcoholic herbal beverages in the affected local government area.

Awolowo-Ajaka added that several suspects found selling the substance had been taken into custody.

He urged residents to avoid alcoholic products from unlicensed sources and seek immediate medical attention if they experience blurred vision, difficulty breathing, sudden weakness, confusion or loss of consciousness after consuming alcohol.

The commissioner advised residents to take anyone exhibiting such symptoms to the General Hospital, Ore, or the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Ondo, without delay.

He assured the public that the state government was working with national and international partners to identify the exact cause of the deaths and prevent further loss of life.