Politics
Oyo APC Congress: Oke secretly pursuing third term agenda – Group alleges
A pro-All Progressives Congress, (APC), group, in Oyo State – the New Era, has alleged that the outgoing chairman of the party, Chief Akin Oke’s action,is a pointer to his third term agenda plan.
The progressive group was reacting to the allegation made by Chief Oke on Friday night that the delegates’ list to be used for Saturday’s congress has been falsified.
Contained in a statement by Kazeem Olaosegba,,the group said, “We are miffed by the allegation leveled against the outgoing chairman of our party, Chief Akin Oke. We are disturbed that a man who should have committed himself to how the party, especially in Oyo State, would be solidified, is the one looking for illegal means to continue as party chairman.
”We would not have honored the allegation with any reaction but for the general public who are in love with our party and may be affected by the turn of events. We want to first of all state that Chief Oke is the chief architect and engineer of the crisis within our party. This was a man who watched and our party, despite winning two out of three senatorial and nine out of fourteen house of representatives seats went on to lose the governorship poll and winning five out of thirty-two assembly seats.
“To unite the various interests within our party, the stakeholders within the party has agreed that we should contribute money to purchase forms and chose ward, local government and state excos jointly until Chief Oke went behind to purchase forms. Apart from working to get a third term at 83, this man is also working behind to bring someone who is yet to be a member of our party as governorship candidate ahead of the 2023 election. That is a discussion for another day.
“Chief Oke and his co-travelers would be put to shame tomorrow. The end has come for divisive elements within our party. We can’t continue to be held down by the minority. Chief Oke’s allegation has clearly shown where he belongs and what he wants. What informed his decision to allege that the delegate list was falsified? In the presence of everyone, the chairman of the congress, the respected Alhaji Gambo Lawan handed over the list to him. Why did he open it behind the stakeholders? How did he come to the realization that it has falsified? Has he sent it to the various wards and local government areas in the state?
”He has no such power to summon any meeting, not even for tomorrow. Tomorrow is congress date. Anybody who isn’t happy with the outcome of the congress has the right to approach the appeal committee. It is as simple as that. It is very absurd that the same Chief Oke who has been running the party like a sole proprietorship without consulting the 36 other outgoing state excos members is coming out to discredit a clean process. This is the same man who kept quiet when a falsified document was given to him last week before it was discovered. Nobody would be allowed to hold us back again. We must move forward,” the statement added.
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.
-
Metro2 days agoGrim Friday: Man, Wife, Grandson Perish in Ibadan Fire
-
News3 days ago
Bank Robberies Now History in Lagos Since 2014 – IGP
-
Crime & Court3 days ago
Human Rights Lawyer, Dele Farotimi, Granted ₦30m Bail
-
News2 days ago
NNPCL Refutes Shutdown Claims: Port Harcourt Refinery Fully Operational
