President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday has reshuffled his cabinet which led to the sack of five ministers.

The approval for the removal of these ministers was granted at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on Wednesday, 23rd October, 2024.

The sacked ministers are; Minister of Women Affairs, Barr. Uju-Ken Ohanenye; Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John; Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman SAN OON; Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Muhammad; and Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim.

Tinubu reassigned 10 ministers to new ministerial portfolios and appointed new ministers for confirmation by the Nigeria Senate.

The President at the FEC meeting also approved the appointment of the Former Minister of Youths and Sports, Sunday Akin Dare as the Special Adviser to the President on Public Communication and Orientation, working from the Ministry of Information and National Orientation.

A socio-political group, Oyo Must Be Good (OMBG), has fired Hon. Akin Alabi to stop misleading the public in his bid to seek support for his assumed controversial third-term campaign.

In a press release signed by the group Coordinator, Oyebamiji Sikiru, the group criticized Hon. Alabi’s stance on the reconstruction of the Paara Bridge, noting that while the reconstruction for the project was long overdue, the responsibility should lie with the Ona-Ara Local Government Chairman. But due to the inefficiencies of local government administration, the bridge is abandoned and unattended to.

Oyebamiji said, “It is commendable that Hon. Akin Alabi, the representative for Egbeda/Ona-Ara Federal Constituency, has facilitated the reconstruction of the bridge for the benefit of his constituents. Kudos to him for that.”

Oyebamiji continued, “we take issue with a misleading comment attributed to Hon. Alabi as quoted by his media aide that: ‘There are more benefits to having ranking members in the National Assembly than newcomers.’ We strongly disagree with this. He cannot use such trivial arguments to gain unfair support for his assumed third-term campaign. If that’s the way to go, I don’t know why he contested against the incumbent back then in 2019. He should have allowed him having easy ride at the poll to enjoy the privilege of ranking.”

The group further argued that the concept of “ranking” in the National Assembly is often used to manipulate public perception at the local constituency. As a lawmaker, you have to earn the rank through your good work at home, and not deceitfully demanding it.

“Perhaps Hon. Alabi and his aides are unaware that ‘ranking’ is just a term used at the National Assembly and not a yardstick to election matters at local levels.” Oyebamiji remarked.

“Hon. Akin Alabi is currently serving his second term, and the public is well aware of how unimpressive his first term was. His re-election was largely due to the political wave caused by President Bola Tinubu. If his woeful performance continues, he will undoubtedly face the consequences during his party primaries and/or general elections.”

The group also highlighted the accomplishments of other first-term lawmakers. “Like Hon. (Engr.) Remi Oseni, representing Ido/Ibarapa Federal Constituency, has outperformed Hon. Alabi in his short time in office. Similarly, Hon. (Dr.) Adebayo Adepoju of Ibarapa East/Central Federal Constituency recently facilitated the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre in Igboora, while Hon. Alabi, a ‘ranking member campaigner’ is only now presenting a bill on the matter for Ona-Ara.”

“If we examine the achievements of many first-term lawmakers presently, it becomes clear that success in the National Assembly is not solely about ranking as been deceptively campaign for but about versatility, articulate, and bipartisan in the pursuit of national development.”

The group concluded by urging Hon. Alabi to stop using his ‘ranking member’ antics as a tool to unfairly garner support from the constituents he has not been fair to.

“It is embarrassing that a two-term lawmaker is unable to rely on his past achievements to seek support for his current aspirations,” Oyebamiji stated.

Senator Sharafadeen Alli(APC-Oyo South) has extended warm felicitations to a notable chieftain of All Progressives Congress(APC) in Oyo State, Alhaji Teslim Aderibigbe Omilabu Ghandi on the occasion of his birthday anniversary.

This is contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Akeem Abas and made available to newsmen on Monday in Ibadan.

Senator Alli described Ghandi as a staunch APC member, whose commitment to the party’s growth and success remained unwavering.

The lawmaker said that Ghandi’s immense contributions to the political landscape of Oyo State have not gone unnoticed.

“Alhaji Omilabu Ghandi has proven time and again to be a reliable figure whose leadership and political acumen continue to shape the development of our party and the state at large,” the senator remarked.

He praised Ghandi’s ability to bring people together and foster unity among party members.

The senator lauded Ghandi’s dedication to community development, noting that his impact extended beyond politics.

“Ghandi’s philanthropic gestures and consistent support for grassroots development are highly commendable.

“He has been a pillar of support to many within the community and always willing to lend a helping hand,” Alli said.

He wished Ghandi many more years of good health, peace, and prosperity, praying that Almighty Allah continue to bless him.

The All Progressives Congress APC in Oyo state has told Governor Seyi Makinde to be conscious of his expected role as a leader of the people by avoiding inflammatory and inciting statements whenever he has chance to speak to the people especially in the public.

APC’s submission apparently came against the background of certain outbursts contained in the address delivered by Gov. Makinde in Saki on Saturday during the Church Service organized as part of the burial arrangements for the late Babalaje of Sakiland and former Secretary to the State Government, Chief Michael Adeniyi Koleosho.

Oyo APC, in a statement issued at the weekend and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, described the governor’s remarks as premeditated, vengeful and unbecoming as it was capable of setting the good people of Saki and entire Oke-Ogun against themselves on account of diversity in faith adherence.

“We have been inundated with various accounts of derisive and volatile comments made by Gov. Makinde yesterday (Saturday) at an occasion where sober reflection and statesmanship was expected of any leader of his status. In clear terms, he (Makinde) described the people of Saki as hateful and fanatical on account of politicking since he claimed they did not give enough support to his reelection in 2023 because he was not a Muslim like the majority of them.

“The governor also used the opportunity to express his anger against the residents of Saki West Constituency who showed preference for the candidate of the APC in the last February bye-election which the candidate of his party (PDP) narrowly lost. Sad enough, Gov. Makinde revealed that it was this development which made him stop the construction work on Saki-Ogboro Road until the late Chief Michael Koleosho had to beg him and the implementation of the already awarded project was resumed.

“We are particularly worried that Gov. Makinde throws caution to the wind in most cases when he gets the opportunity to address the public. Meanwhile, an occasion like that of the last weekend offered him a platform to present his scorecard as the executive governor of Oyo state in the last five and a half years as well as calm the nerves of the citizens who have been suffering in the face of the current economic situation in the country. This was a governor who has received enormous financial resources on behalf of the masses since he came into office without a meaningful impact on the residents of the Pacesetter state.

“Why would a governor seek to set the people against themselves in a society where they cohabitate in peace and harmony as brothers and sisters? Why did Gov. Makinde choose a well populated church auditorium to talk down on the Muslims in a town like Saki? Why does he find it difficult to confine everything that happened in the last election to the dustbin of history after all, he won by hook or crook? It is time eminent personalities within and outside the state sought audience with Gov. Makinde with a view to making him realize the demand of his office as it concerns encouraging peace and unity among the citizenry.” APC stated.

The lawmaker representing ATIBA, Oyo East and Oyo West Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, Abuja, Honourable Prince Akeem Adeyemi, (Skimeh) marked the 86th posthumous birthday of the Late Alaafin, Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III with notable project commissioning.

The project included donation of 10 solar-powered boreholes, commissioning of a block of six classrooms, the distribution of 600 bags of fertilizers to farmers, and N50,000 cash empowerment programs that benefited 1,000 Market Men and Women, Artisan, Farmers, and Youth.

Boroboro, Lagunna, Ojo Oluwaye Bashorun, Kolobo, Bara, Durbar Stadium Shopping Complex, Agbogangan Muslim Community, Idi Igba Cow Slaughter, Ilora Ayefele, and Jobele community are communities the beneficiaries of the borehole projects.

The block of six classrooms was constructed at Community Secondary School, Awumoro, while the cash empowerment program for 1,000 people was held at Oba Adeyemi Mini Stadium, Aremo, Oyo.

While speaking, Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District, Dr. Yunus Akintunde Abiodun said the late Alaafin is not just a king but a father with listening ears who respected the wishes of his people and used everything he had to fight for the good course that will benefit the people of his kingdom.

The acting Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, Mr. Olayide Abas, commended Honorable Akeem Adeniyi Adeyemi for what he has been doing and the one he will still do.

Abas, a certified pharmacist turn politician who just took over as the APC acting Chairman to fill the vacuum created by the death of the late chairman, Isaac Omodewu, said: “It is a great move to giving palliatives to the people at this tough time, following the current hardship which is temporary because I believe the government of the day plans to prepare the incoming generations not to face the difficulties we are facing today.”

Hon. (Prince) Akeem Adeniyi Adeyemi while addressing the pressmen at the event said the celebration of Late Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, 86th posthumous birthday is an avenue to let people of Oyo Federal Constituency know.
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He said that the measures put in place to make sure the 600 bags of fertilizers get to the farmers that will use it to achieve its main purpose of food security said

His words: “why and how we are representing them as we provide water for communities that lack water, we provide classrooms for the school that lack good classroom and also give 600 bags of fertilizer to the OFC farmers.

“We have eradicated middlemen in distributing this fertilizer by setting up a committee that’s comprised of a representative from the communities, farmers, and NGO that will make sure the fertilizers get to the real farmers that will use it for food productions. It goes directly to the farmers that will make use of it, no one is allowed to stand in for anyone.”

Members of the communities who benefited from the 10 Solar-Power boreholes expressed their gratitude for the projects, sharing their opinions about how these projects would improve their daily lives.

A resident of Bara Community, Mrs. Iyabo Adebayo, said, “Access to clean water has been a challenge in our community for years. We often had to walk long distances just to fetch water, but this borehole has brought the solution right to our doorstep. It’s a relief for many families, especially the women and children.”

Similarly, Mr. Sulaiman Kolapo from Agbogangan Muslim Community added, “This project will drastically reduce the stress of looking for drinkable water here and there in our community. We are grateful for the lawmaker’s generosity, especially in ensuring that this borehole is solar-powered, which makes it sustainable.”

Mrs. Funmilayo Adekunle, from Idi Igba Cow Slaughter, also shared her thoughts: “Water is life, and now our lives will be easier with this borehole. It will help our businesses, especially for those of us involved in food-related work and cow slaughter business.”

Some of the beneficiaries of the N50,000 empowerment who spoke expressed their appreciation for the financial support, which they said would make a significant difference in their lives.

Mr. Segun Ajani, a beneficiary, said, “This empowerment comes at a critical time. I have been struggling to keep my small business afloat because of the money we spend on food and transport every day, but with this money, I won’t touch my capital to feed my home, and also, part of it will be used to grow my business.”

Mrs. Halima Sanni shared her excitement: “This is more than I expected. I can finally settle some debts and even boost my venture. I am deeply thankful.”

Another beneficiary, Mr. Akeem Abdulraheem, added, “This empowerment is a blessing. It shows that our leaders are looking out for us, and it will help many of us to stand as a man at home again.”