Politics
Diaspora Groups Commend Adeleke’s Mining Reforms, Initiatives
Several diaspora groups have described the mining reforms and other good governance initiatives of Governor Ademola Adeleke as “impressive” and “unprecedented” since the creation of Osun State.
Gov Adeleke hosted several leaders and indigenes of Osun in London, while on transit to Nigeria in the United Kingdom, after attending a livestock conference in Northern France.
The diaspora groups took the opportunity to list several sectors, where in their opinions, Gov Adeleke has placed the state on global map of good governance.
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A group called Osun UK Professionals led by Bimbo Adekemi expressed surprise at the fast pace at which the Governor has been pursuing infrastructure upgrade across the state at a time of tight economic situation across Nigeria.
The group noted that pursuing infra upgrade is a smart way of jumpstarting the local economy and ease environment of doing business to attract investment into the state.
The group particularly commended the courage of Gov Adeleke for demanding Osun’s rights from mining companies operating in the state, citing ongoing faceoff with Thors Explorations Limited as “a courageous move by selfless leader.
“We note the demand notice on the Thors Explorations as a bold move by a state Governor. Where others pursue under the table deals, Governor Adeleke is seeking due payments into the coffer of Osun state. This is about the first time we will see a Governor not asking for gold bars from mining companies but is seeking validation of state shareholding, payment of PAYE as demanded by law and calling out mining firms on degradation of the environment.
“We salute the courage of Mr Governor in his drive to secure state economic assets. Please don’t give up in your multiples efforts to deliver good governance. Many of us here are encouraged to look back home for home bound investment”, Mrs Adekemi noted.
Another group, named Osun UK Royal Group led by Timileyin Oluyemi Ajayi from Ijeshaland said Gov Adeleke has raised the hope of many Osun indigenes in Europe by his delivery of good programmes in digital economy, health, education, agriculture, climate change and infrastructure.
“Your Excellency, we praise your commitment to public service and your visionary approach to governance. We read all you are doing and our members visited home and also came back with reports of your touching so many areas, towns and villages. We are proud to call ourselves Osun indigenes.
“You have giving Osun new tech policy, new energy policy, new procurement policy, new cocoa and cashew initiatives among others. You are doing so much in empowerment and cooperatives with billions being disbursed to grassroots businesses and artisans.
“You are paying billions of naira in pension and salary debt. Workers welfare is a priority area you have delivered so excellently well. To imagine you have done so much under less than two years is an amazing testimony. We will head home to register to vote ahead of the 2026 governorship election, Prince Oluyemi posited on behalf of the group.
While receiving the various Osun indegenes in London, Gov Adeleke expressed delight at the positive feedback from the diaspora community, assuring that his administration is poised to do more in service of the people.
Describing his main goal as selfless service, Gov Adeleke repeated that leadership is about service and that he is running a race to uplift Osun and her people as quickly as possible.
“We are less than two years in office. We are running a good governance race. I seek to deliver a four-year plan within less than allotted time. The reason is Osun demands urgent actions to fill in the massive developmental gap.
“We need you to join hands with us. Be agents of development by marketing Osun in the diaspora. Set up your business at home. Give back to the community. I promise to ramp up delivery of programmes and projects even as we near two years in office by November 27”, the Governor was quoted as saying.
Governor Adeleke has since returned to Nigeria.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun the public display of the personal particulars and academic credentials submitted by candidates for the 2027 general elections, starting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The exercise commenced on Saturday in line with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which requires the electoral body to publish candidates’ nomination documents within 21 days of receiving them.
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Documents contained in Form EC9 show that President Tinubu submitted a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University, United States. His transcript indicates the degree was awarded with honours on June 22, 1979.
The records also include his National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate, showing he served in Oyo State between December 1982 and November 1983.
According to the nomination form, Tinubu’s employment history includes Mobil Nigeria Limited, where he worked from 1983 to 1992 before leaving for “advancement,” the Lagos State Government, where he served until the “legal end of tenure” in 2007, and the Federal Government, where he has served since assuming office in 2023.
The form lists his date of birth as March 29, 1952, his place of birth as Lagos, and his occupation as a politician. While his university qualification is fully stated, the years for his primary and secondary education were entered as “0000.”
Vice President Shettima’s documents outline his educational journey from primary school to postgraduate studies. Records show he attended Lamisula I Primary School between 1972 and 1978 before moving to Government Secondary School, Potiskum, where he obtained his WAEC certificate in 1983.
He later graduated with a Second Class Upper degree in Agriculture from the University of Maiduguri in 1989 and went on to earn a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan.
His NYSC discharge certificate shows he completed national service between October 1989 and October 1990.
Explaining the exercise, INEC stated that “Form EC9 contains the credentials, personal particulars and affidavits submitted by candidates sponsored by political parties.”
The commission said the documents have been displayed at its offices nationwide to allow members of the public to inspect them.
It also reminded Nigerians that the Electoral Act permits interested persons to obtain certified true copies of nomination documents and seek legal redress where allegations of false declaration or forgery arise.
Meanwhile, campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled to begin on August 19, while campaigns for governorship and state assembly elections will commence later in accordance with the commission’s revised timetable.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has dismissed claims that the ruling party is responsible for the internal crises and defections rocking opposition parties, insisting that Peter Obi’s history of switching political parties predates the APC government.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday, Yilwatda said Obi had been changing political platforms since 2014 and was never forced out of any party by the APC.
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Responding to allegations that the ruling party had orchestrated divisions within opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, Yilwatda maintained that the APC had no role in Obi’s departures from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), or his eventual move to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
“Nobody in APC chased Peter Obi out of PDP. Nobody from APC chased Obi out of the Labour Party. Nobody in APC chased him out of the Labour Party to ADC or chased him out of ADC again to NDC,” he said.
He added that Obi’s pattern of changing political parties began long before the APC assumed power.
“He started moving from his party long before now, during the time of President Jonathan in 2014. It means that APC has been the person chasing him from 2015 till date, when we were even opposition?” Yilwatda said.
The APC chairman described the challenges facing opposition parties as self-inflicted, arguing that many politicians frequently move from one political platform to another in search of opportunities.
“This is a group of people who have a self-inflicted wound. Every day, they move from party to party,” he stated.
Yilwatda also claimed that Obi left the ADC after discovering he could not secure an automatic presidential ticket before joining the NDC, where he eventually emerged as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
“When he left Labour Party, he moved to ADC. He came to ADC, he discovered that he couldn’t get an automatic ticket. That’s why he left to NDC. And in NDC now, he has gotten his ticket,” he said.
He argued that if the APC truly intended to destabilise Obi politically, the ruling party would have prevented him from obtaining the NDC presidential ticket.
Yilwatda further denied allegations that APC members had infiltrated opposition parties to create instability.
“There’s no single member of APC that is in ADC. No single member of APC that is in NDC,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that persuading politicians from other parties to join the APC is part of his responsibility as national chairman.
“Of course, we do it. We move around. That’s even the role. That’s my role as national party chairman. It’s part of my role… To galvanise and mobilise the party,” he added.
The APC chairman also dismissed suggestions that politicians who defect to the ruling party are shielded from corruption investigations.
“Never. Most people who are in APC have still been prosecuted,” he said.
His remarks come amid continued accusations by Obi and other opposition leaders that the APC is fuelling internal crises within rival parties as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially inaugurated its National Campaign Council for the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election, declaring the contest a “must-win” battle and a major test of the party’s preparedness for the 2027 general elections.
The 276-member campaign council, chaired by Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, was inaugurated in Abuja on Tuesday by APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda.
Speaking at the event, Yilwatda said the APC would deploy its extensive political structures, grassroots network and campaign machinery across Osun State to secure victory for its governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO.
SEE MORE:Osun Violence: APC Breaks Silence, Denies Role in Killings
Describing the APC as Nigeria’s strongest political party, Yilwatda said its large number of governors, lawmakers, local government officials and party leaders positioned it to win elections at every level.
“The APC has all it takes to win elections in Nigeria — from councillorship and local government elections to governorship and presidential elections in 2027,” he said.
The APC chairman described the Osun governorship election as the party’s final electoral outing before the 2027 general elections, stressing that it would serve as a rehearsal for the nationwide campaigns.
“This is our litmus test. It will measure our level of preparedness for 2027. It will be our practice ground and our rehearsal for the political machine we are preparing for the general election.
“That is why winning the Osun election is a must for the APC,” Yilwatda added.
He disclosed that the party would embark on aggressive grassroots mobilisation through person-to-person and house-to-house campaigns across the state, with governors, members of the National Assembly, state lawmakers, local government chairmen and councillors participating in the exercise.
Chairman of the campaign council, Hope Uzodimma, described the assignment as “a call to service” and urged party members to remain united while running a peaceful, issue-based campaign.
“Our assignment is clear: to listen to the people of Osun State, speak to their hopes and aspirations, earn their confidence and convince them to vote for the APC and our governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
“Our unity must be our first campaign message because a united party is the strongest foundation for victory,” Uzodimma said.
He also pledged that the campaign would not be distracted by misinformation or political attacks.
“We will answer falsehood with facts, propaganda with performance and provocation with peace,” he said.
APC governorship candidate, Munirudeen Oyebamiji, said the party had intensified consultations with traditional rulers, market leaders, youths, students, artisans, professionals, women and religious leaders across Osun State.
According to him, the engagements have boosted confidence that the APC is well-positioned to reclaim the state.
“Across these engagements, one message has been consistent and clear: the people of Osun State can no longer afford another day of the current administration beyond November 27, 2026.
“With less than two weeks to the election, I am delighted to report that our prosperity message has been received with uncommon excitement. Osun is ready to return to the path of progressive governance, responsible leadership and sustainable development,” Oyebamiji said.
He expressed confidence that the APC would reclaim the governorship through democratic means, citing the party’s growing support across the state’s three senatorial districts, nine federal constituencies, 30 local government areas, 332 political wards and 3,762 polling units.
The inauguration was attended by several APC leaders, including pioneer National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande, former National Secretary Senator Iyiola Omisore, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru and other party stakeholders.
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