Tag: Makinde

AGF writes Makinde, other Govs, demands immediate disbandment of caretaker committees

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) has requested Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to abide by the decision of the Supreme Court on the dissolution of local government administration in the state in the overall interest of the rule of law and the nation’s democracy.

Malami, in a letter with reference number HAGF/OYO/2020/Vol.I/I addressed to the Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Prof Oyewo Oyewo, said he acted in line with his constitutional role as the chief law officer of the federation under Section 150 (1) of the 1999 constitution( as amended).

He stated that the need to immediately disband all caretaker committees and restore democratically elected representatives to the local governments had therefore become obligatory.

Malami in the letter dated January 14, 2020 and entitled: “Unconstitutionality of dissolution of elected government councils and appointment of caretaker committees: The urgent need for compliance with extant judicial decisions,” noted with dismay the continued non-adherence by some state governors and state Houses of Assembly to the provisions of Section 7 (1) of the 1999 constitution as amended as it relates to the existence, administration and control of local government councils in Nigeria.

He said this unpleasant development, without doubt, was hindering the much-needed grassroots development expected to be put in place by the third tier of government in the country.

The AGF, in the letter copied the Inspector General of Police, the Director General, Department of State Service (DSS); Acting Chairman , EFCC and the Director, NFIU , asked for immediate disbandment of caretaker arrangement in any state of the federation, in full compliance with Court of Appeal judgments in six states , and the Supreme Court judgment in a case involving Ekiti state governor and others versus Prince Sanmi Olubunmo and 13 others .

The AGF said in view of the decision of the Supreme Court on the matter that is binding on all 36 States of the Federation “the common practice by some State Governors in dissolving elected local government councils is unconstitutional, null and void. So also any system of local government run by Caretaker Committees are outrightly illegal and unconstitutional.”

The letter reads further: “To this end, I hereby request all their Excellencies, State Governors and Speakers of State House of Assembly, who are currently acting in breach of the provisions of Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and also acting in disobedience of the Supreme Court judgement highlighted above to immediately retrace their step by ensuring compliance with the above in the overall interest of the rule of law and our democracy. The need to immediately disband all caretaker committee and restore democratically elected representatives to man the local governments has therefore become obligatory”.

Malami also requested the Justice Commissioners to take positive steps to ensure compliance adding: “Mr President and other relevant agencies will be advised further on compliance measures that should be taken in national interest.”

The Attorney General of the Federation said: “To this end, I hereby request all their excellencies, state governors, and speakers of houses of assembly, who are currently acting in breach of the provisions of Section 7 (1) of the 1999 constitution ( as amended) and also acting in disobedience of the Supreme Court judgment highlighted above , to immediately retrace their steps by ensuring compliance with the above in the overall interest of the rule of law and our democracy . The need to immediately disband all caretaker committees and restore democratically elected representatives to the local governments has therefore become obligatory.”

Reacting to the development, the Chairman of ALGON, Prince Ayodeji Abass – Aleshinloye, described the decision as a welcome development, saying it had confirmed what they had always stood for that it was wrong for constitutionally elected local government chairmen to be so treated.

January 21, 2020
Photo: Makinde visits Obasanjo, says South West Govs yet to receive FG’s directives on ‘Amotekun’

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has chided Nigeria’s attorney-general and Justice Minister Abubakar Malami for declaring on the pages of newspapers the Western Nigeria Security Network illegal.

Makinde, who visited former Nigerian leader, Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun state said the governors are still awaiting Malami’s official letter, and until then his objection should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Government, he said, cannot be run on the pages of newspapers or through the social media.

Makinde told newsmen, that the security outfit with codename, “Operation Amotekun” was established to complement the work of the security agencies and bridge the gaps in the security of the geo-political zone.

The Governor claimed that the Minister’s comment was misguided, stressing that the Minister lacked the moral and constitutional power to make such declaration.

Makinde said Operation Amotekun has not in any way violated the nation’s constitution, but rather, it was an intervention to narrow the gaps in security in the South-West.

January 16, 2020
Reliance on mineral resources alone can’t take Nigeria to prosperity – Makinde

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Sunday said Nigerian Armed Forces has sacrificed heavily including making supreme sacrifices for the peace and unity of Nigeria.

Makinde, who spoke during a church service in respect of the 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration, held at Cathedral of St. Peter, Aremo, Ibadan, said that education and human capital development would remain the top priority of his administration.

He, however, added that no country of the world became prosperous by merely relying on natural resources.

“Knowledge is power and that is why, in this administration, education will still remain top priority. I want to appreciate the officers and men of the Nigerian Armed forces because you have done well for this country. Your colleagues have made supreme sacrifice for the unity of this country and for peace of the world because we have a record of members of the Armed forces that actually fought in the World War. So, they have contributed to peace in the world. So, we know you have taken a lot of risk on behalf of all of us and we just want to say thank you.”

The Governor said the effective management and usage of our natural resources by those at the helms of affairs of this country was the only thing that could take “us out of the poverty in Nigeria.”

“And on the occasion of this celebration, when I came in, as I was listening to what the Archbishop was saying, I picked some certain things from his statement. He said that God has blessed us a lot in this country but the leadership has only been managing poverty. That is actually true but I also beg to differ slightly, because natural resources alone can never take any country or society out of poverty.

“The only thing that can take us out of poverty is how we can organise ourselves and how we utilize those natural resources. We can have an abundance of it and we still waste it. As a matter of fact, if we look at the trajectory of countries that have been successful, for example, Japan, they barely have any natural resources but when we look at their people, they utilise the brain God has given to them, developed it and utilised it.

“Even, they take natural resources from other countries, refine them and sell it back to the countries they got it from at a high cost. So, this is how they were able to take themselves out of poverty.”

He charged Nigerians to emulate the Armed Forces by organising themselves and doing the right thing at the right time, adding that we should look beyond the natural resources God has given us and utilise the talents that we have inherent in us as individuals, because according to him, that is what can take this country out of poverty.

“One of the things that is fascinating to me is how the Armed Forces have been organised. When you go to their function, I cherish the way they carry themselves. On this note, I want to wish the members of Nigerian Armed Forces and their families a happy celebration and know that we are with them always,” he said.

Archbishop of Ibadan Province, Most Reverend Segun Okubadejo in his sermon, appreciated members of the Nigerians Armed Forces for protecting the lives and properties of the Citizens in Nigeria.

He admonished them to always put God first in all their dealings, even as he maintained that members of the Armed Forces were known to be indispensable in the society.

January 12, 2020
Ajimobi awarded dubious contracts, left Oyo broke – Makinde

Oyo State Governor, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde on December 21, 2019 painted a gory picture of the alleged corrupt practices that characterised the administration of his predecessor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in the management of the affairs of the state.

Makinde stated that the era of the immediate past administration was characterised by corruption, budget padding, mismanagement of funds, kickback syndrome, inflation of contracts’ fees, lop-sidedness in projects management, award of contracts only to their cronies and re-awarding of projects at double price, among others.

He made this disclosure on a live programme of the Oyo State Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State tagged ‘Live chat with GSM, a quarterly session with the Oyo State Governor’.

He said, “If I should talk about the finances of Oyo State as at the time we came on board, some people will not be able to walk on the streets. Up till date, we have not bought vehicles for the office holders. If we are to buy official vehicles for myself and other office holders, we will not spend less than N3 billion and we cannot afford that now. Up till today, I am still using my personal cars in office.

“Our priority is to the people. We prioritise what we can do to the people who gave the opportunity to serve them over ourselves. We don’t want to serve ourselves. On May 6, 2019, three weeks to take over, the last administration withdrew N5.2 billion and spent it to remain N19, 000 by May 29. Soon, those involve will have to explain how they spent the money on the people.

“When I resumed, I was scared. The government was running 67 banks accounts. So I asked for all the balances of the accounts. A particular account has N300 million, and another has N20 million. I asked the accountant general to prune the accounts down and put all the money in one account and which came to about N6 billion.”

He continued, “When we assumed office, some people came to me and said that this is how they shared money. I said don’t share the money to me. Let us use it to better the lives of the people of the state. IGR has gone up a bit because we have blocked loopholes. Let me also reveal this. We did not spend government money on those Christmas decorations that you see everywhere. Normally, at the end of the year, people and corporate organisations give gifts to the governor.

“So, when they came, I called my people and told them that these gifts should be channelled towards beautifying the state instead. So, we used the gifts to do those Christmas decorations that you are seeing. If we continue to be prudent, all will be well and things will go round. It is because we cut off the wastage, that is why we are able to do some of the things are doing”.

Speaking specifically on things he has done and other things to be done, Makinde said that because he enjoyed free education of the former governor of the state, late Chief Bola Ige, he considered it imperative to ensure that students are given free education.

“I enjoyed free education during the era of Uncle Bola Ige. I have the opportunity to do the same thing. Free education is sustainable if we can block all the loopholes where money is leaking and wasting. Whatever we can realise after blocking the loopholes will go to education because when you educate people, you have liberated their minds. We are making the School Governing Board better. We will retain it.

“We want to get more interest to join and ensure that money meant for education is well accounted for. We have given subvention out and we will continue to give subvention every term and at the end of each term, they will give account of how they have spent the subvention we have given them. In our budget, a big chunk is allocated to education because if we get education right, it is a means of securing the future,” he added.

December 22, 2019
Payment of WAEC fees not included in Oyo free education policy – Makinde tells parents

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Tuesday, insisted that payment of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) examination fees is the sole responsibility of parents in the state.

Makinde made this declaration via a statement issued and signed by the state Commissioner for Education, Professor Daud Shangodoyin.

Earlier, He had promised to make education free in the state during his swearing-in ceremony. Makinde as part of his efforts to reduce the burden of education funding on parents, abolished payment of fees in all schools across the state.

Ogundoyin who issued the statement on behalf of the Governor explained that external examination is not covered in the State’s policy.

“The free education policy in Oyo State focuses on the provision of education free of all fees and levies, free learning and teaching materials, better environment for learning and improving the skills of Education Service providers.

“WAEC is an external examination. Internal examinations are free. It’s the responsibility of parents to pay for any external examination fees, while the government prepares the students for the exams, including the provision of the materials needed.

“The free education policy under Chief Bola Ige in the 1980s did not include payment for WAEC examination fees.

“Our government will reward deserving and outstanding students in the future,” he added.

December 10, 2019
We inherited almost bankrupt State from Ajimobi – Makinde

Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has said his administration inherited an almost bankrupt State from his predecessor, Abiola Ajimobi.

He urged Nigerians to join hands with anti-corruption agencies to fight corruption and stamp it out of the country, stressing that without eradicating corruption, no Nigerian citizen could experience dividend of democracy.

Makinde stated this on Monday in Ibadan during a rally organised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office to commemoration the International Anti-Corruption Day themed, “Zero Tolerance to Corruption”.

The Governor, who pledged his support to EFCC in fighting corruption in Nigeria to a standstill, said that he inherited an almost bankrupt state due to the poor management of the state’s resources by his predecessor, pointing out, “Oyo State was almost bankrupt when we took over”.

According to him, with corruption ravaging the country, it may be difficult for the good old days to come.

“Do you know what corruption can do to you? Do you know what corruption can do to a nation? If you want free health system, free education, good road and infrastructural development, then fight corruption and kill it. Let me tell you, we have been able to achieve something because we are not corrupt.

“If we are corrupt, we cannot do what we are doing right now. If you see anybody engaging in corruption, expose such. My government will fight corruption down to the local level. We will tackle corruption even at the grassroots level”, he added.

He stated further, “Oyo State is happy to join EFCC to fight corruption. We are the first state in Nigeria to domesticate anti-graft law. We will ensure that whatever we do during this administration, we do it right”.

December 10, 2019
Makinde targets N20billion IGR before first term ends

Oyo State government has set a target of hitting N20billion monthly internally generated revenue (IGR) before the end of Governor Seyi Makinde’s first term in office.

The state’s IGR currently stands between N2b to N2.5billion monthly.

The commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun gave the hint during a One Day Workshop for the State media officers which was held at the Film Theater of the Ministry.

Olatunbosun said the four cardinal focus of the administration were education, primary healthcare, agro-business and security and all efforts were concentrated at plugging tax holes so as to increase the State’s revenue, urging the media officers to key into the agenda of governor Makinde to achieve the set target.

He said, “It is the belief of Governor Seyi Makinde that Oyo State can be taken from a civil service-propelled economy to an agro-business-driven economy and before the first term of this administration runs out, we will be looking towards achieving about N20billion IGR target.

Read Also; N7.6bn loan: APC can’t fault Makinde, says PDP
“You cannot enlighten people as a media practitioner if you are not enlightened, therefore the current administration believes in training of its officers to achieve maximum yield and productivity, especially for them to key into the agenda and aspirations of the government.

“This government is pro-people and would always deal with communication from the bottom to the top, we believe in the use of town hall meetings where all stakeholders would gather and set target for government as well as give feedback on the activities of the administration.

“All these require government media officers to be up-to-date, diligent and efficient, they are the reasons government has embarked on training the officers in this particular cadre among others,” he declared.”

Also at the event was the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Taiwo Adisa and the Executive Assistant to the governor on Administration, Rev. Idowu Ogedengbe, who said the State government was working towards improving the human capital index of the state workers towards enhancing the economy of the State.

One of the State Media officers, Mrs Temilola Akarah said she benefited immensely from the training as the last time the State government organized such for the media officers was over ten years ago, urging the government to continue to provide facilities needed for their job.

October 18, 2019
APC, Makinde trade words over N7.6b loan

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has berated Governor Oluseyi Makinde and the Speaker of the state assembly Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin over express approval of a fresh N7.6 billion loan aimed at reviving two farm settlements in Ido/Ibarapa East Federal Constituency of the state.

The state House of Assembly had on Thursday, approved the governor’s request to borrow the sum three months after a similar request to obtain a N10b “infrastructural loan” was granted, bringing the total to N17.6b. The approval was granted amid opposing voices by legislators who wanted the loan to be applied to farm settlements across the state.

The APC, In a statement by its Assistant Publicity Secretary, Prince Ayobami Adejumo, the party condemned what it described as the “conspiracy of bad governance” between Gov. Makinde and Speaker Ogundoyin over an alleged disrespect for the opinion of majority of his colleagues who had questioned the rationale behind the fresh loan request at the plenary on Thursday.

It read in part: “The current governor has succeeded in bringing the whole machinery of local government administration to a halt completely and to further demonstrate his resolve to drag Oyo State backward by many years within the shortest period of time, we have again been made to see the need for the concerned citizens to beam their searchlight on the PDP administration of Engr. Seyi Makinde as financial indiscipline is now the order of the day in the business of government.

“ As much as we would not even like to dwell much on the futile attempt by Gov. Makinde’s media handlers to change the narratives on the controversial fresh loan, the whole world has realized that the present administration is here to mismanage resources and enmesh the state in an inimical debt crisis. Without a clearcut action plan, the Makinde administration has made itself a good customer to many financial institutions as it gets all forms of loans. Unfortunately again, most of these loan transactions are done covertly and to the disadvantage of the good people of the state.

“The latest N7.6 billion loan, as announced, by the state legislature was different from the N10 billion obtained three months ago even as tongues are already wagging on what has become of the whopping over N17b billion which came into the state government treasury in the month of June alone. Apart from the statutory payment of salaries to government workers, nothing concrete has been done by the PDP government since May 29, 2019.

“The orchestrated Light-Up Ibadan City project and purchase of 100 security cars have not come to any fruition even when bogus amount of state funds had been expended on them without any due process. Oyo now has a governor who would always singlehandedly design capital projects and approve funds for their execution without any recourse to State Executive Council. As if this was not enough, he has found an ally in the Speaker who overrules his colleagues at will only to dance to the tune of Mr. Governor.

“It is on record that no significant programme was put in place for the celebration of the Nation’s 59th Independence anniversary this year because the governor was nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, Gov. Makinde who has been ruling the state from unknown destinations in the past three weeks, got the Speaker to do a hatchet job on the fresh loan which was hinged on the revamping of two farm settlements which are closely located in the same federal constituency. We urge the state legislature to revisit the matter and act in the overall interest of the entire citizens of the state.” APC said.

Reacting, however, Makinde described the loan approval as victory for the people of the state. He pointed out that the loan was in pursuit of agricultural sustainability and economic emancipation of the Makinde administration.

In a statement through his spokesman Mr Taiwo Adisa, the governor, who described the decision of the state House of Assembly to grant immediate access to the loan facility, said the loan was borrowed from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for “agricultural equipment” by the immediate past administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that Governor Makinde had, in May 2019 when he was still governor-elect, moved to prevent the misappropriation of the funds by approaching the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan to get an injunction restraining the Ajimobi-led administration from accessing and spending the loan few days to the end of the tenure.

Governor Makinde maintained that contrary to insinuations that he was obtaining an additional N7.6 billion loan after an initial approval for N10 billion loan facility for infrastructure development, the N7.6 billion loan had already been approved by the CBN before he got to office.

He added that the apex bank had begun to deduct money from Oyo State’s Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations from source to repay the loan.

The governor stated that his administration had only approached the House of Assembly to seek approval to change the purpose of the loan facility so that it could be put to better use in developing farm estates in Eruwa and Akufo farm settlements in the state in a pilot scheme that will be used as a model for the state-wide farm estate initiative of the administration.

Makinde further explained that limiting the scope of the project to Akufo and Eruwa Farm Settlements, which were in the same federal constituency, was to allow for effective planning, monitoring, evaluation and coordination for the pilot scheme, adding that the project would extend to other settlements across the state, as his administration will remain fair to all zones in the state.

October 12, 2019
Makinde vows not to interfere in Ibadan traditional chieftaincy system

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Tuesday promised not to interfere in the Ibadan traditional chieftaincy system, but work to achieve its desired goals.

The governor gave the assurance during the 86th birthday anniversary and chieftaincy celebration of High Chief (Mrs) Theresa Oyekanmi.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.

Oyekanmi was recently installed as the 14th Iyalode of Ibadan land after the demise of Alhaja Aminat Abiodun.

Makinde was represented by Mrs Funmi Orisadeyi, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.

“As your son, I am reassuring you of my support for the progress of Ibadan.

“Let me re-state that I will not interfere in the Ibadan traditional chieftaincy system,” he said.

He solicited the support of traditional institutions across the state for his administration in transforming the state.

The governor congratulated the new Iyalode of Ibadanland, praying that she would live long.

The Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, also prayed that his reign and that of the Iyalode would last long and bring the desired growth to Ibadan land.

NAN reports that the event was attended by prominent sons and daughters of Ibadan land as well as associations.

Among the dignitaries are Oba Lekan Balogun, Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land; High Chief Lekan Alabi, Agbaakin of Ibadan land; and Chief Sarafadeen Alli, a former Secretary to Oyo State Government

October 1, 2019
JUST IN: Tribunal upholds Makinde’s election as Oyo governor

… dismisses Adelabu, APC’s suit

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ibadan on Monday, upheld the victory of Gov. Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Adebayo Adelabu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had filed petition against Makinde in the March 9 Governorship election in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adelabu and his party APC challenged the declaration of Makinde by INEC as the winner of March 9 governorship election in Oyo State.

Makinde polled 515,621 votes to defect his closest rival, Adelabu who had 357,982 votes while PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are also respondents.

The petitioners said that Makinde was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes, adding that election was marred by over voting and failure to comply with the provision of Electoral Act.

Adelabu, therefore, prayed the tribunal to declare him the winner of the election, adding that he scored the highest number of lawful votes or alternatively, the tribunal should nullify the election and order a re-run.

The Chairman of the tribunal three-man tribunal, Justice Muhammed Sirajo who delivered the unanimous judgment said the testimonies of the ward and local government agents, called by the petitioners could, not be relied.

According to the tribunal, the agents were not speak the truth but and only relied on what they were been told by the polling units agents

He said that 32 pieces of evidence, out of the 69 witnesses called by the petitioners were hearsay because the petitioners were ward and local government collation agents while the remaining 37 were polling unit agents.

Sirajo said that the petitioners called 69 witnesses and tendered 4,164 exhibits while the respondents called 15 witnesses, adding that said the testimony of an eye witness must come from the polling units agents who witnessed all that happened from the beginning to the end during the election.

The tribunal said that the petitioners also failed to tender necessary documents that would assist members of the tribunal in proving ballot paper accounting.

He said that it was not only the responsibilities of petitioners to tender documents but also to prove that the alleged irregularities in the election substantially affected the outcome of the election.

Sirajo said that the petitioners failed to prove that the respondents were not validly elected by majority of lawful votes.

“The petitioner failed to prove the allegation of non-compliance, non-accreditation, over voting and corrupt practices that would warrant the tribunal to nullified the election,“ he said.

Sirajo, who said that the petition lacked merit and stood dismissed, awarded N200, 000 cost against the petitioners..

In an interview, the counsel to the petitioners, Mr Akin Oladeji, said they would decide on next line of action after studying the judgment

September 16, 2019