Tears, curses as Eleweomo is buried

 

Alhaji Lateef Salako (aka Eleweomo)

The remains of the former leader of the Oyo State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Lateef Salako (aka Eleweomo), slain in Ibadan on Thursday, were interred yesterday at his residence in Amuloko, Akanran Road, Ibadan.

The representatives of the Oyo State government and the national leadership of NURTW were in attendance and they both called on the union members to let  orderliness and peace reign in the state.
During the burial, admirers of the late union leader wept and cursed the killers of their mentor.
The body was taken from the Adeoyo State Hospital Mortuary around 11.00 a.m and taken through Beere-Elekuro-Orita-Aperin-Olorunsogo.
The special adviser to the governor on political matters, Mr. Asimiyu Alarape, said government would do everything possible to help the police in unravelling he mystery surrounding the death of the union leader.
Speaking in the same vein, the national president of NURTW, Nurudeen Usman,  said, ‘’I want to appeal to the security agencies in the country to ensure that the death of Eleweomo is properly investigated and whoever is involved be brought to justice no matter his or status in the society’’.
Meanwhile, Oyo State Police Command has arrested and detained the four security operatives attached to the Senate leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, over the killing of Eleweomo.
This was disclosed  by Senator Lekan Balogun, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),  who is opposed to the second term bid of Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala while speaking with newsmen in Ibadan.
Salako was killed on Thursday during the local government congress ordered by the National Working Committee of the PDP following the controversy that greeted the old state executive of the party.
Following the death of the union leader, the police had invited the Senate leader to explain what transpired even though he had repeatedly said he did not see Salako nor had any confrontation with him on the day he was killed.

Source:http://www.vanguardngr.com

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Akala gets condition for second term

 The Oyo State governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala.

One of the founding members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo state,Yekini Adeojo, at the weekend, gave Oyo State governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala a condition he should meet before he gets needed support for his second term ambition.

Speaking with journalists at his Iyaganku Quarters residence in Ibadan, Mr Adeojo said if the governor could survive a fraud-free primaries and emerge the flagbearer of the party for the 2011 governorship election in the state, he will wholeheartedly support his ambition.

He, however, described the feat as gargantua, saying it has almost become a taboo going by the history of successive governors in the state from its inception.

"It is a taboo for Akala to say he wants to do it twice. Alao-Akala cannot do it twice. Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Samuel Akintola and Chief Bola Ige who actually performed well did not succeed.Somehow, they all fell," he said.

A former governorship aspirant in the state, Mr Adeojo condemned Mr Alao-Akala for allegedly disrespecting the national leadership of the party by not personally attending a meeting called to harmonise all factions of the PDP within the party in the state last week.

Act unbecoming

The governor was said to have sent Olayiwola Olakojo, secretary to the state government and one other person, to represent him at a meeting organised by Okwesilieze Nwodo, PDP national chairman,to iron out issues on the crisis rocking the party in the state.

"If Akala emerges after the party leadership at the national has intervened and successfully harmonised all the groups, I will campaign for him. But, we are not going to primaries with those old Oyo state executives because they have been declared illegal by the INEC. The governor is not bigger than the party because it is the party that made him. If a party called him and he did not honour it, it shows he doesn't have respect for the party," Mr Adeojo said.

The politician said the governor's attitude is unbecoming of a man who rose to the top through the help of the party.

Though he said he would not want to say unpleasant things about the governor,whom he referred to as a brother, Mr Adeojo averred that it is a bad showing for the governor to want to place himself above the party after coming to the limelight through it.

While boasting that he was instrumental to the emergence of Mr Alao Akala as the governor, Mr Adeojo, one of the notable members of the coalition against the second term of the governor, said he will like to witness a renewed harmony among the factions within the party.

Source:http://234next.com

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Why I want Akala’s job, by Gbolarumi

Until we began to hear discordant tunes from him, Alhaji Azeem Gbolarumi was one of the confidants of Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State. His ‘role’ in the impeachment of Senator Rashidi Ladoja and the installation of Governor Akala was quite noticeable.
No wonder, he was rewarded and made the Deputy Governor then. After the governor eventually won the real election in 2007, he was in support. In this interview with Vanguard’s OLA AJAYI, he spoke on why he parted ways with Gov. Akala. Excerpts:
Before the death of Chief Lamidi Adedibu, his political structure was very strong. Now that Chief Adedibu is dead, it is like the structure has crumbled? What went wrong?
It is very normal. That is how it should be. You know when Jesus Christ was not physically present on earth again, his disciples went different ways. The way it is, we will still work together.
With the cold war between you and Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, do you think you  two can work together again?
We are members of the same political party which means we are from the same political family. It is normal the way things are now. At the end of the day, we will work together after the primaries and vote for the winner.
Some people believe that it is only a Gbolarumi that can match Akala strength for strength in the election and that is why you have been picked to face him?
That is a fallacy. Who is Gbolarumi. Many people can tackle the incumbent governor.
But, you were instrumental to his emergence as the governor?
Yes. I played a major role then. I can say it anywhere, anytime and any day that I contributed immensely to his success as a governor. Anybody can tackle Governor Akala. For anybody to say it is only Gbolarumi that can tackle him is a mere flattery.
During his 11 months stay as governor, you were his deputy, now that he is going for the second term bid, many people think you should join hands with him to get re-elected.
No, he has played his part. He should leave for other people to govern too. So, what is he doing there again?
That means you are one of those who don’t want him to get the second term ticket.
I don’t think people can allow him to go for the second term.
But, why this sudden separation between you and the governor. When he was sworn in, you always stood by him. There were times I saw you with him. Why is it that you suddenly turned your back?
We have not parted. It is only we…..(long pause). It is only we differ in some beliefs. For instance, what he is saying is that he wants to go for second term, no, it is not even second term, it is third term. He did the first time during the 11 months, and this is another term which is the second term. It is never done.
But, the Supreme Court said it did not recognise his government during the 11 months?
Did he return the money he received? What about other things he enjoyed? Nobody can take that from him that he is a two-term governor. Since he cannot return the money he collected and the benefits he enjoyed, he has done it already and that is all.
He was sworn in on those two occasions. Would he now be sworn in the third time?
Why is it that you are not so close again?
When you saw me there, he invited me. But, now he doesn’t invite me again. He has not called me.
When last did you see him?
Uuhhh….I think I saw him about two months ago. And we discussed.
But, you cannot deny the fact that there is cold war between the two of you?
I don’t think so. I’m not fighting Akala. It is only I’m fighting for that governorship seat.
Why don’t you support him to go for the second term ticket?
It is third term. Don’t say second term again. He has been sworn in two times. You want him to be sworn in the third time. It is not done. I think it is better for him to leave that office for others.
Sometime ago,  you said he could go for second term sorry, third term, according to you. Why did you suddenly withdraw your support for him?
May be by that time, I was not with myself or may be because of the interest we shared then. You know, if you love a woman, you tell her that you have never seen someone as beautiful as she is. But when you go out, you see so many women more beautiful than her.
You now say, oh is it true that I can see a better woman? People say I should come and contest  for the Oyo State government seat. You know I have been busy these days with my law programme. But, opinion leaders said I should go out and contest. What would I do other than to come out and do so.
You are supporting General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd)’s presidential ambition and Governor Akala is for President Goodluck Jonathan. Do you think this could generate ill-feelings between you and the governor?
No. It can’t. See Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State. He is a member of the Action Congress of Nigeria but he is working together with the president. That doesn’t matter.
What do you think is not being done well now and you will do it better when you get there?
Many things. The party has manifestos which have not been properly executed.
The governor and yourself belonged to the same Adedibu political structure, don’t you see the structure crumbling already?
Immediately Adedibu died, the governor removed many people loyal to man.  Look at Latinwo and others. He removed them and replaced them with others. It is unfair. He is just pretending. He has forgotten Adedibu who helped him to be where he is today. He has not done anything to immortalize Adedibu in this state. And Adedibu contributed one hundred percent to his success.
Everybody knows he is pretending. I doubt if God will eh eh….. I doubt.. if you bite the finger that fed you it is unfair.
A Yoruba adage says,  a river doesn’t forget its source and any river that forgets its source would dry up. The repercussion is there.  He is unfair to the old man.
You think he should have immortalized Adedibu?
Yes. But he has not done anything for him. Adedibu was not an ordinary person that should be forgotten so soon.

Source:http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/11/why-i-want-akala%E2%80%99s-job-by-gbolarumi/



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Oyo: Ladoja, Folarin, Balogun threaten to leave PDP

Senator Rashidi Ladoja
IBADAN—AS the leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State remains unresolved, some notable members of the party may have concluded to join hands with opposition to vote out the party.
Already, a former Governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, the Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, Senator Lekan Balogun, Elder Wole Oyelese and Alhaji Yekini Adeojo have written a letter to the National Secretariat of the party warning them that if the crisis is not quickly resolved, they would have to leave the party.
While speaking with Vanguard yesterday, Ladoja said if the party leadership failed to resolve the crisis on time, they would not fold their arms and wait in the party.
He also added that the party would fail woefully if it failed to field authentic people in the state.

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Akala Seeks To Eject Journalists From Secretariat

Adebayo Alao-Akala.
Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State today asked the court to eject journalists  from the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, secretariat situated at Iyaganku Area of  Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

In a suit filed at Rent Tribunal, Zone 1, with  number 737/0 and signed by the  Deputy Director, Public Prosecution, Ministry of Justice, Secretariat, Ibadan, Mr.  L. A. Ganiyu, the government specifically asked the court to recover for it Quarters  699 situated at THE NUJ secretariat.
The building also houses International Institute of Journalism, Ibadan branch.
Akala claimed, according to an affidavit deposed to by Mrs. Funmilayo Akinseye of  Ministry of Justice, Oyo State  that though the quarters was initially allocated to  NUJ but on 13 May 2004, NUJ  voluntarily handed over the aforesaid quarters to the  government vide a letter dated same.
According to the affidavit, “Sequel to the vacation of Quarters 669, the quarters  was allocated to the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Oyo Chapter on  November 1st 2004. When the local government association was trying to renovate it,  NUJ took it over. Due to the resolution of the state government to sell her quarters  in various parts of the state, the government put machinery to dispose it off and  eventually get somebody to buy it.
“That quarters in question was bidded for by interested members of the public which  was won by the highest bidder who has fully paid for same but unable to take  possession of the quarters due to an unlawful and uncooperative attitude of the  respondent.”
However, the counsel to NUJ, Mr. Steve Ajibola James, urged the court to strike out  the case because the applicant was not serious, stressing that if the applicant is  serious he ought to be in court or send someone to represent him.
Steve told the court that the issue before the rent court is not rent matter rather  ownership matter, insisting that the property rightly belongs to journalists.
Meanwhile, the panel led by Mr. Bolarinwa Lawal advised that the applicant be given  an opportunity to be heard, adding that since it was the first time the case was  coming up, a date for hearing should be picked.
There were controversies over the adjourned date but the court eventually adjourned  the sitting till 22 November  2010.
P.M.NEWS gathered that Akala has vowed to recover the property from NUJ, saying that  he is not bothered about the consequences.
Sources close to the governor said that he wants to seize the property to cow the  press in the state because they have been reporting only negative news about him and  his government.

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Alao-Akala’s aide resigns over rift

Governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao Akala
The Vice-Chairman, Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim wing), Alhaji Abass Oloko, has resigned his appointment, citing the many rifts between the governor and prominent citizens of the state.

In his resignation letter sent through the board’s chairman, Alhaji Lukman Busari, to Governor Adebyao Alao-Akala, on Tuesday, Oloko attributed his resignation which he said was with immediate effect to “personal reasons.”

But few minutes later, after submitting the letter, Oloko, in company with the former Director-General, Akala/Yar’Adua 2007 Campaign Committee, Chief Yemi Aderibigbe, adduced three reasons for his resignation.

He said that he decided to quit following Alao-Akala’s unresolved rift with first class traditional rulers in the state such as the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana; the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III; and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oyewunmi Ajagungbade.

Read  more: http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20101013235515
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