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Governor Oyetola and the Council Caretaker Committees during the oath taking ceremony

By VIctor Adeoti

Gov. Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun on Monday swore in 69 newly appointed caretaker committees for local governments, local council development areas, area councils and administrative offices in the state.

Speaking during the swearing in ceremony in Osogbo, Oyetola urged the caretaker chairmen to run the affairs of their respective councils with the fear of God, transparency, accountability, fairness and equity.

The governor urged them to hit the ground running to deliver dividends of democracy to the citizens.

He also urged them to extend hands of partnership to their contemporaries who were not privileged to be nominated for the post.

While congratulating the caretaker committees on their new attainment,  Oyetola noted that their appointment was based on merit in view of their track record of capacity, performance and abiding loyalty to the progressive ideals of the ruling party.

He also appealed to party members who did not make the final list to put the past behind them and look forward to a brighter future in their quest to serve the people and the party.

“As you all know, the local government institution is the closest to our people.

” Therefore, your leadership will only be as meaningful and successful to the extent to which you run an administration that is not only truly inclusive, but also one fully committed to meeting the basic needs of our people,” the governor said.

Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Adebayo Adeleke, commended the governor for appointing men and women of impeccable character to take up the mantle of leadership at the grassroots.

Adeleke tasked them on dedication, loyalty and service delivery, saying it is a thing of joy that 69 capable persons had been appointed as chairmen to head the helms of affairs at various councils across the state.

In  his remarks, the Acting Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun, Mr Gboyega Famodun, urged the newly sworn-in chairmen to take charge of their councils by being dedicated and committed to good governance.

In his vote of thanks, one of the newly-sworn-in caretaker chairmen, Mr Samuel Idowu, commended the governor for counting them worthy to serve their people, just as he promised their commitment to deliver.

Olanrewaju Ogunsina: APC chairmanship candidate for Obafemi Owode LG election accused of double registration

Adejoke Adeleye, Abeokuta

Integrity Group, a group within the Ogun chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area has called for disqualification of Ogunsola Adesina Lanre, the party’s chairmanship candidate for the council in the forthcoming local government elections of the state over double registration.

The group had earlier asked for disqualification of the local government chairmanship candidate over accusation that he presented a fake Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) Certificate to Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC).

Despite the allegation, Ogunsola has been retained as the candidate of APC for Obafemi Owode LGA in the council election.

However, Ogunsola described the allegation as baseless and should be disregarded in a press statement. He added that he has been cleared by the party of the allegation of forgery and perjury

Document showing the alleged double registration by Ogunsina

But in a letter to Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun on Monday, the group said fresh investigations have revealed that Ogunsola registered twice with Independent National Electoral Commission with two different dates of birth, carrying same day, month but different years.

The group said the candidate therefore has two valid voters card to himself alone which is against the commission constitution.

In the letter also sent to the media signed by its Secretary, Comrade Tunji Adegbola, the group asked Governor Abiodun to investigate the claim of double registration against the chairmanship candidate.

See the letter below:

“Our appeal to His Excellency, Governor Dapo Abiodun.

Dear Editors,

The All Progressives Congress, APC Integrity Group of Obafemi-Owode local government Area, is again writing to your medium, to intimate you of our discovery of two other fraudulent activities engaged in by the candidate of our Party in the forthcoming Local Government elections in Ogun State, OGUNSOLA ADESINA LANRE who was earlier accused of certificate forgery despite our warnings to Governor Dapo Abiodun to prevent installing another fraudster in his government.

It will jolt you that the said candidate, OGUNSOLA ADESINA LANRE, being forced by Governor Dapo Abiodun on the Local Government registered twice with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, thus entitled to two Permanent Voter Cards, PVC, against the commission’s warning that Nigerians who engaged in double voter registration will be liable to one year imprisonment, according to section 117 of the Electoral Act.

Attached are the proofs of the registration which can be verified by anybody on the INEC website.

In one of the documents he registered on the 25th of January, 2011 with the name OGUNSOLA, ADESINA OLANREWAJU with voter identification number 030DF100E9295965599 as a public servant born on the 8th of June, 1972 while in another he registered on the 15th of June, 2017 with the name OGUNSOLA, ADESINA LANRE with voter identification number 90F5B07EC8497525458 as a businessman born on the 8th of June, 1976.

To this end he is parading two different age declarations with the same day and Month, (8th of June) but with different years, 1972 and 1976. This act of deceit, false declaration of age and swearing on oath amounts to perjury under section 118 of the Criminal Code which could fetch him a minimum of fourteen years imprisonment.

It will be recalled, that this same candidate had tendered a fake statement of result from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU, as claimed by him, in the documents submitted to the screening Committee of the All Progressives Congress of Obafemi/Owode.

This was exposed by a letter of response from OOU which was signed by its Deputy Registrar, Mrs Y.O Ogunsanwo on behalf of the Registrar “indicating that the said statement of results submitted to the Screening Committee and for which clarification was sought did not emanate from the University”.

It is quite clear that with all these fraudulent practices , “a fraud will always be a fraud”, thus OGUNSOLA ADESINA LANRE, who had lived all his life with corrupt practices as shown in these documents will not change tomorrow.

People like this should not be forced on us to lead, hence OGUNSOLA ADESINA LANRE is unfit, dishonest and can not be transparent or accountable to the people of Obafemi-Owode local government area, if mistakenly elected as the Council Chairman.

The APC Integrity group for the umpteenth time is hereby cautioning Governor Dapo Abiodun from making another mistake of putting a fraudster and certificate forger as the Chairman of the local Government Council.

The people of Obafemi Owode Local Government are well known for their integrity, honesty and sincerity, thus it would be a minus if a fraudster is made the Chairman.”

Comrade Tunji Adegbola

Secretary

L-R: Governor Fayemi, Rauf Aregbesola and Babafemi Ojudu

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, on Monday received in audience the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Special Adviser on Political Matters to the President, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, in his office in Ado Ekiti.

The Governor met with the Minister and Senator Ojudu behind closed doors.

Efforts by journalists to get the outcome of the meeting were unsuccessful as the trio declined comments, even as they posed for photographs and exchanged pleasantries with journalists.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Yinka Oyebode, however described the meeting as a ” family affairs” involving three brothers.

” There is nothing unusual in the meeting. It is a courtesy visit to the Governor and it provided the three leaders, who are critical stakeholders in the Nigeria project, an opportunity to reflect on sundry national issues”. he said.

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, left; Governor Kayode Fayemi, centre, and Senator Babafemi Ojudu

By Babafemi Ojudu

I was in Ekiti yesterday, Monday, 12 July with my friend and brother, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Oranmiyan , as we call him , was invited by Ekiti State University to give a talk on COVID, the Economy and National Security. As usual, he acquitted himself and I was very proud to have him as a friend and Comrade.


As protocol demands, we stopped over to pay courtesy call on the the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, our highly revered Oba as well as the governor of Ekiti State.

It was my first time at the new governor’s office, a beautiful edifice which I learnt was built by former governor, Ayodele Fayose. It goes to show no one is totally evil.

We had a good time with Dr Fayemi. The atmosphere was convivial and we discussed the security challenges facing the country, the Covid pandemic as well as the economy.

Governor Fayemi and Senator Ojudu

Sometimes in the nearest future I hope we meet to discuss Ekiti, our party and the governorship election coming up next year. Whatever may be our differences we must come together to ensure that the baton is never again passed to a PDP person in Ekiti.

Ekiti yearns for development. Poverty and ignorance in my home state are alarming. Enough of that. Unity of purpose will help us fast track the process of getting out of the morass we find ourselves.

To achieve that therefore we need fairness , we need equity. Enough of clannish groupings such as Tokan Tokan– the self serving ones who say they are closest to the heart of the governor even though we know what they say behind him.

Let us open up the space for every member of our party. Let everyone who has ambition canvass his/her position and let us provide the free atmosphere for people to make their choice.

Let us allow for equal opportunity. Let us embrace hope- let us preach unity, faith, peace and progress.

*Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Special Adviser on Political Matters at the Presidency