…urges President Tinubu, IGP, Security agencies to invite Oyedokun for questioning

Osun State Government has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Inspector General of Police and other stakeholders in Nigeria to urgently summon a former PDP stalwart in Osun State, Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun for questioning over his recent incendiary comments on the person and personality of the Governor of Osun State, Senator Dr Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke and the entire Adeleke family of Ede, Osun State.

In a statement issued in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment,
Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, Government viewed with gross concern and outright dismay, the careless and unguarded utterances made by Alh. Shuaib Oyedokun wherein, he,(Alh Oyedokun) advised Governor Adeleke not to ,by any means, contest for a second term Governorship bid in Osun State, if he doesn’t want an act of murder to be carried out and be hanged on the Governor and the highly respected Adeleke family of Ede where the Governor hails from.

During a live Yoruba radio programme on Rave F.M, Osogbo, tagged Oro Oselu, on Monday, the 20th of May, 2024, Alhaji.Oyedokun threw cautions to the wind in many of his politically uncultured and morally unguarded remarks while on the programme.

The Osun State Government viewed such comments as not only inciting but the highest form of desperation from Oyedokun and the entire Osun APC he defected to recently.

Against the backdrop of further interpreting his utterances throughout the duration of the Yoruba programme as a dangerous security development in Osun State, the press statement by Oluomo Alimi call for an immediate summon and eventual questioning of Oyedokun, by the law enforcement agencies to explain why the right of Governor Adeleke to contest for a second term should warrant shedding of innocent blood and hanging it on the neck of the Governor and his family.

The security agencies need to unravel what plots or scheming bordering on criminality Pa Oyedokun is privy to or hatching alone or in partnership with his new party. This is necessary to forestall maturing of a hideous agenda capable of plunging Osun into crisis ahead of 2026 polls, the statement further reiterated.

Alimis Press statement reads in part as follows:

“As a Government, we view Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun’s utterances throughout the duration of the Oro Oselu radio programme of Monday, 20th of May,2024 as totally incongruous, callous, dirty, unwarranted and nauseating to say the least.”

“Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun’s comments,were not just within the boundaries of exercising his fundamental human rights of freedom of speech, they are at best morally awkward, debasing and a threat cum invitation for mayhem.”

“Conclusively, as a Government, we are of the view that,whatever happens, bordering on the security of lives and property of the people of Osun State, before, during and after the coming Governorship election or any other election in our dear state, the likes of Oyedokun and APC members should be held accountable.”

By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo

The All Progressives Congress (APC), in Osun State, has commended President Bola Tinubu and Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola for deeming it fit to appoint members and supporters of the party as chairmen and members of governing councils of some Federal Government-owned tertiary institutions.

The Osun State chairman of the APC, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, in a statement issued by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi, on Sunday.

Lawal said, “The board appointments rolled out by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for some of our people few hours after the defection of some PDP members into the APC is a confirmation to them that their destiny is bright in the party that controls the centre.”

The party also appreciated all the stakeholders of the party for their individual and collective contributions towards the grand defection programme of Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, former Deputy National Chairman  of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  and member, PDP’s Board of Trustees; Prince Dotun Babayemi, former governorship aspirant of the PDP and their numerous supporters in thousands on Friday, in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

Lawal stated that he was grateful to God Almighty for making the defection event hitch-free without any record of untoward incident before, during and after it.

He explained that he would make the leader of the APC in the state, former Governor Gboyega Oyetola now Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, a point of contact to appreciate all the other leaders of the party for their financial and moral support for the organization of the event.

The party chairman also used Engr Sola Akinwumi, the Chairman of Igbimo Agba in the State APC, as a point of contact to appreciate the other members of the group for the unalloyed qualitative support given to the execution of the event.

He said he was particularly appreciative of the selfless and dedicated services rendered by the Organizing Committee of the event led by Alhaji Debo Badru, the Maiyegun of Iwoland, which marvelously realized the target of the committee within a very short time.

Lawal also extended his appreciation to the state executive officers of the party, the leaders of the party at all  levels across the state and all the members of the party who diligently identified with the programme in order to make it a huge success.

He explained further that his words of appreciation would not be complete if he fails to recognize the contributions of both statutory and unofficial security services who also contributed their quota to the success of the programme.

Lawal also commended the PDP decampees for their orderly manner and good conduct, reminding them that there would always be equal opportunity for them and the members of the party they met on the ground.

He charged them to start attending the APC political meetings in their units, wards, local governments as it is only regular meetings that could translate to a serious political involvement of members of any particular party.

By Barth Ndubuwah, Port-Harcourt

The Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that his first year in office is better than the eight years spent by some other administrations.

Governor Fubara made the assertion on Saturday at Ngo Town during the official inauguration of the Andoni section of the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity Road project, in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The Governor said the accomplishments were secured within three months that his administration had actually settled down to work, given the festering political crisis.

Revealing what will be done soon in the health sector, Governor Fubara said it was appalling that recent statistics had classified Rivers State as below the set benchmark in terms of enrollments and health facilities availability.

Governor Fubara, who explained that the statistics, not specific to any particular administration’s lifespan, covered over a period of time, which indicates unacceptable levels of neglect to the health sector.

He, however, assured that in the next six months, Rivers’ people should expect to see evidence of significant investment that his administration has made to change the narrative.

“I was at the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) meeting on Wednesday, and we were given an update from the chart on the medical position of all the states. It was in zones.

“You won’t believe that in that chart, everything that has to do with enrollment, even the level of facilities that is on ground in that assessment, Rivers State was classified as below benchmark. It is a pity.

“It is not something that just happened in a day. It is not something that just happened within my time in government. No, no. It is a statistics collated over a period of time. So, it means when we tell you that our target is education, healthcare and agriculture, we didn’t make any mistake.

“We might have done other things, but those key areas have not been adequately attended to. And we promise our people this afternoon that by the special grace of God, in the next six months, there will be a total change in the health sector of Rivers State,” the Governor said.

Commenting on the project, Fubara said the project has been delivered successfully, and applauded the initiator of the project, former governor, Dr Peter Odili and successive administrations that contributed their quota in realizing the Unity Road, for the people.

Governor Fubara stated that his driving principle remains putting the people first, which is why he will not renege on the promise of internal roads that he made to Andoni people during electioneering campaigns.

The governor, therefore, directed the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, to liaise with Monier Construction Company (MCC) to do scoping for commencement of reconstruction of Ngo internal roads and new contract for extension of the road to Oyorokoto Town.

“But, I just want to say this, what is important today is the section of the Unity Road that connects Andoni to Ogoni and Opobo/Nkoro has come to reality. That is the important thing.

“We have to thank first, the initiator, Dr Peter Odili. We have to thank other successive governments which also contributed before we finally made this day to be.

“It is important we set this record straight. The Permanent Secretary has mentioned the cost of the job and the review cost. The beauty of it is that we are not owing any dime on this particular project,” he added.

“We are happy that it is happening in our own time. Our motto remains: ‘The People First,’ and anything that has to do with the people, we must take it very seriously.

“I know that if it is this road, we are already done with the road. The politicking of the road is already done. I don’t want to politick on this road anymore.

“I want to say here that we need to develop our own, and if we have to do it, we have to do it ourselves. So, I promise my people that we are going to do more jobs, more connecting roads for the Andonis by the special grace of God,” the Governor assured.

“I remember when we came for campaign, we promised our people that when you support us, we are going to give you the internal roads. And by the special grace of God, the Andonis gave us their support, and the election was won.

“So, let me use this opportunity to thank you, first for that support. Thank you, that even after the election, you have continued to support the government, not minding the situation that we find ourselves in.

 ”A lot of people were thinking that this place will be empty today. Some people had other plans. But to the glory of God, we are getting natural support, people that we didn’t pay money to are here to say that they are identifying with this government, we appreciate what this government is doing.

“For that alone, I want to direct the Permanent Secretary to immediately liaise with the contractor to ensure first, that the internal roads in Ngo, and connecting this road to Oyorokoto are immediately awarded.”

Governor Fubara urged the people to have good faith in the administration of President Bola Tinubu, and appealed for their total support to the Federal Government so that it can continue to undertake life-changing programmes that will trickle down to the State and Local Government Areas.

“I am also aware that we have issues in the other communities in Andoni. Some of them are flooding issues, which is even the more critical issue.

“I know of a place called Oronija. They are having very serious erosion and flood issues, and other places. We are going to do something about it. It is my promise to my dear people today.

“I also want to say in this gathering, please, support the government at the centre. I am happy when our leader was mentioning the activities of the oil companies here, and said that there is no interruption. I was impressed by that.

“It shows that we are contributing positively, and we understand the meaning and importance of peace. So, let me enjoin you,continue to show this good faith, and be a good host.

“In the governance of this country, the success of the centre is the success of the sub-national. And when the sub-national succeeds, which is the state, the local governments will succeed. And when the local governments succeed, it means, more projects, more life-changing activities will be seen in your domain.”

Governor Fubara said further, “I also remember that another vital area that we need to touch in our governance was mentioned: the issue of hospitals. We are coming here, and we will make sure that we attend to that need.”

Also speaking, former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, said it was important to explain that the Unity Road, initiated by Dr Peter Odili, had its inaugural foundation stone laid on the 3rd January, 2005, and not in 2004.

Prince Secondus thanked Governor Fubara for completing the project, which now serves as a miracle, enabling the people to drive on land to Andoni from the city.