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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”.
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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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Senator Gbenga Daniel Congratulates Edo Governor-Elect Monday Okpebholo

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Otunba Gbenga Daniel, representing Ogun East senatorial district and former governor of Ogun State has extended his congratulations to Senator Monday Okpebholo following his victory in the Edo State Governorship election held on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
In a message on behalf of the people of Ogun East Senatorial District, Senator Daniel commended Okpebholo and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for their success in the polls.
Daniel highlighted Okpebholo’s previous role as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Procurement, where he earned a reputation as a standout leader. He praised Okpebholo for his contributions to the committee, noting his leadership and strong relationships with fellow members.
“Your campaign efforts in towns and villages, combined with your humility and respectful engagement with voters across party lines, have paid off,” Daniel said. He described Okpebholo as a “deep thinker” and “highly responsible strategist,” adding that his election marks a victory for Edo State.
In his closing remark, Otunba Gbenga Daniel concluded by offering his best wishes to Okpebholo as he embarks on his new role as Governor of Edo State, assuring him of his highest regards.
The congratulatory message underscores the unity within the APC and the shared optimism for the newly elected governor’s administration in Edo State.

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