₦airaland Forum

President Bola Tinubu: Audacity of Courage

By Tunde Oladunjoye

“If we aren’t willing to pay a price for our values, if we aren’t willing to make some sacrifices in order to realize them, then we should ask ourselves whether we truly believe in them at all.”
- Barrack Obama

The above title and quote will probably be the most appropriate to describe the less than a month old administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

After surviving the internal schisms of the scheming camps within his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to emerge as its flag bearer in the last presidential election, then going through a most turbulent electioneering that attacked his personality more than his manifesto; and finally surviving all legal and illegal hurdles placed on his path to been sworn-in as the 16th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; President Tinubu has shown within weeks of assumption of office that he, from actions and pronouncements, actually came prepared.

Never in the annals of Nigeria has any President come into office and within a week or two, embarked on policy pronouncements, initiatives and directives that impacted the lives of all the citizenry positively or otherwise. Some have said Tinubu promised to hit the ground running, but he actually seems to be speeding. And the speed with which Tinubu has taken off inspired the caption of a report on the new government, by the popular global news medium, Reuters, entitled “Baba Go Fast”!

From his maiden address during inauguration at Eagles Square, Mr. President told Nigerians what they did not like or want to hear, he bellowed into the microphone: “Fuel subsidy is gone”! That’s unusual! What is common of such addresses are rosy promises and high vaulting words reminiscent of failed vainglorious platitudes of the past. However, this business-minded helmsman means business. Subsidy is gone, unified exchange rate of the dollars against the value-battered naira is here! Of course, President Tinubu compassionately promised not to take the people for granted. Their sacrifices, he assured, will not be in vain.

But government in this part of the world suffers serious trust deficit from the governed. Surprisingly, the Nigerian youths, workers, students, peasants, and other segments of the populace who needed no mobilization to spill into the streets protesting, creating barricades and burning used tyres and even vehicles after successive increments in prices of petrol and related products as we have witnessed in the past; this time, in a rare demonstration of support, decided to give the new regime a benefit of doubt. Or was it that the populace was shocked or taken unawares? So new a regime, so soon a policy!


The Labour leaders, for save of face, announced mobilization for strike over the removal of fuel subsidy that instantly led to price increment, but the government of the day did not wait for the mobilisation to commence or for the ultimatum to expire, nor claim to be “unaware”; the labour was immediately engaged and made to see reasons. Labour shelved the planned mobilisation and negotiations are ongoing; more about cushioning the effects of the subsidy elimination rather than restoration of drain-pipe subsidy.

There is a new President in town! A politician, businessman, economist, accountant and philanthropist combined! Tinubu struts where Angels dread to thread! His deliberate, calculated actions has so far underlined his previous remark that the presidency of the most populous nation in Africa has been his “life-long ambition”.

Like a hand long-itching to be active, long overdue bills were signed into law within two weeks. Students Loan Bill, signed! Electricity Bill, signed! Judges retirement age bill, signed!

Even the usually conservative international media, as represented by Reuters in the “Baba Go Fast” article observed thus: “Nigeria's new president, in office for less than a month, is pushing to put Africa's largest economy on a reform track that investors have eyed for decades, fueling excitement that money could flow to a nation that many had deemed uninvestible. Obviously, the task before the new administration was daunting but President Bola Tinubu's bold actions, including removing restrictions on the naira currency that allowed it to hit a record 790 to the dollar and subsidy removals that tripled petrol prices, could take stress off the battered finances of Africa's largest economy.”

The new President assured he will practice “open door policy”, and almost instantaneously, he demystified the seat of government. The hitherto impregnable Aso Rock Presidential Villa had its gates literarily flung open. From the labour unions, traditional rulers, students, politicians, local and international businessmen, it is now like anyone could just wake up at home and say “I am going to the villa to see Mr. President!”

Furthermore , "sacred cow" called Godwin Emefiele, Central Bank Governor, who introduced a warped currency colour-change, called currency swap, that mindlessly led to collapses of businesses and death of many Nigerians, was suspended from office and arrested by the operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS). Tongues were still waggling on Emefiele fall from grace to grass when the head of the government’s anti-corruption agency, Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, was also suspended and “invited” by the DSS! What a rare courage shown by Tinubu. These are the hitherto ‘untouchables’ who bestrode the landscape like a colossus.

What audacity! What courage! Not a few wondered where Tinubu got the balls from, especially when the helmsmen being suspended and arrested got a good cover from the immediate past Administration produced by the same ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) of . President Tinubu.

And as I was rounding up this article, a tsunami came! In one fell swoop, all the Service Chiefs, National Security Adviser, Inspector-General of Police, Comptroller-General of Customs, were gone! To avoid any vacuum, men and officers were appointed in acting capacities by the President, pending confirmation by the Senate.

Before the dust of sweeping removal and replacement of Service Chiefs could settle down, news came that all federal boards, parastatals, institutions and what have you , have been dissolved, safe few.

Nigerians and non-Nigerians are indeed, very awed by the actions of the new President. Vocal public commentators have commended his start, some political opponents have hummed his praise. The question now is: if the President will be able to sustain the commendable and commended proactiveness? Only time will tell. But, if the morning tells the day, then he has started well. We can only wish Mr. President Godspeed in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.

Oladunjoye, a UNICEF trained social policy advocate, sent this from Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Rape incident: Ede Poly management calls for calm, assures of justice for the victim

The attention of the management of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede has been drawn to a recent case of rape incident which allegedly involved a female student (name withheld) and a notorious tout popularly known as "Aleba, reportedly occurred on Sunday, along Bode road, Ede.

We want to emphatically state that this act of lawlessness is not only barbaric but a bestial act that must be condemned in all it's totality with attendant prosecution of the culprit.

The management of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, in her avowed determination to protect the interest of the students will definitely pursue this case to a logical conclusion and bring the perpetrator of this dastardly act to book, no matter how highly placed he is.

Meanwhile, the Rector, Engr Dr Man Yahaya Sani has urged students of the institution to remain calm and be law abiding while the security operatives continue with their investigation.

He also advised the students to be wary of their movement and associates outside the campus as a way of averting similar occurrence.

In conclusion, the Rector restated that as a parent, the welfare of the students remains paramount to his administration and he would do all he can to make them comfortable.

E-signed
Sola Lawal, mnipr
Protocol, Media and Public Relations Officer.

Abiodun wins as tribunal strikes out PDP, Adebutu’s Reply on vote buying allegation



The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Monday struck out the vote buying allegation, levelled against Governor Dapo Abiodun and the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu.

Adebutu had dragged Governor Abiodun and the APC to the tribunal challenging their declaration as the winner of the 18, March 2023 governorship election in the state.

But the governor’s lawyers, led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), in their defence to the petition, made weighty allegations backed up with police report, establishing that Adebutu and the PDP engaged in vote buying during the elections.



On 22 May, 2023, Adebutu and the PDP filed a reply to the defence by Governor Abiodun and the APC, also levelling vote buying allegation against the ruling party.

The Governor’s lawyers, represented by Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), however, filed an application asking the Tribunal to strike out the Reply in its entirety or in the alternative, to strike out offending paragraphs from that Reply.

Osipitan argued that the Reply filed by Adebutu and PDP contravenes paragraph 16(1) (a & b) of the Electoral Act and the rules of court pleadings.

While ruling on the matter, the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice H.N. Kunaza, agreed with the submissions by Prof. Osipitan

In the ruling, supported by the other two members; Hon. Justice J.B. Egele and Hon. Justice Sannusi Shehu, the Tribunal overruled Adebutu’s lawyers, led by Chief Goddy Uche (SAN), saying that the application filed by the Governor’s lawyers was not the kind of application that the Constitution requires to be determined at the end of proceedings in judgment.

Relying on relevant provisions of the Constitution, the Tribunal held that only applications that challenge the tribunal’s jurisdiction or the competence of a petition will be deferred till judgment whereas the application filed by Governor Abiodun’s lawyers was not that kind of application.

The Tribunal also held that the Reply by Adebutu and PDP was incompetent for multiple reasons.

The Tribunal identified some paragraphs which contained unnecessary and repetitive allegations, others, which contained arguments and legal conclusions (which are not allowed in replies), and some paragraphs which were an improper expansion of the petition earlier filed.

The Tribunal noted that in their petition, Adebutu and PDP alleged that Governor Abiodun and APC committed corrupt practices during the gubernatorial elections. The Tribunal further noted that vote buying is a specie of corruption and that if PDP and Adebutu truly believed that APC engaged in vote buying, the petitioner ought to have included those allegations in their petition from the start, which they did not do.

The Tribunal noted that if the Reply filed by Adebutu and PDP was permitted, there was a risk to prejudice, surprise, or even shut out Governor Abiodun and APC on the issues raised in that Reply.

The Tribunal denounced Adebutu and the PDP for coming up with the vote-buying allegation only after APC and Governor Abiodun had done same against them.



With this backdrop, the Tribunal unanimously concluded that Governor Abiodun and APC would be prejudiced if the Reply filed by Adebutu and PDP is allowed.

The Tribunal held that when Governor Abiodun and APC filed their defence, they joined issues with Adebutu and PDP; that by joining issues, the parties fixed the dispute; and that it was improper to go outside those issues in the Reply.

The Tribunal also found that it was unnecessary to file a Reply in the circumstance, as held in several decisions of the Supreme Court and the Appeal Court.

The Reply was accordingly struck out.

With this ruling, only the allegation of vote buying made by Governor Abiodun and APC against Adebutu and the PDP would be entertained by the tribunal.

Jelili Owonikoko (SAN), represented INEC, while the APC team was led by Chief Onyeazu Ikpeazu (SAN).

It would be recalled that Adebutu and PDP leaders in Ogun State have been charged for the offence of vote buying by the Federal Government, a situation that has led to Adebutu being a fugitive to the law.

OGUN BUDGET: PDP'S OFFICIALS NEED EDUCATION

- ODUBIYI, APC OGUN EAST SENATORIAL YOUTH LEADER

The Ogun East Senatorial District Youth Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Tolulope Olubiyi Oduyemi, has described the State Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oyejide Sunkanmi, as “an uninformed, half-literate youth, grossly deserving pity”.

The PDP youth leader had earlier in a publication said the non-inauguration of Ogun State House of Assembly meant that ”tax payers money not secured under Dapo Abiodun".

However, while responding through a statement issued on Monday, the APC’s Odubiyi said, “It is extremely shocking if this is the type of youth that the PDP parades as its state youth leader; lacking in information and education and demonstrating naivety on common, well-publicized issues affecting the state they were dreaming to govern.

“Sunkanmi is a good example of what a youth should not be. He is so ignorant of happenings in Ogun state just like his principal, the defeated PDP governorship candidate in the last elections, Ladi Adebutu, who is currently a fugitive running from the laws of Nigeria.”

The statement added, “Concerning the appointment of Special Advisers by the Governor, it was well-publicized that the 9th Assembly, before winding-down, members of the Ogun State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Olakunle Oluomo, approved Governor Dapo Abiodun’s request to appoint 20 Special Advisers for the running of government pending the appointment of Commissioners. The approval by the House followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sheriff, after the presentation of the Governor's correspondence to the members, while Hon. Atinuke Bello seconded the motion, which was supported by all members.

“On the government expenditures and 2023 budget, if we may ask: where was this PDP Youth Leader last year when the Ogun State House of Assembly passed the 2023 budget? It was well reported in the mass media on December 30, 2022 that the Ogun State House of Assembly passed an Appropriation Bill of N472,250,694,447.57 presented by Governor Dapo Abiodun in November 2022 for the state’s 2023 budget.

“It is therefore apparent to the discerning that the Ogun State budget for 2023 is on course and there is no illegality anywhere.The PDP officials should get some education before rushing to the media so that the continuous display of arrogance in ignorance will stop."

END

ADAPHAI backs Olowu, warns Dokubo against demoralizing military

....says Tinubu must carefully select his visitors

A Civil Society Organization, Advocacy for Advancement of Peace &Harmony in Africa Initiative (ADAPHAI ) has warned the ex-Niger Delta Militant, Alhaji Asari Dokubo against statements that are capable of demoralizing the Nigerian Military, as it cautioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be careful in the type of visitors he gives audience.

Recall that a revered royal father in Osun State, Oba Makama Oyelude, the Olowu of Kuta, had earlier cautioned Dokubo against denigrating the military after the self-styled freedom fighter accused the Military of oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

ADAPHAI, in a press statement signed by its National Coordinator, Sulaimon Suberu, the copy which was made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday opined that the present political atmosphere of Nigeria, in the face of ongoing asymmetrical war against insurgency and banditry, the Nigerian Military needs more encouragement and moral support to succeed not demoralizing statement like that of Dokubo.

It described Dokubo as a man with fire brigade combat on every issue without recourse to diplomatic and methodological assessment of environment and prevailing situation, adding that such a character can never be a good adviser to a President of Nigeria.

The group, therefore, enjoined President Tinubu to sustain his tempo of action in all spheres of National life, especially in the area of internal security by assembling noble men of impeccable character and knowledge of national security to stem the tide of insurgency and economic sabotage of any form.

According to ADAPHAI, the best approach to present socio-economic challenges of Nigeria is beyond unsubstantiated allegations and unguided utterances but urgent scientific and proactive measures.

The statement read in part:" While we don't dispute the fact that there are bad eggs in every strata of Nigeria's national life, including the military, the unguided manner in which the ex-Niger Delta Militant, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, debased the entire Military institution is out of place and disservice to our corporate entity.

"If not quickly curtailed, such utterances are capable of weakening the patriotic zeal of our Military in the fight against insurgency and other criminal crimes that are presently threatening our survival and continuity as a nation.

"President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should know clearly that he took the mantle of leadership of Nigeria at a point when the country is more divided and polarized than before, hence, the need for him to be tactical and diplomatic in his approach on sensitive issues of security and economy.

"He must, as a matter of importance carefully select his friends and acolytes at this critical time, including those that visit him at the Villa. He must obviously sustain this tempo of efficiency and effectiveness with utmost sensitivity".

ASUSS FELICITATES DAPO ABIODUN ON CON AWARD

The Ogun state chapter of Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) has congratulated Governor Dapo Abiodun on the recent conferment of the national honour of Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) on him.

In a congratulatory letter with reference number H.005/23, dated June 5and signed signed by the State Chairman, Comrade Oluwaseun Felix Agbesanwa and State Secretary, Comrade Oluseyi Bankole, the union said the award did not come to them as a surprise.

"Indeed, it is a honor and recognition well-merited and deserved," it added. The letter reads further: "Your exemplary leadership, political clout, carriage, performance in government since fate and the mandate of the good people of Ogun State brought you to Oke-Mosan in 2019 as our Governor could not have been better rewarded.

"The timing was perfect and indeed historic, as it coincided with two great events in your life: your being sworn in as our Governor for the second time of asking; and as you turned 63 years of age on earth. Indeed, we are convinced that Ogun state people and land will have a rosier and most sublime governance 2023 going forward.

"This indeed is a historic moment for your Excellency and we are proud of you, your government and what your commendable personality, records of attainment and enviable laurels are bringing to our dear state. We are in no doubt that these various awards and recognition will spur you to do more for your people especially as they have blessed you with their mandates for a second time in office, as Governor.

"It is on this cheering note that the current State Administrative Council members of Ogun State Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, ASUSS, under the leadership of Doctor Oluwaseun Felix Agbesanwa, write to congratulate your Excellency, your family, government and the entire people of Ogun State on this well-deserved National Honour and recognition.

Friday, June 16, 2023.

Media Statement

‘Good you confirmed APC’s Victory, but we have no cheap funds for you’
- Ogun APC tells Segun Sowunmi

Our attention has been drawn to the recent outburst of one Segun Sowunmi, a spokesperson for defunct Atiku Campaign Organisation and a failed gubernatorial aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the party primaries in Ogun state, calling on the newly appointed Special Adviser to the President on Security, Malam Nuru Ribadu, to call Governor Abiodun to order on security matters in Ogun State.

This comment bespoke of a man with deflated ego, but seeking relevance to stay afloat by all means. The double-faced, double-dealing Sowunmi, a self acclaimed PDP stalwart in Ogun State who was recently humiliated by his aggrieved PDP party members when he showed up in his usual garrulous manner at the Election Petition Tribunal, sitting at the High Court, Isabo, Abeokuta, tried unsuccessfully to put the blame on a peace loving Governor Dapo Abiodun who has settled down squarely with the business of government after his unassailable victory at the polls.

Sowunmi in his warped congratulatory message was only being clever by half. Or is it not preposterous that this same self-acclaimed PDP Chieftain whose own rickety party has challenged the victory of Ribadu’s APC in court at the federal and state levels, albeit porously, was quick to accept the appointment made by the same party?

This loquacious fellow should tuck-his tail under crotch as his well known unprincipled character, noise making and attention seeking venture have continued to be objects of public opprobrium. This rabble rousing must stop. Sowunmi blabs for cash and extremely enjoys listening to his own voice.

It is true that he long ago confessed to associates of having been rehabilitated from his ‘spurs’, but recent events have shown that if there was any rehabilitation at all, it was not completed and there is urgent need for revisitation, reexamination and wholistic rehabilitation.

APC is vindicated as a duly elected government by Sowunmi’s congratulatory message; that despite the unreasonable challenge of the same government by PDP in courts, a spokesperson to the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who is also a former governorship aspirant of the party in Ogun State, has congratulated the Former EFCC boss, Nuru Ribadu, on his recent appointment as Special Adviser on Security by APC-led government of President Bola Tinubu.

It would be recalled that in his vainglorious bid for the governorship ticket of his party, he sued Ladi Adebutu spuriously at various courts, up to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, but no sooner did he visit the Adebutus’s country home in Iperu Remo and was hosted by the betting mogul, Sir Kessington Adebutu, that he entered mute mode and nothing was heard of his court-shopping spree against Ladi Adebutu. His silence simply became very loud!

The recent desperate attempt of Segun Sowunmi to now cultivate , Nuru Ribadu, is not only Intriguing, but also a clear confirmation that the hitherto regular cash from Ladi Adebutu, the defeated PDP governorship candidate at the March 18 election, who is currently a fugitive in UK running from the charges of money laundering, vote buying and criminal breaches of Electoral Act preferred against him by the Federal Government of Nigeria has stopped. Sowunmi is therefore sorely in need of alternative source of easy money to meet his unenviable and wasteful lifestyle.

While we reckon with Sowunmi’s acceptance of the victory of our party at the polls, we however warn all our party leaders to treat Sowunmi deservedly as a lepper that he is, while advising him to find a suitable job in order to meet his insatiable appetite for cash.

E-Signed

Olusola Ogunsanya Blessed
Assistant State Publicity Secretary
Ogun APC

Ogun govt commiserates Chiefs, Agura comminity over transition of Agura of Gbagura

The Ogun State Government, on Thursday commiserated with the Chiefs and the Gbagura community over the transition of Agura of Gbagura, Alayeluwa, Oba Sabur Babajide Ishola Bakre.
Oba Bakre, who was the 9th Agura of Gbagura died on Wednesday, 14th June, 2023 at the age of 61.
A statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tokunbo Talabi said: "The State Government, with heavy heart, announce the transition of Alayeluwa, Oba Sabur Babajide Ishola Bakre, the 9th Agura of Gbaguraland, on 14th of June, 2023. Oba Sabur Bakre was installed at Oke-Ido, Abeokuta on 21st May, 2019 by the State Government.
"He was one of the traditional rulers of the five sections of the Egbaland and under his jurisdictions are 72 townships.
"His Royal Highness was a highly respected and honoured monarch during his lifetime and his legacies will linger forever in the hearts of the family and the entire people of Gbagura.
"The State Government commiserate with the chiefs, the family and the entire Gbagura people, both home and abroad on this great loss of Kabiyesi."

Abiodun condoles with AbdulRazaq over boat mishap

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has described the boat accident that claimed dozens of lives in Patigi, Kwara State as sad and unfortunate.

Abiodun, in a statement issued on Thursday from the Governor’s Office, Abeokuta, regretted that too many lives were lost in the accident.

The accident, according to reports, occurred on Tuesday when a boat carrying 250 wedding guests capsized in Patigi Local Government, leading to the death of 106 passengers, while 144 others were injured.

Governor Abiodun, while condoling with his Kwara State counterpart, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, described the accident as very painful, more so as it involved wedding guests who left their homes to celebrate with their loved ones.

He commiserated with the families of the victims, the people and government of Kwara State and the Patigi Emirate, urging them to see the occurrence as the will of God.

He said: “Words are inadequate to express my shock and sadness over this unfortunate incident, which occurred on Tuesday and led to the death of dozens of people who had attended a wedding ceremony.

“It is indeed sad that a wedding ceremony could turn tragic few hours later. My thoughts are with the families and friends of the deceased. I pray that God grant the families of the victims, the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

Why Ladi Adebutu's petition against Governor Dapo Abiodun/APC should be dismissed outright

By Oluwaseun Aderinoye




The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the March 18 2023 governorship election in Ogun State is becoming more and more desperate in his bid to reverse the outcome of the election won by Governor Dapo Abiodun. He has failed to realize that he is on a fruitless journey and that at this juncture, he needs to return home. After all, when the river overflows its banks and hinders your further movement, home beckons.




It is not surprising that in his ill-fated journey into political infamy and eclipse, Adebutu has been making one misstep and Freudian slip after another, continually casting him and his co-travelers as either perpetually inebriated or confused. One such blunder was the petition he recently addressed to the Inspector-General of Police alleging vote buying against Governor Dapo Abiodun and his Party, All Progressives Congress, (APC ) and requesting police investigation.


There are several reasons why the petition should be dumped in the trash can:


• The petition is frivolous. It is a product of the superficial, carefree mind of Adebutu and his demented acolytes who have no other purpose than to take over the governorship of Ogun State through the backdoor. How does he want anyone, including the police, to take him seriously when he waited until a case of vote buying was leveled against him, investigated by the police, and charges of conspiracy, bribery, and money laundering preferred against him and his accomplices before coming out to say "hey, you Dapo and APC too are guilty of vote buying, see the cards you also used". He could only have acted from a state of hallucination or drunken stupor. It is a sickening display of frivolity. It is lacking honest and altruistic purpose and value, and a serious-minded and very busy police institution should not be bothered by it




• The petition lacks evidence. Unlike the petition against him and his accomplices by the APC, Adebutu did not provide the place, time, and perpetrators of the cases of vote buying leveled against Governor Dapo and APC. Also, while his inducement verve cards bore his late mother's name, the so-called " Topup Gift Cards" Ladi claims were printed by Dapo and APC to induce voters and were neither linked to APC nor Abiodun. He also did not provide evidence of the N5 billion he claims Governor Abiodun used in printing the cards, whereas in the case of vote buying against him, the bank, Zenith Bank Plc, and the account number he used was provided. Also, his verve cards were distributed on the day of the election with dedicated POS operators on standby to dispense N10,000 each to induced voters.



Equally worthy of note is that security agents arrested suspects from whom Adebutu's verve cards were recovered. None of the cards now being paraded by Adebutu as the ones purportedly used by Governor Abiodun and APC to buy voters were recovered by the police or any of the security agencies either before, during, or after the election, and not even one APC member was arrested in this connection. The allegations are therefore like straws at which Adebutu as a drowning man is clutching, realising the utter failure of his desperate ambition to become the governor of Ogun State through outright criminality.




• The Police cannot shave Adebutu's head in his absence. It is standard police practice to obtain a confirmatory statement on the authorship of a written complaint from a complainant or petitioner directly, not through a proxy, before commencing investigation. Adebutu must come out to adopt his petition in a written statement before the police can look into it. However, poor Adebutu is at large, desperate to evade prosecution for vote-buying, bribery and criminal conspiracy charges that federal prosecutors have preferred against him. He claims he is sick and is out there in an undisclosed country outside Nigeria receiving treatment. While the purported sickness would be interminable for as long as the criminal charges hang around his neck like an albatross and over his head like the Sword of Damocles, he has the guts to occasionally peep out of his foxhole to throw darts. His frivolous petition will gather dust until he returns home.



• The petition is vexatious. Judging by his desperation to occupy the seat of Governor of Ogun State tate, it is inconceivable that Adebutu had such damning evidence of vote buying against Governor Dapo Abiodun and APC but waited to be reminded to use it against them. He only sprang into action following a proven case of vote buying against. He can't possibly be serious ! It is either that he cooked up the evidence or had had it with him all this while but did not attach confidence of weight and value to it, hence he did not use it as early as reasonably expected of him. The only reasonable inference that can be drawn from his duplicitous action is that he brought up a petition without substance simply to annoy the governor and his party, hoping to frustrate the criminal charges against him or gain the undeserved sympathy of the Election Tribunal where he has gone to contest the victory of Governor Abiodun in the March 18 governorship election. He is out to waste the time of both the police and the court and therefore should not be granted that luxury.




• The more vexatious aspect of his devious gameplan is that in the petition he filed against Governor Dapo Abiodun and APC, at the Ogun Election Tribunal over the outcome of the March 18 polls, he never pleaded vote buying. However, his team of lawyers on Tuesday, June 18th at the Tribunal attempted with all desperation to allow the spurious allegation to be pleaded. A Tribunal of such eminent and highly respected jurists will not grant such frivolous application as in all civil matters like election cases, parties are bound by their initial pleadings accompanied by grounds and particulars of pleadings, and an affidavit to tighten the lock on exhaustiveness and confidence on the pleadings. Like all traditional and conservative courts, the Tribunal is not a father Christmas, and cannot therefore grant him a belated and demented pleading. It is an off-side plea which the court/Tribunal will not grant.



• Of course, the most annoying aspect of Adebutu's petition is that he and his lawyer are aware that under section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Abiodun as the sitting governor of Ogun state enjoys immunity against civil and criminal proceedings during his period of office. He cannot be arrested or imprisoned, nor can he be compelled by any court process or order to appear before the police in connection with the frivolous petition. So, there is no other thing to gain from his frivolous petition to the police other than malice. He aims to whip up public sentiments in his favor over the charges against him and his accomplices. He is therefore advised as the honorable gentleman he claims to be to come out to answer the charges of vote buying against him and assist the police to facilitate an investigation into a similar allegation he has made against Governor Abiodun and APC.




Continually holing himself up in God-knows-where will further worsen his state of health. He needs his liberty urgently to expedite the healing process. Ladi, come out! Please, come out! Ma beru! Fear thee not!


Aderinoye is a security expert sent this piece from seunaderinoye@gmail.com

I doubt if this guy know what he is saying. He is just made comment for the sake of it.

Abiodun Congratulates Akpabio, Abbas, says new NASS leadership final fulfilment of installation of transformational leadership

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun on Tuesday congratulated former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio for emerging as the President of the Senate.

Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State polled a total of 63 votes to defeat his closest rival, Abdulhasis Yari, also a former Governor of Zamfara State, who scored 46, while Barau Jibrin emerged as the Deputy President of the 10th senate unopposed.

The governor, who personally witnessed the elections both at the Senate and House of Representatives, also congratulated Hon. Tajudeen Abbas who emerged as the Speaker of the House of Representatives with Hon. Benjamin Kalu becoming the Deputy Speaker.

Abiodun, in a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Mr. Waheed Adesina, described the emergence of the new NASS leadership as the final fulfilment of the installation of transformational leadership in the country, which began with the election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The governor added that the emergence of both Akpabio and Abbas as the leaders of the 10th NASS was in line with the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC), adding that it was a testament to the confidence reposed in them by the party and their colleagues to steer the ship of the legislative arm of government.

Describing the new leadership as a round peg in a round hole, Governor Abiodun said Akpabio has a wealth of knowledge to deploy in managing the affairs of the senate having been a governor and a minister.

Hon. Abbas, the governor added has garnered the requisite legislative knowledge for a smooth working relationship with the executive.

He said that the combination of Akpabio and Abbas will help President Tinubu in his transformation agenda for the country.

He urged the lawmakers to collaborate with the leadership in foisting on the nation, a vibrant legislature, while also calling for a harmonious relationship with the executive in the quest to reposition and transform Nigeria.

10th Senate: New Senate President must leave above board- Jackson Lekan Ojo advises Akpabio


A security expert and public analyst, Jackson Lekan Ojo has congratulated the newly elected Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, imploring him to be truly independent and vibrant in the manner he discharges his leadership responsibility.

Ojo added that the emergence of Akpabio was ordained by God being the determinant of power and leadership, arguing that the four Senators that contested with him were equally eminently qualified to emerge as the Senate President.

Ojo, in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, opined that except those among his challengers who later chickened out of the race, the rest, especially Senator Yari campaigned with so much vigour and determination.

The security expert, however, reminded Akapabio that he is just the first among the equals, meaning that every other Senator in the red chamber has the constitutional right to be Senate President, adding that he should not see his present position as a vantage advantage to oppress his colleagues.

He explained that going by the composition of the Senate, in which the Senate President emerged by simple majority, Akpabio should be careful not to fall victim of impeachment by those disgruntled senators who were not in support of his emergence and could impeach him through the same simple majority.

Ojo said:" Power belongs to God, he contested very keenly, Yari contested very keenly, Orji Uzor Kalu contested very keenly, the same thing with Osita and Sani Musa from Niger State, except for Orji Uzor Kalu and may be another one that chickened out at the end of the day, Yari tried and the senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria have the rights to elect their President and they have taken decision and there is nothing anybody can do about it.

"If it goes well with them, it is their decision if it is otherwise, it is their decision , but the only thing I want to say is that is not that Akpabio is not qualified, he has been former Governor and a minority leader in the 8th National Assembly but to me, when he was the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, he offended a lot of people including my humble self and there is no way he could have ameliorate it, then, he is there now as the Senate President, like I said earlier power belongs to God.

"As a Senate President, if I want to advise him I will urge him not to be a rubber-stamp like the 9th Senate, or see that position as vantage opportunity to oppress his colleagues, I am not saying he should be confrontational with the President but he must maintain independence as the head of legislature.

"He must not forget that only about 25 per cent of the senators have the requisite experience and acumen about legislative governance, the rest could be described as green-horns in the chamber, so when you are dealing with people like that you must be careful.

"Now, they have set a precedence, when the president or the party dabbled into the affairs of who becomes the Senate President, it is an aberration of the law, and when that happens, you are building monolithic Government that will bring about autocratic leadership.

"Well, in any case, I congratulate him and wish him well".

JUNE 12: OGUN PILGRIMS PRAY FOR MKO, TINUBU ABIODUN IN MECCA

Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has organized a special prayer in honor of democracy hero, late Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, in the Holy city of Saudi Arabia.

Speaking at the prayer session, the State Amirul Hajj, Professor Kamaldeen Balogun said Abiola's name remain indelible as one who fought for the democracy being enjoyed by all
today, describing his love for the country as purely genuine.

He said June 12 is not just a day but a time to remember an hero who fought and sacrificed his life for Nigeria.

Prof Balogun thereafter prayed for successful tenure of the present administration in the State and the country.

In his contribution, the chairman Ad-hoc Committee, Imam (Dr.) Tajudeen Ashaye, eulogised MKO Abiola's kind of love for his country, to the extent of sacrificing his life for the people to enjoy dividend of democracy.

Also speaking, the Consultant to the Governor on Islamic Affairs, Sheikh Iskeel Lawal, said Late Abiola was being remembered as a result of his good deeds while alive, praying that Allah grant him Aljanah.

Lending his voice, one of the Ad-hoc committee member, Alhaji Olatunde Oladunjoye described late Abiola as a philanthropist who extended his love and support to many, praying that God uphold his family, just as he prayed for the present administration in Ogun State to achieve excellently all set goals.

One the pilgrims, Alhaji Tijani Nojeem, who also acknowledged the struggle of late MKO for democracy said he will forever be remembered appreciating prince Dapo Abiodun's administration in State for the welfare package for pilgrims, as he rated the accommodation, movement and other amenities as topnotch when compared to other states.

Vote buying: Your petition to IGP an afterthought, diversionary, group slams Adebutu, asks him to present himself for trial


A group, Ogun Integrity Vanguard (OIV), has asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the March 18 governorship election in Ogun State, Honourable Oladipupo Adebutu, to present himself for trial instead of writing frivolous petitions to the police over his vote buying scandal.


According to OIV, it is disturbing that after the Federal Government had investigated their vote buying plot and charged them to court, Adebutu and some accused members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State are now writing petitions to the Inspector General of Police ( IGP), Mr. Usman Alkali Baba, asking him to investigate Governor Dapo Abiodun and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for vote buying too.

The group made its position known in a statement signed by its secretary, Duro Thomas, and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Monday.


Thomas said: “It is common knowledge that following their alleged role in facilitating vote buying during the March 18 governorship polls in Ogun State, the Federal Government charged Hon Ladi Adebutu and a leading Deposit Money Bank, Zenith Bank Plc, together with its Managing Director, Dr Ebenezer Onyeagwu, to court for conspiracy, bribery and money laundering.


“The charges, which were filed by the Director, Public Prosecutions of the Federation, M.B Abubakar; the Assistant Chief State Counsel, Aderonke Imana and Senior State Counsel, Bagudu Sani, on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, detailed how Adebutu and the co-accused “on or about 18th of March at Ibara, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire among yourselves to corruptly give gifts in form of verve prepaid cards which had inscribed on them ‘Dame Caroline Oladuni Adebutu Memorial Endorsement Scheme for Less Privileged’ in order to induce voters to endeavour the return of PDP candidates during the Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections in Ogun State.

“Adebutu was further accused of providing 200,000 prepaid verve cards loaded with N10,000 each and inscribed with the same name “for the purpose of corruptly influencing voters to vote for PDP candidates” during the said elections.

“Given these incontrovertible facts, it is laughable that these people are desperately trying to push a counter narrative too late in the day. Pray,, when did they realize that APC loaded cards to buy votes? There is nothing like that in the Petition they filed.”

According to Thomas, when the PDP candidate took Governor Dapo Abiodun to the Ogun Election Petitions Tribunal over the outcome of the March 18 polls, he never pleaded vote buying by Abiodun and APC as one of the grounds of his appeal.

He added that it is trite law that in an election case, as indeed all civil cases, parties are bound by their pleadings and the court is not a Father Christmas that would grant them what they never pleaded for.

He stated that since Adebutu never took Abiodun to court for either ballot snatching or vote buying, he could not lead evidence on it, adding that this is settled law.

He said: “Adebutu’s pleading is that he won election, that votes were cancelled where he won, and that Governor Abiodun’s margin of victory was slim; he cannot make a 360-degree turn now and ask for something else.


“On the contrary, Dapo Abiodun and APC in their deposition mentioned his illegally acquire votes and vote buying plot through Verve cards to manipulate the electoral process, and the fact that suspects arrested by the Nigeria Police, NSCDC and NDLEA made confessional statements that indicted the PDP candidate.

“Strangely, Adebutu has now woken up after election to spew balderdash with a view to diverting attention away from himself.

“He was invited by the police but he has been on the run. Now he wants the same police to act on his behalf by going after his perceived enemies based on trumped up charges. How logical is that?


“He should realize that he cannot run away from the law forever, cciting non-existent threat to life, He should present himself for trial without delay.”

ADEBUTU, FUGITIVE ON THE RUN
- Ogun APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State has called on the defeated People’s Democratic Party’s candidate in the last governorship election, Ladi Adebutu, to return to Nigeria and face criminal charges filed against him instead of turning himself to a “big bundle of contradictions”.

In a statement signed by the State Assistant Publicity Secretary of APC, Ogunsanya Olusola Blessed, the party begged Ladi Adebutu to “please come back home and face his criminal charges because he cannot run forever”

The statement read further: “We do not wish to join issues with Adebutu on his baseless petition against the duly elected Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, but only to advise him to return home to face pending criminal charges against him and his cohorts. “Medical check-up” cannot be forever, just as he cannot run away forever from the law.

“At one point, the fugitive said his life “was being threatened”, at another point his lawyers, Ehi Uwaifoh and Co, wrote on May 2, 2023 to the police acknowledging police invitation to Adebutu to interact with the police same May 2, 2023. Surprisingly, as at yesterday, in some publications, the bundle of contradictions said he “was never invited by the police”


Ijo Uwaifoh and Co in its letter dated May 2, 2023 and addressed to the police wrote that: “we act for and represent Hon Ladi Adebutu and it’s on his instruction and behalf that we write you as follows: Our Client was informed on Saturday April 29, 2023 that he has a letter of invitation from your office inviting him for May 2, 2023.
Prior to the delivery of your letter, our client has left the country for his Medicals and his return date is dependent on his doctors”

“That is the same Adebutu, now at large, attempting to mislead the public via their pliable media smatterings that he was never invited by the police. He is nothing but a fugitive running away from the law. Ogun State would have become a laughing stock if an incompetent character like Adebutu had become Governor!

“In the Reply he filed in response to our pleadings at the Tribunal, he falsely claimed he has never been invited for questioning by any law enforcement agency. Yet he is in court against the AGF and others and in the processes filed, he exhibited a letter of invitation! This is even enough to convict him for perjury!

“We call on the PDP to demonstrate obedience to the laws of the land, by persuading its defeated candidate, Ladi Adebutu, to come back home and face his criminal trial and stop blabbing from self-imposed exile.”

Rather than blame others for his travails, he should be manly enough to take advantage of the opportunity offered to him by the law to answer to the charges. He alone decided, on the 27th of February to apply to Zenith Bank for the issuance of the 200,000 cards. He alone, beginning from the 6th of March 2023, started to take delivery of the cards from his account officer. He alone, on the 16th and 17th of March 2023, on the eve of the Gubernatorial elections, decided to fund the 200,000 cards with the sum of 10,000 Naira each from his personal account at Zenith Bank! These were the same cards he distributed, through his agents, some of whom were arrested, to voters on Election Day! Neither Governor Dapo Abiodun nor bthe APC asked, aided or encouraged him to do any of these things. So why blame others now for his fool-hardiness?

APC as a law abiding party will use all possible legal means not only to defend the mandate given to His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, by the good people of Ogun State, but will also ensure all those who flouted electoral laws are held accountable for their actions so as to serve as deterrent to others who in the future might be tempted to tread the same ignoble path.”

The wife of the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mrs Oluwaseun Ayedatiwa, has described as blatant lies and total falsehood, that her husband, Mr Lucky Ayedatiwa, who is the incumbent Deputy Governor of Ondo State physically assaulted her severally in the public, saying such allegation was a mere imagination of it's purveyors.

Mrs Ayedatiwa added that the women group that made such allegation is faceless and fake, as she denied making any statement or complaint through any social media channel.

She further warned politicians in the State to desist from using her family to settle any cheap political score.

SEE FULL STATEMENT BELOW:

Segun Sowunmi and the consequence of betrayal, political trading

The ugly event of Monday outside the premises of Customary Court at Isabo, Abeokuta, the venue of the governorship election petition tribunal in Ogun State has been a trending issue in the media space, especially the social media platforms, trailed by missed reactions and innuendos.

For those who are familiar with Sowunmi and his peculiar character, this development did not come as a surprise to them, however, for those who see the man at far, they might be confused about his person and what he stands for; especially the trend of his dwindled political career, having started on a very good path.

The mini drama outside the court premises on Monday, created by Sowunmi was practically revolved around him and his estranged political family in PDP, except for some handful members of APC and other political parties who were also got irritated by the arrogance and uncultured manner displayed by Sowunmi.

In the first place, Sowunmi, in his usual character did not visit the Tribunal to support the cause of PDP neither was he there in support of it's candidate, Ladi Adebutu; he was there deliberately to create scene and get public attention as a way of keeping himself perpetually in the news and by so doing continue his business of political merchandise.

Sowunmi, by his nature and psyche has never stand consistently for any thing in his entire life, the reason he is vulnerable to fall for everything as far as money is involved and there is inherent fame and other selfish considerations.

As a matter of fact, the disgraceful reactions he got outside the court premises yesterday was a fallout of the internal wranglings within the PDP and the spoiler role Sowunmi played in the lead up to the gubernatorial election in the State, going and coming out of court to frustrate the PDP candidate, Ladi Adebutu and the party.

The popular thinking among the majority of PDP members and chieftains alike was that Sowunmi traded his loyalty and commitment for money at the time the party needed him the most without minding the consequence.

The preponderant perception about Sowunmi within the PDP circle is of a man with unimaginable consciousness for money and cheap fame; which make many of them to despise him so much that they don't even want to exchange pleasantries with him not to talk of identifying with him at any gathering.

It is this popular perception among PDP members that culminated to the event of Monday. Majority of PDP members who ignited the resistance against Sowunmi at the venue were spontaneously reacting to his age-long act of betrayal and political trading.

It is now pathetic and disgraceful for the National Publicity Secretary of PDP to hastily issue a press release accusing APC of masterminding the reaction and alleged attack on Sowunmi, as he copiously lied that other people, including Journalists were assaulted, whereas, only Sowunmi was only booed by his party members and few others.

Iyiola Monsuru writes from Totoro, Abeokuta.

Sowunmi and the display of arrogance, self importance at the gate of Ogun Election Tribunal

By Olayemi Festus Oke

1. Sowumi should be held responsible for the short-lived commotion that took place outside the Isabo High Court venue of the State Election Tribunal which held its first sitting today.

2. He had no regard for the Tribunal and law enforcement agents as he insisted he must access the court premises well after the Tribunal had started sitting. Of course, other law-abiding APC and PDP supporters present resisted his insensitive display of arrogance, self-importance, over-bloated ego, and disorderly conduct.

3. Matters came to a head when some aggrieved PDP supporters started abusing and cursing him for allegedly partly causing the PDP's loss in the last governorship election in the state. They were more vociferous in insisting that he must leave the court premises. They were heard angrily asking in the Yoruba language: "Ki ni oloshi ati odale yi wa se ni bi?" That is, "What has this stupid man and traitor come to do here". They did not want him around and he was chased out.

4. From all indications, Sowunmi came with a mission to cause commotion and disrupt the proceedings of the Election Tribunal. But sadly, he met resistance from the more civilized supporters of both APC and PDP. He is clever by half by playing the victim and dubiously using the scene he deliberately created to castigate the APC-led government of Prince Dapo Abiodun.

5. Sowunmi had the time to come to the court earlier if indeed he wanted to watch the proceedings of the Tribunal. He met a peaceful atmosphere at the court on arrival, which he destabilized so much with noise that the Tribunal had to send words across to warn everyone outside the courtroom to be of good conduct.

6. There was also peace after Sowunmi the troublemaker was shamed, and he left the court hurriedly with his thugs, with his tail behind his limbs. No other PDP member was affected. Even the CSO to Ladi, a retired senior police officer, was at court throughout today's sitting of the Tribunal. He was seen exchanging pleasantries and banters around. He was neither harassed nor hounded due to his civilized comportment.

7. More instructively, the Tribunal rounded off today's sitting on a very peaceful note despite Sowunmi's failed attempt to disrupt proceedings.

8. The police should call Sowunmi to order, and further cause him to sign an undertaking to maintain good conduct any time he comes to the venue of the Tribunal. The police should also warn all troublemakers to stay away from the venue, and that nobody including the "imperial" and imperious Sowunmis of this world would be indulged to wait until the Tribunal has started sitting before trying to force their way in. The false sense of the importance of such persons will be badly bruised. They should be reminded that the commotion ensuing from an attempt by anyone to force himself into the courtroom after the commencement of the proceedings of the Tribunal amounts to disorderly conduct and contempt outside the Tribunal for which the person or persons concerned could be charged, prosecuted, and jailed.

The questions are :
How come notable PDP chieftains were in court attended proceedings and left without incident
How come it was Segun Sowunmi who is totally inconsequential in the scheme of things in Ogun Politics that was now purportedly attacked
Where are his supposed followers that were injured
The truth is that Segun Sowunmi came to outside the court premises to ferment trouble and cry wolf as why was there peace till got there this was obviously the script they planned to play
Party lost elections will lose at the tribunal..
What does anyone stand to gain by attacking Sowunmi
What electoral value does he possess
Except for blabbing like an empty barrel
The police must investigate this incident
Everyone knows Dapo Abiodun is synonymous with peace even at extreme provocation

Allegation of attack on Sowunmi, puerile, self-serving-Ogun govt

Ogun State government, on Monday denied any purported attack on Mr. Segun Sowunmi, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the premises of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting at Isabo, Abeokuta, the state capital.

Reports of an alleged attack on Mr. Sowunmi have been trending on the social media, with accusing fingers being pointed at the state government and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

But, the state government, in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Mr. Waheed Adesina denied the allegation that political thugs attacked the PDP chieftain, saying nothing could be farther from the truth.

According to him, no such attack happened at the premises of the tribunal, which is been protected by a retinue of security personnel.

Explaining what happened, the permanent secretary said that some members of the public, who had attempted to gain entrance into the tribunal to observe its proceedings were prevented from doing so as the tribunal members ordered that the gate of the Magistrate Court be shut immediately sitting commenced.

The statement said a large number of APC and PDP supporters, including other neutral observers who had arrived the venue late were affected.

According to the permanent secretary, Mr. Sowunmi later came and mounted pressure on the security agents at the gate to allow him access after identifying himself as a stakeholder.

The attempt to open the gate for him angered the crowd outside, which resulted in a mild protest and resistance to the move as the people felt he should not enjoy any preferential treatment.

According to the statement, the protest has no political colouration as it was spontaneous and carried out by all those outside the premises of the tribunal, including PDP and APC members and the general public, who felt that they are also important as well as stakeholders in the state.

The statement warned against the spread of fake and unsubstantiated stories that could plunge the state into political quagmire.

Allegation of attack on Sowunmi, puerile, self-serving-Ogun govt

Ogun State government, on Monday denied any purported attack on Mr. Segun Sowunmi, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the premises of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting at Isabo, Abeokuta, the state capital.

Reports of an alleged attack on Mr. Sowunmi have been trending on the social media, with accusing fingers being pointed at the state government and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

But, the state government, in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Mr. Waheed Adesina denied the allegation that political thugs attacked the PDP chieftain, saying nothing could be farther from the truth.

According to him, no such attack happened at the premises of the tribunal, which is been protected by a retinue of security personnel.

Explaining what happened, the permanent secretary said that some members of the public, who had attempted to gain entrance into the tribunal to observe its proceedings were prevented from doing so as the tribunal members ordered that the gate of the Magistrate Court be shut immediately sitting commenced.

The statement said a large number of APC and PDP supporters, including other neutral observers who had arrived the venue late were affected.

According to the permanent secretary, Mr. Sowunmi later came and mounted pressure on the security agents at the gate to allow him access after identifying himself as a stakeholder.

The attempt to open the gate for him angered the crowd outside, which resulted in a mild protest and resistance to the move as the people felt he should not enjoy any preferential treatment.

According to the statement, the protest has no political colouration as it was spontaneous and carried out by all those outside the premises of the tribunal, including PDP and APC members and the general public, who felt that they are also important as well as stakeholders in the state.

The statement warned against the spread of fake and unsubstantiated stories that could plunge the state into political quagmire.

Ogun Tribunal today and matters arising -By Sulaimon Sobiye

Reading through different narratives on social media on what transpired at the governorship election Tribunal sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital today, left me wondering how the menace of media sensationalism and misinformation have gone deeper into the fabric of our Society.

That political thugs invaded the premises of the court where the Tribunal was sitting was a blatant lies from the hottest part of the hell, I believe it was deliberately concocted by some disgruntled elements in the political circle to satisfy certain selfish political desire.

As an eye witness, members of the Tribunal in their wisdom ordered that the gate of the Magistrate Court should be closed immediately sitting commenced, which made large number of APC and PDP supporters, including other neutral observers who had arrived late to remain outside the gate of the court.

It was the same fate that befell the PDP aspirant, Segun Sowumi, who came around much later and started to mount pressure on the security agents at the gate to open the gate for him, after identifying himself as a stakeholder.

His violent agitation and reaction, which eventually compelled the security agents at the gate to change their earlier stance and wanted to open the gate for him draw the attention of other people standing outside the gate, who protested against the decision and resisted the move.

The people, who were amalgam of individuals from different political parties prevented Sowumi from enjoying any preferential treatment, as many claimed the man doesn't deserve such special treatment, while others said whatever is good for the goose is also good for the gander, adding that they were also very important in their own rights.

Infact, majority of those who booed Sowunmi and prevented his entry into the Tribunal premises were majorly PDP members, many of those who eloquently accused him of betrayal and started calling him all sorts of names.

So far so good, the Tribunal commenced on a very peaceful atmosphere without any blemish whatsoever, giving hope of justice without fear or favour.

Sulaimon Sobiye is a blogger and online entrepreneur.

Capital NO.

Stop your smear campaign against Ondo Deputy Governor, ADAPHAI warns group

A Civil Society Organization, Advocacy for Advancement of Peace &Harmony in Africa Initiative (ADAPHAI) has slammed a group, Society for Women Empowerment (SWE) for what it termed a smear campaign against the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Lucky Ayedatiwa.

The group has alleged Ayedatiwa of physically assaulting his wife, Mrs Oluwaseun Ayedatiwa, calling for public apology from the Deputy Governor.

ADAPHAI, in a press statement signed by its National Coordinator, Sulaimon Suberu, the copy which was made available to newsmen in Abuja cautioned the group against making itself available for political chess game, saying it's allegation against the Deputy Governor is politically motivated .

The CSO accused the SWE of acting a script of certain political gladiators in the State who are out to manipulate sequence of political arithmetic for selfish tendencies and hereby heat up the polity and cause anarchy.

It added that the alleged domestic violence raised by the group was totally unfounded and out of place, describing the group as mere instrument of propaganda and falsehood.

ADAPHAI, therefore, called on security agencies in the State to quickly beam it's search light on some politicians who are making evil calculation to hold the State to ransom and cause chaos.

The statement read in part:" We are taken aback by the low an unregistered group could go to become a ductile tool in the hands of political jobbers to the extent of defaming the reputation of a public office holder for pecuniary purpose.

"To start with, while Mr Ayedatiwa has the exclusive right of privacy with regards to every development in his household, the allegation of domestic violence leveled against the Deputy Governor is baseless and political, it is a calculated attempts by some political merchants in the State to alter some structure in the polity towards their evil anticipation.

"These desperate individuals and their co-travellers are hell bent to smear the character of the Deputy Governor and get him out of the way; such shenanigans must not stand.

"As a reputable organization with mandate for peace advocacy and harmonious co-existence among different communities in Nigeria, our investigation revealed a covert agenda by some people to cause palpable tension in the State for political reason.

"It is, therefore, worrisome that a group of women under a fictitious name could be available for this hatchet job of divisive notion.

"It is on that note that we call on security agencies in the State to quickly rise up and nip this dangerous trend in the bud to avert large scale crisis. Ondo State is peaceful and any attempt to cause unnecessary acrimony for political gains will be resisted vehemently".

JUNE 4, 2023.

PRESS STATEMENT

LEAVE GOVERNOR ABIODUN AND APC OUT OF YOUR MESS” – APC WARNS PDP


The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun East senatorial district of Ogun State has urged the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and its defeated governorship candidate in the March 18 gubernatorial election, Ladi Adebutu, to “please leave out Governor Dapo Abiodun and the APC in the present mess the PDP has found itself. ”


It will be recalled that the PDP in recent reaction accused the APC of being behind a letter addressed to Sir Kessington Adebutu by a PDP member, Israel Jolaoso, asking the billionaire business mogul why he wanted his son, Ladi Adebutu, to be governor of Ogun State, whereas he refused to allow the same son to run any of his companies.

The PDP in reaction to the letter, which went viral, accused the APC as being behind the letter, saying Israel Jolaosho, the author of the letter, was unknown to the PDP.

However, in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of APC in Ogun East Senatorial District, Biyi Oduyemi, on Sunday, the party wondered why every setback and self-inflicted injury of the PDP is always linked to the doorstep of APC”

“Our advice is that the PDP and the addressee should face the contents of the letter written by one of their members instead of making false claims that our party was behind it”.

The statement read further: “If the PDP will shamelessly deny the writer of the letter has it has done, will it also deny knowing Otunba Segun Showunmi, who on his own did not even ask a question, but said categorically in a published interview that Ladi Adebutu is the worst of the children of Sir Kessington Adebutu and the least qualified to aspire for public office

“ Also, not a few people including a former President who was also former Head of State have asked why Sir Kessington Adebutu, who has at least seven flourishing multi-billion naira companies but will not allow his son, Ladi Adebutu, to manage any of them, and in fact, the one given to him before was taken away from him due to maladministration, whereas the same son was being pushed and funded to become the Governor of a highly sophisticated state like Ogun.

Jolaoso asked categorically:
“Is it true that Lado has 77 bank accounts? Is it true that over 200,000 verve ATM cards were made and delivered to LADO just before the last governorship election? Is It true that LADO fled the country to evade arrest by the Police?
Sir, these are the questions that have occupied my mind in the last two weeks. The biggest of these questions is this: Sir, you have several companies locally and internationally, you have a foundation too. Why have you not allowed LADO to handle or manage any of your businesses? Why have you not allowed LADO to get near management of your foundation? Why was the family’s company involved in agriculture, which was initially handed over to LADO, taken away from him?”

“The questions posed by Israel Jolaosho and the verdict of incompetence and vote of no confidence on Ladi Adebutu by Otunba Segun Sowunmi are so simple and straight to the points. A simple answer or explanation is what was and still needed, not rabble rousing and shadow chasing.

“Our advice is that the PDP, it’s defeated candidate and financier should be honest and courageous enough to answer these questions instead of dragging APC and Governor Abiodun into every self-inflicted injury of the wobbling party”, the statement concluded.

OPEN LETTER TO SIR KESSINGTON ADEBUTU

1st June, 2023

The Odole of Ile – ife
Sir Adebutu Kessington
C/o KAF Building
Iperu,
Ogun state.


Dear Odole Sir,

WHY DO YOU HATE OGUN STATE?

I write this letter to you in all humility sir.
Since I was young, I have been hearing about your name, Sir Kessington Adebutu all over the place. You are a well-known philanthropist and your humanitarian gestures dot the land in Ogun state.

As a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), I have had cause to review your support for our party, your preferred son, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, and your passionate, long-standing ambition to become the “Father of the Governor " of Ogun state.

First, it was one of our leaders, Otunba Segun Sowunmi, who said sometime ago in one of his numerous interviews, that Hon. Ladi Adebutu is the most unqualified of your children to aspire for the office of governor of Ogun state. Otunba Sowunmi had wondered why out of all your industrious and successful children, it was "Lado" known for all his idiosyncrasies that you were supporting and financing to contest for the governorship.

Of course, I didn't take Otunba Sowunmi serious because of my love for our party and I knew your interest, though I have never collected a dime from you before.

However, after the last governorship election and the emerging facts, the question of Otunba Sowunmi came to my mind again.
There are also other questions that I am asking myself sir: Is it true that Lado has 77 bank accounts? Is it true that over 200,000 verve ATM cards were made and delivered to LADO just before the last governorship election? Is It true that LADO fled the country to evade arrest by the Police?

Sir, these are the questions that have occupied my mind in the last two weeks. The biggest of these questions is this: Sir, you have several companies locally and internationally, you have a foundation too. Why have you not allowed LADO to handle or manage any of your businesses? Why have you not allowed LADO to get near management of your foundation? Why was the family’s company involved in agriculture, which was initially handed over to LADO, taken away from him?

Sir, it is very ironical that your son that you will not allow to manage your company is the one you want to govern a sophisticated state like Ogun.

Sir, why do you hate Ogun state so much?

Israel Jolaosho
Ward 3, Remo North LG

Congratulations my benefactor

Congratulations to one of my benefactors, Pastor Sulaimon Olanrewaju on your appointment as Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state.

Until his appointment, Pastor Olanrewaju was the Group Business Editor of Nigerian Tribune newspapers.

He was the Education Editor when I sent my first story as a Campus Correspondent from University of Jos to the education page of Nigerian Tribune newspapers in May 2009.

He published my stories and encouraged me to be a better journalist even though I was trained as a social worker. The rest is now history.

Congratulations to you sir as I wish you a successful tenure in the office.

ADEBUTU’s 200,000 Cards for Votes …. Ogun people rejected being auctioned

By Olayemi Oke

From the outcome of police investigations into the criminal activities of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the March 18 governorship election in Ogun State, Hon Oladipupo Adebutu, and as widely reported in the media, it can be concluded without any fair of contradiction that he wanted to reap manifold blessings from outright fraud. He wanted to reap where he did not sow.



Going by the ongoing revelations from different security agencies, Hon. Adebutu distributed over 200,000 Verve ATM cards to buy votes across Ogun State during the governorship election of March 18. However, the bubble burst when many of his agents were arrested by security agents, with POS operators also testifying that they (agents) came to them to withdraw money with the cards preloaded with N10,000 each. That being the case, the number of votes Adebutu legitimately earned during the said election is contestable.




For him to have procured over 200k ATM cards, it means he wanted to have unfair advantage by having over 200,000 induced voters. It has been established that illegal, toxic votes amounting to this very figure are among his electoral haul. If the illegal, toxic and contrived votes are deducted from his electoral haul, what is left and legitimate is just under 62,000 votes. The rest were fraudulently procured and remain unlawful.







It is high time INEC and the security agencies sanitized our political process by ensuring that such characters as Adebutu do not pollute our political process. Apart from the Verve cards, he distributed money across the wards and polling units in order to corrupt the electoral process. Because his father is rich, he believes he can buy up Ogun State. Such people, if they ever manage to get to power, will be just like caterpillar and cankerworm: they will wreck the state.






I must sincerely state that the damning accusations and the means of commiting the crime greatly beat the imagination of many around the world. How could someone in this century be so aggressively desperate for power! I was taken aback when I read the Premium Times reports on these allegations, and the most unfortunate aspect of the shenanigans was the role played by a commercial bank like Zenith in the saga despite its years of operations in the banking industry.




There is no way Zenith Bank could claim that it didn't know that the original motive behind the request for 200,000 preloaded cards two days to an election in which its customer had interest was to bribe the electorate and flagrantly manipulate the electoral outcome in his favour. In fact, by this development, Adebutu, his PDP comrades and Zenith Bank have taken Nigeria's democracy back to the stone age.




Looking at Adebutu closely, he doesn't strike one as a serious personality with the requisite mental direction for governance; the basic fact about his person is that he is a desperate man in politics with little or no guiding ideology and political orientation as a compass for good governance.



Ogun State is known for setting the pace in all human endeavours and as a sophisticated people with a great culture, but Adebutu went so low to disgrace the state in the most odious manner. It is my belief that the good people of Ogun State must have known by now that their interests can never be protected by such a fraudster. Rather, those bunch of political bandits are out to milk the State and its people dry to satisfy their selfish and parochial interests. They should be banned from the political process and sentenced to long jail terms for their violation of the Electoral Act 2022 as amended.

Oke is a broadcast journalist in Abeokuta, Ogun State

ADEBUTU’s 200,000 Cards for Votes …. Ogun people rejected being auctioned

By Olayemi Oke

From the outcome of police investigations into the criminal activities of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the March 18 governorship election in Ogun State, Hon Oladipupo Adebutu, and as widely reported in the media, it can be concluded without any fair of contradiction that he wanted to reap manifold blessings from outright fraud. He wanted to reap where he did not sow.



Going by the ongoing revelations from different security agencies, Hon. Adebutu distributed over 200,000 Verve ATM cards to buy votes across Ogun State during the governorship election of March 18. However, the bubble burst when many of his agents were arrested by security agents, with POS operators also testifying that they (agents) came to them to withdraw money with the cards preloaded with N10,000 each. That being the case, the number of votes Adebutu legitimately earned during the said election is contestable.




For him to have procured over 200k ATM cards, it means he wanted to have unfair advantage by having over 200,000 induced voters. It has been established that illegal, toxic votes amounting to this very figure are among his electoral haul. If the illegal, toxic and contrived votes are deducted from his electoral haul, what is left and legitimate is just under 62,000 votes. The rest were fraudulently procured and remain unlawful.







It is high time INEC and the security agencies sanitized our political process by ensuring that such characters as Adebutu do not pollute our political process. Apart from the Verve cards, he distributed money across the wards and polling units in order to corrupt the electoral process. Because his father is rich, he believes he can buy up Ogun State. Such people, if they ever manage to get to power, will be just like caterpillar and cankerworm: they will wreck the state.






I must sincerely state that the damning accusations and the means of commiting the crime greatly beat the imagination of many around the world. How could someone in this century be so aggressively desperate for power! I was taken aback when I read the Premium Times reports on these allegations, and the most unfortunate aspect of the shenanigans was the role played by a commercial bank like Zenith in the saga despite its years of operations in the banking industry.




There is no way Zenith Bank could claim that it didn't know that the original motive behind the request for 200,000 preloaded cards two days to an election in which its customer had interest was to bribe the electorate and flagrantly manipulate the electoral outcome in his favour. In fact, by this development, Adebutu, his PDP comrades and Zenith Bank have taken Nigeria's democracy back to the stone age.




Looking at Adebutu closely, he doesn't strike one as a serious personality with the requisite mental direction for governance; the basic fact about his person is that he is a desperate man in politics with little or no guiding ideology and political orientation as a compass for good governance.



Ogun State is known for setting the pace in all human endeavours and as a sophisticated people with a great culture, but Adebutu went so low to disgrace the state in the most odious manner. It is my belief that the good people of Ogun State must have known by now that their interests can never be protected by such a fraudster. Rather, those bunch of political bandits are out to milk the State and its people dry to satisfy their selfish and parochial interests. They should be banned from the political process and sentenced to long jail terms for their violation of the Electoral Act 2022 as amended.

Oke is a broadcast journalist in Abeokuta, Ogun State

ADEBUTU’s 200,000 Cards for Votes …. Ogun people rejected being auctioned

By Olayemi Oke

From the outcome of police investigations into the criminal activities of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the March 18 governorship election in Ogun State, Hon Oladipupo Adebutu, and as widely reported in the media, it can be concluded without any fair of contradiction that he wanted to reap manifold blessings from outright fraud. He wanted to reap where he did not sow.



Going by the ongoing revelations from different security agencies, Hon. Adebutu distributed over 200,000 Verve ATM cards to buy votes across Ogun State during the governorship election of March 18. However, the bubble burst when many of his agents were arrested by security agents, with POS operators also testifying that they (agents) came to them to withdraw money with the cards preloaded with N10,000 each. That being the case, the number of votes Adebutu legitimately earned during the said election is contestable.




For him to have procured over 200k ATM cards, it means he wanted to have unfair advantage by having over 200,000 induced voters. It has been established that illegal, toxic votes amounting to this very figure are among his electoral haul. If the illegal, toxic and contrived votes are deducted from his electoral haul, what is left and legitimate is just under 62,000 votes. The rest were fraudulently procured and remain unlawful.







It is high time INEC and the security agencies sanitized our political process by ensuring that such characters as Adebutu do not pollute our political process. Apart from the Verve cards, he distributed money across the wards and polling units in order to corrupt the electoral process. Because his father is rich, he believes he can buy up Ogun State. Such people, if they ever manage to get to power, will be just like caterpillar and cankerworm: they will wreck the state.






I must sincerely state that the damning accusations and the means of commiting the crime greatly beat the imagination of many around the world. How could someone in this century be so aggressively desperate for power! I was taken aback when I read the Premium Times reports on these allegations, and the most unfortunate aspect of the shenanigans was the role played by a commercial bank like Zenith in the saga despite its years of operations in the banking industry.




There is no way Zenith Bank could claim that it didn't know that the original motive behind the request for 200,000 preloaded cards two days to an election in which its customer had interest was to bribe the electorate and flagrantly manipulate the electoral outcome in his favour. In fact, by this development, Adebutu, his PDP comrades and Zenith Bank have taken Nigeria's democracy back to the stone age.




Looking at Adebutu closely, he doesn't strike one as a serious personality with the requisite mental direction for governance; the basic fact about his person is that he is a desperate man in politics with little or no guiding ideology and political orientation as a compass for good governance.



Ogun State is known for setting the pace in all human endeavours and as a sophisticated people with a great culture, but Adebutu went so low to disgrace the state in the most odious manner. It is my belief that the good people of Ogun State must have known by now that their interests can never be protected by such a fraudster. Rather, those bunch of political bandits are out to milk the State and its people dry to satisfy their selfish and parochial interests. They should be banned from the political process and sentenced to long jail terms for their violation of the Electoral Act 2022 as amended.

Oke is a broadcast journalist in Abeokuta, Ogun State

Dapo Abiodun @63: An unassailable personality with rare grace

The conceptualization of 'Grace', according to the Oxford Dictionary literarily implies" smoothness and elegance of movement". In an extended interpretation, it connotes an unhindered motion akin to that of moving train. So, a man with rare grace is practically insulated against all sorts of landmines from every front ; he is a special being by all standards.

Prince Adedapo Abiodun, the Executive Governor of Ogun State is one man with exact definition of grace judging from his humble beginning and subsequent movement on the ladder of life, as well as his political expedition since the early 90s.

DA, as he is fondly called in the political parlance has been consistently focused on the ultimate goal of impacting humanity positively and making indelible footprint in the sand of time; the consciousness that informed his zeal to lead his people and change the old order of ineptitude and arrogance in power.

While his elegant movement was apparently visible as a product of grace in his private business where he rose to the apogee of his career, the murky water of politics almost derailed the smoothness of the movement, but for the superior power of his 'grace'. Abiodun weathered the storm of the turbulent political atmosphere without blemish, to the chagrin of many pundits and keen observers.

That the Governor of Ogun State has gradually and steadily become a political juggernaut of note in the State and Nigeria at large is inchoate, Dapo Abiodun by his innate culture of humility, simplicity, calmness, consistency and shrewdness has retired former demagogues and semi-gods in the political space of Ogun.

Abiodun's revolutionary philosophy in politics and governance will remain a reference point in the political history of the State, as his style of leadership worthy of emulation even for his contemporaries and coming generations of politicians across Nigeria.

In the precise manner Malcolm-X puts it," A good leader is the one who possesses self-awareness, garner credibility, focus on relationship -building, have a bias for action, exhibit humility, empower others, stay authentic, present himself as constant and consistent, and become a role model". Obviously, Governor Dapo Abiodun, in truth and indeed has proven it beyond any reasonable doubt to all and sundry that he is a good leader.

Certainly, it's not a coincidence that his triumphant inauguration for the continuity of his developmental drive in Ogun State in the next four years came today, the very day he turns 63. It is indeed a function of providence and intrinsically symbolic.

Your Excellency, as you add another year to your existence today, I wish you more glorious and eventful years ahead in sound health.

Happy Birthday, Sir.

Olaniyi Ajibola