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""Amosun going into political oblivion, should be ignored" - Ogun APC

Following several calls from well-meaning people on what action our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), is taking against the outgoing Senator for Ogun Central, His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on his open disloyalty and anti-party activities, the APC wish to state that “Senator Amosun is better ignored as he is going into political oblivion and perdition”.

This was contained in a press statement issued on Thursday in Abeokuta and signed by the Ogun state APC Publicity Secretary, Tunde Oladunjoye.

The statement reads in part, “We do not wish to join any issue with the man famous for disloyalty and boastful egoism. But we just have to explain to persistent inquiry and demands for sanction against the controversial Senator.

"If we may ask, what bigger shame and disgrace could face a man who, as a sitting Governor and APC senator-elect, was suspended from the party. That was, perhaps, the first time such will happen in the annals of Nigeria’s politics?.”

It added, "The party felt he has repented and that was why the suspension was later lifted. However, from all indications, the leopard will never change its spots. The dog has gone back to its vomit.

“But for the endurance of Ogun people generally, particularly people of Yewa, Amosun will not be strutting the streets of Ogun state pretending to be a friend of Yewa and purportedly clamouring for an Ogun West Governor, whereas he is actually planning to install a stooge to achieve his well-known third term ambition.

"Amosun marginalized Ogun West more than any government in history. One of the foremost leaders of Yewa, Professor Emeritus Anthony Asiwaju, in his book published in 2018 described Amosun as a Governor whose tenure, far more than any other, witnessed the emergence of Yewaland as the historic zone in the state known for abandoned projects. He cited the two principal examples of the Ilara-Oja Odan-Ilashe road and Ipokia Polytechnic/ University projects as highpoints of hopes raised and dashed with reckless abandon during the era of the former Governor.

“Amosun also abandoned more projects in Ogun Central than any government in history even as he shunned Ogun East in the execution of projects.

“While we appreciate the concerned raised by genuinely worried people, we urge the good people of Ogun state to remain steadfast in their support for Prince Dapo Abiodun for second term in office based on his unparalleled performance in his first tenure, while ignoring Amosun - the puppeteer and his puppets.”

E-signed
Tunde Oladunjoye
oladunjoyelo@gmail.com
Following several calls from well-meaning people on what action our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), is taking against the outgoing Senator for Ogun Central, His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on his open disloyalty and anti-party activities, the APC wish to state that “Senator Amosun is better ignored as he is going into political oblivion and perdition”.

This was contained in a press statement issued on Thursday in Abeokuta and signed by the Ogun state APC Publicity Secretary, Tunde Oladunjoye.

The statement reads in part, “We do not wish to join any issue with the man famous for disloyalty and boastful egoism. But we just have to explain to persistent inquiry and demands for sanction against the controversial Senator.

"If we may ask, what bigger shame and disgrace could face a man who, as a sitting Governor and APC senator-elect, was suspended from the party. That was, perhaps, the first time such will happen in the annals of Nigeria’s politics?.”

It added, "The party felt he has repented and that was why the suspension was later lifted. However, from all indications, the leopard will never change its spots. The dog has gone back to its vomit.

“But for the endurance of Ogun people generally, particularly people of Yewa, Amosun will not be strutting the streets of Ogun state pretending to be a friend of Yewa and purportedly clamouring for an Ogun West Governor, whereas he is actually planning to install a stooge to achieve his well-known third term ambition.

"Amosun marginalized Ogun West more than any government in history. One of the foremost leaders of Yewa, Professor Emeritus Anthony Asiwaju, in his book published in 2018 described Amosun as a Governor whose tenure, far more than any other, witnessed the emergence of Yewaland as the historic zone in the state known for abandoned projects. He cited the two principal examples of the Ilara-Oja Odan-Ilashe road and Ipokia Polytechnic/ University projects as highpoints of hopes raised and dashed with reckless abandon during the era of the former Governor.

“Amosun also abandoned more projects in Ogun Central than any government in history even as he shunned Ogun East in the execution of projects.

“While we appreciate the concerned raised by genuinely worried people, we urge the good people of Ogun state to remain steadfast in their support for Prince Dapo Abiodun for second term in office based on his unparalleled performance in his first tenure, while ignoring Amosun - the puppeteer and his puppets.”

E-signed
Tunde Oladunjoye
oladunjoyelo@gmail.com

Steve Oliyide, political scavenger in the media space

By Tunde Sulaiman


You may or may not have read the diatribe by Steve Oliyide, a self-seeking saboteur and media hustler, against the Dapo Abiodun administration in Ogun State, but it is so true to type. Oliyide, apparently blinded by his lust for attention and the antics of his paymasters, rambled on and on about the cost of the flagship projects of the Abiodun administration, including the Cargo Airport; the cost of road construction, and items in the state's Budget. The answers Oliyide ostensibly seeks are already in the public domain, but he is not seeking clarifications; his criticism is driven by pure mischief.



Pray, if Mr. Oliyide wants to know the cost of projects, why doesn't he take a look at the Budget? And if he is not satisfied about any item, why not approach the relevant agencies? Does he mean to say that the Budget does not contain facts and figures or is he simply being a dunce?


Sincerely, no serious person should take this clown seriously. How can anyone who claims sanity say that the Cargo Airport, an ongoing project, lacks basic facilities? Does the fact that the control tower is not yet completed, for instance, mean that the airport, widely hailed as one of Nigeria's biggest airport projects, lacks one? Has this fraud actually been to the site or is he just relying on hearsay?


It is not for nothing that many have learned to ignore the loudmouth.He isn't a stakeholder and he lacks the integrity and capacity to talk about Ogun State.


Having worked only for a gossip newspaper and being perpetually unable to cope in organised environments, he has left a trail of scandals in many places. He is a nobody in the media space.
His foray into the media space was by accident and without the requisite professional and intellectual pedigree of a thoroughbred newsman. It was this paucity of professional philosophy and guiding principles that turned him into a media scavenger.



Many of those who have had an encounter with the character known as Steve Oliyide have had only unpleasant things to say about him. His docility and proclivity for dirty jobs for filthy lucre is legendary. Oliyide's greatest strength in the social media space, the only space in which he can comfortably operate without unraveling very quickly, is peddling rumour and cheap propaganda for pecuniary gain.



This is a man that had lobbied Governor Dapo Abiodun's handlers for consideration as Special Assistant on Media. Unfortunately, discreet investigations revealed that he is a man without principle and the culture of loyalty. He was adjudged to be controlled perpetually by his belly, not critical thinking and value, hence his total rejection by the Dapo Abiodun administration. That, apparently, transformed him into a venomous adversary of the administration.



This charlatan has no moral standing to talk about governance and leadership, he lacks any atom of decency and temperament for organized environment. He should be ignored. Oliyide will still write another diatribe, but he and his paymasters will shed premium tears on Saturday when the good people of Ogun State renew their contract with the Abiodun administration.

Comrade Sulaiman, a students' activist, writes from Olabisi Onabanjo University, , Ago Iwoye

Ogun APC Raises Alarm Over Sponsored Social Media Attacks

Ahead of Saturday's Governorship and House of Assembly elections, the Ogun state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has uncovered a sinister plan by some unscrupulous politicians and fifth columnists to launch and sponsor a campaign of calumny against Governor Dapo Abiodun-led Administration on various social media platforms.

A statement issued in Abeokuta on Wednesday, quoted the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Tunde Oladunjoye as saying, "The campaign, which is being sponsored and oiled by the father of an opposition party's candidate whose camp has continued to suffer depletion by the day, is to take the form of coordinated attacks and sponsored articles, half-truths and outright lies against the person and administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun.

"Whilst many would wonder why any genuine party man would want to join a wobbling opposition candidate to work against the interest of his party and symbol, we urge the good people of Ogun state to be circumspect and see through the shenanigans of these selfish politicians who do not mean well for the state. Otherwise, how would they want to handover our dear state to an arrogant and boastful drunkard and gambler who simply wants to harness Ogun to his father’s empire?

"We trust that the electorate and the good people of Ogun state in general are too sophisticated to be swayed by those masquerading their selfish interests as that of the people.

"The Governor Dapo Abiodun-led Administration in Ogun state will continue to use the resources of the state for the growth and development of the state and not for a few, no matter how powerful. This is a commitment that Governor Dapo Abiodun will not compromise for anything.

"We urge the sophisticated people of Ogun state to continue to stick with the APC just as they did in the Presidential and National Assembly elections so that the state and its people can benefit from being part of the government at the centre."

E-signed:
Tunde Oladunjoye
Oladunjoyelo@gmail.com

*Ogun Governorship Race: Adebutu’s aspiration, insult on Ogun people*

The Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the gubernatorial ambition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu as an insult to the collective intelligence of the good people of the state.

In a statement issued by the APC’s Publicity Secretary, Tunde Oladunjoye, the party said, “Anyone who aspires to govern our dear gateway state must have attained a verifiable record of managing a public or private organisation successfully in the past.

“For the PDP candidate, it is not enough to say my father has money. What has he managed successfully on his own in the past. Even the family company he was asked to oversee was eventually taken away from him when he could not pay salaries and the company became debt-ridden. That is a company of less than 250 members of staff. It is his siblings who are more business inclined that are managing the company now.”

The statement added, "Apart from this, the office of the Governor of any state is solely meant for an Omoluabi (a thorough bred gentle man) to the core. We all recently witnessed how this desperate candidate openly abused royal fathers in the Ogun West senatorial district because they prayed for the success of Prince Dapo Abiodun at the polls. We are witnesses to how he abused and cursed some leaders of APC at a public rally, and his many other shenanigans.

“Such a person is certainly not fit to occupy the exalted office of the Governor of Ogun state; a state of many firsts in Nigeria. Ogun state people know who is qualified to continue in office as Governor and that is why on a daily basis, many people, including PDP leaders and candidates are trooping into APC to support the re-election of Prince Dapo Abiodun and all APC candidates in the Saturday elections.”

END

10th National Assembly:Wamakko remains the best as Senate President -Jackson Lekan Ojo

A leading security expert and political pundit, Jackson Lekan Ojo, has canvassed for the former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko as the the best to occupy the position of Senate President in the coming 10th National Assembly.

Ojo described Wamakko as a political phenomenon with grassroots content, who is widely known as highly detribalize, humble and sagacious in all ramifications.

He argued that asides being a raking senator as constitution stipulates, Wamakko antecedents and political credentials stand him out, adding that the President -elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu needs someone like Wamakko.

Ojo, made these known on Monday in a telephone conversation with newsmen, as he asserted that the only rallying point and unifying factor for all senators that will constitute the Senate in the 10th National Assembly is Wamakko.

"Going by the political configuration of Nigeria presently and the intrinsic atmosphere, the only person that can stabilize and strengthen our democracy at the parliament, as harbinger of good governance and detribalize politics is Senator Wamakko.

"Obviously, Nigerians and the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu do not need a nepotist and someone with politics of prebendalism at this point in time.

"We need a politician with grassroots mentality, who is loved by all irrespective of tribe, religion or social status and that is the former Governor of Sokoto State, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko.

"He is a cosmopolitan personalty with deep knowledge of human relations and developmental ideology; Nigerians and Nigeria need him as the head of the 10th parliament.

"Because the parliament is a bastion of democracy and the house of the people, the best person as the head of such house is someone who is passionate about the people irrespective of status like Wamakko.

"In the same vein, based on parliamentary knowledge and dexterity, I hereby suggest Honourable Woke Oke, as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, he is a man with requisite capacity and competence to superintend the parliament with Senator Wamakko".

On the suborned anti-Abiodun crowd in Amosun’s Abeokuta residence

By Yemi Balogun

But for sheer political mischief, there is no possible way the charade staged at the residence of ex Ogun State governor and senator representing Ogun Central in the National Assembly, Ibikunle Amosun, on Saturday could be construed as a genuine protest against Governor Dapo Abiodun and his second term bid.

In this clime, a mob ruled by its muscles rather than its brains and kicking up a ruckus just for a bottle of beer complimented by a pittance is nothing new. Hiding under hoodlums masquerading as protesters to attack performing governors with intent to subvert democracy is a familiar tactic, and we make bold to say that Senator Amosun is the mastermind, planner and chief executioner of the charade staged at his residence by “protesting youths’ on Saturday.


This matter is as clear as the sun: it is a known fact that Senator Amosun, jolted by his neutralization in the power matrix within Ogun APC, had on several occasions expressed his deep hatred for the governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and stoutly opposed his second term ambition. On countless occasions, he has expressed his evil desire to truncate Governor Abiodun’s desire to serve Ogun State people, taking advantage of the free political atmosphere nurtured by the people’s governor to hold political revivals across Ogun State and dress him in the garb of a villain while portraying himself as Saint Amosun. Since 2019, Amosun has perfected the practice of promoting people from other parties while holding on to his APC membership, and his present romance with Biyi Otegbeye of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is just the latest scene in his failure movie.

In a normal clime, Amosun’s action would have been quickly punished as a gross violation of the party’s constitution and utter disrespect to the party. It was the APC that made Amosun a governor and also a senator, but he has never ceased working against the party. The so-called protesting youths are part and parcel of his agenda; those are the guys he is using to campaign against the governor. He and his pathetic and confused crowd will fail woefully on March 18.


This is not the first time Amosun has vowed to work against Abiodun; the youths that supposedly visited him to solicit his support in undermining their own governor are his street soldiers, and what they did is not new. With some money and hard drinks, they can carry placards from morning to midnight. Their principal is somebody who views himself as a god and who desperately seeks to cultivate a larger than life image even when he is mired in political shipwreck.


The last election showed the folly of these political buccaneers, and the coming governorship election will further accentuate it. There is a limit to which concocted stories in the mould “Civil servants reject Abiodun”, etc, can go.


Publishing Amosun’s delusions without contacting Governor Abiodun’s campaign negates fair hearing. We state with all sense of responsibility that all major stakeholders in Ogun State have endorsed the governor and they did not endorse him for endorsement sake, but for his track record. By this time next week, the “protesters” would have learnt the results of their failure. For now, they can keep providing political theatre.

Asiwaju Supporters' Group, Osun, congratulates President -elect on his landslide victory

The Asiwaju Supporters' Group in Osun has congratulated the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on his landslide victory at the poll, held on Saturday, February 25, 2023.

Tinubu, having polled the highest number of votes in the exercise was declared winner of the election in the early hours of Wednesday.

The group, therefore, in a congratulatory message signed by the duo of Dr Adebowale Shadare and Prince Bunyamin Sijiwade Zakariyah, described Bola Tinubu as a leading political leader in Africa.

It further eulogized the President-elect as someone with requisite capacity and competence to change the fortunes of Nigeria in the same way he did in Lagos, adding that Nigerians and indeed Nigeria were lucky to have elected Tinubu as President.

The group, then enjoined Tinubu to be magnanimous in victory and run an all-inclusive government like never before in Nigeria for the purpose of taking the country out of the present quagmire.

The message reads in part:" As one of the leading groups supporting Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his presidential ambition, we heartily congratulate the Jagaban of Borgu on his landslide victory at the poll to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

"Indeed, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is one of the great leaders in Africa with enviable antecedents of democratic culture and leadership dynamics.

"We are so confident in his capacity and ability to take Nigeria to greater heights through pragmatic and dynamic administration of immense value.

"As we wish him well on this special assignment to reset the nation on the path of speedy development and socio-economic growth, we want to implore him to be meticulous in the way he constitutes his cabinet for him to choose the best hands for the country as usual".

100 days in office: OSEMA's boss hails Gov. Ademola on his giant strides

The General Manager of Osun State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Amos Adejinle has commended the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke on his proactive move towards inclusive governance within his hundred days in office.

Adejinle said the manner and speed in which the Governor responds to issues of welfare and wellbeing of the citizenry is unprecedented, adding that Osun has truly come alive for better days ahead.

He stressed that the ultimate goal of every administration is the security and welfare of the people, in which the present government in the State priorities above any other considerations.

The OSEMA GM, therefore, enjoined the Governor to sustain his tempo and style of governance and leadership.

"From all of us at OSEMA, we heartily congratulate our Executive Governor in Osun, Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, on his enviable achievement within the first hundred days of his administration.

"We are indeed proud of his inclusive leadership and developmental drive; obviously, he is a man of special traits of good governance.

"We are particularly impressed and encouraged by his response to every issue of safety and welfare of our citizens in the State, most especially, the way at which he solved our infrastructural deficit that have been hindering our operational effectiveness in the past.

"The Governor has displayed exceptional chacater in the way he had been responding to every issue from our end, the speed of his response is unprecedented and inspiring.

"He is is a good leader in all ramifications", Adejinle concluded .

2023: Osun Civilian Joint Task Force congratulates Tinubu

The Civilian Joint Task Force in Osun has felicitated with the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, over the victory in the presidential election that was conducted on Saturday, February 25th.

The group, comprises of Vigilante Group of Nigeria(VGN) Odua People's Congress(OPC) Harmonized Vigilante Group, Agbekoya , Omo Ode Agbekoya and Hunters Group of Nigeria are working in collaboration with police and other security agencies in the State to curb insecurity.

In a press statement signed by its Commander General, Alhaji Hussein Yahasalam, the group commended Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for displaying what it termed unwavering capacity and requisite doggedness before and during the electioneering campaign.

According to the statement, Tinubu remains the best candidate for the top job, based on his past experience in both public and private sectors and his antecedents as a democrat and dependable leader of note.

The statement also opined that Nigeria needs a civilized and cosmopolitan personalty like Tinubu to set the nation's economy on the path of prosperity and sustainable growth.

The statement read in part:" On behalf of my team members, we heartily congratulate a leader par excellence and one of the leading political juggernauts in Africa, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on his resounding victory at the poll on February 25th.

" While his victory didn't come as a surprise to us; we, however, salute his doggedness and tenacity in the face of suffocating antagonism from different quarters.

"Having said that, we want him to heat the ground running with his usual proactive trait and developmental drive, for Nigerians to have a sigh of relief from this present quagmire.

"Also, of great importance to us is the issue of security, we, therefore, enjoin him to work with the National Assembly to institutionalize effective community policing system for the purpose of viable local intelligence gathering".

The Civilian Joint Task Force in Osun has felicitated with the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, over the victory in the presidential election that was conducted on Saturday, February 25th.

The group, comprises of Vigilante Group of Nigeria(VGN) Odua People's Congress(OPC) Harmonized Vigilante Group, Agbekoya , Omo Ode Agbekoya and Hunters Group of Nigeria are working in collaboration with police and other security agencies in the State to curb insecurity.

In a press statement signed by its Commander General, Alhaji Hussein Yahasalam, the group commended Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for displaying what it termed unwavering capacity and requisite doggedness before and during the electioneering campaign.

According to the statement, Tinubu remains the best candidate for the top job, based on his past experience in both public and private sectors and his antecedents as a democrat and dependable leader of note.

The statement also opined that Nigeria needs a civilized and cosmopolitan personalty like Tinubu to set the nation's economy on the path of prosperity and sustainable growth.

The statement read in part:" On behalf of my team members, we heartily congratulate a leader par excellence and one of the leading political juggernauts in Africa, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on his resounding victory at the poll on February 25th.

" While his victory didn't come as a surprise to us; we, however, salute his doggedness and tenacity in the face of suffocating antagonism from different quarters.

"Having said that, we want him to heat the ground running with his usual proactive trait and developmental drive, for Nigerians to have a sigh of relief from this present quagmire.

"Also, of great importance to us is the issue of security, we, therefore, enjoin him to work with the National Assembly to institutionalize effective community policing system for the purpose of viable local intelligence gathering".

Head of Harmonized Vigilante Group, Alhaji Yahasalam, congratulates Tinubu

The Head of Harmonized Vigilante Group, Alhaji Hussein Yahasalam, has sent a congratulatory message to the President -elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on his victory at the poll.

Yahasalam, described Tinubu as a thought leader with enviable capacity and requisite competence to rewrite the story of Nigeria for better and change the ugly socio-economic situation of the country.

According to the security expert, Nigeria needs a personalty like Tinubu that possesses necessary courage to face daunting national challenges and proffer solution.

He opined that the global connection of the former Governor of Lagos, coupled with his wealth of experience in governance and private business would work for him immensely in his quest to turn around the economic situation of Nigeria.

Yahasalam, also stressed the need for other contestants and people from the opposition to join hands with the President-elect to build a new Nigeria of dream, adding that Tinubu is a master of the game and not a winner take all.


He explained that the level of maturity and sagacity Tinubu deployed to change the story of Lagos between 1999 and 2007 has shown that he has what it takes to provide inclusive governance in Nigeria more than any other leaders before him.

In his words", I heartily congratulate a leader par excellence and one of the leading political juggernauts in Africa, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on his resounding victory at the poll on February 25th.

" While his victory didn't come as a surprise to people like us; I, however, salute his doggedness and tenacity in the face of suffocating antagonism from different quarters.

"Having said that, I want him to heat the ground running with his usual proactive trait and developmental drive, for Nigerians to have a sigh of relief from this present quagmire.

"Also, of great importance to me is the issue of security, I want to implore him to work with the National Assembly to institutionalize effective community policing system for the purpose of viable local intelligence gathering".

Amosun Desperate Conspiracy (ADC): The path to political ditch in Ogun

One of the most instructive postulations of a celebrated political philosopher and leading thinker, Socrates, is that," A good leader must recognize problem before it becomes an emergency".

A critical evaluation of the above thought simply implies that majority of political leaders around the world, especially in the third world countries, who ended up in irredeemable political oblivion were those with spontaneous response to issues without recourse to proper planning and empirical analysis of situation as a guide to logical conclusion and subsequent decision.

In line with this thought of Socrates, the former Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, is one of the leaders with absence of requisite temperament to recognize problem before it becomes an emergency, he is a man with fire brigade approach out of self aggrandizement and egocentric tendencies.

Suffering from chronic self-delusion, Ibikunle Amosun, completely failed to realize the dwindling trend of his political influence and popularity in Ogun State at the tail end of his administration in 2019. Unfortunately, that problem eventually became a serious emergency situation for him now.

Going into historical allusion, it can be safely conclude that Amosun's draconian attributes solely responsible for the present woes that befell his once virile and vibrant political structure and formidable family.

He started this journey of no return with his unrepentant hostility against his estranged friend and incumbent Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, who wanted to secure a senate ticket in the first place but met a stiff resistance to his ambition from Amosun, and the rest became history.

Thereafter, instead of addressing the pressing issues about his political future with decorum and logic, and commence aggressive mobilization towards 2023, for his party, the APC, Amosun delved into another opaque path of political misadventure.

The Owu-born Chartered Accountant was adamant in promoting his vindictive political agenda without recourse to critical reasoning and realities of political climate in Ogun State.

Because the former Ogun State Governor now became more vulnerable after losing billions of naira on his failed presidential ambitions, he is gradually becoming a mere utopian out of desperation, as he settled for a once recalcitrant ally, Barr. Biyi Otegbeye as an instrument of vendetta.

In truth and indeed, Amosun’s “choice” of ADC is nothing but a conspiracy to stop Prince Dapo Abiodun's reelection on the basis of myopic selfish tendencies, and not on the prism of competence or performance.

The level of maturity and civility in which Prince Dapo Abiodun controls the affairs of the State and his consistency in the quest of transformation and speedy development have endeared the governor to the majority of the electorate.

The campaign of calumny and cheap propaganda adopted by Amosun and his docile stooges in ADC against the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun is clearly known to the people and obviously can not change the resolve of the people of the State to return their Governor.

Every individual in the gateway state detests the years of suffocating political jackboots of Ibikunle Amosun and it's attendant turmoil across the State.

From all indications and feedbacks from the Ogun electorate and political stakeholders alike, Amosun and his cohorts are traveling alone, there is no doubt that his present move is nothing but efforts in futility, it is therefore, incontestable that " Amosun Desperate Conspiracy"(ADC) is bound to end up in unimaginable ditch and pathetic oblivion.

Solomon Raji writes from Abeokuta.

A socio-political organisation in Ogun State, the Gateway Tower, has described as unfortunate, the statement credited to the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ogun State, Barrister Biyi Otegbeye, condemning the Agro-Allied Cargo Airport built by the Governor Dapo Abiodun administration to lift the agricultural fortunes and economic profile of the state.

In a statement issued by its coordinator, Jacob Adigun, the group wondered how a governorship candidate who meant to be taken seriously would claim that Governor Abiodun abandoned the Wasimi Agro Cargo Airport initiated by the Ibikunle Amosun administration in order to prevent the Egba division from attaining the full status of state capital.


It accused the ADC governorship candidate of spinning deliberate falsehood despite being aware that unlike the proposed Wasinmi airport over which humongous sums were expended with no work done at all and without necessary approvals by the regulatory authorities, the Agro-Allied Airport initially conceived by the Gbenga Daniel administration in 2007 had all necessary approvals, including the Environmental Impact Assessment from the aviation regulatory body, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).


The statement added that only a hater of good things would thumb down an airport already designated by the Federal Government as the export terminal for non-oil exports in the country.


The statement said: “Falsely tagging the inaugural flight on the airport an inauguration exercise, Otegbeye, placing politics over patriotism, dismissed a project meant to turn around the economic fortunes of the very people he wants to govern, thus casting himself in the mould of an enemy of the people


“By condemning the project, he openly cast aspersions on the integrity of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who, only last week, said that Ogun State had taken a huge step in fulfilling the dreams of the forebears to have a vibrant, modern and industrious community with the cargo airport as an engine room of the nation’s economy, commerce and business, and that of the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who noted that the airport is meant to improve the socio-economic development of the people of Ogun.

“Otegbeye, presenting himself as an oracle with supernatural knowledge, cast aspersions on the senator-elect for Ogun East, Gbenga Daniel, who conceived the project and on President Buhari who promised to personally commission the project once completed.


“It is clear that a candidate playing ping-pong with the destiny of Ogun people should not be given access to power, as he is clearly bereft of ideas.

“Just how can a governorship candidate, because of mere lust for power, condemn the creation of a heteropolis (complete airport city) fitted with a special agro-processing zone, with factories where raw materials could be turned into final products for export, and complemented with the first international testing centre where goods would be evaluated for export?

“Is Otegbeye saying that he is unaware that the AFROEXIM Bank has begun the construction of the first African International Testing Centre here in Sagamu; a centre where items for export would be evaluated and approved for export via the cargo airport?

“Is he unaware of the fact that the location is already booming with activities, as the Nigeria Customs Service and private agencies have already booked their individual space in the place? Is he unaware of the fact that the Kajola Dry Port will become operational in a few months time?”

The statement urged the Ogun State electorate to reject Otegbeye at the governorship polls on Saturday and re-elect Governor Abiodun in order to keep enjoying life-changing projects in the state.

Ogun 2023 : Hiding under fictitious state workers to smear Abiodun won't stop his re-election--Group


A socio-political organisation in Ogun State, the Gateway Tower, has described as pure fabrication, a story credited to some individuals parading themselves as Ogun workers and campaigning against Governor Dapo Abiodun's second bid.


The group asserted that those behind the fake news were frustrated politicians afraid of the intimidating and stellar performance of Governor Dapo Abiodun in the last four years.


This was contained in a press statement signed by Jacob Adigun and Kemi Ilori, the Coordinator and Publicity Secretary, respectively.



According to the statement, contrary to the smear campaign by the fictitious and faceless workers, the majority of civil servants in the State are grateful to the governor on several pro-workers policies and the exceptional welfare package for the work force.


It asserted that the thinking of the propagandists is backward and primitive, adding that by all standards and principles, civil servants in Ogun are responsible and highly cerebral , and beyond such divisive tendencies.


"We consider as laughable and lacking logic, the smear campaign by failed political players in the State led by a despotic and megalomaniac former Governor of the State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.


"It is obvious that Amosun and his co-travellers have become jittery and intimidated by the larger than life personality of Prince Dapo Abiodun and his style of governance, which had endeared many of the electorate to him, especially the civil servants.



"Indeed, this story is nothing but the hallucination of drowning politicians. To set the records straight, nothing of such emanated from any civil servants in the State.


"As a matter of fact, all civil servants are ready to reciprocate the good leadership and inclusive governance of Governor Dapo Abiodun come March 11, and massively vote for his reelection to continue his good deeds.


"We indeed understand the plight of these individuals behind the propaganda; we, therefore, advise them to change their ways before nemesis catches up with them", the statement read.

The politically motivated protest in Sagamu.


Early this morning, a politically motivated violent protest took place in Sagamu during which innocent people, banks and public infrastructures were attacked by some disgruntled members of the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whose members and some of the party’s candidates were seen leading the demonstration.

While the protests was purportedly against the “scarcity of naira notes”, the real intention of these elements became obvious with the involvement of the known PDP members.

It is on record that the campaign tour of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which moved through Simawa to Ogijo and back to Sagamu, where two road were commissioned yesterday, ended without any hitch. The APC rally was attended by tens of thousands of people at different locations, lasting from about 8.00 am in the morning and 8.00pm in the evening without any violence, quarrel or disagreements whatsoever.

We believe strongly that it was the success of the APC rally of yesterday that got the feeble opposition PDP frustrated and therefore made their members to embark on the mindless destruction of properties.

The Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has been on top of the fallouts of the naira re-design issues. The Governor had visited the Central Bank headquarters in Abeokuta and some other commercial Banks’s branches, met with the bankers forum , met with Mr President alongside with other Progressive Governors and made a state broadcast to empathize with Ogun people with a reassurance that efforts are on to ameliorate the negative impacts of the implementation of the CBN policy on the people. .

Attacks on innocent people and destruction of private and public properties cannot solve the current problem but will rather worsen the situation. Therefore, we must not allow desperate politicians to mislead members of the public and use them as cannon to vent frustration.
THIS IS NOT WHO WE ARE WE ARE OMOLUABIS . We are the MOST PEACEFUL STATE IN NIGERIA AND THE INDUSTRIAL CAPITAL OF THE COUNTRY.
Our people should exercise patience and be law abiding, while waiting to cast their votes to the party that has stood by the populace even at this critical period.
Our Law enforcement team are already investigating this unfortunate development and any persons directly or indirect culpable will face the full wrath of the law no matter how highly placed.

2023: Only prayers of the righteous can save Nigeria from collapse -Yahasalam

...says large scale crisis awaits Nigeria after polls.

An Islamic Scholar and founder of Harmonized Vigilante Group, Alhaji Hussein Yahasalam, has raised alarm over what he termed an impeding crisis in Nigeria during and after the presidential election slated for Saturday, 25th February, 2023.

He opined that going by what he saw ahead through a spiritual exercise, the continuity and survival of Nigeria after the 2023 election is so much in doubt, adding that the presidential election might mark the inglorious end of Nigeria .

The Islamic Scholar made this known during a phone interview with newsmen on Monday in Ede, Osun State.

The security expert, however, stressed that the only panacea to the imminent post-election chaos is fervent prayer and supplication by genuine clerics from both religion of Islam and Christianity.

Yahasalam, further warned politicians from across the country to desist from dangerous comments and acts that could trigger unimaginable implosion and truncate the emerging democracy in Nigeria, as he implored the teeming Nigerian citizenry to be careful and watchful.

In his words:" What I saw about the coming presidential election was scary and dangerous; is either the election fails to hold as a result of large scale crisis or the poll fails to produce a winner, with attendant crisis of unimaginable dimensions that will ultimately truncate our democracy and destroy our corporate existence.

"The only solution I could see is the quick spiritual intervention of genuine men and women of God, otherwise, Nigeria is heading towards political ditch in the coming days".

Speaking on the political debacle in Osun, following the gubernatorial election of July 16th, 2022, Yahasalam said the judiciary and the presidency must exercise caution on the issue, saying the atmosphere in the State is sensitive as it is dicey.

"The judiciary and the presidency must be very careful on the issue of Osun, the outcome of the last governorship election truly reflected the genuine wish of the people without any controversy, so, any attempt to change the trend portends a serious danger.

"You will agree with me that Osun has been a catalyst for many political decisions and activities in Nigeria, so, any disorder in the State could affect the entire nation", he concluded.

David Hundeyin's blackmail against Gov Abiodun, exercise in futility--Group

A group, Ogun Political Watch, has described as laughable, statements credited to a blogger, David Hundeyin, describing Governor Dapo Abiodun as an ex-convict following the governor's directive to residents of the state to continue using old naira notes in line with the extant order of the Supreme Court on the issue.

It said that it was regrettable that in order to score cheap political points, Hundeyin, a social media investigator, resurrected discredited allegations made by Governor Abiodun's detractors in their failed bid to scuttle his bid for a second term of office.

The group made this declaration in a statement released by its secretary, Alhaji Wahab Adeyemi, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

It noted that Governor Abiodun's declaration that he was never convicted for any offence in the United States and has never changed his name have never been disproved by anyone.


It wondered how Governor Abiodun's resolve to uphold the principle of separation of powers, rule of law and sanctity of the apex court in the land became an insurrection plot as alleged by the discredited blogger whose penchant for blackmail and yellow journalism is legendary.


The group said: "It is unconscionable and criminal for bloggers to make unfounded allegations on social media with intent to cause disaffection among the citizenry, then cry foul when invited by the security agencies to substantiate those allegations.


"Hundeyin, serial blackmailer and criminally minded youth who has been credibly accused of blackmailing his own wife, who he "married" and divorced at 28 by his own admission, resorted to the already discredited antic of using a badly photoshopped image of Governor Abiodun to make his libelous tweet for which he should be ready for legal recompense.


"As already pointed out many times, a close look at the picture in question reveals two lines on the right, one for the passport and one for the other line, while a finger is clearly visible on the left.

"Apart from the fact that checks in the office of the District Attorney and in courts at the purported jurisdictions of the crime put a lie to the claims of Abiodun’s detractors, the circulating image was nothing but concocted documents superimposed on Governor Abiodun’s younger picture, probably taken from his old passport.


"To please his social media mob, Hundeyin habitually makes sundry but utterly ridiculous allegations against public officials, giving the impression that he is superior to the true journalists in Nigerian newsrooms, some of whom had been practising before he was born.


"He regales the country with fantabulous tales of subjects like June 12, causing the actual participants in the crises to look at him with utter contempt. He thinks himself to be a super investigator superior to the police and DSS!

"This is the same criminal who claimed that the hero of Nigeria's democracy, Bashorun MKO Abiola, a man whose source of living was known to all, including the United States government which testified to the cleanness of his wealth, was a drug dealer!

"We make bold to say that David Hundeyin, who is on record ridiculing his own mother on Twitter, would not last a week in a reputable media house; his office is social media where he purveys falsehood."

Gov. Abiodun to shut commercial banks rejecting old naira notes



Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has warned that the State government would shut down any Commercial Banks operating in the state that refused to accept old naira notes.


The warning is sequel to complains received from the people by the state government that commercial banks and some filling stations are rejecting the old naira notes as legal tender.


The governor spoke on Tuesday while addressing market men and women at Itoku Kampala market in Abeokuta, as part of his reelection campaign to Abeokuta North Local Government Areas.


Abiodun , who frowned at the action of the banks, noted that since the new naira notes was not available, commercial banks must accept the old notes to ease the suffering of the people.


He called on the people to remain calm, assuring that his government was working assiduously to ensure that the present situation was brought under control.


Speaking on the epileptic power supply affecting the market, the governor assured that he would reach out to the appropriate authority to improve on the power supply to the market.


Abiodun added that the controversy surrounding the non-issuance of documents to some shop owners at the market would be addressed.


He promised that some of the outstanding issues currently affecting the market would be given a priority during his second term in office.


The governor appreciated the traders for their support so far, imploring them to vote all the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25 and March 11 election.


The governor promised that 200 market men and women would benefit from the government's loan arrangement, saying that the Oko Owo Dapo scheme would be extended to them.


Abiodun expressed dismay that the transformer given to the market was not functioning effectively and directed that new ones be brought to the market immediately.


Addressing the people at the Mokola-Elega Under Bridge, Abiodun stated that his administration would complete the road during his second term, calling for their maximum support in the elections.




The Otun Iyaloja of Itoku, Mrs Simbiat Oyetola, commended the governor for the boreholes provided in the market, urging the governor to assist the traders in resolving the problem of epileptic power supply.

Dear Sir,

MR PRESIDENT, RUN O!

The whole town has been agog and the media space filled with news about certain elements in the Aso Rock Villa allegedly working to truncate the presidential ambition of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and, by extension, the victory of our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the upcoming general elections.

Top leaders of our party, who should know, insist that these people called “cabal” are within the Villa, while some other top leaders, equally acknowledged the existence of the members of this amorphous cabal outside the Villa. The discernible and inevitable conclusion, therefore, is that these people are within and outside our party!

Mr. President sir, there is a popular expression in Nigerian comedy skits, which is: “Run o!” Mr. President, I say: RUN O!

The people ganging up to frustrate Asiwaju Tinubu’s feasible and imminent victory at the polls are actually gunning for you and not basically against Asiwaju. Please Mr. President, RUN O!

The whole world knows that you cannot be pushed around sir. The world knows that you are genuinely committed to Nigeria, the world knows you are nobody’s pawn. The “cabal” has painfully tolerated you for about eight years and, therefore, feverishly dreads the emergence of another President that cannot be pushed around, dictated to or be manipulated for their ulterior objectives.

Sir, you are aware the flamboyant exhibitors of wealth went low-key after your emergence; and the rat race, car racing and demonstration of opulence on the streets and highways of Abuja have become a thing of the past. Sir, some of these people initially parked their private jets outside of the country. Your reforms and achievements are what they now want to reverse and undo in a way to spite you. Mr. President: RUN O!

Never in history have such highly placed people and politicians, especially in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) been so exposed. The hitherto untouchables were not only touched but also scorched. Many abandoned their mansions in prime locations of Abuja or had them taken over by the emboldened Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during your tenure.

Recall that the EFCC found $38m, £27,000 N23m abandoned in Ikoyi by unknown owners. On March 14, 2017, at the Kaduna International Airport, N49m was abandoned! The many of the collective patrimony of the Nigerian people auctioned by these people have been recovered by your administration. Sir, these people want a return to the status quo, they want to continue business as usual, they want to take their pound of flesh on you sir, like a baby whose feeding bottle has been taken away for long longing to bite the breast.

They are much aware that Asiwaju Tinubu as President will stand by you, protect you, defend you, not out of exceptional favour, but because he will not allow your name to be rubbished by people who are not qualified to lace your shoes in terms of integrity and commitment to the Nigerian project.

Mr. President sir, your landmark infrastructural achievements in eight years, though not too publicized, will however, live long after your departure from office. So, the only way to get at you and destroy your legacy, in their warped, self-serving clandestine calculations, manipulations and shenanigans, is to stop the person that is best placed to continue your legacy. That person, undoubtedly, is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

It is true that Asiwaju Tinubu wants to be President of Nigeria and deservedly so, but the destinies of too many people, in fact, millions of people, are tied to Nigeria continuing on the path of reforms and recovery, and not in going back to Egypt where people unabashedly said they collected hundreds of millions of naira for prayers from the $1billion money meant for arms and ammunitions to fight insurgency; where people claimed in broad daylight that they took N500m to pay amorphous journalists and media owners from the funds meant for purchase of arms and ammunition to fight Boko Haram.

Mr. President sir, the Northern Governors who are unitedly, courageously and commendably clamouring for power shift to the south after eight years of your presidency, are your die-hard followers who are aware that those planning to stop Asiwaju’s presidency will not only come after you, but will also come after them, the Northern Governors. Their major sin will be that they supported Buhari.

My dear President it is not about Tinubu. It is about you. Mr. President RUN O!

-Tunde Oladunjoye
February 5, 2023

Tinubu's presidency is non-negotiable - Otunba Yemisi Oladeji

A Chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State and former Governorship aspirant, Otunba Yemisi Oladeji, has declared that the presidential ambition of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu would come to fruition with utmost certainty.

The ICT expert opined that going by the antecedents, competence and strength of character of Tinubu, the APC Presidential candidate remains a candidate to beat in any contest, describing him as an " African political juggernaut".

Oladeji, made this known at the sidelines of the APC Presidential rally held in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Thursday.

He explained that beyond sentiment and predilection, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu posseses the requisite capacity and acumen to provide responsible and responsive leadership to Nigeria.

According to him, the knowledge and perspectives of functional economy and sustainable development is what Nigeria needs at this critical time, saying Tinubu by his background and training perfectly matches that requirement.

The Otunba of Iresi kingdom further asserted that the impressive turnout of Osun electorates at the rally signified unanimous resolve among the people of the State to massively vote Tinubu as the next President of Nigeria.

In his words:" Can't you see the mammoth crowd that came out to endorse the candidacy of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu today in Osun, despite the shenanigans of PDP's temporary presence at the corridor of power in the State, the people are absolutely resolute to vote Asiwaju as our next President.

"This should not come as a surprise to any of us, especially people like us who are close to him and painstakingly follow his steps; the man Tinubu is a juggernaut of highest regards.

"His unprecedented accomplishments in Lagos can never be over-emphasized, in which his landmark remains a model for development across the country in all the critical sectors of economy.

"Many analysts around the world have adjudged him as the leading political figure in Africa. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu indeed knows the way and shows the way to his teeming followers and Nigerians at large.

"Obviously, the victory of Asiwaju in the forthcoming presidential election is completely non-negotiable, he remains the candidate to beat anytime in all ramifications.

"Every individual that matters in Nigeria today supports Tinubu out of implicit conviction; from north to the south and in all communities of our nation-state. We shall indeed laugh last after February 25th".

Speaking on the conspiracy of some cabals in the Presidency to frustrate the presidential ambition of Tinubu, as alleged by the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-rufai, Oladeji said it is all " macabre dance of the century ", adding that no individual or group of people can prevent the former Lagos Governor from becoming Nigerian President.

"Forget it, Tinubu is a moving train with the speed of light, nobody, I repeat, nobody can thwart his ambition, he is an ordained leader from above. E lo fokan bale", he posited.

Ibikunle Amosun, an unrepentant deviant in his 60s, heading towards political Armageddon

Asides his stint at the Red chamber of the National Assembly between 2003 and 2007, little did Nigerians know about a character called Ibikunle Amosun. His reign of terror in Ogun State, therefore, as an executive governor of the State from 2011 to 2019 brought him into the consciousness of most Nigerians.

Amosun's high-handedness, arrogance and parochial ideology in governance, which made the State to loose several billions of dollars of investments raised the awareness of many political pundits about a strange behaviour and archaic political mentality of retrogressive pattern.

The climax of his political adventure was when Amosun, to the chagrin of all Nigerians and international community mobilized his supporters and cronies alike against his party, the All Progressives Congress and it's gubernatorial candidate in the 2019 governorship election in Ogun, to the extent of hurling stones at the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari and all the party leaders who came to campaign for Dapo Abiodun, the gubernatorial hopeful of the party.

This despicable act of Amosun and the wide condemnation it elicited across the world made the APC to suspend him and set a tune for special assessment of this strange character in the Nigeria's political scene by many political scientists and philosophers.

For Amosun to go to that extreme of desperation and bestiality because of his futile efforts to impose his stooge on the party and the people of Ogun State, many analysts have concluded that the former Governor is suffering from chronic megalomania of rare magnitude.

They resolved rather prophetically that the degree of megalomania in Ibikunle Amosun is unquantifiable to the level that even if he is convinced by emerging realities of loosing a battle, he would continue on the path of failure just to satisfy his egocentric tendencies.

They went further to posit that this defect in him is practically incurable and that if the same situation presents itself again and again, Amosun would still behave in the exact way and manner.

This position of erudite analysts eventually came into fruition, Amosun, in the same way he misbehaved in 2019, supporting a crony of low mental capacity to become Governor of the State, defiantly against his party's choice repeated the same bizarre disposition this time around.

After his former puppet, Adekunle Akinlade deserted him for greener pastures in the PDP, he found another instrument for proxy Government he had been proposing since 2019 in Biyi Otegbeye, on the alien platform called 'African Democratic Congress'.

In the same way Amosun travelled in 'Allied People's Movement' APM, he started his political journey of no return this time around with ADC, gallivanting around in his usual arrogant posture and deceptive narratives.

Like he did in 2019 and ended up at the bottom of political ladder, he began the new journey to political Armageddon at Ake palace square on Wednesday, February 1st.

The rented crowd, by tradition fulfilled their contractual obligations by patiently waited for the period of the jamboree, listening to array of pontifications from a political clown, Amosun, and his docile foot soldiers.

Exactly how this character ignominiously failed in 2019, and another failed attempt to become Nigeria's President in the most embarrassing outing at Eagle Square in 2022 APC primary election, this present journey Amosun started from Ake palace square has failed from it's very beginning.

The people of Ogun State are too sophisticated and enlightened to be fooled and deceived by one desperate jobber who is all out to plant a surrogate as the Governor for him to continue his reign of terror of yesterday.

Instead of a leader with selfless trait to lead his people from the front to prosperity and happiness, Amosun type of leadership is entrenched in self -aggrandizement and delusional disorder.

Obviously, the worst of deceit is self deceit, Amosun and his co-travellers have clearly started another journey of no return; this time around, it is straight to political Armageddon. Ogun people, beware!

Olabode Ajibola writes from Ota, Ogun State.

Ede Poly commences computer -based examinations; first of it's kind in Nigeria

....as institution commissions 2KVA solar inverter, earlier


The Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State has commenced the use of mobile devices for the conduct of administration of computer -based examinations.

This was contained in a memo signed by the Director of ICT Directorate, Dr. Adekunle Adewale, and communicated to the management of the school and the entire Polytechnic community on Wednesday, the copy which was made available to newsmen by the Protocol, Media and Public Relations Officer of the institution, Sola Lawal.

According to the memo, the Director of ICT Directorate commended the management of the Polytechnic, led by Engr. Dr. Sani Man Yahaya, the staff and students alike for this great feat.

The memo read this:" We are delighted to inform the Polytechnic community about the successful conduct and administration of computer-based examinations(CBE) in the ongoing 2021/2022 second semester examination, using mobile and tablets by the students.

"Today, the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, became the first ever institution in the history of tertiary institutions in Nigeria to conduct and administer computer-based examinations (CBE) on mobile devices.

"National Diploma students from the under listed departments in the School of Environmental Studies participated in the implementation for GNS102(Communication in English1)

A. Building Technology

B.Fashion and Testile Design

C. Quantity Surveying

D. Surveying and Geo-informatics

"We are grateful to the staff and students of the school of environmental studies for their efforts and support towards making the Polytechnic pioneer of this innovation.

"However, we humbly seize this opportunity to appeal to the other Deans of schools and Head of Departments(HOD) to encourage their students and staff to be part of this noble idea for the benefit of the Polytechnic at indoor sport Hall venue for the following courses as scheduled in the ongoing examination time table.

A. GNS121/128- Citizenship Education 11

B.EED126- Introduction to Entrepreneurship

C. EED216-Practice of Entrepreneurship".

Meanwhile, earlier on Monday, 23rd January, 2023, the institution attained another feat in the area of academic creativity and innovation, as the School of Engineering Technology , under the leadership of the Dean, Engr. Dr. Dauda Adekunle Folarin commissioned a 2KVA Solar Inverter.

The Solar Inverter was commissioned by the Rector of the school, Engr. Dr. Sani Man Yahaya, as he described the innovation as another great feat for the Polytechnic, in the quest for global reckoning in the area of innovation and technological advancement.

Ogun 2023, Yewaland and political merchants

By Olabisi Adedamola

As the 2023 general election is only a month away, it is not necessarily news that the public space is witnessing a resurgence of vitriol against the person and office of the governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun. If the governor recently selected by Forbes Magazine as the winner of the 2022 Forbes Best of Africa Governor in Industrial Revolution has been endorsed by traditional rulers and leaders of thought from all sections of the state following his strides in the last four years, such a move necessarily has to attract responses, however banal, from those angling for his office purely for the glamour and not for the responsibilities attached. Riding on the waves of the agitation for a governor of Yewa origin but actually intent on the extraction of largesse from the sitting government, a gang of political merchants have been bombarding town with distorted histories and gobbledygook all in a bid to hoodwink the people of Ogun West to shelve their resolve to have one of their own as governor after Governor Abiodun’s richly deserved second term of office.

It is axiomatic that for the next phase of his project to come to fruition, he needs another term of office. Ogun, one must say again, cannot experiment with political discord. It is clear that with different assemblies and executive cabinet, there will be crisis and the temperature will be high. Yewaland definitely will produce a governor, but it does not need the antics of political stock traders to actualize this. The emergency historians pushing a nebulous Yewa agenda that is completely disconnected from the resolve of the people of the zone are not writing their junk for love of the land: their aim is filthy lucre, and they are being exposed even in the court of law. They work against the interests of Yewa while supposedly campaigning for Yewa. Happily, the records of proceedings in court have shown the duplicity of the so-called Yewa advocates who are APC in the morning, PDP in the afternoon and ADC at night. They are people without the slightest shred of integrity. For them, it is that time of the year in which to cash out while singing populist tunes. The pages of history are full of such mendacious, depraved individuals.

Chief of this ilk is Professor Yemi Oke, a lawyer who litters the media space with write-ups that appear to agitate for Yewaland to produce the Governor of Ogun State in 2023. Prof Oke specifically identifies Biyi Otegbeye as the best hope of Yewaland to achieve this outcome. To this end, Prof Oke filed a case on behalf of Otegbeye seeking to invalidate the nomination of Governor Abiodun as APC gubernatorial candidate. But even Prof Oke does not believe in Biyi Otegbeye. While that case was pending, Professor Oke made several overtures to Governor Abiodun, through the SSG, offering to scuttle Biyi Otegbeye's court case, provided Gov Abiodun would extend some appreciation and "egbon-luabi" to him (his words). Prof Oke even took further unprofessional steps of sending to Governor Abiodun's team copies of confidential legal opinions that Prof Oke had sent to his client (Otegbeye).

Prof Oke shared the confidential opinions with his Client's opponent, to demonstrate his capacity to undermine Otegbeye's case as well as to show that even he had advised Otegbeye against the position they took in the case. Alarmed by this unprofessional conduct, the Governor's lawyers reported Prof Oke to the Presiding Judge of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta Division. The record of proceedings of that day are very instructive. Prof Oke admitted sending those messages to the Governor, and even the Judge held on record that "Oke has not answered or refuted" the allegation of his misconduct and double dealing. That is the same Prof Oke that is loudly singing Otegbeye's praises today. One can only wonder if Prof Oke is still selling Otegbeye out today; and to whom.


Under Abiodun, roads are springing up at will, from Atan to Lusada and from Owode to Ilaro. The people’s governor knows that the people that live in Imeko, Afon, Ilara, Okeagbede, Moriwi, Owode, Obada, Iwoye-Ketu, Okuta, Atapele, Idofa, among others, deserve to feel government presence just like anyone else. In September last year, he inaugurated the 2.4km Oke-Ola road and brought tears of joy to many faces simply because that was the first time asphalt had touched ground in the entire council area in more than 15 years. Hear the Onimeko of Imeko, Oba Benjamin Olanite: “The road was opened up in 1952. It started from Ilaro and passed through many towns before it got to Imeko. Looking at the neglect that we have suffered, it seemed the glory had departed this area after the exit of the colonial administration. But with Dapo Abiodun, we have seen the signal that the glory is returning... Since the Late General Sani Abacha repaired the road that leads to Imeko, this is the only governor that has constructed any road in Imeko.”


It was no wonder then that 42 royal majesties in Yewaland under the auspices of Trusted Royals formally endorsed the governor’s re-election bid last year. Speaking at a ceremony held at his Palace, the Ibepa of Joga Orile in Yewa North Local Government Area, Oba Adeyemi Adekeye, said the endorsement was to appreciate the governor for executing development projects in all parts of the state. Hear the Eselu of Iselu, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi: “Our governor, the whole Obas in Yewa and Aworiland have passed a vote of confidence in your government. We are happy with what you are doing in our state. You do not develop some parts to the detriment of others.” The Obas had a wish list, including a cement factory to exploit the large deposit of limestone in the area, the establishment of the Ogun State College of Agriculture; repair of the Iwoye-Jabata road, and approval for the Imeko Comprehensive College established by the community in 2013, and they are confident that it will be actualized. And hear the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle: “We are 100 percent in support of your second term…Our governor is both a talker and a doer. The governor has lived up to our expectations in Yewaland. We have trust in him, and we believe he will never disappoint us.”


Case closed. Biyi Otegbeye, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate who enjoys the backing of Prince Abiodun’s immediate past predecessor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, must wake up and smell the coffee. He is only being seriously scammed by his ‘professors’ of history.

Adedamola is an Abeokuta based journalist and public affairs analyst

Osun: PDP must consult very widely to retain power, underated APC-Jackson Lekan Ojo

.....says APC is wise and wild in legal struggle


A global security expert and political analyst, Jackson Lekan Ojo has said the reason for the loss of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the election tribunal in Osun was because the party took the opposition APC for granted, adding that the ruling party did not take the tribunal serious.

Ojo further described the APC as a very wise and wild party when it comes to legal battle, saying the party can go to any length to seek for justice and get it by all possible means even if it appears undoable.

He made these known on Sunday during a phone interview with newsmen, as he called on the PDP in Osun to consult widely and be proactive if they want to retain power in the State.

The security expert warned that should the PDP fails to consult widely and wider, the party would still loose at both Appeal court and Supreme.

Ojo said: "PDP in Osun are not doing what they supposed to do, this is not the time for protest, it is obvious that hundreds of protests can not in any way reverse the judgement of the tribunal.

" What the PDP needs to be doing now is to embark on wider consultations from all fronts, they should enter their enemy zone to consult; that is the only way they can retain power, mark my words, failure to do that will mark the end of the road for PDP and Adeleke career.

"You know the crux of the Tribunal judgement is all about Ademola and the election proper, they are fighting them from different angles because Adeleke started his Government fighting battles instead of settling down for governance and be strategizing and in the process stepped on many toes that are fighting back.

"Mark my words again, if PDP consults very widely, they may come out victorious at the Appeal and Supreme court, if not, that marks their end. I am an expert in political prophecy, their chances is not more than ten per cent".

A Civil Society Organization, CENTRE FOR GRASSROOT DEVELOPMENT AND CRIME PREVENTION INITIATIVE has called out the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) over its process of demonetization after the introduction of redesigned denominations of N200, N500, and N1000, late 2022, saying that the apex bank had jumped
gun without conscious recourse to the certain provisions of its Act.

The group explained that in as much as the original notion of the CBN towards curbing corruption and act of criminality through the policy is commendable and laudable, the pattern of implementation adopted by the bank is anti-people and in conflict with extant law.

The group, in a press statement signed by its National Coordinator, Salako Oluranti and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday argued that the two fundamental and integral conditions stipulated by
Section 20 of the CBN Act(2007) was not put into consideration by the apex bank, to make the process seamless and less stressful for Nigerians.

It said while the section unequivocally affirms all currencies issued by the CBN as legal tender on its face value and for the payment of any amount, the withdrawal of such currencies therefore from circulation must be a function of a specific directive from the President and after
reasonable notice for recall had been made.

According to the group, none of the two conditions were effectively and efficiently followed by the CBN, thereby making the whole process highly lopsided and shrouded in secrecy with attendant pandemonium and tension across the country.

The organization also asserted that the provision of the CBN ACT in section 20(3) which gives the power to CBN to withdraw bank notes that have been ceased to be legal tender as a result of demonetization clearly mandates the apex bank to allow citizens to redeem old notes in their possession upon demand, even after the
close of window for currency swap.

This provision according to the group was made purposely to guide against any form of agitation and tension the scramble by the citizen to meet deadline for currency swap might cause in the polity.

The statement read in part: '' While we recognize the need for financial inclusion and sustainable economy through the policy of demonetization as provided for by the CBN Act(2007) in its section 20 specifically. However, the modus operandi of the CBN under the
leadership of Mr Godwin Emiefele in the ongoing implementation of the policy is counterproductive as well as inimical to the survival of our economy and corporate entity.

''For instance, in line with the conditions for implementation provided by this Act, Nigerians are not aware if the policy of
demonetization originally emanated from the President through a directive to the CBN, also, the emphasis on ''Reasonable Notice of Recall'', by the ACT was not put into consideration by the CBN, which resulted to palpable tension and agitation of high magnitude among Nigerians who are afraid of loosing their hard earned money.

''Also, the awareness campaign by the CBN on the scope of the policy across Nigeria is terribly poor, short and insufficient, especially among the illiterate and semi-literate population, as well as in the rural areas.

''The most pathetic aspect of the modus operandi adopted by CBN is that contrary to the provision of the CBN ACT in section 20(3), the apex bank refused to tell Nigerians that there is window of opportunity for those who failed to meet up with the deadline for currency swap set as January 31st by the CBN to do so upon demand.

''Section 20(3) of the CBN ACT(2007) stipulates that'' Any note or coin with respect to which a notice has been given under this subsection, shall, on the expiration of the notice cease to be legal tender, but, subject to section 22 of this Act, shall be redeemed by the Bank upon demand.

'Obviously, if the CBN had effectively communicated the above subsection to Nigerians and made them to have the assurance of getting their old note swapped to new notes upon demand even after the deadline, nothing could have warranted the present tension across the country and the seeming threat to national security.

''On a final note, we want to explicitly state that the implementation of the policy of demonetization by the CBN is both lopsided and disservice, it regrettably violates the tenets of its Act in the area of diligent and effective communication to the people of Nigeria who have the inalienable rights to be adequately informed and enlightened.

"We, hereby, implore the CBN to quickly address all these anomalies in its policy implementation, especially the liberty provides for by the Act for Nigerians to still swap their old note with the new one upon demand with the CBN, this will go a long way to ameliorate the present tension in the polity.

The Ogun State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has congratulated Governor Gboyega Oyetola on his victory over Senator Ademola Adeleke at the Osun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, saying it was “a deserved victory that served justice.”

In a press statement issued on Friday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, and signed by its Publicity Secretary, Tunde Oladunjoye, the party said the chicken has come home to roost for Adeleke.

The Tribunal had earlier in the day nullified the election of Senator Adeleke and ordered the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) to withdraw the Certificate of Return earlier issued to him. In the majority judgement, which was read by the Chairman, Justice Tertse Kume, the Tribunal declared that Oyetola scored the majority lawful votes of 314,931 against Adeleke's 219,666.

Reacting to the judgement, the Ogun APC noted that justice has been served with the pronouncement of the court.

The party said, “The whole world now knows that the ‘secret of winning formula’, which loquacious Adeleke boasted of at a recent rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abeokuta, where he gleefully promised to teach Hon. Ladi Adebutu, his formula of over-voting. With the Tribunal’s judgement, Adeleke’s over-voting has failed in Osun State and it is dead before arrival in Ogun State,” the party said.

“We advise Adeleke to focus more on his dancing skills, for which he may enroll and mentor Ladi Adebutu instead of wasting his money to chase shadows at the Appeal Court. The court has spoken and justice is served."

“While also congratulating our party leaders and members in Osun, we urge them to be very vigilant. The security agencies must also be alert to prevent sore losers from taking the laws into their hands,” the statement concluded.

As the Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, traverses the length and breadth of the state campaigning for re-election, the gale of endorsements by stakeholders continues to confine any doubts about his prospects into sheer oblivion. For nearly four years, opposition elements driven by desperation had sought to paint him and his government in negative light using social media mobs but the chickens have, as they say, now come home to roost. The enthusiastic embrace of the governor on the campaign trains leaves no questions about the people’s quest to hire him once again for the Oke Mosan top job. Because his style of campaign has been built around stock taking, pitching the promises made in the past against the democratic deliverables that he has achieved, it has been impossible to impugn the integrity of his campaign.


Even outsiders can see the airport in Ilishan, the world class roads around the state, particularly the Sagamu-Abeokuta and Ijebu Ode-Epe roads; the phenomenally equipped housing estates made available to citizens as incredibly low cost, the reinvention of education with state-of-the-art facilities for schools; teacher empowerment and abolition of education levies, not to talk of the resolution of crisis in higher education; the massive upgrade of state hospitals, the mobilization and employment of thousands of the state’s teeming youth through tech hubs, the revival of the local adire industry; the massive reinvention of the health sector through the upgrade of facilities and recruitment of quality professionals across the medicine and health spectrum, and so much more. The Ogun electorate cannot forget the strides of their governor during the COVID-19 crisis which caused President Muhammadu Buhari to select only Lagos and Ogun for federal funding support, nor can they fail to appreciate the Omoluabi qualities that he has displayed since his election. They live in the climate of calm that pervades the length and breadth of the Gateway State. In any case, anywhere Governor Abiodun has gone to campaign, he has inaugurated signature projects with a great potential to lift the people out of despondency into renewed hope and optimism for the future. The message, really, is that under Abiodun, the Ogun people can look at the future with pride. Indeed, what makes the Ogun APC campaign so unique and different is the fact that he is not just going to the electorate to seek re-election. In 2018, he promised roads and other infrastructure like electricity, etc, and now the people are using the promised infrastructure. Because he is not visiting various campaign points to make empty promises, his campaign has been laden with credibility, reliability and acceptability. Even though they may have had doubts in 2019, people now believe him when he talks: he is inaugurating projects that were dictated by them. As a matter of fact, apart from Lagos, it is difficult to see any other state that can compete with his infrastructure drive. This has endeared him to the people. People can identify and point to his achievements.


As Governor Abiodun inaugurated the Itori Township Road and lock up shop in Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state this week, thousands of people echoed his declaration that the essence of government is to serve the people. The governor promised that work would soon commence on the construction of affordable houses in Itori, the headquarters of the local government, while agreement would soon be reached with the Federal Government on the Abeokuta-Ifo-Ota-Lagos road. Addressing party faithful and people at the campaign rally in Papalanto, Abiodun, promised that the old Ilaro road in the town would soon be reconstructed, while the Papalanto High School would witness be rehabilitated. The Olu of Itori, Oba Fatai Akamo, could not hide his appreciation of the governor. There was also much excitement in the air as he inaugurated the Esure Road in Ijebu-Mushin, unfolding what he still had in store for the people: the light-up-the-rural-areas project, with electricity transformers and solar system to be distributed this week.


The inauguration of projects extended to the 18km Ala-Idowa-Ibefun Road, described by the governor as “another milestone in the infrastructural development needed to further develop our state.” He added, to the delight of the energetic crowds: “These are visible projects which are in line with our vision to create prosperity for our people. We did not promise to do all things, but we will do all those things that we promised. We will make an appreciable mark by leaving the state better than we met it. We will continue to construct roads, rehabilitate schools and make them more conducive for learning. The federal road that connected Lagos with Ogun, it was constructed by the state government to ameliorate the hardship being encountered by the people who travel on the road on a daily basis.”


Speaking during a courtesy call on the Dagburewe of Idowa, Oba Yinusa Adekoya in his palace, he governor directed the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya, to move to the Imosan-Imodi road and commence its reconstruction, and the oba lauded his leadership style which he said had engendered development in all parts of the state. Indeed, speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers in the local government area, the Obiri of Idobiri, Oba Adebisi Okunbanjo, said they were happy to identify with the Abiodun-led administration, calling for the construction of Ikenne-Ayepe and Okun Owa-Ijesha-Ijebu roads. This was just as former deputy governors in the state, including Senator Gbenga Kaka, Alhaja Salimot Badru and the two deputy governors who served with the immediate past governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Segun Adesegun and Mrs.Yetunde Onanuga, declared their support at the APC campaign rally held at Odogbolu town. As Governor Abiodun enthused: “This is the first time all living past deputy governors will be in the same political camp and party. As you will agree with me, this is great.”


In Odeda, Prince Abiodun inaugurated the 5.6Km Somorin-Kemta road, saying that the huge infrastructure gap inherited by his administration informed the adoption of a strategic approach that would ensure that every part of the state benefits from one project or the other. Kemta also hosts the first housing estate built by his administration in the axis, creating an upsurge in commercial activities. According to the Olu of Kemta, Oba Okikiola Tejuosho, more than 40 communities are benefiting from the road. At Bode Olude, the governor announced that the Elega-Bode Olude road would be constructed within a week, while a transformer and borehole would also be constructed to provide potable water to the people of the area. Abiodun also inaugurated the 5.7 kilometre Oru-Awa-Ilaporu Road in Ijebu North Local Government Area. He said: "We were here to commission the Igan road in Ago-Iwoye. About five weeks ago, we were at Ijebu-Igbo to commission the Molusi College Road and today we are here to commission the Oru-Awa-Ilaporu road. This local government area is indeed lucky to have three projects in less than four years. You can recall that this local government did not benefit from any project from the past government, but now you have three.” The Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo, Oba Lawrence Adebajo, can then be forgiven for calling on the people to support the governor’s second term bid. It is a season of life-changing projects in the Gateway State.

Joseph contributes this piece through koredejoseph@aol.com

Breaking: Jubilation, as Appeal court upholds Otegbeye's candidacy, others in Ogun

There is ongoing jubilation across Ogun State, as the court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Monday upheld the candidacy of Barrister Biyi Otegbeye, the gubernatorial candidate of the party in Ogun State, alongside candidates for House of Assembly contesting on the platform of the party.

Recall that the Labour party and ruling All Progressives Congress, had approached a Federal High Court in Abeokuta and got judgement in a suit seeking for the disqualification of Otegbeye and others on the platform of African Democratic Congress; the judgement which was subsequently challenged at the appellate court.

The court substantially upheld the grounds of appeal by ADC and it's candidates, thereby setting aside the judgement of High Court and consequently certified Otegbeye and all House of Assembly candidates on the platform of the party eligible for the forthcoming poll.

Meanwhile, there was wild jubilation across the gateway state on Monday, following the victory of ADC candidates at the court, suggesting a huge acceptability of Otegbeye's candidacy and other candidates of the party across Ogun State.

Speaking on the issue in Abeokuta, the State capital, a political pundit and expert in Politics , Philosophy and Economics (PPE) Dr Adekunle Ajayi said the development has significantly changed the trend and pattern of political activities in Ogun State.

"The judgement of Appeal court this morning, confirming the eligibility of Barrister Biyi Otegbeye as the gubernatorial candidate of the APC in the coming elections remains a watershed in the political climate of Ogun State.

" This development has changed the paradigm of political activities in a jiffy. This is a pointer to the fact that Otegbeye remains a leading candidate come March this year.

"His candidacy is like a rallying point for socio-political revolution in Ogun State. Remember that the former Governor of the State and present Senator representing Ogun Central at the National Assembly, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, last year endorsed Otegbeye as the candidate of his choice, this tells you that his victory is already sealed".

In the same vein, a civil servant, who simply identified himself as Ayo lamented what he termed a deceptive administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun, saying every civil servant in the State was looking up to the ADC for liberation from the present quagmire in the State.

"This is indeed a cheering development to all of us in the State, especially the civil servants, we have been yawning for a vibrant and masses-oriented party like ADC to lead the struggle for emancipation from this ineptitude leadership in Ogun State".

Breaking: Jubilation, as Appeal court upholds Otegbeye's candidacy, others in Ogun

There is ongoing jubilation across Ogun State, as the court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Monday upheld the candidacy of Barrister Biyi Otegbeye, the gubernatorial candidate of the party in Ogun State, alongside candidates for House of Assembly contesting on the platform of the party.

Recall that the Labour party and ruling All Progressives Congress, had approached a Federal High Court in Abeokuta and got judgement in a suit seeking for the disqualification of Otegbeye and others on the platform of African Democratic Congress; the judgement which was subsequently challenged at the appellate court.

The court substantially upheld the grounds of appeal by ADC and it's candidates, thereby setting aside the judgement of High Court and consequently certified Otegbeye and all House of Assembly candidates on the platform of the party eligible for the forthcoming poll.

Meanwhile, there was wild jubilation across the gateway state on Monday, following the victory of ADC candidates at the court, suggesting a huge acceptability of Otegbeye's candidacy and other candidates of the party across Ogun State.

Speaking on the issue in Abeokuta, the State capital, a political pundit and expert in Politics , Philosophy and Economics (PPE) Dr Adekunle Ajayi said the development has significantly changed the trend and pattern of political activities in Ogun State.

"The judgement of Appeal court this morning, confirming the eligibility of Barrister Biyi Otegbeye as the gubernatorial candidate of the APC in the coming elections remains a watershed in the political climate of Ogun State.

" This development has changed the paradigm of political activities in a jiffy. This is a pointer to the fact that Otegbeye remains a leading candidate come March this year.

"His candidacy is like a rallying point for socio-political revolution in Ogun State. Remember that the former Governor of the State and present Senator representing Ogun Central at the National Assembly, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, last year endorsed Otegbeye as the candidate of his choice, this tells you that his victory is already sealed".

In the same vein, a civil servant, who simply identified himself as Ayo lamented what he termed a deceptive administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun, saying every civil servant in the State was looking up to the ADC for liberation from the present quagmire in the State.

"This is indeed a cheering development to all of us in the State, especially the civil servants, we have been yawning for a vibrant and masses-oriented party like ADC to lead the struggle for emancipation from this ineptitude leadership in Ogun State".

Breaking: Jubilation, as Appeal court upholds Otegbeye's candidacy, others in Ogun

There is ongoing jubilation across Ogun State, as the court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Monday upheld the candidacy of Barrister Biyi Otegbeye, the gubernatorial candidate of the party in Ogun State, alongside candidates for House of Assembly contesting on the platform of the party.

Recall that the Labour party and ruling All Progressives Congress, had approached a Federal High Court in Abeokuta and got judgement in a suit seeking for the disqualification of Otegbeye and others on the platform of African Democratic Congress; the judgement which was subsequently challenged at the appellate court.

The court substantially upheld the grounds of appeal by ADC and it's candidates, thereby setting aside the judgement of High Court and consequently certified Otegbeye and all House of Assembly candidates on the platform of the party eligible for the forthcoming poll.

Meanwhile, there was wild jubilation across the gateway state on Monday, following the victory of ADC candidates at the court, suggesting a huge acceptability of Otegbeye's candidacy and other candidates of the party across Ogun State.

Speaking on the issue in Abeokuta, the State capital, a political pundit and expert in Politics , Philosophy and Economics (PPE) Dr Adekunle Ajayi said the development has significantly changed the trend and pattern of political activities in Ogun State.

"The judgement of Appeal court this morning, confirming the eligibility of Barrister Biyi Otegbeye as the gubernatorial candidate of the APC in the coming elections remains a watershed in the political climate of Ogun State.

" This development has changed the paradigm of political activities in a jiffy. This is a pointer to the fact that Otegbeye remains a leading candidate come March this year.

"His candidacy is like a rallying point for socio-political revolution in Ogun State. Remember that the former Governor of the State and present Senator representing Ogun Central at the National Assembly, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, last year endorsed Otegbeye as the candidate of his choice, this tells you that his victory is already sealed".

In the same vein, a civil servant, who simply identified himself as Ayo lamented what he termed a deceptive administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun, saying every civil servant in the State was looking up to the ADC for liberation from the present quagmire in the State.

"This is indeed a cheering development to all of us in the State, especially the civil servants, we have been yawning for a vibrant and masses-oriented party like ADC to lead the struggle for emancipation from this ineptitude leadership in Ogun State".

The postulation of the former Prime Minister of Philippines, Gloria Aroyo, implicitly gives credence to the requisite capacity and competence expected of a leader to give purposeful leadership at all times.

Aroyo posits:" The greatest litmus test of a good leader is the ability to be at the forefront leading, at the middle inspiring, and at the back defending the superior interests of his followers".

This submission of the former Prime Minister of Philippines rightly describes the personality and posture of a political phenomenon in Kwara, the Turaki of Ilorin and the leading Senatorial candidate in the State, Mallam Saliu Mustapha.

That Saliu Mustapha has become an household name in the political climate of Kwara is an understatement, the mineral resources Engineer is now a juggernaut in every nook and cranny of Kwara, effectively domiciled in Kwara Central Senatorial District.

His prowess in political mobilization and constructive campaign of high intellectual engagement is inspirational as well as his rare humility and cognitive capacity to relate with every section of the society.

Many Analysts have adduced the impeccable personality and cultured trait of Saliu Mustapha to his pedigree, while some argue that the Senatorial candidate for Kwara central is blessed with natural endowment of native intelligence and uncommon humility.

Also, scores of politicians, as well as residents of Kwara central and beyond have expressed great astonishment on Mustapha's propensity and capacity to give out generously to the common people and turn lives around in a jiffy, coupled with his enduring developmental drive across the Kwara central senatorial district.

He has been identified as not only a pillar of support for the incumbent Governor of the State, AbdulRhaman AbdulRasaq but a reliable ally and dependable lieutenant in the field of politics and responsive governance.

It is gratifying to know that the Turaki of Ilorin was a key actor in the revolution of emancipation that liberated the people of Kwara from the shackles of suffocating political jackboots of old.

His youthful and undented posture have been a fantastic leverage over every other candidate in the Kwara central senatorial district; as he dominates the consciousness of every electorate in the zone and beyond like a collosus.

His political career, dated back to the inception of this fourth republic in 1999, has witnessed a rapid advancement with the speed of light, rising from the position of the first Publicity Secretary of the Progressive Action Congress(PAC) to become a member of the ANPP who worked assiduously and with great passion for the presidential ambition of Muhammadu Buhari in 2003.

In 2009, when some members of ANPP, led by Buhari formed the Congress for Progressive Change(CPC), Mustapha became the National Deputy Chairman of the Party, the position he effectively and efficiently held till the merger of CPC and other political parties that formed All Progressive Congress(APC) in the build up to the 2015 general elections.

Without mincing words, the senatorial election slated for 25th February, 2023 is indeed a walk over for Saliu Mustapha in Kwara central, and a great political rebirth of sorts in the entire Kwara State.

In the words of the 35th American President, J.F. Kennedy, "Those who refuse to participate in the politics of their environment end up being governed by their inferiors".

The above warning of Kennedy has been strictly heeded by Saliu Mustapha, as he took it upon himself to guide against the menace of allowing charlatans to lead the people of his political environment to Armageddon, in line with the old tradition of ineptitude leadership.

Congratulations to the people of Kwara central senatorial district, congratulations to the entire State of Harmony, as we welcome a leading light and phenomenal leader of robust influence and capacity, Mallam Saliu Mustapha, the Turaki of Ilorin, into the Red chamber of National Assembly come June, 2023, to provide quality representation to his senatorial district and Nigeria at large.

Olabode Ajibola, Executive Director, Advocacy for Advancement of Peace and Harmony in Africa Initiative ( ADAPHAI)

...inaugurates 5.7 km Oru-Awa-Alaporu road


Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has reassured the people that areas yet to feel the impact of his administration will soon begin to enjoy infrastructure developments, while asking them to be patient as efforts are being intensified to spread more infrastructural amenities in line with the vision of his government.

Abiodun gave the assurance on Thursday during the commissioning of 5.7 kilometre Oru-Awa-Alaporu Road in Ijebu North Local Government Area, as he continued his second term campaign tour in Ijebu North Local Government, describing the newly inaugurated road as an important bypass that would boost the socio-economic development of the axis.

Explaining that the commissioning of the road was another testimony of his administration's drive to open up the state through ease of movement of people, foods and services, he noted that the road is the third to be commissioned in a month within the local government area.

He said: "This will be the third time we will be in this local government to commission road projects. We were here to commission the Igan road in Ago-Iwoye. About five weeks ago, we were at Ijebu-Igbo to commission the Molusi College Road and today we are here to commission the Oru-Awa-Alaporu road.

"This local government area is indeed lucky to have three projects in less than four years. You can recall that this local government did not benefit from any project from the past government, but now you have three", he said.

Enumerating the importance of the road, the governor stressed that the road would serve as a bye-pass to ijebu-Igbo and travellers from the state to Ibadan in Oyo State, stating that the road would also serve as a facilitator of goods and services across the local government.

Admonishing the residents to support his re-election in order to enjoy more dividends of democracy, the governor stated that all the legacy projects are reference points that his second term would bring in more developmental projects into the state.

He also thanked the traditional rulers for their support, noting that all the people-oriented projects executed in the state by his administration were made possible through their cooperation, imploring the residents to be patient as the government was working hard in addressing the high rate of infrastructural decay inherited from the previous administration.

The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya, in his remarks, said the road which was in a deplorable condition, would ease people's movement within the axis, adding that the road was provided with road furniture such as walkway and streetlight for the security of the residents.

Also speaking, the Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo, Oba Lawrence Adebajo, appreciated the present administration for extending developmental projects to the local government, calling on the people to support the governor for a second term.