Politics
You can’t use blackmail to get Tinubu’s attention, Oyo APC mocks Makinde
The oyo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has again called out Governor Seyi Makinde over an alleged claim that he had an agreement of partnership on the ongoing general election with the President-elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, warning him to bury the idea of securing a second term in office through the instrumentality of blackmail, falsehood, and propaganda.
The aftermath of the last presidential and national assembly elections has been greeted with the exchange of words from the camp of Governor Makinde and members of the opposition APC in the state on account of claims and counterclaims about the governor playing a role in the victory of Sen. Tinubu over Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Sen. Rabiu Kwakwanso of the People’s Democratic Party, Labour Party, and New Nigeria People’s Party respectively.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Ibadan and made available to press men by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC berated Governor Makinde over what it described as “his overt and covert but futile efforts geared towards creating a false impression about being instrumental to the emergence of Sen. Tinubu as the President-elect to position himself for a soft landing at the next poll coming up this Saturday.
“Rather than respond to the challenge which we threw last week on this same subject matter, Governor Makinde has continued to hide behind a finger by sponsoring some misguided individuals to spread the fake news about a purported agreement between the President-elect and the five aggrieved PDP governors referred to as G5. Governor Makinde’s men mischievously tell the fake story of him delivering Oyo state to Sen. Tinubu on February 25 whereas they do not have a single fact to back up their claims.
“There are records of efforts put up by Oyo APC chieftains such as Sen. Teslim Folarin, Hon. Isaac Omodewu, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan, Dr. Fola Akinosun, and Prof. Abideen Olaiya among others visited all the media houses in the state to promote the candidature of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu while we also have it on record how Governor Makinde’s media handlers used every available opportunity to run down the presidential candidate of the APC. In addition, members of the public keep a record of all the coordinated vandalism done to the billboards and other outdoor campaign materials of the former Lagos state governor in every part of Oyo state.
“Again, we make bold to ask whether it was Governor Makinde who caused Oyo to be the state which gave Sen. Bola Tinubu the highest number of delegate votes at the APC presidential primary last year. We also put it to the governor and his sympathizers to bring out any media material or document in which he (Makinde) mentioned Tinubu as his choice of a presidential candidate before the declaration of poll results by INEC even as they have not produced the agreement they claim Asiwaju signed with the G5 governors.
“The truth remains that no reasonable political leader or gladiator would risk supporting Governor Makinde for a second term given his unenviable record of betrayal, backstabbing, and poor performance in office. For the avoidance of doubt, Sen. Tinubu is abreast of happenings in Oyo state’s political space and he is comfortable with the choice of Sen. Teslim Folarin as the next governor of the Pacesetter and the person with him he would work to uplift our dear state”, Sadare added.
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.
-
Metro22 hours agoGrim Friday: Man, Wife, Grandson Perish in Ibadan Fire
-
News2 days ago
Bank Robberies Now History in Lagos Since 2014 – IGP
-
Crime & Court2 days ago
Human Rights Lawyer, Dele Farotimi, Granted ₦30m Bail
-
News22 hours ago
NNPCL Refutes Shutdown Claims: Port Harcourt Refinery Fully Operational
