Professor Akande, who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in a statement issued on the International Women’s Day emphasized that it was high time Nigeria took  advantage of the potentials of the female population to enhance quality of governance and fastrack national development.

“The female gender constitutes about 51 percent of the Nigerian population but holds less than 5 percent of executive and legislative offices. The country will do better when it harnesses the great potentials that abound among the Nigerian women folk”

Akande noted that women had risen beyond this limitation to contribute to all sectors of the Nigerian economy which he said is an indication that if they have guaranteed roles in  government, women will do more.

“The history of Nigeria is not complete without copious reference to the contributions of women like Mrs Funmilayo Ransome Kuti,Hajia Sawaba Sambo, Mrs Magret Eyo among others. Today, Nigeria parades eminent women playing leading roles in all sectors of national life. If they could attain these heights in spite of structural hurdles on their path, we can only imagine how well they will contribute to national development if guaranteed more roles in government.

“We should work towards having  30 percent of executive and legislative offices guaranteed for women. This will ensure that they bring their compassion and other attributes to bear on governance. We shall all be the better for it”, the statement stressed.

It continued, “Also, I want to use this opportunity to counsel against all forms of oppression against women. We should desist from sexualising and objectifying women. It demoralizes them. We should continue the campaign against female genital mutilation. All forms of harassment against women at the work place should be stopped”.

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APC has commenced its orchestrated membership registration and revalidation exercise nationwide.

Ayandele, in a statement issued on Monday and made available to newsmen in Ibadan by his Personal Assistant, Comrade Sola Adeleke, described the registration and revalidation exercise as not only timely but essential in helping the Progressive party to prioritize its key objectives of aiding the cause of democracy in the country and making life better for the citizenry.

According to him, “this registration and revalidation exercise exercise is a unique testimony to the fact that the APC is the only party in Nigeria that is committed to planning and organization as it is obtained in the advanced societies across the globe. It is only when a political party is organized that it would be able to offer its best to the people who are usually desirous of good governance and decent practices by political players.

“With the superb arrangement put in place by the leadership of our great party at the national and state levels coupled with the resolve of all gladiators to work together as members of the same progressive family, we have no doubt that the exercise would be a huge success in Oyo state.

“More importantly, we are using this opportunity to encourage all existing party faithful to troop out and revalidate their membership of the APC while we also call on members of the society who are 18 years of age and above to register as new members. The exercise commences this Wednesday, February 10, 2021 and it will be on for two weeks across the Wards and Polling Units in the 33 local government areas of the state.

“Particularly, the people of Oyo South Senatorial district should lead the pack in the exercise for them to be able to correct the mistake of 2019. As the APC remains the best threshold to actualize the developmental desire of the masses Ibadan/Ibarapa axis as well as all other zones in the state, our people need to embrace the membership registration exercise of the APC and thus put the world note about their readiness to bring the Progressive party back to power in Oyo state in 2023.

“All eligible persons in Ibadan North, Ibadan North East, Ibadan North West, Ibadan South East, Ibadan South West, Ido, Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East and Ibarapa North local government councils should come out and be counted as members of the Nigerian population who want the best for their fatherland”, Ayandele urged.

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Although there were no official confirmation on the governor’s overseas trip, impeccable sources have it that he (Makinde) left Nigeria on December 31, 2020 to unite with members of his immediate family who are permanent residents of Houston, Texas in the United States and returned to Nigeria on Monday.

In a statement issued on Monday and made available to newsmen in Ibadan by the Group’s Coordinator, Hon. Afeez Bolaji Repete, and Director of Organization, Olawale Sadare, TPI frowned at what it called a height of insensitivity and ineptitude on the part of Gov. Makinde who it accused of abandoning his people when they needed him most.

“How can a Chief Executive Officer and Chief Security Officer of an important state like Oyo leave his hapless people to the mercy of hoodlums, kidnappers and other criminal elements in the name of an unofficial foreign trip? And to make the matter worse, the governor sneaked out without doing all that was necessary as laid down in the Constitution of the land.

“Gov. Makinde’s trip to the United States, this time, came at a time his government needed to arrest the surging challenges of insecurity bedevilling virtually every part of the state as residents of Ibadan, Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa, Ogbomoso and Oyo were gnashing their teeth on account of coordinated hoodlum attacks, kidnappings, killings and other organized crimes.

“As a Group of patriots, we could have expressed little or no worries if the situation had not degenerated to the point of ceaseless loss of lives and property in the affected areas. But our independent investigation revealed that those responsible for the crime surge in the state had taken advantage of Gov. Makinde’s poor handling of the security issues since he came on board in 2019 as against what was experienced during the eight year reign of his immediate predecessor, late Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

“The situation took a turn for the worse immediately the governor traveled last month and it became known to the perpetrators of crime that nobody was in the saddle again because Gov. Makinde did not hand over the baton to his deputy as expected. As a result of this, the PDP administration in the state became leaderless and rudderless since the governor who has been running a one-man show found it appropriate to abandon his duty post at a critical time and without allowing anyone to act in his capacity as necessary for no known reasons.

“It is equally appalling to note that none of those expected to take the bull by the horn and mobilize all the necessary actions to quell the ugly situation are not visible at all. Only the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor reels out half truths and propaganda to create a fake impression that all is well with the state. The question in the lips of the people is whether the governor’s blanket ban on all officials of the state to speak up also affect the Speaker and members of the State House of Assembly.” TPI submitted.

In another development, The Pacesetter Initiative (TPI) has also warned the Makinde administration to cancel its alleged plans aimed at silencing members of the public, especially APC faithful, who have been found to be critical of the present administration in the build-up to the 2023 general election.

“We have uncovered plans by the trusted aides and allies of Gov. Makinde to unleash a terror gang populated by members of a faction of the proscribed NURTW in the state who have been decorated as Park Managers and Amotekun officials to hound and attack some identified critics of the state government, especially those belonging to the APC, with a view to silencing them ahead of the next general election.

“We urge Gov. Makinde to halt such plan which is capable of throwing the state into untold political turmoil and social crisis”. TPI stated.

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The group also cried out over alleged collapse of security in the state since Governor Makinde took over the baton of governance from late Senator Abiola Ajimobi in May, 2019.

According to the APC group, unofficial sources have it that Oyo state has, in recent times, emerged the most troubled state in the Southern part of the country in relation to the astronomical rise in the cases of armed banditry, kidnapping, hoodlum attacks, murder, extra judicial killings, gang wars among others as reported on daily basis across the zones of Ibadan, Ibarapa, Oke-Ogun, Ogbomoso and Oyo.

In a statement issued and made available to journalists in Ibadan by Mr. Afeez Bolaji and Olawale Sadare, the Group’s Coordinator and acting Director of Organization respectively, TPI said, “We have watched with dismay how the current PDP administration has failed in the all-important task of securing the lives and property of the people. Things took a frightening dimension from the first day when Gov. Makinde did not mince words to indicate his desire to set aside all the fantastic programmes of his predecessor, as it included proper handling of security, for no just reasons other than politics.

“In actual fact, insecurity did not creep into Oyo state naturally as it took its roots from Gov. Makinde’s failure to study the system he inherited with a view to improving on it. He neither deemed it necessary to mobilize support from relevant stakeholders nor read a riot act to criminal elements not to heave a sigh of relief as Sen. Ajimobi had left the saddle. The new governor did not only wait until criminal elements were able to regroup and regain confidence to continue their nefarious activities, he overtly and covertly encouraged hoodlums who he treats as friends of his administration.

The statemen continued, “As a result of this; residents of Ibadan are now under the palpable fear of hoodlum attacks, armed robbery, extra judicial killings, brigandage and other organized crimes even as people in Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa and Ogbomoso battle banditry and killings in the hands of rampaging herdsmen and insurgents.

“People of Oyo town can no longer sleep with their two eyes closed due to regular gang or cult clashes. As if this was not enough, disorderliness has taken over the public space such that street trading, suffocating road traffic and public indiscipline are now the order of the day particularly in Ibadan, the state capital.

“However, as much as some uninformed persons might want to blame the federal government for the spate of insecurity in Oyo state, we would challenge them to ask Gov. Makinde whether he has ever been denied his own share of the monthly stupendous security votes being paid to each of the governors in all the 36 states of the federation. Another pertinent question here is whether President Muhammadu Buhari had ever stopped him from working together with the Police, Army, NSCDC and other security agencies in the state to sustain or improve upon the achievement of his predecessor especially in the area of security.

“To this end, it is imperative for the governor to mend fences with all security agencies who might have been disappointed by his actions and inactions which encouraged hoodlums to hijack the last ‘EndSARS’ protests in the state as lives of some law enforcement agents, equipment and facilities were avoidably lost. In conclusion, the state government should be advised not to see its Amotekun outfit, populated by PDP members, as an alternative to the regular law enforcement agencies otherwise, the danger ahead would be unimaginable”, the statement concluded.

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Ajimobi, the first and only two term governor of Oyo state, was until his death the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the APC. Reports had it that he died at a Lagos hospital where he had been receiving treatment for complications arising from COVID-19 infection which kept him away from the public glare for some weeks before he breathed his last on Thursday.

In a condolence message made available to pen pushers on Friday in Ibadan, Dr. Ayandele disclosed that the death of Sen. Ajimobi had robbed Nigeria of one citizen whose service and sacrifice to fatherland and humanity as a whole would remain indelible in the anal of history of mankind.

“Sen. Ajimobi was a rare gem who discovered himself from the beginning of his life and he did not miss any opportunity to demonstrate the stuff he was made of. He inherited the traits of leadership from his parents and uncle who were great individuals in their own respect but the late former governor took some steps further to add more value to himself and this enabled him to cover more grounds and touched more lives locally and internationally.

“A leader in the true sense of it, Sen. Ajimobi came to office as governor of Oyo state fully prepared. With his carefully packaged key agenda of restoration, transformation and repositioning, he was able to change the story of our dear state for the better. He waged a successful war against dirty environment, insecurity, brigandage and bad governance. It was Ajimobi who changed the face of governance away from sloppiness, tardiness, window dressing and self service.

“He left an indelible imprints on the sands of time as a consummate captain of industry, successful manager, seasoned administrator, colorful politician, jinx breaker, proud son of Ibadanland, responsible family man, darling of a multitude and, more importantly, architect of modern Oyo state. Ajimobi left our dear state far better than he met it and we will never forget him in a hurry.

“His death at this inauspicious time marks the end of an era as it leaves a bitter pill in our mouth to swallow. Nevertheless, we are consoled by the beautiful memories of the time he spent with us and the wonderful legacy he left behind. Our condolences go to his widow and former First Lady in the state, Chief (Mrs) Florence Ajimobi, his children and the entire Ajimobi family of Oja’ba in Ibadan as well as President Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Akin Oke and other members of his political family.

“In conclusion, Distinguished Senator Ajimobi lived a fulfilled life and offered the right tutelage to many younger ones directly and indirectly. We pray Allah to grant Sen. Ajimobi eternal rest and give his numerous admirers, supporters and associates, at home and abroad, the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss”, Ayandele added.

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Farinu, an Oyo-born politician, was the former state chairman of the defunct Action Congress (AC) which later transformed into Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) until 2010 when he handed over. Until his death last Thursday at the age of 93 years, he remained a leader of the Progressive family in the APC while Adelere was a Second Republic lawmaker who represented Iseyin state constituency in the old Oyo State House of Assembly under Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) was also, until his demise last Friday, a political leader from Oke-Ogun axis of the state.

Akintola (SAN), in a condolence message contained in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan on Wednesday by his Personal Assistant, Prince Olumuyiwa Akinbiyi, regretted that the duo of Farinu and Adelere died at a time contemporary political class needed to tap more from their wealth of experience and democratic virtue having made their mark as true disciplines of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

“Both leaders would be sorely missed by all and sundry in view of the fact that they were instrumental to the success recorded during the reign of the previous governments steered by the Progressive. They were devoted disciples of the Great Awo, associates of Chief Bola Ige, supporters of both Chief Kolapo Ishola and Alhaji Lamidi Adesina- all of whom had occupied the Agodi Government House at different times and impacted positively on the lives of the people.

“Obviously, the two of the saw it all and played their parts very well. This informs the preponderance of tribute and condolences which have greeted the news of their respective passing unto glory since few days ago. With discipline, selflessness, commitment to democratic principles and service to the people as their goal, both Baba Farinu and Adelere were able to weather the storm as they demonstrated good leadership qualities throughout. May God grant them eternal rest.

“And as we are mourning their demise, it is imperative for modern day politicians particularly those of us in the APC to take our time to learn from the enviable records these great Progressive leaders and Awoists with a view retracing our steps and prioritizing the original progressive ideology in our political activities as only this would help build our democracy and also afford the masses an opportunity to enjoy mellifluous good governance and life abundance.

“In conclusion, we use this opportunity to commiserate with the Oyo APC family and family members of the departed leaders. We ask God almighty to grant us all the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and also restore normalcy in our party as we warm up to reclaim power in our dear state in 2023 having blown away our chances in 2019 general election”, Akintola added.

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Speaking at the home of the deceased in Oke Oroki Quarters, Oyo, Chief Oke, who led a delegation of the Party’s State Executive Committee, described late Chief Farinu as a strong pillar of progressivism who was not only loyal to the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, but also worked with others to facilitate good governance which had always been the hallmark of the reign of political parties with progressive ideology.

“We received the news of the death of Baba Farinu with a great shock because we would have loved to continue deriving maximum benefits from his wealth of experience, wisdom and guidance as a thorough-bred progressive politician, referred leader and patriot. But we found succour in the fact that he died a fulfilled man at the ripe age of 93 years.

“Chief Farinu took us through the thick and thin as progressive politicians in those years when some anti democratic forces confined us to the dustbin of opposition in the state and the country at large. He held sway until 2010 when I emerged his successor and after then, he never abandoned the Progressive family. He was always there for consultation and support up till the moment he breathed his last.

“But for the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, we would have been here in multitude from across the state to underscore the fact Baba Farinu is valued as our father and leader even in death. We come with a special condolence message from our principal and leader, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, who is unavoidably absent in the state at the moment.

“It is our sincere prayer that by the time the final burial would take place, the global pandemic would have been over completely so as to afford us the opportunity to be part of the befitting burial programme which Baba deserves. However, we pray God almighty to grant him eternal rest and also give the families (including all of us in the APC) the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss”, Chief Oke said.

In her response, the widow, Mrs Adetola Farinu, who spoke through Mrs Bola Ekundayo, thanked the delegation for the condolence visit and promised to reach out on the comprehensive burial programme for the deceased as soon as the family met and decided on it.

The delegation later visited the homes of Chief Akin Ojebode and High Chief S. M Akindele to register the Party’s condolences. The team comprised of the Deputy State Chairman, Chief ‘Lekan Adeyemo, State Secretary, Hon. Mojeed Olaoya, Prince Adefisoye Adekanye, Alh. AbdulRasaq Arikewuyo, Alh. Moruff Lamolo, Mrs. Mabel Williams (state woman leader), Barr. K. O Makinde, Hon. Ajibola Areokuta, Hon. Taiwo Ige, Mrs. Abiola Olaniran and Hon. John Fatona.

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The late Emmanuel Akinsami Akinwale was a legal practitioner and a chief Magistrate in Oyo state during his life time.

Speaking at the special prayer sesion organized at the late Akinwumi Akinwole’s grave, Wolekanle remarked, “My father is a principled man but he took delight in making people happy. He is a cheerful giver who doesn’t discriminate or attached conditions before giving, all this we are trying to emulate.

“Though, he died 25 years ago but his memory still lingers and we will forever remember him for the eventful and impactful life which he lived and contributions to the legal world especially in Oyo state and Nigeria in particular.

He continued,“My Dad meant a lot to me and I will continue to celebrate him, despite his short time on earth, his impacts and contributions to humanity cannot be erased and we children have vowed to continue to uphold his legacies.

“We are relaunching a foundation in his name very soon and the Non Governmental Organization will cater for the less privileged and aged people in the society. Part of the programmes will also include educational support programme for the youths and others.

” while ommermorating the demise of my dad, Alfa Sakariyau Issa Alijafariya of Ward 3 Aguodo Masifa will go to the Holy Land of Mecca for Pilgrimage, while Alagba Gokus of Osupa Ward 9 will also go to Jerusalem for Prilgrimage”, Wolekanle added.

Late Emmanuel Akinsami Akinwale

Akinwole who is also the initiator of ‘Ajilete Carnival’ and proprietor of Ogbomoso United informed that the decision to hold a low key remembrance for his late father was buoyed by the need to observe  social distancing of COVID-19 as directed by the government.

Also commenting, Mr Sayo Alagbe, the first clerk that worked with the late Magistrate in his tribute said, “Today is exactly 25 years that my former boss, late Emmanuel Akínsanmí Akínwálé, a Lawyer, notary public, Magistrate and bonafide father of a culture personified, football enthusiast and unsparing giver, Akínwálé Akínwálé shed off the toga of immortality for mortality’.

“May his gentle soul continue to rest in perfect peace while l pray that God Almighty continue to uphold and bless Wolekanle and other children he left behind”.

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Beneficiaries of the financial empowerment programme also include the aged and widows.

Speaking during the presentation of the grant on Tuesday at Anlamole Compound, Isale ‘jebu, Oja’ba, Ibadan, the state capital, Iyiola  said that the financial empowerment programme was the third edition , adding that the essence of empowering his people was to complement efforts of the government and also to give back to the society.

According to him, this is one of the many programmes lined up to assist his people.

He disclosed further that his foundation –  Ibraheem Iyiola Foundation (IIF) also offers Health care services, educational services,  among others  to the less privileged in the society; promising  not to relent in his efforts to better the lives of the people around.

“This is not repayable but a grant for our traders, artisans to support their small scale businesses. One of our promises during the election was to empower our people. Regardless of what has happened, we shall continue to put smiles on the faces of our people. “We started  in 2015 and this is the third one we would do in the space of four years. So its a way of giving back to the community”, he said.

Iyiola, however urged the beneficiaries to ensure judicious use of the grant, assuring them of more goodies in the coming months.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Rasidatu Elere expressed gratitude to Alhaji Iyiola and prayed for him.

Also a trader, Mrs Wasiu Monsurat thanked him for providing a better alternative for the traders  instead of seeking for loans.

The event  had in attendance State Executive Council members of APC, Local Government Executives, party members in the federal constituency and community leaders. Other dignitaries at the event included the Chairman  of Ibadan South East Local Government, Hon. Bimbo Omiyale, Mogaji Surajudeen Abiola Iyiola, Alhaji Afeez Suberu among others.

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The Governor noted that the Board’s action reflected what his administration has been doing in terms of transparency and accountability.

The opposition party also  alleged that the governor was being hypocritical in his style of governance as this concerned his administration’s handling of legacy projects of the immediate past government of Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

Making a direct reference to the media reports which had it that Governor Makinde had issued a stop-work order to the contractors handling the ongoing Ibadan Circular Road project put in place by the last administration, Oyo APC said that it “was unfortunate that the present PDP government was out to play unnecessary politics with everything not minding effects its action would have on the state.

“One would naturally wonder what could have motivated the governor to direct virtually all his actions towards obliterating the enviable record of good governance left behind by the Ajimobi administration particularly in the areas of physical infrastructure. Since his assumption of office in May this year, Governor Makinde has made it a daily habit to cry wolf where none existed.

 “Why would a serious government wake up on a day and decide to blackmail its predecessor over a project like that of Ibadan Circular Road which was well conceived and transparently handed over to a Consortium for a desirable delivery? Governor Makinde played his usual hypocritical card when he acknowledged the importance of the project and at the same time reeled out lies simply to blackmail his predecessor who had to use his God-given wisdom to get sponsors for its implementation since government did not have the required funds to get it done.

“To set the record straight, Ibadan Circular Road project was awarded by the Ajimobi administration in 2018 without a dime coming from the government as it is being done under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement. The total stretch of new road to be constructed is 110km and not the 36km figure mischievously quoted by Governor  Makinde. However, if the governor was not satisfied with the pace of work on the project, he could invite the Consortium involved to his office and sort things out with them.

“Interestingly, Governor Makinde can commission different model schools built by Senator Ajimobi to mark his own first 100 days in office. The same governor can distribute the books produced by the APC administration to public school pupils to kick off his controversial free education programme while he can also take delivery of medical equipment fully procured by Ajimobi and move them to Adeoyo State Hospital as his own initiative but he would still not be at peace whenever he comes across other lofty projects of Senator Abiola Ajimobi. This calls for a concern and we urge him (Makinde) to have a rethink”, the statement continued.

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