Politics

Tinubu, a visionary leader committed to Nigeria’s economic revitalisation – Senator Alli

By Web News 636

By Oluwakayode Banjo

Senator Sharafadeen Alli of the All Progressives Congress, APC, representing the Oyo South Senatorial District, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to national development as he clocks 72.

This is contained in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen on Friday in Ibadan.

“Today marks a special day in the life of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria, a visionary leader dedicated to steering the nation’s economy back on track,” he said.

Senator Alli urged Nigerians to rally behind the administration’s efforts to build a more inclusive and prosperous society.

He said the president had tirelessly implemented policies aimed at revitalizing the country’s economy since assumption of office, and his unwavering efforts are beginning to yield positive results.

“As we celebrate President Tinubu’s birthday, it is essential for Nigerians to persevere, remain steadfast in their prayers, cooperate with the government, and maintain hope in the administration’s ability to bring about positive change,” he said.

He said through unity, resilience, and collective efforts, the nation can overcome its current challenges as well as emerge stronger and more prosperous. 

Senator Alli noted that together, with faith, perseverance, and cooperation, Nigerians can contribute to the collective vision of a better Nigeria under President Tinubu’s leadership.

“As we reflect on President Tinubu’s birthday, let us draw inspiration from his resilience and determination to overcome challenges and lead the nation towards a brighter future,” he said.

Senator Alli extended heartfelt birthday wishes to the president, acknowledging his dedication and service to the nation. 

He prayed that the president’s leadership would continue to inspire and guide Nigerians towards a prosperous and harmonious future.

The lawmaker prayed that Almighty Allah grant him long life, sound health and abundant grace to build the nation of their dream.

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Lifestyle

Senator Alli Calls for Immortalisation of Taiwo Akinkunmi

By Web News 310

By Olawale Asake

The senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Sharafadeen Alli, has called on the Federal Government to immortalize and organise a befitting state burial for the designer of the Nigerian flag, Mr. Taiwo Akinkunmi who died on 29th August, this year.

In a statement made available to Radio Nigeria, Ibadan by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Akeem Abas, Senator Alli moved the motion before the senate during its plenary in Abuja.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on INEC said the late Taiwo Akinkunmi had contributed immensely to Nigeria’s Independence by designing the globally recognized flag of the country; hence, he deserved monumental recognition and honour, even in death.

Senator Alli described the late Akinkunmi as a national hero, whose legacy lingers, urging the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu to support initiatives that would document the history and achievements of the deceased for the future generation to read about.

The Ibadan-born politician and philanthropist submitted that the honour, if accorded late Taiwo Akinkunmi would encourage the youths to be more patriotic and dedicated to the service of Nigeria, adding that, the late Akinkunmi was an undergraduate when he designed the Nigerian Flag.

The statement adds that a minute silence was observed at the plenary in honour of the deceased.

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Politics

Tegbe Lauds Turnout of Voters

By Web News 467

By Iyabo Adebisi

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, Chief Joseph Tegbe, has lauded the peaceful conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly elections in Ibadan and its environs.

He gave the commendation while speaking with newsmen shortly after casting his vote at Lanioka Ward 5, Unit 7, in Ibadan South East Local Government Area. 

He commended the electorate for turning out in large numbers to exercise their franchise and INEC for making the materials available on time. 

This, he said, was a signal that the exercise would be free and fair. 

“I had no hitches with the BVAS. INEC has done so well so far. For those who have yet to vote, I want to encourage them to go out and perform their civic responsibilities,” Tegbe said.

He appealed to INEC to build on its preparations for this election in order to record more successes in the March 11 governorship and House of Assembly polls in the state.

Politics

KKD Organizes Free Medical Care for Constituents

By Web News 562

By Mosope Kehinde

Concerned by the well-being of the people, especially with the stress they are daily being subjected to by the current situation in the country, Accord candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, Kolapo Kola-Daisi has taken medical outreach to his constituent.

Declaring open the three-day free medical outreach in Ibadan, Mr Kola Daisi said the success of any government could be measured by how seriously it handled the issues of health and education. 

The Oyo South Senatorial candidate revealed that the medical outreach, from which no fewer than 10,000 people in the Senatorial District benefitted, was his way of prioritizing one of his plans for constituents. 

He stressed that the outreach was one of his “Jeka Dasi” projects for the people of his Senatorial District and shall be sustained every year if elected as the Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District.

While emphasizing that a healthy crop of constituents should be one of the goals facilitated as a true representative of the people, Kola-Daisi said the timing for the outreach was good given the stress many had been experiencing as a result of nationwide cash and fuel frustrations. 

“We want to help thousands of people with their health issues. This exercise would be ongoing and would be repeated every year when we returned to the office. To keep it running, we will build an even better, more sustainable infrastructure around it. We’re even thinking about bringing medical outreach to people in their communities so they don’t have to travel far to get healthcare and treatments,” he said. 

“Our people need to be healthy,” Kolapo Kola-Daisi continued, “and this will be part of our mandate when we get to the office because it is an intervention that I know is necessary.”

Dr. Sabu Geoge, team leader from Medical Aid for Africa and one of the six foreign Doctors who came for the outreach, stated that another major goal of the outreach was to raise awareness about hypertension and the importance of taking recommended medicines on a regular basis. 

“One of the biggest challenges we have seen is that people believe hypertension is a disease someone can treat a little bit of time because it doesn’t have specific symptoms. Many people stop taking the medication because they believe it has cured them. 

“Once diagnosed, people must understand that they have the silent killer disease. They must strictly adhere to the medication, and they must be aware that the medication is not expensive and can be obtained locally.” 

Chief Sunday Babalola, Director General of the Kolapo Kola-Daisi campaign group, stated in his remarks that the outreach serves as a reminder of one of Kolapo Kola-key Daisi’s programs, which is free health care for women and children in the constituency.

Six visiting Physicians with specialities in Cardiology to General medicine and Dentistry are headlining the outreach with support from 14 volunteering Doctors from the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

The 3-day outreach is to cater for everyone who attends, particularly constituents from the 9 local governments under Oyo South while a special focus will be beamed on treating hypertension and diabetes.

There will also be general consultation and medical aid for general illnesses.

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Politics

APC Oyo South Senatorial Primary Re-Run: Kola-Daisi Rejects Result

By Web News 501

An aspirant for the Oyo South Senatorial ticket on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kolapo Kola-Daisi has distanced himself and rejected the result of a purported rerun primary for the ticket.

Kola-Daisi, son in-law of late former governor Abiola Ajimobi, said he remains the candidate of the APC, in Oyo South.
Mr Kolapo Kola-Daisi, said he didn’t participate in the rescheduled May 31st primaries because he already won the election on May 29th, the day the party slated and conducted the election.
Kolapo had emerged victorious at the initial primary held on Sunday, May 29, having polled a total number of 212 votes, but was not declared the winner and the election cancelled, due to alleged over-voting recorded at the exercise.
However, at the rerun held on Tuesday, a former Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Sarafadeen Alli, took the lead with 185 votes; followed by Kolapo Kola-Daisi with 145 votes; the incumbent, Kola Balogun had 84 votes; Bimbo Adekanmbi 72 votes and Waheed Olajide, 1 vote with 2 void votes recorded during the exercise.
While reacting to the outcome of the results, Kola-Daisi disagreed and rejected the votes, saying the manner with which the initial election was cancelled and the arbitrary way a rerun was scheduled within 24hours without a petition does not suggest fairness.
In an address to the party delegates, his supporters, party leadership and other stakeholders, Kola-Daisi said the events of the last few days have shown why so many youths are left disenfranchised and apathetic towards politics. 

“At this primary election, I was declared the winner having scored the majority vote of 212 votes, while the closest other contender got 107 votes; even though irregularities were noted.
“The election was however arbitrarily cancelled and within 24 hours, a rerun was scheduled to hold on the 31st of May, 2022.
“While irregularities were noted at the election of May 29th, any review of the result of that election can only be done through the appropriate electoral appeal process. This appeal process would review any issues raised, invite interested parties to make representations and make decisions based on facts, the constitution of our party and also in accordance with relevant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Furthermore, the appeal process requires obtaining necessary approvals within the party hierarchy to carry out its recommendations. How all of this can happen without inviting aspirants and in less than 24 hours does not suggest fairness.
“The party or its election committees should not unilaterally cancel an election without following due process.
“We, therefore, distance ourselves from the sham of the primary election purportedly held on the 31st of May, 2022, that was tagged a re-run, and we did not participate in it.
“As far as we are concerned, we have been duly elected as the candidate of the APC for the Oyo South senatorial district having scored the majority votes and should be allowed to prepare for and contest for the general election scheduled for February 2023.”
He however assured his supporters that he would not be distracted by the event, urging all other youths not to be discouraged from joining the trail saying the huge motivation and support he enjoys from all stakeholders should serve as enough motivation for them.

“Still, I encourage all the youths who have an interest in politics not to lose faith. We need to get involved, our movement “Je Ka Da SI”, typified by the amount of love and acceptance we received from all corners of the state, should be enough motivation to further fuel your desire to serve”, Kola-Daisi added.

Mosope Kehinde

Politics

Use this Ramadan to pray for national peace, unity – Dr Ayandele

By Web News 507

A business mogul and politician aspiring to represent Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly in 2023 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr Olusola Ayandele has urged Muslims in the country to use the opportunity of this year’s Ramadan fast to renew their commitment in the area of piety as well as service of Allah and humanity.

Dr Ayandele, in a statement, said witnessing another Ramadan is a golden opportunity for all and sundry since the sacred month affords all Islamic faithful a chance of spiritual rebirth as it also ushers in fresh blessings for all mankind.

The statement says that as brothers and sisters, Nigerians have the duty of using occasions like this to underscore the need to coexist with love, peace and unity particularly as it happens that Christians are also in their Lenten season.

It congratulates all faith adherents in Oyo State and most especially the constituents of Oyo South Senatorial District, Oyo State and wishes them hitch-free and spiritually rewarding fasting exercises.

Dr Ayandele also appealed for calm and steadfastness among members of the APC across the state

He also called for more commitment and dedication from all party stakeholders in view of the collective desire to have a good outing in next year’s general election. 

The statement adds that “It is time to bury the hatchet and focus on how to ensure that only the tested and trusted aspirants are thrown up as APC candidates for elective posts in the interest of our party and the society as a whole”.

Iyabo Adebisi

Politics

Senator Balogun Facilitates FG Grants For 300 SMEs

By Web News 555

Three hundred persons in Oyo South Senatorial District have benefitted from Federal government grant through Small and Medium Scale Enterprises of Nigeria, SMEDAN, facilitated by the lawmaker representing the district at the upper chamber, Senator Kola Balogun to start or boost their businesses.

The beneficiaries who were selected from the nine local governments which make up the district received between twenty and fifty thousand naira grants.

Some of the beneficiaries

Presenting the payment vouchers to the beneficiaries, the facilitator, Senator Kola Balogun said the empowerment programme was geared towards fulfilling his electioneering promises.

Senator Balogun who noted that another empowerment initiative targeted at one thousand people had been slated for March this year and urged the beneficiaries to utilise the grant judiciously in order to qualify for the greater opportunities ahead.

He promised to continue to represent his constituents positively at the Senate.

Oyo State coordinator of SMEDAN, Mrs Mabel Ojogbede explained that the grants were given to the beneficiaries based on their businesses.

Two of the beneficiaries Mr Wole Opadeye and Ms Fatima Alamu appreciated both the federal government and Senator Balogun for the gesture.

They pledged to make judicious use of the money to add value to their businesses.

Iyabo Adebisi

Crime

3 in EFCC Net For Defrauding Ibadan High Chief of N300m

By Web News 925

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office, has arrested three persons – Babatunde Ologunja, Olusola Olaoye Babatunde and Olufemi Lawal – for allegedly duping the Otun-Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun.

The suspects and others still at large were accused of conspiring to dispossess the revered Ibadan High Chief of sums running to about N300m (Three Hundred Million Naira).

The suspects with the cars found in their possession

Balogun, who is next to the Olubadan in the Olubadan-In-Council hierarchy, was a Senator representing the Oyo South Senatorial District under the platform of the Alliance for Democracy in National Assembly between 1999 and 2003.

His younger brother, Dr. Kola Balogun, who currently sits in his former position in Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber, had written an emotional petition to the EFCC as “a concerned member of the Aliwo family”, seeking the commission’s intervention in smashing the syndicate and ensuring that members are made to pay for their alleged crime.

The younger Balogun feared that the High Chief may have been charmed by the suspected fraudsters as he was still unable to come to terms with the reality of his situation.

“This request became necessary because we believe strongly that the victim has been hypnotized, he is not in a position to admit it and his health condition is deteriorating,” the Senator stated in the petition.

Preliminary investigations into the allegations revealed that for the past four years, the suspects have consistently collected various sums of money from the High Chief.

The sums, according to findings, were not attached to any particular projects and no receipts were issued to indicate the existence of any genuine transactions between the parties.

As the time of their arrest, the syndicate had received about N300 million (Three Hundred Million Naira) through bank transfers from the Ibadan High Chief.

The commission has designated for possible forfeiture four vehicles and six landed properties traced to their alleged fraudulent activities.

The EFCC is still on the trail of their fugitive partners, as further investigations are underway.

Sunday Ogunyemi