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Tag: Oyo Deputy Governor

  • 2023: Oyo deputy Governor Rauf Olaniyan defects to APC

    Oyo state deputy Governor Engineer Rauf Olaniyan has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to pitch his tent with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Olaniyan made this  announcement  in Ibadan the  Oyo state capital on Sunday.

    Recall that Governor Seyi Makinde has dropped the deputy Governor for his re-election bid ahead of the 2023 guber elections.

    Both  Olaniyan and Makinde were jointly elected as Deputy Governor and Governor on the platform of PDP in 2019.

    The deputy governor, who is from the Oke-Ogun geopolitical zone, on Sunday said, “Which official announcement do you want me to make?

    “My friends and people asked me to leave PDP.

    “I have joined APC.”

    There were speculations that Olaniyan had planned to leave the party but he vehemently denied it.

    The deputy Governor had mentioned that five political parties are on his radar to be their party’s flag bearer for 2023 guber elections in the state.
  • Why I took no offence in Ajimobi’s wife’s outburst against me – Oyo Deputy Gov

    Why I took no offence in Ajimobi’s wife’s outburst against me – Oyo Deputy Gov

    Oyo State Deputy Governor, Engr. Remi Olaniyan, has brushed aside Mrs Florence Ajimobi’s outburst against him during her husband’s death and funeral, saying she only spoke and acted out of grief which should not be regarded as an offence.

    Olaniyan spoke in his Ibadan home on Saturday on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir.

    Asked if Mrs Ajimobi has called to mend their relationship based on the widow’s outburst against him during his visit, Olaniyan said: “Mrs Ajimobi did not offend me in the first place. She was grieving at the time and, in that state, could do anything that is considered abnormal. So, I understand fully. I did not feel offended by the two incidents.”

    Mrs Ajimobi, who lost her husband on June 25, had expressed disappointment with the deputy governor when he visited their Oluyole, Ibadan home to commiserate with her few days after the former governor’s death. She complained that the governor or deputy did not call her to commiserate with her despite serving the state for eight years.

    On the burial day, Olaniyan’s delegation was also denied access to the building. The security at the gate told him that the gate key was with Mrs Ajimobi who was at the funeral site.

    Recalling how he handled second incident, he said: “When I saw the behaviour of the men around the house that day, I told my security aides that nobody must touch anybody. I said they must keep their heads when others are losing theirs. We must keep our omoluwabi ethos in all situations. That’s the first requirement in politics. Then, you load yourself with patience.

    “We (he and Mrs Ajimobi) have spoken after that and we have moved on. She was grieving and nobody can fully understand the enormity of that grief except you are in her shoes. And I pray God Almighty not to allow us taste that grief. So there is nothing she did that she needs to apologize for.”

    The deputy governor also explained that the current administration in Oyo State would continue to work for the interest of the populace in spite of being labelled as a populist government.

    He said: “The wish and wants of the populace should be the target of the government. What else do you want us to do? We are there because of their interest. Should we go ahead and do what people don’t want? Some brand you different names when you are listening to the people and meeting their needs. Should we be doing things that the people don’t want?”

    He said the decisions of the state government on COVID-19 management are being guided by facts and data, stressing that people should not be surprised that Oyo is setting the pace in Nigeria.

  • Ajimobi’s family deliberately denied Makinde’s delegation access to Fidau programme – Oyo Deputy Gov insists

    Ajimobi’s family deliberately denied Makinde’s delegation access to Fidau programme – Oyo Deputy Gov insists

    Oyo Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan, has insisted that the family of the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi deliberately barred him and other state delegation from the 8th day Fidau prayers for the deceased.

    He said the family was aware of his presence at the gate of the residence.

    Though the Ajimobi family, on Saturday in a statement by Bolaji Tunji, had denied that Olaniyan was deliberately denied entry.

    Tunji said the family was not aware of his planned visit and arrival at the gate.

    He added that that on making efforts to facilitate access for him later, they discovered that he had left. The family offered apologies for the incident.

    But in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Omolere Omoetan, Olaniyan countered the explanation that the family was unaware he was waiting at the gate.

    He said it was another act of rebuffing hands of fellowship being extended to the family of Ajimobi by Governor Seyi Makinde.

    The statement reads in part: “Again, some members and aides of the former Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi continue to rebuff the hand of fellowship extended to the family of the late governor by the government of Oyo State led by His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde.

    “Today at the 8th day Fidau Prayers of the former Governor Oyo State Isaika Ajimobi, the Deputy Governor, Engr Rauf Olaniyan, was denied access to the venue of the event.

    “The Deputy Governor, who led the government delegation comprising himself and some commissioners, on the approval of the governor, was kept waiting at the gate for over 15 minutes. Even when security men at the gate went in to tell them he was at the gate, no directive came back to grant his Excellency access.

    “At a point, the security personnel in uniform and mufti at the gates became very hostile and the ADC to the Deputy Governor was manhandled by men of the police force. It was at this point that the Deputy Governor decided to leave the scene that was becoming tense while waiting in his car.

    “Having waited for a while to see if the situation would change to no avail, he proceeded to take his leave.

    “It should be noted that the Deputy Governor put a call through to Alhaji Kunle Sanni, Chairman of Oyo State Muslim Council, who was among the officiating ministers, that he was at the gate and was being denied entrance. Alhaji Sanni responded that his hands were tied. This is a clear indication that what transpired was premeditated.

    “There was no truth in the family saying they were not aware that the state government delegation was at the gate because Mr. Bolaji Tunji was severally called by men of Civil Defence at the gate.

    “Even if the Deputy Governor arrived when the prayers had started, it is a well-known fact in Islam that when prayers are on-going and a male walks in, it’s an indication that the prayers have received Allah’s acceptance.

    “However, Engr Raufu Olaniyan wishes to re-iterate that the visit of the government delegation to the 8th day Fidau Prayers of His Excellency Senator Isaika Ajimobi was a clear demonstration on the part of His Excellency, Engr Seyi Makinde, that the late governor is held in high regard. He stated that it was only fitting for the state government to show respect to the late governor at the Fidau prayers held in his honor.

    “The Deputy Governor also wishes to put it on record that despite the way he was treated by the Ajimobi family, which he refuses to hold personal, he has displayed maturity as required of the public office at this level. He holds no grudges and he will continue to pray that Allah grants the departed former Governor Al-Jana Firdaus.

    “Engr. Raufu Olaniyan will also like to draw the attention of the Oyo state Commissioner of Police to the highly unprofessional and unruly conduct of the police personnel at the premises.”