Arapaja Defeats Oyinlola To Emerge PDP Deputy National Chairman

There was wild jubilation at the Eagle Square venue of the PDP Convention as a former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Taofeek Arapaja, emerged winner of the election into the office of the Deputy national chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Arapaja, an ally of Governor Seyi Makinde, garnered 2,004 votes to defeat his only opponent, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, a former governor of Osun State, who polled 705 votes.

A total of 165 votes were declared invalid.

The result of the election was announced by the electoral officers at 3:32 am after about two hours of sorting and counting.

Oyinlola had been tipped to win the keenly contested election. He was the party’s national secretary.

Arapaja enjoyed the support of Makinde, who is the secretary of the convention planning committee.

The former Oyo deputy governor is currently the national vice-chairman (Southwest) of the PDP.

He was elected into that office after he defeated the former occupant of the position, Eddy Olafeso, with 343 votes to 330.

Olafeso was eyeing the position of the national publicity secretary of the PDP at the ongoing convention but was disqualified by the Screening Committee last week on the ground that he instituted a case against the party.

PDP National Convention: Demostration of What It Takes To Be A True Political Party – Kola Balogun

The lawmaker representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Senator Kola Balogun has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)'s Saturday convention is a not a voodoo but a real demonstration of what it takes to be a true political party.

The senator made the declaration in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Mr Dapo Falade.

In the statement, he said: “What we are witnessing at the moment here at the 2021 National Convention of the PDP is an impressive picture of a political party that’s truly on Nigeria’s rescue mission.

“The 3,600 delegates from the 36 states of Nigeria have been duly accredited. Unlike in some other circumstances, there is no voodoo delegates’ list.

“Personally, I’m excited, impressed and highly optimistic that all hope is not lost, as the PDP has repositioned itself as the best option for the social economic emancipation of the downtrodden who are at the receiving end of the ruling party’s programmes and policies that have prevented them from breathing in the last six years.

“Finally, on behalf of the progressive people of Oyo South Senatorial District, I commend and congratulate the leadership of the 2021 National Convention Committee(NCOC), ably led by the Chairman and Secretary, His Excellencies, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde.

“Long live the PDP

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Sen. Kola Balogun Appoints Dapo Falade As Media Adviser

Dapo Falade, a former Deputy Editor of Nigerian Tribune has ben appointed as Special Adviser Media and Publicity to Senator Kola Balogun, lawmaker representing Oyo South Senatorial District.

The experienced journalist who is also the publisher of Newscoven is expected to bring his experience to bear in promoting activities of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Lawmaker.

 

Dapo Falade is a member of South West Group of Online Journalist (SWEGOP).

The appointment was contained in a statement, dated 30 October, 2021 issued from the office of the senator and signed by Chief Omilabu Gandhi.

Mr Adeniyi Rotimi Johnson had, in a letter, dated 28 October, 2021, informed the senator of his decision to resign from his position.

Accepting the resignation, Senator Balogun and his political team thanked Ojasope for putting his service at his disposal as the Special Adviser (Media) and wish him well in all his future endeavours.

Mr Falade is an experienced journalist whose duty has taken him to many parts of the country.

He was, until 31 May, 2020, a Deputy Editor with Nigeria’s oldest surviving newspaper, the Nigerian Tribune.

He was variously the Correspondent of the Nigerian Tribune in Ekiti State (October, 2007 to November, 2009).

Between November, 2009 and May, 2011, Mr Falade covered the activities of the Oyo State government. He was also the Correspondent of the newspaper covering the Senate between October, 2012 and February, 2014.

He was the Correspondent of the Nigerian Tribune in Rivers State from February, 2014 to August, 2016 when he was redeployed back to the headquarters of the newspaper in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

He is a holder of B.A. (History) and M. A. (History), both from the University of Ibadan. He also has a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) in Journalism from the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ), Abuja

All Set For Osinbajo To Turn First Sod Of Yoruba World Center In UI

Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, will on 23rd of  November 2021 turn the first sod of the Yoruba World Centre inside the University of Ibadan. 

It was also confirmed that he will be joined by the Ooni of Ile Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Alaafin of Oyo Oba (Dr) Lamidi Adeyemi and other eminent Yoruba traditional rulers and leaders.

The three-in-one occasion as being put together by the International Centre for Yoruba Arts And Culture (INCEYAC) will feature the opening of the Centre's temporary abode, the presentation of a full documentary on the Yoruba World Centre and the laying of the first foundation at the permanent site by the Vice President.

The Yoruba World Centre when completed will have a big library, an archive, a museum, a recreational center, reconstruction and digitizing centre, a broadcasting and film village and an artificial forest (Zoo). 

The purpose of this according to Mr Alao Adedayo, a member of the Board of Trustee of INCEYAC and Publisher of Alaroye Newspaper, is to make the centre to serve as a one-stop shop, offering old, new, recreated and reconstructed materials for researchers, lecturers, students, authors, journalists, historians and members of the public interested in Yoruba history, arts and culture as a tool for nation building, national cohesiveness and mutual understanding.

Explaining further, Alao Adedayo enthused: "Being the largest user of Yoruba language (in print) in the world today, and because of our daily interactions with the language, arts, culture and history of the people, through our newspaper - ALAROYE, we can confirm that there is no one institution in the entire world where researchers, or anyone at all, can stay to conduct and complete works on the history, arts and culture of the Yoruba people. 

“It is because we sincerely believe that there should be one to help us in nation building that we have come up with the idea of INCEYAC. We are equally optimistic that proud sons and daughters of Yorubaland and other friends of the elitist tribe will rise up to the occasion of supporting this project in whatever way they can."

Mogaji Arisekola Commiserates wWith Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland

The publisher of Street Journal, Mogaji Wole Arisekola has commiserated with Dawud Makanjuola Akinola, the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta States, over the death of his wife, Alimot Olufunke Akinola, on Tuesday, October 26, 2021.

Mogaji Arisekola in a statement, urged the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, the family of the deceased, friends and entire Muslim community in general to immortalise the good name of the late mother and wife.

He said: “The death of a loved one, especially matriarch of a family, is usually painful as it is irreparable but we must always take solace in God for a good life lived by the deceased.

“On behalf of the good people of Ibadan and my family, I sympathize with my ably Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta States, on the demise of his beloved wife, Alimot Olufunke Akinola. I also send my heartfelt condolences to the entire family over the death of the matriarch of the Akinola family.

“The motherly attributes and wise counsel of mama would be sorely missed not only by the family but the entire Muslim society. I pray that God will grant the deceased eternal rest and grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

 “As painful as her death might be, I enjoin you not to be devastated but to take solace in words of the Holy Qu’ran – “Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilayhi Raji’un” (We surely belong to Allah and to him we shall return). Alhaja Funke Akinola would be greatly missed, particularly for her impact as a dutiful wife and doting mother,” he said.

Arisekola also prayed to Allah to grant the departed soul Aljannah Firdaus, and give the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Dawud Akinola, the children and indeed the entire Akinola family, the strength and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.