Politics
[INTERVIEW] We Need To Retire Old Politicians In 2023 Elections- Olagunju, LP Senatorial Candidate For Kwara South
Honourable Abidoye Olagunju, the 2023 Kwara South Senatorial Candidate under Labour Party shares his life, political journey, aspirations and view with Biztellers in this exclusive interview.
Introduce Yourself, Sir
I am Honourable Abidoye Olagunju, the 2023 Kwara South Senatorial Candidate under Labour Party.
I hail from Igosun in Oyun Local Government Area where I attended primary school. I went to Oyun Baptist High School, Ijagbo in the same local government area before I proceeded to Tunland College, Benin-City. I subsequently went to the University of Ilorin where I had a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science.
I served as Whip at 200L, Clerk at 300 level and Senate President at 400 level.
I also have my Masters in Public Administration.
What Led You Into Politics?
Actually, I was born into politics. My father, Retired Chief Major Afolabi Olagunju from Igosun is a politician, and I studied politics in school, hence I felt the need to practicalise what I learned. I believe with my person and my knowledge we will deliver our people from the present bad government that we have in Kwara State and in Nigeria as a whole.
Why Labour Party?
I joined Labour Party few years back. In 2019, I contested as Kwara South Senatorial District Candidate under the party and in 2022 again I won the ticket to contest under the party.
You can find Labour Party all over the world; in the UK, US, Brazil and all other because it is an international party. It is a defined party and not a quark party.
Our major objective is that we believe in equity and we believe everybody must have a life.
We have been given the mandate to contest the Senatorial district to save our people from the present menace and I believe, with the support of the masses come February 2023, I will emerge as the elected senator for Kwara South by the grace of God.
What Is Your View Peter Obi’s Presidency?
My view about the presidency of Peter Obi is of the fact that people actually want to change the change, and if we are changing the change we believe a new set of politicians should come into power especially the South-Eastern part of the country should also rule Nigeria because you know we’ve been playing a partial politics all these while.
Now we felt the need for Igbo to come and rule Nigeria because Obi is a vibrant candidate and as the only young and highly intelligent candidate. We have seen what he did in Anambra during his tenure as a governor he will certainly deliver Nigeria from this present situation we find ourselves.
We want to industrialize the country again. We want a country where everybody will have what to do and where everybody will be earning a living. We want a country where we won’t be running helter-skelter again.
We pray and we hope and we plead with our people to please support the candidacy of Peter Obi and of every other candidate of Labour Party. By the grace of God, we won’t let you down.
What Should Your People Look Up To, If You Get Elected?
If I am elected as the senator of Kwara South District, my first bill would be on unemployment. I want what is practiced in the USA and UK be reciprocated here (Nigeria).
I want to sponsor a bill that will make provision for our unemployed youths that they will be paid stipend at the end of the month.
I will also raise another one for the senior citizens, that they will be paid at the end of every month, too and by so doing I know comfort will come to stay in our country. I believe when you know that something is constantly coming at the end of the month, it would be a succour to oneself. Crimes would drastically reduce. One will be able to eat, pay rents, buy clothes and other life amenities.
We will also work on the security. I am a member of Nigeria Vigilante Group, Local Hunters Association as well as adopted member of the OPC and these three groups are security networks that we can refer to as the community police. We will create a synergy among the three security networks to provide adequate security for our people within the Kwara South in order to curb menaces, kidnappings, stealing, robberies and other related crimes in our senatorial district.
We also want to work on our health facility. we want to make sure that we have hospitals in every ward within the Kwara South. We want to work on our road networks. We want to open up the villages so that the people living in rural areas will have access to our towns. They would be able to bring farm produce and buyers can go into villages to access whatever farm produce they want to buy.
We will harp community development projects. I understand that what works in Community A may not work in Community B, hence we will be asking people what they want us to do for them.
Furthermore, we will empower our farmers by giving them money to boost their farming activities. There will be availability of tractors, farm equipment and every other things will be available. By so doing, we know our economy will improve in Kwara State.
We will also work ‘ready-made market’ for our farmers: we’ll have standard market for whatever produced in Kwara South.
How Do You Feel About Other Contestants, Especially In The APC and PDP?
Actually, I am not bothered with the other contestants from the APC and PDP because I have had the opportunity to meet them in some public gatherings in Kwara state and I have told them that the first objective we youth have is to retire them from active politics, because all these our grandfathers that are contesting with the youths is unacceptable by us. We will use our votes to unseat and retire all old politicians because most of them are corrupt. We want a new system of government. We want to bring new blood into politics. The present government in Kwara south is a failure and I know our people are ready to vote him out. The PDP counterpart is not acceptable by the people, too.
I know by the grace of God that Labour Party is the party of the day and we are going to form synergy with all other third parties so that we will work together and win the coming election for Labour Party.
I believe that our youths, civil servants are ready to work with Labour Party. I know by the grace of God, victory will be ours come 2023.
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has warned against attempts to destabilize the peace and security of Igbajo by some group of people led by Prince Gboyega Famodun through conflicting Oroke festival days.
He directed security agencies to deal decisively with any trouble maker.
According to a government statement, issued in Osogbo, reports at the disposal of the government indicated an attempt by a faction belonging to Famodun to create conflict at Igbajo by fixing a different festival date from the one officially announced by the legal and officially crowned king of Igbajo, Oba Ademola Makinde.
An effort, it noted was designed to create violence and crisis in the peaceful town of Igbajo.
As a government, the statement added, we reiterate that the Monarch of Igbajo today is Oba Ademola Makinde and the May 23rd already fixed for the Oroke Day Festival remains the sacrosanct date for the popular cultural and traditionally significant event.
“We note further that the Head of Igbajo traditional institution remains the present Owa of Igbajo, Oba Ademola Makinde and he is therefore empowered and entitled to fix the day for the Oroke festival. Actions of the Famodun faction is therefore against tradition and law and is therefore a nullity.
“In a bid to forestall breakdown of law and order and in line with my responsibility as the Chief Security Officer of Osun state, I direct security agencies to enforce the holding of the Oroke festival on the official date of May 23rd and to ensure no gathering is held on May 19th set by any other faction.
“The above directive and actions are taken to maintain peace and protect the ancient town from those hell-bent on manipulating the traditional institution to destabilize the state”, the Governor was quoted as saying,” he cautioned.
Adamawa State High Court’s Justice Benjamin Manji Lawan has issue an arrest warrant for suspended INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari.
The court instructed the Inspector General of Police to promptly apprehend Barrister Ari and present him in court to face trial on three charges.
This directive followed an application filed by the Adamawa State Government on April 16, 2024.
During the proceedings, Chief L. D. Nzadon, representing the complainant, informed the court that they were seeking an arrest warrant against the defendant.
Referring to Section 20, Subsection (1j) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2018, Chief Nzadon urged the court to utilize its authority and instruct the Inspector General of Police to apprehend the defendant, regardless of his location.
He explained that attempts to serve the defendant were unsuccessful, as the court’s bailiff had been in Bauchi State from May 2nd to May 4th, 2024, but couldn’t locate him.
In his ruling on the application, the judge noted that this was the third instance the case had been mentioned without the defendant present in court.
He acknowledged the complainant’s counsels’ explanation regarding their inability to serve Ari, suggesting that it seemed he was deliberately avoiding
The executives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Igbotako Ward II, Okitipupa local government area of Ondo State, have officially suspended Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, who represents Ondo South, citing alleged anti-party activities and insubordination.
The suspension notice was jointly signed by several ward executive members, including Omotoye Olusola, Bakere Usuf, Tore Obwoselu, Oloyinmi Idowu, Borewaye Louyomi, Oladipupo Bose, Alkimbobola Seyi, Lawal-Babatunde, Aritawe-Ademole, Akinkuoju Olarewaju, and Fabioye Ajoke.
Ibrahim’s suspension follows the recent APC governorship primary election in the state, where he faced defeat. Citing Article 21, Section A of the APC Constitution, the party executives justified their decision to suspend Senator Ibrahim.
The 16-member Executive Committee made this decision during a meeting held on Monday, May 13, 2024.
Additionally, the party recalled a prior meeting in Abuja, convened by the APC National Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, where all governorship aspirants were urged to cooperate with the party’s candidate and incumbent governor of the state, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Despite the suspension, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim proceeded to file a lawsuit against the governor and the APC, disregarding the party’s directives.
The letter, made public in Akure, the state capital, on Wednesday, states: “We, the members of the APC Executive Committee of Igbotako Ward II in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, convened a meeting on Monday, May 13th, 2024.”
“During our meeting, we deliberated extensively on various issues affecting the progress and development of our party, notably indiscipline and insubordination among some members.
“We have found Senator Jimoh Ibrahim’s actions and activities to violate the party’s constitution, particularly his decision to sue the party as well as his anti-party activities.
“As such, we have resolved to take appropriate disciplinary action against him as outlined in the party’s constitution. Senator Jimoh Folorunso Ibrahim is hereby suspended from the All Progressives Congress (APC) with immediate effect for acts of insubordination and anti-party activities By Article 21, Section A of the APC Constitution.
“It is worth recalling that the National Party Chairman of APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, met with all Ondo State governorship aspirants on April 25th, 2024, in Abuja
“During the meeting, he urged them to cooperate with the party’s candidate and incumbent Governor of Ondo State, Honorable Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa. Despite this, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunso proceeded to sue the Governor and APC, blatantly disregarding party instructions.
“Additionally, he has engaged in anti-party activities by urging his supporters in Igbotako and Ondo State to join NNPP, claiming he will soon receive the gubernatorial ticket from them.
“Senator Jimoh has openly declared his intent to disrupt APC before leaving the party, as evidenced by his actions in the Federal High Court in Abuja and his derogatory remarks about APC in various media outlets.
“For emphasis, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunso has been suspended from the All Progressives Congress (APC) with immediate effect, and he is hereby prohibited from participating in any APC activities nationwide.” the letter added
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