Politics
Oyo APC senatorial aspirant, Ayandele denies defection rumour
Dr. Olusola Ayandele, an aspirant for the Oyo South Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state, has denied the rumours of his alleged defection from the Party, warning those behind the circulation of the fake reports to desist or face the consequences of their actions.
Ayandele, the former gubernatorial aspirant of the APC in the 2019 general election, had been duly cleared to participate in the primary election expected to produce the party candidate on May 28, 2022 but he opted out of the contest to protest lack of transparency which he noted and complained about even before the commencement of the exercise which later failed and had to be rescheduled.
The Ibarapa-born businessman maintained that he remained a progressive and bonafide member of Oyo APC but warned that the party might lose many of its faithful in the coming days if nothing was done to address all the issues surrounding the flawed primaries being conducted to pick candidates for the 2023 general election.
Ayandele, popularly known ‘Eruobodo’ said “I have been inundated with calls from friends and associates as well as concerned members of the public who wanted to know the veracity of the reports claiming I have left our great Party (APC) but I can tell you categorically that the report is nothing but unfounded rumour being peddled around by some unscrupulous elements for reasons best known to them. It is true I attended an emergency meeting called by a leading gubernatorial aspirant in Ibadan few days ago but my participation at the moment does not suggest that I am a part of any plot to move away from the APC.
“As a matter of fact, I have not had any cause to jump the ship because what is happening at the moment is not peculiar to the APC as it rains everywhere. If anything, I would be the last person to leave the progressive fold for any other camp because of certain reasons which I don’t want disclose now. There are pockets of crisis within the party at the moment but I would rather stay to look for possible ways of resolving issues than run away. I can’t just be answering the title ‘Eruobodo’ for nothing.
“I am aware some important members of Oyo APC who have been disappointed by the handlers of the party are planning to defect to another party but the truth is that I am not one of them and my decision is personal. In fact, I am already reaching out to the national leadership of the party to quickly wade in and ensure that the imminent implosion is averted because it would definitely spell doom for the APC in general if allowed to happen”, he said .
Speaking on his ambition to represent Oyo South Senatorial District in the Red Chamber in 2023, the chairman and chief executive of Olusola Ayandele Foundation said that he was still in the race “but there is no way I can participate in the rescheduled primary election if the fundamental issues we raised last week remain unaddressed. There should be openness and transparency in the way the entire process would be conducted but some anti-democratic elements within the system feel otherwise, I would not join them in any show of shame.
“We know the number of delegates expected from each of the nine local government areas in our district and I understand the delegates are drawn from the entire population of party faithful from the same district but why would anybody hide the delegate list for crying loud sake? Let them pick a new date for the primary and also make the delegate list available to all aspirants 48 hours to the exercise as prescribed by the law and see how they would have buried all this needless crisis. All we are clamouring for is free, fair and credible exercise. Nothing more”, the APC chieftain added.
House of Representatives member and Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Engr. Aderemi Oseni, has fulfilled his pledge to support the welfare of the All Progressives Congress (APC) staff in Oyo State.
In a gesture highlighting his commitment, the lawmaker personally funded the salaries of staff at the APC’s Oke Ado Secretariat in Ibadan, reinforcing his dedication to the smooth operation of the party’s activities in the state.
Representing the Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency, Oseni recently visited the secretariat, where he expressed gratitude to party leaders and members for their contributions.
As a further commitment to the smooth operation of the party’s activities, the lawmaker generously donated ten million naira (N10,000,000) as an allowance to enhance the secretariat’s functions.
In a statement released Wednesday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the lawmaker extended appreciation to the secretariat staff, whom he described as the backbone of the party’s daily functions.
He lauded their dedication, noting their essential role in advancing the party’s goals.
“Leadership is about service, and service begins with supporting those who make the party function from within,” Oseni remarked.
“I am proud to honour this commitment to our staff, as they play a crucial role in making our political structures work effectively. This is my way of showing appreciation for their unwavering dedication”, he added.
Engr. Aderemi Oseni, representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency of Oyo State in the House of Representatives, has paid tribute to former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, on his 61st birthday, celebrating his decades of dedicated service and contributions to Oyo State and Nigeria at large.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, in Ibadan, Oseni, who also serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), lauded Folarin’s unwavering commitment to leadership and the well-being of the people.
Highlighting the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial nominee in the 2023 elections for three terms in the Senate, the lawmaker noted that Folarin’s legacy of service continues to be a guiding light for emerging leaders and a source of inspiration for countless individuals across the state.
“Senator Folarin has built an admirable legacy through years of selfless public service, consistently advocating for progress and unity,” remarked Oseni.
Reflecting on Folarin’s role as the Ikolaba Olubadan of Ibadanland, the lawmaker commended his leadership approach, which has bridged divides, fostered coalitions, and promoted initiatives aimed at stabilising democracy.
“Senator Folarin’s career is an example of visionary leadership,” he added, “and his commitment to public service will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.”
As Senator Folarin marks this milestone, Oseni extended warm wishes for his continued health and success, expressing hope that his exemplary life of service will keep inspiring positive change across the nation.
In a historic ruling, a Ugandan court on Friday sentenced former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo to 40 years in prison.
This landmark decision, marking the first time a member of the notorious LRA has faced trial for war crimes in a Ugandan court, follows the group’s brutal two-decade insurgency against the Ugandan government.
Kwoyelo, who was convicted in August on 44 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, faced charges including murder, rape, torture, pillaging, abduction, and the destruction of settlements for internally displaced people.
(FILES) Thomas Kwoyelo a commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army rebellion blamed for brutal civilian murders during a 20-year war in the north of the country is brought into a courthouse in the northern Ugandan town of Gulu on July 25, 2011. – A Ugandan court on October 25, 2024 sentenced former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo to 40 years in prison after a landmark war crimes trial over his role in the group’s two-decade reign of terror. The sentence against Kwoyelo, who was convicted on 44 counts of crimes against humanity in August, was announced by Michael Elubu, the lead judge in the case at the court in the northern city of Gulu. (Photo by MICHELE SIBOLINI / AFP)
Michael Elubu, lead judge of the case at the International Crimes Division (ICD) of Uganda’s High Court, delivered the sentence in the northern city of Gulu, underscoring a rare moment of accountability in the decades-long history of the LRA’s violence.
Judge Elubu stated that Kwoyelo retains the right to appeal both his conviction and sentence within 14 days.
Kwoyelo, who was abducted by the LRA at the age of 12 and later rose to a low-level command position within the organization, denied all charges brought against him.
(FILES) Suspected LRA (Lords Resistance Army) member Thomas Kwoyelo is pictured during a pre-trial session at the High Court in Kampala on Februay 1, 2017. – A Ugandan court on October 25, 2024 sentenced former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Thomas Kwoyelo to 40 years in prison after a landmark war crimes trial over his role in the group’s two-decade reign of terror. The sentence against Kwoyelo, who was convicted on 44 counts of crimes against humanity in August, was announced by Michael Elubu, the lead judge in the case at the court in the northern city of Gulu. (Photo by GAEL GRILHOT / AFP)
The Lord’s Resistance Army, founded by Joseph Kony in the 1980s, sought to establish a regime based on the Ten Commandments. Under Kony’s leadership, the group unleashed widespread terror across Uganda and neighboring regions, resulting in over 100,000 deaths and the abduction of 60,000 children.
The violence eventually spread to Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the Central African Republic.
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