The Hood – Hearing from your neighborhood

Tunde Eso is a very successful entrepreneur, President and Founder, Fix Nigeria Group and 2018 PDP governorship aspirant from Osun state who is a strong advocate of youth inclusiveness in governance.

In this interview with our reporter he talks about his reason of wanting to become Osun state governor and his vision for his people if entrusted with the mandate.

Q1) First of all, let’s meet you, Sir. 

Who is Tunde Eso?

RESPONSE: I’m Tunde Eso, 2018 Osun State Governorship Aspirant under People’s Democratic Party, hails from Ilesa West in Osun State, Nigeria.

I read Accountancy for my National Diploma Certificate at Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, in 2005, obtained my first degree in Political Science at University of Education, Winneba, Ghana and International Relations for my Master’s degree at University of Education, Winneba, Ghana in 2014.

I’m a prolific writer who has carved a niche for himself in journalism and with more than 10 years experience in public relations, public management, and media consulting; a youth leader and mobiliser.

I’m also an administrator and entrepreneur and I have to my credit more than 60 published articles in both local and national dailies. I’m  versatile on both national and international issues.

I was for six years advertorial executive, news and features reporter of The Guardian Newspaper Limited Nigeria, from where i moved in 2014 to News of the World Newspapers as a correspondent and in less than two months was made Managing Editor and later General Manager.

Later joined Newswatch Times as Society Editor and resigned a year later to continue with my business in March 2016.

I have edited a number of magazines, books and newspapers. I have immense passion for human development and nation building.

In 2008, I started free seminars to inspire the young ones in schools for nation-building, vision discovery and career development with free distribution of the Nigerian flag, with the tag name, School-to-School career talk, across Nigeria.

Q2) We understand you are coming out for governorship, Osun state.

Please, may we know what brought about your decision to run for the number one seat, Osun state?

RESPONSE: What brought about my decision to want to become the next Osun State Governor, come 2018 is the passion I have to serve the good people of Osun State with a view to providing equal opportunities for all as I have been involved in various life impacting projects.

If this opportunity is offered me to serve our people, there shall be multiplication of such efforts which will ensure youth empowerment, good welfare package for civil servants, bursary and scholarship award for students, skill acquisition by men and men, respect for traditional institution, electricity, industrial growth and security and general improvement of quality of life.

I am fully committed to providing an enabling environment for business growth, development and social integration if elected.

I have often considered myself a visionary which became clearer at the age 19.

Visionary leaders are compassionate and humane and my desire is to provide visionary leadership to my people in Osun state when I become the fifth governor of the state and the best governor of osun state, by the grace of God.

Also to entrench youthocracy in Africa, the new system of government that I coined in 2013 in my book titled Vision for Africa. 

Q3) Please, have you held any government position before, whether elective or appointment?

RESPONSE: No, but I have occupied several youth leadership positions like National Youth leader of Nigeria Youth Forum, National Secretary of Nigeria Sovereign Youth Congress, South West Youth Leader of Coalition for Democratic Nigeria and I am the founder and president of Fix Nigeria Group with state coordinator in 30 states now. I was State Secretary of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) Lagos Chapter, and more.

Q4) We also understand you are a strong advocate of youth participation in governance.

Please, as a youth that is vying for an elective position, are you getting the support of the youths of Osun state as expected?

We mean, how is the support from the youths like?

RESPONSE: Yes, I’m getting support from the youth and it makes the journey easier.

Meanwhile, I’m using this opportunity to call on progressive minded youth to join me in the pursuit to rescue us from gross marginalisation.

Q5) Today in Nigeria, majority of the youths tend to support money-bag politicians, mortgaging their tomorrow for peanuts.

If you are the type that doesn’t share money around, they don’t come near you or support you. What do you have to say about that?

RESPONSE: We must shun money bags so we can move forward as a people and as a country.

Samples can be drawn from USA political ideology system – A country where must of our leaders now found solace.

Q6) What different innovation are you bringing to the front burner if you’re elected governor of Osun state?

RESPONSE: Youth injection of new ideas, to entrench youthocracy, industrial revolution which plans have been on, taking advantage of technology and agricultural practice and more.

Q7) What is your manifesto like?

RESPONSE: Apart from my party manifestos, I have outline a visionary leadership youth agenda that will cater for education, security, empowerment, industrial revolution, infrastructure, hospitality, electricity, health care delivery, culture and tourism and provision of 31 thousand vocational jobs for youth in two years from inauguration and more. 

Q8) What stands you out from others that have shown interest for the governorship position?

RESPONSE: I’m a visionary leader with documented fact of 21 years.

My sagacity has differentiated me and the fact that I have been injecting new ideology into the system.

For example, I coined YOUTHOCRACY defined as government of the people, by the youth and for the people.

The fact that I’m good at something, which is public relations and journalism; most of our leaders are not good at anything yet we go ahead and vote for them because they share money and when they get there, they will not add value to the system but rather destroy the laid down system.

Q9) Irregular Power, Insecurity and Unemployment are three major problems Nigeria is facing today.

How do you wish to tackle these problems if Osun people give you the opportunity to be their governor?

RESPONSE: Like I said in my first book titled “African Security Solution” that was published in UK in 2012 that If we fix electricity in Africa then we have solved 75 percent of the problems.

 However,,unemployment, insecurity and electricity can be fixed through diversification of economy.

Q10) What do you have to say about Nigeria and Osun today?

We mean a general overview about the current situation of things.

RESPONSE: We need pragmatic change and that can be done by only a visionary.

Q11) Today, most of the states, if not all are complaining of insufficient funds to implement/execute projects. How do you intend to improve on the state’s IGR to execute projects without inflicting more hardship/pain on the people if you become governor?

RESPONSE: Diversification of economy and industrial revolution

Q12) Just as the youths are clamouring for them to included in governance, the women are doing same. If you become governor, what is your plan like, in terms of sharing formula of appointments for youths and women?

RESPONSE: Equality will be our major priority

Q13) On a lighter note, Sir, what are your hobbies?

RESPONSE: Writing, motivating people and reading.

Q14) Finally, what is your message to Osun people?

RESPONSE: Osun State will be great again. And I want to assure all that my vision as Osun State Governor is just one term and that is enough to effect pragmatic change that will bring smile to our faces.

On February 5th 2018, we intimated the people of Ado-Odo/Ota Federal Constituency of our ambition to represent them in the National Assembly. The message was streamed on all our media platforms.

The feedback we got was people asking for the platform we intend running; to which we responded that getting to know the candidate is our primary aim at the time as we hope to reveal the platform in due course.

On Tuesday 13th March,2018, the Asiwaju Campaign Team led by the Aspirant, Asiwaju Abayomi Oke was at the party secretariat in Abeokuta to submit our letter of intent and to intimate the party Leadership of our ambition.

We were well received, the leadership of the party and our team discussed at length and we are glad to announce that we are in one ACCORD.

We will be contesting the next House of Representatives election in 2019 on the platform of ACCORD. We remain resolute and audacious and we have a party that shares our audacity and resolution to save our people.

We would like to appreciate all that made the press conference of today a success.

Special gratitude to Accord Ogun State Assistant Secretary,Com. Opakunle, the Senatorial Chairman, Elder Ola, the LG Chairman, Hon. Otunade, the LG Women Leader,Alhaja Osibajo, Ijoko Ward Vice Chairman and Treasurer and other party leaders like Alhaja Olowomi,Mrs Osanyintola and Prophet Ola,the LG Publicity Secretary.

The gentlemen of the Press and members of ACT 2019 in attendance are equally appreciated.

We are humbled by your presence and show of support, without you all, today’s event would not have been a success.

With today’s event, we have raised the bar again, the expectation becomes even higher and the race to sustain the tempo has began.

We know we can always count on your support at all times, we are assured that the gospel of the candidacy of Asiwaju Àbáyọmi Ọ̀kẹ́ would be propagated more by you.

We trust you will tell someone who would tell someone about Asiwaju Òkè and our great party ACCORD, the journey to National Assembly Abuja has started, we are counting on you to make this a reality.

Signed

Ajewole Bejide

Director of Media & Publicity

#AudacityOfHope #ACT2019 #AsiwajuOke2019

Otunba Rotimi Paseda has denied stepping down his governorship ambition for PDP’s Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka. 

Paseda who was the Ogun State UPN governorship candidate in 2015 said he was perturbed that, politicians could be using such cheap political gimmick to dismiss his ambition and unsettle his supporters. 

Paseda in a press statement issued by his Media Assistant, Ogbeni Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji in Abeokuta on Thursday stressed that, his appearance at the launching of GNI’s socio-political group, “The Believe Movement” recently should not translate to abandoning his governorship ambition, saying he his presence at the movement launching was on pure friendship with Prince Gboyega Isiaka devoid of politics of bitterness. 

Paseda said although, he shared a long existing relationship with GNI, but he remained constitutionally binded to freely relate with anybody irrespective of their political affinity, stressing that he would not be deterred in his belief of providing all inclusive government and oneness. 

The Omu-Ijebu born politician pointed out that, because he refused to join array of politicians in the ongoing shadow campaign in the state does not mean he had gave up on his guber ambition, but waiting for INEC to lift embargo on the electoral campaign. 

He therefore urged politicians to allow the electorates to decide who will represent them through the ballot paper, not by inciting derogatory statement that may cause political unrest in the state. 

The statement further reads, “Infact, I am perturbed that, at this stage of the race to 2019, some politicians could be busy discussing and giving Otunba Paseda cheap publicity when they ought to be busy planning for the election. 

“The fact that, Paseda has refused to join array of politicians who have started “shadow campaign” instead of demanding the yearnings of the masses does not mean he had gave up. 

“Therefore, his aspiration should not be seen as threat and misrepresented, because Otunba Rotimi Paseda is a personality with impeccable character, thus, should not be crucified for his alliance with any individual/politician”, he added.

Prof.  Olaiya Abideen Olaitan  was born over fifty years ago to Sanusi clan of Oroye family in Oke Oluokun, Ibadan.

He attended the following Schools for his Western Education:

1. University of Ibadan, Ibadan.1999 – 2006 (Ph.D)

2. University of Ibadan, Ibadan.1993 – 1995 (M.Sc)

3. Federal University of Technology, Akure. 1987 – 1992 (B.Tech)

4. The Polytechnic, Ibadan (Saki Campus).1986 – 1987 (ND)

5. Olubi Memorial Grammar School, Molete, Ibadan. 1981 – 1986 (WASC)

6. Ibadan Municipal Government Primary School III Eleta, Ibadan.1975 – 1981 (PSLC) 

All through his training period, he is either the best or among the best three. He carves a niche for himself in form of ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND MORAL RECTITUDE. He served as Leader at various capacities in the Muslim Student Society of Nigeria (MSSN) for close to three decades to the extent that his record made an INDELIBLE MARK on the history of the Society till date. He was former President of the Muslim Corpers Association of Nigeria (MCAN) and pioneer Chairman of FUTA Muslim Graduates Alumni (FUTAMGA).

He works both as MANAGER and ENTREPRENEUR in private sector for about seven years before joining the public sector at Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria in 1999. He rose through the rank to the post of PRINCIPAL RESEARCH OFFICER in 2005; he was made PROGRAM LEADER Farming System Research Program and TWICE ELECTED AS CHAIRMAN of its branch of Academic Staff Union as well as PRESIDENT of the Muslim Community. He has been representing Nigeria at various International Cocoa Research Conferences, African Cashew Alliance and International Agroforestry Research Technical Association (INAFORESTA)  since 2003 till date. He withdrew his service in 2007 to heed the call of his people to represent OLUYOLE Federal Constituency in the National Assembly. 

PROF. Olaiya later joined the University system as LECTURER 1 in 2008, appointed to SENIOR LECTURER position in 2009, HOD in 2010, POST GRADUATE COORDINATOR since 2011 till date. He is presently an ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR of CROP ECOPHYSIOLOGY. He has contributed so many outstanding research output, teaches and supervises many Postgraduate Students as his contribution to Human Capital Development in the field of Agriculture. He is till date the Executive Director of Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture in Africa (FOSAA).

PROF. OLAIYA active participation in politics dated back to 1995 when he contested for Ibadan South-East Local Government Chairman under Zero Party arrangement which he lost to Arapaja through Baba Adedibus trick. He subsequently team up with Elder Oyelese in the formation of GDM, recontest the chairmanship position under GDM and won election to represent IBADAN SE/NE FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY in 1998 before the death of Head of State Gen. Sanni Abacha. He was a foundation member of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in 1998 and was amongst the thirteen (13) members from Oyo State that attended its inaugural meeting at Nicon Hilton Hotel, Abuja been a member of Chief Adeojo’s team. That was where a deal was struck to make Chief Haruna Elewi as the party chairman and Chief Adeojo as the Governorship candidate.

Prof. Olaiya contested unsuccessfully for the party’s ticket as chairmanship and Federal Rep. in 1999 and 2003 respectively. Dr Olaiya joined Chief Ladoja’s team in 2003 having his political son in the Oyo State House of Assembly. He contested for the OLUYOLE Federal seat in 2007 under Ladoja’s Labour Party (LP) and was robbed of victory by ruthless Adedibu’s cabal using electoral umpire. He did not contest in 2011 election when he backed CPC candidates. He also aspire to OLUYOLE Federal seat in 2015 election under ACCORD  but was let down at the last minute. He is been put forward by the foundation (OSF) to contest 2019 GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION as ACCORD candidate.

Prof. Olaiya’s main interest in politics stem from his passion for JUSTICE, MORALITY and GOOD GOVERNANCE. He hate CHEATING and CORRUPTION like devil and always come clean in all engagement be it public or private. In all, he has positive attitude to life and will scarifies all it takes to care for human welfare provided it’s within permissible limit.

Overall, Prof. Olaiya is Academically Sound, Morally Upright, International Seasoned Scientist, Human Right Activist, Unionist, Erudite Islamic Scholar, Astute Administrator, Selfless Leader, Progressive, Well Exposed, Trustworthy, Charitable and Grassroots Politician that is fearless but GOD FEARING. He is an Author, Public Analyst, Counsellor, Educationist, Prolific Writer and Orator who walk the talk.

Prof. Olaiya is a member, Board of Directors of some Limited Liability Companies which are all based in Oyo State and he operates no foreign account. He is the founder and Pioneer chairman of both Non-interest Cooperative Society of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and MUTAKIF Partners Investment Club, Ibadan. He has widely travelled as CONSULTANT in Physiology/Production of Tropical Commodity Crops, Produce Certification and Farming System Research to Local and International Agencies. 

Alhaji Olaiya is a grassroots politician that lives with his extended family in OLUYOLE LG, Oyo State.  

SUPPORT GOOD GOVERNANCE

SUPPORT GOD FEARING LEADER

SUPPORT OMOLUABI

RESCUE OYO STATE 2019

©THE VOICE, ​OLAIYA4OYOGOV 2019​

👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

Accord !!! Oneness & Progress. 👍🏽

––––––––––––––––

Office Address: Lister building beside high court, ring road, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Contact:

Phone no: 08055607861, 07013332192, 07065946496.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Olaiya4OyoGov/

Twitter handle: @Olaiya4OyoGov

Instagram:- @abideen_olaiya

📧 E-mail: olaiya4Gov@gmail.com

STEP IN 2019

OLAIYA SÈ ÈNÌYÁN

ÈNIYAN NÌ YEN

Prof.  Olaiya Abideen Olaitan  was born over fifty years ago to Sanusi clan of Oroye family in Oke Oluokun, Ibadan.

He attended the following Schools for his Western Education:

1. University of Ibadan, Ibadan.1999 – 2006 (Ph.D)

2. University of Ibadan, Ibadan.1993 – 1995 (M.Sc)

3. Federal University of Technology, Akure. 1987 – 1992 (B.Tech)

4. The Polytechnic, Ibadan (Saki Campus).1986 – 1987 (ND)

5. Olubi Memorial Grammar School, Molete, Ibadan. 1981 – 1986 (WASC)

6. Ibadan Municipal Government Primary School III Eleta, Ibadan.1975 – 1981 (PSLC) 

All through his training period, he is either the best or among the best three. He carves a niche for himself in form of ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND MORAL RECTITUDE. He served as Leader at various capacities in the Muslim Student Society of Nigeria (MSSN) for close to three decades to the extent that his record made an INDELIBLE MARK on the history of the Society till date. He was former President of the Muslim Corpers Association of Nigeria (MCAN) and pioneer Chairman of FUTA Muslim Graduates Alumni (FUTAMGA).

He works both as MANAGER and ENTREPRENEUR in private sector for about seven years before joining the public sector at Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria in 1999. He rose through the rank to the post of PRINCIPAL RESEARCH OFFICER in 2005; he was made PROGRAM LEADER Farming System Research Program and TWICE ELECTED AS CHAIRMAN of its branch of Academic Staff Union as well as PRESIDENT of the Muslim Community. He has been representing Nigeria at various International Cocoa Research Conferences, African Cashew Alliance and International Agroforestry Research Technical Association (INAFORESTA)  since 2003 till date. He withdrew his service in 2007 to heed the call of his people to represent OLUYOLE Federal Constituency in the National Assembly. 

PROF. Olaiya later joined the University system as LECTURER 1 in 2008, appointed to SENIOR LECTURER position in 2009, HOD in 2010, POST GRADUATE COORDINATOR since 2011 till date. He is presently an ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR of CROP ECOPHYSIOLOGY. He has contributed so many outstanding research output, teaches and supervises many Postgraduate Students as his contribution to Human Capital Development in the field of Agriculture. He is till date the Executive Director of Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture in Africa (FOSAA).

PROF. OLAIYA active participation in politics dated back to 1995 when he contested for Ibadan South-East Local Government Chairman under Zero Party arrangement which he lost to Arapaja through Baba Adedibus trick. He subsequently team up with Elder Oyelese in the formation of GDM, recontest the chairmanship position under GDM and won election to represent IBADAN SE/NE FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY in 1998 before the death of Head of State Gen. Sanni Abacha. He was a foundation member of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in 1998 and was amongst the thirteen (13) members from Oyo State that attended its inaugural meeting at Nicon Hilton Hotel, Abuja been a member of Chief Adeojo’s team. That was where a deal was struck to make Chief Haruna Elewi as the party chairman and Chief Adeojo as the Governorship candidate.

Prof. Olaiya contested unsuccessfully for the party’s ticket as chairmanship and Federal Rep. in 1999 and 2003 respectively. Dr Olaiya joined Chief Ladoja’s team in 2003 having his political son in the Oyo State House of Assembly. He contested for the OLUYOLE Federal seat in 2007 under Ladoja’s Labour Party (LP) and was robbed of victory by ruthless Adedibu’s cabal using electoral umpire. He did not contest in 2011 election when he backed CPC candidates. He also aspire to OLUYOLE Federal seat in 2015 election under ACCORD  but was let down at the last minute. He is been put forward by the foundation (OSF) to contest 2019 GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION as ACCORD candidate.

Prof. Olaiya’s main interest in politics stem from his passion for JUSTICE, MORALITY and GOOD GOVERNANCE. He hate CHEATING and CORRUPTION like devil and always come clean in all engagement be it public or private. In all, he has positive attitude to life and will scarifies all it takes to care for human welfare provided it’s within permissible limit.

Overall, Prof. Olaiya is Academically Sound, Morally Upright, International Seasoned Scientist, Human Right Activist, Unionist, Erudite Islamic Scholar, Astute Administrator, Selfless Leader, Progressive, Well Exposed, Trustworthy, Charitable and Grassroots Politician that is fearless but GOD FEARING. He is an Author, Public Analyst, Counsellor, Educationist, Prolific Writer and Orator who walk the talk.

Prof. Olaiya is a member, Board of Directors of some Limited Liability Companies which are all based in Oyo State and he operates no foreign account. He is the founder and Pioneer chairman of both Non-interest Cooperative Society of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and MUTAKIF Partners Investment Club, Ibadan. He has widely travelled as CONSULTANT in Physiology/Production of Tropical Commodity Crops, Produce Certification and Farming System Research to Local and International Agencies. 

Alhaji Olaiya is a grassroots politician that lives with his extended family in OLUYOLE LG, Oyo State.  

SUPPORT GOOD GOVERNANCE

SUPPORT GOD FEARING LEADER

SUPPORT OMOLUABI

RESCUE OYO STATE 2019

©THE VOICE, ​OLAIYA4OYOGOV 2019​

👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

Accord !!! Oneness & Progress. 👍🏽

––––––––––––––––

Office Address: Lister building beside high court, ring road, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Contact:

Phone no: 08055607861, 07013332192, 07065946496.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Olaiya4OyoGov/

Twitter handle: @Olaiya4OyoGov

Instagram:- @abideen_olaiya

📧 E-mail: olaiya4Gov@gmail.com

STEP IN 2019

OLAIYA SÈ ÈNÌYÁN

ÈNIYAN NÌ YEN

A 30-year-old man, identified simply as Adigun, who has allegedly been defiling a 10-year-old girl for over a year, has told the police that he didn’t force the minor into having sex with him. It was learnt that Adigun has been having sex with the girl since she was just nine-year-old and was in primary five.

The suspect, who is popularly called ‘rubber,’ was alleged to have been defiling the girl since January 2017 without her parents noticing anything. The incident, which happened at Olorunkemi Street, Bariga, Lagos State, threw the community into confusion.

Many people used to see Adigun as an easy going person. Adigun allegedly used to drag the girl into his apartment whenever she was going to mosque to pray about 6a.m. and defile her. The sexual violation of the victim would have continued, but for divine intervention.

The incident was discovered by a counsellor in the girl’s school. It was learnt that the girl and her friends were playing a game, ‘truth or dare,’ when they asked themselves to swear if any man had had sex with them. Other girls said yes, but the victim simply kept mute. The counsellor became alerted.

The Coordinator for Child Protection Network, Mr. Toyin Okanlawon, who reported the matter to the Lagos State Neighbourhood Corps (LNSC), said: “She suddenly became calm when her friends asked her to swear. That was what drew the attention of the counsellor, who asked her what the problem was.

The victim opened up to her on how their neighbour had been having marathon sex with her for over a year. She was referred to Mirabel Medical Centre at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja for medical test. It was confirmed she has been abused.”

It was also learnt that the first time Adigun had sex with the girl; he was alleged to have covered her mouth with cloth.

Okanlawon disclosed that the suspect had been picked and handed over to Bariga Police Station for prosecution. He said: “The suspect confessed at the police station that whenever he does not go to work, he would defile the minor.

Adigun’s family had been threatening the victim’s parents, which was why I took up the case. I want them to get justice.

The suspect initially denied sexually violating the girl, but later admitted to the crime and begged for forgiveness, insisting that the devil caused it. The suspect also claimed that the girl used to come to his room to seek assistance, that he didn’t force her.

“The situation would have been averted, if the mother of the victim had acted fast after her daughter told her about the abuse. When the victim told her mother, the woman said the girl was talking nonsense. The mother couldn’t believe that such a thing could be happening right under her nose. Adigun’s sister is a close friend to the victim’s mother.”

The case has been transferred to the gender unit of the police command for further investigation.

 

The hopeful member of Ogun State House of Assembly aspirant in the forthcoming election, Oluwakemi Kushimo has reaffirm her statement and belief in transparency in canvassing the electorates without moneybags impression. 

According to Kushimo, we all know in Nigeria that to win election required a lot of resources, masses always depends on what politicians will give them during election as their own quota of the national cake, because they believed politicians are pathological lairs with usual attitude of giving out to the people when they’re seeking election, which is the basement of reasons why Nigerians depends on money before they vote for any politicians.

Meanwhile, Miss Oluwayomi Kushimo has reassured Ogun state youths that she will never use money to buy his people as her style of politics will be different from the ones our past leaders who have been practising moneybags politics by spending and giving masses huge amount of money before they elect them to various offices.

According to records, Miss Kushimo is the only female aspirant contesting for the ogun state house of assembly come 2019 at the moment, she is also the founder of OK Forum, the forum which comprises of Obafemi owode local government youths that always speaks about how Obafemi owode constituency can become a mega city and how aged people can be empowered.

While speaking with Amebo Feeds Naija Blogs Reporter Mr Obadimu Adeyemi Veron on telephone conversation this afternoon, she expresses her feelings bitterly. 

“I want my people to vote for me due to my performance  and contribution to my consistency, I want to run youth oriented and transparency government to serve my people better. I have lots of activities, teaching youths their human rights empowerment programs which will commence by ending of this month Oluwayomi said.”

She also lament the state of  roads, inadequate water supply in her consistency which she described as eye sore.. 

“I want to tackle this water scarcity in Obafemi Owode local government and help the masses with enough boreholes for my community to have stable water supply.” 

She also promised to raise the issue of bad roads as one of the bills she planned to sponsor if she eventually elected as a female member of Ogun State House of Assembly come 2019. 

If we can noticed Ogun state government spend so much on roads but still yet Obafemi Owode local government roads are still bad, where are the people representing my consistency, at least they are supposed to call Mr Governor’s attention to the issues affecting their community, this is one of the error i want to correct if I emerged.

Helping my people and contributing my quota to my community is one of the thing that motivated my aspiration, having it in my mind as a youth that the bill of NotTooYoungToRule will be my first bill to sponsor if I get elected as one of honorable member house of assembly in Ogun state.

She also advised Ogun state youths to think wise in 2019 by electing a youth oriented aspirant not the bad leaders that have been destroying the growth of this state,  I have experience and resources to contest for any political post as a youth but i will not buy my people with my money before I am elected, i want my work to speaks for me she added.

Karma is a bitch. Poetic justice is a bastard. Both have combined to wrong-foot the incumbent Buhari administration to make it look like a big mistake and an act of misjudgment by the Nigerian electorate.  If Buhari had been disallowed from taking power in 2015, and those who advised President Goodluck Jonathan not to give a damn had their way, and Jonathan had remained in power and all the current problems had surfaced, it would have been said by Nigerians that Goodluck Jonathan truncated Nigeria’s destiny.

 

In 2015, the refrain, which was reaffirmed recently by those who authored it, was that Nigeria could only move forward with anybody but Jonathan. If Buhari was prevented from taking over power, Nigerians would have been very aggressive towards the Jonathan administration. It would have been said that the messiah was robbed of victory. It would have been argued that the man who would have saved Nigeria was prevented from doing so. It might have even been argued that under General Buhari, Nigeria could have become the greatest country on the surface of the earth.

 

Such was the impact of the propaganda. Such was the nature of the politics of the time. The Buharideens would never have allowed a post-2015 Jonathan government to work. Even if it did, the opposition would have imagined a greater possibility. But here we are, three years down the line: the messianic propaganda has failed. Their Saviour is not the Jesus Christ they imagined him to be. The country remains unsaved. Their promise of change has been no more than scaremongering. When the question is asked: are you better today than you were three years ago?, no ordinary Nigerian can answer that question positively: change has brought him or her nothing but agony and anguish.

 

Should they offer an answer, it would be a response marked by regret. The biggest tragedy that has occurred therefore is the demystification, the unmasking, the unveiling of a man who was thought to be a god but who has since danced naked and is dancing naked in the market-place. Strikingly, the Emperor is without clothes. Some of the most vociferous critics of old have also been exposed. Nasir el-Rufai deployed all the heights of his intelligence to demonise the Jonathan government on social media. No one else has been able to match the quality of his vitriol. Today, the same Nasir is busy demolishing the houses of anyone who dares to make a negative comment about him, or he takes them to court and threatens them with Armageddon. The same rights that he demanded for the Nigerian people, he now tramples upon.

 

There was also our beloved kinsman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. He was the scourge of the Jonathan administration. He could issue five anti-establishment press statements in a day. There has been no one like him in Nigerian history doing the job of opposition spokesman. He was ruthlessly efficient. Nobody in the current opposition parties has demonstrated his capacity as an opposition figure, in part because all the opposition spokesmen have been harassed, blackmailed, dehumanized, and intimidated, but called to do the job, on the other side of the fence as Minister of Information, Alhaji Mohammed remains a study in self-contradiction. His five minutes of fame in the Nigerian political sphere has since ended.

 

He used to be creative and dynamic, but now faced with the challenges of the real thing, the only thing that comes out of his mouth is the dumb argument that Goodluck Jonathan is the source of all the problems of Nigeria or similar inanities. When the matter is not so phrased, we are told that the Jonathan administration stole the country blind. And yet whereas the government of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) borrowed the sum of N6 trillion over a period of 16 years, the APC government has borrowed more than N11 trillion in 3 years! Is it possible all the oil wells have dried up and Nigeria no longer makes money? What has happened to the country’s revenue stream? The absurdity of the situation is further explained by the fact that when a gas cylinder malfunctions in the house of an APC member or there is a crisis in their other room, the man that is blamed is Goodluck Jonathan or the previous administration. They defend the impossible and the unintelligible. But that trick is no longer working. The other tragedy of the Buhari administration is how it has allowed itself to get involved in a Nigerian version of the popular “one-corner-dance”, a downward, self-denigrating choreographic exertion. The result is that right now, people have now moved from the anything but Jonathan corner to the anything but Buhari corner in Nigerian politics. Karma is a bitch. Poetic justice is a bastard.

 

Nothing illustrates this better than the title of this essay, the entry into which has been deliberately delayed, to prepare a setting and a mood for the crisis that Nigeria faces. One of the reasons the Nigerian electorate voted out the previous administration was because of its perceived inability to rescue the abducted Chibok girls. There was an international outcry about this. Bring Back the Chibok girls even became the most popular hashtag on international social media, and Jonathan, who had also signed the anti-same-sex bill into law became a villain in the eyes of the international community. The various interested forces, local and global joined hands together to pull down his government.

 

During the 2015 political campaigns, General Muhammadu Buhari was packaged as a morally upright statesman who would put an end to the impunity of the insurgents and terrorists. Jonathan was considered weak. Buhari was regarded as strong. And so on and so forth- let me just put it like that in order not to be accused of comparison given my own antecedents. But here is where the rub lies: President Buhari has failed the people in their expectations. He has frittered away their goodwill.  

 

He promised Nigerians that Boko Haram will be defeated, and somewhere down the line, we were told the Boko Haram had in fact been “technically defeated.” The President even received a captured flag of the insurgents, together with the personal Quoran of Ibrahim Shekau, the leader of the group. Today, the Boko Haram gang continues to show that they have not been defeated. The Federal Government negotiated with these same insurgents and gave them money to secure the release of over 100 girls, some Boko Haram leaders were released, but the other Monday, Boko Haram abducted over 100 girls in Dapchi in Yobe state. This is sad and tragic. Whatever the government may have gained has been lost. The girls that have been released have been replaced. The fight against Boko Haram is back to square one.

 

The clay feet of those who thought they knew better than everyone else has thus been exposed. For President Buhari, this must be a personal tragedy. His strongest promoters indeed believed that under his watch, the problem of insecurity will be solved. But under him, more money has been spent on national security, with poor results, and the security situation has only worsened. The previous government had the Boko Haram to deal with, this government has its cup full: the herdsmen-farmers conflict, the low level insurgency in the Niger Delta, the crisis of self-determination in the Eastern region, the nationwide proliferation of small arms and ammunition, the notorious Boko Haram and the angst of a disappointed public. On all fronts, the government is found wanting.

 

Yes, it has been found wanting and in a suspicious manner too.  It is in fact curious that security forces were withdrawn in volatile areas of Benue state, just a week before the criminal herdsmen struck. Who ordered that withdrawal? The Inspector-General of Police has also reportedly withdrawn the Special Forces sent to secure the same areas. The Benue Governor, Samuel Ortom is so incensed he is now saying he is willing and ready to pay the supreme sacrifice for his people.  In Yobe state, soldiers were also withdrawn from high-risk areas just before the Dapchi 110 were abducted. The military has since defended itself. It has no capacity its spokesman says, to protect all schools in the Northern part of the country. And we can’t blame the military, can we? It is a sign of the calamity that the country faces that soldiers are the ones now protecting virtually every inch of the Nigerian space, internally and externally. Our soldiers are tired and overstretched, over-used and over-abused. The police are also similarly overwhelmed. It has never been this bad. Fact: the government of the day has been humbled. I once argued that Nigeria is a very difficult country to govern but when you claim to know it all, you are bound to face the contradictions. Every problem solved generates other problems.

 

People choose their governments and leaders because they believe they can lead and protect them. When that trust is betrayed, the legitimacy of the government is in question. In more than 20 states, salaries have not been paid for months.  And it is a stupid point to say that the previous government stole all the money.  How about all the money that has been earned and borrowed since then? Missing? What is responsible really for this drift, this cluelessness, this self-abuse, from a know-it-all team that took over Nigeria in 2015? My other concern is that beyond all the propaganda and the hypocrisy and blackmail, President Buhari’s team may not really love him at all; they may in fact have truly, set him up for his downfall.  Buhari’s biggest stake is the legacy he leaves behind. The little I see of that legacy is not good at all. I once published a piece in which I alleged that Nigerians had hopped into a one-chance bus; I want to modify that and add that it is actually President Buhari who boarded a one-chance bus, and for that he has my heartfelt sympathy. Whatever bus brought him to power is a one-chance bus.

 

What has happened so far merely vindicates the Olusegun Obasanjo and Oby Ezekwesili groups. The former is asking for a Third Force, a Coalition of powers and forces. The other is wielding a Red Card. Both are united in this regard: they consider the two political parties that have ruled Nigeria since 1999, useless and ineffectual. They want a new dawn for Nigeria. They want a discontinuity of hypocrisy and opportunism. They acknowledge one significant point: that Nigeria has remained at one spot. Nothing has changed, the change agenda has failed, everything remains the same. Whether these groups are able to achieve, or motivate the real change the people desire is another matter, but the honesty with which they have reversed themselves is telling, and good for our democracy. You need not raise the point that both Obasanjo and Ezekwesili belong to the same elite that they now repudiate.

 

I sympathise with the parents of the Dapchi 110.  It is sad that their only hope is in God, and the possibility of a miracle.  Students get killed in the United States, due to gun possession issues in a psychotic society, but to send a child to school and have him or her abducted by terrorists is the grievous pain ever possible in Nigeria. What is clear is that the Nigerian leadership elite has failed the people. This is not a political party matter; it is about capacity, political will, leadership and commitment.  This is probably why a body of opinion has developed to the effect that the two major political parties in the country – the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have both failed the country. But can extant or any political parties, in their present shape, save Nigeria? I doubt, and that is my thoroughly non-partisan opinion.

 

The political party system in Nigeria has to be rebuilt, reformed and reconstructed. Beyond that, we need a new crop of leaders. The solution may not lie with Obasanjo or Ezekwesili or the Nigeria Intervention Movement but they have thrown up ideas about the national dilemma that cannot be ignored. Such ideas cannot be ignored because the biggest victims are not the ten per-centers or the men and women in high places who succeed not through talent or excellence, but mere opportunistic “faith”; the victims are young Nigerians, the same people we call the leaders of tomorrow – that tomorrow is already postponed, because that generation of the future is led by analogue leaders whose glory is trapped in the past. Nigeria needs to rescue tomorrow from the past and the present. Nigeria needs fresh energy, new ideas and a leadership revolution. Wherever they may be, may God protect the Dapchi 110, who have been failed by the Nigerian state. If Buhari rescues them, he may well succeed in rescuing his government a little from the devastating and ruthless onslaught of poetic justice.

Ancient city of Benin, the Edo state capital stood still for hours few days ago as Edo State deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shuaibu led sons and daughters of the city to solidarized with African most consistent movie maker, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, during the movie premiere of ‘Crushed’.

The movie which was premiered at Kada Cinemas, Benin City, on Sunday February 25, 2018, and has since debut in all cinemas across the country showed that Benin is fast becoming the next hub of great Nollywood movies.

Like a carnival, Lancelot pulled the who is who in Edo politics as Comrade Shuaib in convoy of the the State Executive members, led other politicians of note like; The Chairman of the House Committee on Culture and Tourism, and Member, Representing Oredo Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. (Engr.) Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama,

The Edo State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Osaze Osemwegie-Ero, State Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Hon. Reginald Okun, Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Employment and Cooperatives, Barrister Emmanuel Usoh and a host of other legislatures came out to support their own.

Entertainers, actors, comedians, master of ceremonies as well as journalist, some of which include; Maltida Obaseki, Sambasa Nzeribe, Seun Oloketuyi, Francis Onwuche, MC Edo Pikin, MC Casino, Ebo Bon of Star Rhythm, Maleke and a host of others came in droves as the over 1,000 capacity cinema hall was jam-packed.

Highlight of the premiere was the presentation of a Lifetime Best Of Nollywood Award to Lancelot who has been consistent in Nollywood’s movie production for more than two decades.

Haaien TV Production company, a company based in Netherland also presented him Vodka for his outstanding prowess in projecting African culture through Nollywood movie productions.