Politics
Oyo: ‘Arapaja is like a pig ready to go into the mud to defend meal ticket’ – Lanlehin
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Oyo state, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, Wednesday, reacted to comments made on a radio programme by the Deputy National Chairman (South), of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Amb. Taofeek Arapaja describes them as eccentric, ridiculous and provocative, though not unexpected from a character like the PDP chieftain.
Former Senator Lanlehin, in a statement issued in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, by his Media Bureau, and made available to newsmen noted that such comments, particularly those directed at him weren’t the first, and won’t probably be the last, as the PDP chieftain, being a politician without class and candour, is like ” a pig, ready and willing to go into the mud, in defence of his meal ticket”, irrespective of whomsoever he disparages, in the process of doing so.
“Amb. Arapaja, being an appointee of Governor Makinde, is ready to go to war in defence of his principal, on one hand, and in the protection of his access to the perks of office, on another. If not, what will make him come on air to tell terrible lies, insult his elders and conduct himself arrogantly, to the chagrin of right-thinking fellows, and the egging on, of his bag carriers, even to the point of the now-deleted videos from the interview, advertised him as furious and utterly venomous? Only God knows what he would have done had he seen his principal’s opponents face to face!
“In validating his claim that Candidate Makinde (as he then was) gave Senator Lanlehin money, he alluded to maintenance works being carried out in his (Lanlehin) house, when he (Arapaja) visited. How he thinks a man of Senator Lanlehin’s standing couldn’t renovate his abode without external help is most unfortunate, and highly sinister.
“For the records, not being a governorship candidate, nor a campaign director-general, Arapaja was not, and could not, have had a front row seat in the coalition arrangements which birthed the Makinde government; whatever he must have been privy to, were mere eavesdroppings or second-hand tales.
“To therefore insinuate that Governor Makinde gave Senator Lanlehin money can be likened to the illustrious words of Williams Shakespeare in Macbeth, as “a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”.
“Instead of Arapaja to act as Governor Makinde’s spokesperson, telling outlandish lies about matters he knows next to nothing about, Senator Lanlehin would rather challenge the governor to publish details of whatever money he ever gave him, or better still, instruct his leaches, the type of Arapaja, to keep shut, instead of fouling the waters of decent politics Senator Lanlehin reputedly plays”, the statement said.
Lanlehin, who once represented Oyo South Senatorial District between 2011 and 2015, however, urged Arapaja, not to take the imminent loss of his boss – which has unexpectedly made him furious, venomous and irritational – to heart.
“He, instead, should only encourage his boss to start writing his handover notes, as the good people of Oyo State were ready to vote out an incompetent government built on lies and propaganda, and vote in a compassionate and charismatic personality, in the person of Senator Teslim Folarin”, it added.
Amb. Arapaja, Senator Lanlehin remarked, deserves the pity of the good people of Oyo State, instead of the opprobrium which should naturally follow his hollow outbursts.
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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