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Tag: Makinde

  • No standing agreement between Tinubu, Makinde – APC PCC

    No standing agreement between Tinubu, Makinde – APC PCC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Committee (PCC) says it has no standing agreement with Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State in respect of the March 11 governorship election as being speculated.

    A member of the committee, Nike Ajagbe, told newsmen on Wednesday in Ibadan that there was no agreement between Makinde and Sen. Bola Tinubu, the President-elect.

    Ajagbe was reacting to a news emanating from the meeting between the governor and the aggrieved candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

    Makinde was said to have told the aggrieved candidates, who lost last Saturday National Assembly election to APC, that he had agreement with the president-elect that he would defect to the APC after the election, which Tinubu supported.

    Ajagbe said that the visit of the campaign team had nothing to do with the endorsement of the governor.

    She said the president-elect was a party man who could not joke with the success of his party across the country, especially the South-West, which is regarded as his stronghold.

    Ajagbe said that it was in the programme of the campaign committee to visit all the opposition governors whenever they were in their state for campaign.

    She said that nobody should see such visit as endorsement, but a privilege to host a widely accepted presidential candidate.

    Ajagbe said that being the governor of the state, the president-elect only visited Makinde as he did to other opposition governors whenever he visited their states.

    She cited the example of the River Governor and other state governors where the president-elect visited him before proceeding on his campaigns.

    Ajagbe said that was part of all the visit of the president-elect to Makinde and no agreement was reached between the campaign team and Makinde.

    She said that after Tinubu left Makinde’s office he went straight to the ancient Mapo Hall to raise the hand of the party’s Governorship candidate, Sen. Teslim Folarin.

    Ajagbe said people were surprised to read that the governor was claiming he had agreement with the president-elect.

    She said Makinde only urged the people of the state to vote for unifier of the country during the governorship debate in Ibadan.

    Meanwhile, Folarin condemned Makinde for allegedly lavishing N500 million on the aggrieved PDP candidates and other stakeholders.

    In a statement, the APC governorship candidate through his Media Aide, Yekeen Olaniyi, said Makinde had demonstrated that he has nothing to offer the good people of the state than spending lavishly to please his party men.

    He urged the people to vote massively for APC in the March 11 governorship election and state assembly’s election, so as to maintain the same party both at the Federal and State levels.

  • Makinde, Deputy deliver polling unit to Tinubu in Oyo

    Makinde, Deputy deliver polling unit to Tinubu in Oyo

    Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Saturday delivered his polling unit to Sen. Bola Tinubu, the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Makinde had voted at the Polling Unit 01, Ward 11, Abayomi area, Iwo Road, in Ibadan North-East Local Government area.

    According to Mr Emmanuel Oduyela, Presiding Officer of the Polling Unit, APC polled 104 to defeat Labour Party and PDP which scored 82 and 27 votes respectively.

    Oduyela, while announcing the election results for the Senate and House of Representatives, at the polling unit, said that PDP scored 82 and 79 votes respectively to defeat APC and Labour Party.

    According to him, APC scored 57 and 59 votes respectively in the Senate and House of Representatives elections at the polling unit.

    “Labour Party polled 50 votes in the Senate election and 55 votes in the House of Representatives election.

    Also, APC won the presidential election at the Polling Unit 04, Ward 06, Kishi, where the Deputy Governor, Chief Adebayo Lawal, voted.

    According to the result released at the polling unit, APC scored 236 votes to defeat PDP which polled 114.

    However, in the Senatorial election, PDP defeated APC with 127 votes as against 123 votes, while PDP also won the House of Representatives election with 170 votes, while APC scored 148.

  • I’m satisfied with election conduct – Oyo gov, Makinde

    I’m satisfied with election conduct – Oyo gov, Makinde

    Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Saturday, expressed satisfaction with the electoral process so far, imploring electorate to exercise patience with those in charge of the exercise.

    Makinde, who voted at exactly 10.10 a.m. at unit 1, ward 21, Abayomi-Iwo Road in Ibadan North-East Local Government Area, urged voters to exercise their civic duties responsibly.

    Similarly, wife of a former governor of Oyo State, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, described the elections as very peaceful, saying that she was impressed with the exercise.

    “I am very impressed that people have turned out and are patient, because we have issues with the BVAS machine.

    “I want to commend the good people in this polling unit, because they have been very patient,” Ajimobi said.

    She, however, said she was emotional being the first time she would be voting after the demise of her husband.

    “It’s a bit emotional for me, but God remains unquestionable. I am here voting and there is nothing else I can do,” she said.

    A former Sports Minister, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, also lauded voters’ turn-out, describing the general conduct of the elections as impressive.

    Adedoja, after casting his vote at Popoyemoja ward 4 of Ibadan South-West Local Government Area, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that BVAS was excellent in its use and that voters were happy with its performance.

    “I thank God that everything went peacefully, as people came out as early as 7.00 a.m. and officials of INEC also came out in good time at ward 4 of Ibadan South-West Local Government at Popoyemoja to conduct the election,” he said.

    Also, Chief Rotimi Ajanaku, the Accord House of Representatives candidate for Ibadan South-West/North-West Federal Constituency, also cast his vote at exactly 11.00 a.m. at ward 12, unit 32 of Ibadan South-West Local Government.

    Ajanaku described the elections as the most peaceful and impressive that had ever been conducted.

    He said he was satisfied that the election was going on peacefully, in spite of the fear of possible crises and violence already instilled in the electorate.

    “This election has been peaceful and I think INEC has done well. There can never be violence in Nigeria; we can never be divided; we will forever remain one and indivisible country.

    “The decision of the electorate will be declared and their will shall prevail. This means that the people have elected the candidates of their choice,” he said.

    In Ibarapaland, a police officer, who preferred to be anonymous, said he felt that restricting people from going about their normal businesses on the day might cause serious problem, considering the tension already generated by the cashless policy.

    “But I was wrong,” he said.

  • 2023: Prepare for your defeat, APC tells Makinde, PDP

    2023: Prepare for your defeat, APC tells Makinde, PDP

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) says no amount of fake news can save Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from defeat in the 2023 general elections.

    Its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, said in a statement on Tuesday in Ibadan, that PDP was allegedly behind the spread of fake news purportedly issued by one Alhaji Bashir Adeola, a Chieftain of APC in the state.

    APC was reacting to a news report which claimed that Adeola, a spoke in condemnation of his party to favour PDP.

    The APC spokesperson dismissed the said news as fake, saying that the name, Bashir Adeola, was a fictitious name.

    According to him, the report was the handiwork of some desperados in power who had been overwhelmed by the political fireworks of Oyo APC as demonstrated in the last few months.

    “We have painstakingly checked our party membership register and found no member by the name Bashiru Adeola.

    “We, then wonder where the PDP media got the ghost to speak with them as a chieftain of Oyo APC,” he said.

    Sadare said that no amount of such sponsored fake news as well as unsubtantiated claims against the opposition would stop Makinde and PDP from imminent sack in the forthcoming general elections.

    He said that some funny characters around the governor felt that “this was the best way to mitigate the effects of political affliction befalling their administration and party every day”.

    Sadare said that PDP felt it was an unhealthy development to keep losing its members and supporters to the opposition.

    He said that Makinde has nobody to blame for the development, adding he could not eat his cake and have it.

    “A governor who neither does well with governance, nor runs an all-inclusive government cannot have the trust of serious politicians and voters.

    “They just package their usual lies and put fictitious names as the source whereas the so-called Bashir Adeola was without a known Ward, Local Government Area or traceable residence or office address.

    “They came up with the latest spurious story aimed at discrediting APC in an attempt to water down the adverse effect of Hon. Olusegun Olaleye’s defection to the APC,” he said.

    The APC spokesperson said that Olaleye had only retraced his step as he returned to the progressive fold few days after hundreds of PDP leaders and members left the party for APC in Oyo Federal Constituency.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, we do not have any member or chieftain who bears the name mentioned and it is safe to say that the story was sponsored by the PDP to mislead the public.

    “We are focussed on our electioneering campaigns as a serious political party whose candidates have all it takes to win the forthcoming elections in the state,” he said.

    Sadare urged the electorate to disregard myriad of fake news being churned out to create soft landing for Makinde, who had already lost his reelection bid before the day of the poll.

  • “Tinubu has never played down the interest of Yoruba land”- Makinde reveals

    “Tinubu has never played down the interest of Yoruba land”- Makinde reveals

    Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has joined the Yoruba social-cultural organization, Afenifere, in endorsing the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari come 2023.

    Makinde announced this today in Akure, Ondo State capital when Tinubu visited the state to meet with the Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.

    Represented by his Deputy, Bayo Lawal, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain said although they belong to different political parties, he is in support of the decision of the Afenifere and Yoruba races.

    “Since he became Governor of Oyo State, he never played down the interest of Yoruba land. There was no time Baba called him that he didn’t respond. There was no event he is invited to, whether by Afenifere or any group in Yoruba land where Engineer Makinde doesn’t play a part.

    “Now, we are different by a political party but we are one by the tribe. For this reason, what he asked me to assure you is that in Yoruba land, whatever you have agreed to do, he is in support,” said Lawal while delivering Governor Makinde’s message at the gathering of political and Yoruba stakeholders.

    Tinubu, a former Governor of Lagos State, emerged as the winner of the party’s presidential primary with over 1,271 votes to defeat his closest rivals, ex-minister Rotimi Amaechi and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    While Amaechi polled 316 votes, Osinbajo scored 235 votes.

    He contested against thirteen other aspirants – Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Mr Ahmed Rufai, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Mr Jack Rich, Governor Ben Ayade, Governor David Umahi, Senator Ahmed Yarima, Dr Ahmed Lawan, Osinbajo, Amaechi, Governor Yahaya Bello and Mr Ogbonnaya Onu.

  • 2023: I will only support Atiku if PDP ensures equity and fairness – Makinde

    2023: I will only support Atiku if PDP ensures equity and fairness – Makinde

     

    Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde on Saturday have reasons why he would not support the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar until the party ensured fairness.

    Recall that Makinde is a strong ally of the Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike who was maligned by the party after its presidential primaries.

    Asked about the crisis within the PDP at the national level, Makinde said he would only support Atiku if the party did the needful.

    According to him, the party must demonstrate that it
    can ensure fairness and justice within its system before seeking to implement it on the country.

    Makinde maintained that if re-elected in 2023, he would go on to deliver Omituntun 2.0, which he said would centre on delivering sustainable development to the people of the state.

    He said: “When | was campaigning for election in 2018, | brought out a roadmap and promised the people that it was meant for accelerated development of Oyo State. Now, based on what we have experienced, we have brought another roadmap, but this time round, it is for sustainable development 2023-2027.”

    On how the administration has been able to deliver infrastructure that targets its economic expansion programme, Makinde said his government’s idea of infrastructure development has seen over 500 kilometres of road either completed or been constructed.

    He maintained that in line with its determination to boost the economy of the state, the government embarked on an effort to link all five zones of the State.

    On his tenure so far, Makinde said his administration has been able to deliver accelerated development to the state in the last three and a half years, adding that his performance justifies his re-election bid.

    He made the remarks in a live interview session on a radio station in Ibadan, saying with the achievements recorded by the administration across the four service point areas of education, security, health and economic expansion through agribusiness and infrastructure, he deserved to be re-elected by the

  • AFCON Qualifier: Gov Makinde, others splash cash on U23 Eagles to defeat Tanzania

    AFCON Qualifier: Gov Makinde, others splash cash on U23 Eagles to defeat Tanzania

    As a motivation for the under 23 Olympic Eagles Team to make Nigeria proud by defeating Tanzania, Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, has announced the cash gift N10 million to the Nigerian team ahead of Saturday game.

    Makinde, who promised to be at the Lekan Salami Stadium on Saturday to cheer the players up, also promised additional 20,000 dollars (about N18 million) after victory.

    He made the announcement of the cash gift on Friday night at a dinner hosted by the State Government for the team inside the Government House in Ibadan.

    The second leg of the AFCON Qualifier would be played at Lekan Salami Sports Complex in Ibadan on Saturday.

    The country’s U23 National Team and Tanzania had drew 1-1 during the first leg of the match held in Dar es Salam, the capital of Tanzania.

    NAN reports that it was the first time since 1999 that football lovers in the ancient city of Ibadan would enjoy the best of international football.

    The governor described sport as a means of development in the state, saying they knew what it meant for youths in terms of money, motivation and development of the state.

    “At any time, we would be willing to host NFF. I enjoy watching football and Shooting Star is the first team from this country to win the continental African Cup.

    “I want to wish you well and let you know that we are fully behind you. I am supporting you with N10 million right now and using my own ways of motivating you”.

    “You will win the match and I will keep my promise to you as well. The game promises to be exciting, so let’s show them what we’re made of,” he said.

    Also, the Chairman, National Youth Teams, Alhaji Aminu Balele, urged the team to win the game for President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Sports and Nigeria.

    Balele had also doled out #10,000 to the Olympic team, while a former Commissioner for Youths and Sports in Ogun State, Mr Bukola Olopade, promised a gift of 5,000 dollars for the team.

    He then gave the team Head Coach, Salisu Yusuf, 10,000 dollars to ensure that the team wins the game.

    Earlier, the Super Eagles Captain, Ahmed Musa, had pledged to give the team N500,000 on each goal scored against the Tanzanians.

    NAN reports that the Dream Team, who are being massively backed by their football loving fans, have vowed to finish off their Tanzanian opponents.

    For the Nigerians to progress to the next round, they needed a scoreless draw or an outright victory in today’s game.

    However, the task might not be easy for the Dream Team as the Tanzanian Team Manager, Ahmed Maroko, had threatened to create an upset.

    “We are here to win and we will do everything possible to accomplish our mission,”the Tanzanian Sweat Merchant said.

    With the Tanzanians driven by personal determination, the home team’s spirits are buoyed by promises of cash splash from sports loving compatriots.

    With the spirits of the Dream Team lifted up by imminent naira rains, the Nigerians might go for a harvest of goals today.

  • Mimiko reacts to report on betrayal, declares support for Wike over Ayu removal

    Mimiko reacts to report on betrayal, declares support for Wike over Ayu removal

    Former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, has said he would not ditch the Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, and other governors of the Peoples Democratic Party or abandon the agitation for regional equity within the party.

    The ex-governor stated this on Wednesday while rejecting his nomination as ‘Leader of Campaign’ following his purported nomination on the Ondo State PDP Presidential Campaign Council list.

    According to Mimiko, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Digital Communications, John Paul Akinduro, the appearance of his name on the list was fake as well as a deliberate attempt to muddle things up and smear his person.

    He emphasised that he was not consulted by anyone and that he did not consent to his inclusion in the state’s PDP PCC list.

    “Dr Olusegun Mimiko has been inundated with calls and messages from the general public, and his political friends and concerned individuals around the nation; and in particular, his teeming supporters across the length and breadth of Ondo State, seeking clarity on a fake news making the rounds since yesterday that he had ditched Governors Nyesom Wike, Seyi Makinde and their colleagues governors, and abandoned the agitation for regional equity within the PDP; and in particular, making a party member of southern extraction it’s the national chairman before the 2023 election.

    “For the avoidance of doubt and to set the record straight, Dr Mimiko is unwavering in his commitment to the principle of equity, fairness and justice through which he believes a credible push for a PDP victory is possible.

    “He fully subscribes to the agitation by his colleagues and other stakeholders in PDP and the generality of Nigerians that the PDP structure must reflect Nigeria’s diversity, if it genuinely wants to unify a visibly divided country.”

  • PDP Crisis: Wike, Ortom, Makinde, two other govs snub campaign inauguration

    PDP Crisis: Wike, Ortom, Makinde, two other govs snub campaign inauguration

     

    The crisis engulfing Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, seems to be escalating as Governors in the camp of Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike on Wednesday snubbed the official inauguration of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council.

    The Governors include Samuel Ortom of Benue State; Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Wike.

    Some other stakeholders believed to be loyal to Governor Wike were also absent at the inauguration which took place at the International Conference Centre, Abuja on Wednesday.

    However, the remaining PDP Governors loyal to the party’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar attended the event.

    They include: Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State; Diri Duoye of Bayelsa State; Godwin Obaseki of Edo State; Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State; Darius Ishaku of Taraba State; Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State; and Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State.

    The Delta State governor and running mate to Atiku, Ifeanyi Okowa, was also present at the event.

  • What ‘ll determine the emergence of next Alaafin – Makinde

    What ‘ll determine the emergence of next Alaafin – Makinde

    The emergence of next Alaafin of Oyo will be strictly based on the signed Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration, Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, has said.

    Makinde made this known on Saturday at the State Burial ceremony organised by the state government for the late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, the Alaafin of Oyo Town.

    Recall Adeyemi III, who reigned for 53 years, joined his ancestors on April 23 at the age of 83 years.

    The governor explained that the process to select a new Alaafin would not go beyond the Alaafin of Oyo Chieftaincy Declaration, in spite of calls from some people to recognise other royal families.

    “Let our people in Oyo Town know that some people came to me and said that the first Alaafin gave birth to about 13 children and that only two out of them were recognised and that this is an opportunity to bring in others.

    “And, I asked them, if it is in the Alaafin Declaration, but they said it is inside a Declaration that was not signed.

    “I told them a new Alaafin will be selected only through the Declaration that was signed,” Makinde declared.

    Eulogising the late traditional ruler, the governor said that the late Oba lived an impactful life.

    According to him, Oyo State has lost an irreplaceable king, “an encyclopaedia of Yoruba History and Culture.

    “I can only say that we have lost a king that is irreplaceable, but we have to accept the fact that we cannot question God.

    “God was merciful to Baba, because it is not easy to spend more than 50 years on the throne of your forefathers.

    “So, it is celebration of life for us today,” he said.

    In her remarks, the Secretary to State Government, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun, said that the late Adeyemi was known for consistently blessing governments with quality advice on all issues.

    According to Adeosun, the event was rightly dubbed a celebration of life in view of the eventful life led by the departed traditional ruler.

    “Looking at the trajectory of this unique Oba, one would easily conclude that Oba Adeyemi was born to be a king.

    “He had the vision to be the Alaafin from a young age and prepared himself for that great assignment.

    “As we can all see, nature did the rest for him and he was chosen as the Alaafin on Nov. 18, 1970.

    “While he had the weight of the Alaafin stool thrusted on his shoulders at a young age, he carried on with incredible poise and gait, stealing the shows in many of the public events he attended.

    “It did not come as a surprise that he, in no time, emerged the repository of Yoruba traditional history,” Adeosun said.

    She said further that Adeyemi was an avid reader who was always in ultimate search of knowledge.

    “He was a king who never lost sight of the sense of history that birthed the stool he sat upon.

    “His actions always depicted him as one who was ruling, not just Oyo Town, but Oyo Empire, as exemplified by his ancestors, whose realm of authority as administrators of the famous Oyo Empire extended beyond what is currently known as the Nigerian nation.

    “He carried himself as one traditional ruler who was responsible for the welfare and wellbeing of the Yoruba people anywhere they may be found and the Yoruba nation.

    “In that wise, Alaafin Adeyemi III never shied away from making public comments on issues he believed could discomfort his people at any point in time,” she said.

    The event had in attendance the Deputy Governors of Oyo and Osun, Alhaji Rauf Olaniyan and Mr Benedict Alabi, respectively.

    Others were Osun State PDP gubernatorial candidate, Ademola Adeleke; former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi; the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams and other prominent traditional rulers from Oyo State.