Politics

Oyo Dep Gov’s Impeachment Unconstitutional

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The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin has described the impeachment of the Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan as illegal and lack of respect for the rule of law.

He also appealed to members of APC in the state to remain calm, adding that the Deputy Governor, who had since defected to the major opposition party, would appeal the impeachment in the Court of Appeal.

He said APC would not relent in providing an alternative to undemocratic acts of the Peoples Democratic Party (APC) led administration in the state.

Folarin, who advised the Oyo State Assembly’s legislators to remember that posterity would judge whatever they do today, said the process, which they followed in removing the deputy governor contradicts the tenets of the Constitution.

The third-term senator in a statement he personally signed in Ibadan on Monday said the committee set up by the Chief Judge of the state to investigate the Deputy Governor also showed it lacked integrity.

He queried why the committee would give the Deputy Governor just 15 minutes to appear before it, adding that the Chief Judge breached his oath of office by ignoring the service of notice of appeal and application for injunction pending appeal when he proceeded to constitute the investigation committee.

According to Folarin, despite the intervention of the legal adviser to the Deputy Governor that he needed time to prepare himself for the allegations levelled against him, the Chief Judge set up a committee to carry out his bidding.

He said the illegal impeachment does not stop the Court of Appeal and by extension the Supreme Court to do their job in days to come.

He also expressed reservation over the way the State’s Chief Judge set up a 7-man committee, pointing out that there are more questions to be asked over the hurry behind the process.

Folarin affirmed his conviction on why the impeachment of Olaniyan would not just fail but the consequences would also in the nearest future hunt those orchestrating as similar moves in some states failed.

Folarin assured Olaniyan that APC would stand by him in this period of his ordeal.

Kayode Banjo

Politics

Oyo Assembly Accuses Deputy Governor of Gross Misconduct

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Oyo state house of Assembly has levelled allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office and financial recklessness against the deputy governor of Oyo State, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan.

The house during its plenary presided over by the speaker, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin on Wednesday also alleged the deputy governor of abandonment of office and official duty, Insubordination and other offences.


The house therefore directed Engineer Olaniyan to respond to the allegations within seven days.

Mosope Kehinde

Politics

Why I Stayed Aloof – Oyo Deputy Gov

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The deputy governor of Oyo State, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan, has revealed that he was not involved in the “selection” of PDP candidates for the 2023 general elections in the state.

Fielding questions from journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Wednesday, Olaniyan also disclosed  that no fewer than four political parties are wooing him with their governorship tickets.

He stated that the rumours surrounding  his defection to another party was spreading like wildfire because he had stayed aloof. 
Olaniyan described  the primaries  that produced  PDP candidates in the state as “shenanigans.”

He said: “You are not suppose to guess because on Sallah day I told the people the truth from my heart. I am a Muslim, let Almighty Allah determine your movement. So, if Allah says, wait in PDP, I’ll wait, if He says I should go to APC, I will go, and if He says I shouldn’t go to either APC or PDP but go elsewhere, that’s what I will do. If He says I should go away from politics, I will go away. I am not looking for what to eat or drink, let’s just wait for Almighty God to speak and we will know what to do.

“Why the speculation is always coming up is because I have decided to stay aloof, all through the nominations and so. I haven’t bought any nomination form and I didn’t participate in the PDP shenanigans. I called it shenanigans because we know all the anomalies that has been going on.

“You can claim some people are not important, but let’s wait and see. Like I have been telling people, I am still a bonafide member of the PDP as at now, but 24 hours is a long time in politics. Anything can happen anytime.”

When asked on the rumour of being courted by some parties in the state, the deputy governor said: “About five parties are wooing me with their ticket. Four of them are wooing

“I have paid my dues in so many parties. I was part of the founding members of ADC in Oyo State. The parties all offered me tickets but I have told them to allow God to speak. To be the governor is not my headache.

“I may not have money but I have two things. I have my omoluabi ethos and I have people who cherish omoluabi. In Yoruba land, if you say money and integrity, we place premium more on integrity more than money.

“I did not confirm to you that I have joined another party or left the PDP because I haven’t actually.”

On why he did not participate in the politicking and endorsement of PDP candidates in the state, Olaniyan said: “Because when they are doing things, they sideline me. Should I pretend that they called me? No.”

While reacting to the meeting the governor had with members of the  House of Assembly on Tuesday, Olaniyan cautioned  people to stop  speculating. He  noted that the governor has the right to meet with the lawmakers on any issue at anytime.

“The governor of the state has the right to meet with state lawmakers for the state to move forward. There are more burning issues that they have to be discussing. What is wrong with the governor meeting the members of the state House of Assembly? People are just speculating what is not, please don’t join them to make any issue out of nothing. I also know that the governor has a right to meet the House of Assembly members,” the deputy governor said.

Newspeak /Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

Religion

Olaniyan, Agbotomokekere, Arapaja, Others Observe Eid-El-Fitri Prayers In Ibadan

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The Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan, the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji and Chief Imam of Ibadan land, Sheikh Abdulganiy Abubakr Agbotomokekere were among prominent personalities who observed the Eld-Fitri prayer in the town on Wednesday.

It was gathered that the Eid-el-Fitri prayer which was held at Ibadan Eid prayer ground was observed despite a directive issued by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakr.

It would be recalled that the Sultan who doubles as the Amir Musulumi in Nigeria and President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) had earlier directed that the Eid-el-Fitri prayer be held on Thursday because the crescent of the new month was not sighted on Tuesday.

Despite this instruction, Sheikh Agbotomokeke and other Muslims in Ibadan observed the two Rakat compulsory Eid-el-Fitri prayers which is done to end the Ramadan fast at the Ibadan Central Eid prayer ground in the Agodi area.

Other personalities who attended the Eid prayer included Deputy Chairman Southwest of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Taofeek Arapaja, Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Olawale Abdul-Mojeed Mogbonjubola and Senior Special Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Sustainable Development Goals Mr. Kunle Yusuf.

Spokesman of the Chief Imam, Ustadh Idris Agbotomokekere, said the decision of the Chief Imam of Ibadanland to observe Eid was consequent upon his position as the leader of the League of Imams and Alfas in Ibadanland.

Culled/Daily Post

Health

Makinde Commissions Covid-19 Centre in Awe

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Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has commissioned another Covid-19 Isolation Centre in Awe, Afijio Local Government Area of the state where he declared that his administration’s goal of revamping the health sector remains unshaken.

The governor who was represented by the Deputy Governor,Engineer Rauf Olaniyan stated that the current administration in Oyo was set to remodel health facilities in all the nooks and crannies of the state.

Oyo State Deputy Governor, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan while commissioning the healthcentre

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa says the commissioned Awe Isolation Centre was a testament to the government’s commitment to mitigating the impact of COVID 19.

According to the statement, the centre will cater for the well-being of the citizens and residents of all the four local government areas in Oyo town.

The governor called on all relevant stakeholders to collaborate with the government to ensure a world class service in healthcare delivery. 

Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bashir Bello, said that plans were ongoing to site isolation centres in all parts of the state, especially in Ogbomoso, Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa. 

According to him, after the first confirmed case of the virus in the state, the Olodo Infectious Disease Centre and the Agbami Isolation Centre have both been commissioned to aid the state’s Covid-19 containment efforts. 

The member representing Afijio State Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly, OYHA, Mr Seyi Adisa, who also spoke at the event, appreciated the efforts of the Seyi Makinde-led administration for not leaving the place to lay waste because according to him, the structure has been deserted for years since it was built in 2004.

Iyabo Adebisi

Security

Oyo State Inaugurates Firefighting Trucks Deployed by FG

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Federal Government has deployed two firefighting trucks to Oyo state through the Federal Fire Service to support in combating cases of incessant fire mishaps in the state.

Governor Seyi Makinde who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan inaugurated the firefighting trucks at the State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

  • Oyo Deputy Governor, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan at the inauguration
  • The trucks being inaugurated

Governor Makinde explained that efforts were in top gear to build a formidable and effective fire prevention and firefighting outfit through procuring more firefighting trucks and the recent upgrading of the state fire service to an agency for optimal performance.

While lauding federal government for the gesture, Governor Makinde called for collaboration among tiers of government, individuals and corporate organisations to be proactive in reducing fire incidences and other disaster. 

In his address, the Comptroller General of the Federal Fire Service, Alhaji Liman Ibrahim who was represented by the Assistant Comptroller General Calistus Agwu requested for allocation of utility vehicles from the state government to  complement its roles, inclusion of the federal fire service in the state security council .

Alhaji Ibrahim also reiterated the commitment of the federal government in ensuring the protection of lives and properties of its citizenry.

Iyabo Adebisi

Yoruba

Ìjọba ró ilé isẹ́ panápaná lágbára nípinlẹ̀ Ọyọ

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Gẹ́gẹ́bí ara ìgbésẹ̀ tíjọba àpapọ̀ gbé kalẹ̀, láti pinwọ́ ìsẹ̀lẹ̀ ìjàmbá iná, àtàwọn ìjàmbá miràn lórílẹ̀èdè yí, ilésẹ́ panápaná nílẹ̀ yí ti ra àwọn on èlò sí ẹ̀ka ọ́fìsì rẹ̀ nípinlẹ̀ ọyọ pllú àfikún àwọn ọkọ̀ ńláńlá méjì tín pa iná.

Olùdarí àgbà fún ilésẹ́ náà, Alhaji Liman Ibrahim ló sọ̀rọ̀ yí, lásìkò tó lọ se ẹkúsẹ́ ńbẹunsí Gómìnà ìpínlẹ̀ Ọyọ, onímọ̀ ẹ̀rọ Seyi Makinde

Olùdarí àgbà ọ̀hún, tí ọ̀gá lẹ́kùn yí sojúfún ọ̀gbẹ́ni Kẹhinde Ajasa, sọ pé ọkọ̀ ńlá méjèjì tó jẹ́ ti ayé òde òní, ni wọ́n ma gbé fún ilésẹ́ èyí tó wà níbàdàn lọ́sẹ̀ tónbọ̀.

Nínú ọ̀rọ̀ tí Gómìnà ìpínlẹ̀ ọyọ, onímọ̀ ẹ̀rọ Makinde, tí igbákejì Gómìnà onímọ̀ ẹ̀rọ Rauf Ọlaniyan sojúfún tọ̀kasi pé àwọn ọkọ̀ yi yo sèrànwọ́ fún ìpínlẹ̀  ọ̀yọ́ lọ́jọ́ iwájú láti gba agbára lọ́wọ́ ìsẹ̀lẹ̀ ìjàmbá iná.

Onímọ̀ ẹ̀rọ Ọlaniyan wá fi ẹ̀mí ìmore hàn sí ìjọba àpapọ̀ fún àwọn on èlò tí wọ́n gbé fún ilésẹ́ panápaná.

Oluwayẹmisi Dada

News Analysis

Examining Governor Seyi Makinde’s First 100days in Office

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As Oyo state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde marks first 100 days in office, Iyabo Adebisi examines the impacts of his Government on lives of the people.

The need to impact positively on the lives of the electorate is one of the primary responsibilities of any responsive government.

While some succeed at this herculean task, others often times derail, leaving those who voted for them questioning the real essence of good governance.

To demonstrate commitment to his electioneering promises, Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde shortly after he was sworn-in hit the ground running as he announced the cancellation of the three thousand naira levies in all public secondary schools across the state.

He also announced the donation of his monthly salary to the state pension board for the next four years.

Not only this, Governor Makinde-led government approved over four hundred and forty seven million naira for procurement of exercise books for primary school pupils and secondary school students.

This move is aimed at complementing the free education policy of his government to improve the education sector as well as curb the high rate of out of school children in the state.

The public declaration of forty-eight billion naira asset as promised during campaign has also earned Governor Makinde positive comments from political analysts and the electorate.

The Health sector has also received a boost with the visit of the governor to two major hospitals in Ibadan, the state capital.

The visit is to see how the Adeoyo Hospital, Ring road and others can be raised to state-of-the-art hospitals to enable it provide quantitative health delivery to the people.

Renovation work has already commenced in the hospitals.

Also, this administration priorities the payment of salary and pension as at when due and it has also set up panel to review the cases of workers who were disengaged unjustly.

On the agricultural sector, Governor Makinde had launched a $5m agric business project in partnership with a private company to boost food security of the state.

Security which is one of the four cardinal programmes of Governor Makinde’s administration is receiving attention as additional 100 patrol vehicles have been procured to be distributed among security agencies for effective policing of the state.

Having enumerated the early steps of this government in just about a hundred days, the question which readily comes to mind is what is the perception of the people to the Engineer Seyi Makinde’s government and their expectations?

While lauding the present administration on prompt payment of salaries and pension, Oyo state secretary of Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Mr. Olusegun Abatan enjoined Governor Makinde to harmonise pension with a view to improving the standard of living of retired workers.

According to Mr. Abatan, this became necessary as the state has retirees who still collect about two thousand naira as their monthly pension.

However, the state Deputy Governor, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan and the Secretary to the state Government, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun also described the first 100 days as a tip of the iceberg and called for support from the people so as to spread the dividends of democracy across all nooks and crannies of the state.

Similarly, Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, OSHA, Mr. Adebo Ogundoyin who lauded the cordial relationship that exists between the legislature and the executive, maintained that the assembly would not be derailed in its role to ensure that the electorate enjoys good governance.

On his plan for the remaining three years and nine months, Oyo State helmsman, Governor Makinde said his government has identified critical areas to develop the state promising that his vision in the next four years is to reverse the negative socio-economic problems facing Oyo state.

Political scientists and social commentators have however posited that one cannot determine the full impact of any administration within just 100 days.

They however advised Governor Makinde-led administration to fulfill his electioneering promises for posterity to judge.

Iyabo Adebisi