Politics
Oyo APC cautions Akinjide to desist from campaign of calumny against Tinubu
Oyo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed its dismay over alleged calculated attempts by a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide-Pategi, to discredit and run down the APC presidential candidate in the next month election, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with a view to winning the electorate over for her choice candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Oloye Jumoke Akinjide-Pategi, a former minister of state for the Federal Capital Territory, had appeared on some local radio stations in the last one week to mobilize support for Atiku Abubakar and in the course of her submission and assertion, she reportedly made Senator Bola Tinubu an object of verbal attacks and blackmail.
In a statement issued on Thursday and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC condemned the former minister who it accused of promoting a campaign of calumny against an established political figure whose time has come to rule the country and move it forward as desired by patriots and well-meaning citizens of the country.
“We have been inundated with unpleasant feedback from members of the public who had listened to all the sponsored interviews granted by Mrs Akinjide-Pategi in the last few days wherein she made futile attempts to tell barefaced lies against the person of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is the presidential candidate of our great Party in the next month election. This is nothing but unacceptable malfeasance coming from a fry with a shameful political background.
“It is a height of insensitivity for somebody who has neither won any election in her life nor has someone in her family with any electoral victory now trying to pull down an accomplished personality who has never lost any election anywhere. It would have been better for her (Akinjide-Pategi) to find a better ploy with which she could earn patronage from Atiku than seeking attention using Tinubu’s name because no amount of smear campaigns and character assassination from unscrupulous elements would make voters turn against Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
“With this development, it is easy for Nigeria to conclude that history is repeating itself because of the unfortunate role played by the father of the person, in question, in 1979 and 1983 when Chief Obafemi Awolowo was denied the chance to emerge as the nation’s President has a big space in the book of history. Also, another eminent Yoruba son (Chief M.K.O Abiola) had his popular mandate annulled in 1993 and the whole world knows the culpability of the same family the one waging war against Sen. Bola Tinubu now.
“If money and political patronage are what matters to Akinjide, we urge her to remember the fate which befell her and others in 2015 when they travelled a similar route with former President Good luck Jonathan and got humiliated at the poll. It is on record that a huge sum of money regarded as campaign funds which she collected from Abuja was mismanaged and this caused her to be arrested and prosecuted by the EFCC and we have not seen the end of that case up till even after she had pleased for a plea bargain in an apparent admission of corruption and stealing of public funds.
“If what most citizens across the country demonstrate as a show of support and endorsement for the Tinubu/Shettima 2023 Project on account of competence, track record and promise does not appeal to the likes of Mrs Akinjide-Pategi, we would encourage them to thread softly and stop fighting dirty in the political space over a lost cause. Nigerians want Tinubu as their next president and there is nothing which the enemies of the country can do about it this time”, Oyo APC said.
Meanwhile, Oyo APC has applauded the former deputy governor of the state, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan, for “his recent heroic activities aimed at achieving all-round victory for the party at this year’s general election. “It is worthy of note that His Excellency, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan is doing a wonderful job at the moment to mobilize support for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Sen. Teslim Folarin as well as all other candidates of the APC and we shall not take this for granted.” The statement added.
Leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo South Senatorial District have endorsed a member of the House of Representatives, Aderemi Oseni, as their consensus candidate for the 2027 senatorial election.
The endorsement was announced on Wednesday at a stakeholders’ meeting held at Alice Hall, Ibadan, with party leaders, stakeholders, local government chairmen and state executive members from the nine local government areas in attendance.
The councils represented at the meeting are Ibadan North, Ibadan North-East, Ibadan North-West, Ibadan South-East, Ibadan South-West, Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa North and Ido.
The stakeholders expressed satisfaction with Oseni’s aspiration, describing it as timely, credible and anchored on tested leadership and grassroots appeal.
Those present at the meeting included Chief Timothy Jolaoso (Ibarapa East); Alhaji Kamorudeen Ajisafe (Ido); Chief Abdulrauf Bello (Ido); Alhaji Muili Oluokun (Ibadan North-West); Alhaji Mufutau Adisa (Ibadan South-East); Alhaji Bello Oladeji (Ibadan North); Prince Gbade Lana (Ibadan North-East); Engr. Olatunji (Ibadan South-West); Comrade Wale Gbadamosi (Ibarapa North); and Alhaja Moji Adetona (Ibarapa Central).
Other party officials in attendance were the senatorial chairman, Alhaji Mojeed Adebayo; the secretary, Fatai Adesina; Welfare Officer, Sunday Babalola; Deputy Women Leader, Alhaja Fatimah Hassan; Auditor, Alhaja Tinu Adigun; Youth Leader, Lekan Adebayo; Ex-Officio member, Kola Amoo; Treasurer, Lateef Ajiboye; and Senatorial Youth Leader, Olalekan Olowe.
A chieftain of the party in Ibadan North Local Government, Hon. Shina Alabi, moved the motion for the lawmaker’s endorsement, which was seconded and unanimously adopted by the stakeholders.
Alabi said Oseni’s decision to abide by President Bola Tinubu’s directive to step down his governorship ambition for the senatorial race underscored his loyalty and commitment to party unity.
He said, “Hon. Oseni has demonstrated uncommon commitment to the welfare of the people. His leadership style is inclusive, responsive and development-driven. We are convinced that his emergence as the APC candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District will strengthen the party’s chances and guarantee effective representation.”
He also urged party members to remain united and rally behind credible aspirants with proven capacity and electoral value.
In his remarks, Hon. Aderemi Oseni said his decision to pursue the senatorial seat followed the presidential directives, noting that he accepted the decision in the interest of party cohesion, progress and stability. He recalled that he had earlier prepared for the Oyo South senatorial race in the 2023 general elections, having already purchased the nomination and expression of interest forms as part of an arrangement reached, before stepping down following appeals by party leaders.
The lawmaker, who chairs the House Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), said the party must close ranks to reclaim political dominance in the senatorial district.
According to him, “There is a huge task ahead, especially with several House of Representatives seats in the district currently held by the opposition. We must work together, mobilise effectively and secure victory for our party and leader, President Bola Tinubu”.
Oseni thanked party leaders and stakeholders for the confidence reposed in him and assured them of his commitment to advancing the interests of Oyo South Senatorial District.
The meeting also had representatives from all nine local government areas, with about 10 leaders from each council in attendance.
The lawmaker representing Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency of Oyo State, Olafisoye Akinmoyede, has denied allegations of violence at the All Progressives Congress (APC) state secretariat, describing claims that he assaulted a party member as false and politically motivated.
An online platform, IMPARTNEWSNETWORK, had alleged that Akinmoyede assaulted one Gafar Oyebade during a meeting convened by the state chairman of the party, Alake Adeyemo, to resolve issues surrounding the executive list of the APC in Lagelu Local Government Area.
However, Akinmoyede, in a statement on Tuesday, said the meeting was peaceful and attended by key members of the state executive, including the chairman, deputy chairman, and secretary, who witnessed the proceedings.
He clarified that contrary to Oyebade’s claim of being the party secretary, the official list presented by the state leadership recognised him as the Public Relations Officer.
According to the lawmaker, following the clarification, the state executive directed the Lagelu Local Government chairman, Fatai Awoyoola, to proceed with the swearing-in of other party officials.
Akinmoyede also faulted attempts to link the incident with the 2019 killing of a former federal lawmaker, noting that a court of competent jurisdiction had already ruled on the matter.
He said, “In Suit No. I/70c/2019, delivered by Justice Mufutau Adegbola on January 23, 2020, all those accused were discharged and acquitted.”
The lawmaker expressed concern over what he described as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, alleging that Oyebade, a public school teacher under the Oyo State Government, should not be involved in partisan politics.
He described the allegation as a “recycled script” aimed at tarnishing his image ahead of political activities, urging constituents to remain calm.
Akinmoyede also called on journalists to verify information before publication and urged security agencies to take action against individuals who file false reports.
“These tactics surface every election cycle. Those behind them should learn to accept the outcomes of political processes. They failed before and will fail again. Power comes from God,” he added.
The lawmaker representing Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Olafisoye Akinmoyede, has denied allegations of assault levelled against him by a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagelu Local Government Area, Mr. Gafar Oyebade.
Akinmoyede described the allegation as “false” and “a lie taken too far,” insisting that no physical altercation occurred.
The denial was contained in a statement issued on Monday by his Legislative Aide, Dr. Isiaq Akintunde.
Oyebade had alleged that he was hospitalised following a confrontation during a meeting held at the office of the state party chairman in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, convened to resolve a leadership dispute in the local government.
But the federal lawmaker maintained that the meeting was peaceful and attended by top party officials.
“The meeting was convened to clarify Mr. Oyebade’s position within the local executive, and it was attended by the State Party Chairman, his deputy, the secretary, the publicity secretary, and other key state executives, all of whom witnessed the peaceful proceedings,” the statement read.
He added that contrary to Oyebade’s claim of being the party secretary, the official list presented by the Lagelu Local Government Party Chairman, Hon. Fatai Awoyoola, identified him as the Public Relations Officer.
According to Akinmoyede, the state executive thereafter directed Awoyoola to proceed with the swearing-in of the remaining members of the local government executive.
The lawmaker accused Oyebade of fabricating the allegation to advance political interests.
“I wonder why Mr. Gafar Oyebade, a secondary school teacher, would claim he was assaulted in the presence of the State Executive. This is an attempt to justify money allegedly collected from an aspirant to tarnish my image,” he said.
Akinmoyede further claimed that Oyebade was seen walking freely after the meeting and was not hospitalised as alleged.
He also raised concerns over Oyebade’s involvement in partisan politics, noting that civil servants are restricted from active participation in political activities.
The lawmaker called on security agencies and the media to investigate the incident at the party’s Oke-Ado office to ascertain the veracity of the claims.
Efforts to reach Oyebade for comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
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