Oke-Ogun APC leaders endorse Adebutu, Akinlade

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oke-Ogun axis of Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State have endorsed the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Ladi Adebutu and his running mate, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade.

The APC leaders gave the endorsement at a meeting held on Monday.

According to them, the decision to join forces with Adebutu was born out of the need to reset Ogun and save the State from the incumbent Gov Dapo Abiodun, under whom the state is heading towards the wrong path.

The APC leaders regretted that the Abiodun government has neglected Oke-Ogun and the entire Abeokuta North since he came on board, saying this must not continue for another four years.

They vowed to mobilise votes for Adebutu and his running mate, Akinlade in 2023.

Leaders at the meeting include: Chief Major Adejimi Dede; Hon Ibikunle Bayowa; Hon Taored Salami: Hon Sola Adebesin; Hon Abegunrin; Hon Fagbenro Mukaila (AKA ASA); Hon Oluleye Taiwo; Olurebi Adebowale; Adams Kantey; Akeem Adigun and others.

How Nigeria Lost Creation Of One Million Jobs In 2021 – By Dr. Gbenga Adeoye

I hear stories of how young Nigerians leave in droves to other countries in search of greener pasture.

2.There is hardly no week without a call coming from people who want to relocate.

3. Some have good jobs and in their case, it is about looking for another working system....System that are predictable...with Public wealth.. 

4.Most of those leaving are people who concluded there is no hope for them here.Their perception may be justified based on their experience.

5.Having laid this foundation, it is important to itemise things we MUST STOP forever and things we MUST DO URGENTLY .

6.I was privileged to know entities set up with less than N10b from land to Equipment and initial working capital now creating about 1000 direct and indirect jobs.

7.If we look at  the N20,000 meant for 1,000 youths in 774 local government for three months , it would have amounted to N46,440,000,000.

8. By adding just N13,560,000,000 it would have amounted to N60b.

9.We could have set up  six factories based on comparative advantage in each geopolitical zone.Some argued with me that...oh...Government cannot run any business successfully ...The answer is NO.We could have handed it over to Professionals even if they are foreigners.As a matter of fact, we can ask them to double capacity every 5 years by establishing one more in the respective zone.

10.Empirical Data available to me shows clearly that entities established with up to N10b could generate over 20b revenue annually.

11.Instead of 774,000 people to get N20,000 for three months and thereafter return to poverty...There is a better option in perpetuity. 

12.We could have successfully mop 1m people out of unemployment forever through direct and indirect jobs.

13.Assuming we flow along this direction of long term and enduring policies, It means that by 2026, if we are able to double that expansion, another 1m employment would have been created.

14.I know this is a possibility and I know it is not Rocket  Science and I know many intelligent Nigerians who knows that this is achievable without needing any Rocket Science or some sorts of magic...Just critical thinking and implementation. 

15.Giving N20,000 or any of such amount for three months  does not eradicate poverty.

16. I have seen with my eyes, direct investment in serious manufacturing sector with figures less than the N10b doing turnover in excess of the projection I stated above....Most Financial  Consultants will be my witness on this fact.

17. We could also say, for 10 years, all tax payable would be ploughed back into a plan to double the business and employment every five years. Hence the Tax Holiday will be to achieve massive creation of jobs.

18. Imagine we do this consistently for 20 years...Just with the seed investment of  N60b , we would have  successfully reduce unemployment by 16m ..( Year One 1m jobs, year five 2m jobs, year Ten, 4m jobs, Year  Fifteen 8m jobs, Year Twenty 16m jobs.)

19. This analysis is based on the current challenges with power .If we deliberately and aggressively address power,  it means we could do more as cost of energy would have reduce and as such, the capacity could increase leading to higher rate in terms of expansion every five years.

20. China actually embarked on these type of aggressive setting up of factories by providing INTEREST FREE LOANS to companies to do this. Imagine we say instead of paying back..just keep expanding..They were able to make 100m Chinese millionaires and they are not stopping at all.

21. Another way to do this is by promoting Vertical Mergers which is a merger of entities producing complimentary goods or providing complimentary services to achieve economy  of scales.

22. I therefore urge whoever becomes the next president or let me say all the Presidential Candidates to start collating data on the following : 

1 What can we produce or do in each Geo Political Zones...?South West, South South, South East, North Central, North East and North West.?

2.What is the volume of raw materials available in such areas.? What type of skills do they have in abundance there.?

3.How much do we need to set up a standard company with collaboration with Nigerians in diaspora in such a way that each factory can create 1000 direct and indirect job.?

4.How best can we structure the entities legally with water tight clauses to avoid political influence and nepotism that will result in  mismanagement that characterised government owned entities in the past.( Nigerian Airways as an example of failed Government  business but we can safeguard such failure now )

5.How do we ensure that state government get actively involved.?They own the land anyway .

23.Let me conclude by stating that as fearful as it may sound to most Governors (excluding Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Kaduna and Kano and perhaps any other state with reasonable IGR). We can close our eyes and in my considered opinion I think we should plan to close that eyes and do it soon and  foreclose sharing in a given month.

24.If we decide that one month every year for the next 5 years, we would not share anything directly to any state account or local government but this funds will go into a trust fund that will be used to set up enduring factories and entities such as mentioned above...Then we would be close to our deliverance....We may say 20% of what is available for sharing will be taken out for this purpose...Imagine in months when we share 600b...our 60b is just 10%. What a wonderful success that will follow .!!!

25 Safeguards from corruption will be that we would not  keep the money in any fixed Deposit account but to start working immediately with time table set for each milestone.( Or else some guys could start collecting cash interest into their pocket  for the fund to remain idle for years.)

26.State Governors can be asked to set aside land for factory  clusters considering what is good for the kind of comparative advantage of their respective states in each local government.

 27.As we focus on the coming generation by the end of 2050, which is just 28 years from now, ( it is not far away...1994 was 28 years ago..We watched Tunishia 94 ...it is like yesterday) each local government can have entities that can comfortably employ most of the youths.

If 20 year gives us 16m jobs, every five years we double the base for each year...by end of 25 years...we would have 32m jobs...By end of 30 years we would have 64m....If we start now...by 2052 ...64m jobs would have been created.We must be deliberate with affirmative actions.

28.There are low hanging fruits we can attack immediately. 

This is doable if we set out for it.

29.Finally here...My projection of generating revenue of over 20b with an entity set up with 10b is modest based on what I know.Am also sure many people in Nigeria also know this.

30 .While we pursue this, I want to beg our people in government to be consistent with good policies.Stop all forms of harassment of businesses either on the road or in their premises.

Encourage Friendly Tax Compliance mechanism like VAIDS introduced by Kemi Adeosun..Even though it is painful that FIRS slept off on this and woke up five years later to start talking about VAIDS..I will rather suggest we introduce a second scheme of VAIDS...to bring additional people on board ..If you do not know what to do...Many of us love this country we are  willing to offer free service to move the country forward and those who thought the policy out are alive and  reachable...We need collaboration with those that have served before now to revive good policies that are dead.

31.In the words of Mr Kayode Sofela (a legal ICON), on Friday 8th July, 2022 during a mentoring lecture in Victoria Island Lagos, we must embrace Design Thinking by having proper understanding of the  problem , leading to ideation and we must subject those ideas to test but we must implement same using the information available to us while defining the situation to Chart a course of action from among the alternatives by thinking on our fit and out of the box.

32.Toyota has one of the best advert I love....GOOD THINKING...GOOD PRODUCT.

We must think out of the box and the time is NOW .

Like the youths will say. WE MOVE ....BUT I WILL SAY , LET US MOVE AND WE MUST MOVE WITH SPEED....

The Author ;

Dr.Gbenga Adeoye holds a PhD in Management Accounting, a Bachelors Degree in Law( LLB).

An MSc.in Banking and Finance, a diploma in Criminology and Security Studies, 

He was among Law Graduates admitted to Queen Mary School of Law for Master in  International Business Law at the University of London in 2020.

He is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators of UK and Nigeria (ACIArb)

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.(FCA) and a member of International Federation of Accountants ( IFAC).

He is a Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.( FCTI)

He was part of  3 Nigerians trained at Harvard Business School, Boston USA  on Innovation and Building New Businesses in Established  organisations in 2011 along with other CEO's and Heads of Strategy  from multinationals all over the world.

He is the founder and Principal Partner of Gbenga Adeoye & Co.(Chartered Accountants)

He is a member of Egba Economic Summit and Nigerian Economic Summit Group.

He is a member of  Professional Practice Committee (PPC) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.

He is also a contributor  to National Policy on Taxation, Development Economics  and Good Governance.

He is the founder of Gbenga Adeoye Foundation; an NGO focused on the eradication of poverty, ignorance and sickness in Nigeria especially in the rural areas.

He is Passionate about Social & Economic Development of Africa and Nigeria.

He believes the quality of people in leadership determines development in any country.

He can be reached via e mail : dga@gbengaadeoye.com

TEL : +(234)8034050773

Sokoto 2023: The Defections Galore - Bello Umar Riyoji

The recent wave of defections of political heavyweights leaving the APC to the PDP in Sokoto state is surely leaving so much to be desired. Despite the vitriolic lamentations of the APC establishment,  political pundits are sifting the moves as coming from all directions as a volte-face and signal of an impending political tsunami threatening the  entire foundation of the APC house in Sokoto. This is akin to a similar force that swept the old order in 2006/7,  coincidentally and retrospectively directing itself against  the same  group that  it ushered in, back then. The force depleted the powerful statuesque and power of incumbency of the Bafarawa hegemony and brought in that of Wamakko against all expectations. History has indeed a way of repeating itself. 

The APC leadership and its arrowhead,  H.E Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko seemed impregnable before 2019 general elections but the centre suddenly started to stop holding after that year’s primary elections purportedly won by the political godson of the leader,  Ahmed Aliyu. The leader however,  managed to  re assemble his house and forged ahead to enter the battle with H.E Aminu Waziri Tambuwal contesting and leading the PDP onslaught. The general public eventually decided the outcome in favour of the PDP and thus the underbelly of fowl started getting its feathers dismembered and today its body is finally being exposed.  

Some of the heavyweights that have just left the APC for the PDP in an elaborate ceremony beamed live on national TV nation wide  included the Speaker of the State House of Assembly,  three former  APC governorship candidates in the recent primaries,  two former ministers, two serving members of the House of Representatives,  two serving members of the  House of Assembly,  two former Ambassadors and several former commissioners under Wamakko, local leaders and tens of thousands of their supporters. Analysts are wondering if this is not  a Tsunami, what adjective could possibly be used to qualify it.

Many reasons have been attributed to this mass exodus and most are directed to the leader and his purported henchmen in the inner caucus.

The manner in which the entire leadership of the party evolved ab-intio has been a subject of rancour amongst the members of the party in general.  The general belief was that the local congresses that produced the ward,  local government and state executives were not done freely and were at the behest of the whims and caprice of the leader; otherwise,  you have to belong to emerge as an exco member. 

Ordinary party members and local leaders believed they have been short-changed and excluded in the election/selection process of its grassroots leadership.

Favouritism and deliberate patronage of only few members of the party in sharing proceeds of governance in contracts and appointments at both the state and the federal levels. The selective treatment of party members has caused a dearth of  members in droves. 

Leaders like the former ministers and former commissioners and former Ambassadors complained of deliberate excommunication and total exclusion in decision of party affairs orchestrated by certain cabal at the beck and call of the leader.  They particularly alleged that the leadership has refused to  advance their course and interest in securing federal appointments for them,  thereby leaving them helpless and courting the anger of thousands of their supporters who expect so much from them. They are particularly irked with the depth of alleged nepotism and crack favouritism  in securing appointments to deserving party chieftains and elites at the centre.  They also complained of being regulated to the background and levelled persona-non-grata in all affairs and decisions of the party. 

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The crux of the matter however,  remains the leader’s  alleged refusal to provide a level playing ground for interested party members in contesting various electoral positions in the last primary  elections for the 2023 coming general elections at all levels. This is in addition to coercion of delegates to vote for particular candidates under somewhat duress circumstances in primary elections where they hold at all.

Finally,  the three governorship candidates that detected unambiguously accused the leadership of supporting openly, the candidature of Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu against the others in brazen and shameful way that sells the party as a one man affair.  They alleged vote rigging and deliberate manipulation of the primaries process with active connivance of the election committee from Abuja. 

Be that as it may,  the APC as a party stands to lose as it is now, with the winds of the Tsunami blowing ferociously in the direction of a final destination at the front door of the PDP and the foot soldiers of The Right Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal are at the city gates receiving their most esteemed visitors and comrades.  Such is politics!

Owo massacre: Install CCTV in churches Ogun monarch, Eselu tells CAN President

The Eselu of Iselu, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, has written to the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Revd Supo Ayokunle, over the killing of many worshippers at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

Oba Akintunde, in the open letter addressed to the CAN President on Tuesday, advised that churches in the country should facilitate the deployment of 'closed-circuit televisions (CCTV) so as to constantly monitor movements into and out of worship centres. 

According to the letter signed by the First-class Oba, the video footage from the 'closed-circuit televisions (CCTV) would continually assist the church authorities to raise alarm to security agents when the need arises. 

Oba Akinyemi emphasised that the CAN should also mandate all churches in the country to purchase and use security gadgets to put a stop to gruesome killings in worship centres.

Saddened by the massacre of the church worshippers by yet-to-identified gunmen, the monarch described the incident as not only heinous, but sacrilegious, saying “we must all stand up more than before to vehemently condemn and reject the invasion of churches by unknown gunmen.”

Eselu stressed that the CAN should continue to condemn the acts of killing anyone, both Christians and Muslims under the pretence of blasphemy, stating that such incidents are indeed barbaric and unacceptable. 

He advised that all Nigerians should direct energy towards an outright stoppage of this madness in our dear country, Nigeria.”

He commiserated with Governor Rotimi Akeredolu; the Olowo of Owo Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin; the Christian community in Ondo State and Nigeria in general as well as the families of the worshippers, who were gruesomely murdered by the assailants.

He prayed God grant the families of the deceased the fortitude to bear these irrecoverable losses.

The letter reads partly: “CAN President, it is important to note that the Owo tragedy is capable of putting an unprecedented fear into the minds of the children of God and this alone can make them to desist from going to worship centres to pray to God. To me, we must not allow things to degenerate to that level where Christians will desist from congregating to worship God. 

“Your Eminence, it is, therefore, my sincere opinion that for the children of God to be courageous and feel safe, the Christian Association of Nigeria under your able leadership should put the safety of the children of God at the front burner. The Bible, in the book of Matthew 26:41, says "Watch and pray .... " It is good to pray fervently, but the scripture also asks us to be watchful. 

“In short, my admonition to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is that, as a matter of urgency, they should facilitate the deployment of some 'closed-circuit televisions (CCTV) to every church in the country so as to constantly monitor the movement into and out of worship centres. 

“The video footage from the 'closed-circuit televisions (CCTV) will continually assist the church authorities to raise alarm to security agents when the need arises. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) should also mandate all churches in the country to purchase and use security gadgets for thier protection.

“It is my belief that once this technology and other security gadgets are deployed in all churches across the country, the children of God will bodly and regularly congregate to worship the Almighty God.”

Showunmi: I remain Ogun PDP governorship candidate

The spokesperson to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar during the 2019 presidential election, Otunba Segun Showunmi, has insisted that he remains the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State.

Showunmi said he emerged winner of a primary election held at the NUJ Secretariat, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, on May 25.

But, the party in Ogun State has said the primary election conducted same day at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), which returned Mr Ladi Adebutu as the candidate, is the only recognised one.

On Thursday, the Chairman of the PDP in Ogun State, Sikirulahi Ogundele, stated that anyone who thinks he had won the party’s ticket through a parallel congress was only “living in fool's paradise.”

Reacting, Showunmi emphasised that he had no time to exchange words with anyone as he had been busy working on the strategy document for Ogun new deal.

The PDP chieftain maintained that he had met with a Jamaican, Dr Paul Bryant, whom he described as one of the best behavioural change strategists.

“While some were busy talking trash, I was busy with one of the best behavioural change strategists, Dr Paul Bryant, my Jamaican brother working on the strategy document on the Ogun New Deal with bold ideas,” he said.

Showunmi explained that Ogun needs behavioural change to stem the tide of ritual killings, cult clashes, kidnapping among others.

He promised to be the best governor Ogun has ever had if elected.

He disclosed that his concept paper is now being sent across the globe for input.

“I promise I will be the very best Governor Ogun State has ever had if you all are bold enough to send me. Our concept paper is now being sent to the best across the globe for input and some people who are totally without capacity think it's about them. I am so excited about what we plan to implement,” it was said.

FIRS Should Stop Promoting Unreasonable And Outdated Law On Fixed Asssets – By Gbenga Adeoye

1. In Nigeria of today, I respect some Government Agencies for their forward thinking and daily improvement in the use of Technology.

FIRS and Lagos State IRS is one of such.

2.Recently Ogun State IRS also upgraded the payment system such that when you want to pay your tax, a bill is generated and the bank account you will see on the invoice will show your name.

3.I pray that we would be able to continue and stop the STUPIDITY of stopping anything good once there is a change in government .

4. Few days ago, the entire country went on rage among Professionals over one circular emanating from FIRS asking Companies to ensure they obtain Acceptance Certificate for Qualifying Capital Expenditure of N500,000 and above.

5.This Law was made in the 70's when such threshold has a value of over N1.4b

The Industrial Inspectorate Act promogated in 1970 was relevant at that time but NOT in today's Nigeria.

6.As at that time the value of 1 Naira to US Dollar was $4.7260.

It means if you compare that with the value today and try to maintain the same position, the asset class that is used as bench-mark requiring such certificate is as analysed below:

7.N1,000,000 worth of Asset then will be $4,726,000. If you compare that with the exchange rate of today which has reversed through mismanagement of our Economy and Monetary Policy (by men who ought to face their duty of strengthning the system but allowed  greed and selfish interest to divert their attention from their responsibilities ) over the years what you get from  N1m worth of asset is about N2,835,600,000.

8.The implication of the above is that the only asset that qualify for any company to seek Acceptance Certficate is over  N1.4b.

Please note Billion and not million.

9.Apart from this, does it mean that in all these 23 years of the new unbroken democracy, nobody in the National Assembly saw any irrelevant provisions of this archaic law and deem it fit to make amendment or a complete deletion.? Anyway today is not to talk about what people like to do and why they want to go to National Assembly.

10.In a country where we hear noise of amendment everyday, where are my Colleagues (Chartered Accountants) in the National Assembly .?Those that have practiced before as Chartered Accountants ? Where are you ? 

11.Where are the Real Learned Men( Lawyers Called to Bar or even those with LLB) in the National Assembly ?

Why should we be going backward instead of going forward.?

12.Looking at it from another angle, the requirement of substantiating the value of Asset over the years does not require this archaic law.Third party document is enough as evidence to prove the asset value .

13.Another angle is to look at Ease of doing business, why do we enjoy or derive pleasure in disturbing people that are running our economy.( By that I mean employers of labour and people in the private sector .)?

14.Why do we enjoy adding to the burdens of people that we should be encouraging.?Where is the EASE OF DOING BUSINESS WE ALL NEED TO EMBRACE.?

15. If you buy just two laptops, one Printer and 1 table today, you are in excess of N500,000. 

Let us do the mathematics, for that you now need to go and apply for Acceptance Certificate and travel to Abuja from Lagos with the current Aviation fuel cost and airline ticket, you will spend about N350,000 for ticket and hotel which is almost  the value of N500,000 asset.

They will also come for inspection..wasting our dwindling resources on nonsense voyage that can only encourage corruption.

LET US STOP ALL THESE NONSENSE HERE PLEASE.

16. Where are the business minded men in the government. ?

The value of N1,000,000 dollar worth of asset when compared to what it was then in 1970  to the dollar is now like $1,667. Then it was $4 7m. 

The  implication of  that is that , such Law should not have a place here now at all.NOBODY Should talk about this or similar policy now.We have too many battles and stress to contend with .

17.FIRS is trying to do espirit de corp to make the Federal Inspectorate Division of Ministry of Trade happy or what ? Common!!!! We must stop this child's play and  get serious.

Why not tell State Government to demand the Tax Clearance Certificate of those who purchased N100m or 50m or 20m forms and get see what they paid in the last 10 years.

Then insist that anyone who could get a form of N100m should show tax payment evidence of N120m in 3 years...Then you will see those who can show face.

18.Let us stop adding more trouble to our people.We have enough crisis on diesel cost and lack of electricity than to be facing another trauma again.

19.Two  years ago some team started going from company to another  claiming they are from  ministry of labour and productivity .. What are they producing? 

They want to check the workforce and their welfare in private companies.

How many Government agencies, ministries and department have good toilet and flowing water, good table, good ceiling, YET SOMEONE IS BOLD to say he wants to check people who they should go and learn from.

Worst of it is that, at  that time,  Doctors and different bodies in government were on strike. Who should supervise who? Who should learn from who.? 

20.Some people will go round claiming to be fire service inspectors and so many other agencies whose house are not in order .

21.There are some government agencies that are not sure of when they will have light in their offices.Some have no printer,  no table, no chair and such agencies will say they are inspecting private companies they should beg to teach them how to run their affairs.

How can we just not have little shame and stop disturbing people that are creating jobs and the little  sanity we  have in the land.?

22.Everyday,  you just see different people sending letters out  in the name of one oversight or inspection or the other loaded with hidden Agenda.In fact beyond their terms of reference .

People just do what they like .In fact Police is getting better everyday.DSS is getting better daily.EFCC is gettng better everyday too but the civilian agencies of government accusing police, DSS and EFCC  are now the one causing trouble for people in Nigeria.Why? 

23.FIRS should withraw that circular and all men and women preparing to reap another set of fruits from the labour of pains of private companies in the name of OUTDATED & IRRELEVANT Acceptance Certificate should just go back to their office and think of how to develop Nigeria and not how to add to our pains.

Manufacturers Association of Nigeria(MAN) NECA and  SMEDAN should RESIST this forthwith.It cannot stand the test of time in this current crisis on Power, Exchange rate and many jeopardy on the economy.

I respect FIRS handling of things,  especially Technology like Tax Pro Max (which can be made better and better everyday) and as such should  not allow any agency to stain their  white clothe of development with RED OIL.

GOD BLESS NIGERIA.GOD BLESS THOSE CREATING JOBS AND PROVIDING PLATFORMS FOR OUR ECONOMY TO RUN.

The Author ;

Dr.Gbenga Adeoye holds a PhD in Management Accounting, a Bachelors Degree in Law( LLB).

An MSc.in Banking and Finance, a diploma in Criminology and Security Studies, 

He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in International Business Law from The University of London.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.(FCA) and a member of International Federation of Accountants ( IFAC).

He is a Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.( FCTI)

He was part of  3 Nigerians trained at Harvard Business School, Boston USA  on Innovation and Building New Businesses in Established  organisations in 2011 along with other CEO's and Heads of Strategy  from multinationals all over the world.

He is the founder and Principal Partner of Gbenga Adeoye & Co.(Chartered Accountants)

He is a member of Egba Economic Summit and Nigerian Economic Summit Group.

He is a member of  Professional Practice Committee (PPC) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. The Committee that brought a lot of innovations to  Practicing  Licence Processes of ICAN in 2021/2022 Presidential year.

He is also a contributor  to National Policy on Taxation, Development Economics  and Good Governance.

He is the founder of Gbenga Adeoye Foundation; an NGO focused on the eradication of poverty, ignorance and sickness in Nigeria especially in the rural areas.

He is Passionate about Social & Economic Development of Africa and Nigeria.

He believes the quality of people in leadership determines development in any country.

He can be reached via e mail : dga@gbengaadeoye.com

TEL : +(234)8034050773

2023: Why Abiodun can't be Ogun guber candidate – APC member writes Adamu

A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Ayodele Oludiran, has petitioned the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, telling him why Governor Dapo Abiodun should not be the candidate of the APC in 2023.

Oludiran, in the petition signed on April 12, said Abiodun’s candidacy would portend danger for the APC with the damning allegations against him.

According to an acknowledged copy of the petition sighted by our correspondent, Oludiran maintained that Abiodun was accused of “concealing criminal offenses he allegedly committed in the USA in the 1980s.”

The petition told Adamu that a former prominent member of the APC, who just decamped to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to procure a gubernatorial nomination form, has boasted to everyone that he has more compelling and damning documentary evidence, such as incident card and mugshot of Abiodun, in his possession. 

“This individual, also from the same Senatorial District as the subject matter, is confident that the incumbent will be disqualified by the courts to pave way for him to clinch the Governorship seat,” it was said.

In his words, Oludiran noted that there are discrepancies in Forms CF001 the governor filled in 2015 and 2019 with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“Excellency Sir, I note with grave concern that HE. Prince Adedapo Oluseun Abiodun’s actions and integrity are questionable; “while filling the columns for his educational qualifications in the INEC form CF001 for the office of Governor of Ogun State in 2019, under ‘Primary School Attended’, HE. Prince Adedapo Oluseun Abiodun recorded and claimed that he attended International Primary School Ayetoro in 1971, while in his 2015 INEC Form CF001, while vying to represent Ogun East at the Senate, he recorded and claimed to have attended another primary school, Comprehensive High School Ayetoro State Primary School, in the same 1971.

“All efforts to locate both schools, which would have been in the present Ekiti State or Ogun State - of the Old Western Region of Nigeria - proved impossible. 

“I submit that if he indeed had attended any of the above-stated schools, he would have been consistent while filling the INEC forms.

“His claim to have attended non-existent schools in 1971 also amounts to lying on oath and presenting a false certificate to INEC which are very potent grounds for disqualification as enshrined in Section 182 (1) (j) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.”

The APC member informed Adamu that “Abiodun's profile can only best be described as a bundle of consistent inconsistencies,” referring the APC Chairman to his Form CF001 submitted to INEC in 2015 where he indicated under oath that he attended the University of Ife (now known as Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1986.

However, Oludiran pointed out that in Form CF001 submitted to INEC in 2019, no mention was made of the University.

“My inquiries at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, revealed that HE, Prince Adedapo Oluseun Abiodun never even graduated from the University of Ife. It beggars belief why he would say he did in his form CF001 in 2015.

“No person shall be qualified for election to the Senate or the House of Representatives if: (i) he has presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission,” Oludiran said, quoting, Section 66(1)(i) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Also, Oludiran said “Abiodun lied about his indictment and imprisonment in 1986.”

He explained: “On July 12, 1986, an African American male, born on the 22nd of June 1959, who went by the name Shawn Michael Davis, was arrested at the American Express Travellers Office located at 32, Miracle Mile in Coral Gables, Florida, by Officer G. Clayton of the CGPD and indicted for Forgery, altering a forged Travellers Cheque, grand theft and theft of a credit card belonging to Mr. John A. Moruay. 

“Similarly, at 8:20 pm on November 6, 1986, Officers R. Ubieta and R. Stewart of the Miami (Metropolitan) Dade police department (MDPD), Florida, assisted by US Secret Service Agent, S.A, Tim Cristine, arrested one Adedapo Oluseun Abiodun (a male Security guard, an African of Nigerian origin with Date of Birth; May 29, 1960) at 85ST, SW 107AVE (Horizons East) for forgery, altering forged instrument and resisting arrest with violence. 

“While being processed at the Miami (Metropolitan) Dade Police Department (MDPD) for detention, the fingerprint of the suspect, Adedapo Oluseun Abiodun, was squared on the US criminal database and it was discovered that the suspect is the same person as Michael Shawn Davis earlier mentioned, who then was still facing trial, and released on bail, at Coral Gables. 

“Adedapo Oluseun Abiodun was thereafter indicted for the offense of credit card fraud in Miami Dade, Florida, USA, and remanded in jail as a repeat offender with jail number: 860089436.”

Oludiran expressed concern that the Abiodun in 2015 and 2019 claimed in his INEC forms CF001, under oath, that he had never been under any sentence of imprisonment, fine for any offense of dishonesty or fraud or any offense imposed by a Court, saying the claim is false.

He also hinted that Abiodun did not disclose to INEC that he has another name as Shawn Michael Davis.

He said the governor “dubiously omitted Section B(3) “Former Names” in both forms, whereas Appendix 20, also herewith attached, expressly shows that competent authority, of the Circuit and County Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida in and For Miami Dade County, captured and affirmed that he was - as far back as 1986 - also known as Shawn Michael Davis.”

Making reference to how the APC lost the governorship seat to the PDP in Bayelsa State, Oludiran argued that “Abiodun is not permitted by the laws guiding the INEC form CF001 to decide which of his past names to keep and which one to disclose. He is compelled by law to make a full disclosure and not to Chameleonically use names as the environment changes.”

He said “If it was convenient for Oladapo Oluseun Abiodun to bear Shawn Michael Davis in 1986, it should also be convenient for him to state the name as demanded by the Sworn INEC form CF001.”

Concluding, the petitioner stated that, “it is deducible from the above-stated facts, vis-à-vis the above cited statutory and judicial authorities, that some of the past actions and records of HE. Prince Adedapo Oluseun Abiodun amount to grave infractions of the provisions of the Constitution. I, therefore, make a call for his disqualification from any future elective position in the All Progressives Congress. 

“An attempt to field or present HE. Prince Adedapo Oluseun Abiodun for the 2023 gubernatorial election in Ogun State will simply amount to inadvertently (or perhaps deliberately, having brought these infractions to your attention, sir) ceding Ogun State to opposition parties as they have rightly commenced the process of filing for his disqualification because he is not eligible to contest or aspire for the office of governor of Ogun State or any State for that matter due to the many constitutional and electoral law violations earlier enumerated.”

Reacting in a statement titled "Who is afraid of Prince Dapo Abiodun?", Tunde Oladunjoye, the State Publicity Secretary of APC, blamed the petition on "the handiwork of desperadoes."

He said "Governor Dapo Abiodun is focused on delivering on his mandate and finishing well and strong. And for his teeming supporters and followers, there is no turning back. We are solidly beside and behind him. 

"To the sore losers and agents of darkness, I make bold to say that, even the latest shenanigan will not postpone their day of ultimate defeat and doom.

"In the words of Shakespeare: “Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, it seems to me most strange that men should fear; seeing that (their political) death, a necessary end, will come when it will come (certainly in 2023).

"Our opponents/enemies have never been so devastated and hopeless. We have the entire party structure, we are relevant in national party affairs where our team hold sway and we are performing on all fronts at home, they are facing political extinction!

“Writing of satanic news and petitions is true-to-form. This is all that is left for them to do, we must remain laser-focused; our performances are best way to humiliate and respond.”

Blame society, not govt for ritual killings, insecurity – Segun Olusola

A Remo-born business analyst, Segun Olusola, has said the society and not the government should be blamed for ritual killings and some other security challenges facing the nation.

Olusola said most Nigerians love to shift blames instead of taking responsibilities.

According to him, children growing up to become ritual killers, kidnappers, rapists and others shows that some parents have failed in their responsibility to raise children who would be useful to the society.

He also blamed the people for failing to support security agents in intelligence gathering.

“In Nigeria we like to shift blames instead of taking responsibilities. Everything starts from the home. Parents must take responsibilities. Everything cannot just be pushed at the desk of the government. People must take responsibilities. It is intelligence gathering that is lacking in Nigeria. The earlier we see each other as stakeholders and shareholders in this country called Nigeria, the better we will be. If we see anything unusual in our environment, we should call the authorities immediately. There is Amotekun, police and all of them, but we are not giving them intelligence. You're the first custodian of security matters.

“In movies, we propagate ritual killings, we make it look normal. Government should censor our films. Religious leaders should preach morals. It is so bad that nobody is propagating hard work again. The government alone cannot solve this problem of insecurity. It is everybody's business.”

Olusola, who is the Gbolugboye of Isara Remo, Ogun State, in an interview with African Advocate, said it is time for the youth to get involved in politics, asking all well-meaning Nigerians not to leave politics to people with questionable characters.

“Vagabonds, idiots will take over the affairs of the nation if the elite stay away. Most educated people don't have PVC. The best of us should come out and get involved in the leadership struggle of this nation.

“The elders have the right to contest, let every individual that has capacity come out to contest, regardless of their age. We need youths in government, but not youths that want to loot the country. We need youths with ideas and competence. We need the best to lead the nation come 2023,” he stated.

The University of Liverpool MSc graduate berated some lawmakers who he said have not been representing their constituents effectively.

According to him, the majority of elected lawmakers are in Abuja to do their biddings instead of representing the constituents that elected them to be their ears and eyes at the parliament.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) member said Remo Federal Constituency comprises Sagamu, Ikenne and Remo North Local Governments.

He, however, lamented that since the creation of the constituency in 1991, Remo North has not been allowed to represent same at the lower chamber.

“People that go to Abuja always neglect their constituents and I believe we should be yearning for a new representation.

“Since the creation of Remo Federal Constituency in 1991, nobody from Remo North Local Government has been given the opportunity to represent the constituency. I believe this is the time for Remo North to represent the constituency at the federal level,” it was said.

The Ogun East indigene expressed confidence that the APC would win the 2023 general elections, irrespective of what might happen over the party's presidential ticket.

“Many people thought APC would collapse after the National convention, but it was a lie. I want to assure you they the APC will not fall after the presidential primary. By May 2023, and APC candidate would be sworn in as President Muhammadu Buhari's successor,” he added.

CHIEF 'SEGUN OLUWAFEMI OLUSOLA is the chairman of Toluyetty group of companies; Founder, Sparepan Ltd. He is a serial entrepreneur who has passion for humanity.

He was born in Abeokuta on 10 November, 1985 to the family of Mr. Tunde Femi Olusola and Mrs. Comfort Folake Olusola.

He hails from lsara Remo, Remo North Local Government, Ogun state, South-western Nigeria.

EDUCATION:

He attended ljemo Titun High School, Abeokuta from September, 1996 to May, 2001 to bag his Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSCE).

He furthered his academic pursuit abroad for his degree course at the University of Bradford from September, 2007 to July, 2009, where he bagged Bsc. in Pharmacology.

He bagged HBA Economics and Investment from London Metropolitan University from September 2010 to July 2013.

Prince2 (as a registered practitioner in April, 2012.

MBA International Business from the University of Liverpool from September, 2013 to September, 2014.

National Youth Service Corps (NYSC): He observed his one year mandatory National Youth service at Ikorodu Local Govt. from November, 2014 to November, 2015.

Diploma in Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies from the university of Harvard, April, 2020.

CAREER:

He worked as project manager at ASTRID Global Ltd., London from September, 2016 to April, 2020.

MARRIAGE

He is happily married to Chief (Mrs.) Oluwabunmi Olusola and the marriage is blessed.

EXCEPTIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Chief 'Segun Oluwafemi Olusola is the chairman board of trustee, Toluyetty Hope Foundation, a not-for-profit organization established with the objective of giving a helping hand to vulnerable, old and youth who are less privilege in the society on quarterly basis.

He is the chairman Toluyetty Farms, an intensive agricultural establishment located in Osun State and Ogun State.

He is an author, property investor and a social entrepreneur. He is the author of the book, "What School Doesn't Teach Us", published in 2018.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:

As the chairman of Toluyetty foundation, his involvement in community development services has been reoccurring as a giant stride since 2018 when he came to Isara Remo, his home town to gift out clothing materials to children who are Christians. This first gesture was channeled via the Christian Association of Nigeria, Isara Remo Branch.

Getting more interested in service to humanity, the foundation under his chairmanship scaled up her humanitarian gesture in 2020 by catering for 250 Muslim beneficiaries during the lleya festival 2020 at Odemo Palace and subsequently, he repeated the same thing during Christmas to celebrate with the Christian brothers and sisters in a larger scale. This is a gesture that has now become an annual practice.

Among other countless humanitarian needs he could meet via the foundation so far ranging from financial assistance to people in the hospital, school and so on to mention in few.

Recently, he has launched Toluyetty Foundation skill acquisition scheme, an unemployment eradication scheme established to provide an opportunity for youths and citizens of Isara and its environs to choose a vocational skill of their choice and the foundation will register them for the purpose, monitor their performance and upon completion of the exercise, the foundation will empower them with the most useful equipment they would need to start-up with.

The first batch of trainee who showed required level of seriousness was empowered with major equipment needed to start up a business of their own in March 2020 towards his chieftaincy Installation as the Gbolugboye of Isara Remo.

The other batches are at their respective places of learning across the town.

On 10 November, 2021, in commemoration of his birthday, he donated some sets of medical aid equipments to the state hospital in Isara Remo to enhance the improvement of healthcare services to the people of Remo North local govt.

CHIEFTAINCY:

In March 2021, the Family chieftaincy title, Gbolugboye and Yeye Gbolugboye of Isara Remo was conferred on him and his dear wife by the Odemo of Isara, Oba Albert Adebose Mayungbe.

The chieftaincy installation lasted for 4 days. Different community development projects and programs were initiated and financed by him.

Community projects like Toluyetty farms, Toluyetty Roads, free medical services and free optical lens, community development symposium among other activities were commissioned to commemorate the chieftaincy installation programs at different locations across the town.

Why Nigerians Must Elect Visionary President In 2023

By Dr Gbenga Adeboye

I have  observed critically the process of  electing Presidential Candidates of Political Parties as well as who becomes president eventually since 1999 in Nigeria.

I discover something very shocking among which are:

1.Certain persons have a way of deciding who becomes the President.

2.General elections becomes mere formality .

3.Once you are endorsed by some persons that can be referred to as the Directors of Nigeria Plc, you will get there.

4.The Directors of Nigeria Plc have now increased in numbers.

5. Some of the Directors are acting in representative capacity. Whatever they say is from their group or association.

Example of such are NLC, NBA, ICAN, CIBN, Students Union,  NURTW and so many others.

Some do not speak out publicly but they have their preference. 

Other Directors are Past Military Head of State such as OBJ, Danjuma, IBB, Abdusalam, Buhari; even though in the past Buhari's role in that respect have not been very prominent .May be in this election; he will play it well. He seems to be over neutral or perceived to be so.

Others are the business leaders like Dangote, Jim Ovia, Femi Otedola, Mike Adenuga, Bello Osagie, Tony Elumelu and some Ibo Billionaires in Business.

Among the traditional rulers, you have the Obas, Alake, Various Emirs , Sultan of Sokoto, Emir of Kano, Ooni of Ife, Awujale, Oba of Lagos, Obi of Onitsha, Oba of Benin and do many others  (not in particular order of seniority)

The Western powers like UK, US and now other emerging strong force in Europe also play their roles to protect their interest in Nigeria.

There seems to be a serious influence now from National Assembly. We have Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representative,  Leaders in both  Senate and House of Reps, whether minority or majority.

Sitting Governors, past Governors, Ministers as well as all the Law Makers at the National Level.

Social Media Users now form part of the  Directors. From fake news and all sorts of lies in favour or against a candidate; you will know where these directors belong.

Some of the Social media users are merely just playing because of unemployment but whatever they write spread with speed.

MY ADVICE TO ALL DIRECTORS AND SOME PEOPLE MAY SAY I AM ALSO ONE OF THE DIRECTORS... Let us play our role with conscience.

Let us chose someone who will address the following:  

1. Insecurity.

2.Unreasonable interest rate....No country can develop when banks lend @ 30%

3.True Federalism.

4.State Police Creation.

5.Reduction of Ministries and Agencies where we waste money. 

6. Creation of new National Airline. We are losing a lot.

7. Good Roads in all parts of the country. We must wake up on maintenance.

8. Health Care delivery. Health insurance for all.

9. Technical Education. We no longer have artisans.

10. Revive Our University. Change the system to end ASUU strike. ASUU is only known for strike. Why should that be?

11. Make Primary and Secondary Education free and a must. If  parents fail to release a child..They go to prison.

12.Reduce the  Number of Aircrafts for president is possible .

13.Set up entities that can employ thousands of Nigerians in each Geo Political Zones based on their comparative advantage. 

14.Stop importing PMS and AGO.

15.Address Power like an emergency so we can have electricity.

16.Create Clusters for various Agricultural activities.

17.Reform.our electoral system.Such that we can vote with our Phones and online.

18.Roll out credits to SME' s at single digit of maximum 5%.

19.Ensure we get the data of all persons in all houses.

20 Get a share of the satellite to view all bushes and hidden areas prone to insecurity and serving as hide - outs for criminals and terrorist.

21.Set up Monitoring Task force to compare lifestyle with income. Take over all unexplainable wealth.

22. Where wealth  discovered is genuine and no adequate tax evidence ..Collect Tax accordingly.

23. Reform Police, Army, Navy, Air  force, Customs, Immigration, Road Safety, Civil Defence.

24. Give Judiciary Full Autonomy and grant immunity to CJN and similar powers to Chief Judges of all states.

25. Review Expatriate Quota System. Monitor  how many Nigerians are employed by foreign companies in Nigeria.

26. Give monthly Report of FGN and State Revenue and Their respective Expenditure summary.

27. Build more rail lines and introduce safe bus transport system .Restructure our ports and clearing systems. End multiple Tax system and illegal activities of thugs in construction sites all over the country.No country can move forward if we do not act on this.

28. Work on balance of payment by increasing our export.

In my view if these issues are attended to, Nigeria will become great.

We must then ask each of the people contesting in APC, PDP, SDP and ADC to tell us about these and what they plan to do to achieve our desires as Nigerians...we all know Nigeria still operate two party system and we must be concerned about the capacity, intelligence, experience and personality of whoever emerges as Candidate of APC and PDP.

I will lastly caution my southern people especially APC people to avoid disunity and ensure they agree to present one credible and capable  candidate or else, ....I will not say anything to that....We can guess as we wish.

The writer, 

Dr. Gbenga Adeoye holds a PhD in Management Accounting, a Bachelors Degree in Law( LLB).

An MSc. in Banking and Finance, a diploma in Criminology and Security Studies.

He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in International Business Law from The University of London.

He is a Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.( FCA).

He is also a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria( FCTI) among other Professional Bodies.

He is Passionate about Social Economic Development of Africa and Nigeria.

He believes the quality of people in leadership determines development in any country.

He can be reached via e mail :  gbengaadeoye@yahoo.com

Or Mobile number 08034050773

Reject Oyetola, vote Adeleke – Diaspora group charges Osun voters

As the 2022 governorship election draws closer in Osun, a group has charged the people of the State to reject the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Governor Gboyega Oyetola, who is contesting for a second term.

The group, under the aegis of Diaspora PDP Reformers alleged that Oyetola has nothing new to offer than insecurity, poor economy and retrogression.

The group urged residents of Osun not to allow a repeat of the 2018 election in which Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was allegedly “robbed of victory.”

Speaking in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Thursday, the Women Leader, Mrs Olanike Babawande, said, “Don't allow a repeat of the 2018 election in which the party was robbed of victory. Be vigilant before and after the election.”

Babawande, who is also the Diaspora Coordinator for PDP National Women Parliament, maintained that “the present All Progressives Congress (APC) government in the state has nothing to offer again apart from their usually abysmal insecurity and failed economic ideologies.”

She spoke further that, "Osun State people should show the APC that the era of inconclusive and rigged elections is over in the state, and they should not allow the enemy of the people who camouflaged themselves as elders in the society to trick them again.

"Osun state people are wiser now and APC can no longer deceive us with lies and deceit.”

She stated that Osun needs Adeleke and the PDP to move forward and to achieve economic prosperity, statewide security as well as infrastructural development.

According to her, Osun is desirous of a leader who understands the importance and needs of the youths and women so as to bring positive ideologies into governance in the state.

While expressing optimism that the PDP would wrest power from Oyetola and the APC on July 16, Babawande appealed to the people to get their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) ready, ahead of the election.

Sen. Odebiyi congratulates Eselu’s son over basketball laurel at US Senate

 

Senator representing Ogun West, Tolu Odebiyi, has congratulated Prince Raphael Akinyemi, son of the Eselu of Iselu, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, for the honour he and his colleagues received at the Senate of the United States after winning a basketball championship for the State of Maryland.

In a letter referenced, NASS/CRSP/TOD/1941070, on Tuesday, Odebiyi felicitated the teenager, who happens to be his constituent from the same Yewa North Local Government area of Ogun State.

The letter reads: “On behalf of my wife Folashade, my constituents in Ogun West Senatorial District, Ogun State, and other Nigerians, I write to add my felicitation to the words of encouragement you are receiving currently, on your outstanding performance at the basketball championship for the State of Maryland, United States of America.

“I heartily congratulate you on the victory and commend the tremendous roles you and your colleagues played in securing victory for your school. You have made your father, The Eselu of Iselu, our community, Iselu, Yewa North Local Government; Ogun state and Nigeria extremely proud for you to be honoured by the US Parliament with the President in attendance.

“The magnificent stride you have recorded has clearly distinguished you as an exceptional Nigerian with incredible talents and we celebrate your outstanding achievement.

“While wishing you more laurels in the years ahead, please accept, my very high regards.