Politics
Oyo APC Congress: Oke dismisses rumour of list rejection, warns desperate members
Caretaker Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state, Chief Akin Oke, has described the alleged rejection of the harmonised list of the new state Executive Committee of the party by its national leadership as “a wicked rumour coming from some desperate and overzealous politicians who do not mean well for the masses.”
An Ibadan-based online medium had on Wednesday reportedly that Chief Oke visited the Abuja national secretariat of the APC but was turned back as the harmonized list of the new State Executive Committee members he wanted to submit was rejected on the ground that it was not duly endorsed by one or two named stakeholders but this was immediately found to be untrue as the publisher later withdrew the story from circulation.
In his reaction to the development through a statement he personally issued and made available to journalists in Ibadan on Wednesday, Chief Oke frowned at what he described as “deliberate attempts by some supposed party members to use a section of the media to create a panic situation with a view imposing their selfish agenda on the generality of the party membership in the state.
“As rightly stated by a concerned chieftain of our dear party, Mr. Afeez Bolaji Repete, there is no iota of truth in the information contained in the news story which we have confirmed to have been sponsored by the same elements who are bent on setting Oyo APC on fire. The truth of the matter is that I was in Ibadan all through today (Wednesday) and I neither traveled to Abuja nor sent any list to our national secretariat.
“Concerned stakeholders are still consulting on how to achieve the desired harmonization in the face of varying interest among the different tendencies. We are in regular contact with Abuja and they are aware that we need little time more to come up with the list. So, the question of a list being taken to Abuja and rejected does not arise at all.
“Concern leaders and stakeholders are to meet this Friday again to take a final decision on the matter and we can assure the general public that everything will be fine. As a result of this, we appeal to all members and supporters of our great Party to remain calm and eschew all acts capable of causing unnecessary panic or disrupting the peace process as mid-wived by the national leadership of the party last week in Abuja.
“In conclusion, we use this medium to make a strong appeal to journalists to always double check their facts and balance their stories before rushing to press. We are in an era where some unscrupulous political players look for partners among media practitioners to drive their antics. But it is highly imperative for professionals in the media industry to avoid any compromise on the ethics of journalism for whatever reasons in a bid to assist the cause of democracy and nation building”, Oke stressed.
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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