The mass defection was formalised on Monday during a well-attended ceremony in Benin City, the Edo State capital. The defectors were received into the APC by the party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, Governor Monday Okpebholo, and other senior party chieftains.

Addressing the gathering, Governor Okpebholo commended the former PDP members for their “courageous and progressive” decision, describing their move as a sign of growing confidence in the APC’s leadership at both the state and federal levels.

“With the renewed support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the influx of tested leaders into our fold, Edo State is firmly on the path of accelerated development,” the governor said.

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Speaking at the event which was held at the Oke Ado Party secretariat in Ibadan, the state capital, Omodewu said he will build on the immediate Past Chairman’s legacy, Chief Akin Oke.

The former Commissioner for Lands and Housing, also promised to embark on genuine reconciliation.

“All glories and adorations are due to Almighty God for making today possible. Forever we shall be grateful.

“I consider it a great honour and privilege to stand before this august gathering to perform my first official duty as Oyo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is an official inauguration of other state executives and the 33 local chairmen of our great party.

“Before I proceed with my speech, I would like us to stand up to observe a minute silence in memories of our great leaders and heroes: His Excellency (Dr.) Lamidi Onaolapo Majiyagbe Adesina (Great Lam), His Excellency Senator (Dr.) Isiaq Abiola Adeyemi Ajimobi (Shehu), His Excellency Otunba (Dr.) Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala (Oyato Governor) and all leaders who are no longer in the land of livings. May their gentle souls rest in perfect peace.

“The aforementioned great leaders died in active services. I solemnly pledge to religiously preserve their legacies and aggressively carry on with their unfurnished agenda, which is reclaiming Oyo State in 2023 from the misruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The journey to take back Oyo State in 2023 general elections starts today.

“There is no gainsaying that APC is an hybrid political party – merger of defunct legacy parties, which are ACN, CPC, PDP, APGA, ANPP and LP. Therefore, this great party (APC) belongs to no one but all the members. All members have equal stakes.

“Soldiers go, Soldiers come but the barracks remain! It is on this note I recognise the efforts and sacrifices of the immediate past state, local and ward executives of our great party. It’s my pledge that I’ll build on the achievements of Chief Akin Oke’s more than 8 years achievements as State Chairman of APC. Since a tree cannot make a forest, I therefore commend all other executives, staff and leaders that served with Baba Oke. May Almighty God Preserve you as we jointly lead Oyo APC to electoral victories in 2023 and beyond. Once again, thank you for excellently serving our great party for that long period of years”, the chairman said.

He continued, “Fellow members of our great party, the congresses have come and gone; there is no victor, no vanquished. It’s time to get united and mobilised for the 2023 general elections. Though I am of Ajimobi political bloc, I belong to all forward-looking members of APC. My main tasks are to unite all tendencies within the party and to lead APC to victories in 2023 general elections.

To be in charge of a very sophisticated political party like APC is a heavy responsibility; I assure our teeming members, it is a responsibility we will not take very lightly. I pledge to do my utmost, God being on my side, to justify the faith and the confidence all APC members have imposed on me and other executives at all levels.

“To whom much is given, much is expected. Therefore, I pledge to run an open and transparent administration where all party members will be carried along. Also, our administration will instill discipline, respect for rule of law and constituted authorities within and outside the party.

“Apart from genuine reconciliation and harmonisation, our administration shall also embark on aggressive membership drive. Let me reiterate that APC is a party built on the principles of democracy and human development; the party provides equal opportunity for every party member and any Nigerian that is willing to join the party.

“To the state and local party executives being inaugurated today, I charge you to work in line with the party’s constitution and also ensure you carry all party members along without discrimination or nepotism. You are also expected to work hard to settle all disputes and differences in the party living no aggrieved party member behind.

“While I congratulate all of you on your inauguration, I seek your understanding, cooperation and support in order to pilot the affairs of Oyo APC to electoral victories in 2023.

“I am open to progressive ideas, advises and suggestions. Therefore, feel free to relate with me. According to Winston Churchill, jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war. To this end, I urge you to extend hands of fellowship to members who are aggrieved because we cannot do the tasks alone.

“I thank all former deputy governors, Oyo APC Elders Advisory Council led by His Excellency Barrister Iyiola Oladokun; former first ladies, former speakers, former and serving National Assembly members; former and serving state lawmakers; former and servings political appointees; party elders and critical stakeholders; youth and women wings of our great party. I look forward to your maximum cooperation and support. May we succeed together.

“I am assuring our party leaders, aspirants and their supporters that era of impunity and imposition of candidates is over. Our administration shall create a level-playing field for members jostling for one position or the other in 2023 elections. We’re returning the party to the members; they will determine the faiths of all aspirants. No leader or group will be allowed to impose candidates on the party.

“I’ll close my speech by thanking His Excellency Mai Mala Buni-led APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) for achieving a lot for our great party. I wish our great party, a crisis-free and successful national convention on 26th February 2022”, Omodewu concluded.

The post I ‘ll build on Oke’s legacy – Omodewu inaugurates Oyo APC State Excos, LG chairmen first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

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Governor Fayemi  said it was because of his administration’s strict adherence to the rule of law.

He informed that  his administration had to allow the PDP council chairmen to complete their tenure, in spite of the allegations against some of them after their probe by the Ekiti State  House of Assembly.

The governor disclosed this while inaugurating newly elected chairmen and vice-chairmen of the 16 local government councils.

Speaking further, the APC governor emphasized that he took the decision because he is “resolutely committed to upholding and respecting rule of law at all times,” hence the decision not to scuttle local government administration or interfere with their funds.

“The inauguration of these chairmen and vice-chairmen, today, follows the tenure expiration of the council elected officials we inherited from the last administration. Despite the barrage of allegations and actions against some of the local government elected officials after their probe by the Ekiti State House of Assembly, as a government, we adhered strictly to the sanctity of their tenure. They were allowed to run their full course before the election that produced the new set of chairmen, vice-chairmen, and councilors for the sixteen local government areas of Ekiti State,” Fayemi said.

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The new council chiefs were elected during the December 7, 2019 local government election in the state and sworn in, a week after the expiration of the tenure of their predecessors, who were elected on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking at the event, Fayemi who told the new council bosses to prioritise the welfare of Ekiti people above their personal interest, also stated that as the people’s representatives in government, the local government chairmen must make “far-reaching impact on the lives of a lot of people”.

He further urged them to key into the five-pillar agenda of his administration which is aimed at eradicating poverty from the state and deliver the dividends of democracy to the grassroots.

Governor Fayemi, however advised the council gaffers to familiarize themselves with the Local Government Administration Laws and Local Government Service Commission Laws of Ekiti State in order to guide them on the operational activities of the council.

The post After Expiration Of LG Chairmen Elected On PDP Platform, Fayemi Inaugurates New Council Chairmen In Ekiti first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

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The suspension, as reliably gathered followed a motion moved by member representing Nkwerre state Constituency Mr. Chika Madumere who noted that the House had on several occasions directed the Council Chairmen to appear before it in company of their Treasurers, Directors of Administration and General Services last month but the Chairmen chose to appear alone necessitating the lawmakers to adjourn their appearance to today May 9th.

He, also added that at the resumption of plenary today, it was discovered that only the Treasurers, Directors of Administration and General Services appeared as none of the 27 local government area Chairman was present. And on several occasions the house had invited the local government chairmen through various media but at their own discretion decided to ignore the invitation of the lawmakers.

The lawmakers informed further that the idea to summon the 27 local government chairmen came after a petition was sent to the house of Assembly alleging that the chairmen appropriated funds without the approval of the Councillors.

The Speaker of the House Mr. Iheanacho Ihim therefore ruled that the Council Chairmen be suspended indefinitely while directing them to immediately hand over the affairs of the councils to the Vice Chairmen.

Mr. Ihim asked the chairmen to return all government property in their possession while urging clerk of the House to communicate the decision of the lawmakers to the state commissioner of police, Mr. Rabiu Ladodo to ensure compliance.

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The  lawmakers on Thursday with one accord approved the extension following a letter from the Executive Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi seeking for the extension of the caretaker chairmen.

The Speaker of the House, Mr Michael Adeyemo while reading the letter disclosed that the Governor stated in the letter that the extension of tenure became necessary due to the adjournment of the court case on creation of some Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs which was adjourned to October this year.

Governor Ajimobi appointed the current Caretaker Chairmen in March, 2017.

In addition, the Speaker, Adeyemo also hinted that the house is still expecting from the executive, the replacement of three names of caretaker nominees disqualified by the honourable members.

He noted that the house can not stampede the executive to present the names because they don’t have legal right to do so.

While addressing the press, shortly after the plenary, the chairman committee on local government and chieftaincy, Hon. Badmus Bolaji said the extension is imperative so as not to create vacuum in the administration of the local council.

He added that the relationship between the committee and people at the grassroot is cordial to enhance enviable development.

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•Kicks Against Gender Bias.
THE Oyo State House of Assembly on Thursday over ruled the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, by rejecting two (2) local government chairmanship nominees during the screening exercise as against the wish of the governor who had earlier nominated them.

According to the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Honourable Bolaji Badmus representing Akinyele II state constituency in his report disclosed that his committee has cleared 55 nominees and dropped two (2) who could not meet up with the required certificates and screening processes.

Those that were affected are Mudasir Agbaje from Irepo Local Government Area, Kishi and Taiwo Adeleke, Asabari LCDA.

He hinted further that the house has requested for re-nomination of two new nominees from the State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi to fill the vacuum.

Refreshing your memory, the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi had last week sent 57 names of the nominees to the house for screening.

The list, which consists 28 names of appointees as Caretaker Chairmen for 28 local government areas and another 29 names for 29 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) recently created by the state.

Also, Honourable Josuha Oyebamiji from Akinyele I state constituency, who also chairs House Committee on Information, told journalists that the house dropped the duo due to failure to produce the necessary certificates and low performances at the screening.

Honourable Joshua stressed, “they were dropped for two reasons, paper qualifications and low performances at the screening.

“You have to be physically, mentally and psychologically fit to head a local government, they are like mini governor in their respective locations. We expect them to be intelligent and able to manage interactions among the people. We are not looking for people who cannot govern our people well.

In a related development, the female members in the State House of Assembly expressed strong disapproval over the 57- all-men nominees’ list for the position of Chairmen in the 33 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 35 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

They called for nomination of qualified women for the positions in the subsequent exercise.

In their separate reactions to the report of the committee on local government and Chieftaincy affairs, Chairman House Committee on Women Affairs, Honourable Olawumi Oladeji (Ogbomoso North) and her Finance and Appropriation counterpart, Honourable Bolanle Agbaje (Ibadan North 1) tagged the list that does not have a single woman as “gender biased” and an attempt to silence the women folk.

Oladeji in her agitation before being interrupted by the Speaker, Honourable Michael Adeyemo insisted that the list was targeted at “discriminating against women”.

Speaking further, she cited the examples of herself, Hilary Clinton and other women who have excelled in their chosen careers, while recalling the attention of the house to the Beijing conference of China in 1995 and the 35 percent affirmative action which reserves at least 35% slots for women in any elective or non- elective positions in Nigeria.

She said, “Women should be given the opportunity, there is no single female here, I have been in this house performing my duties likewise other women have been performing too, Hilary Clinton performed well as Secretary of State in the USA. There are examples of women who have performed well too.

“My submission is that subsequently there should be slots for women. Women should be nominated”.

“It was wrong that there is no single woman nominated to head the council areas”, Agbaje maintained.

Responding, the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable Michael Adeyemo said: “your submission is noted, the committee has noted it, so it is inside the report and we have already noted the observation. It is part of our recommendations.

He, however explained that the fault was not from the house but from the executive, adding that the house does not have right to nominate but to screen.

Presently, male lawmakers in the Oyo State House of Assembly consists of 30 men and only two women.

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Contrary to the recent reports in the media alluding to disagreements amongst members of the ruling party in Oyo State, APC, leaders in Oke -Ogun axis of the state today stated clearly that the party remains solidly one.

This position, according to a press statement jointly signed by the Chairman, and Secretary, Oke Ogun APC Elders Council , Chief Samuel Adekola and Mr. Kareem Tijani respectively corroborates the admonition of the party leader in the state, Abiola Ajimobi to APC members at a stakeholders meeting recently held at Lafia hotel, Ibadan that all members should shun divisive tendencies and forge ahead as one indivisible party, as in that lies the party’s strength at winning elections.

The statement acknowledged further, “the party is not unaware of some complaints arising from the recently re -constituted Care -taker members, we take this grumblings in good faith as part of ingredients of true democracy, the party has taken note of their worries and it’s attending to it accordingly on the merit of each case.

“We therefore reiterate for the umpteenth time our members are irreversibly committed to the unity of our great party, with majority of them in solidarity and unalloyed loyalty to the party leadership, as well as the Leader, His
Excellency, Sen Abiola Ajimobi”.

“We express again our appreciation for the support and understanding of the good people of our dear State.

“Again, unbehalf of the good people of Oke-Ogun and Oyo State at large, we want to specially appreciate and thank Our Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi for his fairness in the distribution of appointments and development so far, most especially the newly appointed Caretaker Chairmen”.

“We sincerely appreciate the sensitivity of the Governor on the opportunity given to new people taking into cognisant that it takes a whole team of APC member to win elections. We are grateful and we also pledge our undying support at all times”, its continued.

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