Politics
Reconciling APC Reconciliation In Oyo State | By Idowu Ayodele
Without a doubt, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state will of necessity required some balancing, broadness, fairness , forgiveness, openness and truth to bring back its aggrieved members in the state.
Before former Governor Abiola Ajimobi died, he put in place a broad based reconciliation committee to bring together the warring groups and fragmented caucuses within the Oyo state All Progressives Congress (APC). Many of the genuine and committed members of the party, faced with glim chances to actualise their hopes, aspirations and interests before the 2019 elections, left the party. They teamed up and with ‘Oyo protest votes’ ensured that APC lost the gubernatorial, state assembly election and many other elections into the chambers of federal legislature. Aggrieved members who left the party to pursue their political ambitions elsewhere also failed woefully at the poll.
Pitiably, the reconciliation committee has not really made headway as some dissenting members do not believe in the leadership and composition of the committee. However, a party in opposition must quickly gets his act together, as year 2023 draws near. This is very urgent and important.
Akala leadership of Oyo APC
Chief Christopher Adebayo Alao – Akala, a former governor of Oyo state was made the Chairman of the reconciliation committee set up by late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi before he died. In about a year, he has held about three general meetings and has scheduled members of the committee to start making contacts with members that had misgivings against the party to come back. After Ajimobi, the Oyo state APC state leader has died like his predecessor, late Alhaji Lamidi Onaolapo Adesina (Great Lam), also a former governor.
In all fairness, Akala is the only former governor in the camp of Oyo APC now.
Arguments against him had included that the former governor has not been a progressive from inception. The truth is that there is a thin line between Progressive and conservative camps in Nigeria political sphere now. Who could have thought that original Awoist like Ebenezer Babatope could be in the conservative camp of the PDP? Or a hardworking, result bearing Sen. Abdulfatai Buhari representing Oyo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly could find solace and settlement in Oyo state APC that he has been for decades from the PDP where he decamped?
Akala has the clout, remnants of deep financial pockets, political structure, networks and large heart that can enable him galvanise the various interests in the party. More so, unlike many of those against his leadership, Adebayo Alao-Akala is not contesting for any elective political office again. At best, the agitation of many opposers of his state leadership of the party has been that Ajimobi had the political structure of SENACO and cannot impose another SENACO on them; so let a LAMIST be made Deputy state leader then.
A neutral person like Akala is more advantageous to nip in the bud the critical disturbing divisions within Oyo state APC.
2023 Elections
The major political Party against the All Progressives Congress in Oyo state is and will be the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Despite being the ruling party in the state as a result of ‘mistakes’ of Oyo state APC in the 2019 elections, PDP is not a particularly strong party in Oyo state. It defeated Oyo state APC because of the coalition and merger with other parties just before the 2019 elections. There was imposition of candidates in APC and many candidates who contested election did not embrace their colleagues in the party who did not win the primaries. It is however, important to note the following:
* No one party, interest or godfather can single-handedly win a gubernatorial election in Oyo state, going forward. Without merger and coalition of groups, interests and parties, Oyo APC SENACO, LAMIST, Amosun elements or Akala PDP splinter group or APC as a party cannot do it alone.
* Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo state is not strong; neither the party , nor the state leader, Governor Seyi Makinde can be underrated. PDP has the concept of ‘first get the power at all costs’ and then ‘share’. By year 2021, Governor Seyi Makinde will begin sharing more than ever before. APC at the National level should empower stakeholders of the party in Oyo state more than before if there will be genuinely committed members to hold party members down before 2023 elections.
* The issue of governorship candidate, especially should be settled as soon as possible by 2021 and even in many elective posts, contenders should be reduced to barest minimum. A major issue tearing the Oyo state APC apart include but not limited to the issue of many candidates for the primary elections pre-2019 who paid huge sums of money to the party and sectional party leaders but were not allowed even to participate in the primary.
Contenders should be spoken to on time and fair screening of all candidates should be done. It will minimize desertions.
Interestingly, politics in Oyo state has a self-regulating system. After Bola Ige, of Oyo plus Osun states, it was only Akala who was able to become governor outside the Ibadan zone. Ibadan voting area has the population and deciding votes. A political party thinking about winning gubernatorial election in Oyo state should be thinking about an Ibadan man.
Even religion-wise, Bola Ige was a Christian, after him came Alhaji Lam Adesina, a Muslim, after the great Lam came Ladoja (Muslim) / and Akala (Christian) who finished the tenure. After Christian Christopher Alao Akala , came Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi, a Muslim. Then a Christian Seyi Makinde is the present occupant of the Agodi Government House. As it is, the vociferous powerful huge Muslim communities are already complaining marginalisation in the scheme of things in Oyo state. Your guess is as good as mine, for the better choice in terms of religion by a party desirous of unseating the incumbent in Oyo state.
* Not everybody will be able to come on board. However, the state leadership of the party must embrace an all inclusive programme to reach out to all former members individually and as groups. Let their former traumas, frustrations, dismay be met with promises of better deals.
Ajimobi has ‘crack team’ of unbiased apolitical, intelligentsia who worked with him in all local governments and they were able to feed him with truths about happenings and gatekeepers who could assist him. Identifying these people may also assist the party in its future elections.
The Oke-Ogun and Oyo North axis should not be neglected in the new emphasis and scheme of things. The Ibarapa Zone is also an area that Oyo state APC needs to work on, as the young speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin has become the new ‘political czar’ in the zone.
Politics
Oyo Rep, Oseni Pays APC Secretariat Staff Salaries, Donates N10m to Boost Party Operations
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.
Politics
Oseni Salutes Senator Folarin’s Decades of Service at 61
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.
Politics
Ugandan Court Hands Ex-LRA Commander 40-Year Sentence
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.
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.
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.
-
News1 week ago
Bad Roads: ‘Focus on Message, Not Messenger’ – Nigerians Tell Works Minister, Umahi
-
Politics1 week ago
Oseni Salutes Senator Folarin’s Decades of Service at 61
-
News4 days ago
Rep Oseni Rallies Support for Ikogosi Development Projects, Calls for Resilience, Unity
-
Politics1 day ago
Oyo Rep, Oseni Pays APC Secretariat Staff Salaries, Donates N10m to Boost Party Operations