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Group Cries Out Over Alleged Failed Sponsored Attack On Aregbesola

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A political group in Osun State, the Progressives Minded Forum has cried out over alleged attempted government sponsored attack on the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Monday, 14 March, 2022 in Osogbo, Osun State.
According to a statement signed by Sunday Oriowo, Coordinator, PMF, the attack was not  violent, unlike the previous one where the convoy of the Minister was attacked by political hoodlums who made attempt on Aregbesola’s life at Orisunmibare, Osogbo.
The Monday failed attacks, according to Oriowo, was a malicious civil action sponsored by some aides to Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
“We believed these government officials were acting on behalf of the governor, who is determined to carry on his bitter politics against his benefactor, Ogbeni Rauf  Aregbesola. The first civil action failed why the second did not get the desired attention,” he said.
Oriowo disclosed that the first malicious action sponsored by the government against the Minister was the mobilization of some people who were disguise as pensioners in the state to protest against the minister during the commissioning of the 72-unit Federal Mortgage Housing Estate in Abere. But the plan failed because security agents had been duly informed ahead.
He revealed that  the information leaked out when the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr Jamiu Olawumi, was confidently telling some people on WhatsApp platforms on Sunday evening that “pensioners will welcome Aregbesola tomorrow.
“The information was processed and it was discovered that the government had paid some people to disguise as pensioners and protest against the former Governor of the State of Osun. Security agents were duly informed and the plan was thwarted”.
Having failed in the first plan, the PMF coordinator said the government activated its second plan by engaging ‘The Masterminds’, a group known for its hypocrisy, money-driven opinion and financially induced press conferences, to launch attack on the Minister, in a desperate bid to discredit his official assignment in Osogbo.
“It is important to note that The Masterminds is a group of four or five disgruntled elements who are willing tools in the hand of the government. No wonder the PDP described them as group of people with inglorious activities and followers of many mushroom CSOs with which they used to dupe political parties, governments and unsuspecting individuals,” the statement said.
The procured group, he said, called selected journalists to a press conference on Monday, 14 March, 2022, where one Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli read out a script prepared for him by one of top media aide to Governor Oyetola.
The group, as usual, shamefully raised issue on the debt profile of the state, accusing Aregbesola of plunging the state into debt which was responsible for the minus allocation to the state from FAAC. The group asked Governor Oyetola to address the people of the state and tell them the kind of government he inherited from Aregbesola.
“May we as stakeholders in Osun State ask Governor Oyetola to tell the people the debt profile of the state when he took over power in 2018, the repayment method and projects that the loans were expended on. The Governor should please tell the people of the state how much the state is earning from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR),” the statement said.
Dr Wale Bolorunduro, former Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning of the state had written: “But we know the total loan deduction at the inception of Oyetola administration was N2.4 billion. With completion of conventional bond (1st tranche) in July 2019, it fell to N1.8bn and by April 2019, it fell to N1.5bn, after the completion of Sukuk bond. I can autograph this figure, any day and anywhere. Data don’t tell lies. Therefore, anything significantly above this must be “other deductions” attributable completely to Oyetola’s administration and which must be exposed.”
“Mr Governor sir, members of the public would like to know “other deductions” which put the state into negative in the February allocation. The people will also like to know how you have been funding the little projects you have embarked upon since all your claim is ‘there is no money in the state.’ We recall that Mr Governor was the Chairman of Debt Management Board, the fact and figure of the debt profile of Osun is with him. The Governor should speak as requested by the deluded Masterminds.
“Besides, it is pathetic that a supposed objective group would close its eye to the nondisclosure of N11.9 billion refund to the Osun State government on Federal Government project executed by Aregbesola, but rather continue to blame the former governor for the debt. May we ask the self-styled group why it has refused to talk on the assets left behind by the Aregbesola’s administration that have increased the IGR of the state.
“The Masterminds should ask Oyetola why the projects he inherited have been fallen into ruins under him. The group should genuinely serve the interest of the people by asking why social programmes like Osun Ambulance Service and O’Clean have not been functioning well under Oyetola.
“The general public should ask The Masterminds why it has refused to speak on the insecurity in the state, in the face of the incessant killings, cult clashes and violent thuggery activities that have taken over the state. The Mastermind should explain why it has refused to issue a press release on the death of OAU student, the cult clashes in Ilesa and Osogbo, the violence in Ede, armed robbery and ritual killings in Ile-Ife.
“We note that members of The Masterminds cannot raise voice against the Oyetola’s administration because it is their ‘pot of soup’. The group is procured by the government to continue attacking Aregbesola, but the more the attacks come, the more the popularity of the Minister. The general public should know that The Mastermind is Oyetola’s sponsored group and nothing serious could come out of it”.
Aregbesola Speaks On FG’s Plan To Establish Fire Police -Crystal News

Aregbesola Speaks On FG’s Plan To Establish Fire Police -Crystal News

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Lagos 2027: Early Promptings of Idiocy

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There have been subtle projections for the Lagos state governorship election in 2027. Unfortunately, these early promptings seem to lack the requisite intellectual rigour for the dynamic politics and leadership demands of the state of acquatic splendour. Shola Oyeyipo writes.
A general build-up to the 2027 national elections can no longer be dismissed as “too early” again, given the current provisions of the nation’s electoral laws. By the letters of these laws, elected officials can hardly savour two years at a stretch to deliver on their promises, before campaign distractions commence.
Sections 76(2), 116(2), 132(2) and 178(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), state that elections shall hold not earlier than one hundred and fifty (150) days and not later than thirty (30) days before the expiration of the term of office of` the last holder of that office.
By these provisions, the electoral commission, INEC, is empowered by Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 to issue Notice for the elections not later than 360 days before the date of the elections.

Once this is done, governance takes the back stage and politics becomes the in-thing. Thus, if anyone is starting to project for the next bout of election, it may be considered part of the build-up, albeit an unlawful indulgence at this time.
Yet, the recent balloon trials about the likely turn that the Lagos governorship might take were not only poor attempts at simulating anything, they failed to show a grasp of the issues that might dominate political discourse at this time.
In one of those efforts, the failure to credit the president, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, with deserving political intelligence by expressly tipping his son, Seyi, as a likely choice for the Lagos governorship,  was one idiotic undertaking loaded with absolute baloney.
Excuse qualification for a bit as a different debate on its own, no other more serious political considerations, including religion and geopolitical factors spared a thought for him.

How a president, who would be battling to return to office, would willfully set his empire on fire, is unlikely his disposition, even though a renowned risk-taking political juggernaut.
It’s no doubt a delicate wager and there’s no debating the fact that no politician worth his salt would travel, not just on such a highway to nowhere, but obstreperously stoke a fire that would consume all that he already has in the bag.
That said, the qualification debate can now step forward. However, anyone looks at this, what has Seyi done that would make his father push him forward for the Lagos governorship?
Take a quick review of the profiles of everyone who had governed Lagos, starting from his father and say to yourself which of them he comes close to, including Akinwunmi Ambode, who was not allowed to seek re-election?

The Yoruba will readily ask anyone with poor reasoning to smell his own words and tell how badly it stinks. Perhaps, those pushing this agenda should read over their garbage and tell themselves how that is feasible with all the variables waiting to determine the next choice for Lagos.
Curiously, the other leg to the early promptings and their tawdry delivery was the veiled move to put down some names, while making others appear impossible choices.
It is true and arguable that the Senator representing Lagos East, Tokunbo Abiru, is a good material for Lagos. From the halls of many banks to the red chamber, it is hard to dismiss or downplay his eligibility, suitability and capacity.
He fits the bill in all ramifications and has earned a constant mention in the race for the Lagos governorship, even before he went to the senate. These notwithstanding, he, too, would battle other factors, although determined by the “owner” of Lagos, when the time comes. His choice is therefore not a given yet.

Interestingly, one name that is gradually creeping into the mix, and which a majority of the Lagos politicians are coming to terms with as seemingly fitting the bill and picture of Tinubu’s unusual choice for governor is the current Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.
Whatever analysis anyone is doing now that does not yield a deserving space to Alausa is probably clowning for want of what to write. He may appear unnoticed and unpopular for now, many observers from Lagos already see his redeployment from junior minister at the Ministry of Health to Education as instructive.
This development, they now argue, was not only to properly position and prepare him for the Lagos challenge, they are convinced that the ministry would start to get more votes as part of design to empower and put him on a stronger footing ahead of the decision to either draft him into the race or empower him.

For an average politician, his nomination to the cabinet was not a surprise. The duo of Tinubu and Alausa had come a long way since their days in the United States. While the latter was said to have done a lot in service for the former back in the day, Tinubu has not had the opportunity to compensate him. The time to do so is now.
Unfortunately, there’s one more name that is already being mentioned, sadly in talk-down tone and that is the current Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat – a man of class and distinction.
While no one can emerge Lagos governor without the blessing of the president, except, of course, God personally steps in, Hamzat is one material that both the political class and the ordinary citizens of the state have continued to tip as Lagos’ best bet. Their reasons suit all logics.

First, as the current deputy governor, who would have run the state with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for eight years by 2027, it would make transition easy. The fact that he understands the development agenda of the state as an active player cancels out many “ifs”.
In addition, he satisfies practically all political considerations as far as the race to the Lagos governorship is concerned. Smart, sound and very intelligent, he is also hands-on, so much that his choice would naturally relieve the president of any worry back home while the battle for his reelection rages across the nation.
His knowledge of Lagos, development politics, issues and the management of the political class puts him miles ahead of everyone else. This also explains while those conversant with these facts but want someone else have continued to use his strengths against him, insinuating that the president would not field a man, who seems solid in everything.
By implications, the move is intended to set him up for failure and make him lose favour before the president. Indeed, some have also openly sung to him that anyone who overtly or subtly indicates interest in the governorship never gets it, citing the president’s style as constant in this decision.
However, while it may appear that the president has always gambled with his choice of the Lagos governor, and has always been lucky to end up with good hands, including Ambode, his inadequacies nonetheless, political dynamics also demand a review of strategy for results that are in sync with current realities.
At the end of the day, the only person who will determine the next governor of Lagos state is God through the instrumentality of the people.
The same God has also placed in President Tinubu, the power and influence to choose right on behalf of the people again in 2027, without downplaying the prevailing factors, both in the state and his own election.
But the choice candidate must have the right character, temper, knowledge and capacity to do the job. After all, this is Lagos.
In the final analysis, the early promptings are not completely out of place and may help stoke real conversations ahead of the Lagos 2027 poll. However, pandering to obvious idiocy in order to flesh up weak analyses is counterproductive, even to their own idea of who the cap fits

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LG Elections: Senator Yayi Criticises Governor Abiodun Over Alleged Imposition of Candidates

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Senator Adeola Olamilekan, popularly known as Senator Yayi, representing Ogun West Senatorial District, expressed strong concerns over the upcoming local government elections in Ogun State. His remarks followed the heated discussion on the Benue LGA elections, which Senator Abba Moro described as a “sham” on the Senate Order Paper. Yayi drew parallels between the situation in Benue and what he termed “undemocratic practices” in Ogun State.
Speaking on the matter, Senator Yayi highlighted the increasing interference by state governors in local government elections, specifically pointing fingers at Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, for allegedly handpicking candidates for the upcoming local government polls without conducting proper primaries. According to Yayi, all candidates vying for the 20 chairmanship positions and 236 ward councillor seats in Ogun State’s LGAs were selected based on their loyalty to the governor rather than their competence or popular support.
The senator further alleged that the chosen candidates, all members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), were required to swear an oath of loyalty to Governor Abiodun and the candidates reportedly submitted letters of resignation, effectively surrendering their positions even before assuming office, ensuring that they would remain under the governor’s control, all these alleged to have happened at Mitros Hall, located opposite the Presidential Lodge in Abeokuta.
Senator Yayi expressed his frustration over the exclusion of party members who maintained ties with other influential political figures in the state, including former governors and himself. “This imposition of candidates and deliberate sidelining of legitimate party members is not only undemocratic but also dangerous for the future of local governance,” Yayi remarked, emphasizing the need for transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
Governor Dapo Abiodun is not the first Ogun State leader to face accusations of manipulating local government elections. Former governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, had similarly been criticized during his tenure for allegedly imposing candidates in local elections, sparking tensions within the state’s APC structure. Other governors in Nigeria, such as Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue and Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna, have also faced similar accusations, raising concerns about the broader issue of state interference in grassroots democracy across the country.
One of the key issues raised by Senator Yayi, and echoed by several other senators during the debate, is the negative impact of not granting local governments full autonomy. Local government autonomy is seen as a vital aspect of democracy, ensuring that grassroots governance is effective, accountable, and responsive to the needs of the people. However, the current practice in most states, where governors exercise disproportionate control over local government elections, undermines this principle.
Critics argue that when state governments handpick local government candidates, it leads to a breakdown in democratic processes at the grassroots level. Local government officials, often mere extensions of the governor’s political machinery, become unresponsive to the electorate’s needs. This top-down control stifles innovation, hampers development projects, and creates an environment where local government executives are more loyal to the state governor than the people they were elected to serve.
Senator Yayi stressed that the situation in Ogun State is emblematic of a larger national problem. “If we continue to allow state governments to hijack the local government electoral process, we are undermining democracy itself,” he warned. “Local governments must be allowed to function independently, free from the political manoeuvrings of state governors.”
As Ogun State prepares for its local government elections, the growing dissatisfaction among stakeholders like Senator Yayi raises important questions about the legitimacy of the process. The allegations of candidate imposition and demands for oaths of loyalty represent a significant challenge to democratic norms, and they highlight the urgent need for reform in the relationship between state and local governments in Nigeria.
With tensions rising within Ogun’s APC structure and the local government elections looming, all eyes will be on Governor Dapo Abiodun to see whether the elections will reflect the true will of the people or remain another example of state-level control over grassroots governance.

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APC chieftain Akinterinwa felicitates Adejoke Orelope Adefulure on 65th birthday

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A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state, Wale Akinterinwa, has extended his warm congratulations to the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Sustainable Development Goals, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, on her 65th birthday anniversary.

In a statement on Sunday, Akinterinwa described Orelope-Adefulire, the former Deputy Governor of Lagos State as an iconic woman whose remarkable leadership traits continue to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians and humanity.

Akinterinwa maintained that Orelope-Adefulire has displayed exemplary leadership and compassion both in her private and official capacities.

He praised her for her ‘unforgettable’ contributions to the growth and development of Ile-Oluji community in Ondo state.

The statement reads, “On behalf of myself, my family and the good people of Ile-Oluji, I celebrate an iconic woman, the Special Adviser to the President on Sustainable Development Goals.

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