Aregbesola, not Oyetola, sold Osun shares in Omoluabi Bank

By Adebayo Adedeji

Contrary to the claim of the talk-then-think chairman of the Osun PDP, Mr Sunday Bisi, that ex-Governor Adegboyega Oyetola sold Omoluabi Mortgage Bank to Citi Trust Limited, the fact of the matter is that the said stake was actually sold by the government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola at a time Dr Wale Bolorunduro, who was recently nominated as Chairman of the bank by Governor Adeleke, was the Commissioner of Finance in the state.

In 2013, the government of Aregbesola went to the Nigerian Stock Exchange in order to increase the company's share capital by N1.65bn so as to be above the N2.5bn minimum capital requirement set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for mortgage banks in the country.

Bolorunduro said in an interview, "Why Omoluabi Public Offering Opens, Closes Same Day" granted Daily News Watch but published on the website of the Osun State Government on 31st December, 2013, that " The Capital Market we could say was sleeping and Osun has to wake it up and we believe that come 27th December, 2013, Omoluabi Savings and Loans Limited would have been able to raise N1.65bn and the share would be public. The law of the country does not allow us to restrict it to only Osun citizens."

After the Privatisation, the bank was listed on the Alternative Securities Market (ASeM) of the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 2014.

The Osun State Government and its 30 local government councils were left with 39.9% while Morgan Capital Securities Limited became the major shareholder with 38.96% while UniCapital Limited obtained 21% equity stake in the company.

By 2018 when the government of Aregbesola eclipsed, the equity of Morgan Capital, as referenced on page 7 of the 2018 Annual Report and Financials of Omoluabi Mortgage Bank, had increased to 43% with 2,196,031,423 shareholding while that of Uni Capital Plc was reduced to 14.1% with 705,170,000 share holding. Both the state government of Osun and the 30LGAs retained their 40% stake. The shareholding structure of 40% for the state government and the local government councils was retained and untouched throughout the tenure of Oyetola. So from where did the lie of Oyetola selling Osun shares to private investors come? The later divestment of shares to Citi Trust was an internal arrangement among investors within the company which had no link or connection with the state government. No share of the Osun people in the LIVINGTRUST Bank was sold under the administration of Oyetola.

Find below the Ownership Structure of the bank as at 2018:

1. Morgan Capital Securities Ltd - Holding 43.9%, No of Share Holding -2,196,031,423
2. *Osun State Govt - Holding 18.2%* , No of Share Holding 909,706,292
3. UniCapital Plc- 14.1%, No of Share Holding 705,170,000
4. *Osun State Local Govts - 21.8%* , No of Share Holding 1,090, 133,708
5. Other Retails - 2.0%, 98,958,577

It is gladdening that the story of Omoluabi Mortgage Bank ( now LIVINGTRUST Mortgage Limited) is coming at this period. For it will afford the people of Osun a great opportunity to confront both Rauf Aregbesola and his protégé, Wale Bolorunduro, with questions of how our commonwealth was brazenly mismanaged by them. But while this is going on, the loquacious PDP Chairman in Osun, Sunday Bisi, should be advised to hold his peace for the discussion is above his knowledge and pay grade.

Meanwhile, the government of Senator Ademola Adeleke should note that it is now an offence, going by the CBN's 2023 Corporate Governance Guidelines for Commercial, Merchant, Non-Interest, Payment Service Banks in Nigeria, for a government to own more than 10 per cent stake in a bank. The Regulation states, in Section 20, that "Government's direct and indirect equity holding in a bank shall not be more than ten per cent (10%), which shall be divested to private investors within a maximum period of five years from the date of investment."

Let's see what would become of the 40% shares of the state government and its local governments in the bank in the years to come.

https://www.newsindicator.com.ng/2024/04/16/group-drags-osun-govt-to-efcc-for-awarding-road-contracts-to-estate-agents-fertilizer-distributors-cyber-cafe-operatorsseeks-investigation-of-deputy-speaker-5-contractors/

Group Drags Osun Govt to EFCC For Awarding Road Contracts To Estate Agents, Fertilizer Distributors, Cyber-cafe Operators

• Seeks Investigation of Deputy Speaker, 5 Contractors

A Non-Governmental Organisation, "League of Peace Ambassadors, Humanity and Human Rights Advocates," has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the procurement processes leading to awards of the recent road contracts in Osun State.

In the Petition sighted by this medium, the group wants the EFCC to specifically investigate why Raregeode Company Limited and Acumen Forte Limited, two companies allegedly owned by the current Deputy Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Mr Akinyode Abidemi Oyewusi, were awarded contracts worth N10bn in violation of Sections 17 and 25 of the state Public Procurement law of 2015.

The group equally wants the anti-graft agency to investigate the awards of contracts to A'scorj Integrated Nigeria Limited, Great Enyork Technology Limited and Enginec Engineering Limited.

The Petition which was accompanied by relevant documents obtained from the Corporate Affairs Commission, reads in part, " This petition is brought for investigation into how the Osun State Public Procurement Agency brazenly violated the 2015 Procurement Law of the state in award of contracts worth about Fifty Billion Naira (N50b) to entities with no professional and technical competence."

The group affirms that by virtue of the PPA Law of 2015, the Osun State Assembly is part of the public procurement processes.

It adds that besides being the financial approving authority for all the public contracts in the state, the state assembly carries out oversight function on the agency and public procurement processes.

"It therefore amounts to unholy Conflict of Interest that a leader of the state assembly will through the backdoor use two companies founded by him, where he is still a shareholder and where members of his family are still holding principal directing positions, to bid for public contracts," the group submits.

On the Raregeode Company Limited linked to the Deputy Speaker, the group states that "according to Section 23 (5) of the Public Procurement Law 2015, all bidders shall possess the following: (a) Professional and technical qualification to carry out particular procurement. (b) Have fulfilled all its obligations to pay taxes, pensions and social security contributions."

The group maintains that there is no evidence to suggest Raregeode, which was contracted to construct 4 span bridge across Osun River and dual-span bridge across Erinle River for N3,937,072,827.00, has competence and professional expertise to execute the project awarded to it. The only business traceable to the company is distribution of fertilizers and allied agricultural items.

"Again, as at the period the company obtained the contract," the petition reads further, "it did not satisfy the requirement of the law in relation to tax payment as its record on the website of the Corporate Affairs Commission shows 'inactive' indicating that the company was in arrears regarding payment of due taxes, charges, pension and social insurance contribution, in clear violation of Section 23 (7d) of the Public Procurement Law (2015) of Osun State.

Similarly, the group alleges that Acumen Forte Limited, awarded the Dualisation of 2.2km Old Garage-Okefia-Lameco Junction worth N5,822,105,829, has no professional and technical competence just as it did not possess the legal capacity to enter into procurement contract as provided in Section 23 of the state procurement law as it did not fulfil all its tax obligations.

The group is astonished as well that the state government awarded the contract for construction of 7 span bridge at Okefia Intersection, Osogbo, valued at N10b, to A'scorj Limited, a company which was registered as a real estate agency. It holds that the company has no requisite experience to undertake such a road project just as it did not fulfil the tax clearance requirement stipulated in Section 23 (5) of the Osun State Public Procurement Law (2015).

The group, in equal breath, discloses that both Great Enyork Technology Limited (RC 662293) and Enginec Engineering (RC 1181360) located in Lagos, and given combined contracts worth of N23b, have no relevant experience in road construction.

While Great Enyork, according to the petitioner, was registered as a business centre and cyber cafe operator, Enginec Engineering Limited is a purely electrical engineering company.

It concludes that "given the opaque procurement bidding process which birthed the above mentioned contracts and the obviously inflated contract sum, it is tempting to presume that an economic or financial crime has occured," particularly when the section 23(f), which provides that Procurement process should be conducted in a such a manner that members of the public are carried along and given opportunity to monitor the process, was abysmally abused.

The group, in clear terms, accuses the Osun procurement agency of failing to invite as observer at least a non-governmental organisation working in transparency and anti-corruption areas, as enshrined in Section 29 of the state law.

https://www.newsindicator.com.ng/2024/03/29/technical-colleges-stop-your-obsession-with-anything-oyetola-omipidan-tells-adeleke-aregbesola-osun-defender/

Technical colleges: 'Stop your obsession with anything Oyetola', Omipidan tells Adeleke, Aregbesola, Osun Defender

...says his Principal never abandoned any project


Spokesman to the immediate past Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, Ismail Omipidan, has called on Governor Ademola Adeleke, and the chief promoter of Osun Defender, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, to stop their unnecessary fixation on Oyetola, cautioning them to always cross check their facts even if they are bent on painting the former governor black.

Omipidan noted that he had observed a trend in recent times where either the state government or its affiliates would spin lies against the former governor, while Osun Defender elevates the lies and misinformation simply because Oyetola is involved.

He urged for a more responsible approach to public discourse, devoid of personal agendas or vendettas.

Omipidan was reacting to the latest misinformation by Governor Adeleke over the state of technical colleges in Osun, a lie elevated by Osun Defender in their usual destructive manner.

The spokesman to Oyetola noted that in the first instance, the technical colleges project, popularly known as the skill G project, was never initiated by Aregbesola as claimed by Osun Defender and Governor Ademola Adeleke, adding that "if Aregbesola had put in the type of energy my principal exerted on that project, the project would have since been completed."

He further said "for the avoidance of doubt, the project was started by Governor Oyinlola who had paid part of the project sum before he left government.

"Contrary to the narrative by Governor Ademola Adeleke and Osun Defender, it was Governor Aregbesola that abandoned the project because of the mutual hatred that existed between him and Oyinlola at the time.

"As a matter of fact, several stakeholders pleaded with Aregbesola to continue the project but he refused. It was only at the tail end of his eight years administration, when it was impossible for him to do much, that he made attempt to revive the project.

"So, when my Principal came on board, he met Mr. Dagan and his team in Skill G severally in a bid to revive the project.

"Skill G revised the project cost upward by about 2 billion naira citing inflation as their reason. It was also agreed that government should pay them a substantial sum to begin with and as a mark of government seriousness to revive the project. That was done.

"After they were paid, Skill G arranged to bring their Isreali experts into the country to finish the project. But unfortunately after they had committed resources and finalised all their arrangements, COVID-19 broke out and the whole world, including Israel and Nigeria, went into a lockdown.

"After COVID, another effort was made by my Principal to revive the project through series of meetings involving him, Prof. Olu Aina ( a voluntary adviser to the state on technical education/skill G project) and Mr Dagan and his team. It was at one of such meetings that it was agreed that the outstanding on the project should be paid in six equal installments to enable Skill G to restart the whole project and that the project too should be delivered in installments beginning with Osogbo and Ife technical colleges. And my principal started the payment by instalment. So, how can a man who came this far with the project be accused of abandoning the same project?

"Let me add that Oyetola has since moved on. Therefore, those obsessed with the hearing of his name will continue to be tormented by the strides being recorded by him," Omipidan added.

Osun Teachers' Recruitments and Matters Arising

By Adebayo Adedeji

Is it true that Governor Ademola Adeleke has secretly re-absorbed some of the 1,500 teachers employed by his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola, but dismissed through his draconian Executive Order in November 2022? Is it true the current teachers' recruitment is to compensate the PDP leaders and friends of the government? I will return to these questions later.

At his inauguration on 27 November 2022, Governor Ademola Adeleke, like a bull in a china shop, had announced the dismissal of 1,500 school teachers employed by the preceding administration, claiming that the employment process was illegal and was a landmine created to destabilise his government.


The teachers were bonafide Osun indigenes who did not only pass the written examination set by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, ( the technical experts engaged for the recruitment), but also scaled the series of rigorous oral interview sessions designed to confirm their suitability for the teaching role.

All entreaties to Governor Adeleke to reinstate the embattled teachers fell on deaf ears, even when it was reported that no fewer than four of the concerned teachers had died, barely two months after the sadistic review of the governor, on account of complications arising from depression

Reacting to the plights of the distraught teachers, the Special Assistant on Community Communications to the governor, Tunde Busari, in Jan. 2023, said there was no going back on the demonic sack of the teachers.

In fact he said those engaging in demonstrations, to press home their appeal, were APC members smuggled into the state payroll by former Governor Oyetola.

According to him, "Those APC members are now playing the script. They have failed from the beginning as this administration will not bow to unjustified demands from those who collaborated to deepen Osun financial woes.

He added that no amount of demonstration and blackmail could change the reality that those teachers had been dismissed.

But alas, there is a credible information indicating that some PDP affiliates who were part of the 1,500 sacked teachers have been secretly reabsorbed and posted to schools to teach.

This is coming at a time the state government is claiming to be conducting fresh teachers' recruitment.


The new recruitment process, which has been strongly criticized by job applicants for its shoddiness, is touted to employ 5,000 teachers. However, many have expressed their lack of confidence in the whole process, adding that it is a smokescreen aimed at rewarding politicians.

According to them, there is every reason to believe that the recruitment is fashioned to favour family members, political cronies and children of politicians, reason the aptitude tests conducted by the state government on 27 and 28 March were poorly organised.

In the words of one of the job applicants, "It is strange that the state government, after obtaining N2,500 job application fee, and in many cases, additional N10,000 for State of Origin Certificate, from poor and struggling job seekers, they could not conduct decent aptitude test. It is shameful. This recruitment exercise (examination) is rubbish and arrant nonsense.

"I participated in the 2021 recruitment process though I didn't make the final list. It was well scheduled, prepared and organised, unlike this one we experienced yesterday at UNIOSUN. Exams, scheduled to start by 8am, didn't start until 5pm in many centres. Again, the questions were sub-standard: as if they were not vetted by test measurement experts. The government should not have wasted our time when they knew slots had been handed to their cronies and party members," the applicant recounted her awful experience and disappointment.

1. Were the tests ill-fated, as being rumoured, to serve the selfish interest of the people in government?


2. Is it true that the state government has reabsorbed some of the 1,500 teachers earlier sacked?

3. If yes, how many of them were reabsorbed?

4. How many candidates applied for the current teachers' recruitment?

5. What is the fate of the unlucky applicants who could not be enrolled for the test or whose tests were either cancelled or postponed indefinitely owing to the organisational incompetence of the government handlers saddled with the process?


The government must address the foregoing questions in order to demonstrate to the worried job seekers that it is committed to a transparent and fair recruitment process. This is the responsible thing the state government should do, and urgently, in this situation.

Blocking leakages at NIMASA: Oyetola meets Mainbridge, Abu Dhabi investment group

As part of efforts to revolutionise the Nigeria's Maritime sector, the minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, today, met with Mainbridge and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.

The meeting centred on the proposed Digital Marine Project, with focus on the Electronic Maritime Administration and Revenue Assurance Project (EMARAP). The team was led by the Group CEO of Mainbridge, Bola Adefehinti.

Mainbridge is an investment firm with a focus on Africa's infrastructure development, while Abu Dhabi Investment Authority is a global investment company managing a diversified portfolio worldwide, including Africa.

EMARAP, according to the proponents, is, when deployed, expected to address maritime challenges in Nigeria, from piracy to revenue leakages, utilising advanced technology to enhancing NIMASA's capabilities.

Mainbridge and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority identified key areas like port management and fisheries for development.

Responding, the minister expressed the ministry's readiness to partner with the group, saying the contents of the project marked a promising future for the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

Among those who attended the meeting are: Dr. Dayo Mobereola, DG, NIMASA; Dr. Charles Akinola and Prof. Busayo Fakinlede.

https://www.newsindicator.com.ng/2024/03/19/osun-apc-faults-adeleke-for-awarding-billion-naira-road-contracts-to-brother-deji-adeleke-nephew-davido-others/


*Osun APC faults Adeleke for awarding billion naira road contracts to brother, Deji Adeleke, nephew, Davido, others*

*...urges anti-graft agencies to wade in*

Following the alleged nepotism in the award of public contracts in Osun by the Governor Ademola Adeleke led-government, the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has berated the Governor for awarding multibillion naira infrastructural projects to his elder brother, Dr. Deji Adeleke; his son, David Adeleke popularly known as 'Davido; Deputy Speaker, Akinyode Abidemi Oyewusi among others.

The opposition party in the state scolded the governor for continuously running the affairs of the state as private enterprise of Adeleke's dynasty, decrying the gross violation of the 2015 Public Procurement Law of the state in the award of the contracts worth about N50bn to entities with no professional and technical competence.

This is even as the party called on the anti-graft agencies, particularly Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to come to the aid of the state.

The APC raised the allegations on Tuesday at a Press Conference addressed by its Chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Lawal, held at Tinubu/ Shettima campaign office, Osogbo.

Lawal accused Adeleke of flagrant disobedience of extant laws and gross violation of the 2015 Public Procurement Law of the state in the award of the contracts to entities with no background in road construction.

According to him, the financial injection through the supposed infrastructure is being circumvented and cornered by the Adeleke family using business names of Dr. Deji Adeleke and lawmaker from Ife North State constituency of Osun State, Hon. Akinyode Abidemi Oyewumi.

"Tongues are currently wagging in Osun State that the billionaire brother of Governor Adeleke, Dr Deji Adeleke and his son, Mr David Adeleke a.k.a. 'Davido' are interested parties in the touted multi-billion naira road and flyover projects using inactive and inexperienced companies to front for them.

"It is bizarre that two companies founded by the incumbent Deputy Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Mr Akinyode Abidemi Oyewusi, were recently awarded road construction contracts by the Government of Osun State.

"The Osun State Deputy Speaker is the founder of Raregeode Company Limited and Acumen Forte Limited, two companies awarded road projects by Governor Adeleke to the tune of N9 billion and was a shareholder in the two companies as at the time the contracts were awarded; while members of his family were also Person(s) with Significant Interest in the two companies, which is contrary to the public procurement law of Osun State.

"By virtue of the PPA Law of 2015, it amounts to unholy conflict of interest that a leader of the state House of Assembly will, through the back door, use two companies founded by him and where he is still a shareholder and members of his family are still holding principal directing positions, to bid for public contracts.

"For the fact that this seemingly unpatriotic action of Mr Oyewusi grossly violates provisions of the state's procurement law, he should resign his membership of the state House of Assembly outright and hand himself over to the anti-graft agency for prosecution.

"Again, it is strange that the Ademola Adeleke Government awarded public contracts to companies with no history of road construction. There is no verifiable evidence that Raregeode Company Limited, Acumen Forte Limited and the three companies engaged for the road construction, namely: Ascorj Integrated Nigeria Ltd, Great Enyork Technology Limited and Enginec Engineering Limited, have the capacity and experience for such whooping contracts. The contracts were not only gifted to mushroom companies, they were gifted at insane costs. Even in the Niger Delta states where topology is unfriendly, contracts are not awarded at N2.5bn per kilometer as Governor Adeleke has done in the instance of Osun.

"We want to use this medium to call on the anti-graft agencies, especially the ICPC and EFCC, to immediately move in their men to Osun State in order to halt the reckless mismanagement of public fund which is now endemic under the government of Senator Ademola Adeleke", Lawal asserted.

The APC frayed the Adeleke's style of governance which it described as anti-masses saying "while Governor Adeleke and members of his family are lining their pockets with public fund, the people of Osun State suffer untold hardship on account of lack of palliative and welfare programmes from the government of the state".

The party inferred that it is paradoxical that despite the fact that the monthly allocations from the federation account since May last year have doubled, Osun State Government under the leadership of Governor Adeleke has flagrantly refused to complement the palliatives provided by the Federal Government to cushion the debilitating effects of the removal of the oil subsidy.

"Under Governor Adeleke, the state is now described in the media as the Poverty Headquarters of Yorubaland as all micro-economic indices have isolated Osun State in the South-West as the poorest. Ever since the current socio-economic challenges erupted, the Adeleke hegemony has never directly intervened to ease the global and national trauma", the party stated.

Lawal also debunked the PDP's allegations against the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, of using his position and closeness to the President to destabilize the state saying the false alarm confirmed the palpable ineptness in the Adeleke's government.

"Rather than facing governance and providing solution to the problems bedeviling the state, the government of Osun State is busy playing petty politics, manufacturing lies to tarnish the enviable image of our party leaders. You will recall that the leadership of the PDP in the state led by one political mascot in a statement accused Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, of using his closeness to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to destabilize the state.

"We want to state pointedly here as a party that there is no basis for such accusation as it was not only misplaced but unfounded as the peace-loving marine minister is preoccupied with how to complement the efforts of President Tinubu in the realization of his Renewed Hope Agenda in the interest of the generality of the people of this nation", the party added.

press9jatv:
Haaa, this one won’t last on the throne

Lol

https://www.newsindicator.com.ng/2024/03/08/breaking-commotion-in-iree-community-as-adelekes-appointed-monarch-breaks-into-seclusion-shrine/

Breaking : Commotion in Iree Community As Adeleke's Appointed Monarch Breaks Into Seclusion Shrine

...When Traditional Chiefs Boycott Rites

The newly appointed Aare of Iree, Mr Muritala Oyelakin, on Friday, invaded the Odofin's compound in Iree and broke the door leading to king's seclusion shrine to forcefully gain entrance for the traditional rites.

He invaded the shrine with some suspected hoodlums and unknown local hunters from outside the town, shooting sporadically in the air before they left abruptly without performing any rites.

According to tradition of Iree community, a new king is mandated to stay in the Odofin's compound for three days for seclusion (Ipebi) before moving to the palace.

It was gathered that the controversial Muritala Oyelakin will be the first Aare who did not undergo the seclusion at the Odofin's compund.

It was learnt that the new king had shunned the rites when traditional chiefs in-charge of the process refused to turn up, claiming that the same had been performed on Oba Rapheal Ademola Oluponnle, and repeating it for Oyelakin would be sacrilegious and manipulative.

The chiefs, namely Asalu, Odofin and Oluode, insisted that until Oba Oluponnle ages and joins his forefathers, the items being used to perform such traditional rites would not be retrieved and applied on any other person.

Pa Bolanle Ojo, the head of Odofin compound said, "It is practically impossible for us to accept another person into seclusion. Everything necessary traditionally was done and handed over to Oba Oluponnle, and we can't retrieve it.

"We have never heard it in history that such rites were performed for two Obas at the same time in Iree and if we should allow it, it is an invitation to doom, which we have always been praying against.

Also, the Asalu of Iree, High Chief Taiwo Mariana said, "I am the head of all deities in Iree. We conducted the necessary rites for Oba Oluponnle and it cannot be done twice; the government should please tread with caution by not using the Obaship matter to create confusion in Iree.

"All the stakeholders should please allow peace to reign. We have done the needful for Oba Oluponnle and we can not invite the wrath of our ancestors by engaging in sacrilegious act meant to serve personal interest of some people.

Also, the Security head in the community, Oluode of Iree, Ayodeji Oguniyi said all the hunters were fully involved in the selection process, installation as well as every aspect of the tradition leading to Obs Oluponnle's enthronement.

He stressed that it is a taboo for traditional rites chiefs to make the same sacrifice for another king while the occupant of the position is still alive, appealing to the state government to allow peace and tranquility reign in the community.

However, Oba Oluponnle insisted that he remains the Aree of Iree, as the certificate of his appointment and staff office are still in his custody, saying, no court of competent jurisdiction has spoken otherwise.

"As far as I am concerned, I remain the Aree of Iree because as we speak, the case instituted against my appointment as Aree is still before a state High Court. Hearing had been conducted and we are expecting the judgement.

Significantly, the so-called White Paper released by the Governor Adeleke stated that the Kingmaker who are challenging my emergence should withdraw their suit before starting another process, but between the time that the said paper was released and the time they approved the appointment of another person, the judiciary workers were on strike. They just announced their resumption and they will resume on Monday next week.

"The question now is that when and where was the case withdrawn, meaning that the government has again violated its directive in the white paper. So, the government lacks respect for the court and lack respect for itself by dishonoring the contents of its directives."

However, Oba Oluponle appealed to the people of the town to keep calm and allow the law to take its course.

Meanwhile, when the appointed king was out on Friday for the rites, all the traditional centres in the domains of Asalu, Odofin and Oluode, that are associated to the throne, were under lock and key.

Recall that Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun recently ordered the removal of Oba Oluponnle through a government White Paper and ordered that a new process should be commenced, even without recourse to the ongoing litigation on the Obaship appointment.

The contents of the White Paper directed the Kingmakers who are challenging the appointment of Oba Oluponnle to withdraw their case before a new process could commence.

Whereas the suit could not be withdrawn owing to the protracted strike embarked upon by the judiciary workers in the state, yet some pliable kingmakers selected by the state government went ahead with the shoddy selection process which was later ratified by the state executive council led by Governor Adeleke.

Oba Oluponnle was one of the Obas appointed by the administration of the former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, now the Minister for Marine and Blue Economy,

https://twitter.com/_chiefagbabiaka/status/1765838167796531213?t=M_fUDjBkKTJNEwt9jhFr7Q&s=19

States don't have capacity to pay National Minimum Wage - Gov. Adeleke

By Adekunle Alao

Indications have emerged that the Osun State Government may not be committed to paying the new National Minimum Wage being proposed for workers across the country.

This position was disclosed by the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, after today's zonal hearing on the national minimum wage held in Lagos.

Governor Adeleke, in a news release by his spokesperson, said a uniform wage is not possible in the country given the current national economy and tilted revenue sharing formula.

According to him, unless the solid minerals are removed from the exclusive list and revenue sharing formula reviewed to favour the sub-nationals, many states would find it difficult to implement the new minimum wage.

"It would amount to self deceit to assume that states have equal ability to pay," Governor Adeleke posited in the press statement.

He concluded that individual states would have to negotiate with their workers and agree to a realistic and sustainable wage in line with the available resources.

Commenting on the development, an Osogbo-based human rights activist, Comrade Josiah Adelodun, berated the state governor for what he described as the governor's undignified stance, noting that such a position is like shifting the goal post in the middle of a football match.

Adelodun said, "The statement coming from the Osun state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, is uncharitable. It should be condemned by all lovers of good governance and decency."

He added, "The governor was selected by his colleagues in the South-west to represent them at the negotiation table. And the tripartite committee has been meeting since January. It is disturbing that the Governor is now shifting the goal post at the point the committee is about to send its recommendation to the President for approval.

The activist said the statement credited to Osun governor, that states would not be able to pay the agreed national minimum wage and therefore are at liberty to begin a new round of negotiation with labour leaders, is wicked and unpatriotic.

He said the governor and other state governors who are devising excuses not to pay the proposed wage should be told in clear term that the National Minimum Wage is a constitutional matter and they are obligated to comply with it.

Governor Adeleke is the representative of the South-west governors in the 37-member tripartite committee tasked with the responsibility of recommending a fair and sustainable national minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

https://citypressng.com/2024/03/06/inside-osun-general-hospital-where-insects-compete-with-patients/

Inside Osun General Hospital Where Insects Compete With Patients

By Adebayo Adedeji & Oke Shuaibu Wazobia

A recent report on the Comprehensive Healthcare Centre, Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area, by Insight Media TV has confirmed once again that the current government in the state is a fantastic failure. It reveals the rot in the health sector under Governor Adémọlá Adélékè despite huge allocation that accrued to the state in the last 15 months. In 2023, the state earned N39.5bn in IGR. And in federal allocation, more than N180bn has been earned since inauguration of the brand eroder in Abere. Yet there is nothing to show for it.

Rather than owning up to his failure and buckle down to work, the mediocre governor and his loquacious health adviser from Ondo State, Akindele Adekunle, continue to dish out face-saving lies to the public.

Governor Adeleke is in his second year as governor, yet continues to hold his predecessors responsible for his utter lack of capacity to renovate healthcare centres as Oyetola did in his first 365 days in office.

Available data confirms that there are about 876 publicly-owned primary and secondary healthcare facilities in the state.

Within the first 100 days in office of ex-Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, a committee had been set up to see to rehabilitation of some of the facilities in shambles. Precisely on February 22, 2019, just three months after its inauguration, the government of Oyetola kicked off the repair of the General Hospital in Ejigbo with N300million. It did similarly for many general hospitals in the state.

By the time the former governor celebrated his one year in office, no fewer than 100 of those dilapidated facilities had been brought back to life. And before the government eclipsed in November 26, 2022, at least a primary healthcare centre had been renovated in each of the 332 political wards in the state.

Contrary to the model sustained by Oyetola, the colorless government of Adeleke busies itself and fools around with unambitious itinerary medicare, a low-level healthcare arrangement, which is the forte of NGOs and private individuals.

It is disheartening that a boastful governor who, during electioneering, promised the electorate world-class hospitals, is the one dabbling into road-side surgery experiment, elevating and undertaking projects meant for ward councillors and local government chairmen.

Governor Adeleke has failed the Osun people who thrusted their affairs in his care. He should acknowledge this fact, apologize to the teeming citizens who his rudderless administration has disappointed and, most importantly, salvage the situation. Trying to shore up his failure by repainting some of the healthcare centres renovated by his immediate predecessor, as he has planned, when many decrepit facilities are awaiting his attention, will further taint his badly damaged public profile.

Our hospitals cry for attention! Adeleke should fulfil his electoral promise now that the falcons can still hear the falconers or he is served the distasteful bitter pill when he needs the people most.

yarimo:
Ododo just came in as governor and yet he is doing great far more than ALEX OTTI of ABIA STATE without any excuse

It is not about how long, but how well.

Ododo, the Kogi flower blossoming before November

By Ismail Omipidan

There is the general belief among most Africans that the name a person bears, most times, says a lot about the person and his character. And that there is a way the meaning of such names, especially in Nigeria, becomes a factor in the life of the bearer.

This notion prompted me to consult the archives when I read that the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Usman Ododo, who was sworn in on January 27, 2024, flagged off the distribution of palliatives to Kogi people on February 20, 2024, barely one month after being sworn in. What I found out about the name, Ododo, was for me reassuring.

First, in the Ebira Language, Ododo means flower. According to experts, flowers serve as "powerful symbols of love, faith, hope, purity, and growth, among other significant themes." By the time I dug further, I realised that "Ododo," in the Ebira calendar, means November. But the Kogi Governor did not wait till November to extend love and instil hope in the people of Kogi. Instead, in February, he promptly initiated the distribution of palliatives to the people of the state.

For me, that was laudable. It validated the popular Hausa saying that a good Friday is recognised from the Wednesday preceding it. As someone who canvassed support for the governor during the electioneering, I am impressed by his decision to flag off the palliatives distribution. This is so because I know of a governor, who got to office in 2022, received palliatives from the Federal Government in August, 2023 but only began the implementation in January, 2024.

Flagging off the distribution of bags of rice to vulnerable citizens of Kogi state to cushion the effects of current economic hardship, Ododo warned those saddled with the responsibility of distributing the palliative not to hoard or sell what the government has provided for the vulnerable persons in the State, just as he said he would personally oversee the distribution process to guarantee that the intended recipients, that is the most vulnerable, get the relief materials.

He equally noted that the palliatives would not be distributed along party, ethnic or religious lines, insisting that the targeted beneficiaries are the poorest of the poor in Kogi State.

Hear him “My administration will not allow any unpatriotic element to cheat the people. The government has put mechanisms in place to track and apprehend those who plan to hoard the distribution of these food items.

“The palliative is not for APC alone, there is no religious or ethnic agenda. It is for the people of Kogi State.

“I want to beg all of us to allow the poor breath. I am part of them. I was raised from them. I am committed to serve them, not as a leader but as their servant,” Ododo said.

He also has kind words for President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and thanked him for his quick intervention in reducing hardship in the country. He assured the President of his commitment to serve the people of Kogi State as their servant.

He also appealed to the people of the state to be vigilant and report any breach of the procedure for distribution of the palliatives to the state ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation for immediate intervention.

Ododo assured the people of Kogi State that the Intervention would not be a one-off exercise, but one that would be sustained and delivered to the people on a quarterly basis in line with his campaign promise to the people of Kogi State.

As this Kogi flower blossom, may Allah provide the Governor with the wisdom and courage required to live up to his other name, Usman, "the chosen one amongst a tribe of noble and brave people."

When next you are giving your child a name, research the meaning well and teach them as they are growing up to live up to the meaning of the name. I say so because I know of a leader, who Christened himself "Imole (light)" but who has plunged the streets of his state into total darkness.

https://www.newsindicator.com.ng/2023/10/11/opinion-gboyega-oyetola-pioneering-leadership-in-the-ministry-of-marine-and-blue-economy-by-adebayo-adedeji/

Gboyega Oyetola: Pioneering Leadership in the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy

By Adebayo Adedeji

Since August 21 when Mr Adegboyega Oyetola was inaugurated as Minister of the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, he has spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives and signposted plan to implement progresives policies that would harness the potential of the vast marine resources and coastal areas in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Recognising the importance of team work, the new minister, going by the record of his activities in the media, advented his journey into the ministry by receiving briefs from all the heads of parastatals and agencies under his stewardship. The former governor of Osun state took his time to listen to chief executives of key agencies outline their future to diversify the economy and make blue economy the best alternative to oil and gas. The high-profile agencies which interacted with the minister include, the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, and the Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding of Nigeria (CRFFN).

In his remarks, the Minister said the oceans are key to sustainable economic growth, environmental preservation, technology and innovation. He shared with the senior civil servants in attendance his thoughts on how to leverage his strong private sector experience to drive the ministry so our country can benefit immensely from the ocean economy, which according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, contributed $1.5tn to the global economy in 2010, and is projected to double in the next 7 years.

Given the huge size of Nigeria's coastline, which stretches for 420 nautical miles and its maritime interests which span the Gulf of Guinea, covering almost 574,800 square nautical miles, Oyetola explained that the ministry would tap the country's rich marine resources as part of the national economic framework by benchmarking a country like Norway which has successfully transitioned from an oil-based economy to a truly thriving and eco-system friendly blue economy.

Oyetola equally hinted that his vision is to ensure practical utilisation of inland rivers, lakes and waterways for cargo shipment and passenger transportation.

As the saying goes: seeing is believing, no sooner had Oyetola received the briefs from key agencies in his ministry than he visited some of the maritime assets located in Lagos, to properly appraise the situation of things with a view to taking practical steps to address them. On Monday, September 4, the Minister was at the popular Apapa and TinCan ports in Lagos for an inspection tour. He also visited the Lekki Deep Sea Port for a similar purpose.

Oyetola bemoaned the poor critical infrastructure at the ports, particularly the collapsed quays, noting that there was an urgent need for rehabilitation of such infrastructure.

While encouraging terminal operators to collaborate with government for the rehabilitation, the Minister promised to further engage the Ministers of Works and Transportation to intervene to bring back to life the deplorable access roads in the ports.

Parts of the promises made by Oyetola to stakeholders during the visitation include implementation of the Cargo Tracking Note and Single Window Project to enhance the efficiency of business operations at the ports; interfacing with the leadership of the Nigerian Customs Service over abandoment of 6,000 containers at Apapa and TinCan Island ports; tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing; and harnessing marine tourism, safety and security.

Oyetola is also establishing strategic partnerships with international organisations and stakeholders in the maritime industry to strengthen the ministry's ability to address challenges and seize opportunities in this rapidly evolving sectors. Addressing the representatives of the British and the United States governments during their separate meetings with him in his office in Abuja, Oyetola emphasized the resolve of the Nigeria's government to create a conducive environment for business to boom. The envoys expressed the willingness of their individual countries to offer technical assistance to Nigeria to combat illegal fishing in the country's waters and the dreaded sea pirates.

Still on the activities designed to enhance the capacity of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to deliver on its mandate, Mr Oyetola also held strategic meetings with critical stakeholders and industry experts such as Prof. Gunter Pauli, notable for his works on Blue Economy and advocacy for Sustainable Development; Dr Akinwumi Adesina ( President of the African Development Bank), consultants from KPMG and Nigeria's leading private sector think-tank, Nigeria Economic Summit Group led by its CEO-Designate, Dr Tayo Aduloju and the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, who he met on the margins of the 78th General Assembly of the United States hosted by the USA.

The Minister also used his participation at this year's council of ministers' meeting held in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, to advance his call for full ratification and domestication of all relevant maritime laws.

No doubt, Mr Oyetola has demonstrated exceptional leadership competence to manage a strategic government business. It is only hoped the spirit and energy invested thus far will be sustained to deliver cutting-edge solutions as envisaged by President Tinubu.

https://www.newsindicator.com.ng/2023/07/11/christians-were-appointed-as-commissioners-because-of-their-competence-osun-govt-replies-muslim-group/


Christians Were Appointed As Commissioners Because Of Their Competence - Osun Govt Replies Muslims

The government of Osun State has defended its decision to appoint more christians and muslims as commissioners to the cabinet of Governor Ademola Adeleke, stressing that more christians were found more worthy and competent than their muslim counterparts when decision to appoint commissioners were made.

In a press news signed by the spokesperson to Governor Ademola Adeleke, in reaction to the protest statement of the Muslim Rights Concern led by Professor Ishaq Akintola, protesting the marginalisation of muslims in the commissioner nomination list sent to the Osun State House of Assembly last Friday for screening and approval, Olawale said muslims questioning the decision of the governor are religious bigots, ethnic partisans and agents of destabilisation with mere nuisance value.

Recall that MURIC in its protest statement had chided Governor Adeleke for choosing 17 christians to serve in his cabinet while merely 7 slots were reserved for muslims.

According to the group, “By deceiving Muslims in the state and engaging in spiritual hide and seek, Governor Adeleke has exhibited qualities short in honour and dignity but egregiously long in infamy and bohemianism."

However, in his response today, Mallam Olawale Rasheed said Governor Adeleke's appointments had always been on merit and competency, and not religion.

In his words, "The Governor has formed the habit of scouting for the best among indigenes," Olawale said.

https://www.newsindicator.com.ng/2023/07/07/adeleke-rewards-aregbesola-camp-with-commissioners/

Adeleke Rewards Aregbesola Camp with Commissioners

- Appoints Late Brother's Wife As One of Two Female Representatives

Two strong members of the defunct "The Osun Progressive" (TOP) Comrade Biyi Odunlade and Hon. Kolapo Alimi were two of the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola's lieutenants whose names were among the 25 Commissioner/Special Adviser-designates list forwarded to Osun State House of Assembly on Friday by Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

Alimi and Odunlade incidentally served in the cabinet of Ogbeni Aregbesola when he was Osun governor.

While Alimi decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party before the 2022 governorship election, Odunlade, in his own case, was among members of All Progressive Congress (APC) that were alleged to have involved in anti party activities during the 2022 Governorship and 2023 Presidential and National Assembly Elections.

Recall Governor Adeleke in one of his public engagements confirmed that Aregbesola-led TOP collaborated with his party, PDP, during the last governorship election.

It has earlier been speculated that the TOP leadership and Aregbesola forwarded five nominees to Governor Ademola Adeleke which include Alhaji Rasak Salansile, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi, Hon Adebayo Wasiu, Kolapo Alimi and Comrade Biyi Odunlade; but with the list released this morning, only Odunlade and Alimi were considered.

It was equally speculated that Aregbesola and TOP leaders cemented a deal with Adeleke to also appoint Temilade Olokungboye, Ademola Owoade, among others, as Local Government Chairmen, in additions
to various board appointments reserved for them; however, it is not certain if the governor will honour the agreement considering the recent rancorous development in PDP.

Aregbesola and his allies have been at loggerheads with the state former governor, Adegboyega Oyetola and APC leadership in the state. Since 2019, the ex-minister has led his supporters to wage political war against the party in the state by working for opposition in every election in the state.

Meanwhile, it has again been confirmed that the wife of the former governor of the state, who is also the Governor's late elder brother, Senator Adetunji Adeleke, Adenike Adeleke, made the list.

Adenike and Mrs Ayo Awolowo were the two female representatives in the 25-nominee list. Awolowo is a blood relation of the current senator representing Osun Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi (Ajagunla).

Here is the full list of the Nominees:

1. Barr. Oladosu Babatunde
2.Prince Bayo Ogungbangbe
3. Mr Sesan Epharaim Oyedele
4. Barr. Kolapo Alimi
5. Mr Soji Ajeigbe
6. Mr Moshood Olalekan Olagunju
7. Hon. George Alabi
8. Hon. Sunday Olufemi Oroniyi
9. Mr. Abiodun Bankole Ojo
10. Dr. Basiru Tokunbo Salami
11. Mr Morufu Ayofe
12. Mr Sola Ogungbile
13. Rev. Bunmi Jenyo
14. Mrs Ayo Awolowo
15. Barr. Wole Jimi Bada
16. Hon. Dipo Eluwole
17. Alh. Rasheed Aderibigbe
18. Prof. Morufu Ademola Adeleke
19. Mr Adeyemo Festus Ademola
20. Mr Olabiyi Anthony Odunlade
21. Barr. Jola Akintola
22. Hon. Mayowa Adejorin
23. Mrs Adenike Folashade Adeleke
24. Mr Tola Faseru
25. Alh. Ganiyu Ayobami Olaoluwa

https://www.newsindicator.com.ng/2023/06/18/is-adeleke-planning-to-join-apc/

Is Adeleke planning to join APC?

By Adebayo Adedeji

Having bungled the somewhat goodwill that brought him to office as the 6th executive governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, no doubt, has realised that dancing around the state alone can't fetch him the needed second term in 2026. Just seven months in the saddles, he has lost the grip of governance. He now struggles to pay pension and salary, couldn't fulfil his pre-election social contract of offsetting salary arrears before 100 days in office and social contract of transforming the State of the Living Spring to a mini London. His only achievements thus far are an installation of few poorly built pit-latrines and a construction of substandard roads, 1km in all, across the state! He has realised that his fans are deeply disappointed in him, despite the huge allocation, close to N100billion, accrued to the state since his inauguration last November.

Therefore, given his uninspiring performance, the prevailing local and national politics, the dancing governor might have been informed that the most desirable option available to him is rejoining the All Progressives Congress so as to protect his mandate and the business interest of his elder brother and sponsor, Dr Deji Adeleke.

The senior Adeleke, father of the ace singer, Davido, is known for his involvement in the energy/power sector in the country. His Pacific Energy Limited operates the Olorunsogo Power Company located in Ogun State and Omotosho Power Company located in Ondo State.

Since 2006 when the company acquired the two power plants (partly though), it has made significant exploits that now demand it gives more push for it to have a better hold in the industry. To fulfil its vision, the company in 2021 expressed its interest to invest in some plants put up for sale by the Bureau of Public Enterprises ( BPE). The five plants affected are in Geregu, Omotosho, Olorunsogo, Calabar and Benin-Ihovbor. The plants are 100 per cent for sale, in line with the policy of divesting government shares from thermal generating plants.

Of the 36 firms which submitted EOIs (Expression of Interests) for the power privatisation, 16 firms were shortlisted July 2022, including Deji Adeleke's Pacific Energy. But the process to land the deal is not a child's play. It involves many behind-the-scenes.

Can a sensible government allow an unfriendly investor control its power sector? The Adelekes know the answer, reason they have literally relocated to Aso Villa, running kitikiti to be in the good book of the new president. Or how many times, since emergence of Asiwaju Tinubu as country's president, have you seen the big mannequin in Abere issue his usual kindergatten press statements to deride Jagaban or his blood, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, the immediate past governor of Osun State?

The Adelekes know they must shed their combative posturing... and better behave themselves, else their life-time ambition would suffer an eternal damnation. Because Tinubu won't stay akimbo while his party members in Osun are taken to Golgotha to be bludgeoned to death with reckless abandon, as it was the case in recent elections where close to thirty (30) APC members were gruesomely killed for the governing party in the state to earn their pyrrhic victories.

They know Tinubu won't subscribe to any election short of decency. And poignantly, they know it is a tall order for them to win a free-and-fair election under the unpopular, tattered and accursed umbrella. Reason the speculated migration back to APC is possibly number one on their wish-list.

A Twitter space discussion was held yesterday, 11 June, 2023 to analyse the stewardship of the former minister of interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who clocked 66 years a couple of days ago.

Most of the discussants had scathing remarks for Aregbesola for the awful manner he managed the Ministry of Interior.

According to many of them, under the political headship of Aregbesola, no fewer than 19 jailbreaks, where over 5,000 prisoners are still at large, were recorded.

In equal breath, they rated him lowly for his poor attitude in managing the affairs of the Nigerian Immigration, Nigerian Civil Defence, Nigerian fire service, and other agencies under his supervision.

Click the link to listen to the playback of the discussion.

https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1rmxPkAzNrLJN

https://naijinfo.com/2023/05/24/aregbesola-one-finger-of-a-leprous-hand-by-adebayo-adedeji/

Aregbesola: One finger of a leprous hand

By Adebayo Adedeji

As the Federal Executive Council rounds off its activities, it is important we review the trajectory of some of the cabinet members in order to forecast the political future of these privileged Nigerians.

We review, first, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Interior Minister who defiled the family purity because of his greed, prejudice and excessive arrogance. Aregbesola is a classic case of falling from grace to grass.

The Minister can't stay back in Abuja because, given his disastrous antecedent, there is no future for him in the incoming government of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his hitherto goodwill in Osun state, where he served as governor for eight years, is in shambles, hence is not welcome home. He is therefore confronted with two monstrous options.

His tenure as governor ended in ignominy for he left the state in debt of close to N400 billion, according to his state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

At the time, a civic advocacy organisation, BudgIT, grouped Osun alongside few states that exceeded their debts to net revenues by more than 650 per cent, in a clear violation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (2007) which states that loans shall not exceed 50 per cent of the revenue.

He borrowed for every little thing, including borrowing N16.5 billion to build 13 secondary schools, many of which almost collapsed before they were even inaugurated, on account of poor building materials supplied by his blood brother, one of the contractors.

What of the N8 billion impulsive Opon Imo project, which he and his son mismanaged? Of 40,000 tablets touted to have been procured, barely 5,000 were available when he left government.

Rauf's record in education, like in many departments, is uninspiring, despite enormous resources poured into that sector. Of the 36,171 students that enrolled for WAEC in 2018, students numbering 21,395 failed the examination.

In his time, Osun also became the corporate headquarters of impotent MoU ( Memoranda of Understanding). No fewer than eight of these documents died a natural death. The partnership with a chocolate manufacturing company in Malaysia, Asa Palmilk, for instance, gulped N300 million of taxpayers' money, but no chocolate was ever produced in Osun as planned!

In the case of the International Breweries Ilesa, what was due to Osun was lost as a result of Aregbesola's long-throat and indiscretion. The story goes thus: after signing an MoU with the company, Aregbesola heckled them with taxes and failed to provide land for their expansion policy, thus frustrating the company to move to Sagamu where they built their $250 million factory.

Since his appointment as minister, Rauf has repackaged his deep-seated incompetence and made it a national embarrassment. Under his headship as the minister of interior, supervising correctional centres in the country, there have been no fewer than 16 incidents of jailbreaks across the country where more than 5,000 escaped inmates have not been found till date. The impact of the jailbreak is that more criminals are now out of custody to perpetrate heinous crimes.

His ineptitude knows no bound. Even in the immigration service, his tenure is unarguably the worst. The more Nigerians complain of hardship in acquiring their travel passports, the more he and other incompetent officials in the ministry shop for justification to shield their uselessness.

Besides his fantastically poor record in public administration, Aregbesola is also a political infidel who uses his clout to undermine the interest of Asiwaju, the man God almighty used to deliver him from Alimosho gutter. Not only did Aregbe support Abubakar Atiku in the last presidential election, he also mobilised his political devotees to work for PDP candidates in all elections in Osun State, thus fuelling crisis in the party that offered him a platform to thrive.

Despite this abhorent conduct of his, the _enfant terrible_ is everywhere whipping up sentiment to earn a leverage. But in truth, Aregbesola is now an irritant that everyone avoids like plague. No one wants to identify with the charlatan he has become. And the handful, like the big mannequin in the seat of power in Abere, who court him, do so for his nuisance value. No one, who is intentional about success, needs such a calamity in his or her life. His is a finger in a hand infected by leprosy: all associated fingers risked damnation.

The arrest was based on trumped charges. He has won his supplementary election after that time.

Okwyjesus:
One of the finest from the North and very experience

But no be him attach opponent with weapon and was arrested. When did he clear himself?

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/04/10th-assembly-why-doguwa-should-be-speaker/

10th Assembly: Why Doguwa should be Speaker

By Remi Omowaiye

As the 10th assembly begins this June, the question of who becomes Speaker in the Green Chamber is now gathering momentum, as many legislators who fancy their chances of directing affairs of the legislative house are reportedly lobbying and consulting with Who-is-Who in the party. Of the lot, there is one man who, ordinarily, should not need much lobbying to clinch the exalted position, given his legislative track record, loyalty to the president-elect and participation in the campaign that led to Jagaban's emergence. The person in question is Hon. Alhassan Ado Garba, popularly known as Alhassan Doguwa, member representing Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency of Kano State.

Ado Doguwa, who holds a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication (First Class) of Bayero University Kano, has become a household name having come a long way, since his SDP days, when, at the age of 26, he was elected to represent the people of Kano State in the House of Representatives of the botched Republic.

Among legislators jostling for the position of speaker, Doguwa stands taller than anyone in terms of his understanding of the legislative work. Since 2007, he has served in primed house committees, including as Deputy Chairman, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Chairman, House Committee on Millennium Development Goals.

When he returned to the lower chamber for the fourth term in 2015, his outstanding contribution to the business of law-making counted for him as he was overwhelmingly elected as the 8th Assembly's Chief Whip, before he was elevated to play a much bigger role of the Majority Leader, in the current house. His responsibility as Majority Leader is enormous as he is the link between the executive and the legislature. The position has afforded him the leverage to interface with the top echelon in government, especially with President Muhammadu Buhari. Since assuming the role, he has discharged his duty creditably to the admiration of his colleagues, party leadership and the presidency. It follows, therefore, that a man with this robust achievement and pedigree is elected to head the house to further give the needed quality leadership in the people's parliament.

Again, at a time many were afraid to lose their political capital in the presidency, when the body language of whom the touted cabal in Aso Villa anointed as Buhari's successor was still wrapped in secrecy, the Kano-born orator crisscrossed the length and breadth of the country to preach the gospel of Tinubu's Emilokan.

Even when the peculiarity of the last election in Kano made it burdensome for APC to have an easy ride, Doguwa and other APC frontliners surmounted the difficulties to record the second highest votes for the party, leading the PDP with close to 380,000 vote margin. Doguwa did not only deliver his local government to Tinubu, he as well won the two house of assembly seats in his federal constituency for the party. His Northwest geopolitical zone also returned the highest votes in the election to our party.

So if there is anyone that should benefit handsomely in the next Administration based on contribution to the electoral victory and capacity to deliver good governance, it is Doguwa. He invested everything to ensure our party triumphed at the poll. And it is only fair, for the sake of justice and equity, he and Kano State, nay Northwest geopolitical zone, are given a sense of belonging and allowed to 'eat the fruit of their labour.'

Our party should refine our reward system by empowering only members who participated actively in our electoral successes and also have potentials to implement our manifesto to flip votes in future elections. We must frown at the culture of 'monkey dey work, baboon dey chop' with the presidency of Asiwaju, a man noted for his thoroughness in dispensing political patronage.

The voice of reasoning and equity should prevail in the leadership selection in the national assembly, so hardworking aspirants like Doguwa and Senator Godswill Akpabio, who led the party to two remarkable presidential outings in 2019 and 2023 in Akwa Ibom State (where we polled 175,429 and 160,620 votes respectively) can harvest the fruit of their diligence, commitment and loyalty to the party.

•Omowaiye, an engineer and ex-Commissioner for Works and Transport in Osun State, served as Spokesperson for Tinubu/Shettima APC Presidential Campaign Council in the state.

https://www.newsindicator.com.ng/2023/03/15/scorecard-adeleke-should-give-account-of-n90bn-state-fund/

PRESS STATEMENT. (MARCH 15, 2023).

SCORECARD: Adeleke Should Give Account Of N90bn State Fund

.Osun APC Tasks EFCC, ICPC To Wade In

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the embattled state Governor Ademola Adeleke of running a profligate administration in his last one hundred days in office.

It would be recalled that Adeleke had laid claim to accountability and probity as the fulcrum of his administration during the inauguration of his government on November 27, 2022.

Adeleke through one of his obnoxious and unpopular executive orders, had stated that he had frozen all the government accounts but to the chagrin of the discerning minds in the state and beyond, he has been spending government funds lavishly and frivolously on the government projects without necessarily reversing his earlier order on the government accounts.

Adeleke has been claiming the sole executor of some of his predecessor's projects that had been done up to over 70 per cent completion to fraudulently mark his one hundred days in the office.

The Acting Chairman of the Osun State chapter of the APC, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal in a statement issued by the party's Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi, in Osogbo, the state capital today, accused Adeleke of gross mismanagement of the accrued funds to the state.

Lawal cautioned Adeleke to stop rabble rousing in government and be ready to account for any money he might have spent without due process on the day of reckoning which is knocking.

The APC chairman disclosed that if the people of the state have the detailed knowledge of the various funds that have accrued into the coffer of the government within the last 100 days and compare same with his so-called achievements, he may either be stoned or pelted.

Lawal stated that Adeleke will justify his claim to accountability and probity if he gives an account of the following funds that accrued to the state coffer in the last 100 days:

N11 billion from Siftas; N5 billion from NG CARES; N6.7 billion Federal Government parastatal tax liability;N3.2 billion Nigeria for women project; N4.9 billion State Ease of Doing Business Reforms and the N14 billion left in the kitty by the Oyetola administration.

Others are N4billion IGR Nov 2022, Dec 2022, Jan & Feb 2023; November 2022 FAAC allocation after deduction N6.37billion; December 2022 FAAC allocation after deduction N6.93billion and Jan 2023 FAAC allocation after deduction N5.34billion.

Below is the summary of the Osun Local Government allocations within the last 100 days of Senator Ademola Adeleke:

November 2022 FAAC allocation after deduction N6.2billion; December 2022 FAAC allocation after deduction N4 8billion; January 2023 FAAC allocation after deduction N5.7 billion; 1st tranche of Sure P left by Oyetola administration N3.5 billion; 2nd tranch of Sure P N2.6 billion.

The breakdown of the public funds that Adeleke needs to account for in the last 100 days of his administration go thus: N67.44 billion revenue to the state; N22.8 revenue billion to the local governments.

The total amount of the revenue excluding February 2023 allocation that is hanging on the neck of Adeleke is N90.24 billion.

Adeleke within the period under spotlight awarded the dubious borehole water contract to be sunk in each of all the 332 wards across the state at a cost of N14 million each.

The fact check on the Adeleke borehole contract revealed that it was a scam meant to fleece the state as the borehole contract was given out for N2 million per one while the remaining N12 million on each of the boreholes was pocketed by Adeleke.

It is on record that while Oyetola was paying the salaries of the government workers in full and as when due, he also offset N97 billion of the inherited debt even when he was getting negative and zero allocations.

Lawal stated that Adeleke's incursion into the political history of the state is a monumental failure which has set the progress of the state back by decades.

The Acting State APC chairman restated that such humongous funds that Adeleke has been squandering is the product of the transparency award that Oyetola received in the office.

Lawal tasked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to urgently beam their searchlight on the Osun finances under the embattled Governor Adeleke in order to halt the looting spree.

e-SIGNED:

Sooko TAJUDEEN LAWAL,
Acting Chairman, Osun State APC.

https://www.newsindicator.com.ng/2023/03/15/osogbo-ikirun-ila-odo-kwsb-adeleke-lied-oyetolas-aide/

Osogbo-Ikirun- Ila Odo (KWSB): Adeleke lied, Oyetola's aide

...says 'We did 10.5km of that road'

Immediate past Osun Commissioner for Works and Transport, in the Adegboyega Oyetola Administration, Engineer Remi Omowaiye has described as untrue the claim by Governor Ademola Adeleke that the Oyetola government abandoned the Osogbo -Ikirun Ila Odo Kwara State Boundary road.

He said while the Rauf Aregbesola's administration, which awarded the contract did 10km of the road, the Oyetola's administration did 10.5km and had indeed completed the project, saying all what the current PDP government did was putting the final layer of the asphalt, which he noted was about 30 percent of the entire project.

Omowaiye noted that there was no way a 10km road of that nature can be done within a month, adding before they left in November last year, they had done the earthwork, the hydraulic, the stabilisation using bolder at various levels and the binder course.


He further said : "It was the administration of the former Governor Rauf Aregbesola that awarded the dualisation of the Osogbo- Ikirun - Ila-Odo, Kwara State boundary road. Before he left government, the Aregbesola's administration did the dualisation of the 10km from old-garage in Osogbo to Osogbo steel rolling mill. And when Governor Adegboyega Oyetola came on board in November 2018, he took the dualisation from where Aregbesola stopped (i.e from Osogbo steel rolling mill that is chainage 10.0 to chainage 20.5 (10.5km).

"The Oyetola's administration did it to binder course level. We also ensured that portions of the road with unsuitable soil were stabilised with boulder (big stones). If you recollect, the former Governor Oyetola and my humble self went to the site on several occasions and there are pictorial evidences that support our claim that while the project was going on, we were also going there to inspect and supervise the project.

"It is a blatant lie that we abandoned it. It is also a pure lie that it was Senator Ademola Adeleke that came to do it. How would he had completed the dualisation of a 10km of road within one month?

"What he did was just the wearing course which was the final layer of asphalt. We had done the earthwork, the hydraulic, we had done the stabilisation using bolder at various levels and we had done the binder course. We paid the contractor severally and the contractor can not deny that as we have the evidence of payment.

"So, the only thing he (Adeleke) came to do was just to complete it which was about 30 percent of the total work. The Honourable Minister for Works (State) at a point, during the construction, came to inspect the work during our time," Omowaiye said.

On November 27, 2022, Osun State inaugurated a new Governor, in the person of Senator Ademola Adeleke.

The inauguration, to many of his supporters, signposted a new era and Vista of hope for the people.

But unfortunately, in just 100 days in office, the hope the people had hitherto nursed in the new government has waned and diminished.

Many of his supporters now see him as a sharp departure from how they rated him.

Today marks Senator Ademola Adeleke's 100 days in office and activities have been lined to celebrate what the government called epoch-making in governace of Osun State.

Is 100 Days in Office of Adeleke worth celebrating, given his low energy and lacklustre peformance? Attached is the graphic representation of the current government in the state as presented by concerned citizens.

https://www.newsindicator.com.ng/2023/03/02/apc-leader-slaughtered-in-osun/

APC Leader Slaughtered In Osun


ON MAR 2, 2023

A leader of Osun All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ijesa, Tunde Ejoka, was early yesterday killed by suspected political thugs.


Ejoka was killed in his residence in Ijebu-Jesa, headquarters of Ori-Ade Local Government Area of the state, it was said.


Acting chairman of the party, Tajudeen Lawal, in a statement, described the killing as unfortunate and callous, alleging that political thugs loyal to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were responsible for the attack.

Lawal said, PDP thugs threatened Ejoka on the eve of the presidential and National Assembly elections, adding that, “Ejoka was slaughtered…simply because he canvassed a lot of votes for the party over the weekend.”


Police spokesperson Yemisi Opalola said “investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstance that led to his killing.”


The spokesperson of PDP, Bamiji Oladele, did not take his call when contacted for reaction.

https://www.newsindicator.com.ng/2023/03/02/opinion-how-violence-fraud-marred-2023-presidential-and-national-assembly-elections-in-osun/

How violence, fraud marred 2023 presidential and national assembly elections in Osun

By Adebayo Adedeji

In the political annals of Osun, it is doubtful if there has been an election as perfidious as that of February 25 Presidential and National Assembly Elections. The poll ranks even worse than the infamous 2007 governorship election -- the election where many voters were faced with assassination, violence and intimidation.

The last Saturday's elections were literally held under siege for many known thugs of the Peoples Democratic Party were on rampage in many part of the state, particularly in areas regarded as strongholds of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC.

Osun State, for many years, was known for her peaceful ambience owing to the fact that criminal activities were rarely carried out because of the measures installed by the security agencies, in partnership with the state government. But this positive review fizzled out as soon as Senator Ademola Adeleke, of the PDP, was inaugurated as the state governor.

In Osun, opposition members are daily bludgeoned to death and subjected to state-sanctioned terror. In the month of December alone, no fewer than 12 APC sympathisers, mostly members of the NURTW, were gruesomely murdered by hoodlums affiliated to the governing party.

Son of man has written copiously how heinous crimes, perpetrated against opposition members by PDP thugs like Emir Ajagungbade, Solo Iwara, Bode Itaapa, Collins Fadahunsi, did not get the deserving attention of the security agencies and the state government. These notorious criminals run roughshod on innocent Nigerians, without checks from statutory security agencies.

Days preceeding the presidential and national assembly elections, PDP thugs were in every nook and cranny of the state to create fears in the supporters and members of the APC. From Atakumosa to Ilesha, from Obokun to Oriade, all in Ijeshaland, the All Progressives Congress members died in multitudes, number not below 15, for no other reason than they wanted to carry out their civic duty. Many of the killings have been traced to thugs on the payroll of PDP chieftains like Sanya Omirin, Senator Ade Fadahunsi, Ibukun Fadipe and Wale Akerele ( Water).

In towns and villages like Ikirun, Ilesa, Ifetedo, Ede, Edun-Abon, Ila-Orangun, APC members were chased out of town and even on the election day, those who summoned courage to visit their polling units to exercise their franchise were inflicted with violence, to bully other voters to submission.

On the election day, the miscreants were stationed in the APC strongholds to disrupt polls and reduce votes of the opposition. For example, in Iragbiji, home of the immediate former governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola, four (4) polling units, with numerical strength of over 2,000 votes, were cancelled because Ajagungbade and his goons seized ballot boxes and election materials to distort electoral choice of the people. If electorates had been allowed to freely offer their choices, no doubt, the choice would have been the candidates of the APC and the story of 10,000 leading margin, being told by the morally bankrupt PDP to massage its ego, would not have arisen because the figure would have tilted in favour of the APC, the truly people's choice in the state.

Again, in many polling units in Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Ilesa East ( Ward 1, Ward 2 and Ward 5), voters were attacked and threatened not to cast their votes for candidates of the APC.

In Obokun/Oriade axis, political thugs loyal to Hon. Oluwole Oke ( Obokun/Oriade House of Representatives member) led by Femi Akande, in connivance with civil defence officials, unleashed mayhem on voters.

Strangely, nefarious characters behind the terror in the state enjoy full security protection of the state government and law enforcement agencies, regardless that they are mouthed to be on the "Wanted List " of the police.

Also on the election day, fake security agencies, many of them with disguised identities, were seen roaming the major streets in the state. Amotekun operational officers and members of Vigilante Group of Nigeria, said to be acting on the directive of the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Governor Adeleke, CSP Adekunle Omoyele, were reportedly identified carrying out instructions of the PDP leaders and candidates designed to suppress the will of the voters.

Besides the violence elevated by the governing PDP in the election, the party also engaged in political debauchery with the rotten eggs within the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission. In Atakumosa, Ede and some areas where hoodlums reigned supreme on the election day, the electoral body, through their corrupt Election Officers, used untrained ad-hoc staff, having substituted the trained ones on the night of the election. In the concerned areas, unauthorised citizens voted without PVC, in brazen disregard to the 2022 Electoral Act and extant laws. In Ede where an APC agent, during collation, raised eyebrow regarding the incidents of over-voting that pervaded the polls in units covered by him, he was kidnapped on the order of the Chief of Staff to Governor Adeleke, Kazeem Akinleye.

In other areas where candidates of the APC were coasting home to victory, pliable INEC officials were visibly seen cancelling duly recorded election results to undermine chances of the APC candidates. Cases like the foregoing were severally experienced in Orolu local government area.

So, when unsuspecting members of the public rate condescendingly the performance of the APC in the February 25 elections, without situating it within the harsh context the poll was conducted, they may be axing some critical indicators in the objective evaluation chart. The feat of 343,945 votes polled by the APC in the presidential election must be duly acknowledged, not because it is the best and highest vote ever recorded in the history of the progressive party in the state, but because the votes are genuine and unblemished. They were returned to the party by the electorate with love and enthusiasm, unlike the PDP votes that came with sorrow, tears and blood.

https://www.newsindicator.com.ng/2023/02/20/just-in-police-arrest-notorious-cultist-linked-to-multiple-killings-in-osun-state/

Just In: Police Arrest Notorious Cultist Linked To Multiple Killings In Osun State

ON FEB 20, 2023

The Osun State Police Command has arrested a notorious cultist, Fatai Abass, who had been on the watchlist of the command for over a year. Abass, who is 23 years old and also known as “Gbefawo,” was apprehended on Saturday evening at the Oke Baale Area of Osogbo, the state capital, by the operatives of the Anti-Cultism Squad of the Command.


The arrest came following a tip-off, and it was reported that Abass was trailed for months without success until he was finally apprehended.


According to a reliable security source, Abass is a popular and feared cultist who has been linked to various deadly clashes among rival cult groups in Osun. The source added that Abass had attacked people at different times in the past in areas such as Oke Baale, School Road, Oke Ayepe, Idi Omo, Ilesa Garage, and Oke Ijetu, all within the Osogbo metropolis.

During the arrest, a locally made pistol and one live cartridge were recovered from Abass, and he confessed to multiple killings that had occurred in Osogbo. When contacted for confirmation on Sunday, the spokesperson for the Osun Command, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the arrest and stated that an investigation will continue to get others involved in the crime. Opalola further declared that the Command would not allow criminals the space to operate in Osun.


The arrest of Fatai Abass is a significant breakthrough in the fight against cultism and other criminal activities in Osun. The police command deserves commendation for its efforts in apprehending the suspect and ensuring that justice is served. It is hoped that the investigation will uncover other members of the cult group and bring them to book. The government, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other stakeholders in the state should continue to collaborate with the security agencies to eradicate cultism and other forms of criminality in Osun. The public is also urged to provide useful information to the police and other security agencies to help them track down criminals and make the state safe for all.

https://www.newsindicator.com.ng/2023/02/19/diversionary-tactics-cant-prevent-omirin-from-police-arrest-prosecution-over-killing-of-apc-member/


Diversionary Tactics Can’t Prevent Omirin From Police Arrest, Prosecution Over Killing Of APC Member
- Osun APC Tells Sunday Bisi

LAST UPDATED FEB 19, 2023

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has frowned at the diversionary tactics of the Director-General of the Atiku-Okowa Campaign Council, Honourable Sunday Bisi, aimed at scuttling the call for the immediate arrest of the PDP House of Representatives candidate for Ijesa-South Federal Constituency, Hon Sanya Omirin, over the killing of a member of the APC in Ilesa, Ebenezer Alaro, last Friday.


Alaro was killed in front of his father’s house by a notorious PDP thug called ‘Bongo’ in the community, on the instruction of Omirin under an excuse that his campaign billboards and late father’s house were destroyed by some people.


The D-G of Atiku-Okowa Campaign Council in the state, who apparently had just woken up from his slumber after three days that a promising native of his town was needlessly slaughtered like a ram by one of the thugs loyal to his party on the instruction of Omirin, has the effrontery and shameless audacity to be making an allegation of importation of thugs into Ijesaland against some APC leaders.

Worried by the absolute lack of empathy for the killing of the APC member by the PDP thug, the state acting chairman of the APC, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, in a statement issued by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi, in Osogbo, the state capital, today, said it was a pity that a character like Bisi could resort to the use of conjecture and falsehood to drive his political point.


Lawal stated that with the self-confession of Sunday Bisi that he had been witnessing the importation of hoodlums into his community for some time without reporting same to the police makes him pointedly culpable for playing a dirty politics with genuine peace in Ijesaland.


The Acting APC chairman told Sunday Bisi point-blank that his allegation of the APC’s importation of thugs from various states into Ijesaland was frivolous, a fabrication which was only existing in the imagination of the PDP elements and mullish devotees.

Lawal stated that in order to prove that Sunday Bisi’s integrity is not in doubt, he should, without further delay, mention the locations of the imaginary thugs whose phoney existence he is selling to the unsuspecting members of the public.

In Sooko’s words: “How can an ultimatum of 72 hours of relocation be given to hoodlums by a political party leader who professes to be serious and acting in the interest of his people?

“The statement made by Sunday Bisi in that regard was only diversionary which was intended for the police to shift their attention on the arrest and prosecution of Omirin and his goons over the killing of our member, Alaro, last Friday”, Lawal explained.

He reminded the D-G of Atiku-Okowa Campaign Council in Osun State that the people are now wiser and that he should advise Omirin to go and answer the police invitation over the criminal case hanging on his neck.

Lawal who hinted Bisi and Omirin not to expect any magic for their party during the forthcoming general elections stated that the people of Ijesaland would emphatically reject PDP because they are in the know of the fact that it’s the PDP elements in their midst that prevented the take-off of the Ilesa University through needless playing of dirty politics with it, hence their resorting to violence and harrasment of APC members would not save them from the impending debilitating defeat at the poll.

http://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/317427/presidential-election-prospect-of-tinubu-apc-in-osun.html

Presidential Election: Prospect of Tinubu, APC in Osun

By Adebayo Adedeji

The much discussed presidential election in Nigeria holds in 12 days time, on February 25, and this writer will attempt to highlight the chances of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his party, the All Progressives Congress ( APC), in Osun State, where no fewer than 1.6million voters are eligible to exercise their franchise.

Tinubu, the APC Presidential Candidate, is projected to reap bountifully from ethnic sentiment that has shapened the previous presidential election outcomes in the state when politicians of Yoruba stoke were on the ballots for major political parties. In 1979 and 1983, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a Yoruba of the Unity Party of Nigeria ( UPN), earned 85% and 82% respectively of the total votes polled in the state ( when Osun was still part of old Oyo State). In 1993, another Yoruba, Chief MKO Abiola, of the Social Democratic Party, polled 83% of the votes in the state. In 1999, the Yoruba candidate, Chief Olu Falae polled 76% even when he contended with his Yoruba compatriot, Olusegun Obasanjo. In 2003 when Obasanjo was adopted as Yoruba candidate, he polled whooping 95% as against 2% of Muhammadu Buhari, a Fulani. Given this election result trajectory, it is expected that Tinubu would clinch at least 70% of total votes in the state on February 25.

The affirmation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the July 16 governorship contest is a testament that Tinubu's party is the people's choice in the state and the winning streak is expected to be repeated come February 25. Since the January 27 declaration of Governor Gboyega Oyetola as the true winner of the poll, the rank and file of the progressives party in the state has been strengthened as members, whose spirit hitherto had been dampened by the disappoinment of the earlier election result, are now spurred to campaign vigorously for the candidate of the party. The morale boosting, on account of the tribunal victory, which showed APC defeated PDP with a margin of 24,655, reflected in the massive turn-out of jubilant crowd at the party's presidential camapign rally on February 2, where Tinubu was the cynosure of all eyes. The home-coming reception validates the truism that success has many parents while failure is an orphan. The reception is a confirmation that Osun electorates do not want to identify with a failure PDP, generally seen now as election riggers and certificate forgers.

Another factor that will also work in favour of Tinubu in Osun State is the renewed hope his manifesto breathes to the people. Many are excited about Tinubu's electoral promises of job creation and skills acquisition for youths, soft loans for market women and business owners. Many are thrilled by his promise of providing loans and grants for university/polytechnic students to soften the economic challenge faced by them. It is believed that during Tinubu presidency, enrollment in schools will increase without attendant financial stress currently encountered by parents.

Nothwithstanding the biting economic hiccups experienced by many, the choice of Tinubu as next president of Nigeria appears more desirable to Osun electorates than any candidate on the ballots. This is given to the fact that Asiwaju Tinubu's avowal to the welfare of the people and cause of humanity, over the years, has never been in doubt. His recent solidarity with the people of Nigeria regarding the currency debacle, when other presidential candidates played ostrich or encouraged the establishment to implement the poorly conceptualised policy, may also entice the electorates to throw their weight behind him at the poll for he is perceived as a genuine champion of the well-being of the masses.

The achievement of the APC-led federal government in Osun may also contribute to the emergence of the party presidential candidate. The APC-led federal government, for instance, constructed in Osun no fewer than 50 rural water schemes through Partnership for Expanded Water Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH) programmes. The FG of APC also completed in Osogbo, Osun State, 72 units of building of different categories under the National Housing programme (NHP). Again, through the Federal Government Zonal Intervention Projects, over N10billion has, in the last eight years of APC at the federal level, been invested into Osun. Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIPs), popularly known as Constituency Projects, are projects executed by the Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies based on the nomination of legislators. These projects include infrastructure, construction, training, distribution of equipment, gifting of goods and cash handouts to constituents. Through ZIPs, police barracks have been built in the state, so also classrooms, e-libraries and ICT centres numbering over 3000. Rehabilitation of Federal Polytechnic Ede road was also midwifed through the Zonal Intervention Projects. It doesn't stop there, there are social investment initiatives such as N-Power, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Program(GEEP) as well as Conditional Cash Transfer introduced by APC-led government of Nigeria through which over 100,000 indigenous people of Osun have been empowered.

The lacklustre performance of the current government in the state will also accentuate the resolve of the voters to select the All Progressives Congress at the poll. The morbid experience of the last 3 months, where brigandage, violence and assassination have become pure-water in the state may be the blood tonic voters need to reject Atiku Abubakar of PDP at the poll. They fear that, given their experience in a short spell of Ademola Adeleke as governor, where hooliganism has been canonised by the state government, offering the PDP an opportunity to develop wing at the federal level is a licence to institutionalisation of everything bad in the society, as is being experienced in Osun, where wanted criminals like Emir Ajagungbade, Bode Itaapa and Solo Iwara are members of the Governor-in-Council.

•ADEDEJI is a member of the Media and Digital Communication Directorate, Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Osun State.

https://www.thegong.com.ng/fear-in-osun-over-arrest-of-notorious-criminal/

Fear in Osun over arrest of notorious criminal

By Segun Adeniran

There is a palpable fear in the state of Osun following the arrest of a notorious criminal Afolabi Fadahunsi, popularly called Carlos, by men of the Nigeria Police from the Federal Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, Alagbon, Lagos.

Carlos, said to be on the payroll of the governing party in the state, the People's Democratic Party, PDP, was arrested Saturday morning, with deadly weapons including two (2) units of Berreta guns and 56 live ammunition, by gallant officers from Lagos State before he was handed to men of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Osogbo, for further investigation and prosecution.

However, since the hand-over to officers in Osogbo, there has been rumour of the state government making efforts to circumvent the laws and get the arrested thug off the hook so as for me to continue to wreck havoc against members of the opposition APC.

Since November 27, 2022, when Adeleke was inaugurated as governor, there have been series of coordinated attacks on members of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, across the state, particularly in Ilesha.

Many notable cabinet members of the last administration have also been reportedly pencilled down for attacks and assassination.


"There has been an upward move in the spate of organised crime and violence associated with politics since the emergence of Senator Ademola Adeleke as Osun governor," a human rights activist, Dayo Adereti explained while speaking to this reporter.

According to Adereti, "It is no longer news that some of the violent attacks experienced in the state in recent time are politically motivated. However, it's frightening to understand that most of the assailants are known political enforcers ( thugs) of the ruling PDP in Osun State. They wine and dine with the ruling government. Strangely too, they wine and dine with the security agencies, especially the police, reason their arrest have not been effected even though they have long been declared wanted. What better evidence does one need to substantiate this claim than the fact that the current government handlers openly flirt with these dangerous characters."

Adereti cited Olalekan Ajagungbade (Emir) as one of the vicious gunmen who enjoy the fraternisation and patronisation of the current Government.

In the words of Adereti, "At a time Emir Ajagungbade was a subject of police search, rumour was rife of the protection given him by Governor Adeleke. Some even said he was living under the care of the governor-elect then in order to escape police arrest. Since that time, Emir has been emboldened to carry out his dastardly activities in the state. He was not only named as member of the Adeleke transition committee, he has also been appointed as a member of the Disciplinary Committee set-up by the Osun State Government to manage motorparks in the state."

In his own reaction, a senior lecturer in the department of social development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Dr Kamarudeen Aderibigbe, "The arrest of the political terror, by name Afolabi Fadahunsi (Carlos) is a good development. The police from Alagbon must be stoutly saluted for the job well done. It is hoped that many criminals prowling length and breadth of the state would equally be apprehended, then brought to book to clear the state of menace caused by these devilish elements.

Unfortunately, the signal from Abere, the seat of power, is not encouraging at all. I don't want to believe the negative news to the effect that the state governor, through his Chief Security Officer, is scheming to ensure release of the arrested Carlos, is genuine after all. Because if this is allowed to happen, it portends great danger to justice administration in the state.

The state governor should rise above this unpatriotic partisanship. Carlos must be brought to book. Other criminals ( like Bode Olakayode, popularly known as 'Bode Itaapa,' Solomon Adefioye Adedimeji, popularly known as 'Solo Iwara,' as well as their kingpin, Emir Ajagungbade), already declared wanted by the police, should be arrested without further delay. The Federal Government should help the people of Osun to effect this arrest because it is above the security agents here since they have failed to act because they are in cahoot with them."

http://citymirrornews.com/politics/2023/17/only-a-poor-student-will-be-jittery-at-examination-results/

PRESS STATEMENT. (JANUARY 17, 2023)

'Only A Poor Student Will Be Jittery At Examination Results'

Oyetola Has A Watertight Case

- APC Tells Osun PDP


The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed a surprise at the low reasoning and level of demonstrated administrative ineptitude of those saddled with the leadership of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for it to be prioritizing diatribes, harangues and tirades in running the affairs of their party and the government.

Reacting to a conjecture by the state chapter of the PDP where it was alleged that the immediate-past Governor Gboyega Oyetola has been running after the justices to influence the outcome of his petition at the governorship election tribunal in Osogbo, the state Acting Chairman of the APC, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, said it was a pity that some disgruntled elements could choose to feed the members of the public with fallacy.

Lawal stated that the Osun PDP handlers are only trying to be clever by half by rolling out absolute falsehood in order to justify the imminent failure awaiting them at the tribunal.

He tutored the obviously confused, directionless and focusless burdened government of Adeleke and his ineptitude party that Oyetola needs not press any botton for his victory in all ramifications as it has not been his stock in trade which he could not now copy at his age.

The Acting State APC Chairman hinted that Oyetola could be likened to a metaphorical brilliant student who is always burning his candles at both ends before, during and after any examination and not in the league of those who wrote the NECO examinations three years before the establishment of the examination body itself.

The members of the public are implored to disregard the mere composition rolled out by the PDP about corner cutting by Oyetola concerning the tribunal as it's absolute falsehood and a figment of the imagination of those who put it together.

The party noted that its case before the tribunal is watertight and details of which are already known to the Nigerian public and as such they have notreason to panic or fear.

Lawal disclosed that "only about a month ago, the social media was awash with stories of how a contact committee was set up by the PDP to go after the tribunal justices.

"We hope they are not trying to accuse us of what they did only because the project failed?

"Any discerning Nigerian will immediately know that Governor Ademola Adeleke has a terribly bad case before the tribunal, as it is a common knowledge in Ede that he had issues with his certificate. No matter how hard he tries, there are people who are still alive who know his story.

"Again, the issue of overvoting is unassailable. We were able to prove our case on these two grounds before the Tribunal and we are confident that the outcome will favour us", the state APC chairman stated.

e-SIGNED:

Sooko TAJUDEEN LAWAL, Acting Chairman, Osun State APC.

https://www.newsindicator.com.ng/2023/01/13/osun-election-tribunal-parties-adopt-final-addresses/

Osun Election Tribunal: Parties adopt final addresses

...as Tribunal reserve judgement date

... Adeleke forged certificate, Oyetola's counsel insist

...Asks Tribunal to declare Oyetola winner after canceling votes of disputed polling units

... There are infractions in 1,750 polling units -- INEC counsel

... As Adeleke disowns INEC's BVAS report

The Osun Election Tribunal sitting in Osogbo, led by Justice Tetsea Kume, on Friday admitted the written addresses of the parties involved in the litigation, after the counsel for All Progressives Congress, APC, Adegboyega Oyetola, and those of Senator Ademola Adeleke, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, argued and adopted their final written addresses before the Tribunal.

This is even as Counsel for Oyetola insisted that Senator Adeleke submitted forged certificates, having submitted a Testimonial purported to have been issued by Ede Muslim Grammar School, bearing Osun State at a time Osun had not been created and another letter of Attestation from Ede Muslim High School, to indicate he attended a secondary school.

The petitioners insisted that if the governor had indeed attended Ede Muslim Grammar School, he could not have presented an Attestation Letter from Ede Muslim High School to show he attended a secondary school.

Making their submissions before the Tribunal, Counsel for Oyetola and APC, led by Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, noted that the mere fact that INEC did not at any stage indicate that the CTC BVAS report issued to the petitioners was a temporary one or an unsynchronised one, the Tribunal should accept it as the best evidence in the circumstances, adding that the second CTC BVAS report issued to the PDP and Senator Adeleke by INEC was an afterthought, especially because it was sought after the petitioners had filed their petition before the Tribunal.

Prince Fagbemi went further to submit that even in the CTC BVAS report issued to the PDP and Senator Adeleke, there were infractions in over 100 polling units. He therefore urged the Tribunal to declare Oyetola as the winner of the election, after canceling votes from the disputed polling units.

In his own argument, Counsel for INEC, Prof. Paul Ananaba, submitted that there were discrepancies in 1,750 polling units, saying that results of elections are updated on a continuous basis.

He said as at the time the first CTC BVAS report was issued to the petitioners, some "data were still hanging" and that it was the second CTC BVAS report which was synchronised that should be relied upon by the Tribunal.

This is even as Counsel for Adeleke Onyeachi Ikpeazu disowned INEC's second CTC BVAS report, a document relied upon by INEC at the Tribunal to defend its declaration of Senator Adeleke as the winner of the July 16 governorship election.

Arguing his submission before the Tribunal, Fagbemi said: "I state that it is only Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that is given statutory responsibility to conduct election. I submit that where there is allegation on conduct of election, it is only INEC that has the responsibility to show otherwise.

" The grouse of the petitioners with respect to these grounds, are on the conduct of the election. I submit further that the attempt by 2nd Respondent to discredit Exhibit R.BVR should be discountenance as stated by the 2nd respondent (Adeleke.)

"I submit that we are in a completely new electoral dispensation, unless we know this, we will just be wallowing. I started with concept of over-voting, is different in the present legal regime from the previous legal regime.

"Section 51(2) of Electrical Act, defines over-voting and this clearly is different from the position of Section 33 of the 2011 Electoral Act. Section 47 (2) of the 2022 Electoral Act read together with Clause 20 of the regulation of conduct of election (Exhibit 1) makes the use of BVAS and not Voters' Register mandatory in order to determine Accredited Voters.

"I submit that Exhibit 2R.RW2 in paragraph 1.2, did not mention any Voter's Register as part of the documents he used and I submit that witness did not consider it necessary hence his refusal to state that he used same.

"Section 64 (4) of Electoral Act 2022 is the provision of the law that requires the collation by the presiding officer to be satisfied by the number of accredited voters. I submit that the concept of synchronisation is unknown to the Electoral Laws. What it recognises is that where a voter not recognised by the BVAS machine, such a voter will not be allowed to vote. The only occasion where merger of data occurs on two BVAS machines is when two BVAS machines were used at a polling unit and they must be used or done at polling unit level - see paragraph of Exhibits.

"I submit that there was no report of any merger of any BVAS machine data used at polling unit at the election contest. I submit that INEC did not state any date in their pleadings that they used more than one BVAS machine in any polling. The intention of the law i.e Section 64 (4)(a) of the 2022 Electoral Act is that the number of accredited voters must have been ascertained before the declaration of results.

"I submit that under the 2022 Electoral Act, no time was stated for INEC to declare results. I submit that all the parties were unanimous on the date of election that took place on 16th of July, 2022 and declaration of results on 17th July, 2022 and issuance of Certificate of Return to the 2nd Respondent on 20th of July, 2022.

"The question therefore is on what details of accredited voters did INEC did all above? I further submit that RW1 stated in evidence that she issued and certified Exhibit R.BVR and as such, presumption of regularity endures in favour of the Exhibit. The 1st Respondent did not notify the petitioners of any irregularities as same was not recalled by the 1st Respondent.

"I submit that it was after service of the petition on the Respondent that they now resort to an afterthought concept of synchronisation. I submit that if the tribunal allows the concept of synchronisation, it will act to a point that it is INEC and not the electorate that determine the outcome of an election - see paragraph 7.33 to 7.39 of our Final Written Address," Fagbemi added.

On the issue of Certificate Forgery, the Petitioners' Counsel argued that "the testimonial shows on its face that or was issued in Osun State in 1988 a whole 3 years before Osun State came into existence. They should have pleaded that they made an error or mistake but that was never done.

"The Judgment of Court of Appeal that I said, they did not prove their case, there is nothing from the Respondent to contradict our evidence. So, the documents tendered in this regards by the witness of the 2nd Respondent (Adeleke) are mere hearsay. When you have no connection to a certificate, you are not the one that issued it, that he was given, the law says 'No' to such documents.

"It has no probative value. Any document showing that Osun State is in existence since 1988 is clearly false. Supreme Court says 'where only document shows it is false, it is clearly false."

On his part, Counsel for Adeleke, Ikpeazu SAN noted that a clear distinction ought to be maintained between back-end server and the Certified Copy of the extraction from the BVAS machines.

"Contrary to the submission of the Petitioners, RWl confirmed a physical inspection of the BVAS based on the Order of Court for same to be extracted. It is on this pedestal that the case of the 2nd Respondent (Adeleke) was mounted.

"2nd Respondent (Adeleke) is not bound by the case of the 1st Respondent (INEC) which was found as the second BVAS report which was labelled synchronised but which was not a comprehensive one from the BVAS machines themselves.

"The 2nd Respondent (Adeleke) is not bound by evidence led by the 1st Respondent (INEC) which is an independent body. The second Respondent presented a unique case which is founded based on Evidence Rule by relying on the physical and primary source of all capture of accreditations that were made on the day of the election itself."

After listening to all the arguments, the Tribunal rose at exactly 7. 30pm and adjourned for judgement on a date it said would be communicated to all parties.