A founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and elder statesman, Tanko Yakasai, has revealed that national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu was at his Abuja residence on Wednesday to solicit support for his (Tinubu’s) presidential ambition in the 2023 general elections.
Although Tinubu has yet to declare his intention to contest any office in 2023, there have been reports and veiled indications that he might be interested in the exalted seat.
Speaking to Saturday Punch, Yakasai divulged: “He (Tinubu) just came to visit me but actually I have two of them (presidential aspirants) that I have earmarked right from the beginning and I made a vow that any one of them who came to ask for my support first is the person I would support. Tinubu is the first person.”
When asked whether Tinubu told him he would be contesting for President in 2021, Yakasai said, “He (Tinubu) did and he asked for my support.”
Furthermore, Yakasai said interested aspirants must first scale the hurdles of primary elections in their various political parties “then we will begin to compare them.”
The 2023 Nigerian general election will be held on 18 February to elect the President and Vice President.
President Muhammadu Buhari is in his second term in office, and cannot run for re-election.
Former vice-president Atiku Abubakar clocks 75 today, without the usual goodwill message from President Muhammadu Buhari.
It was not clear whether the presidential snub was a mere omission or deliberate.
Atiku, despite the political difference with Buhari attended the wedding of Buhari’s first son, Yusuf in Bichi, Kano last August.
The last person Buhari celebrated was his chief of staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, who marked 77 years on Wednesday.
It is still possible that Buhari’s aides will rush out a statement before the end of the day as 75th birthday is a milestone for any mortal.
But doubts about political correction abound because Buhari usually sends birthday wishes ahead of the celebration.
Atiku was born in Jada, Adamawa state 25 November 1946.
He is now a big businessman involved in multi-businesses, including the media.
After primary and secondary education in Adamawa, Atiku studied a short while at the Nigeria Police College in Kaduna. He left the College when he was unable to present an O-Level Mathematics result.
He then worked briefly as a Tax Officer in the Regional Ministry of Finance, from where he gained admission to the School of Hygiene in Kano in 1966.
He graduated with a Diploma in 1967. The same year, he enrolled for a Law Diploma at the Ahmadu Bello University Institute of Administration, on a scholarship from the regional government.
After graduation in 1969, during the Nigerian Civil War, he was employed by the Nigeria Customs Service.
2022 Budget: Work On Projects To Alleviate Poverty, Empower Lagosians, Obasa Urges Sanwo-Olu
– Speaker calls on Buhari to rejig economy to boost employment
– Says interference of executive in state legislature should be criminalised
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly Hon Mudashiru Obasa has urged the Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to work more on policies to bring more dividends of democracy to the people of the State.
Obasa gave the advice when the governor visited the Assembly on Wednesday to present the 2022 Budget Of Consolidation put at ₦1,388,285,459,990.51.
Speaking after the presentation by the Governor, Obasa who passed a vote of confidence on Mr. Sanwo-Olu for the achievements of the current administration, said the dividends still need to get to the grassroots.
The Speaker also called on the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to rejig the economy of Nigeria to reduce unemployment, insecurity and poverty.
He praised the House of Assembly for its pro-people orientation and for constantly supporting the Governor to meet the yearnings of the people of the State.
He said the support the Governor enjoys from the Assembly had reflected in the successes so far achieved by the government
While commending the seven-man judicial panel of inquiry into cases of brutality and human rights violations committed by operatives of the disbanded special anti-robbery squad (SARS) in the state, for completing its task, the Speaker urged Lagosians to remain patient and not stoke controversies while a white paper on the report is being expected.
Below is the full speech by the Speaker:
REMARKS BY RT HON. (DR) MUDASHIRU AJAYI OBASA, SPEAKER, LAGOS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, DURING THE PRESENTATION OF THE Y2022 BUDGET BY MR BABAJIDE OLUSOLA SANWO-OLU, GOVERNOR, LAGOS STATE, AT THE ASSEMBLY HALLOWED CHAMBER, ON WEDS, NOV 24, 2021
Ladies and gentlemen,
1. On behalf of my colleagues and our highly dedicated staff, it gives me a great pleasure to heartily welcome you all to this occasion of the formal presentation of the Year 2022 budget by Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Executive Governor of Lagos State.
2. Before anything at all, we cannot but give praise and adoration to the Almighty Allah, the giver and taker of life, the One who reverses the irreversible; for giving us the opportunity to witness another budget presentation.
3. Dear Lagosians, without further ado, we have all listened with rapt attention to how the wealth of our state will be utilized for our common good in Y2022 with the presentation of the budget size: ₦1,388,285,459,990.51 themed: BUDGET OF CONSOLIDATION. This will be the last full year budget to be implemented by this administration. Expectedly, the responsibility is now on the members of this Honourable House to do the needful, by meticulously performing our constitutional duty.
4. Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, permit me to commend your astuteness, courage, forthrightness as well as your determined spirit all geared towards a greater Lagos within the period you have been in office. No doubt, you have maintained a track record of resourceful consistency in the state.
5. Distinguished guests, as you all know, our dear state of Lagos, the Centre of Excellence, has continued to be seen both within and outside our country as the very place where good governance is the norm, which readily explains why our state is home to all Nigerians, having attained the enviable status of a mega city.
6. Here in Lagos State, the three tiers of government: the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary have always been striving to put our people first in all that we do. Despite their distinct status, these government institutions have continued to regularly collaborate to deliver the dividends of democracy and the very best for our dear state and the people. For instance, this House of Assembly is evidently endowed with industrious, brilliant and diligent men and women who are making a difference in their various constituencies.
7. It is, however, pertinent to note that the very cordial relationship existing between this Legislative House and the Executive has not stopped us from performing our constitutionally assigned roles of exercising control over the state’s purse. This has obviously resulted in the First Class position that our dear state has attained in our country today, which makes Lagos the symbol of good governance.
8. It is on the record that while the legislative arm of other states of the country fights the executive, here in Lagos, it is the other way round. This has, indeed, paved way for the establishment of LAHASCOM, career advancement among the legislative staff as well the promotion of same staff to the position of permanent secretary in the state.
9. You will all agree with me that the responsiveness and readiness of this honourable House to pass pro-people and pro-development legislations is on the right course in giving Mr. Governor the much needed enabling environment to perform creditably well to the admiration of our people. This, indeed, is the confirmation that behind every performing Governor there is a pro-active, pro-people and pro-development House of Assembly like ours.
10. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, around this time last year, Governor Sanwo-Olu was here to present the Y2021 Budget, itemising his projections for the ongoing year. Today, with the remarkable support of this House, we are all witnesses to the outstanding performance of the budget as regards infrastructural renewal and wealth creation among other things.
11. That Lagos State is working is more or less an understatement. That notwithstanding, we need to look inward and devise more methods of improving our Internally Generated Revenue beyond the sources identified so far. We, at the same time, need to ensure that the revenues collected are promptly accounted for.
12. While the projections of this administration are being guided by its THEME agenda, we need to further strengthen it to touch the lives of the people. Despite the numerous infrastructural developments going on in the state, the impact is not yet fully getting to all and sundry as it should be. For instance, the traffic issue in the state has become intractable such that we cannot but look for a holistic approach for solution. The lawlessness of the road users is so noticeable and daring. Of course, we need to focus more on the implementation of the law that addresses this ugly situation.
13. It is a known fact that Lagos State has the highest foreign debt profile. Of course, this loan has been the secret behind most of the infrastructural developments we all see all over the state. Nevertheless, I will advise the Executive to focus more on intense projects that will be geared towards alleviating poverty in our society with most of these loans.
14. At the same time, our policies must be channelled towards fighting poverty in our society and empowering our people, particularly those below poverty line. In doing this, land has become the sole and natural belonging of the people, which can be used as a source of fund to lift them out of poverty. But as it were, the policy seems not to be helpful when it comes to acquisition. As such, there is the need for the government to readdress the issue of land vis-à-vis landowners in acquisition, excision and compensation.
15. Having said that, may I use this medium to address some of the recent developments in our dear state especially the building collapses as well as the issue of END SARS panel report, which has been generating some controversy of late.
16. The issues of building collapse, recently, need to be paid full attention to in the state. The executive must ensure constant and close monitoring of all the agencies in charge of building. These agencies must be up and doing in the discharge of their duties regarding the monitoring, supervision and evaluation of building processes from one stage to another. Any government official who decides to collaborate with unscrupulous building engineers or found wanting in any way should be promptly charged for criminal liability.
17. May I use this medium to commend the seven-man judicial panel of inquiry to investigate cases of brutality and human rights violations committed by operatives of the disbanded special anti-robbery squad (SARS) in the state, chaired by retired Justice Doris Okuwobi. No doubt you were chosen to saddle this task based on your pedigree, integrity and creditability. We have utmost trust in you. As such, what you have been able to put together for about a year must not be jeopardised by mere unwarranted statements that can generate controversy. Let’s not forget that Lagos has never been a police state and it will not start now. Our state has always been a free state for all. We have absolute faith and confidence in our Governor that he will not descend so low to incite violence against any member of the panel irrespective of the decision or interest of the members of the Panel.
18. Based on this, I will plead with Lagosians and Nigerians as a whole that, while we await the White Paper of the ENDSARS Panel report, people should remain calm and not rush to judgment. You can rest assured that justice will surely be served based on the outcome of the report. Of course, we are aware that justice is the basis of any democratic government.
19. Likewise, it has come to my notice that in virtually every street in Lagos of today, there is a Baale or Oba parading themselves. This has become so ridiculous and unwholesome that it requires urgent intervention by the government before the institution becomes a laughing stock. I assure you that this honourable house will do everything within its ambit of power to review the chieftaincy law in the state so as to address this before it gets out of hand.
20. Be that as it may, there is need to remind us that to further strengthen democracy and rule of law. Party politics must not be limited to the fun of electing the party leaders. I say this vis-à-vis the upcoming All Progressives Congress (APC) Convention.
21. At the same time, separation of power is pivotal in the system of government that we practice in this clime. As such, this should be accorded its sacrosanct respect. Of recent, we see cases of the Executive going beyond their boundary in respect of recent development in Plateau State where police invaded and locked up the parliament. Same thing happened in Edo State. If we love democracy, we must all fight for it and protect all its democratic institutions.
22. The National Assembly too should be interested in criminalising invasion of the parliament by anybody, by taking the advantage of the ongoing constitutional review. Anybody found wanting be it Governor, irrespective of the immunity attached to the office or honourable members of the state must be sanctioned. At the expiration of such governor’s administration, he should be made to face the law accordingly. Any police officer that colludes with such illegal invasion should likewise face criminal charges. We at the Lagos State House of Assembly are willing to address this frontally by amending our own Administration of Criminal Justice Act to make a provision for the criminalising of parliament invasion or any other action that undermines the parliament institution. It will interest you that such litigation can be initiated by any individual, CSO or agency. So, you don’t have to wait for government to bring such up.
23. Let me also use this medium to call on our President, Muhammed Buhari to do everything within his power in addressing the state of economy. You will all agree with me that the level of unemployment, inflation, insecurity, infrastructural decay in the country is at an alarming rate. As such, I urge Mr President to work towards rejigging the economy. The federal government should at the same time work with the component units, which are the states, to further empower them to develop the natural endowment resources. This will no doubt boost the economy. Some provisions in the constitution should be reviewed as well such as the railway line and distribution of electricity. For the umpteenth time too, state police should be well considered now as a way of tackling insecurity in the country.
24. Nevertheless, I cannot but salute and commend all Lagosians for their unalloyed support given to us. This can be confirmed in the last Local Government elections in the state where they threw their weight behind us by voting enmasse for our party, the All Progressive Congress, which led to us winning all the Local Governments in the state. It is likewise worthy of note to praise Lagosians for their prompt response to our policies and the payment of their taxes too.
25. It is on this note, however, that I urge those who are still failing in this constitutional obligation of tax payment to make adjustments. Without tax, there will be no Lagos of our dream.
26. All our party leaders and followers in Lagos, particularly our National leader and the GAC members, let us be resolute, determined, focused and stand together in unity. Surely, we will always remain upright on our feet and victorious in every situation and condition.
27. In conclusion, may I use this medium to appreciate and commend all the well wishers who reached out to make 11/11, being my birthday, a colourful day. All the paramount rulers, the ALGON, my people from Agege, Mr Governor who took time to call in the midnight, members of the Executive Council of Lagos State, especially those who attended the party, the Attorney General, Head of Service, members of Permanent Secretary, and all my colleagues at the Lagos State House of Assembly for their love and support, especially for daring the torrential downpour of that day when we were playing football. I also appreciate all my colleagues from my Alma Mater: LASU and Law School for the dance that went viral. At a time in one’s life, you let go your worries and discomfort and be cheerful. Of course, that was a moment I found myself that night. I had no means to exhibit that than engaging in dancing.
Once again, I thank you all for coming and wish us a fruitful Y2022.
Igbega Ipinle Eko, ajumose gbogbo wa ni.
– Rt. Hon Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa
Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has opened a campaign office in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, as part of preparations to contest the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Blueprint gathered exclusively that the campaign team under the aiges of Progressives Consolidated Group (PCG) has also been inaugurated on Saturday.
The said campaign office is located at No. 15b, Buchanan Crescent, off Aminu Kano, by Emab plaza Wuse 11, Abuja.
Blueprint learnt reliably that the campaign office is already decorated with the Vice President’s banner with inscription “Face of Hope.”
Sources at the campaign team told our correspondent that the Chairman of the PCG is President Muhammadu Buhari’s kinsman from Kastina state known as Dr. Aliyu Kurfi.
Other members of the team include; Musa Liman as deputy chairman North, Dr Ebenezer Faji as deputy chairman South, Dr. Eli Eberechukwu Dibia as Vice Chairman, Dr. Ahmed Muhammed as the National Coordinator, Dr. Usman Ibrahim as Organising Secretary and Barrister Emmanuel Pippa as the Publicity Secretary.
Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola has urged Nigerians to be patient till January 2022 to find out whether or not the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu would run for president in 2023.
Fashola said he did not know if the former Lagos State Governor had a presidential ambition.
Speaking on Friday during a Channels Television programme ‘Hard Copy’, Fashola explained that Tinubu had not informed him he was running in 2023.
“I saw him last week; he didn’t tell me he was running for office and to the best of my knowledge, the last statement he made about it was that people would know in January,” the minister said.
The Minister was also asked if he enquired from Tinubu about his intention to run.
He replied: “No, I didn’t ask him, I only went to see how well he was doing.
“He has issued a statement that ‘I will speak in January’, so let’s wait for his speech.”
On whether he was speaking for any aspirant come 2023, the minister declined.
He said: “As far as I am aware, nobody has said, ‘I want to be Nigeria’s President’. There are people speaking for people. Nobody has come out; we are not at that stage yet.
“I can’t venture out and say that I will speak for X or Y. Let the person come out and say, ‘I want to serve Nigeria’.
“It pains me sometimes when we seed that very important job and responsibility to, ‘My people said’. I think the whole sense of it should be that I am able, I have looked at myself, give me your problem, you go to sleep’.”
Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melalye has alleged that the Federal Government is using the 2022 budget to defraud Nigerians.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had presented a budget proposal of N16.39 trillion for the year 2022 to the Joint Session of the National Assembly in October.
Speaking during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Melaye claimed that the budget was full of fake items running into billions of naira.
Melaye alleged the 2022 budget was full of corruption, wondering why the FIRS budget would be more than the National Assembly and the judiciary.
He said the FIRS budget stood at N228 billion while the National Assembly budget was pegged at N134 billion and N120 billion was proposed for the judiciary.
He said, “In the FIRS 2022 budget proposal, the tax body earmarked N2.5bn for the purchase of land, N3bn for office furniture, N1.5bn for photocopying machines, N2.04bn for computers and N500m for the construction of sports facilities. The agency set aside N1bn for generator fuel and N250m for maintenance while a separate N550m was set aside for purchasing more generators.
“How on earth can the FIRS budget sum of N2.8bn for “uniforms and clothing” for the year 2022 and in defence, the FIRS Chairman through his Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Johannes Wojuola, had the guts to say that the word “uniform” is the corporate outfit (dressing allowance) to be enjoyed by all the staff…”
“Is it the Presidency? The Presidency proposed budget for 2022 stands at N150.5bn and the sum of 24.8bn was budgeted for the President. It was budgeted that the President will spend the sum of N775.6m for his local travel and transport while the sum of N1.5bn will be spent on international travel and transport (No wonder Mr. President is travelling up and down).
“The 2022 budget of the Vice President stands at N1.1bn. The Vice President is to spend the sum of 301.9m for his local travel and transport while the sum of N476.2m will be spent on international travel and transport. N6.3m will be spent on office stationeries/computer consumables, the sum of N4.6m will be spent on printing non-security documents.
“The Vice President foodstuff/catering material supplies stand at N156.6m. Miscellaneous is N99.7m, Refreshment & Meals is earmarked 20.2m while Honorarium & sitting allowance is N30.2m. The Vice President is to spend N18.8m on publicity and advertisement, N23.2m on welfare packages, and N5.4m on sporting activities.”
A group within the All Progressives Congress, APC Nigeria4Nigeria Youths Alliance, has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari and members of the party from the North are virtuously bound to support the presidential bid of the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the 2023 general election.
“To us, no other person in the South fits the bill to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari than Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu come 2023,” the group said in a statement issued by Secretary-General Oludayo Ogunjebe in Abuja.
Mr Ogunjebe also reminded that the APC would not become the ruling party if it were not for Tinubu’s role in the party.
“We members of the APC Nigeria4Nigeria Youths Alliance are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari and our brothers in the various chapters of the party in the North to collectively support the bid and aspiration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for the presidency in 2023,” the statement continued.
“It is a known fact to all Nigerians that but for the efforts, mental sagacity, and resources that God has endowed Asiwaju Tinubu with, we are sure that the party won’t be in government today. One good turn deserves another.”
“So to us, it should be a payback time from our brothers across the geographical divide to support him to achieve his vision of leading the country to greatness,” Mr Ogunjebe said.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday , fixed December 10, 2021 to pass judgment on a political matter instituted by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) against the All Progressives Congress(APC) candidate in the recently concluded Anambra State governorship election, Senator Emmanuel Andy Ubah.
Other respondents in the suit are the APC, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC).
In the suit filed by SDP’s counsel, Chief James Onoja SAN, he urged the court to declare “that the Senior School Certificate Examination May/June 1974 Statement of Result purportedly issued by the 4th Respondent through Union Secondary School, Awkunanaw, Enugu, Enugu State to Uba Emmanuel Nnamdi with candidate number 05465/08 submitted by the 1st and 2nd Respondents to the 3rd Respondent for the 2021 Anambra State gubernatorial election is false.”
Making his final argument on Thursday, Chief Onoja SAN told Justice Taiwo Taiwo that Andy claimed to have acquired his WAEC (SSCE) certificate in 1974.
He insisted that the examination council only started issuing SSCE in 1988.
He also alleged that Ubah had several names on various certificates he tendered to the APC and INEC, including that of WAEC.
He said it was a contravention of the electoral act, adding that “This court has the authority of preventing such people from accessing public office.”
APC Stakeholders Blame Buni For Anambra Defeat, Demand Dissolution Of Caretaker Committee
In his objection, APC’s lawyer, Vincent Otaokpupu, urged the judge to dismiss the submissions of the plaintiff for being statute barred (out of time).
He also argued that Onoja abandoned his false information allegation and was busy “changing the goal post” by attacking the placements of Andy Ubah’s name.
“So their argument is statute barred, and we invite the court to decline jurisdiction. I implore the court to discountenance their submissions and strike out this suit with impunitive cost of 100 million naira,” he added.
On his part, Ubah’s lawyer, Chris Kelechi Ubeoyibo Esq, said that any controversy regarding the name of his client in the result in question was resolved when he swore to affidavit to capture the changes.
“My Lord, the adoption of the name Andy; there is an affidavit of fact sworn before a notary public,” he added.
INEC was not represented in court.
“Judgement is adjourned, all things being equal, for 10 December , 2021,” presiding judge, Taiwo ruled.
WAEC’s counsel, Rita K. Awuru, later told our correspondent that she tendered evidence before the court showing “We conducted SSCE and GCE in 1974 up till 1988.”
The crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, is unabating as former Senator, Kabiru Garba Marafa, on Wednesday warned Governor Mai Mala Buni, who is the Chairman of the party’s Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, CECPC, to expel him and watch the party crumble.
Marafa, in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, dared Governor Buni to throw him off the party and watch the party sink into more crisis.
Marafa advised the Yobe State governor to stop deluding himself as the national chairman of the APC, declaring that he is only chairman of the party’s convention planning committee.
Marafa, who represented the Zamfara Central Senatorial District in the last assembly, had on Sunday, threatened to institute legal actions against Governor Buni’s CECPC over what he termed gross violations of the party’s constitution in the conduct of party affairs.
“APC is a political party, not a committee. Committees are created to serve specific functions not to usurp the powers of the entire legal entity,” he stated.
“The function of the Mai Mala committee is to plan a convention just as its name implies. Mai Mala is the chairman of the APC convention planning committee and not APC itself,” he added.
Quoting section 12.3 of the APC constitution, he said the provision lists the party’s National Executive Committee NEC members “and it made the National Chairman of the party and not the chairman of any committee by whatever name as the chairman of the organ while Section 12.3 (xxxi) lists the President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as members only, so the question is; who approved the constitution and subsequent extensions of tenure of office of the illegal and obnoxious CECPC?”
“This is the situation we find ourselves. The Chairman of APC today is an overzealous chairman of convention planning committee only and a sitting governor”, Marafa declared.
Marafa’s latest response followed a statement from the CECPC that was issued on Monday through its Secretary, Sen. John James Akpanudodehe, warning Marafa to desist from anti-party activities or risked being expelled from the party.
Responding to that threat, Marafa said, “Expelling me from the party will only aggravate the problem. It will herald the beginning of the agitation; rule of law must be respected.
“The committee is illegal and alien to the constitution of the party. We are building everything on nothing. Rather than the expulsion threat, the committee or the chairman should respond to issues I raised,” he said.
“What does our party constitution says that renders Buni’s committee null and void? Section 17 (4) of the constitution of our beloved party, says ‘no officer in any organ of the party shall hold executive position office in government concurrently’. Article 20 states the only way the leadership of the party can evolve.
“Section 13.3(iv) which was relied upon to create the illegal body called CECPC talked about the power of NEC to create committees.
“Mai Mala should choose between Yobe or APC. The combination of the two is no longer tenable”, Marafa declared.
Marafa reiterated his determination to institute legal actions to save the party from what he tagged, “over ambitious Buni” if he refuses to revert to his original assignment as chairman convention planning committee.
“We will show him the way out dishonourably. We will not allow the party we contributed immensely to develop to be destroyed by over-ambitious, self-centred and enemies of the party, and the country.
“This is the party we laboured, toiled and laid the foundation for its success. We will not allow those who have little or no stake in the party to destroy it or to please certain individuals and achieve their selfish interests,” he said.
Marafa, while insisting that he has committed no offence, said the party should revert to the path of constitutionality and rule of law or face extinction.
Former Minister of Works and National Chairman of the South-West Agenda for Tinubu, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, has said prominent Yoruba traditional rulers are baking Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to win the 2023 presidential election.
Although Tinubu has yet to make his aspiration public, the moves he has been making suggest he is interested in contesting the poll on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
Adeyeye, who is a former spokesperson for the Afenifere, on Tuesday while inaugurating SWAGA in Gbongan, the headquarters of Aiyedaade Local Government Area of Osun State, said the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Gbadebo Adedotun and over 300 other monarchs in the South-West were routing for Tinubu.
Adeyeye said, “You are representatives of SWAGA and you must continue to advocate for Tinubu’s ambition. By God’s grace Tinubu will emerge as the president of this country in 2023.
“All the traditional rulers in Yoruba land are supporting Tinubu, over 300 of them are backing Tinubu including the Ooni of Ife, Alaafin of Oyo and Alake of Egbaland.
“They are stressing that he is the best candidate in Yorubaland to occupy the seat. Everybody is backing him. Asiwaju (Tinubu) will bring development to the country and Osun. You will all benefit from supporting him. Great things will happen in his time.”
Adeyeye, who is also a former spokesman for the Senate, said Tinubu was the right person for the job, saying as a highly detribalised politicians with proven track record of performance, he would bring his wealth of experience to bear to transform the country..
A former member House of Representatives/ SWAGA coordinator, Osun State, Mrs. Ayo Omidiran, urged SWAGA members in the state to work for the re-election of Governor Gboyega Oyetola, saying that would make Tinubu to win convincingly in the state and.beyond
