Don’t Fail again at Marine Ministry as you Failed in Osun, Osun PDP Tackles Oyetola

Osun state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has advised Marine Minister, Adegboyega Oyetola to face his mandate at federal level so as not to repeat his failure as Osun state governor.

The party’s position was conveyed in a statement issued by the State Chairman of the Party, Hon Sunday Bisi who mocked Oyetola for hijacking the SMEDAN programme in a desperate bid to revive his dying political fortunes.

The statement, obtained by Nigerian Platform in Osogbo on Sunday, called attention of President Bola Tinubu to the disruptive conduct of the Minister who not only abandoned his duty post in Abuja but is window shopping to take over other minister’s responsibilities, all in pursuance of an ambition already rejected by APC members in Osun state.

According to the Osun PDP Chairman, “While we are aware of the rejection of Oyetola’s candidacy within the badly fictionalized Osun APC, we are shocked that the Minister is unaware of his violation of the electoral act by usurping the SMEDAN event as a launchpad for a dead on arrival 2026 political campaign”.

“Suffering from political isolation and deepening rejection of his comeback bid, the Minister is shamelessly sending out invitations to APC members to attend a SMEDAN event which to all intent and purpose is an apolitical gathering”

“We are surprised that instead of the Minister supporting President Tinubu to address the worsening national economic situation, he has elected to abandon the ship in breach of the law to undermine the integrity of an SME programme created by the young chief executive of SMEDAN”.

“In this period of national economic emergency, ministers and Governors are rallying round the presidency to address the many challenges confronting the nation, abandoning party affiliation and putting patriotism as first line charge”.

“Unfortunately, Mr Oyetola is less concerned about the national task at hand but would rather hijack the job of the Minister for Trade and Investment only to come to Osun state to muddle up a federal programme with his five leprous political fingers”.

“As he messed up Mr President on Christmas rice distribution in Osun state, the Minister has started on the same path, pushing to dilute and politicize SMEDAN and other federal programme”.

“While we urge Mr President to call Mr Oyetola to order, we also affirm that the state government will frustrate any effort by the former Governor to destabilize and make the state ungovernable”.

“Any attempt to start the 2026 campaign in contravention of the Electoral Act is unacceptable. As Mr President is working hard to deliver at federal level, so has Governor Adeleke assumed the appellation of Mr Performer. This is time for governance”.

“We had thought Oyetola would work hard to redeem his image as a low rated former governor but his records so far at the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy confirmed that he cannot meet up with 21st century good governance requirements, hence his lack of focus and failure to match up with his federal mandate”.

“We urge the former Governor to redeem himself before it is too late by delivering on his mandate as a Minister of Marine and Blue Economy. He should allow Osun people to enjoy good governance which he denied them while at the helm of affairs”, Hon. Bisi said.

JUBILATION IN IREE AS OSUN GOVT RELEASES WHITE PAPER ON AREE ‘S STOOL

The ancient town of Iree in Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State was on Thursday thrown into serious jubilation following the release of white paper on the Aree of Iree stool by the state government.

The people of Iree celebrated the decision of the state government that nullified the traditional ruler installed by the former Governor of the state, Mr Gboyega Oyetola.

Oyetola had through the former commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Adebayo Adeleke appointed warrant chiefs who eventually selected the nominee for the position of Aree of Iree as against the culture, tradition and custom of the town.

Indigenes of the town including kingmakers had protested the manner at which former Governor Oyetola handled the chieftaincy matter in the town and called for a review of the process.

This prompted the kingmakers and ruling houses in the town to petition the chieftaincy review committee set up by Governor Ademola Adeleke to review chieftaincy matters in some communities in the state, including Iree.

The committee eventually recommended the sack of the traditional ruler chosen for the town by Oyetola as he was not the choice of the kingmakers and called for a fresh process for the selection and appointment of the Aree of Iree.

The white paper which was released on Thursday night enunciated jubilation in the town, just as the indigenes of the town applauded Governor Adeleke for doing justice to the chieftaincy matter in the town.

The indigenes of the town said the Governor had through his actions given recognition to culture and traditions of the town which stipulate the nomination and appointment of the traditional ruler by the kingmakers.

They opined that the kingmakers should be allowed to nominate the right choice for the town and the person who will serve the interest of the people and ensure development of the town should be given the opportunity to lead the town.

A prominent indigene of the town who is also the national president of the Iree Progressive Association (IPA), Engr Wole Taiwo said “I am using this medium to appreciate Governor Ademola Adeleke for the maturity and transparency played towards the resolution of Obaship tussle in Iree and Osun State generally. Your humility and sense of governance is second to none.

“On behalf of Iree indigenes (home and abroad), I hereby express our heartfelt gratitude and pray to Almighty God to continue to give the Governor wisdom, knowledge and understanding in all his future endeavours.

My administration is committed to change economic narrative of Osun State – Governor Adeleke

The Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke has restated that his administration is committed to changing the economic narrative of the State.

The Governor disclosed this at a one-day sensitization seminar organized for Iyalojas, Babalojas and market coordinators across the state, with a view to boosting the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

The Governor who was represented by the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Rev. Bunmi Jenyo said since the inception of this administration, Governor Adeleke has left no stone unturned in every sector to ensure that the dividends of democracy gets to the doorsteps of every individual in Osun state.

Rev Jenyo said, the Governor is working relentlessly to make osun the commercial hub of the southwest. This he said is possible through the collective efforts of all and sundry.

He therefore enjoined the Iyalojas and Babalojas that all hands must be on deck to ensure that the internally generated revenue of the state is boosted, assuring them that the money generated would be judiciously used to better the lives of the citizens of Osun State.

In her opening remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Market Affairs, Hon. (Mrs) Eniola Omotoso said the seminar was organized to inform and enlighten them on the need to collectively support the developmental goals of Governor Adeleke.

She implored them to give their maximum cooperation to the Market Coordinators who will be working alongside the Market women and men across the state.

At the seminar were the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Kehinde Odediran, Director Commerce, Mrs Bola Obiremi, SSA on Market Affairs, Hon. Moyoade Lukuman, SSA on Chambers of Commerce, Hon. Wasiu Ogundokun, Iyaloja General, Chief (Mrs) Mary Oyebode, Babaloja General, Chief Michael Omidele among others.

CONCERNED IREE INGEGENES WARN AGAINST IMPOSITION OF NEW AREE

Concerned indegenes of Iree in Boripe local government area of Osun State have sounded a note of warning to some kingmakers to desist from imposing a new Aree on the community.

This was contained in a statement made by Mr. Timothy Gboye during an exclusive chat with Nigerian Platform in Osogbo on Monday.

Mr Timothy, speaking on behalf of the concerned Iree indegenes, home and in the diaspora, alleged that some kingmakers are being sponsored to impose one Prince Depo Akande based in United States of America, as the new monarch of the town.

Recall that the community is eagerly awaiting the white paper of the Osun State Government to proceed with the enthronement of new Aree.

According to Mr. Timothy, “it has come to the knowledge of all Iree sons and daughters home and all over the world that the Iree Progressive Association (IPA) Lagos State Branch and some unscrupulous Kingmakers in Iree town are planning to cause mayhem, chaos and serious havoc in Iree”.

“As they are lobbying and trying endlessly to impose one Prince Depo Akande from Oyetite Ruling House, which preceded late Oba Michael Omoloye Omotoso before the late Oba Jimoh Olayoonu Larooye who joined his ancestors in 2018 was enthroned”.

Mr Timothy said that the IPA Lagos State branch and some kingmakers in Iree should please desist from the act of destabilizing Iree, because of selfish motives.

He said “Iree had Six (6) Ruling Houses but how come that it will now be the turn of Oyetite Ruling House again where Oba Michael Omoloye Omotoso came from, that will produce the next Aree of Iree?”.

He urged the State Governor, Sen. Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke to be aware of this development and also warned those Kingmakers not to cause another problem or unrest in Iree at this time.

According to him, “everyone should allow the Kingmakers who have the genuine love for Iree to do their job without any bias, favour or interference”.

CONCERNED IREE INGEGENES WARN AGAINST IMPOSITION OF NEW AREE

Concerned indegenes of Iree in Boripe local government area of Osun State have sounded a note of warning to some kingmakers to desist from imposing a new Aree on the community.

This was contained in a statement made by Mr. Timothy Gboye during an exclusive chat with Nigerian Platform in Osogbo on Monday.

Mr Timothy, speaking on behalf of the concerned Iree indegenes, home and in the diaspora, alleged that some kingmakers are being sponsored to impose one Prince Depo Akande based in United States of America, as the new monarch of the town.

Recall that the community is eagerly awaiting the white paper of the Osun State Government to proceed with the enthronement of new Aree.

According to Mr. Timothy, “it has come to the knowledge of all Iree sons and daughters home and all over the world that the Iree Progressive Association (IPA) Lagos State Branch and some unscrupulous Kingmakers in Iree town are planning to cause mayhem, chaos and serious havoc in Iree”.

“As they are lobbying and trying endlessly to impose one Prince Depo Akande from Oyetite Ruling House, which preceded late Oba Michael Omoloye Omotoso before the late Oba Jimoh Olayoonu Larooye who joined his ancestors in 2018 was enthroned”.

Mr Timothy said that the IPA Lagos State branch and some kingmakers in Iree should please desist from the act of destabilizing Iree, because of selfish motives.

He said “Iree had Six (6) Ruling Houses but how come that it will now be the turn of Oyetite Ruling House again where Oba Michael Omoloye Omotoso came from, that will produce the next Aree of Iree?”.

He urged the State Governor, Sen. Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke to be aware of this development and also warned those Kingmakers not to cause another problem or unrest in Iree at this time.

According to him, “everyone should allow the Kingmakers who have the genuine love for Iree to do their job without any bias, favour or interference”.

I NEVER SAID I WON’T HONOUR POLICE INVITATION, OMOAJE AA NATIONAL CHAIRMAN DECLARES

National chairman of the Action Alliance (AA) Dr Adekunle Rufai Omoaje has debunked report that he refused to honour the invitation of the Police over a matter being investigated by the office of the Inspector General of Police.

Dr Omoaje said he did not grant any interview to any reporter on the matter or any other matter affecting either him or the party and the Police.

The Police had through the office of Inspector General of Police (Monitoring) invited Omoaje to appear over a petition based on alleged impersonation on the petition filed before the National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal in Abia State, which judgement was appealed against.

Omoaje in an interview with our correspondent reaffirmed his respect for the law enforcement agencies and security agencies in the country, saying that he has no reason to run away from the police.

He said he voluntarily provided his office address in Abuja for the Police and also directed that the police invitation be sent to him electronically, which he acknowledged thereafter.

The AA national chairman also informed that he was outside Abuja when he got wind of the invitation, and directed that the invitation be sent to him electronically, an indication that he has utmost respect for the Police and also willing to receive the invitation.

He said he had already reached an understanding with the police to appear on 28th October, 2023 and the police agreed with him, adding that the date was yet to lapse.

Omoaje said he was taken aback by the report in a section of the media which erroneously alleged him of not willing to honour the police invitation, saying that he did not issue any statement to that effect or grants any interview regarding such development.

He said the report was misleading and far from his personal wish, adding that it was aimed at painting him in bad colour before the police and the public in particular.

The AA national chairman said he did not commit any offence, thus he has no reason not to honour the invitation of the police.

While recalling that he personally forwarded all the messages sponsored by the opposition against him to the police, Omoaje stressed that the impersonator in the matter affecting the party at the National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal in Abia State was one Kenneth Udeze who he alleged of withdrawing the party’s petition despite the fact that he is not a member of the party.

He said if there’s anyone to be arrested for alleged impersonation, it should be Udeze as he allegedly withdrew the party’s petition without being a member of the party.

Omoaje thereby appealed to the police and the general public to discountenance the report sponsored by the opposition with the aim to malign his personality and integrity.

ABIA ELECTIONS PETITION: HOW JUDGES, APC OTHERS CONNIVE TO SCUTTLE JUSTICE

Facts have emerged on why the three member panel of the National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal in Abia State dismissed the case instituted by the Action Alliance (AA) against INEC and APC.

The Action Alliance had petitioned the tribunal following the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to upload the name of the candidate submitted by the Dr Adekunle Rufai Omoaje led national executive of the party.

The AA had nominated the name of Hon Ifeanyi Chukwuka as its House of Representatives candidate for the House of Representatives before the last general elections.

To this end, both the party and the candidate approached the tribunal and the matter generated interest from various stakeholders from both within and outside the state.

It was gathered that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) allegedly showed interest in the matter, as the party won the election and the candidate, Hon Okezie eventually emerged the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

It was gathered that the matter was closed before the tribunal after all the parties in the matter had made their final submissions and the panel of the tribunal was to fix a date to deliver final judgement on the matter.

While expecting the tribunal to fix a date for the final judgement on the petition filed by the AA, it was learnt that the matter was allegedly withdrawn by one Kenneth Udeze, who had since been suspended and subsequently expelled from the party.

Udeze who reportedly withdrew the matter was alleged to be an impostor and an impersonator as he has no link to the party, having been expelled by the National Convention, which is the highest organ of the party.

It was learnt that the purported withdrawal of the petition prompted the tribunal panel made up of Justices Samson Paul Gang, Kabiru Ibrahim Ahmed and Abdulfatai Baba Sekoni to dismiss the petition.

However, findings revealed that the original plaintiff which is the Action Alliance eventually got the Certified True Copy of the tribunal judgment despite efforts by the tribunal to scuttle their efforts at getting it.

The plaintiff, armed by the Certified True Copy of the tribunal judgment thereafter prepared an appeal before the Court of Appeal to challenge the decision of the tribunal.

Besides, investigations revealed that two conflicting judgements were delivered by the tribunal and the two different judgements were gotten by the original plaintiff (AA), which further forms a strong ground for the appeal.

It was however gathered that the 10 days which the law give for the appeal to lapse on Tuesday, 19th September, 2023, hence the alarm been raised by the party to call the attention of the National Judicial Council (NJC) the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and other stakeholders in the Judicial sector to the ugly development.

BUNMI JENYO ADVOCATES DEVELOPMENT OF GEMSTONES INDUSTRY

Osun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry has advocated for the development of Gemstones Industry in Nigeria.

Rev. Bunmi Jenyo also urged miners operating in the country to be conscious of the environmental wellbeing of their host communities.

The Commissioner made the assertion on Tuesday while giving a goodwill message during the second-day interactive session of the Nigeria Gemstones Conference & Expo (NGCE – 2023), at the International Conference Centre in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Rev. Jenyo who expressed his satisfaction about the first outing of the Gemstones Miners And Marketers Association of Nigeria (GMMAN), also emphasized the need for social responsibility of the miners by giving back to their host communities.

He also decried the activities of some miners who are extremely loyal to the Federal government without a recourse to their different states of operations.

According to him, “apart from being loyal to the Federal government, in carrying out your business activities, it is also important you have a recourse to the State where you are mining from”.

Rev. Jenyo also charged the miners to be selfless and carry every critical stakeholders along. “Miners must equally be involved in social responsibility by giving back to their host communities”.

“Infrastructures such as school establishment, road construction, hospital creation, among others, are the sorts of the social responsibility the miners must take active involvement in. This will go a very long way in promoting the goodwill and progress of the miners, host communities and government at all levels”, he said.

Solid Mineral Sector Needs Dynamic Overhauling – Osun Governor

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke has stressed that the solid mineral sector needs a dynamic overhauling and goes beyond selling raw materials into the development of value chains to get added earnings and redouble Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

This was disclosed on Monday by the Governor at the opening ceremony of the Nigeria Gemstones Conference held at the University of Ibadan Conference Hall, Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital.

The Governor represented by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Rev. Bunmi Jenyo described the conference as a “laudable effort which will serve as a wake up call to managers of the economy and policymakers across the board”.

This was contained in a Press Release by the spokesperson to the Governor in Osogbo on Monday.

According to him “the gemstone sector is a multi-billion dollar industry that has not received the right attention despite the push to diversify our national economy. It is, therefore a welcome development that we are gathered here to deliberate on this sub-sector”.

“We have the challenge to develop process capacity to add high value to our solid minerals. Specifically, gemstones present a high-value opportunity for willing and enterprising Stakeholders to operate”.

Rev. Jenyo who commended the organizers of the conference also said “We can however not achieve much unless we engage the private sector more productively. The organized private sector remains the most viable vehicle to drive the value addition and expansion of our processing capacity”.

Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Olanike K. Adeyemo, who expressed her happiness, pledged the government’s support for the resolution of the conference.

The organizers, Gemstones Miners And Marketers Association of Nigeria (GMMAN) think that the conference is an opportunity for individuals and organizations in the gemstones industry to come together and discuss the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in the field.

The event attracted Miners, dealers, lapidaries, jewelers, leading experts, researchers, policymakers, and business leaders from all over the nation, to share their knowledge and insights.

SOLID MINERAL SECTOR NEEDS DYNAMIC OVERHAULING – OSUN GOVERNOR

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke has stressed that the solid mineral sector needs a dynamic overhauling and goes beyond selling raw materials into the development of value chains to get added earnings and redouble Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

This was disclosed on Monday by the Governor at the opening ceremony of the Nigeria Gemstones Conference held at the University of Ibadan Conference Hall, Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital.

The Governor represented by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Rev. Bunmi Jenyo described the conference as a “laudable effort which will serve as a wake up call to managers of the economy and policymakers across the board”.

According to him “the gemstone sector is a multi-billion dollar industry that has not received the right attention despite the push to diversify our national economy. It is, therefore a welcome development that we are gathered here to deliberate on this sub-sector”.

“We have the challenge to develop process capacity to add high value to our solid minerals. Specifically, gemstones present a high-value opportunity for willing and enterprising Stakeholders to operate”.

Rev. Jenyo who commended the organizers of the conference also said “We can however not achieve much unless we engage the private sector more productively. The organized private sector remains the most viable vehicle to drive the value addition and expansion of our processing capacity”.

Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Olanike K. Adeyemo, who expressed her happiness, pledged the government’s support for the resolution of the conference.

The organizers, Gemstones Miners And Marketers Association of Nigeria (GMMAN) think that the conference is an opportunity for individuals and organizations in the gemstones industry to come together and discuss the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in the field.

The event attracted Miners, dealers, lapidaries, jewelers, leading experts, researchers, policymakers, and business leaders from all over the nation, to share their knowledge and insights.

Signed:
Mallam Olawale Rasheed,
Spokesperson t