Politics
Buhari’s visit, another endorsement of Gov Abiodun’s excellent performance – Prince Adekunle Adebayo Ayoola
*
Buhari’s visit, another endorsement of Gov Abiodun’s excellent performance – Prince Adekunle Adebayo Ayoola
In this interview by Bankole Taiwo, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State and founder, Omooba Obaruwa Foundation, Prince Adekunle Adebayo Ayoola speaks on President Buhari’s visit to Ogun State among other topical issues insisting that Gov Dapo Abiodun has no doubt done well to deserve another term come 2023.
Finally, President Buhari is visiting Ogun State today, what is your take on this?
We really have to thank God for everything, after all the Bible says God makes things beautiful at his own time. We are equally grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari for finding time out of his busy schedule to see for himself and identify with the good work of Gov Dapo Abiodun in the state. I therefore join other well meaning Nigerians and good people of Ogun State to welcome our Baba, President Buhari to our dear state. This is really an opportunity for the President to actually find out that our hardworking governor has continued to deliver on his electoral campaign. The governor has made loud statement for good governance with his achievements in road construction, education, agriculture, housing, health, youth development and empowerment among other welfare packages. Look at the stretch of newly reconstructed Abeokuta-Siun-Sagamu expressway with street light, the just completed ten lane dualisation of Ijebu Ode-Epe road, the housing at Kobape and Kemta, Abeokuta, the massive investment in education with construction of over 1000 classrooms, the equipping and renovation of our healthcare facilities among others. I am sure President Buhari will have a memorable visit and he will surely return with the conviction that Gov Dapo Abiodun truly deserves further support and that the ground breaking achievements we are witnessing under him should continue beyond 2023.
The APC national reconciliation committee was in Ogun State last week, what is your take on this visit?
It is a great move by the national leadership of the party to resolve all the differences tearing the party apart and strengthened it towards making the party more formidable ahead of 2023 general elections. I specifically commend Sen Abdullahi Adamu led committee for the wisdom and depth of political knowledge with which it has handled the assignment. The general opinion is that Gov Dapo Abiodun is doing a wonderful job and should therefore be supported beyond 2023. We should all see ourselves as one indivisible family, we should close ranks and get working for the betterment of Ogun State and the country at large. We should be careful of being selfish unnecessarily and then be a clog in the wheel of progress.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on on Monday eventually disclosed his readiness to succeed President Buhari next year, what is your reaction to this?
It is a piece of glad tidings that millions of Nigerians have waited for for a while now. It is just obvious that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Jagaban of Borgu has all that it takes to consolidate on the success story of President Buhari. He is an highly gifted politician with International exposure, he is much aware with the challenges confronting us as a nation. He was a two term governor of Lagos State and he performed so extremely well that right from the time he left, the administration of Lagos State has been success upon success. His political success had given birth to several other. I think Tinubu presidential ambition is the ambition of the progressives in the country and diaspora and I want to say that this is a success story from start to finish as the almighty God liveth.
What do you think should be the focus of the APC led government in the new year 2022?
President Buhari should please intensify efforts to fight insecurity. He must be a bit more hard on those disturbing the peace of the country. The rate at which these bandits, terrorists, kidnappers and all sorts send many to their early grave yards is alarming. Insecurity is now a problem across every part of the country The President has really tried but he can do more to ensure that everyone is safe in the country. I appreciate the President for agreeing to label these bandits terrorists for that is who they. Peace and tranquility are quite necessary to attract foreign investors into the country. The general election is next year, there is definitely going to be a lot of political activities this year and so there should be adequate security for all.
Another area I equally expect this government to also work on this new year is our economy. It needs a lot of rejuvenation, the inflationary trend is worrisome and must be arrested. I welcome the appointment of Dr Doyin Salami as the Chief Economic Adviser to Mr President. President Buhari should please get more experts if need be to address our challenges in the economy.
Finally, President Buhari should also plans his succession, he must ensures he hand over to someone who is capable of consolidating on the big leaps he has made during his tenure. He should prayerfully ensure that the job is given to the person who can do it and do it well
What are your plans as we approach 2023?
Yes, I am a politician, but I keep saying this that I am first a technocrat before becoming a politician. I have always supported the government of the day, I am never ambitious. For now, my priority is to support Gov Dapo Abiodun to continue his good works beyond 2023. And as someone who believes so much in leadership, if the governor now say that you are to serve your people at the Assembly or any other office, I will gladly serve my people in any capacity.
What is your charge for the people of Ogun State?
They should please be patient and support the government of Prince Dapo Abiodun to record more success in its determined bid to leave the state far better than he met it. Here’s a man who by the special grace of God already made his money before coming into power. Almost three years into his first tenure, he has left no one in doubt that he cared so much about the development of the state. Can you imagine the impact of the ongoing Agro-Cargo Airport project when completed? The economy of our dear state can never remain the same. This is a project that will multiply the wealth of this state by 100. The governor is very passionate about improving the lots of the people in the state, he thinks, talks and works on these every seconds. Our people should therefore shun destructive criticism and rather support our governor to do much more than he had done in the past..
Breaking: Speaker Obasa Debunks Allegation Of Spending N17b On Assembly Gate
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, on Thursday described the allegation that the House spent N17 billion on the fixing of a gate as spurious and funny.
A self-proclaimed group, Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition, had accused the Assembly of spending the amount to construct a gate. The group also sought investigation of the claim.
Speaking at plenary, Dr. Obasa said the allegation stemmed from the fear of some people over 2027 which is still more than two years away.
Obasa further debunked the claim that the House spent N200 million on its recently organised 22nd thanksgiving service for staff.
“It is so funny. How much is the allocation of the Assembly in the whole year that we will decide to spend N17 billion on a gate? They even claimed that we expended 200 million on thanksgiving that did not hold.
“We are aware that at a period like this when we are approaching elections in 2027, we should expect such things. I think some people are scared and I don’t know why.
“This House did not and has not embarked on any such project. We are not that reckless. We had our thanksgiving last Friday and dignitaries from various parts of the State attended it,” the Speaker said.
Addressing further claims by the group about the alleged relationship between him and the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, the Speaker denied attending the latter’s screening and confirmation by the National Assembly.
“They said that I was at the National Assembly when they were confirming the EFCC chairman. I want to believe that there are CCTV cameras at the National Assembly to identify those who attended the event. The press must have written about it too. So the group should do more to confirm if I was there.
“This is just to deny the allegations in the interest of the public and not the writers because the writers are not those we should be joining words with,” the Speaker said.
Earlier, the House, through its spokesperson, Hon. Stephen Ogundipe, had addressed the allegations noting that the Assembly bases its activities on integrity, transparency and accountability.
“It is ludicrous the claim about constituency intervention funds and constituency project funds and their handling by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and Clerk of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko as claimed by the group.
“One would have expected a self-acclaimed anti-corruption crusading group to do its groundwork before jumping across the fence with conviction that it hit a jackpot to malign an institution of repute in the name of politics.
“Simply put, the Lagos State House of Assembly does not have any such funds. The Assembly does not embark on constituency projects. Instead, once every year, the House holds stakeholders’ meetings simultaneously across the state where constituents have the opportunity to tell the lawmakers their expectations and make requests for the betterment of the state.
“These requests and expectations are compiled and sent to the executive arm of government for consideration as inputs in subsequent budgets. If this is what the group takes as constituency intervention or project funds, we are sure this explanation has given the required education, moreover, it is common knowledge that it is the responsibility of the Executive arm to execute such projects,” the earlier statement by Ogundipe read.
Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
- Catholic Bishops Conference of Ethiopia: Pastoral message for Advent, December 2024 December 22, 2024
- The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Applauds Egypt’s Milestone Achievement in Medicines and Vaccine Regulation December 22, 2024
- Viewing of State House Christmas Decorations Attracts Record Crowd December 22, 2024
- Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan hold 4th Tripartite Technical Boundary Committee Meeting in Kampala December 22, 2024
- Eritrea: Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare Activity Assessment Meeting December 22, 2024
- Africa Financial Industry Summit (AFIS) 2024: Building African Unicorns (and Gazelles) for Continental Economic Growth (By Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede) December 22, 2024
- Eritrea: President Isaias Holds Talks with Special Chinese Delegation December 21, 2024
- United States of America (US) Government and Ethiopia: Sustaining Gains and Accelerating Progress Toward Ending the HIV Epidemic December 21, 2024
- United Arab Emirates (UAE) Condemns Car Ramming Attack at Market in Germany December 21, 2024
- His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot Bin Nahyan Meets President of South Africa December 21, 2024
- Catholic Bishops Conference of Ethiopia: Pastoral message for Advent, December 2024 December 22, 2024
- The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Applauds Egypt’s Milestone Achievement in Medicines and Vaccine Regulation December 22, 2024
- Viewing of State House Christmas Decorations Attracts Record Crowd December 22, 2024
- Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan hold 4th Tripartite Technical Boundary Committee Meeting in Kampala December 22, 2024
- Eritrea: Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare Activity Assessment Meeting December 22, 2024
- Africa Financial Industry Summit (AFIS) 2024: Building African Unicorns (and Gazelles) for Continental Economic Growth (By Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede) December 22, 2024
- Eritrea: President Isaias Holds Talks with Special Chinese Delegation December 21, 2024
-
Entertainment6 months agoAkanke Amororo: The New Yoruba Movie Everyone Is Talking About + Why People Are Rushing To YouTube To See It
-
Politics7 months agoGov Fubara And One Year of His Signature in Rivers By Nath Odili
-
Business7 months agoFIRSTBANK WINS 2024 BEST SME BANK IN NIGERIA AND BEST SME BANK IN AFRICA BY ASIAN BANKER AWARDS
-
Business5 months agoPROFILE: JESSICA AMARACHI OKU BY CHINEDU NSOFOR