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Tag: Amosun

  • 2023: I‘ll unseat Abiodun with Amosun’s support, says Otegbeye

    2023: I‘ll unseat Abiodun with Amosun’s support, says Otegbeye

    Mr. Biyi Otegbeye, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Governorship candidate in Ogun, says with the support of former Gov. Ibikunle Amosun, he will defeat incumbent Gov. Dapo Abiodun in the forthcoming governorship election.

    Otegbeye, who claimed that he was enjoying the backing of Amosun for his candidacy, made the assertions on Tuesday while addressing newsmen in Abeokuta after securing a court judgment, which reinstated him as the ADC Governorship candidate.

    Recalled that Amosun, a serving Senator on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had openly declared his support for Otegbeye and the ADC, insisting that Abiodun must not return as governor.

    Otegbeye, condemning the alleged endorsement of Abiodun by traditional rulers in the state, said that Amosun’s endorsement of his candidacy overrides the “procured endorsements” by the governor.

    According to him, he has been procuring endorsement everywhere and two weeks after, I visited my paramount ruler, he received me warmly and prayed for me.

    “In truth, blood they say is thicker than water; there is no father that will disown his son.

    “I have seen the traditional institutions being bullied and so when he went around on the jamboree, getting the endorsements, we congratulated him.

    “But let’s see whether the endorsements he has been gathering will count. INEC will not count it; BVAS will not count it.

    “Let’s compare all those endorsements and put it side by side with Amosun’s endorsement, where he pointedly said he is supporting Biyi Otegbeye and ADC.

    “Amosun is a man of tremendous goodwill; this present administration is doing everything within its power to erase some of his (Amosun) accomplishments.

    “But that is not possible, because everywhere you go, you are going to see the footprints of Sen. Ibikunle Amosun when he was the governor of the state,” Otebejeye said.

    The Yewa-born lawyer admitted that the court processes had distracted the party and also cost them a lot of money.

    He, however, pledged that if elected, his administration would fix and repair all the “broken systems” in the state.

    According to him, let us now prepare for the 2023 elections by collecting our PVCs and be ready to exercise our democratic franchise by voting for ADC,” he said.

  • Ogun 2023: I will not support APC at the state level – Amosun

    Ogun 2023: I will not support APC at the state level – Amosun

    Former Ogun State Governor and Senator representing Ogun Central, Ibikunle Amosun, has posited that he will not support the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State come 2023, saying he would only work for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the state.

    The Ogun born politician made it known that he wouldn’t support any other candidates in the state apart from the presidential  flag bearer of the party.

    Amosun made this statement while featuring on a political programme BBC Yoruba on Monday.

    Asked about how the crisis rocking the APC in Ogun and other states would not affect the chances of Tinubu at the poll, Amosun posited that all the factions within the Ogun APC are in support of Tinubu and will all work for his victory.

    “For the presidential election, I can assure you, all the APC factions in Ogun are working for the presidential candidate of the APC. But for the governorship race, we are not together. I and my supporters are not supporting the APC,” he said.

    Amosun explained that his followers who aspired for positions under the APC were not well treated in the primaries.

    “I am not hiding it, for the presidential election, we are with the APC. But for the governorship, I am not doing it secretly, I will not support the APC,” he emphasised.

    Asked to mention who he will support for governor in Ogun and the party, Amosun said: “It is Biyi Otegbeye. ADC is the party.”

    Recall that Amosun”s faction were present at the unveiling of Bisi Otegbeye of the African Democratic Congress (ADC)

  • Abiodun Inherits N202billion Debt On Road Projects From Amosun

    Abiodun Inherits N202billion Debt On Road Projects From Amosun

    Ogun State Commissioner for Works, Engr. Ade Akinsanya, has disclosed that the present administration inherited a debt of N202 billion on road projects alone from the administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

    Akinsanya who stated this in Abeokuta at the weekend, however, stated that Governor Dapo Abiodun has approved phased payment of the debt.

    According to Akinsanya, the governor has also approved payment of compensation to the owners of houses demolished for road projects across the state by Amosun’s administration.

    He said the governor approved the payment to alleviate the sufferings of the house owners, saying that the payment will also be in phases.

    Amosun embarked on the massive demolition of properties across the state in his desire to expand some roads to as much as 8-lane without paying compensation to the affected owners.

    However, the desire turned out to be a double jeopardy as many of the roads were abandoned midway while others did not take off at all.

    Also Read

    Tinubu meets Obasanjo, opens up on why he is in Ogun State

    Akinsanya while shedding more light on the development explained that the massive demolitions carried out by Amosun’s administration was unnecessary.

    He said that it ended up compounding the problems being faced by the present government.

    According to him, the state government now has billions of compensation claims to contend with in addition to looking for another huge sums of money to complete the abandoned roads projects.

    The commissioner said the state government has decided that no house will be demolished again for road project in any part of the state.

    He stated that house will only be demolished where necessary and unavoidable.

    Adesanya revealed that Amosun administration had earmarked some houses for demolition preparatory to the rehabilitation of Kemta-Somorin road in Abeokuta.

    “The project is nearing completion now without any demolition carried out.

    “Our road design and construction is such that we try to avoid demolition.

    “Our road design and construction is such that we try to avoid demolition.

    ”It is actually not necessary to demolish while constructing roads, unless it is actually unavoidable,” he said.

    The Commissioner also disclosed that most of the bridges constructed by Amosun were a waste of resources.

    “The same thing applies to bridge construction. Most of the bridges constructed by that regime were a waste of resources.

    “For instance, on the entire stretch of the 19- kilometre Atan-Lusada-Agbara road has only one bridge. And the length is short,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Governor Abiodun has been praised for approving payment of compensation to the owners of demolished houses.

    A resident of Agbado, who lost many shops to the demolition, Mr Abayomi Olanreway, commended Governor Abiodun for his magnanimity.

    He berated the last administration for subjecting people to unnecessary hardship, even as he regretted that the road had been abandoned for more than six years now that the demolition took place.

    Olanrewaju, who said he depended on his shops to survive before the demolition, also disclosed that the road was in a better condition before the bulldozer moved in for the reconstruction .

    Another resident, Taiwo Adebari, also expressed gratitude to the state government, noting that the compensation will help in alleviating some of their sufferings.

  • BREAKING: Akpabio, Amosun, Fayemi, Dimeji Bankole, two others step down for Tinubu

    BREAKING: Akpabio, Amosun, Fayemi, Dimeji Bankole, two others step down for Tinubu

    Former Governor of Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio, Governor of Ekiti , Kayode Fayemi, Senator Ibikunle Fayemi, former Speaker Dimeji Bankole have all stepped down for Ahmed Tinubu to be standard flag bearer of the APC at the ongoing special convention of the party.

    Akpabio after a brief speech in which he hailed the Asiwaju as a man of sight and vision and thereafter stepped down for him.

    Ibikunle Amosun has also stepped down

    The governor went on historical lane, praising President Muhammadu Buhari before declaring his support for Tinubu.

    He hailed the resilience of northern governors for supporting the south.

    ” I am prepared to sacrifice my ambition of becoming president by submitting to Tinubu.

    Sen. Ajayi Boroffice (APC-Ondo) and Gov. Mohammed Badaru of Jigawa have also withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential race.

    Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani who had earlier on withdrawn spoke but did not declare his support.

  • BREAKING: Ex-Ogun gov, Amosun follows Akpabio to step down for Tinubu

    Former Governor of Ogun, Ibikunle Amosu, one of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirants, has withdrawn from the race.

    Amosun announced his withdrawal while addressing delegates at APC Special National Convention on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He directed his supporters to vote for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at the convention.

    Former Governor of Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio, had earlier withdrawn from the race urging his supporters to vote for Tinubu. 

  • Ogun APC Congress: Tension as security operatives seal venue, chase Amosun’s loyalists

    Ogun APC Congress: Tension as security operatives seal venue, chase Amosun’s loyalists

    Security operatives have sealed off the Ake Palace Ground in Abeokuta to avert break down of law and order following moves by All Progressives Congress (APC) members loyal to ex-Governor Ibikunle Amosun to hold a parallel State Congress.

    The operatives from the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) as well as members of the Department of State Service (DSS) were seen taking over the palace ground.

    They blocked the entrance to the palace arcade ground with vehicles and prevented Amosun loyalists from going ahead with their planned parallel APC Congress.

    There has been fierce war by proxies between Governor Dapo Abiodun and his predecessor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, over the soul of the APC in Ogun State.

    People suspected to be political thugs from both camps were said to have clashed at Ake Palace area over the planned parallel Congress.

    The APC members loyal to the immediate past Governor had widely advertised the Ake Palace Arcade Ground as venue of their parallel APC congress while the Hon. Wale Ohu- led State Congress Committee for Ogun State fixed the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta, the state capital, as venue for the Congress.

    According to reports, security operatives deployed for the exercise had as early as 5am arrived at the two separate venues in readiness for the task.

    Early Saturday morning, the purported parallel APC Congress in Ake Palace Ground, scores of party members loyal to Amosun were seen scattered and loitering around the Ake Centenary Hall where they camped directly opposite the security operatives who had taken over the Palace Ground where their canopies were mounted the previous day.

    Wale Ohu, during the screening of aspirants at the State party Secretariat on Abiola Way, Abeokuta, threatened arrest on any body or group planning to conduct separate congress anywhere in the State.

    Describing such people as “impostors” and “mischief makers,” Ohu declared that any congress conducted outside MKO Abiola Stadium would be deemed an “exercise in futility, null and void.”

  • Buhari didn’t receive N12.5m Ogun money from Amosun – Presidency

    Buhari didn’t receive N12.5m Ogun money from Amosun – Presidency

    The Presidency has denied media reports that former governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, transferred N12.5 million from the state government account to the President Muhammadu Buhari, when he was still the governor.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu,on his social media handles (both Twitter and Facebook) said the money in question was transferred to “PMB Estate.”

    He explained that the President Muhammadu Buhari Estate in Abeokuta belongs to the state government and was only named after the President.

    Shehu wrote, “Fake news industry at work. A certain document showing the transfer of N12,500,000 from the Coffers of the Ogun State to a ‘PMB Estate’ is being circulated to tarnish the image of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “The President Muhammadu Buhari Estate is a large housing scheme in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. It was commissioned by President Buhari in the course of a state visit.

    “PMB Estate is owned by the Ogun State government, which honoured the President by naming it after him. Of course, that does not confer the ownership of the estate on President Buhari.

    “The gossipy online newspaper, peddling the falsehood that the President, Muhammadu Buhari, the tried and tested anti-corruption fighter is the beneficiary of this cash transfer should be ignored.

    “Before his election as civilian President, Muhammadu Buhari was a military pensioner and had never registered a company in his name or that of a proxy.

    “To set the record straight, we spoke with the official who posted the clarification of the payment voucher on Twitter. He worked with the Governor Amosun administration. He confirmed that the payment was made from the Ogun State Revenue Account to The PMB Estate Account for some work done on the Estate. Absolutely nothing to do with President Muhammadu Buhari.”

  • Gov. Abiodun, Amosun, Daniel mourn Buruju Kashamu

    Gov. Abiodun, Amosun, Daniel mourn Buruju Kashamu

    The governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has described the death of Senator Buruji Kashamu, on Saturday, as “one death too many. ”

    Abiodun in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, said the passage of Kashamu, who contested with him alongside other candidates in the 2019 governorship election was a devastating blow to the nation’s political circle.

    Governor Abiodun said: “I received the sad news of the passing of Senator Buruji Kashamu today, 8 August 2020, with a deep pain and grief that words cannot capture. On behalf of my family, the government and good people of Ogun State, I convey our deepest condolences.

    “Although we belonged to different political persuasions, and disagreed on most issues, Senator Kashamu will nonetheless be remembered for his assertive presence in the political arena and uncommon doggedness.

    “He fought myriad of wars with every breath in his soul in the defence of whatever he believed in and for his personal freedom. Hate him or love him, he could not be easily ignored.”

    Senator Amosun prayed that the Almighty Allah will forgive Kashamu’s earthly sins and give him eternal rest.

    He expressed condolences to the nuclear and political family members of the late founder and financier of the Omo Ilu Foundation, the Ijebu Igbo Community, and Ogun State as a whole.

    Similarly, former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, expressed gladness that he was able to forgive late Buruji Kashamu, before he died.

    “I picked a Timeless lesson of how transient life can be from this sad occurrence. I am glad despite all our years of political disagreements, conflicts and turbulence, by the hands of Providence my heart found a rare opportunity of forgiving and making up with him before his untimely death,” Daniel said.

    He prayed God his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

  • Why I retained Amosun’s last-minute appointees – Abiodun

    Why I retained Amosun’s last-minute appointees – Abiodun

    Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun yesterday said despite obvious flaws, his administration elected to uphold all appointments made by his predecessor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, in the twilight of that government. Rescinding such decisions would have been the ideal thing, the governor noted.

    Abiodun added that his administration chose to retain the affected workers, lest a contrary action would be interpreted as vendetta against his predecessor.

    The governor, who made this known while swearing – in new permanent secretaries, stressed that his administration remained committed to equity, fairness, justice and inclusiveness.

    He said: “It is important to make public that we received with great commendations the report of the Review Committee on the Appointments and Recruitments made by the immediate past administration between February and May, 2019 in line with the resolution of the immediate past House of Assembly.

    “Let me state that we very much agree with the recommendations of the Review Committee comprising eminent retired public servants, that many of the appointments and recruitments were fraught with non-adherence to the principles and laid-down traditions of the Public Service.

    “But in line with our administrations commitment to equity, fairness, justice and inclusiveness, we will not engage in any action or policy that may be viewed as vendetta. Rather, we will call on all to continue to put in their best for service delivery to the people of Ogun State.

    “As a result, despite some flaws, we have upheld all the appointments of Permanent Secretaries made in the twilight of the last administration. The appointment of these new Permanent Secretaries further strengthens the bureaucracy and the capacity to deliver on our promises.

    “In the same vein, I hereby direct that the Civil Service Commission and the Office of the Head of Service to come up with modalities for the regularisation of those newly employed between the same period covered by the House of Assembly resolutions with a view to normalising their appointments.”

  • Let’s settle out of court – Gov Abiodun begs Amosun’s appointee

    Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun is reportedly appealing to a former member of the Ogun State Judicial Service Commission, Abayomi Omoyinmi, to accept out of court settlement in a suit filed against him.

    Recall that on November 26 that Omoyinmi had dragged Gov Abiodun and the Ogun State Government before the National Industrial Court to protest his ‘wrongful termination’ as a member of the State Judicial Service Commission.

    Omoyinmi, it was gathered, was appointed a member of the Commission through a letter by former Governor Ibikunle Amosun on February 2012, for a five-year tenure “as stipulated in the Constitution” and same was renewed by another letter dated January 30, 2018, pursuant to Section 199 (1) (C) of the same law and to end in January 2023.

    However, the commission was dissolved by Gov Abiodun, who appointed new members, after his inauguration.

    Consequently, Omoyinmi, in a Motion on Notice brought pursuant to Order 22 of the NICN Civil Procedure Rules in Suit no: NICN/AB/09/2019 prayed the court for two orders:

    “An order setting aside the appointments, constitution and the inauguration of the new members performed by the governor and State House of Assembly, and second and fourth respondents respectively, in Suit no NICN/AB/09/2019, during pendency of the application for Interlocutory Injunction before the court” and

    “An order of Interlocutory Injunction restraining Ogun State Government and Governor Abiodun appointees inaugurated on November 4 as members of OSJSC from performing the functions and duties of the Commission pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Summons and Motion for Interlocutory Injunction”.

    Omoyinmi’s suit at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) is contesting the dissolution of the commission and termination of his appointment contrary to the 1999 Constitution.

    But counsel to the state government, S.A. Omotola, disclosed Monday at the resumed proceedings of trial in the suit before Justice Dele Peters of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Ibadan, the defendants are seeking to settle out of court with Omoyinmi.

    The Ogun State Government, Ogun State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Ogun State House of Assembly are first, second, third and fourth respondents respectively in the suit.

    Earlier, counsel to the claimant, George Oyeniyi, informed the court that his client has two pending applications, one dated August 5, 2019, and the other dated November 6, 2019.