Tag Archives: ajimobi

Naira value to rise in the next six months – Ajimobi

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Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has predicted that the value of the Naira will rise in the next three to six months, saying things are getting better.

He spoke at a special prayer organised by the state for the nation and President Muhammadu Buhari at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan.

As early as 9am, thousands of Muslims, and Christians gathered at the stadium for the inter-faith prayer tagged: “Prayer for the nation”. Security personnel were strategically positioned to maintain peace and orderliness.

To begin the event, Muslim and Christian bands engaged in praises and worship to “charge” the atmosphere.
Ajimobi said emerging economic indicators have shown that things are getting better in the country.

“Nigeria produce two million barrel per day and the price of oil has increased tremendously. I know for sure, the way things are going, within the next three to six months, things will begin to get better, but we need to work. Let’s join hands and make the country better,” he said
Reacting on the rumour trailing the President’s health status, the governor wondered why some Nigerians were wishing Buhari dead, instead of praying for him .

Ajimobi said: “We are here to appreciate God. If you appreciate God regularly,he will help you regularly. We are here to pray for God’s guidance as leaders and followers. We are here to pray for unity, peace, progress and prosperity, we are here to pray for our President,Speaker, Senate President, and all the governors. I want all of us to desist from lying and gossiping.”

In their separate remarks, State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Pastor Benjamin Akanmu and the State Chairman of Pilgrims Welfare Board, Muslim Wing, Alhaji Akewugbagold, unanimously agreed that prayers and regular intercession have become necessary in the face of several national challenges.

In their messages of exhortation, Apostle Sunday Popoola and Sheikh Muyideen Bello implored Nigerians to imbibe godly virtues always. They cautioned against derogatory comments against leaders and the nation.

The Special Adviser to the governor on Community Relation, Abidemi Siyanbade, said the event was to seek divine grace from God for the country and its leaders.

According to him, “the country is bedeviled with various crises, economic sabotage, insurgency, kidnapping and others. It’s only through prayers that all this can be solved.”

Governor Ajimobi berated over LAUTECH

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A chieftain of Accord Party (AP) in Oyo State, Remi Olaniyan, Tuesday berated Governor Abiola Ajimobi, over alleged poor handling of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) students’ crisis.

 

Olaniyan, who said the governor’s outburst was uncalled for, wondered why government would expect aggrieved students to keep quiet after being forcefully kept at home for eight months.

 

He said: “LAUTECH had suffered so many problems that would make the quality of students being produced to be academically unsound and unsuitable for the country.”

 

Olaniyan, who called for an urgent meeting between Ajimobi and his Osun State counterpart, Rauf Aregbesola, on the way forward for the institution, expressed shock that the University of Osun State (UNIOSUN) remains open, while Oyo state indigenes and students of LAUTECH languished at home.

 

Relatedly, a civil society organisation, Citizens Action to Take Back Nigeria (CATBAN), wants the governor to apologise to the students for his remarks.

 

A statement in Abuja by the Co-convener of CATBAN, Comrade Ibrahim Garba Wala, described Ajumobi encounter with the protesting students as “act of executive rascality and irresponsibility in the strongest terms.

 

The group said from the video, which has gone viral, the governor wants “everyone to worship him as the ultimate god of Oyo State, with a warning that he could do whatever he wished at any time, even if such actions were against the wishes of his people, and there is nothing anyone can do about it.”

Governor Ajimobi denies governors’ emergency meeting over Buhari.

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Amid rife speculation over the health status of President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state yesterday refuted reports that governors were summoned for an emergency meeting in Abuja to discuss the issue.

“There is no iota of truth in the rumour making the round that governors were summoned to Abuja for an emergency meeting to discuss the health status of our dear President. We should desist from circulating callous insinuations aimed at denting the image of prominent citizens.

“Instead of peddling unfounded rumours, I will advise Nigerians to continue to pray for the President and other leaders, including governors, because their well-being is tied to the well-being of the people.

The governor, who spoke yesterday in Ibadan, clarified that his trip to Abuja was for a scheduled meeting with World Bank officials. He went on: “It is pertinent to state here that the President only went for a break and to use the opportunity to undergo routine medical check-up. To the best of my knowledge, he was not even admitted into any hospital for any ailment.

“There is nothing wrong with the President taking some time off to rest and meet with some people abroad unofficially. I am reaffirming the fact that our President is hale and hearty.”

Recalling the negative online comments that had trailed his recent interaction with the protesting students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAIUTECH), Ogbomoso, Ajimobi said it was high time the medium was regulated to check abuses.

Acknowledging the importance of the new media for social mobilisation and creation of awareness on developmental issues, policies and other positive intents, he admitted that the medium was also being abused by some individuals.

 

Source: Guardian

Upheaval in University of Ibadan over Governor Ajimobi’s N2m gift

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A gift of N2 million Abiola Ajimobi, governor of Oyo state, is the subject of rancour between students of halls of residents in the University of Ibadan and their executive council members.

On Friday, January 2, 2015, the governor invited leaders of all halls of residence in UI and neighbouring The Polytechnic Ibadan to a meeting at the government house, where he gave them N2 million.

The money, which was to be shared  among the hall chairmen and chairpersons at N100,000 per head, was taken out of the government house to an undisclosed location.

An inside source who  spoke to TheCable  said the student leaders eventually got N70,000, because Adelabu ‘Labzy’ Adeola, former presidential aspirant of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS); and Segun Olaleye (popularly known as Radical Brother), former UI Students Union president, deducted N30,000 as “PR” cost of organising the meeting.

The source added that of the N70,000, N20,000 was to be taken by the leader of  every hall, while the remaining N50,000 was for the hall.

After the meeting, some of the student leaders returned to their halls to deliver meagre sums within the range of N500 to N3000 to the so-called stakeholders in the halls of residence.

“When the students found out how much was given to the student leaders, they confronted their leaders to ask for more, which eventually led to heated disagreement between the students and the executives,” the source said.

Some hall leaders had to lie to their hall members that they were only given N20,000, which had been distributed already.

It was not just current hall leaders who were present at the meeting. Others were Toba Bankole, onetime chairman of Nnamdi Azikwe hall; Teslim Ogundiran, former information minister of  the same hall; Victor Olojede, onetime aspirant of NANS JCC Oyo vice chairmanship seat; as well as ‘Labzy’ and ‘Radical Brother’.

Speaking on the meeting, Adelabu said he had always helped halls in the university access funds from politicians for their hall week celebrations.

“Over the years, I have always assisted the hall administration in getting funds from politicians to assist in their hall week, from the governor, Senator Olalehin, Honourable Awoleye and our own Radical Brother,” he said.

“The governor and Lanlehin only donated  money once in 2011 after their inauguration, while Awoleye and Radical brother have been consistent.”

Adelabu went on to explain that he joined Radical Brother, who is a member of the governor’s contact committee, to approach the governor for  support funds, which the governor  turned down outright, saying UI students had not been grateful to him.

Radical brother pleaded on behalf of the students, promising they would “make it up this time around, since there was going to be public announcement of the money.”

On January 2, the hall leaders converged on the government house, where they were told the conditions tied to the money, which were not disclosed to TheCable.

On agreeing to the terms, the governor allotted N100,000 to each hall present, amounting to about N2m for halls from UI and The Polytechnic Ibadan.

According to Adelabu, the N30,000 removed from each hall was to be shared by attendees and spent on PR.

“N70,000 was given to each attendee, N50,000 for the hall week and N20,000 for each hall chairperson. The rest was shared by the attendees and on PR,” he explained.

“Everybody was aware. I, Bankole and Ogundiran (all three not hall chairmen) also got N20,000. Extra N10,000 was given to the representatives of hall chairpersons who couldn’t make it, so they can settle their hall chairs too. The halls that were not present had their representatives.”

Elsewhere, Lateef Bada, the chairman of Mellanby hall, UI’s premier hall of residence, said the money was a gift but it was “slashed by the inner cabal” just for him to have N20,000 only.

“Truly, the governor invited us during the weekend and gave us money as gift. To my utmost surprise, the money was slashed by inner cabals; I personally got N20,000,” he said.

Bada, who disclosed that the Students Union president was present, named the inner cabals as senior special advisers and special advisers to the governor and the likes.

However, Odesola Oluwafemi the SU president better known as ‘Huntersola’, said he was “not given a kobo” because he was not part of the deal.

The hall chairpersons have not been speaking with one voice on the purpose of the money. While some have said they were given the money for their hall week, which held some weeks ago, others claim the money a mobilisation for the governor’s second-term bid. A third group says the money was “just a gift”.

 

Source: The Cable

LAUTECH student leaders in free-for-all over governor’s ‘N500,000 largesse’

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The much-publicised protest by students over the seven-month closure of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomosho, ended in controversy on Monday as student leaders fought over a largesse, allegedly from Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

Students from various universities had gathered for the protest in Ibadan, capital of one of the two owner states of the university, when Mr. Ajimobi agreed to meet with their representatives to assure them of his commitment to the reopening of the university soon.

After the meeting, the governor was said to have released some money for the entertainment of the representatives.

But a disagreement over how to share the largesse soon became physical and deteriorated into a free-for-all among the student outside the State Secretariat office of the governor.

One of the student leaders, Fawole Isreal, told PREMIUM TIMES that the commotion occurred because the representative who collected the money decided to spray it on the protesters.

An aide of the president of the Senate of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Olanrewaju Umar, blamed the student leaders of LAUTECH for collecting money from the governor.

Another LAUTECH student, Oyedeji Ahmed, condemned the gesture of the governor.

“At a time when Oyo cannot pay salaries, why will the governor give out N500, 000 to students?” Mr. Ahmed quipped, adding that the gesture was an encouragement of “corruption”.

The Senior Assistant to the Governor on Youth and Students Affairs, Bolaji Azeez, however defended Mr. Ajimobi, saying he only acted “as a caring father”.

LAUTECH has been shut down since last June. But the two owner states have promised to reopen it by February 1. They also promised to contribute N200million each in an intervention fund to settle outstanding salaries.

Mr. Ajimobi is scheduled to meet with leaders of the university’s branch of the Academic Staff of Nigerian Universities on Wednesday as part of the process of resolving the crisis that forced the closure of the school.

We Will #ReOpenLAUTECH End Of January, Ajimobi Tells Protesting Students.

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Business and commercial activities were disrupted for hours on Monday in Ibadan as students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) took to the streets protesting the closure of the school since May 2017.

The students in their hundreds stormed the Oyo state secretariat demanding to see the Governor to explain why the school has remained unopened for eight months despite all entreaties.

Reacting to the protest, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi described the protest as needless as efforts are underway to re-open the institution latest by the end of the January.

He said a meeting had been scheduled between the two governors, the management of the institution and the labour unions in the school for Wednesday, January 11 for final deliberations that would lead to the opening of the school.

Governor Ajimobi said the two states are looking for every opportunity to improve on the quality of education and provide a conducive learning environment for the students in the state.

Gov, Ajimobi further disclosed that as a result of series of consultation among all stakeholders, Oyo state Government in collaboration with the Government of the  state of Osun have agreed to raise the sum of 500 million Naira for the immediate re opening of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso.

While responding to questions from the students regarding a possible increment in school fee, Governor Ajimobi said a visitation panel headed by Wole Olanipekun SAN had been set up to look into all issues that will enhance a smooth running of the school.

He stressed that their recommendations would determine the position of Government on school fees.

Governor Ajimobi who frowned at the manner with which the protest was carried out, however admonished the students to shun all manner of unruly behaviour, respect constituted authority and be ready to engage through dialogue and consultations.

The Governor made the same promise in a statement by his spokesman, Mr Yomi Layinka, after a meeting with the national, zonal and state leadership of the students’ unions in his office, three days earlier.

LAUTECH: Oyo Assembly Begs Ajimobi, Aregbesola to Negotiate with Striking Workers

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The Oyo State House of Assembly has appealed to Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and his Osun State counterpart, Rauf Aregbesola, to negotiate with the striking workers of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso.

This followed the submission of a report by the state Commissioner for Justice, Oluseun Abimbola, and his Education counterpart, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela, on the LAUTECH crisis.

The House had on September 27 ordered the two commissioners to appear before it to clarify the grey areas on the ownership status of the university.

Abimbola, while presenting the reports, said that the two states had on Wednesday reached an agreement to maintain status quo over ownership of the institution, and affirmed their commitment to its funding.

Abimbola said: “After the meeting co-chaired by the two governors and attended by their deputies and senior officials from the two states, a communique was issued, a copy of which we are presenting to the house.

“The communique, which reads in part, restates the commitment of the two governments to moving the institution forward.

“They also agreed to an irrevocable commitment to the institution.

“The meeting also agreed on the necessity for a comprehensive restructuring of the institution.

“This is to ensure fair and effective development and distribution of academic resources, physical structures and other assets of the university.”

Abimbola said further that the two governors also appealed to the striking workers to resume academic activities, while amicable solutions were being worked out.

The lawmakers, in their reactions, said that the communique and agreement of the two governors did not address the real issue that led to the industrial action.

In her contributions, Olawunmi Oladeji said that the indifference of Osun governor caused the crisis in the institution.

Oldeji sid: “The apathy exhibited by Governor Aregbesola crippled the smooth running of academic activities in the institution.

“How can a state government that claims to lack revenue, have the fund to build six mega schools when each cost about N1.3 billion?

“We should all know that an injustice to one is the injustice to all, and we are writing our own history; posterity will judge us all.”

Also, Olusegun Olaleye said that the issue of non-payment of workers’ salaries and funding of the institution was not addressed by the governors.

Olleye said: “This communique only portrays a long-term goal, not how the issue of non-payment of salaries and funding would be addressed.

“This is what is more urgent so that the workers can suspend the strike and students can be recalled; education of these students should not be jeopardized.”

Fatai Adesina said that the communique did not state how the two state governments intended to resolve the issue of 15 months outstanding salaries owed the workers.

Adesin said: “We want to see how this can be resolved so as to ensure the immediate resumption, not some long-term solutions.

“Obviously, the decision reached is as a result of the friendship between the two governors and that they also belonged to the same political party.”

In his remarks, the Speaker, Michael Adeyemo, said that the union leaders in the institution should be included in the panel being proposed by the two state governments.

LAUTECH had remained closed since June 13 following series of protests by students and industrial action by the unions in the institution.

Ajimobi says Oyo LG elections will hold this year

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Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Tuesday indicated that local government elections in the state would still hold before the end of the year.

Ajimobi gave the indication while receiving the first batch of 176 Muslim pilgrims who returned from Mecca in his office.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor was represented by Alhaji Ismail Alli, the Secretary to the State Government, at the event.

“The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) will soon roll out its calendar for the election, which will hold before the end of the year,’’ the governor said.

Oyo State House of Assembly had early August invited the OYSIEC Chairman and Secretary to appear before it over conduct of the elections.

Ajimobi, however, urged the pilgrims to imbibe discipline, hard work, commitment and righteousness they learnt from the 2016 hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia.

The governor said he was excited that the pilgrims prayed for the peace and prosperity of the state and nation at large.

“We appreciate your prayers for the state and the 33 local governments.

“We also thank you for your prayers on the country in these trying times.

“We hope the best would soon happen to the country,’’ Ajimobi said.

He enjoined them to eschew immoral activities, urging them to embrace attitudinal change.

“The lesson of hajj is to worship God, who created us all.

“We gave all our commitment to worshipping God during the exercise and I think such should be replicated after the exercise.

“We are thankful to Almighty God that 176 of our pilgrims have returned safe and sound.

“We have a report of a hitch-free exercise and hope to receive another batch of 450 pilgrims on Wednesday,’’ he said.

‘Virtually Every Nigerian Is Corrupt’ – Governor Ajimobi

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Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi reacting to President Buhari’s war against corruption, told newsmen at the National Secretariat of the All Pro­gressives Congress (APC), Abuja that virtually every Nigerian is corrupt. He said:

“We are looking at corruption in a global per­spective as against just tak­ing money. If you look at it generally, you will see that virtually every Nigeria is corrupt, virtually everybody is corrupt in one way or the other either attitudinally, fi­nancially or socially, and this, we believe should be looked into.


“We believe corruption is more than just taking money, I think it is attitudinal. Any­time you do what you are not supposed to do, is corruption. Sometime you can even en­large it to mean indiscipline, inability to control yourself, to discipline yourself against selfish tendencies of wanting to take what does not belong to you. Even not doing your job is corruption, for taking salaries monthly and not coming to work and being idle is

 

Ajimobi Places N5m Bounty On Lawmaker’s Killers

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Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi yesterday placed a N5million bounty on the heads of the three gunmen responsible for the gruesome murder of a member of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Gideon Aremu.

Special Adviser to the governor on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka in a statement in Ibadan  yesterday announced the reward for any member of the public with credible information that might lead to the arrest of the criminals.

Ajimobi appealed to members of the public in possession of any useful information to immediately contact the following telephone numbers: 0802 343 1079, 0803 653 6581, with assurances that such tips would be treated in the utmost confidence.

Aremu represented Oorelope constituency in the House of Assembly until he was murdered on July 1, by three gunmen that allegedly trailed him on motorcycle.

The governor said that he was still saddened by the incident that shattered the serenity which the state had enjoyed in the past five years and would be prepared to reward anybody with clues that would assist the police to apprehend the culprits and their sponsors.

“This is to further demonstrate the government’s commitment to the ongoing investigation of the immediate and remote causes of the murder of the parliamentarian who was allegedly gunned down in front of his home in Alakia, Ibadan.

“The governor, once again, wishes to reiterate his administration’s relentless pursuit and defence of the security of lives and properties of all citizens of Oyo State, without let or hindrance.

“The government wishes to assure such volunteers of absolute secrecy, confidentiality and protection of the law. Please, help to find those behind the murder of Hon. Gideon Aremu so that he and his family can get justice, and on time too,” he added.

Ajimobi promised members of the public that the police and other security agencies would not relent in their efforts at maintaining peace and orderliness, and assured the deceased family that a crack team of homicide detectives were already working hard to apprehend the suspects.

Credit: Leadership

Oyo State Workers Embark On Indefinite Strike

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Oyo state civil servants will today June 7th embark on an indefinite strike. The leadership of the state NLC chapter declared the strike over the planned privatization of public schools in the state. ?Among the demands of the workers include immediate withdrawal of all trump-up charges leveled against the incarcerated labour leaders, Government must rescind its decision to sell-off any public schools in the state,

Proper and adequate funding of the education sector including payment of living wages and other incentive for educational workers and immediate Payment of 6 months outstanding salaries and all
pension arrears? withdrawal of all trump-up charges leveled against the incarcerated labour leaders.”

Ajimobi Tackles Corporate Organisations Over Sponsorship Of Olubadan Coronation

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The Oyo State Government has faulted claims by some corporate organisations that they are sponsoring the coronation of the Olubadan-Designate, High Chief Saliu Adetunji, billed for Friday.

 

The state government said in Ibadan on Thursday that the coronation committee headed by the Otun Olubadan, Dr Lekan Balogun, was the only recognised body vested with preparations for the coronation.

 

Mr Yomi Layinka, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, said this while speaking with newsmen.

 

“This committee comprises representatives of the Olubadan-in-council, Iyalode and Olubadan designate’s younger brother, Alhaji Ambali Adetunji,” he said.

 

Layinka, who heads the media sub-committee for the coronation, said that top government officials led by a former Secretary to the State Government, Mr Olalekan Alli, were also part of the committee.

He said that the Oyo State Signage and Advertisement Agency, which is responsible for giving approvals for mounting billboards, had not received any application from any corporate organisation in respect of the coronation.

 

Layinka warned that the law enforcement agencies had been put on alert to watch out for illegal display of billboards under the guise of sponsorship of the coronation.

 

“We need to make a categorical statement that no organisation is mandated or authorised to be branded as sponsors of the Olubadan inauguration ceremony.

“No sponsor has been accredited to manage or brand the event surrounding the coronation ceremony of Olubadan of Ibadan scheduled for the March 4,” he said.

” We understand that a purported advisory group to the Olubadan-Designate has been soliciting support and collaborating with some individuals.

“This is aimed at raising funds and seeking branding and marketing opportunities surrounding the event.

“It should be noted that there is no such accreditation from the recognised coronation committee led by High Chief Lekan Balogun and other high chiefs and government representatives.

“But, the committee will still be willing to do business with them if they follow due process,’’ he said.

Ladoja Congratulates Ajimobi Over Supreme Court Judgment

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The candidate of the Accord Party in the 2015 governorship election in Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, has congratulated Governor Abiola Ajimobi, over his (Ajimobi’s) victory at the Supreme Court.

 

 

Affirming the victory on Tuesday, the apex court ruled that the April 11, 2015 election that produced Ajimobi as governor was valid.

 

 

The ruling by the court was the climax of a 10-month legal tussle instituted by Ladoja against the governor shortly after the governorship election.

 

 

The former governor had headed to the Oyo State Election Petitions Tribunal where he challenged the victory of Ajimobi on the grounds that the election was marred by electoral malpractices.

 

 

After the tribunal ruled in favour of Ajimobi, Ladoja headed to the Appeal Court, which upheld the ruling of the tribunal.

 

 

He, subsequently, dragged the governor to the Supreme Court.

 

 

In a statement by his media aide, Alhaji Lanre Latinwo, Ladoja said that with the judgment of the Supreme Court, ‘the electoral process has come to an end’.

 

 

He, therefore, enjoined Oyo State AP members to support the Ajimobi-led administration.

 

 

“This is the time to join hands with the governor to move the state forward as the ruling of the Supreme Court has put a finality to the election process,” Ladoja said.

 

 

He called on the people of Oyo to pray for the governor and work for the betterment of the state.

 

 

Credit : Punch

Oyo Govt To Probe Ibadan Plank Market Fire

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The Oyo State Government has said that it will investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire incidents that engulfed the Sango Alaro plank market twice in three days, which resulted in losses estimated at several millions of naira.

 
Governor Abiola Ajimobi made this known when he paid a visit to the market which got burnt first on Christmas day, while another part was also razed in the early hours of yesterday.

 
The governor was represented by the Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka; the Head of Service, Mr. Soji Eniade; a former Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Ismail Olalekan-Alli; a former Special Adviser on Political Matters, Dr. Gbade Ojo; and a former Special Adviser on Security, Mr. Segun Abolarinwa, among others.

 
Addressing newsmen after the delegation had inspected the burnt sections of the market, Layinka expressed concern that the market could record two fire incidences within three days.

 
Describing Ajimobi as peace-loving, the Governor’s spokesman said it cherished peace and anything that would make life more comfortable for the people of the state, adding; “This is a state where everybody has the right to live and trade within the limit of the Constitution.”

 
The government delegation appealed to the people, particularly the traders and members of the affected community to remain calm and shun any untoward act.

 

 

Credit : Vanguard

Ladoja Challenges Ajimobi’s Victory, Heads To Tribunal

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Senator Rasheed Ladoja, former governor of Oyo state and gubernatorial candidate of Accord Party in the last governorship election has began legal proceedings to challenge the victory of Governor Abiola Ajimobi of All Progressive Party (APC) at a tribunal to be inaugurated soon.

Investigation revealed that as at the time of filing this report, only Senator Ladoja has submitted a petition against Ajimobi at the governorship tribunal while the three other candidates, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala of Labour Party (LP), Senator Teslim Folarin of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Engineer Seyi Makinde of Social Democratic Party (SDP), have somewhat conceded defeat.

Meanwhile, it has been gathered that various interest groups including notable Ibadan indigenes and organizations are mounting pressure on Senator Ladoja to withdraw his petition from the tribunal for the sake of peace in the state.

At the inauguration sitting of the National and state Houses of Assembly election tribunal in the state, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice J.G Abunsaga said that the tribunal has received thirty-six petitions in respect of results of elections into the National Assembly and state house of Assembly in the state.

Breaking it down, Justice Abunsaga said that two and 10 petitions were received for senatorial election and House of Representatives respectively while 24 were for the state House of Assembly.

Seeking the cooperation of all the counsels in the matters disclosed that the panel would not exceed the 180 days stipulated by the nation’s constitution to wind up all the matters.

The judge also cautioned that the tribunal would not tolerate playing to the gallery by some counsels, stressing that, the tribunal would not tolerate any unnecessary adjournment to foot drag the matter.

“We shall be firm on all issues. Election petition tribunal is time bound. Every petition filed must be heard and dispensed with within the 180 days stipulated by the constitution of federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.”

Other two members of the tribunal are Justices G.C Nnamani and A.N Suleiman.

Responding on behalf of the counsels in the matters, Chief Richard Ogunwole, (SAN) assured the tribunal of the counsels’ maximum support.

He however charged the tribunal to impress it on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release necessary documents on request by the counsels.

“In as much as we are ready to cooperate with the tribunal, I believe there is need for the tribunal to impress it on the INEC and the REC on the need for them to release the documents in their custody. The papers are public property. Some of these documents were not released to some lawyers who have been there under the ground that their photocopy machines are not working. Since last Thursday, INEC has been closing its office. INEC wants to create a bottleneck. The documents are public documents. I don’t think INEC should take public holiday and lock up its office because time has started counting. INEC and the REC should take note and cooperate.”

Oyo: Ajimobi Breaks Second Term Jinx

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Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Sunday broke the second term jinx, when he defeated 11 governorship candidate of other political party to the coveted governor seat.
Also, the defeated governorship candidates of the PDP, Senator Teslim Folarin, including the FCT Minister of State, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, Accord Party candidate, Senator Rashidi Ladoja and Seyi Makinde of the Social Democratic Party in the last Saturday governorship election, lost their local government areas to the APC.
The election of the incumbent governor and his return to the Agodi Government House  might force both Ladoja and Akala into retirement.
Before the final result was released, the PDP candidate, Folarin had conceded defeat to whoever wins the election.
Folarin in a statement aired in a private radio station in Ibadan noted that with the results being released by INEC, his party cannot win the election.
Announcing the result, the state chief returning officer, Professor Ayobami Salami, disclosed that the governor scored 327,310 votes as against his arch-rival, Senator Rashidi Ladoja of the Accord Party who piled 254,522 votes.
While Labour Party’s Alao-Akala scored 182,723 votes, the PDP’s candidate, Folarin polled 78,119 votes
Other results were SDP 54,740 votes, Yinusa Kazeem of the DPP, 1,654 votes, and Mustapha Rukaya of the NNPP, 4,258.
Salami who is the deputy vice chancellor (Administration), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, said the governor won in 20 local government areas, Accord Party and Labour Party won in  six local government areas of the state respectively.
The PDP, SDP, KOWA, APA and AA did not win in any local government area of the state.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party candidate, Chief Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala has congratulated the Governor Abiola Ajimobi on his victory at the poll.
Akala’s Public Affairs Director, Oludare Ogunlana said in a statement that Akala had called Ajimobi on phone to congratulate him.
All the representatives of the participating political parties signed the election result sheet with the exception of Accord Party’s National Secretary, Nureni Adisa who claimed that the party’s mandate had been stolen.
He said that the result of the election would be challenged at the election petition tribunal.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner disclosed that the APC won 18 seats in the state House of Assembly while Accord Party had 8 and Labour Party F seats respectively.