Ekiti-APC Chieftain Declares for North Senatorial District Seat

Olusegun Osinkolu-  Profile of a patriot!

PHD in Politics and Diplomacy

Dr Olusegun Osinkolu (a. k. a. OLUOMO) was born on November 12, 1964 to the family of Pa Samuel Ajeigbe Osinkolu of Ile-Otun in Ayede-Ekiti, Oye Local Government area of Ekiti State. 

He started his primary education at Yewande Memorial Primary School, Surulere, Lagos; then he obtained his WAEC/GCE 'O' Level certificate at Liberty Academy, Ibadan. He later went to Yaba College of Technology for his Ordinary National Diploma in Accounting. He thereafter proceeded to the Federal Polythecnic, Idah for his Higher National Diploma. He had his mandatory National Youth Service Corps with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in Rivers State in 1986. 

He also had HND Computing from University of East, London, UK; MBA(Finance, Merger & Acquisition) University of Wale/Manchester Business School; Post-MBA Qualification Kellogg School of Management Illinois; Chicago senior Executive Fellow Program,Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Boston and Ph. D in Poltics and Diplomacy, SMC University, Switzerland.His working experienced spanned banking, oil  and gas, telecommunications, capacity and human building development. 

A member of various professional bodies and associations both at home and in the Diaspora. An active and committed member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he contested for the  Senate in the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria in Ekiti North senatorial district. 

He was the first managing director of Ekiti State investment company - Fountain Holdings Limited and the executive chairman of Habitat Oil & Gas Limited. He is happily married with children.

Osinkolu, Faparusi, Thomas Declare For Senate, Ekiti-APC News

By Wumi Ademiju

Fate of many aspirants are hanging in the balance as there are allegations and counter allegations of plan tod impose some aspirants at the primary election of the All Progressive Congress in Ekiti State.

The Governor-Elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi, while addressing some politicians at Isan penultimate Monday, had assured them that "I have no anointed candidates". Even at that, there is the understanding that only trusted aides and loyal party men, not moneybags will be allowed into the State House of Assembly this time around to forestall ugly experience of the past.

However, a melodrama has however started occurring over the National Assembly positions as most of those who lost out in the last APC governorship primary elections are now planning to change the game plan. This has made some aspirants for the senatorial and House of Representatives to be jittery while some have decided to forge ahead. 

Over 500 Aspirants in Ekiti are jostling for positions in the Forthcoming Assembly elections. The State is  already bombarded with banners of many  contestants aspiring for positions in both Lower and Upper Chamber, aside numerous online advertisement to this effect.

Recently, some of the Aspirants visited the Governor Elect- Dr John Kayode Fayemi in his Country home- Isan Ekiti for his support and to receive his blessings. He   declared he had no anointed candidate urging them to intensify  efforts towards their aspirations in their various constituencies.

 He assured the Aspirants of credible Primary elections, and promised the support of the party to whoever emerged. He also declared that he had no power to endorse any candidate before primary election. The Governor however promised rewards of contribution  towards  the sustainability of the Party.

A check into the   political development within the APC in the three senatorial Districts  of the state  revealed that Prince Dayo Adeyeye has been allegedly adopted for the Senatorial seat of Ekiti South while the ailing former member House of Representatives, Hon. Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele (MOB) is said to have secured the nod for Ekiti Central. Former governor of the State, Engr Segun Oni, who has taken the Governor-elect to court to challenge his eligibility, is said to have secured Ekiti North senatorial ticket for his kinsman, Senator Olu Adetunbi.

Speaking with our reporter, a leader of the party from Ekiti North Senstorial disyrict, Evangelist Femi Bobade declared the rumoured arrangement as "anti-democratic as all interested aspirants should be allowed to participate in free and fair primary elections"

There seems to be a new political calculation now that may change the planned adoption arrangement in the three senatorial district as some aspirants are more determined more than ever before to challenge those that were purportedly adopted. 

In the central, serving Senator Fatima Raji Rasaki has declared her intention to contest against MOB on the ground that all serving senators have been promised the ticket if they could impeach the senate President, Bukola Saraki. 

Also, a former Commissioner for Health in the State, Dr Femi Thomas is said to be jostling for the Ekiti Central seat as his people insisted that it is now the turn of Ijero Local Government. A strong indication emerged at the 50th birthday bash for his wife in Ikoro Ekiti on August 26 when the musician repeatedly chanted "Dr Demi Thomas for Senate" in the presence of the E-11 members present at the occasion. E-11 is a formidable sociocultural group in Ekiti state consisting of Dr Fayemi, Engr Oni and Senator Babafemi Ojudu.

Dr Segun Osinkolu in the North is now said to be leaving no stone unturned on his senatorial ambition as his bill boards are now dotting every local government in the senatorial district. Former governorship aspirant and Deputy Director General of Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organization, Hon Bamidele Faparusi is set to alter the purported adoption of Prince Dayo Adeyeye.  

The Political struggle became mire intensified when Dr Fayemi in his speech while addressing the aspirants at Isan, made a statement that ‘’ti Aburo mi Oluomo ba se primary to wole ko seni to le ni ko mase Senator’’ (if my brother Oluomo contested for primary election and won,  nobody can stop him from becoming Senator) 

Day in day out new entrants from the districts  are still entering the race, notable among the aspirants are  politicians like Cyril  Fasuyi, Hon Segun Ajepe from Ido Osi Local Govt, others are Chief Bayo Aina from Moba Local Government these according to the leaders are vibrant politicians in their jurisdictions. 

Hon Faparusi, in Ekiti South had insisted that "thorough screening should be conducted for all the aspirants for the national assembly to know their contributions to the party in the past".  His insistence is not unassociated with the adoption of Prince Adeyeye who decamped to APC shortly before the governorship general election after losing the PDP primary to Professor Olusola Eleka.

Those promoting Dr Femi Thomas in Ekiti Central also opined that apart from the naginaluzation if Ijero Local Government by the other four Local governments, Thomas had really worked for the party since he joined APC three years ago. Though they sympathised with MOB over his stray bullet attack, they said that should not deny other credible aspirants for the position.

When contacted to speak over his rumoured ambition, the Ikoro Ekiti born medical doctor said, "well I'm not unaware if the clamour for my Local Government (Ijero) to also have a slot since the remaining for have tasted it, but I'm still consulting widely.". Thomas said he would make his opinion known on the senatorial seat as soon as he concluded his consultation.

The development in Ekiti North Senatorial District, to  many people,   makes the race interesting and the District open to contenders which in any case  "gives opportunity for credible aspirants to contest".

Many party leaders from  Ekiti Northern District, in their analysis declared Dr Olusegun Oshinkolu as  a better with wider chance  among his Co-contestants considering his level of acceptability  by the people, the reputation they said, he has built  several years back through  masses oriented programmes and activities.

The APC Leaders described Oshinkolu as a persistent politician with patriotic mind who is fit and capable to diligently serve his people. They commended his "doggedness and generosity".

According Evangelist Bobade, ‘’it will be unfair to adopt someone who has gone there once without much impact on the people above someone who has been aspiring for the position for the past ten years, and  despite the inability to record  success he still remains unperturbed and  never defected to another political  party".

Another prominent leader in the district said he declared total support  for Oshinkolu since 2015 when he discovered the level  of his persistence  and selfless attitude even when he lost the National Assembly Primary Election in 2015.

Majority of the leaders who expressed their candid  opinions on the political situation in the District said  Senator Olu  Adetumbi did his best when he  represented the district at the National Assembly  though operated as an opposing force that time –ACN Senator, While PDP was the ruling party . They described Senator Adetunmbi as one of the best senator Ekiti North Senatorial and even the state at large was proud of but  notwithstanding, the leaders emphasised that the general belief of the  people is that "opportunity and consideration  should be given to a fresh blood this time around, a selfless and energetic mind  like Dr Olusegun Oshinkolu".

They discredited  some comments going on in some circles that the  fact that Governor elect comes from Isan Ekiti and Oshinkolu from Ayede Ekiti–Oye Local Government, might be a barrier noting that "Governorship is meant for the whole 16 local government while senatorial position is for the five local governments areas involved.

Evangelist Bobade declared that it would be calamitous  for the APC  -a political party who conducted free and fair credible governorship primary election for 33 Aspirants in Ekiti State to  unilaterally pick flagbearers for National Assembly election. He said it would have been worst for APC if President Buhari had handpicked an Aspirant among the 33 contenders then.

He reiterated that the effect of equal opportunities given the aspirants to contest the governorship election was significant to the outcome of the poll where  the APC defeated the PDP with the margin of over 19,000.

The Leaders who spoke with our reporters therefore advised the stakeholders to uphold the tenets of Democracy.

Ekiti North Leaders Move To Save Party From Segun Oni's Imposition

By Abasi-Femi Oguntayo & Idowu Adebomi

Against the backdrop of the statement made by the Governor-Elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi that he has no anointed candidates, leaders from Ekiti North Senatorial District have met to support whosoever emerges from a transparent election during the forthcoming primaries of the All Progressive Congress.

This resolution was made at a meeting held on Thursday 23rd August, 2018 attended by seven out of the eleven Local Government Areas and the Local Council Development Areas Chairmen. They took this decision following the rumour making the round that the Senatorial seat of Ekiti North has been conceded to the former governor of the State, Engr Segun Oni who was also said to have unilaterally endorsed the former Senator, Olu Adetunbi for the plum job.

Engr Oni's endorsement of Adetunbi is allegedly causing a rumpus in the fold of Segun Oni Campaign Organisation (SOCO) as majority of them condemned the former Governor's purported adoption of his kinsman against Dr Segun Osinkolu, a popular aspirant who had contested for the post three times without defecting from the party. Moreover, they expressed their disappointment in the former governor for jilting Dr Osinkolu who reportedly worked for him tirelessly at the last APC governorship primaries.

Prominent among the leaders who rallied round Ekiti North leaders to protest against Oni's endorsement of Adetunbi are; Messrs Samuel Oluwaniyi, Babatunde Odetola (Odelodu) and Elder Femi Bobade (Adebob). They went to the leaders meeting to solicit for an open primary, describing the purported adoption of Senator Adetunbi as "a gross injustice against Oluomo Segun Osinkolu who has been contributing tremendously to the growth of the party without ever being rewarded with any position even after contesting for the Senatorial seat for three consecutive times."

APC Chairmen of seven out of eleven Local government and LCDA in Ekiti North Senatorial District who were present at the meeting were; Mr Bode Ogunyemi from Ilejemeje, Chief Femi Afolabi from Ido/OSI and Baba Fasola from Isokan LCDA. Others are; Hon Akindele Ogungbuyi from Ifesowapo LCDA, Mr Jimoh Oluwole from Ifeloju LCDA, Chief Okeya Michael from Ikole Central and Mr Femi Ademolekun who heads Ikole West LCDA.

The three LGA/LCDA Chairmen who were absent at the meeting were; Engr Iyunade from Ajoni LCDA, Elder Moses from Moba Local Government, Mr Segun Ajamini from Ero LCDA and Mr Adeoye who heads Oye Local government APC. Some of these Chairmen who were absent sent their words of apology.

The meeting of the party leaders, according to APC Chairman in Ilejemeje, Mr Bode Ogunyemi, "was not to adopt any candidate or do the bidding of any aspirant but to foster unity in the Senatorial district. We also met to make it clear that leaders in the Senatorial district do not have an anointed choice just like our Governor-Elect had also said."

Ogunyemi declared that the meeting was not at the instance of any aspirant as it was not the first time such meeting would hold. According to him, "some other leaders who visited us heard about the meeting and they came to plead that we should allow free and transparent primaries for the State and national assemblies in the forthcoming primaries of our party"

It would be recalled that Oluomo Osinkolu, a PhD holder contested against the Ifaki Ekiti born former Senator, Olu Adetunbi in 2015 in a keenly contested election. Despite the controversy that surrounded the election, Osinkolu did not leave the party, rather, he was said to have supported the party and empowered members for the four years that the party was not in power between 2014 and 2018 while Senator Adetunbi was alleged to have gone into the oblivion.

In a telephone chat with the Fountain Newsbreaker Dr Osinkolu expressed his determination to emancipate his people from "poverty and inadequate representation at the national assembly.". He expressed his disbelief invtge rumour that Engr Oni had adopted his kinsman to be the flagbearer of the party for the third time.  According to him, " I have heard the rumour but I didn't believe it. Even if the rumour is true, I gave solace in the assurance given by the leader of the party who is also our Governor-Elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi that he has no anointed candidates among those of us contesting." Several calls put across to Senator Adetunbi by our reporters were not answered. 

Ekiti North Senatorial District comprises of five Local Government Areas namely; Oye, Ilejemeje, Ido/Osi, Moba and Ikole. Six Local Council Development Areas that were carved out if these local Government during the first tenure if Dr Fayemi are; Isokan. LCDA, Ifeloju LCDA, Ikole Central LCDA, Ikole West LCDA, Ajoni LCDA and Ero LCDA.

The leaders of all the above Local Government areas and LCDA have resolved that there would be a transparent primary where flag bearers of the party will emerge for both the State abs National assemblies.

Mrs Dupe Bakare APC-Ekiti Woman Leader Meets With Journalists At Her Temidire-Ekiti, Ijero LG Country Home

Mrs Susan Dupe Bakare

The pristine ambiance of Temidire-Ekiti, one of the smaller towns making up Ijero Local Government is simply breathtaking for any first time visitor.

Mrs Susan Dupe Bakare in her ever usual easy going self gladly speaks on a range of issues from personal to politic in this interview session

QUE: In your own words ma, How would you describe Mrs Susan Dupe Bakare?

ANS: Mrs Susan Dupe Bakare is a selfless, honest, humble, generous, diligent, godly and a committed woman, very intelligent and highly dedicated to the service of mankind, very passionate about women and youth, share love and affection, objective and speak truth to the authority always. Finally I’m a good listener.

QUE: Prior to this aspiration, what roles have you featured in Progressive Ekiti & Nigeria politics?

ANS: Prior to this aspiration, I have served in various capacities, first as a commission member at the house of assembly service commission and local government service commission. Also at the federal level as a member of the governing council of national Centre for women development Abuja. Presently I am the state women leader of our party (APC)

I have served as a member of reconciliation committee in the party at the state level various instances when occasions arose.

In my responsibility as the women leader I coordinate women activities from the grassroot to the state and to the federal level.

QUE: What brought about the quest for this aspiration to represent Ekiti Central Federal Constituency II at the National Assembly?

ANS: My quest for this aspiration is bore out of the passion that I have for my people. Because I live and stay among them, I know their yearnings and share their pains. And this is the reason why I want them to elect me as their representatives.

QUE:With your experiences in governance & administration, do you feel constituency people expectation from their representatives is achievable?

ANS: My experiences in governance and administration has thought me that my people love those that stay with them to represent them in positions that matters to them. Also their expectation from their representatives is achievable because as I earlier said that I live amongst them, I know their needs which is the reason why I want them to elect me as their representatives

QUE: What stands you out from other aspirants in your constituency?

ANS: My personality as a humble, consistent, loyal and dedicated well focused party member stands me out from other aspirants in my constituency

2019: Women Group Disowns Former President Obasanjo, Vows To Work For Buhari’s Re-election

Africa Women Arise For Change Network, on Wednesday took a swipe at the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, for his recent verbal attacks on the person and office of President Muhammadu Buhari.
 

The women group wondered why Obasanjo is attacking on a government that has succeeded in delivering to Nigerians what he failed to deliver in the eight years as the Commander-in-Chief.
 

Addressing a Freedom Rally for One Nigeria in Lagos, Mrs Josephine  Okpara, Executive Director, AWACN, observed that Obasanjo and his party laid the right foundation for Nigeria, the country would by now be past the stage where the present government has to begin building the nation afresh from the ground up. 
Opera, who spoke on behalf of the group, said Obasanjo’s failure to build systems and institutions with preference for being the strong man has done untold damage to the psyche of the nation.
 

She said the group would mobilize other Nigerian women to join forces together so President Buhari would return in 2019 just to finish what he started.
She said, “We understand that the war on corruption has limited access to slush funds for all Nigerians, which has in turn caused people to tighten their belts and reassess their economic choices. The chorus of hard times across the land is therefore understandable in the context of people having to re-learn allocating resources based on their genuine incomes. It is however reassuring that the decision that gave rise to this feeling of doom will eventually lead to sunny times ahead.
 

“The Freedom Rally for One Nigeria is further to remind us all that we should not allow those who once tried to destroy the country to succeed. Such people have been trying to use the impact of the anti-corruption war to incite Nigerians against the government and against themselves. We have seen them bellyaching and daily creating the impression that we are not making progress as a country while the reverse is the case.  
 

“Progress is being made under the government of President Buhari and the Freedom Rally for One Nigeria aligns totally with this progress. We are for progress and development under President Buhari. It is something we want to continue. But unfortunately, those that have truncated the fortunes of the country want to be allowed to keep sabotaging the country.
 

“Most tragically but unsurprisingly, a former president, Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo, is the arrowhead of this misguided group. He has used the pedestal of the esteemed office he once occupied as a platform to launch attacks on a government that has succeeded in delivering to Nigerians what he failed to deliver in the eight years he led the country and things his party was not been able to deliver in the sixteen years it held Nigeria hostage. Had Obasanjo and his party laid the right foundation for Nigeria, the country would by now be past the stage where the present government has to begin building the nation afresh from the ground up. 
 

“Obasanjo’s failure to build systems and institutions with preference for being the strong man has done untold damage to the psyche of the nation. The present administration is constrained to begin rebuilding critical national institutions while reintroducing systems that should have been in place long before it came into office. We do not want to venture into the parlous state of critical national infrastructure that are only now being built. Yet, in those eight and sixteen years, the country was bled dry, verging on the point of death while the enemies of the land pretended to be making giant strides.
 

“We are also aware that while Obasanjo appears to be attacking President Buhari, his main target is Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who he is afraid will soon surpass him in stature as a leader in the region. Obasanjo’s hatred for Osinbajo and other Yoruba politicians has pushed him to the extreme and he does not mind burning down the whole country with his utterances so long as he can hurt the government in which the Vice President is a part. Proof of this is in his lack of fairness in criticising the current administration as a way of insulting Professor Osinbajo. 
 

This Freedom Rally for One Nigeria therefore categorically state that it is time for Dr. Obasanjo to keep quiet and let Nigeria work and succeed for Nigerians. If he is bored and is desirous of catching fun as a drama king he should find a past time that do not entail acting the role of the shadow president. We prescribe for him to productively use the excess time he has on his hands in sorting out the dysfunction in his immediate and extended family. If he has not been successful in averting the failings in his immediate family we wonder what qualified him to have led Nigeria in the first place because the mess he made of the country is reflective of the failure he has been in the most basic enterprise for a man, which is the running of a family.
 

“We appeal to President Buhari to focus on the task of rescuing Nigeria form the stranglehold of the likes of Obasanjo while he remains undeterred by the attacks. We further urge Mr. President to acknowledge that the time for niceties are over as the reality on ground demands that the nation gets to the root of its problems without fail. For instance, we know that the violence affecting part of the country is not unconnected with the tendency for certain people with influence to maintain killer squads, which get out of control once their sponsors are out of power. It is on record that Obasanjo introduced the culture of organizing, training and arming such squads during his ill-fated third term bid.
 

“Mr President should henceforth allow the relevant security and anti-corruption agencies dispense with the requirement to un-necessarily treat former Presidents as untouchables so that the anti-terror and anti-corruption wars can go on successfully. This is especially so when they have been proven to be strategic to the continued unity of the country as the corrupt people are the ones financing terrorists and separatists that are bent on destroying the country.
 

“With this Freedom Rally for One Nigeria we affirm that we will not allow evil people triumph over us neither shall we allow them partition our dear country. Long live Nigeria. We therefore conclude this address by declaring our support for President Muhammadu Buhari and his able Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. We urge them to ignore Obasanjo, who the electorate in the south-west do not know because of his unbridled greed. The Presidency has our assurance that we will take up protests to every single location associated with Obasanjo if he continues to attack the leadership of the country. “

Youth Alliance To Farooq Kperogi; “Your Blackmail Won't Stop Obono-Obla From Doing His Work”

Okoi Obono-Obla

The  Integrity Youth Alliance said her attention has been drawn to a false article titled "Corruption Fighting Corruption: The tragicomic case of Obono-Obla" by one Farooq Kperogi blackmailing the amiable Okoi Obono-Obla, Special Assistant to the President on Prosecutions and Head of Special Investigation Panel for Recovery of Public Property.

In a press released jointly signed by the National Coordinator, Integrity Youth Alliance Kelvin Adegbenga and Publicity Secretary, Integrity Youth Alliance, Danjuma Lamido, they said that there is no iota of truth in all the allegations again Okoi Obono-Obla.

“The claim by Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) that Obono-Obla possibly stole his dead relative’s “O” level certificate in 1982, fudged it to include Literature in English, which the dead relative didn’t sit for, used the result to gain admission to the university, and then changed his name decades later is total false.

The group further said that those sponsoring all the false information again Okoi Obono-Obla have failed as the war against corruption must be fought to a logical conclusion.

“No amount of blackmail will stop Okoi Obono-Obla from doing the excellent work he has been doing and results already taking place.

The group further reiterated that some powerful looters are using the House of Representatives’ ad hoc committee that investigated the legality of the operations of the special investigation panel for the recovery of public property to cover up their stolen wealth.

“We also called on West Africa Examinations Council not to dance to the intrinsic of those looters conniving with the House of Representatives to blackmail Okoi Obono-Obla as we will occupy their office soon and tagged them corruption agents

“It is total false, nobody instructed Obla to seek clearance from the AGF before granting any media interview or making press releases on official matters.

“He was neither directed to promptly provide a detailed up-to-date report on the activities of the panel to the Minister for onward transmission to the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the statement concluded.