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Tag: Rauf Aregbesola

  • ADC promises 50% inclusion for youth, women

    ADC promises 50% inclusion for youth, women

    The African Democratic Congress (ADC) says it will prioritise youth and women by allocating 50 per cent of elective and appointive positions to them.

    Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, National Secretary of the party, stated this in Lagos during the affirmation of PDP, Labour Party and other members who defected to ADC.

    Delivering a speech titled “When Good People Unite, Nigerians Win,”Aregbesola, a former Osun governor and Minister of Interior, called ADC the party of the youth and one committed to rescuing Nigeria.

    He said the ADC constitution guarantees strong representation for youth and women, adding that inclusive leadership is key to Nigeria’s future.

    According to him, the country is facing hardship and uncertainty, and Nigerians must rise above partisanship to chart a new course.

    He said the people must remain the focus of politics and governance for any administration to remain relevant.

    “No government could survive without prioritising citizens’ welfare,” he said, adding that leadership must meet the basic needs of the people.

    “This is not tokenism, but recognition that Nigeria’s future lies with giving voice, space, and power to the underrepresented,” he said.

    He stated that ADC reserves 35 per cent for women and another 35 per cent for youth, creating a minimum of 50 per cent inclusive representation.

    According to him, ADC is not controlled by one person, but a collective of patriotic citizens seeking to rebuild the nation.

    “The people are the centre of politics and government, not leaders or political parties,” he added.

    Aregbesola warned that any form of government that fails to serve the people would lose legitimacy and collapse with time.

    “There is a limit to how much hardship people can endure before they react,” he stated.

    He said Nigeria’s condition necessitates ADC’s timely intervention, urging members to act decisively to save the country.

    He told the new members that ADC’s mission is to build a nation future generations would be proud to inherit.

    “Our mission is urgent. ADC will build from the grassroots and avoid needless conflicts,” he said.

    He urged members to focus on expanding the party’s base and avoid wasting time engaging political opponents.

    “Let’s sell our ideas to the people and ignore the distractions of dying political structures,” he said.

    He noted that both PDP and APC have lost vision and reduced to ordinary power-seeking political platforms.

    “We must not repeat the mistakes of APC and PDP. Let us build a people-oriented party from scratch,” he said.

    Earlier, Dr Abimbola Ogunkelu, PDP BoT member, led the group of defectors and said the movement signalled a new era of progressive politics.

    “Our gathering is not just political. It is a convergence of shared values and ideas for national transformation,” he said.

    He described the event as a declaration of unity, purpose, and the will to reshape Nigeria through credible alternatives.

    Ogunkelu said the coalition aimed to mobilise grassroots participation and provide trustworthy leadership Nigerians can believe in.

    Also speaking, Dr Segun Osho, who led some Labour Party members, said their movement was necessary to rescue Nigeria.

    “We are pledging our loyalty to ADC to rescue Lagos and Nigeria from failure,” Osho said.

    ADC Chieftain, Sen. Kolawole Ogunwale, called on members to work with unity and commitment for the party’s success.

    “Don’t just support ADC by mouth. Be committed in action and purpose,” Ogunwale said.

    The defectors included former Lagos PDP Chairmen, Chief Muritala Ashorobi, and Captain Tunji Shelle. Others were PDP Vice Chairman (Lagos Central), Tai Benedict; Chief Niyi Adams; and ex-Youth Leader, among other party stalwarts.

    ADC Lagos Chairman, Mr George Ashiru, presented the party’s flag, logo, and statement of purpose to Ogunkelu.

    Ashiru outlined ADC as a credible alternative and urged members to unite like a military force preparing for victory. The event was attended by ADC national leaders and South-West state chairmen.

  • We won’t allow our party to be hijacked – ADC stakeholders

    We won’t allow our party to be hijacked – ADC stakeholders

    Some concerned stakeholders in African Democratic Congress (ADC) have faulted the appointment of a former Interior Minister, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola, as the party’s Interim National Secretary.

    The stakeholders made their position known in a statement issued by Dr Musa Matara, on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Matara, who claimed to be the party’s National Publicity Secretary, insisted that ADC was not a private coalition platform to be hijacked by any elite group.

    He faulted the emergence of Aregbesola as the party’s interim national secretary, saying that the appointment did not follow due process as well as the ADC’s guidelines.

    According to Matara, the stakeholders’ group comprises the youth and women leaders, state party executives and ward coordinators across the country.

    He said that while the stakeholders appreciated the enthusiasm with which Aregbesola delivered his acceptance speech as the interim national secretary of ADC, they, however, rejected the process of his appointment.

    According to him, Aregbesola’s appointment lacks due process, transparency and the broad-based legitimacy expected in a democratic setting.

    “ADC is not a private coalition platform to be hijacked by any elite group or individuals, regardless of how eloquent or ideologically-polished their speeches may sound.

    “Our party has structures, leadership organs, youth and women wings and constitutional guidelines, none of which was consulted or respected in the announcement of this so-called appointment,” he said.

    Matara wondered why Aregbesola was talking about internal democracy, ideological discipline and inclusiveness in his acceptance speech while the circumstances surrounding his emergence contradicted the process of internal democracy.

    “Who appointed Aregbesola? Which organ of the ADC ratified this appointment? Was the National Executive Committee (NEC) involved? Were state chairmen, youth leaders and elected national officers consulted?

    “If the answer is ‘No’, as it clearly is, then this “appointment” is null and void,” he said.

    Matara also denied the claim that ADC had become the ‘platform of the National Opposition Coalition Group’, describing it as misleading.

    He advised new members coming into ADC through coalition to tread carefully and be mindful that some few individuals were attempting to sell out the soul of the party for personal gains.

    Matara maintained that ADC was not for sale, adding that it belonged to its members, not political merchants or elite dealmakers.

    “Our millions of members have not been informed or carried along in this so-called coalition.

    “If anyone is attempting to force an opposition merger without grassroots consent, they are trampling on democratic ethics and party sovereignty.

    “Let it be known to those who are trooping into our party under this chaotic coalition arrangement that the ADC has been battling unresolved legal crises since the 2023 general elections.

    “These matters remain in court and unresolved. Any coalition attempt built on such shaky legal ground is irresponsible and potentially self-destructive,” he said.

    Matara further stated that the idea that “the party must be supreme” could not be used as a tool to silence dissents or sideline authentic party stakeholders.

    According to him, party supremacy begins with consultations and consensus, not executive pronouncements disguising as patriotic rhetoric.

    He expressed the stakeholders’ firm commitment to accountable leadership, transparent decision-making process and a people-powered party structure.

    “Any process that excludes the very people it claims to serve is undemocratic and must be challenged.

    “We call on all genuine stakeholders of the ADC across states, zones and demographic groups to reject this attempted takeover of our party.

    “We are not opposed to coalitions. We are not opposed to reform. But we are opposed to hijack, to imposition and to speeches that sound revolutionary but hide elitist intentions beneath poetic language.

    “Until a legitimate, constitutionally-backed ADC national convention or NEC confirms leadership changes, no one has the moral or legal right to speak for our party nationally,” he said.

    However, in his reaction to the statement, the ADC National Chairman, Raph Nwosu, said that Matara was not known to the party.

    “You have covered us for how many years now? The guy is unknown to ADC. He is a rabble rouser and a mercenary. It’s not unexpected.

    “Mabel Oboh has been the national publicity secretary of our party. I don’t know who Matara is,” Nwosu said.

  • Aregbesola loyalists meet, agree to quit APC

    Aregbesola loyalists meet, agree to quit APC

    Members of the Omoluabi Progressives, a political group of a former governor of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola, said they had agreed to quit the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    This is contained in a statement signed by the group’s organising and publicity secretary, Oluwaseun Abosede, and made available to newsmen on Monday in Osogbo.

    Abosede said that the resolution to leave APC was reached by stakeholders from all the 332 wards in the state during the group’s monthly meeting in Ilesa.

    “Some of the reasons the group is quitting APC include allegations of ostracism, suspension, and expulsion of members without fair hearing. Another reason is the perceived neglect and denigration of the group within the APC structure.

    “Also, the dissatisfaction with the party’s handling of internal crises, which contributed to APC’s poor performance in the last election cycle in Ogun, is another reason.

    “Members of the group were put to a voice vote by the leadership and they unanimously affirmed their readiness to switch allegiance to another political platform ahead of the 2026 Osun governorship election,” Abosede said.

    Speaking at the meeting, the statement stated that Aregbesola commended members of the group for their commitment to the principles of integrity, character, and good governance.

    He appealed to them to remain steadfast as they repositioned Omoluabi Progressives for the future. Aregbesola, the immediate past Minister of Interior, said that the decision of the group to quit APC marked the beginning of a new journey towards entrenching responsible leadership in Osun.

    “I am indeed happy that all of you have spoken with one voice. A united front to lead the way to our collective victory in the journey ahead. Our mission is to raise the level of prosperity of our dear state through responsible leadership.

    ”The path we have chosen is smooth, highly reassuring, and full of good tides that will propel Osun to greatness. Therefore, you must show more commitment and attract genuine people who are ready to walk this path of righteousness with us”, he said.

    He assured the group that ongoing efforts to properly position the Omoluabi Progressives for future challenges would soon yield positive results.

    “We are open to all, regardless of political, religious, or socio-cultural affiliations. We have the numbers, strength, and political acumen to provide leadership that will make Osun the envy of its peers. By the grace of God, we shall succeed,” he said.

  • Osun APC disowns former governor, Rauf Aregbesola

    Osun APC disowns former governor, Rauf Aregbesola

    Former governor of Osun state, Rauf Aregbesola who rose to power under the auspices of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) has been disowned by the party.

    Chairman of the party, Mr. Tajudeen Lawal disclosed this in a communiqué after a stakeholders’ meeting at the state secretariat in Osogbo on Tuesday.

    Aregbesola who served as the minister of interior under former president Buhari, was accused of committing various anti-party activities, including forming groups that were working against the interest of the party.

    Lawal cautioned party members not to be deceived to register with the ex-governor because the group is not recognized by the party.

    Corroborating the chairman, APC secretary in the state, Kamoru Alao, said the party’s electronic membership registration will start after National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje’s inauguration of the committee that will train the trainers at the local levels.

    He said: “We are discouraging our members who are loyal party members not to register with Aregbesola’s group because Omoluabi as a group is not a member of our party in Osun state.

    “Aregbesola, as far as we are concerned in Osun APC, he is no more a member of APC. We have taken steps three times to notify the national secretariat of the distractions from Aregbesola and we expect the national secretariat to do the needful.”

    But the Publicity Secretary of Omoluabi Progressives, Abosede Oluwaseun dismissed the anti-party allegations leveled against Aregbesola, saying: “When Aregbesola left the affairs of APC to his successor, the structure of the party was intact but that cannot be said again years later.

    “They have failed two time when they plotted to suspend Aregbesola in his ward in Ilesa East Local Government Area of Osun State.

    “We are not distracted to reposition the party APC so that we can reclaim the state from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2026,” he said.

  • Go through seamless way to obtain passport – Aregbesola

    Go through seamless way to obtain passport – Aregbesola

    Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has called on Nigerians seeking to obtain International passport not to seek the services of middlemen or touts but to register online by themselves.

    The Minister made this known at the unveiling of the Nigeria Immigration Service Passport Front Desk Office in Auchi, Edo State, on Saturday, according to a statement signed by the minister’s media aide, Sola Fasure.

    Aregbesola noted the NIS is working to reduce the waiting time for passport data capturing to three days.

    He then advised applicants not to go through third parties but apply on any internet-enabled device through the Nigeria Immigration Service portal.

    He said, “I will, therefore, plead with applicants not to go through them and other touts hanging around passport offices, soliciting from applicants. The application can be done in your bedroom on your Android phone through the Nigeria Immigration Service portal. You do not need a third party. Those who patronise them are the ones encouraging their nefarious activities and frustrating our efforts at transparency and providing seamless service.”

  • How we reduced passport racketeering in Lagos – Aregbesola

    How we reduced passport racketeering in Lagos – Aregbesola

    The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has disclosed how measures adopted have helped in reducing the menace of international passport racketeering in Lagos State.

    Aregbesola, who disclosed this at the weekend, said the measures adopted also helped to reduce congestion and over-stretching of existing facilities.

    According to the Minister, the creation of additional passport centres in Ikoyi, Festac,  Alausa and Amuwo Odofin substantially reduced passport racketeering.

    He, however, lamented that despite the measures, some Nigerians preferred to follow illegal routes to obtain the documents.

    The Minister made the remarks while receiving officials of the Professional Statisticians Society of Nigeria in his office.

    The body was led by its president, Professor Waheed Yahya.

    Aregbesola identified statistical data analysis and its scientific use as necessary for the successful implementation of government programmes and policies and effective service delivery.

    He explained in a statement signed by the Director of Press in the Ministry, Afonja Ajibola, that his knowledge and use of statistical data tremendously helped him as an active player at different levels of administration in life.

    The minister regretted that given the government intervention in passport issuance, it was unfortunate that many who do not want to follow laid down rules and procedures still land themselves in the hands of unscrupulous people who extort money from them.

    ”I find statistics useful and result-oriented; and I recommend it to industrialists, entrepreneurs, politicians, leaders of communities, local governments, states and nations.

    “It is at the federal level that there is substantial interest in statistics in the country,” Aregbesola said.

    Yahya said their organisation is a body of professional statisticians with responsibility for engaging in statistical research capable of assisting policymakers in government, industries and non-governmental organizations in the development of the nation.

    He further said they also train and mentor younger ones in the field of statistical research in the country.

    Yahya disclosed that the purpose of the visit was to congratulate the minister on the series of transformations he brought to the Ministry of Interior, and further explore possible areas of cooperation as a lover of statistics.

  • FG constructing more prisons for law breakers – Aregbesola

    FG constructing more prisons for law breakers – Aregbesola

    The federal government is constructing mega 3,000-capacity custodial villages in the six geo-political zones of the country to cater for prisoners, the Ministry of Interior has disclosed.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, made this known while inaugurating a 20-bed COVID-19 Crisis Intervention Fund Hospital and Equipment at the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    The minister said that the project would be an enduring legacy and a testimony of the utmost importance the Federal Government had so far taken corrections, the welfare of inmates as well as the staff.

    Aregbesola added that President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration had, to a large extent, addressed the problem of inmates contracting diseases in custodial centres.

    “The custodial centres were frighteningly centres for contracting diseases like scabies and tuberculosis, among others.

    “Happily, this has been addressed by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration and is now a thing of the past.

    “We not only have well-manned clinics and well stocked pharmacies, the inmates at the custodial centres now have access to excellent medical cares beyond the centres,” he said.

    The minister also decried the enormous challenges of running correctional services with huge demands for infrastructure, equipment and maintaining the welfare of inmates.

    He, however, assured that the Federal Government had provided long term solution to the challenges.

    “This centre in Port Harcourt, with a capacity for 1,800 inmates, presently houses about 3,067 inmates. This is just a reflection of the situation in most urban custodial centres where we have congestion at the moment.

    “The facilities and even the personnel are overstretched, but we are coping and providing long term solutions to this challenge.

    “One of such solutions is the construction of mega 3,000-capacity custodial villages in six geo-political zones of the country. The one for the South-South is in Bori, not far from here in Rivers.

    “The ones for the North-West in Janguza, Kano and the North-Central, in Karshi, Abuja, are ready. Hopefully, we shall inaugurate the one in Kano in a few days, before our departure.

    “Even work is steadily going on in the others and has reached appreciable level.

    “Let me also reiterate that the Federal Government will stop feeding inmates incarcerated for breaching state laws. As you commence your budget process for next year, include feeding of your inmates,” he said..

    Aregbesola said that he had no doubt that the facility would go a long way in addressing the medical concerns of inmates and correctional service personnel.

    The minister commended the management and staff of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) for working hard to keep the virus away.

    He added that the new hospital was an intervention aimed at making robust healthcare for those in custody and the NCoS staff.

    Aregbesola said that the beauty of all the interventions in consonance with other reforms in the NCoS would obviously translate to security, peace and tranquility in and around the centres and ultimately the entire country.

  • Aregbesola wants comprehensive review of criminal justice system

    Aregbesola wants comprehensive review of criminal justice system

    The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has called for comprehensive review of Nigeria’s criminal justice system to reduce the alarming number of inmates in correctional facilities awaiting trial.

    A statement by the Media Adviser to the minister, Sola Fasure on Friday in Abuja, said Aregbesola made the while  inaugurating the Imo Command Headquarters of Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) in Owerri.

    He said in spite of massive investment in making inmates’ reformation impactful through increased budgetary provision and upgrade of custodial facilities, prison congestion has remained a problem.

    “One big challenge we have at corrections is congestion, especially in urban centres where the population density is high and human relations are more complex.“

    This, he said, has led to higher crime rate and the need to keep some people behind bars.

    The minister added that the Federal Government had taken steps to address the challenge through the construction of six mega custodial centres in the six geopolitical zones of the country.

    “The ones in Kano and Abuja are ready and with regular funding, the remaining will be completed.

    “It is also hoped that State Governments will take advantage of the constitutional amendment recently signed by President Muhammadu Buhari, which makes corrections a concurrent affair.

    “It is on record that more than 90 per cent of inmates in our facilities are state offenders. It is important therefore, that State Governments begin to invest in corrections.”

    He said that it was “even more important to reform the criminal justice system.

    “I have been making this case and I will continue to do so, that 70 per cent of inmates are awaiting trial and constitute the majority in our facilities.

    “The sad thing about this is, we cannot statutorily begin their process of reformation because they are assumed to be innocent, except for those who voluntarily wish to participate in any of our programmes.”

    The minister expressed concern that most of the awaiting trial inmates “have spent time in detention longer than the maximum sentence their alleged offence carries”.

    “This predispose them to violent conduct and they are the biggest source of the challenge of discipline and control at the custodial centres.“

    The minister, therefore, stressed the need for state governments to reform their justice administration system by putting a cap on trial period of accused persons and ensure swift dispensation of justice.

    This, Aregbesola said, would end long court trials and perpetual detention of accused persons.

  • States to pay FG to feed prison inmates – Aregbesola

    States to pay FG to feed prison inmates – Aregbesola

    The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has disclosed that State Governments that do not have correctional facilities would have to pay the federal government (FG) for the feeding and accommodation of their inmates.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Aregbesola disclosed this while speaking at a 2-day High-Level Conference on Decongestion and Corrections Management on Thursday in Abuja.

    He stressed the recent constitutional amendment which placed correctional services on the concurrent list means that state governments will now start to be feeding and accommodating inmates in their states.

    “This simply means that states are now empowered to establish their own Correctional Services and facilities.

    “States which do not have correctional facilities would have to pay the Federal Government for the feeding and accommodation of their inmates,” the minister said.

    According to him, this is a huge relief to the Federal Government which used to shoulder the burden of accommodating and feeding inmates.

    TNG reports that in 2023, the federal government had earmarked N22.44 billion to feed inmates across 244 correctional facilities in the country.

    The minister lamented that the huge amount was draining the coffers of the federal government.

    “These facilities are being run by the Federal Government. It should be noted that the criminal justice system of Nigeria makes provisions for state and federal offences.

    “However, until the amendment of the Constitution, only the Federal Government was in charge of custodial centres.

    “With the amendment of the Constitution, states are now empowered to build correctional centres and facilities to house offenders who are convicted and sentenced for committing state offences.

    “Where states are unable to build custodial centres, it is believed that they can suggest ways to collaborate with the Federal Government in feeding and housing these state offenders,’’ he added.

    Aregbesola said that the conference had brought to the fore,  applicable laws to aid the reform of correctional services, including custodial and non-custodial measures.

    He said that Section 12 (4-12) of the NCoS Act, gave the Service the power to reject inmates when custodial centres are full.

    “By the provision of the Act, the Controller-General, NCoS, is mandated to inform the head of the judiciary of when the custodial centres have exceeded their capacity.

    “This is necessary so that more offenders are not sent to the centres to serve their sentence. Where his information is not heeded, he is mandated to reject new inmates.

    “It is hoped that the above measure will curb the dumping tendencies leading to overcrowding of the custodial centres.

    “This will be by encouraging the payment of fines for simple offences, non-custodial sentencing and also building and construction of new correctional facilities,’’ the minister said.

    The Controller General, Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Haliru Nababa said that the sad cases of jailbreaks had claimed the lives of officers and inmates and the escape of prisoners.

    Nababa said that the trend posed a grave threat to the sovereignty and prosperity of the country.

    “However, we are not resting on our oars to ensure that we stem the tide.

    “We have stepped-up security in and around our Custodial Centres by fortification of access controls.

    “We have increased the capacity of our Armed Squad Personnel through specialized training and deployment of high calibre weapons.

    “We have upscaled our use of technology for security, with the improvement of the Correctional Information Management System for inmates’ biometric capturing to cover more formations.

    “In like manner, a Situation Room has been established at the National Headquarters to enable real-time monitoring of Custodial Centres in phases.

    “Similarly, we have continued to improve collaboration with sister security agencies at strategic, tactical and operational levels,’’ Nababa said.

  • 385 applicants get approval for Nigerian citizenship – Aregbesola

    385 applicants get approval for Nigerian citizenship – Aregbesola

    385 applicants have been approved to be granted Nigeria citizenship by the  Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday in Abuja the Federal Capital Territory.

    Rauf Aregbesola, the Minister of Interior disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    According to the minister, the categories of citizenship granted to the applicants are by naturalisation and by registration.

    He said: “FEC today approved the granting of Nigerian citizenship by naturalisation to 317 applicants and Nigerian citizenship by registration to 68 applicants.

    “The applicants got the nod after meeting all the constitutional and administrative requirements for the grant of Nigerian citizenship.”