The leading gubernatorial aspirant under the national ruling party Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde who recently made a trip to Abuja including several thousands of his supporters for his collection and submission of his gubernatorial at the Maitama headquarter of the party secretariat in Abuja has again assured his supporters of his commitment to the gubernatorial race of Oyo State.
Seyi Makinde who had earlier had meetings with the national leaders of the party which includes the Senate president, Senator David Mark, principal officers of the national assembly including the wife of the President Jonathan, Dame Patience Jonathan.
All indications have emerged that prospective delegates and other party stalwart in the state have begin to rally round sup[port for Engr. Makinde to clinch the party ticket in the next few weeks.
In his words, "My style of politics is inclusive and i give respect to whom it's due; this should not be misconstrued for withdrawal from the race. I am not only committed to this race, i am also committed to unity and peace in Oyo State PDP".
NEWS UPDATE . FASHION AND STYLE, ENTERTAINMENT, TOURISM, SOCIETY GIST, SPORT, ART AND CULTURE and lots more
Friday, 31 October 2014
Thursday, 30 October 2014
Ajimobi will be unseat without stress, says Olaosebikan
Hon. Kehinde Olaosebikan, a Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Oyo State has written off the Ajimobi-led administration in the state, predicting that the governor would be unseated without stress.
Olaosebikan, a former Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to late former governor Lam Adesina told newsmen in Ibadan on Sunday that the verdict was based on the administration’s abysmal performance.
``This administration led by Gov.
Abiola Ajimobi has performed woefully in the last three and a half years
because of his unpreparedness for governance,’’ he said.
He said that Ajimobi came into power unprepared and messed up in virtually all the sectors, adding that unseating him as the governor of the state was very simple.
He said that Ajimobi came into power unprepared and messed up in virtually all the sectors, adding that unseating him as the governor of the state was very simple.
`` The governor himself has prepared
his exit with the abysmal performance and poor relations, the worst ever
relations with the people.
``Just go round the state, you will
hardly find a place where people speak well of him.
``From education to health, agriculture, rural and urban integration, commerce. Please in which area has he done anything tangible that you too can point to right now? None,’’ he said.
He said that the governor was now notorious among the people for his crass arrogance and disdain for the masses, adding that he had even lost the confidence of those working with him.
``From education to health, agriculture, rural and urban integration, commerce. Please in which area has he done anything tangible that you too can point to right now? None,’’ he said.
He said that the governor was now notorious among the people for his crass arrogance and disdain for the masses, adding that he had even lost the confidence of those working with him.
``Even, if you take your time to
speak to those who are working with him, they will tell you in confidence that
they too are tired of him.
``That is how bad his case is,’’ he
said.
Olaosebikan, also a former Caretaker
Chairman of Oluyole Local Government said that the chances of the PDP were
bright.
The governorship hopeful maintained
that there was nobody that can stop the PDP from forming the next government in
the state because it was the party through which a common man can live his
dream.
``It is the party of the masses, the
party for the youths, market women and artisans,’’ he said.
He however allayed the fear of the people on the rancor within the party, insisting that there was no faction in PDP.
He however allayed the fear of the people on the rancor within the party, insisting that there was no faction in PDP.
``We are one strong and united
family under our State Chairman, Alhaji Yinka Taiwo and our leader, Alhaji
Yekeen Adeojo. PDP is the most popular party in Oyo State today,’’ he said.
BETCOLONY Africa berth in Ibadan
CEO BETCOLONY |
In a bid to unsure financial freedom and empower Nigerian youths to be self reliant,
one of the leading sport betting company in Africa, BETCOLONY has launch its VIP corner in a popular joint
in Ibadan for sport lovers across the city to play their games and win lots of
money.
The company which has its tentacles in South Africa, Ghana
and major cities in Nigeria is now in Ibadan.
According to the chairman of the group,Otunba Lekan Saka who says the uniqueness of BETCOLONY is the new innovative idea of having VIP corner at a strategic fun place to give people a convenient environment to play their game while watching the football and still be relaxing.
He explained further that BETCOLONY is on the high point in terms of payment and rewards for their prospective customers and it is a sport market that gives everyone a lots of chances to play the ga
According to the chairman of the group,Otunba Lekan Saka who says the uniqueness of BETCOLONY is the new innovative idea of having VIP corner at a strategic fun place to give people a convenient environment to play their game while watching the football and still be relaxing.
He explained further that BETCOLONY is on the high point in terms of payment and rewards for their prospective customers and it is a sport market that gives everyone a lots of chances to play the ga
me and win.
Speaking at the event
is the brand ambassador of the company, Kiibati Bankole. A radio and television sport analyst. She also said the company believes in
empowering the youths and giving them financial independent, affirmed that
BETCOLONY is discovering talents in sport predictions.
The event was also grace by Nigerian ex super Eagles star. Mutiu Adepoju and it took place at the popular hangout Top-One garden where fun and sport lovers gathered to play ad enjoyed themselves with music supplied by fuji star, Apesin Taye Currency.
The event was also grace by Nigerian ex super Eagles star. Mutiu Adepoju and it took place at the popular hangout Top-One garden where fun and sport lovers gathered to play ad enjoyed themselves with music supplied by fuji star, Apesin Taye Currency.
LADOJA; NOT ENDORSED BY THE PRESIDENCY-TEAM AKALA
Team Akala, the political group of Oyo State ex-governor
Otunba Adebayo Alao Akala has described as unfounded the information that
former Gov. Rasheed Ladoja has been endorsed by the presidency as the PDP
Gubernatorial candidate for Oyo State.
In a statement signed by its Coordinator, Prince Niran
Adeyoju recently said that the information being reported by some Newspaper and
circulated on some socio-media should be disregarded, adding that not of such
happened in Abuja.
Team Akala is a group pursuing the return of former Gov.
Adebayo Alao-Akala as the governor of Oyo State in 2015.
The group said that the information was a ploy by some
loyalist of Ladoja to cause confusion among party faithful in the state.
``The malicious information being circulated by Loyalists
of Sen. Rasheed Ladoja is not true.
``The outcome of the two meetings held with both the
first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan and Senate President, Sen. David Mark did
not in any way pick Ladoja as the party flagbearer of the PDP.
``The meeting with the President’s wife was precipitated
on the attempt by the Minister of State for FCT, Chief Jumoke Akinjide to force
the presidency to adopt Ladoja.
``The meeting was informed that Ladoja is the National
Leader of Accord Party and the gubernatorial candidate of the party in the
state for 2015 election and the move to lure him in was rejected.
``The meeting concluded that the former governor, who
contributed to the loss of PDP in 2011 should return to the party through the
normal process andf vie for the ticket,’’ It said.
The group said that the issue of Ladoja was not discussed
at the second meeting with Mark in the second meeting with Mark and other
leaders of the PDP.
"We were advised to either reduce the number of
Aspirant to two or three or agree on a consensus candidate whose political
structure is strong to win for the PDP and which we belief is Alao-Akala.
It cautioned those sympathetic to the course of
opposition members against the party to stop mis-informing members of the
public to do away with anti-party activities.
Team Akala, while appreciating loyalists of Alao-Akala,
who joined the Abuja rally during the procurement of the nomination form,
assured members of the party at both state and Federal level for their
cooperation.
Meanwhile in a
related development one the leading guber hopeful for Agodin seat in 2015,
Otunba Adebayo Alao Akala has re-assured the people of the state to see a new
Oyo State with as he will beging another developmental face more tghan what he
did in his administartion bettween 2009 and 2011.
The coordinator of Team Akala maintained that the former
governor if re-elected would restore the lost glory in education, economic and
the health sector of the state.
The group also added that Alao-Akala if re-elected would
embark on rural transformation and urban renewal in such a way that the source
of livelihood of the people would not be affected.
``From the opinion poll conducted round the state, we
realized that the type of leader that our
people need is an experienced and debonair leader like Alao-Akala, who
runs a masses friendly and responsive leadership,’’ he said.
Tuesday, 14 October 2014
YINKA AYEFELE LOSES DAD
Pa Ayefele few hours before his demise |
A source from the Music House Incorporation explained to cityinfo190 that, Pa Joshua Ayefele popularly known as Baba Teacher was hale and hearty and only informed his children about his desire to celebrate his birthday which they considered quite unusual due to kind of person thier father his , who cares little about frivolities and parties.
In his words, Yinka Ayefele said, "I was there with him at Ipoti Ekiti to celebrate with him, he even saw me off when I was leaving and I left but was surprised to hear few minutes after I left of his demise".
The late Pa Ayefele had earlier held a birthday thanksgiving service at the Anglican Church, Ipoti Ekiti.
Pa Ayefele was an educationist and community leader in Ipoti Ekiti until his demise.
No date has been fixed for burial.
Wednesday, 8 October 2014
PDP Politician Gets life imprisonment For Raping APC Member
Osun State: A
chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Ilesa, Obafemi Kolawole
has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a female member of the All
Progressives Congress .
Kolawole was alleged to have committed the crime on
September 15, 2007 in Ilesa, Osun State.
The victim, Tosin Ajakaye, an Action Congress of Nigeria
(now All Progressives Congress) member
was pregnant as at the time of the incident.
The PDP chieftain was charged before the State High Court
sitting at Ilesa, on a two-count charge of rape and indecent assault contrary
to Sections 358 & 360 of the Criminal Code Cap 34, Vol II, Laws of Osun
respectively.
The prosecution called four witnesses including Tosin Ajakaye,
Lawal Sikiru and Dr. A.I Isawumi. The Investigating Police Officer (IPO)
Sergeant Olatunji Arojo, said the case had been properly investigated.
Kolawole testified in his defence and called additional
four witnesses including Chief Ganiyu Oladiran, Adediran Kehinde, Adewusi
Olowolodu and Olayinka Alege.
The victim at the trial narrated her ordeal. She stated
that on September 15, 2007, Kolawole and his cohorts, who are not police
officers, came to arrest her at her house at about 7:30 pm for an unknown
offence then she was taken into custody at a private residence where she was
severely beaten and raped many times by Kolawole.
Tuesday, 30 September 2014
Top Baker, Deola Layade Sets To Host Second Bread Exhibition Tomorrow
Adeola Layade, a Psychology graduate of University of Ado-Ekiti (UNAD) turned cake maker is no doubt the hottest in Ibadan baking industry presently. This is because within a short period of time that she came onboard, she has been succeeded in making herself an issue on her field. She has turned around a small cake making business (Exquisito Cakes) she started out passion for cooking some years back into a brand. Her company, Exquisito has not only redefined the Ibadan’s baking industry, but has also become a channel through which several professional bakers has emerged. She also consults for top bakeries and other cake makers in Ibadan. Deola is one of the few young ladies blessed with brain and that are doing well in their chosen fields. She is very focused and determined in all she does, this is probably because of her upbringing and family background. She is from a very humble family and a princess from the popular Otutu royal house of Ile-Ife. Her late dad, Prince (Eng.) Adedotun Layade was a successful man in his lifetime. Her mum too is the daughter of the prominent Ijesha business mogul, Late Lawrence Omole. All these and the business acumen from both background perhaps shaped Deola’s vision in becoming a successful businesswoman too. It is with this vision and to also expand the scope of her business that made Deola to change her company name from ‘Exquisito Cakes’ to ‘Exquisito Confectioneries’. With more wider spread which include cake baking, Bread, Cookies, Sandwiches, Bakery Consulting, Confectionery Books, Confectionery Manufacturing and Exhibition. It is however also worth mentioning that, Exquisito was the first in Nigeria and indeed in Africa to organise Bread Exhibition tagged ‘’ ‘The Bread Connoiseurs’’. Which its second edition is set to hold come 1st Oct., 2014, at the Pentorise Event Centre, Bodija. The fair is going to showcase different bread from around the world, as well as avail bread bakers an opportunity to showcase their products to the world. And it will also serve as an avenue for bakers to meet and interact with their consumers one on one. The event which promises to be educative and entertaining will have top names in the society and in both entertainment and Yoruba movies industries in attendance. Nigeria’s frontline comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka the 1st is the anchor of the event.
Meanwhile, there would also be launching of a new magazine (bread magazine), which of course is another vision of the Exquisito boss, Deola Layade. According to her, ‘’the vision of having a bread magazine came about because of the gap in the industry that needed to be filled. Its to bridge the gap between the bread industry and consumers generally’’. ‘’The magazine will be unveil by her Exellency, Chief (Mrs.) Abiola Ajimobi, the first lady of Oyo State during the exhibition and it will be distributed free across the country. Also there will be games corner, 250 free goodie bags,
photo booth, gold carpet, gift vouchers, free sanitizers, music, dance, free wine and bread tasting, , free kids face painting and lots more.
’’, she concluded.
Friday, 26 September 2014
I AM SET TO GOVERN OGUN - OLAWALE OKUNNIYI
Veteran Olawale Okunniyi is a governorship aspirant in Ogun State on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC). A delegate at the recently concluded national conference, Okunniyi also acts as the spokesperson for the Pro National Conference (PRONACO). In 2011, he contested as the governorship candidate for Congress for Progressive change (CPC) in Ogun State. In this interview with WALE ABIODUN, Okunniyi bares his mind on various issues including his gubernatorial ambition, crisis within the party in the state, assessment of the current administration, his developmental agenda and issues raised at the just concluded national conference.
How prepared are you for Ogun State 2015 governorship election?
I am very much prepared for Ogun State 2015 governorship election. Consultations and campaign are in top gear. I already have my structure in place in all the wards, local government areas and in the three senatorial districts of the state. Our branded campaign vehicles are also on ground in the three senatorial districts. You will recall that I contested for governorship in 2011 on the platform of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). Despite the short time for mobilization and campaign at that time, I was still able to make a good impact in that election. But now, I am contesting on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC). Our leader in Ogun APC is Aremo Olusegun Osoba, whose political philosophy and understanding tally with mine. I am prepared for the race, we have been rolling out the campaign materials, and we have appointed our coordinators in all the 20 local government areas. Things have turned out well for us and our structure is bubbling with activities. Our campaign slogan is Esoji 2015, meaning Ogun indigenes should wake up concerning 2015 gubernatorial election. Today, we enjoy tremendous grass root support to actualize our aspiration to govern Ogun. People have seen what I have done in national conference, and they have seen what I have done in PRONACO. So people are convinced that we can effect a positive change in Ogun State if given the mandate. People have seen my passion for the restructuring of the Nigerian state. I have gained a lot, working with well meaning and revered Nigerians leaders like late Chief Anthony Enahoro, Professor Wole Soyinka, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Prof Ben Nwabueze, the Afenifere leadership among others. I have a whole lot of experience from these respectable leaders. I have also worked with progressive political machineries in the country, through which I have been able to shape my political experience. There are certain things I think I have that others don’t have in terms of struggles that I have waged in the past. Every community in Ogun State is presently involved in our governorship project, and resources are already rolling in from various quarters, because our people have already taken this aspiration as theirs. In Nigeria, we, unfortunately, play the politics of highest bidder, where, if you don’t have the capital, you might not likely have the showing. We thank God that people are supportive, friends and associates are supportive and campaign funds are rolling in for us to prosecute this agenda. We have resources to carry out the campaign and educate the people ideologically. We believe that our campaign must be ideologically based. By the grace of God, we are the next governor of Ogun State. We have various developmental agenda in our blue print, but we are going to have collective governance where the people in Ogun State will be adequately involved. From the first day, we are going to carry people along. We will carry every community along. We will go to every community and ask for their needs; that is, their priorities. This will help to know when and where government needs to come to their aid. We are also going to do a lot of direct labour, but we are going to monitor it properly and modernize it. For the first time, people are going to see the peoples’ government in action. Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has attempted to do something in that direction, based on his background. We are going to put into practice what we have learnt and what we have advocated for over the years. People are going to see a change and our government is going to be a model one. It is going to surpass what people have seen during the era of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. I know that the structure is faulty and that is why I am among the people that are trying to restructure Nigeria, so that Nigeria will not collapse on our head. There will be no unemployment in Ogun State again. The era of poverty will be over in Ogun State. My aspiration is to effect positive changes in Ogun State. I know that I can think outside the box. Arising from the resolutions of the national confab, we are going to ensure that for the first time, Ogun people have their own constitution and that constitution will determine how our government will be run.
Don’t you think the present political differences between Aremo Olusegun Osoba and Governor Ibikunle Amosun might work against the success of APC at the poll?
Well, there are people who have been making efforts to resolve the matter, I think that is ongoing. Even at that, there are opportunities for political alignment, realignment and coalition. I am an expert in coalition building, if you look at my profile and my role in Networking the PRONACO coalition, Project Nigeria, Mega Summit Movement and so on. All these are coalitions buildings, where I was able to bring people together from different parties. We had the coalition of about 34 parties which was initiated through me by Chief Enahoro. I think I have mustered enough capacity to bring about the coalition in Ogun State concerning 2015 election. In 2011, despite the fact that the time was short for mobilization and campaign, I was still able to bring out a tangible coalition to power my campaign. I am not bothered about any crisis within the party. The issue is that, we want to achieve our objective, which is, we want to become the peoples' governor of Ogun State. We want to bring out a new life and the prosperity of our people. We must get the structure of government to be able to do that and that is our goal. What we need to do is to get the people of like-minds together and form a platform, but in any case I am not opposed to people trying to resolve any political differences within the party (APC). If it is resolved, fine for us, we will all go to primary election. I am not afraid of anybody or any so called power of incumbency. The moment I am convinced of something I go for it. We know that nothing will affect our agenda. When it is dawn on us that there is no resolution we take our decision.
Are you saying that the current government in Ogun State is not performing up to the expectations of masses of people in the state?
I think the government is stretched to the limit but their best is not just impressive enough to me and the people of Ogun State. We think that we can do better than what obtains now. I am coming out to bring about a model for the people of Ogun State. Late Chief Bisi Onabanjo tried his best, there are rooms for improvement. We think improvement will come through us. We are not supposed to be static; we believe that things should always improve for the people of Ogun State.
As a delegate of the recent concluded national conference, what is your assessment of the conference?
The national conference has helped to create a new template for Nigeria to move forward and it has also helped to create a process to resolve political conflicts in the country. The conference has produced a process that can give the people the ownership of the country. For me, I think it is the first step in resolving Nigeria’s problems by producing the constitution for the Nigerian people. My advice to Mr. President is to implement the resolutions of the conference in order to make the nation stable and stop the blood- letting and militancy that is going on in the country. The process has started and we have started well with the convocation of the national conference for the development of this nation.
What federating unit did you represent at the conference?
I did not represent any particular federating unit. I represented a pan Nigeria platform. I was among the advocates for national conference through Pro National Conference (PRONACO). I worked closely with late Anthony Enahoro, Professor Wole Soyinka and other well meaning Nigerians. Over the years I have become an expert on the convocation of a people's national conference. So I represented a serious pan-Nigerian platform at the conference.
Don’t you think this conference might go the way of the previous ones?
I think if we implement the recommendations of the conference it will not go the way of the previous ones. Also if we consider the efforts and consensus we reached on this conference, it may not go the way of the previous ones. What is left now is to ensure that people buy in into the conference resolutions. For instance, some recommendations are still being misunderstood by the people. Like in the area of local government, some people think that we called for the abolition of local government, no; that was not the case. What we recommended is that local government should now be the business of the state, instead of being the affair of federal government. The recognised levels of federation will be the states and the centre. What we have recommended is that the federating units and actual owners of the union should be in control of their local affairs and that the federal government. The major players in the Nigerian federation are the states, which are the federating unit. So i think we need to do a lot of advocacy, enlightenment and popularization of the conference’s recommendation before we move to referendum.
Some stakeholders are calling for the referendum to adopt the recommendations of the conference, what is your view on this?
The national assembly by the provisions of the 1999 constitution can only amend the existing constitution; it has no right to make a new constitution. It is only the people of Nigeria that can give a legitimate constitution to the country. It is an aberration to ask the national assembly to give the country a new constitution. Government or any of its organs cannot give the people a constitution, government can only make laws. Even if constitutional initiative is coming from an arm of government, it must still go to a referendum. The people must endorse it before it becomes a constitution. But I think Nigeria should adopt indirect referendum, which some of us have consistently canvassed because of the peculiarity of our own politics. We play a kind of politics where money rules. So we need to guide against a situation where money bag politicians will not have their way to buy the people over. Most of our people are impoverished and you know referendum is an issue of “Yes or No”. So that people will not be tempted to be ticking No, No, and if the Nos surpasses the Yes, it means that the whole exercise is thrown out. That is the reason I am canvassing indirect referendum. Furthermore, the people that are to endorse these recommendations should also be given time to study the resolutions; we need to do a lot of campaigns and enlightenment. Mass media campaign and mobilization should be initiated by government. Some of us are ready to help in that direction. We need to popularize the resolutions of national conference among Nigerians. After the campaigns and popularization of the resolutions, people can then go ahead and elect their representatives from their constituencies. These elected representatives will go and formally endorse the constitution on behalf of their peoples. These elected representatives for the purpose of endorsing the constitution will form an Electoral College or what we call a constituent assembly. These people would have to look at the draft constitution thoroughly and approve it by voting Yes or No on the recommendations. These representatives, having campaigned to be elected by the people, will be deemed credible to endorse the draft constitution on behalf of their people. Delegates may range from 400 to 500 in numbers. This will be easier than when you ask every Nigeria to go and endorse the constitution. Due to the kind of politics we play in Nigeria, the people might just be railroaded into voting ‘No’ to the entire draft constitution even if those resolutions are in their interest and beneficial to the nation. This is why we need what I call indirect referendum of an electoral college to endorse a new constitution for Nigeria.
How prepared are you for Ogun State 2015 governorship election?
I am very much prepared for Ogun State 2015 governorship election. Consultations and campaign are in top gear. I already have my structure in place in all the wards, local government areas and in the three senatorial districts of the state. Our branded campaign vehicles are also on ground in the three senatorial districts. You will recall that I contested for governorship in 2011 on the platform of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). Despite the short time for mobilization and campaign at that time, I was still able to make a good impact in that election. But now, I am contesting on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC). Our leader in Ogun APC is Aremo Olusegun Osoba, whose political philosophy and understanding tally with mine. I am prepared for the race, we have been rolling out the campaign materials, and we have appointed our coordinators in all the 20 local government areas. Things have turned out well for us and our structure is bubbling with activities. Our campaign slogan is Esoji 2015, meaning Ogun indigenes should wake up concerning 2015 gubernatorial election. Today, we enjoy tremendous grass root support to actualize our aspiration to govern Ogun. People have seen what I have done in national conference, and they have seen what I have done in PRONACO. So people are convinced that we can effect a positive change in Ogun State if given the mandate. People have seen my passion for the restructuring of the Nigerian state. I have gained a lot, working with well meaning and revered Nigerians leaders like late Chief Anthony Enahoro, Professor Wole Soyinka, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Prof Ben Nwabueze, the Afenifere leadership among others. I have a whole lot of experience from these respectable leaders. I have also worked with progressive political machineries in the country, through which I have been able to shape my political experience. There are certain things I think I have that others don’t have in terms of struggles that I have waged in the past. Every community in Ogun State is presently involved in our governorship project, and resources are already rolling in from various quarters, because our people have already taken this aspiration as theirs. In Nigeria, we, unfortunately, play the politics of highest bidder, where, if you don’t have the capital, you might not likely have the showing. We thank God that people are supportive, friends and associates are supportive and campaign funds are rolling in for us to prosecute this agenda. We have resources to carry out the campaign and educate the people ideologically. We believe that our campaign must be ideologically based. By the grace of God, we are the next governor of Ogun State. We have various developmental agenda in our blue print, but we are going to have collective governance where the people in Ogun State will be adequately involved. From the first day, we are going to carry people along. We will carry every community along. We will go to every community and ask for their needs; that is, their priorities. This will help to know when and where government needs to come to their aid. We are also going to do a lot of direct labour, but we are going to monitor it properly and modernize it. For the first time, people are going to see the peoples’ government in action. Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has attempted to do something in that direction, based on his background. We are going to put into practice what we have learnt and what we have advocated for over the years. People are going to see a change and our government is going to be a model one. It is going to surpass what people have seen during the era of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. I know that the structure is faulty and that is why I am among the people that are trying to restructure Nigeria, so that Nigeria will not collapse on our head. There will be no unemployment in Ogun State again. The era of poverty will be over in Ogun State. My aspiration is to effect positive changes in Ogun State. I know that I can think outside the box. Arising from the resolutions of the national confab, we are going to ensure that for the first time, Ogun people have their own constitution and that constitution will determine how our government will be run.
Don’t you think the present political differences between Aremo Olusegun Osoba and Governor Ibikunle Amosun might work against the success of APC at the poll?
Well, there are people who have been making efforts to resolve the matter, I think that is ongoing. Even at that, there are opportunities for political alignment, realignment and coalition. I am an expert in coalition building, if you look at my profile and my role in Networking the PRONACO coalition, Project Nigeria, Mega Summit Movement and so on. All these are coalitions buildings, where I was able to bring people together from different parties. We had the coalition of about 34 parties which was initiated through me by Chief Enahoro. I think I have mustered enough capacity to bring about the coalition in Ogun State concerning 2015 election. In 2011, despite the fact that the time was short for mobilization and campaign, I was still able to bring out a tangible coalition to power my campaign. I am not bothered about any crisis within the party. The issue is that, we want to achieve our objective, which is, we want to become the peoples' governor of Ogun State. We want to bring out a new life and the prosperity of our people. We must get the structure of government to be able to do that and that is our goal. What we need to do is to get the people of like-minds together and form a platform, but in any case I am not opposed to people trying to resolve any political differences within the party (APC). If it is resolved, fine for us, we will all go to primary election. I am not afraid of anybody or any so called power of incumbency. The moment I am convinced of something I go for it. We know that nothing will affect our agenda. When it is dawn on us that there is no resolution we take our decision.
Are you saying that the current government in Ogun State is not performing up to the expectations of masses of people in the state?
I think the government is stretched to the limit but their best is not just impressive enough to me and the people of Ogun State. We think that we can do better than what obtains now. I am coming out to bring about a model for the people of Ogun State. Late Chief Bisi Onabanjo tried his best, there are rooms for improvement. We think improvement will come through us. We are not supposed to be static; we believe that things should always improve for the people of Ogun State.
As a delegate of the recent concluded national conference, what is your assessment of the conference?
The national conference has helped to create a new template for Nigeria to move forward and it has also helped to create a process to resolve political conflicts in the country. The conference has produced a process that can give the people the ownership of the country. For me, I think it is the first step in resolving Nigeria’s problems by producing the constitution for the Nigerian people. My advice to Mr. President is to implement the resolutions of the conference in order to make the nation stable and stop the blood- letting and militancy that is going on in the country. The process has started and we have started well with the convocation of the national conference for the development of this nation.
What federating unit did you represent at the conference?
I did not represent any particular federating unit. I represented a pan Nigeria platform. I was among the advocates for national conference through Pro National Conference (PRONACO). I worked closely with late Anthony Enahoro, Professor Wole Soyinka and other well meaning Nigerians. Over the years I have become an expert on the convocation of a people's national conference. So I represented a serious pan-Nigerian platform at the conference.
Don’t you think this conference might go the way of the previous ones?
I think if we implement the recommendations of the conference it will not go the way of the previous ones. Also if we consider the efforts and consensus we reached on this conference, it may not go the way of the previous ones. What is left now is to ensure that people buy in into the conference resolutions. For instance, some recommendations are still being misunderstood by the people. Like in the area of local government, some people think that we called for the abolition of local government, no; that was not the case. What we recommended is that local government should now be the business of the state, instead of being the affair of federal government. The recognised levels of federation will be the states and the centre. What we have recommended is that the federating units and actual owners of the union should be in control of their local affairs and that the federal government. The major players in the Nigerian federation are the states, which are the federating unit. So i think we need to do a lot of advocacy, enlightenment and popularization of the conference’s recommendation before we move to referendum.
Some stakeholders are calling for the referendum to adopt the recommendations of the conference, what is your view on this?
The national assembly by the provisions of the 1999 constitution can only amend the existing constitution; it has no right to make a new constitution. It is only the people of Nigeria that can give a legitimate constitution to the country. It is an aberration to ask the national assembly to give the country a new constitution. Government or any of its organs cannot give the people a constitution, government can only make laws. Even if constitutional initiative is coming from an arm of government, it must still go to a referendum. The people must endorse it before it becomes a constitution. But I think Nigeria should adopt indirect referendum, which some of us have consistently canvassed because of the peculiarity of our own politics. We play a kind of politics where money rules. So we need to guide against a situation where money bag politicians will not have their way to buy the people over. Most of our people are impoverished and you know referendum is an issue of “Yes or No”. So that people will not be tempted to be ticking No, No, and if the Nos surpasses the Yes, it means that the whole exercise is thrown out. That is the reason I am canvassing indirect referendum. Furthermore, the people that are to endorse these recommendations should also be given time to study the resolutions; we need to do a lot of campaigns and enlightenment. Mass media campaign and mobilization should be initiated by government. Some of us are ready to help in that direction. We need to popularize the resolutions of national conference among Nigerians. After the campaigns and popularization of the resolutions, people can then go ahead and elect their representatives from their constituencies. These elected representatives will go and formally endorse the constitution on behalf of their peoples. These elected representatives for the purpose of endorsing the constitution will form an Electoral College or what we call a constituent assembly. These people would have to look at the draft constitution thoroughly and approve it by voting Yes or No on the recommendations. These representatives, having campaigned to be elected by the people, will be deemed credible to endorse the draft constitution on behalf of their people. Delegates may range from 400 to 500 in numbers. This will be easier than when you ask every Nigeria to go and endorse the constitution. Due to the kind of politics we play in Nigeria, the people might just be railroaded into voting ‘No’ to the entire draft constitution even if those resolutions are in their interest and beneficial to the nation. This is why we need what I call indirect referendum of an electoral college to endorse a new constitution for Nigeria.
Self acclaimed detective 'Alhaji' raids LAUTECH ( 38 yahoo boys arrested)
In a commando-style that brings to mind the popular Sylvester Stallone movie, Rambo a police informant, Razak Olatunji Olaniyi stormed the premises of the Ladoke Akintola University in Ogbomoso yesterday and arrested a truckload of students whom he labelled as 'yahoo boys' (internet fraudsters).
The informant who claims to be working for the Inspector General of Police was at a time arrested in Ibadan when he came on the trail of some young men who turned things odd for him and accused him of stealing their money and other valuables.
'Alhaji' as he is popularly known is an enforcer and the dread of many young people who are involved in internet scam.
The man was said to have started as a police informant before he got the backing of some superior police officers to be effecting the arrest of fraudsters and this he has been doing to perfection as he had on numerous occasions been alleged of demanding percentages from internet fraudsters and arresting them if they can't come up with his request.
Yesterday's operation was said to have angered a lot of people who claimed most of the students arrested were innocent and were in school to write their projects.
Alhaji was said to have stormed the city with armed policemen and went from house to house where he arrested 38 people.
City Info investigation reveals that those arrested were remanded at the Iyaganku Police Station, Ibadan before they would be taken to Lagos.
City Info in a bid to know if the self claimed detective has the right to be arresting fraudsters spoke with an official of the EFCC who hinted that the informant is under investigation and that the commission is waiting for the perfect time to work on the many petitions that have been written against him.
The police informant was said to have at different occasions been questioned as to who gives him the authority to arrest and lead armed policemen and he has a ready made response 'IG ni!, e pe ke beere lowo e' (its the IG, call him and ask him'.
Alhaji's modus operandi is to bug phones, hack emails and contact whoever he was going to arrest with various accusations before he made his demand which the hapless victim would either fall or run into hiding.
The informant was alleged to have converted this practice into serious business and he makes money after he must have sorted out all the police officers that are also involved in the racket.
Yesterday's attack in Ogbomoso is said to have been his fifth this year as he frequents the school based on his understanding that the institution has the highest number of students who are involved in internet scam.
The informant who claims to be working for the Inspector General of Police was at a time arrested in Ibadan when he came on the trail of some young men who turned things odd for him and accused him of stealing their money and other valuables.
'Alhaji' as he is popularly known is an enforcer and the dread of many young people who are involved in internet scam.
The man was said to have started as a police informant before he got the backing of some superior police officers to be effecting the arrest of fraudsters and this he has been doing to perfection as he had on numerous occasions been alleged of demanding percentages from internet fraudsters and arresting them if they can't come up with his request.
Yesterday's operation was said to have angered a lot of people who claimed most of the students arrested were innocent and were in school to write their projects.
Alhaji was said to have stormed the city with armed policemen and went from house to house where he arrested 38 people.
City Info investigation reveals that those arrested were remanded at the Iyaganku Police Station, Ibadan before they would be taken to Lagos.
City Info in a bid to know if the self claimed detective has the right to be arresting fraudsters spoke with an official of the EFCC who hinted that the informant is under investigation and that the commission is waiting for the perfect time to work on the many petitions that have been written against him.
The police informant was said to have at different occasions been questioned as to who gives him the authority to arrest and lead armed policemen and he has a ready made response 'IG ni!, e pe ke beere lowo e' (its the IG, call him and ask him'.
Alhaji's modus operandi is to bug phones, hack emails and contact whoever he was going to arrest with various accusations before he made his demand which the hapless victim would either fall or run into hiding.
The informant was alleged to have converted this practice into serious business and he makes money after he must have sorted out all the police officers that are also involved in the racket.
Yesterday's attack in Ogbomoso is said to have been his fifth this year as he frequents the school based on his understanding that the institution has the highest number of students who are involved in internet scam.
Friday, 19 September 2014
RIPPLES IN NIGERIAN POLICE AS VP’S PILOT GETS SERVICE EXTENSION
The new Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba is
getting his first baptism of fire over an allegation of extending the service
years of some officers.
A group, Concerned Citizens of Nigeria some days ago sent a
letter to President Goodluck Jonathan alleging irregularities in the Police
Force where a small number of officers who were due for retirement were given
tenure extension.
A source disclosed that the act was perfected by the
Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mike Okiro who is regarded as a
politician who uses his position as head of the commission to influence and
execute some unlawful practice in the force.
Okiro was said to have solicited the assistance of the
former Inspector General, Abubakar to perfect a similar process for some
officers, a move which the ex-IG opposed claiming it was not in line with the
tradition of the force.
Investigations revealed that an officer, AIG Ilesanmi Aguda
of the Department of Air Wing got his letter of extension last week, a move
that irked many junior officers in the force.
The AIG is known in the force as ‘the Vice-President’s man’
as he pilots the Police helicopter for the Vice President, Namadi Sambo and
Senate President, David Mark.
The AIG is said to have always used his closeness to high
ranking government officials to curry favour and step up his promotions, the
latest one been the service extension after he had spent the mandatory 35 years
in service.
The disgruntled officers alleged that the acting IG is under
the control of Okiro who is said to be very manipulative and uses the force to
carry out the wish of his political allies.
The allegation was said to have reached the President who
has called for an investigation into the matter.
THE LETTER
Dear Mr President,
CALL OKIRO TO ORDER NOW!
We want to call your attention to an ugly trend that has now
found its way into the Nigerian Police Force and threatens to break the norms
and tradition of the institution.
It is mandatory for any officer who had served in the force
for 35 years to retire. This has been the normal practice known through the
rank and file of the Police force.
But to the dismay of many of us, we found that some
‘favoured’ officers who are presently due for retirement have been granted a
year extension.
This irregularity has created discord in the Police Force as
the action has barred many officers from been promoted.
Our investigation revealed that this unfortunate incident is
perfected by the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mike Okiro and the
Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba which proves that the
Acting-IG is not independent as a letter of extension has already been given
some days ago to an AIG in Abuja.
Mr President, we can confirm to you that a similar action
was proposed to the former Inspector General of Police who vehemently kicked
against it based on his understanding of the bad blood the practice could
generate among the officers.
We now want to understand why the Acting Inspector General
approved what his predecessor opposed during his tenure.
Your Excellency, we are made to understand that the officers
who have their years of service extended are close to some influential
politicians and we want to implore you to use your good office to correct this
anomaly.
Mr President, we commend your good works and we know that
Okiro and his cohorts are bent on tarnishing your good image with their selfish
acts that will do no good to the force.
We call on you to act quickly and prevent this act of
favouritism from taking place.
Long live Mr President! Long live the Federal Republic of
Nigeria!!
Signed: Concerned Citizens Association
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