₦airaland Forum

The candidate of the Alliance for Democracy in the 2016 governorship election in Ondo State, Chief Olusola Oke has said that National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was instrumental to his return to the APC.

Oke was speaking at the welcome rally organised for him by the APC at the MKO Abiola Democracy Park in Akure.

The former AD governorship candidate was received to the APC by Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) in the company of members of the state executive and party leaders led by acting APC chairman in the state, Engr. Ade Adetimehin.

“I want to thank the national leader of our party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I am thanking him because before I made up my mind to come to APC, I engaged in a very engaging and wide consultation, and he encouraged me to return to APC, I want to thank him,” Oke said.

Oke also appreciated, in particular, Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola and other south-west APC governors for the part they played in his return. He appreciated Governor Akeredolu for his “understanding and magnanimity in allowing his return to the party.

He said, “Today would have been impossible if from the attitude, from the utterance, or body language, I was not convinced that he wanted me back.

“But I am pleased to report to all of you here today, that Mr. Governor demonstrated in every aspect that he wanted me back in APC.

The AD aspirant also said his return to APC will afford the Akeredolu-led administration time to focus on good governance and free of the distraction of having him as an opposition figure.

“I have always been a concern for other governors, the past administration, most of the times preoccupied themselves trying to study what will Oke do because I was not inside.

“I want you to devote all your time to core responsibility of governance and allow us to coordinate activities in the state so that you will have much time.

“My being outside, Mr. Governor would have occupied part of your time in calculating what would Oke do next. But I have come to join you that you will have all the peace to govern the state.

“I have come back to APC to put at the disposal of my bother and friend whatever ideas I have, whatever visions I possess, whatever my dreams are for this state, without waiting further for such a time that God will make it possible for me to be in the saddle.

“I want to volunteer and give to you more ideas and support you in whatever way I can.

“My belief is that at this critical time in the life of Ondo state, all well-wishers must support the government of the day, and I know I am a well-wisher.

He also assured the governor himself and his followers will give the APC-led administration in the state their full loyalty and support.

Chief Oke pleaded with the leaders of the APC across the 203 wards in the state to open their doors to the decampees, as they are ready to deliver for President Muhammadu Buhari 1 million votes in the 2019 general election.

In his remark, Governor Akeredolu welcomed Olusola Oke back to the party.

According to him, they are happy to have the decampees in the APC, because “there is room for more”.

The governor further noted that all the issues that made Chief Oke leave the APC were bygone.

Akeredolu encouraged all others who intend to return to the APC to signify their intention to rejoin the party, and they will be received.

The new members of the party were received by Engr. Adetimehin who welcomed them back to their home.

Adetimehin encouraged all those who are joining the party to go back to their various wards and register formally so they can be formally admitted as members of the APC.

Among those who joined Olusola Oke were his deputy governorship candidate, Gani Dauda and other leaders of his campaign team.

The APC also received in its fold the governorship candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party, DPP Mrs. Olamide Falana.

http://www.sunshineherald.news/tinubu-asked-return-apc-says-olusola-oke/

Gani Adams, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland designate has reiterated the call for the restructuring of Nigeria as a nation.

Otunba Adams said for the country to witness any meaningful development must be decentralized for each region to tap from its own abundant resources.

He stated during a courtesy call on the leader of the Yoruba socio-cultural group Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, at his private residence in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

According to Adams, the constitution which the country presently operates does not represent the wishes of the people, as it was drafted by some army officers which cannot do the nation any good.

He said, "I have listened to some people talking about constitutional review, what kind of review is that? A constitution that was written by 26 army officers.

"And when you see that constitution, it is a fraud from the beginning, it says “we the people of the federal republic of Nigeria. Who are the we?

"Those are the 26 people, out of about 200 million people in Nigeria.

Otunba Adams who said he was in Akure to formally intimate the Afenifere of his new status as the Aare Ona Kakanfo and to tap from their wealth of experience praised the Yoruba body for their ideology.

"I am here to visit the main socio-cultural group in Yoruba land, the political arrow head which is Afenifere in Yoruba land. The pacesetters, our leaders, those we can say have very strong antecedents.

"We are talking of those who have started this struggle in the 40s, those who built a standard that every living Yoruba man is proud of.

"You can’t get to a position like this without visiting Afenifere, there is a vacuum in your success without visiting them, because of the very good antecedents.

"And at the same time, to listen to a very good advice. You can be installed as the Aare Ona Kakanfo, but your performance after installation matters. Post-event, post strategy, post-ideology is very very key.

"So this will not be my last visit, I will be very very frequent to this house, to listen to the useful advice of the elders.

"We met them in that cause, I joined the struggle in 1993, and I can tell you the details and the knowledge of true federalism, restructuring, we learn from Afenifere.

"We are their student in terms of ideology, and when an elder is growing to a certain stage, he has to hand over to some youths, so I believe without restructuring, Nigeria cannot move forward.

The Aare designate who came in the company of the Zaki of Arigidi Akoko, Oba Yisa Olanipekun also appreciated the Alaafin of Oyo, for appointing him the new Aare Ona Kakanfo, the first from the Ondo/Ekiti axis.

According to him, his appointment has further strengthened the unity that exists among Yorubas in the country, and as an appreciation of the roles played by people from Ondo and Ekiti states.

Remarking, Pa Fasoranti praised the new Aare Ona Kakanfo for his visit.

He said the Afenifere was happy to have him around, and his emergence as the new Aare.

"We will give him our support, he should have no fears at all.

He should rally the Yoruba people along, and make them speak with one voice," Pa Fasoranti said.

Adams was received at Pa Fasoranti's residence by other Afenifere leaders which included the Secretary General of the group, Bashorun Seinde Arogbofa, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, former speaker Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon Bakkita Bello, Chief Femi Aluko, Chief Korede Duyile among others.

https://www.sunshineherald.news/without-restructuring-nigeria-cannot-move-forward-gani-adams/

Ondo state governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu has announced plans by the state government to commence a contributory scheme where residents in the state will pay N100 monthly to the state government so as to help in getting more progress done.

The governor said this at the swearing-in ceremony of newly appointed permanent secretaries and members of the Judicial Service Commision on Thursday at the International Event Center, The Dome in Akure.

Akuredolu who noted the contributions will be voluntary urged the people of the state to assist the government during the period of paucity of funds being experienced by the state.

He said, “We are determined to embark on aggressive revenue drive, we are determined to call on all of us as stakeholders to come and partner with the state. We will not impose on you what you cannot bear, we will not impose anything on you.

“We will be calling on you to voluntarily spare us N100 monthly for just 10 months which amounts to N1,000 in a year so that if we get that little drop from all of us, we will have a mighty ocean of money to do many things.

“We are never going to force it, but we are going to urge you, can you spare us from the money you spend to load GSM. I don’t need the money, but when we all bring it, we can use it for our collective good.

“You will hear from me very soon on this my appeal. I am appealing to you, I will never impose anything on you, If you don’t want to, don’t, I will not impose on you.

The governor’s remark follows similar one made by the Commissioner for Education, Femi Agagu who addressed the press after the state executive council meeting held on Wednesday.

Agagu while announcing that the state government will continue to fund education at the primary and post-primary levels also announced plans to set up an Education Trust Fund that would help mobilise funds for the education sector in the state.

Citizens of the state Mr. Agagu said, will be encouraged to pay N1,000 into the trust fund which will be managed by a committee comprising prominent sons and daughters of Ondo State.

http://www.sunshineherald.news/extra-akeredolu-begs-n100-monthly-contribution-ondo-state-residents/

As from May 2018, students sitting for the West African Examination Council, WAEC exams across public institutions in Ondo state will have to pay their examination fees themselves, as the state government has stopped the payment of the fees for the students.

The Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Mr. Femi Agagu made this known while briefing newsmen at the end of the State Executive Council meeting held in Akure on Wednesday.

Agagu who addressed the press alongside the Information Commissioner, Yemi Olowolabi also said the members of the Council took time to study the recommendations of the Education Summit organised by the state government last year before arriving at its decision.


On the issue of free education, the Education Commissioner said the Council resolved that government will continue to fund education at the primary and post-primary levels while also setting up an Education Trust Fund that would help to mobilise funds for the education sector in the state.

Citizens of the state Mr. Agagu said, will be encouraged to pay N1,000 into the trust fund which will be managed by a committee comprising prominent sons and daughters of Ondo State.

In the same vein, the state government also announced the appointment of Prince Joel Oluwafemi Adeluwoye as the new Asuada of Isuada in Owo Local Government Area of the state.

http://www.sunshineherald.news/ondo-govt-hands-off-payment-waec-exam-students/

This is the video of the Secretary to the State Government of Ondo State, Ifedayo Abegunde. Is he fighting or just spraying money? Have a look.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-iSz3AJx8s

http://www.sunshineherald.news/watch-as-ondo-ssg-lavishly-sprays-money-at-2017-oyemekun-day-celebration/