Connect with us

Politics

You’re Awolowo’s reincarnation, APC excos tell Ayandele as he declares for governor (Photos, Video

Published

on

The journey to the Oyo State government highest seat is bound to be very eventful as 2019 draws nearer.

And one candidate who has stood out so far amongst the multitude jostling for the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, ticket is none other than Dr. Olusola Ayandele, popularly called Stainless within the State.

#Eruobodo2019, which is his campaign mantra, set the state agog today when Dr. Ayandele formally declared his intention to contest for the number one seat to serve the good people of Oyo State and build on the progress the incumbent governor, Sen. Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi.

The gubernatorial aspiration got a big boost when the former governor of Oyo State in 1983, Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo, visited the Stainless campaign office on Obafemi Awolowo Road, Ibadan and certified Dr. Ayandele as the worthy voice of the people come 2019 election. METRONEWS NG recalls that same Dr. Omololu once predicted the emergence of Oba Saliu Adetunji as the Olubadan before the latter was crowned 10years later.

The campaign train then hit town and berthed first at the palace of Olubadan of Ibadanland, HRM Oba Saliu Adetunji, where the aspirant sought his royal blessing and approval to lead the state come May 29, 2019.

With his humble entourage well received by the king, Olusola was able to give insights into the great plans he has for the good people of Oyo State.

In his response, the Olubadan praised him for his courage and wished him success in his quest to become the next Oyo State governor.

“By the special grace of God, you shall become governor,” Olubadan said, “No one can make a king but God. Therefore, don’t listen to those who claim it can’t be done.”

After, the train moved to pay homage to Obafemi Awolowo’s family, who had already shown its acceptance and approval of Olusola’s ambition by granting the aspirant the permission to put his campaign poster beside late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s picture on a billboard stationed in front of the great Yoruba leader’s Ibadan house.

The eldest daughter of the first premier of South West, Mrs. Tola Oyediran, also prayed for the aspirant and said she is in total support of his dream to govern the state.

The excitement came to a crescendo when at the Oyo APC party secretariat, the executives likened the aspirant to the great Awolowo, describing him as the reincarnation of the late Yoruba leader.

Dr. Olusola Ayandele, who is an Ibarapa man, said he is not desperate to become the governor of Oyo State but he is determined to be.

At the mega rally ground, where multitude of party faithfuls and the people of the state trooped out in support of #Eruobodo2019, Olusola, who never minced word at his conviction of being the next governor of the state, made known his plans again for the people principal of which is ensuring that farming is enough to be the major internally generated revenue.

“If Cocoa House, Obafemi Awolowo Stadium formerly known as Liberty Stadium and first television station in Africa were built with money generated from cocoa, then we can do it again,” he insisted.

With today’s successful declaration, the journey to the state house has just began and Dr. Olusola Ayandele made it known he is not afraid to face the future as he is well prepared to tackle the challenges in ensuring he clinches the ticket to represent the great and progressive party, APC, by building on the successes of incumbent governor, Sen. Ajimobi.

When asked of his take on what the future holds as he had thrown his hat into the ring, the successful businessman and seasoned engineer smiled, looked at his wife, Dr. Mrs. Yinka Ayandele, whose mobilization of the women folks for the day’s outing added glamour to the event and said, “Eru o b’odo, eni to fe kan l’odo ni komura.”

L-R: The governorship aspirant under Oyo State APC party, Dr. Olusola Ayandele; the Olubadan of Ibadan, HRM Oba Saliu Adetunji and wife of the aspirant, Dr. (Mrs.) Yinka Ayandele.

L-R: Dr. (Mrs.) Yinka Ayandele, wife of aspirant, the eldest daughter of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Mrs. Tola Oyediran and Dr. Olusola Ayandele, governorship aspirant under Oyo State APC party.

Watch video here:

Politics

Edo PDP opposes suspension of LG bosses by state assembly, says ‘It’s unconstitutional’

Published

on

By

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo says the suspension of all the chairpersons and their deputies in the 18 LGAs of the state is “unconstitutional”.

The chairpersons and their deputies were suspended on Tuesday by the Edo state house of assembly for two months over alleged misappropriation of funds.

Blessing Agbebaku, the speaker of the house, said Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo, had written a petition to the assembly regarding the chairpersons’ refusal to submit the financial records of their LGs to the state government.

In a statement, Anthony Aziegbemi, chair of the PDP in Edo, said the “illegal” suspension is a disregard to a supreme court decision that affirms the autonomy and independence of local governments.

“How can the governor direct the State Assembly to suspend democratically elected chairmen of the 18 local councils for insubordination when these elected officials enjoy autonomy and independence as enshrined in the constitution and are not subordinates of the governor, the state assembly, or any other arm of government?,” he said.

“We are also aware that the chairmen and their vices were not even given the opportunity to be heard in their detence and were suspended unheard on watery trumped up charges, in total disregard to the constitution.

“We want to restate that the constitution remains supreme, and any attempt to undermine its provisions or disregard the judiciary and its rulings is not only illegal but also a direct attack on democracy and the rule of law.

“The speaker of the Edo state house of assembly and the entire assembly have clearly overstepped their constitutional mandates with this illegal action and we urge them to immediately reverse its decision, in respect to the rule of law and democratic governance.”

Aziegbemi said the suspended officials should report to their councils on Wednesday and carry on with their normal duties.

Also speaking on the issue, Anthony Ehilebo, a PDP chieftain, said Okpebholo has no legal backing to request the financial records of the LGAs.

“In fact, the governor and the assembly members are in contempt of the supreme court,” Ehilebo said when he appeared on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme.

“The purported suspension of the local government chairmen by the state assembly is as absurd as the president asking the national assembly to suspend state governors because they refused to submit statements of accounts to him.

“This is a witch hunt. The LGA chairmen are all PDP members.”

The lawyer said the suspension “is unknown to law and will be ignored”.

Continue Reading

Politics

Ex-sports minister Bolaji Abdullahi resigns from PDP

Published

on

By

Bolaji Abdullahi, a former minister of sports and youth development, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He disclosed his intention to resign in a letter dated December 16 and addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Ubadawaki, Kwara state.

Abdullahi confirmed the development to TheCable on Monday.

The ex-minister also said he is yet to decide which political platform to pitch tent with.

“The decision of what to do and where to go will be taken in the future that’s left to God,” he said.

In the resignation letter, Abdullahi said he reached the “difficult” decision after days of reflection and introspection.

“I write to formally resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” the letter reads.

“I have had ample time to reflect, and I have come to the difficult conclusion that this is the only tenable option for me at this time.

“Mr. Chairman, please permit me to express, through you, my gratitude to the leadership of the party for the opportunities that I have had to serve the state and the country on its platform, and for the great moments we have shared.”

Abdullahi was the PDP candidate for the Kwara central senatorial district election in 2023. He lost the race to Salihu Mustapha of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Continue Reading

Politics

PDP debunks inviting Jonathan to contest 2027 presidency

Published

on

By

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has not extended an invitation to former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the presidency on its platform in the 2027 election.

Speaking with BBC Hausa, Ibrahim Abdullahi, deputy spokesperson of the country’s main opposition party, said no ticket has been issued to the former president.

Abdullahi said the party has many eligible people who can contest for the presidency on its platform, adding that a recent interview he granted was interpreted to mean that Jonathan he asked to run on the PDP platform.

“The report that PDP has issued its presidential ticket to former President Goodluck Jonathan or invited him to contest the 2027 presidential election is not true,” he said.

“What happened is this, I had an interview with a journalist where we discussed some issues.

“But in the course of the interview, he mentioned President Jonathan, asking about our opinion of him, because there are reports that he is being urged to run for the presidency.

“I responded by saying that he (Jonathan) is eligible to contest the election, because he is a Nigerian and has the right to do that by the provision of the law, and he still has one more term left.

“So, there is nothing wrong about him contesting the presidential election because he is eligible in the face of the law.”

The deputy spokesperson said the ticket would be given to someone who has shown interest in running for the presidency.

Jonathan, then in the PDP, lost the presidential election to former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

Continue Reading

Most Read...