Politics
Rerun: Oyo APC expresses confidence, urges voters to honour Tinubu with Shadipe, Lam-Adesina
As relevant stakeholders warm up for this Saturday’s supplementary election in some polling units in two federal constituencies in Oyo state, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed optimism that it would emerge victorious, urging voters to honour the President-elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, by voting its candidates at the poll.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared April 15, 2023 as the date for the conduct of fresh election in two polling units in Oluyole Federal Constituency as well as three each in both Ibadan North East and Ibadan South East local government councils which constitute another Federal Constituency following reported infractions which necessitated the inability of INEC to declare winners in the February 25 presidential and national assembly elections.
The leadership of Oyo APC, in a communiqué issued after an extended Executive Committee members meeting held today at the Oke-Ado State Secretariat of the Party, reiterated support for Hon. Tolulope Akande-Shadipe and Hon. Dapo Lam-Adesina who are seeking to represent Oluyole and Ibadan North East/South East federal constituencies for second term respectively “because the two candidates remain the best option as representatives of their people this time.
“The duo shares similar attributes of competence, experience, and responsibility, unlike the candidates of the PDP and other parties in the contest. It is in this regard that we are urging voters in the affected polling units to go for the best and reject those who would only go to Abuja to warm the bench. We also urge the electorate to mindful of the fact that voting for the candidates of the APC would further cement the confidence which Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has developed in them as he prepares to start reciprocating the gesture as soon as he is sworn-in on May 29.
In the Communiqué, stakeholders also passed a vote of confidence on the Hon. Isaac Omodewu-led State Executive Committee “which delivered the biggest winning votes for the President-elect, delivered the three Senatorial and eight House of Representatives seats in the first election only to lose out to grand conspiracy of many forces in the second poll. Those calling for the dissolution of Oyo APC executive committee are the same set of disgruntled elements who worked against our party on March 18 and their place in the black book of history is already guaranteed.
“We make bold to eulogize all the leaders, stalwarts, and loyalists of our Progressive party for the yeoman’s job which they did before, during and after the general election. We single out the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Sen. Teslim Folarin, for his rare demonstration of courage and statesmanship as he forged ahead despite all odds to make a loud statement as a democrat and dogged fighter.
“Meanwhile, we kick against the surreptitious moves being made by some unscrupulous political jobbers to twist facts and present themselves as the facilitators of the electoral feat recorded for the APC on February 25 with a view to getting juicy appointments and patronage from the President-elect. Furthermore, we would like to use this medium to announce that the doors of our party are open to people from other political parties to come on board while nobody would be discriminated against whether as new or returning member.” The Communiqué read.
The stakeholder’s meeting was attended by all state executive committee members as well as chairmen, secretaries, women, and youth leaders of the party from across the 33 Local Government Councils in the state.
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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