Politics
Oyo guber hopeful, Olaniyan gets commendation from Apc lawmakers
Governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Engr. Raufu Olaniyan on Monday received commendation from the All Progressives Congress, APC Parliamentary caucus of the State House of Assembly.
The commendation came when he visited the parliamentarians to inform them of his desire to contest the 2019 governorship election in state.
Hon. Segun Ajanaku, representing Ibadan South West State Constituency II chaired the meeting where he was warmly received at the parliamentarian caucus.
Some of the lawmakers described the ex Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency, (OYSTROMA) boss as a gentleman who God has endowed with humility, noting that while he was in the civil service he performed his duties creditably, this they affirmed is a pointer to his capacity to excel if he has the opportunity to serve in a higher office.
The All Progressive Caucus members also added that Olaniyan has a good name, the prerequisite experience and pedigree to govern a state like Oyo, having worked in the state civil service for over 26 years and retired as a permanent secretary, without an iota of infringement against the rules, codes and regulations of the state civil service commission, despite holding very sensitive positions, an achievement the legislators found very commendable.
Also, a parliamentarian who spoke at the meeting said, ” I don’t know Engr. Olaniyan, but I have heard good things about him, there are people from Oke Ogun, who seem to have reputation, but they amount to nothing. Engr. Olaniyan has had opportunity in the past to serve the people and he used it well”.
Speaking further, he also described the gubernatorial hopeful as a very humble man who is a specialist in his chosen career. The caucus members also lauded the aspirant for having former Oyo State House of Assembly members in his entourage, a testament to the cordial relationship that has existed over the years between him and the state assembly.
Olaniyan, earlier in his remarks, had thanked the caucus members for the warm reception, just as he informed them of his desire to contest the 2019 gubernatorial election in the state. He noted that he considered the house members as very cardinal in the present democratic dispensation hence his decision to seek their support towards the actualisation of his guber ambition.
The APC guber hopeful added that he is not seeking to be governor of Oyo state, because he is from Oke Ogun, but he is seeking to serve the state because he is qualified and suitable to hold the office.
He remarked that he has always had cordial relationship with the Oyo State House of Assembly and he hopes that he will at this time benefit from the fruits of the healthy relationship that has existed over the years.
In a related development, he noted that, within the short period he joined the party he has done quite a few things to uplift the APC not just in Orelope local government, but the state in general.
The retired Permanent Secretary also shared some of his plans with the lawmakers tailored towards moving the state to an enviable height if elected into office.
Amongst those who accompanied the gubernatorial hopeful included former Oyo State House of Assembly members Hon. Najeem Omirinde, Hon. Olufemi Josiah, APC Chairman in Orelope local government, Alhaji Wahabi Alade, , Ward Chairmen and Youth leaders from various local governments in Ibadan.
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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