Politics
Oyo APC leaders kick against alleged ‘fake’ delegates’ list, boycott congress
Leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state have kicked against the alleged falsified delegates’ list for the position of the state party’s executive, boycotting the state congress billed for Saturday.
The APC leaders, who stated this at a press conference held at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan, also appealed to the national leadership of the party to postpone the state congress till an authentic delegates’ list is provided.
The press conference, had in attendance , former Sen. Ayo Adeseun, Chairman of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Prof. Adeolu Akande, the Minister of Youths and Sports, Sunday Dare, former senator Olufemi Lanlehin Olasunkanmi Tegbe, the 2019 flag bearer of the Party, Adebayo Adelabu, Fatai Ibikunle, former Oyo ALGON chairman, Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, Ex-Oyo SSG, Chief Sarafadeen Alli.
Federal lawmakers who attended the conference are Hon. Akeem Adeyemi, Hon. Shadipe Tolulope, former Oyo Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olagunju Ojo, Dr. Azeez Adeduntan, and Chief Adeniyi Akintola SAN who was represented among other prominent stakeholders in the state.
They specifically alleged that a serving senator and a former governor are responsible for the falsification of the delegates’ list.
Speaking on behalf of other stakeholders, Sen. Adeseun alleged that some dubious people have inserted fake delegates into the list brought from Abuja, calling on the National secretariat to produce a transparent unadulterated delegates ‘ list for the congress.
“Some dubious people have inserted fake delegates into the list brought from Abuja.
“Normally, when you have written an examination, you need to get results to know if you pass or fail . We did the first congress, we did not get its result. We held the second one, no result. They kept them all. They brought them altogether to us yesterday (Friday) for us to hold the State Congress. When we got the delegates’ list, we observed the list they brought it is fake and falsified. False names are in the list. When we held previous congresses, everyone of us mobilized people for them. When there is competition, each will bring out his or her people to test strength. But when the delegates list came out yesterday (Friday), those who have no supporters or followers are there. But those who have followers, their names are not there. They now say we should use the list for the state congress. This is not possible. In this state congress, we have agreed to go for consensus, but some elements in the party, have falsified the delegates ‘ list, they are now saying they don’t want consensus anymore”, Adeseun said.
“There is no way we will use falsified delegates’ list for the state congress. If they use the falsified delegates’ list to hijack party structure, can they use the same approach to win in the general elections?”, he questioned.
The APC stakeholders, who noted that those who have attained such high positions should be trustworthy and reliable, however, expressed disappointment that they are the ones behind the falsified, adulterated and fake delegates’ list, insisting that “party members and leaders in Oyo State are vehemently kicking against using such delegates’ list to conduct the state congress”.
“We are using this medium to appeal to the national leadership of our party, the suffering in Oyo State is too much. We don’t want to suffer again. The only way the suffering will not continue is to allow our party to conduct election and win. Our party was in government for eight years and brought unprecedented developments to the state. But with this step they are taking, they are working towards the defeat of the party”, Adeseun said.
The former senator recalled, “In 2018, there was crisis in our party, and it was polarised. That polarization led to the victory of the ruling party in Oyo State. Residents of the state are not happy with the current government.
“We now came together and decided to elect our party officers transparently but the former governor and the serving senator don’t want it that way.
“They should bring out the authentic list of ward and local government congresses. They should bring them out. If they do, we are ready for the congress. We cannot hold congress with falsified delegates’ list”, the leaders insisted.
The Oyo APC leaders, therefore called on the national leaders of the party to investigate and punish those responsible for the false list appropriately.
“The fact that in the past we never allowed people to be disciplined is the reasons we have this challenge.
“Progressives don’t behave that way. These hardcore ultra-conservatives have infiltrated our group and they are bringing their culture of hijacking into our party. We don’t want that. If you cannot conform with decency, they should go back to where they came from”.
”Two, on the individual involved, these are the people you all know. That is their stock-in-trade. That is their style of politics.
“We were all prepared for the state congress until yesterday morning (Friday) where the panel from Abuja came. We have been clamouring for the release of delegates’ list. In fact, many of us went to Abuja last week on this same issue to say you cannot have a congress where we don’t have delegates’ list. They promised to do something about it. And now the list came yesterday (Friday) and when opened it is just contraband.
“We are very confident that the top leadership of the party is probably not aware of what some people did around offices. So, when we put this one out and let the world see, we are confident that they would correct the anomaly.
“The state chairman of the party, issued a release yesterday (Friday). He is the custodian of the original. He knew what went to Abuja. He compared the copy he sent to Abuja with what came yesterday (Friday), shockingly, the list was falsified. We should suspend anything about the congress for now until we resolve that problem. So, if some people gather somewhere, they are just organizing a birthday party. If it is something that has to do with this party, unless we see a good, transparent, verified and verifiable list of delegates, there will be no congress”, they concluded.
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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