Top Stories
We will stand with Makinde all the way – NANS leaders
The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has declared its support for the Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, stating that his policy of education “is top-notch and highly commendable.”
President of the student’s body, Comrade Danielson Bamidele Akpan, who led a NANS delegation to visit the Governor on Saturday, said that students across the country were in support of Governor Makinde because of his bias for free and qualitative education.
The students, who promised to stand by the Governor all the way stated that some of his efforts on education, health, and infrastructure in the last six months have shown that he had a clear vision for the State.
A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Oyo State Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the President of NANS, Comrade Danielson Bamidele Akpan as saying these on Boxing Day, while leading the NANS delegation to commiserate with the Governor on the demise of a Students’ leader, Comrade Yemi Adeniran (aka Likedat) who died in a fatal accident last week.
NANS President and his colleagues including a former president of NANS, Comrade Sheriff Zadok; national financial secretary, Ikechukwu Okorie; former NANS Zone B Coordinator; Olanrewaju Segun, among others led the NANS delegation to Ibadan to participate in the final burial rites of their colleague, Yemi Adeniran (Likedat) who was a member of the Oyo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Youth Wing.
Akpan commended Makinde’s performance in the areas of education, especially with regards to the free qualitative education policy, the award of N500,000 to Oyo State students in the Nigerian Law School and the massive improvement of education infrastructure through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
The delegation also commended Makinde for giving youths a pride of place in his administration as evidenced in the appointment of youths as commissioners and special assistants, noting that with policies that give attention to education and youth empowerment in the real sense, the Governor has become the one everyone across the country was looking at and a global pride.
While speaking, Akpan described the late Yemi Likedat as a true patriot and NANS leader of no mean repute, even as he commended the Governor for not only visiting the family of the deceased student unionist to commiserate and reassure them but also promising that the State Government would be of help to them in this period of sorrow.
“Your Excellency, we are here today and we join others to wish you a happy birthday. The main reason why we came is to appreciate you for visiting the family of Yemi Likedat. That particular act is what we, the entire Nigerian students appreciate. The entire world also appreciates this without looking at the fact that he lived in a remote area or not being one of your appointees. So, we salute you.
“Having said that, we have been seeing your performance, especially in the area of education, infrastructural turnaround, the bursary allowance you gave to Law students, the UBE improvement with the construction of blocks of classrooms. I am sure you know that primary and secondary schools are also part of our constituency and that is why our population is so much. We quite appreciate what you are doing in this sector since your assumption of office.”
In his response, Governor Makinde, who had earlier visited the family of the late Adeniran to commiserate with his family, said it was unfortunate to lose Adeniran at a time like this but that God would always remain unquestionable.
The Governor maintained that whatever he has achieved in the State was due to the mentality that the mandate was just another job that must be done effectively and with commitment bearing in mind that there would be more Oyo State Governors after his tenure.
“It’s like the job of a Managing Director/CEO, you do your bit and others come in. so why would someone behave as if there won’t be another Governor tomorrow?”
He promised to further look for avenues to engage the students’ leaders on the discussion on Nigeria and how the country can move on a path that is consistent with international standards.
Governor Makinde said: “I want to say again that it is quite unfortunate that we lost a comrade and a colleague, Yemi Likedat, but who are we to question God? Whatever God does is always the best, but we may not know. The government will be fully represented at his burial and we will try our best to support the internment.
“I appreciate your stopping by this morning and wish you and other comrades pleasant stay in Ibadan. While you are going around for the burial preparation, when you see things, say it and give us feedback. We can look at it. If it is something we have not started planning, we will take it. And if it is something we are already planning, we will let you know.”
“I am sure that we will still have time to meet further to discuss Nigeria and how the country can move on a path that is consistent with international standards. I am sure we will do that.
“For us in Oyo State, this is just another job. We will do our part and leave it. Before now, there have been past governors, so, why behave as though you will never leave the position. When you leave, life will still continue.”
Similarly, a former NANS president, Zadok, described Yemi Likedat as a powerful Nigerian student in his lifetime, noting that he was an embodiment of patriotism who was always fighting for Oyo State’s interests in students’ circles.
Zadok, who also commended Governor Makinde’s policies on education and appointment of youths into his government, said: “Your Excellency, you did something that you considered ordinary but it gave hope to the country. Youths are constantly used during elections and I don’t know what it is that made you choose a young person. I don’t know what came to your mind to invest so much in lawyers because they are not giving you immediate returns. I am wondering also why you are taking education very seriously.
“I want to say that this is the time NANS is going to stick with you. With that visit to Yemi’s house, you have earned yourself the same honour you had when you appointed a young commissioner. From today, I would say, with our organization, that you are not alone in this country, because we know you will stand up for the youths in this country. You have defied party politics and your standard has kept going higher. So, you don’t need only lead Oyo State people anymore. You are currently the rostrum we have been looking for.
“For me, again, I say we won’t leave you. It is a global pride that we have you and these values that your parents have put in you won’t leave you.”
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday held a high-level strategic meeting with the Oyo State chapter of the party as part of efforts to reposition the APC for victory and prevent internal crisis ahead of the polls.
The development was first scooped by OYOINSIGHT.COM which quoted multiple party sources familiar with the closed-door deliberations.
Sources disclosed that the meeting, held in Abuja, focused largely on a consensus arrangement being considered by stakeholders of the party in Oyo State, in line with political templates reportedly being adopted in Lagos and Ogun states ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Party insiders said the move was aimed at strengthening unity within the fold of the opposition party in the state, minimising rancour during the primaries and presenting a formidable front against rival parties in 2027.
It was further gathered that some members of the state executive committee may have been subtly informed about preferred consensus candidates being considered for elective positions across the state.
Though details of the deliberations were still sketchy as of press time, sources hinted that the national leadership stressed the need for cohesion, discipline and strategic alignment among stakeholders to improve the party’s electoral fortunes in Oyo.
Those at the meeting included the Oyo APC Chairman, Moses Alake Adeyemo; the state secretary, Fatai Adesina Adeniyi; the Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare; the Organising Secretary, Aderemi Adepoju; and the Legal Adviser, Sunday Aborisade.
Others were the Women Leader, Adekemi Opatunde; the Youth Leader, Olalekan Oladejo; Joshua Oyebamiji; Tunde Oloyede; Sunday Babalola; Joseph Omoniyi; and Mojeed Adebayo.
As of the time of filing this report, the party had yet to issue an official statement on the outcome of the meeting.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, on Monday assured aspirants and party members that the party would conduct transparent, peaceful and credible direct primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adeyemo declared that no aspirant would be victimised or denied a level playing field, stressing that the party leadership remained committed to internal democracy and progressive ideals.
The former deputy governor spoke while receiving members of the APC Screening and Appeal Committees deployed from the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja at the APC Secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan.
He disclosed that although the party initially explored consensus arrangements across elective positions, prevailing realities indicated that direct primaries would be conducted in some areas, including the governorship contest.
Adeyemo said the party had already put necessary structures in place to ensure a hitch-free exercise capable of strengthening unity within the APC.
He said: “We set machineries in motion for us to achieve the aim of consensus across board but reports available to me indicate that we would have to go by the second option which is direct primary in certain cases including the governorship ticket.
“To this end, we shall work towards organising free, fair and credible exercise in all the affected areas even as we cannot rule out the possibility of some aspirants having a rethink and supporting the consensus arrangement as necessary.
“Where we have more than an aspirant, Abuja would send people to conduct primaries and we at the state level would provide the required support to make everything work out in the interest of our great party.”
The APC chairman explained that all registered party members would participate fully in the exercise at their respective wards on dates to be announced by the National Secretariat.
According to him, affirmation would be adopted in areas where consensus candidates emerge, while voting would be conducted wherever direct primaries become necessary.
“For consensus, members will lend their voices for affirmation while voting will be done in the cases of direct primary,” he added.
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the Screening Committee and former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Taofiq AbdusSalam, assured party faithful that the committee would carry out a thorough, transparent and unbiased screening process.
He said only eligible aspirants would be cleared to participate in the primaries and eventually fly the APC flag in the forthcoming elections.
Other members of the Screening Committee are Kamal Sanusi (Secretary), Smart Oluwole, Tunde Kolade and Olabamiji Agunloye.
Members of the Screening Appeal Committee are Jibola Oduwole (Chairman), Abimbola Jack (Secretary) and Jelil Jimoh.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress on Saturday zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria, declaring that the party’s candidate would serve a single four-year term if elected.
The decision was reached during the party’s national convention held in Abuja amid growing momentum within the opposition platform following a wave of high-profile defections from other political parties.
Announcing the development on its official social media handle, the party stated, “NDC presidential ticket is zoned to the South!!”
The party also resolved that its 2031 presidential ticket would be ceded to Northern Nigeria as part of efforts to maintain regional balance and internal equity.
The convention comes as key opposition figures, including former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former New Nigeria People’s Party presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, joined party leaders and delegates at the Abuja gathering.
Saturday’s convention is expected to ratify several recent decisions taken by the party’s National Executive Committee, including zoning arrangements, amendments to the party constitution, and the election of new national executives.
According to the convention agenda obtained by journalists, discussions centred on zoning, ratification of the amended constitution, and leadership restructuring ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The NDC has in recent weeks witnessed a surge in defections from rival opposition parties, particularly the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
On Tuesday, no fewer than 17 members of the House of Representatives defected from the ADC to the NDC.
Their defections were formally announced during plenary at the House of Representatives.
The lawmakers include Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Adamu Wakili, Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi, Lilian Orogbu, Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, Peter Aniekwe, Mukhtar Zakari, George Oluwande and Munachim Umezuruike.
Others are Emeka Idu, Jesse Onuakalusi, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Afam Ogene, Murphy Omoruyi and Abdulhakeem Ado.
The defections came barely two days after Obi and Kwankwaso formally joined the NDC from the ADC.
The duo were presented with the party’s membership cards last Sunday shortly after a closed-door meeting with party leaders.
A former Governor of Bayelsa State and NDC national leader, Seriake Dickson, officially welcomed the opposition figures into the party.
Obi had attributed his exit from the ADC to worsening internal crises, external interference and what he described as increasing hostility within party structures.
The former Anambra State governor said Nigeria’s political environment had become increasingly toxic, marked by intimidation, insecurity and sustained scrutiny of opposition figures.
He also lamented that institutions meant to protect citizens were now often deployed against them, while individuals committed to genuine public service faced mounting pressure both publicly and privately.
-
Politics1 day ago2027: Oyo APC Set for Credible Direct Primaries, Says Alake Adeyemo
-
News1 week agoTCN plans power outage in Ibadan over substation maintenance
-
News5 days agoTegbe clarifies: No 3-month promise on power grid, outlines realistic reform timeline
-
News5 days agoYoruba Heritage Festival Honouring Ogedengbe Begins July 29