Politics
PDP Calls Osun Gov To Order
The Osun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to desist from political gimmicks and deal with the alleged maladministration being perpetrated by his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement signed by Sunday Bisi, the Osun PDP Chairman and made available to newsmen, the party disclosed that the call became necessary due to the laborious- cum-dramatic integrity inspection being conducted on a few school building projects, most of which were completed less than six years ago but are now on the verge of total collapse.
While wondering why the inspection which the PDP described as ‘APC orchestrated emergency situation’ had to wait until the 11th hour to the Osun gubernatorial election before government would start informing the populace about the potentially fatal defects on the project which was executed at outrageous costs, it noted that the state was being made to make monthly refunds on loans obtained on the projects running into hundreds of billions of Naira.
The party tasked the state government to extend its integrity searchlight to the flyover at Olaiya before it would inflict fatal pains on innocent road users in the state.
It maintained that the integrity radar should also explain to the public why the flyover was compressed into a single carriage way as against what was tabled before the public prior to commencement of work on the project.
“Although, our party is not unmindful of Mr. Oyetola’s desperate bid to hide under pretentious actions as this 11th hour so called integrity tests on projects executed by their own government and as a matter of fact, when Mr. Oyetola was calling shots around as the chief of staff to his former boss, Rauf Aregbesola.”
The party wanted the governor and his party to purge themselves of the deception it was selling to unsuspecting members of the public whenever they were confronted with electoral humiliation.
They also accused the government of ineptitude, wickedness and lack of respect for human lives, especially innocent children who had been marching to the “death traps” almost on a daily basis.
They asked the state governor not to distance himself from a government in which he was a principal actor for eight years, adding that claiming ignorance of actions taken in the last administration was a mere waste of time.
“For all we care, Oyetola can stab his former boss in the back but the cost burden in terms of consequential liabilities on the state, which have been shrouded in uncanny secrecy should also be unraveled. That is where people can begin to take the governor’s integrity a bit serious.
“That the good people of our dear state are not availed the actual debt portfolio incurred to execute the failed mega schools and other abandoned projects scattered across the state, is a cracked integrity foundation on its own.”
Meanwhile, the Osun State Government through the Secretary to the State Government, Wole Oyebamiji, has reiterated its determination to keep its citizens and residents safe irrespective of mischief makers’ insinuations to the contrary.
Making this known in statement to debunk claims that the administration of Adegboyega Oyetola was out to witch-hunt its predecessor with the decision to carry out integrity tests on the state-owned model schools, the government said safety of students, teachers and all workers in the affected schools was the reason for the exercise.
Oyebamiji also said the governor would continue to do what was right for his people unlike the desperate elements trying to score cheap political points at the expense of human lives.
The former two-term governor went down memory lane to recall how they founded the APC but were used and dumped.
In his words, “…those calling on us to join APC, we have agreed to join the APC but on clear agreement that protects and respects the interest of my party, NNPP and my political movement, Kwankwasiyya. No state where you go that you don’t have NNPP and Kwankwasiyya. We have gubernatorial candidates, senatorial candidates and others.
“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us.
“We were among the founding fathers of the APC and endured significant persecution from various security agencies while challenging the previous administration.
“Yet when the party assumed power, we received no recognition or appreciation for our sacrifices, simply because we didn’t originate from their original faction.
“We are not in a hurry to leave the NNPP; we are enjoying and have peace of mind. But if some want a political alliance that would not disappoint us like in the past, we are open to an alliance. Even if it is the PDP that realised their mistakes, let’s enter an agreement that will be made public,” Sen. Kwankwaso stated.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed long-standing claims that he once sought to extend his tenure in office, insisting he never pursued a third term.
Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, Chief Obasanjo said there is no Nigerian, living or dead, who can truthfully claim he solicited support for a third term agenda.
“I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it. And there is no Nigerian, dead or alive, that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term,” the former president declared.
Chief Obasanjo argued that he had proven his ability to secure difficult national goals, citing Nigeria’s debt relief during his administration as a much greater challenge than any third term ambition.
“I keep telling them that if I could get debt relief, which was more difficult than getting a third term, then if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” he said.
He further cautioned against leaders who overstay in power, stressing that the belief in one’s indispensability is a “sin against God.”
On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan said any leader who failed to perform would be voted out of office if proper elections were conducted.
Describing electoral manipulation as one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa, he said unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform democracy, it may collapse in Africa.
He added that leaders must commit to the kind of democracy that guarantees a great future for the children where their voices matter.
He said: “Democracy in Africa continent is going through a period of strain and risk collapse unless stakeholders came together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.
“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for us and our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means.
“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.
“Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education. Our people want security. They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”
The dialogue was also attended by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto diocese of Catholic Church among others who all stressed that democracy in Africa must go beyond elections to include accountability, service, and discipline.
The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Wednesday midnight.
President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.
The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.
The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex as promised.
Recall that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to manage the state’s affairs.
The decision sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.
However, others hailed the move as a necessary and pragmatic step.
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