OJASOPE HAS THE COMPETENCE AND CHARACTER TO SERVE US. | HON FATAI ADETUNJI

A stalwart of SDP in Oyo State, former Council Chairman and the leader in Ibadan Northwest Southwest Constituency of the party, Hon Fatai Adetunji has declared that Hon Rotimi Johnson aka Ojasope has the competency and strong character required to give the Constituency exemplary representation at the Green Chamber in the 10th national Assembly.

According to the press release by the Special Assistant to the Candidate on Media and Publicity, Hon Adetunji said this when he introduced the Director General of the campaign to a group of nonpartisan youths in Ibadan Southwest local government over the weekend. The Group which has spread across the 12 wards of the LG are called Grassroot Support Advocates. They invited the SDP Reps Candidate to know what he plans to do differently if voted into office in 2023.

According to Hon Fatai Adetunji; "Hon Ojasope has paid his dues, remains consistent, he is competent and has shown strong character in over 2 decades of politicking that I have known him. He doesn't discriminate, loves his followers and they love him across party divides,  means well for the people and that's why some of us dumped our former parties to join him in SDP; actualization of his aspiration is our vision. The Campaign Director General is making first appearance after the appointment because we believe in the Grassroot Support Advocates. Chief Tayo Arogundade is our DG and he has hit the ground running without funfair because we are results oriented." He concluded with the group.

Ojasope 2023 is our joint task; it is Ibadan Northwest's opportunity to serve as Federal Representative for both Southwest and Northwest local governments. 

Signed

Miss Gloria Ibikunle.

SA Media & Publicity

Teni and Buhari. By Festus Adedayo

The National Honours Award have come and gone but its flakes are yet to subside. The most profound of its flakes came from a reaction to the quality of most of the awardees as stated by Buba Galadima. Galadima, an ex-associate of President Muhammadu Buhari, said last Friday on national television that in a saner clime, 440 out of the 470 award recipients ought to be in prisons on account of their “doubtful characters”. For me, this is a mathematical QED.

One other flake from the award was popular Afrobeat singer, Teni Apata, who collected the national award on behalf of her late father and who neither shook hands with nor greeted Buhari during the award.

I have watched the video of the award countless times and I cannot see any infraction in what the singer did. Though her bravura, pumped-up gaits and composure while walking to and fro the dais could have communicated dissent, Buhari neither extended a hand that was ignored to Teni nor did Teni extend the same to the president as the latter would have been rude to do. What then is the noise about? For me, it was typical Ibadan musician and king of Sekere music, Alamu Atatalo’s song which says if the masquerade walks in without a greeting to the Gonto – his minder, the Gonto is also at liberty to ignore the masquerade. Some kind of quid pro quo, isn’t it?

Those who were suggesting to Teni how to show dissent to the national award were just being magisterial in their ways. There are so many ways an awardee can communicate their grouse. While author, Chimamanda Adichie, rejected the offer outright and didn’t show up, the late author of Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe rejected the same offered to him by President Olusegun Obasanjo, prefixing its rejection on the manner he ran the country at the time. Profs Toyin Falola and Attahiru Jega didn’t show up. Teni’s – if indeed it was – to me, communicated the dissent more explicitly and elaborately. It was more evocative and could singe the flesh of the person giving the award more than other methods.

However, while I agree that people have the right not to vicariously offer legitimacy to a bad government like Buhari’s by accepting his offer of an award, I also agree with those who submit that disrespect for national honour isn’t disrespect to the holder of office but the country. As hotly as I may disagree with any runner of Nigeria, if offered, I may accept it, with clarifications on how acceptance of the award isn’t assenting to misrule. The position of authority desires respect though we are at liberty to disrespect the holder of the office.

For instance, if I ever come in contact with Governor Yahaya Bello, who I consider a good example of how not to govern people and the fact that he runs one of the most execrable governments in Nigeria, I will do my obeisance to him. I will also not mind the irritating, laughable allegations from a spineless wastrel he sent after me last week who must have assumed, like all narrow-minded chauvinists who assume that every beautiful lady must be a prostitute, that every writer who takes a principled stand against emperors is purchasable. My obeisance will be to the symbol of statehood Yahaya Bello represents, regardless of the exuberance and violence in his misgovernance.

NO RETREAT, NO STEPPING DOWN; DECLARES SDP REPS CANDIDATE JOHNSON.

The SDP candidate for Federal House of Representatives in Ibadan Northwest-Southwest constituency, Hon Adeniyi Rotimi Johnson has declared that he is not in the race to negotiate or step down for anyone; he is in the race to win this election for the people who desire accountability and availability with quality dividends of democracy.

According to the statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, the Federal Reps hopeful declared this in a broadcast made on his official Facebook account. It is erroneous for anyone to think I am in this race to negotiate, create awareness or stepdown for anyone, particularly as this is the fourth attempt.

"I have been in the race for Federal House before anyone else in the race today and I have remained consistent and focused on my vision to represent the great people of Ibadan Northwest Southwest Constituency. My first attempt was in 2006 but I couldn't get the PDP ticket for the 2007 election. I was the CPC candidate in 2011 and attempted again in 2018 but was persuaded by some Northwest PDP leaders to stepdown for Dr Akin Fagbemi so that the Ibadan Northwest chance of picking the PDP ticket could be brighter. However, the incumbent still won and ironically, a few of the leaders who persuaded me to stepdown still supported Hon Stanley Olajide Odidi-Omo to emerge the candidate in 2019 and even for the 2023 election." Hon Johnson affirmed.

We are more than convinced that the electorates will determine what happens at the 2023 elections, not the political elites; we know the votes will count this time and the voices of the people would be heard loud and clear. So, the SDP candidate for Reps in Ibadan Northwest Southwest Constituency, also known as Hon Ojasope is on a no retreat, no stepping down mission and the victory is ours by the grace of God.

Hon Ojasope rounded up his brief broadcast by requesting his fans and followers to pass the messages around and reshare the broadcast so that those peddling the rumors of negotiation or stepping down can know their game is over and find something gainful to do. 

"I plead for my people's vote and vow to be the best Representative they ever had in Ibadan Northwest Southwest Constituency. I repeat; we are in this race to run to the finishing line and win the election by the grace of God" Hon Ojasope concluded.

Signed

Gloria Ibikunle

Special Assistant on Media & Publicity. 

GENERAL ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA(1959-2019)AND SOME FALLOUTS. | OLOYE LEKAN ALABI

Now that the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC)has signalled the start of campaigns for next year's General Elections in the country,one can not but join millions of optimists that all the key players will please play the game according to universal rules.

And who are the key players?

(1)politicians(2)political parties(3)INEC(4)media(5)voters,(6)law  enforcement agencies,particularly the Nigeria Police Force and (7)the Judiciary.

Though then a nine year-old primary two pupil of the Seventh-Day Adventist Primary School,Ita Saku,Oke Foko,Ibadan,my beloved paternal grandmother,the late Mama Asma'u Odunola Alabi,the Woman Leader of the NCNC under the leadership of the avatar Alhaji(Hon.)Adegoke Adelabu,alias "PENKELEMESI",took me along,in 1959,to the Gaa/Ile 'Ba polling booth,during that year's General Elections.

I saw some lawless politicians line the verandah of the upstairs building of a wealthy businessman in the area to 'monitor' and intimidate voters,until grandma lodged a complaint at the Gege station of the now-defunct Local Government Police.

President Muhammadu Buhari,in this year's Independence Anniversary broadcast,has appealed to all for free, peaceful,transparent and credible elections next year. I pray the stakeholders earlier identified above will heed Buhari's advice.Otherwise,past experiences have been bitter and drawbacks.

I wish to recall past elections and the fallouts witnessed/covered by my humble self either  as a reporter,observer and party agent,through this almanac.

(A)Pic 1: The late Chief 'Bola Ige,SAN,campaigning during the 1979 governorship election in the old Oyo State,which he won on the ticket of the Unity Party of Nigeria(UPN).Talk of public speaking,Chief Ige stood out in the mould of crowd mesmerisers such as Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola,Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu,Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe,Chief Obafemi Awolowo etc.The politicians of the past dwelt on issues-based campaigns,during which their parties ideologies,manifestoes were analysed to win votes.

Pic 2: R-L - Chief 'Bola Ige,Bashorun  Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola,GCFR and my humble self,Senior Chief 'Lekan Alabi,Maye Olubadan of Ibadanland,during MKO's courtesy call on Chief Ige at his Bodija Estate home during his(Abiola)presidential campaign tour to Ibadan,Oyo State on Tuesday,9th February,1993.I coordinated the visit in my capacity as the Secretary-General of the MKO ABIOLA DYNAMIC GROUP and a former press secretary to the late Chief Ige,when he was the governor of the old Oyo State(1979-1983).

Pic 3: My review of the book,"BAPTISM OF FIRE",written by Olufemi Ogunsanwo,exKing's College,Lagos,ex Oxford University,UK,exHarvard,USA,who was a journalist with the Daily Times and New Nigeria newspaper s.He had a brilliant  career in the media here and abroad,after which he later founded a community bank in Lagos,but escaped with his life by luck,when he ventured into politics.His harrowing political experiences are detailed in the book.In my review,"IJE DE(FOOD IS READY)politicians,particularly new entrants,are cautioned on the dangers in the Nigerian version of politics.

Pic 4: Cover of Femi Ogunsanwo's book

Pic 5: My press release of 14th March,1983 announcing the 'blunder' by the OYS branch of FEDECO,wherein Governor 'Bola Ige was recorded as a "woman" during that year's Voters Review!.In 1983,I was seconded from the former Television Service of Oyo State(TSOS)Ibadan,where I was  Senior Editor,Current Affairs Editor,to Governor Ige,as his press secretary in charge of television matters.I and Femi Mapaderun,from RADIO O-Y-O were seconded to join Gov.Ige's original press secretary,Dapo Aderinola,with Dr(then Mr)Yemi Farounbi,as the Chairman of the Bureau of Information and Publicity in the Governor's Office,Agodi,to bolster the dwindling image of Gov Ige and his government.

Pic 6: Gov Ige's letter of protest dated 9th September,1983,to the state's FEDECO Commissioners on his fears/doubts of/about the impartially of the State Secretary of FEDECO. All our fears were confirmed.