Tag: Seyi Makinde

Oyo Govt warns new Education Secretaries against abuse of office

Dr Nureni Adeniran, the Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (OYO SUBEB), has advised the newly inaugurated Education Secretaries not to abuse their privileges of office.

Adeniran gave the advise on Friday while inaugurating the Education Secretaries across the 33 Local Government areas of the state in Ibadan.

Adeniran implored them to improve the quality of education in their localities and reduce the numbers of out-of-school children.

He commended Gov. Seyi Makinde for deeming it fit to appoint the new Education Secretaries in all the 33 Local Government Universal Basic Education Authorities (LGUBEA) in the state.

Adeniran warned that there would be sanctions for any form of abuse.

According to him, the State Universal Basic Education Board has a very strong solid foundation for the new Education Secretaries in the areas of infrastructure development, manpower upliftment of both teaching and non-teaching staff.

He said the board had raised the bar for learning process for both formal and non-formal leather corners, learners and training of teachers and ensuring well-orchestrated primary school administration.

Adeniran, also urged all the Education Secretaries to be “high fliers” in subject content mastery, knowledge and skills that would guarantee prudence, accountability and transparency in their new appointments.

“You, as Education Secretaries, are now well positioned to build on the existing foundation and even, add value where it is necessary,” he said.

Adeniran admonished them to work hard for the success of the education sector with their new appointments.

“So that, at the end of it all, your names will be written in gold among those that have immensely contributed to the success of this administration,” he said.

Adeniran said he was convinced that their appointment was in recognition of their capacity, capability and contributions over the years to the development of education in the state.

“With you, a new era of primary school administration and leadership has, once again, been ushered in.

“In addition, you are expected to work very hard at your jurisdiction to complement the efforts of the State Universal Basic Education Board in particular and Universal Basic Education Commission in general,” he said.

The executive chairman urged them to buckle up for the few challenges they might be facing.

Adeniran urged them to deal with the challenges accordingly, in line with the dictum that “there are no insurmountable challenges”.

The chairman urged them to take charge of the general administration of the LGUBEA and ensure effective monitoring of schools’ activities within the LGUBEA.

He, however, called for strict compliance with the rules of engagement, so that the whole system would be run as envisioned for the benefit of the state and pupils and learners who were supposed to be the future leaders.

“You are expected to exercise strict caution when making decisions and always seek clearance and advice from the Board on grey areas to avoid making mistakes and mistakes that could be costly while running your office,” Adeniran said.

Earlier, a member of the board, Mr Akeem Oladeji, said that their appointment was a deliberate action and a clarion call to join the present enviable train of education administration.

Oladeji said that they should work in tandem with the four cardinal agenda and focus of the Gov. Seyi Makinde-led administration, including education.

Also, a part-time member of the board, Mrs Folasade Ajala, urged the education secretaries to be focussed, dedicated and loyal to the current administration that considered them worthy.

Commenting, Mr Raji Oladimeji, the State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers, assured the board and the new secretaries of the union’s support and cooperation.

Oladimeji also congratulated the new Education Secretaries on their well-deserved appointments.

Responding, on behalf of others, Mrs Morenike Adeniran, Education Secretary, Ibadan South-West Local Government, thanked the governor for the rare opportunity and deeming it fit to appoint them.

Adeniran also appreciated the SUBEB chairman for turning the tides of the commission with the new development.

January 7, 2023
2023: Wike, Ortom storm Oyo as Gov Makinde flags off campaign

Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Thursday pleaded with the state residents to cast their votes for him in the forthcoming governorship election to enable his administration to complete the good work.

Makinde made the plea at the flagging off ceremony of campaign for his re-election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The event was held at the popular Mapo Hall, Ibadan.

The governor, while thanking and appreciating the people of the state for their supports x-rayed the successes recorded by his administration in different sectors since he came into power in 2019.

According to him, Oyo State became the sole ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso under his government.

“The Emmanuel Alayande College of Education Oyo, (state-owned) has been upgraded to a university status.

“We cancelled the payment of N3,000 level in our public primary and secondary schools.

“Our monthly internally generated revenue was increased from N1.8 billion when we came in to N3.8 billion.

“In the area of infrastructure, we were able to construct and rehabilitate many roads to link all the zones in the state.

“On security, we created Amotekun to enhance security of lives and property in addition to support being giving to conventional security agencies in the state,” he said.

Makinde added that his administration had kept its promises to prompt and regular payment of salaries and pensions since assumption of office.

He urged the people to give him their votes to enable him to be re-elected so as to continue providing good governance.

In their separate remarks, the four other of G5 Governors, otherwise known as the Integrity Group, namely Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu); Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), who were present at the rally, urged people of the state to work toward re-election of their colleague, Makinde.

Ortom described Makinde as a trusted, honest and worthy governor.

According to him, the Oyo State Governor (Makinde) believes in equity, fairness and justice, which the integrity governors stand for.

Ortom said that the G-5 Governors were committed to PDP victory in their respective states in the forthcoming general elections.

Also, Wike, leader of the group, thanked the people of Oyo State for making Makinde available to serve the masses.

He implored them to sustain the trust and confidence imposed in the governor to enable him to get second term to enable him to continue with the good work.

Wike said that Makinde would give PDP members in the state update on the presidential candidate to vote for at the appropriate time.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of PDP flag to each of the candidates contesting for House of Representatives seats, Senate seats and the Governorship seat.

In his remarks, PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, urged all the part members in the state to brace up and work for the success of the party in the forthcoming general elections.

NAN reports that former Governors of Ekiti and Ondo States, Mr Ayodele Fayose and Olusegun Mimiko respectively, were present at the ceremony.

January 5, 2023
We’ve demonstrated commitment to serving Oyo people – Makinde

Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State says his administration has demonstrated an unflinching commitment to serving the people of the state.

Makinde stated this in a New Year message issued in Ibadan on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Taiwo Adisa.

Makinde expressed gratitude to the people of the state for the privilege given to him to serve them, stating that the last three years and seven months was a testament of his administration’s commitment to serving them.

The governor, who noted that his administration did not take the support given to it by the people of the state for granted, said that it had focused on infrastructural development while, at the same time, meeting other obligations.

While stating that his administration had been able to place the state on the path of sustainable development, Makinde expressed the confidence that he would be re-elected for a second term of four years during the forthcoming general elections.

He reeled out some of the successes recorded by his government in different sectors, including infrastructural development, health, education, security and economic expansion, among others.

The governor said: “My good people of Oyo State, as the end of my first tenure as your governor draws closer, I must express my deepest gratitude to you for the privilege to serve you.

“I do not take for granted the support you have given our administration through the years.

“Without your mandate and support, we would not have succeeded in placing our dear state on the path of sustainable development.

“All the work we did under the Roadmap to Accelerated Development in Oyo State, 2019-2023, were leading up to this moment.

“The past 43 months are a testament to our commitment to serving our people. We have shown our people that it is possible to focus on infrastructural development while, at the same time, meeting our other obligations to them.

“Every year, when I write to you at this time, I recap our activities for the year and show you how we have acted like the faithful servant who increased his master’s talent,” he said.

January 2, 2023
Oyo Govt begins payment of 13th Month Salary

Oyo State Government says it has commenced the payment of 13th-month salaries to workers in the state.

Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, the state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, made this known in a statement on Friday in Ibadan.

Olatubosun said that the workers have started receiving alerts for the payment.

According to him, the Gov. Seyi Makinde-led administration had on Wednesday promised to make the workers smile, by paying 13th month salaries before January 2023.

The commissioner recalled how Makinde’s administration, on assumption in May 2019, paid workers’ salaries, in spite of the dwindling economy in the country.

He declared that the current administration would never toy with the welfare of the state civil servants.

Olatubosun recalled that the state government was one of the few state governments that have continued to pay the minimum wage without failure.

“One of the successes of the Seyi Makinde-led government is the uninterrupted payment of members of staff salaries.

“I recall also that Seyi Makinde has stayed committed to uninterrupted payment of salaries and 13th month salaries since he became Governor,” Olatubosun said.

December 31, 2022
PDP G5 Governors reportedly split over support for Obi, Tinubu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) G5 Governors appear to have been divided over support For Tinubu, Obi in the February 2023 presidential election.

Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers State), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuayi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) are not with their party’s flagbearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on account of the refusal of the PDP national chairman, Dr.Iyorchia Ayu to quit his office despite promising to leave in the event of the emergence of a northerner as a presidential candidate.

Sources close to the group said that the five governors are not on the same page on who they should now support among the leading presidential candidates outside of Atiku.

The governors and their supporters in the newly formed Integrity Group, are understood to have foreclosed the possibility of ever reconciling with Atiku or supporting his 2023 presidential ambition.

One of the sources said yesterday that the PDP leadership has refused to show any meaningful commitment to addressing the concerns of the G5 governors and other concerned stakeholders of the party ahead of the general elections.

“I don’t see any possibility of reconciliation. And this, I can tell you, is the current position of things within the Integrity Group led by the G5 governors of the PDP,” the source said over who the governors would support.

“The presidential candidate and the leadership of the party have refused to show commitment to the restructuring we seek within our party ahead of the general elections.

“Instead, they have been boasting that they can win presidency without us. How can people be shouting reconciliation on one hand and be boasting on the other hand? Who does that? The demands of the G5 governors are not personal. But they don’t seem to see it that way.”

December 25, 2022
APC, confused party in Oyo State – Gov Makinde’s Aide

Chief Ademola Ojo, Deputy Chief of Staff to Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, says he left the crisis-ridden All Progressives Congress (APC) about four months ago to support the developmental programme of the state government.

Ojo made the clarification in a statement he personally signed on Monday in Ibadan, following his purported expulsion from the party, four months after he had defected.

Ojo was reacting to his purported expulsion by the APC alongside two others, four months after he had left the party.

The former Chairman, Ibarapa Central Council, had accused the party of picking Rep. Ajibola Muraina (APC-Ibarapa Central/North) few weeks after he left the party without conducting any primary in the constituency.

Ojo said that he willingly left APC, having realised the need to support Makinde’s visionary and unprecedented achievements in the state.

He said that the recent announcement made by APC that he, alongside two others, were expelled four months after his defection, had shown that the party “is confused”.

“The announcement of my expulsion by the APC, months after I defected to the PDP, had shown the stuff they are made off. It showed that APC is confused,” Ojo said.

The deputy chief of staff to Makinde said that every relevant and reasonable politician had since joined the PDP, which he described as, “undoubtedly the winning party in the state”.

Ojo said that the Makinde-led administration had achieved unprecedented feat in all sectors of the economy, adding only enemies of progress would oppose his second term.

“I can confirm that APC is confused. Why is the APC just coming out to pronounce my expulsion, four months after I left the party and already working for Gov. Seyi Makinde as the Deputy Chief of Staff?

“Is Muraina just waking up from his slumber? I thought he has people who will win the forthcoming election for him. We shall all witness how he would be ridiculed this time around.

“Muraina was elected four years ago under the PDP. He defected two months ago to APC and now talking about my expulsion,” he said.

Ojo urged the people of Ibarapa Central and North Constituency to reject Muraina at the polls in the spirit of their unborn children.

December 19, 2022
Jimoh faults Gov Makinde for appointing another Babaloja-General

Alhaji Sunmaila Jimoh, who claimed to have been the elected Babaloja-General of Oyo State, says the purported approval of Alhaji Yekini Abass as another Babaloja-General by Gov. Seyi Makinde, is illegal and contemptuous.

Jimoh told newsmen on Saturday in Ibadan, that he had earlier been elected by traders in accordance with the Trade Union Act, while Abass was installed by the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji.

Makinde had on Friday through the State Commissioner for Trade and Industry, Mr Bayo Lawal, appointed Abass as the Babaloja-General of the state.

The action had become a subject of litigation with the Jimoh group securing a court judgment against Abass, restraining him from parading himself as the Babaloja-General.

Jimoh said he would remain calm and unmoved, adding that the power to decide who should be appointed as Babaloja-General of Oyo State resides with the traders.

He said that such power does not reside in the executive nor legislative arms of the government.

“There is a judgment by the Oyo State High Court, which stopped Alhaji Yekini Abass, from parading himself or be addressed as the Babaloja-General of Oyo State.

“This judgment has yet to be vacated by any competent court in Nigeria, hence, it is constitutionally valid and binding on him.

“This action in question is nothing, but gross disrespect for the law.

“Nothing is strange or new in the decision made today by the government, it shows some governor’s aides have no regard for the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Jimoh said.

He promised that the issue would be wisely and constitutionally handled to expose the truth to the governor, saying that all manipulations as well as injustices would end in futility.

“We are traders, our associations are registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission under the Law of the land.

“We are not government agencies and no appointee of the government has legal right to determine who should be installed as Babaloja-General.

“Should there be any ambiguity in the judgment of the court, the parties should be advised to return to court for better interpretation,” he said.

Jimoh said that the advisory council is a government agency and could not speak for over two million traders.

He said that the traders had demanded for the dissolution of the council more than twice for lack of integrity and moral justification.

“I want everyone to know that this display of lawlessness was initiated and launched by Bayo Lawal. He has arrogated unconstitutional and unjust powers to himself in the Makinde’s administration.

“The reason behind all these illegalities and unlawfulness being done against traders now in Oyo State, is the 2023 general elections,” he said.

Jimoh said that traders were not politicians, but group of people struggling to raise capital for their businesses, adding no one could induce, intimidate nor harass any trader for political reason.

He appealed to traders in the state to remain calm and abstain from whatever could lead to breakdown of laws and orders in the state.

Jimoh said that traders in the state are highly discipline and responsible individuals who respect Nigerian Constitution as well as the judiciary.

Makinde had on Friday appointed Alhaji Yekini Abass Oladapo popularly known as Y.K Abass, as the First Babaloja-General in the state.

This followed his nomination as the first Babaloja-General by the state Market Leaders’ Council at its meeting, held on Sept.27.

Chief Bayo Lawal, the state Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, presenting the certificate, said that due process was followed as dictated by the Court of Law in appointing the Babaloja-General.

“The issue before us today has started since 2013, that is the appointment of Babaloja- General of Oyo State, but I will say that am glad that with the help of God, and also that of my Principal, His Excellency, Seyi Makinde, we are able to achieve the seemingly unachievable.

“And today, despite all the crises, we are able to follow the due process as dictated by the court and judgment interpreted by the Ministry of Justice, we are able to produce Babaloja- General of Oyo State,” Lawal said.

In his acceptance speech, Abass had expressed gratitude to Almighty God for making it possible for him to be the Babaloja-General, thanking Makinde for supporting him.

He promised to use his wealth of experience to the growth of the markets, economy of the state and the general welfare of all traders in the state, assuring that peace and harmony would return to the markets very soon.

November 13, 2022
PDP Crisis: Governor Wike, four others jet out to Spain

Amid the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the aggrieved governors simply referred to as G5 has travelled to the European nation of Spain to hold a crucial meeting ahead of the 2023 general elections in the country.

It was gathered that the G5 governors left the country on Friday night for Madrid Spain few hours after Governor Wike was engaged in a media chat.

Those on board with Wike are Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Samuel Ortom (Benue) as the Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi may join subsequently.

Recall that Wike, during a media chat in Port Harcourt on Friday, heaped more allegations on Ayu maintaining that the national chairman lacked the integrity to lead the party’s campaign for 2023.

Following the outcome of the party’s presidential primary election, the aggrieved Governors had insisted that it is unfair for the party to have the national chairman and presidential candidate from the North.

They said until Ayu resigns his position as chairman of the party, they would jettison the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 election.

In his reactions, Ayu claimed he never collected 1billion naira from anyone in the party and promised to make available party’s account details soon to members.

October 15, 2022
PDP crisis: Atiku gives condition to remove Ayu as National Chairman

Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has said forcing the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu to step down from his position would only be possible if the constitution of the party was amended.

Atiku disclosed this on Wednesday in Ibadan, Oyo State at an interactive session with party stakeholders in the South West region, in reaction to the call by the State Governor, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State that it was the position of the party in the South West that Ayu must step down.

Atiku maintained that the party must do things based on its constitution, rules, procedures and practices.

Abubakar who was received at the Ibadan airport earlier in the day by the Oyo State deputy governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal, and other top government functionaries, was accompanied by the Vice Presidential candidate and governor of Delta state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state; former governors Babangida Aliyu and Liyel Imoke and Senator Dino Melaye.

He said as a former ruling party, it was important for the PDP to give the people what they wanted, insisting that the task before the members is for them to ensure victory for the party at their various units.

He noted that as a founding member of the party he was conversant with its laid down rules and regulations which must be followed fully, stating that there is nothing wrong in removing the National Chairman but must be done in accordance with the constitution of the party

According to him, “The PDP is the oldest political party in the country and everything to be done must be in accordance with the constitution. The call by Governor Seyi Makinde for the National Chairman is achievable but must be under the constitution, rules, procedures and practices of the party. To do otherwise it means we cannot give the country what the people want.

“What I know is that we can win in 2023 if we want to. When I took over as the Director General of the campaign council of the party in 2003, we won South West and we can repeat it. The Electoral Act through improved electoral process has ensured no more rigging, so I am imploring all to go back to our electoral units to vote and defend it come 2023.”

Governor Makinde had in his remarks, said the PDP must restructure itself before it will restructure Nigeria, noting that one of the conditions to restructure the party is for Ayu to resign.

Makinde while speaking further, explained that the presidential candidate, Atiku is from the Northeast while Ayu is from the North central, insisting that one of the conditions to balance the equation is to choose the National Chairman from the South since the presidential candidate is from the North.

He said, “We must speak the truth. The truth is that we don’t have any issue either with the party or the candidate. We don’t have any issue in PDP. This is not about individual. Choosing the presidential candidate or vice presidential candidates are issues that are behind us, it has happened, it has happened.

“The issue is that we must restructure Nigeria if we want unity in Nigeria. But we must restructure PDP itself before we restructure Nigeria. If we want to restructure Nigeria, do we have the capacity, the answer is yes. But the South West PDP is asking the PDP Chairman to resign. The South west PDP is telling the Chairman to step down”.

September 15, 2022
I won’t accept to be chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum – Makinde

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has said he will not accept to be the chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Governor Makinde disclosed this on Saturday in Abia State where he commissioned two road projects.

Makinde was reacting to reports that he was appointed the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, following the resignation of the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal from the position.

The Oyo State Governor said he was not aware of the appointment. Although Governor Tambuwal has since denied the reports of his resignation.

Makinde stressed that he was not informed by the party’s national leadership and that he got to know about it through social media.

He queried his purported appointment, saying that he was not even the right person to take the reins of leadership of the PDP body of governors should the chairman resign.

According to him, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who was the deputy chairman of the forum, was the right person to take over from Tambuwal and not him.

“Even if they give it to me, I will not accept it because there must be an order. Ikpeazu is the deputy chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum.

“If the chairman resigns, the deputy chairman will take over the position. This is how to have an order in the process,” he said.

The governor also pointed out that occupying the chairmanship position of the forum was “not what we are fighting for.”

Given the rancour in the PDP, the Oyo State governor said it would be impossible for the party to restructure Nigeria if it could not restructure itself.

“We are saying that if the PDP has promised to restructure Nigeria and we can’t restructure the party, then we are not ready to restructure Nigeria”, he said.

Makinde is one of the governors in the camp of Rivers State Governor Nyesome Wike, calling for balancing party positions between the northern and southern parts of the country as stipulated in the PDP constitution.

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom; Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Governor Ikpeazu are also members of the Wike camp.

The Wike camp has vowed never to lose its guard until the party’s national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, resigned from his position for a southerner to take over.

September 10, 2022