''I am contesting to liberate Oyo people'' -Alao Akala

The mega rally of Labour Party in Ibadan, a bold statement -Ajulo

The Labour Party gubernatorial candidate in Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala has disclosed that his aspiration to govern the State again is borne out of the need to liberate the people.

In a statement he delivered before the mamoth supporters at the Labour Party's mega rally at Mapo Hall on Thursday, the former governor was quoted by his director of public affairs, Oludare Ogunlana, as saying his highest priority if elected would be promotion of welfare, security and prosperity, calling on the people of the Pace-setter State "to unite for the great transformation from present status and open a new chapter of development and greatness."

National Secretary LP, Barrister. Ajulo

Alao-Akala noted that in order to liberate the people, his popular 13-points agenda and the manifestoes of  the Labour Party would be put into good use just in the same vein he peformed when he was governor.

Praying that “the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain,” Alao-Akala observed that Nigeria is facing her most serious economic crisis as a result of dwindling price of oil in the international market. The implication of this, according to the governorship candidate, portends major challenge ahead. To solve the problem, Otunba Alao Akala maintained ''that experienced leader and great party who put the peoples welfare first and their economic welbeing like Labour Party are needed to provide hope and bring the genuine change to Oyo State citizens".

Otunba Alao Akala addressing the crowd

Otunba Alao Akala and his deputy, Barr. Sharafadeen Alli, while addressing the multitude in a frenzy atmosphere unfolded their plans among others, to restore social contract through good governance, adding that the Ibadan Dry Port Project will be executed if they are elected as the project would be generating more than five hundred thousand jobs for young people and enhance the living standard and bring immense development to Oyo State."

Alao-Akala said he would continue from where he stopped as governor in order to keep dreams alive for the people who have been bearing hardship hunger for opportunity and prosperity.

He pledged his support to the people. ''You cannot continue to suffer as we have listened to the voice of the downtrodden masses who are presently suffering the untold hardship under the present administration.''
The Event featured some eminent party stalwarts and officials both from the state and the national executives.

Handing over the party flag to the governorship candidate, Barrister Olukayode Ajulo the National Secretary of Labour stated that ''in Ibadan as evident in most cities across Oyo State, it remains unequivocally the decision that our people want a real change, and they achieve it through the overall support of the people. The multitude in Mapo Hill as captured by most media, who locked down the nucleus of the Pacesetter state, have made a bold statement that Labour Party in Oyo State is heading for a landslide victory in the coming elections''.

The wives of the Governorship candidate and the deputy  Mrs Oluwakemi Alao-Akala, Oluwafunmilayo Alli also addressed the cheering crowd. Amidst the teeming supporters at the rally were the Labour Party candidates for Oyo North Senator candidate, Hon Abisodun Kareem Tajudeen, Oyo Central Senatorial candidate, Comrade Oluboade Abiala and Oyo South Senatorial candidate,Chief Nurudeen Akinyo. Other dignitaries at the event were  Alhaji Salam Baradeen Paiko, Chairman Political commission NLC, Comrade Wale Araba, Engr Kehinde Amodu, Senator Brimo Yusuf.
 Conspicous among the members of the Mega Rally Planning Committee sighted at the rally include Prince Niran Adeyoju; Chief Ismaila Ashipa, Barrister Nike Ajagbe; as well as the Oyo  Labour Party State Chairman, Comrade Olugbega Olayemi and the Chairman of Akala-Alli Campaign Organisation, Dr Kola Balogun.
Others are Deputy Financial Secretary Labour Party, Hajia Zainab Mohammed and the National Legal Adviser, Barrister Akingbade Oyelekan.
A surging crowd also attended the Mega Rally organised at the Ogbomosho axis of Oyo State few days ago.
In a bid to win the seat of government at the April 11th poll in Oyo State, the Labour Party governoship candidate, and his deputy with their supporters have been on the tour of virtually all nook and crannies of  the state.
See more pictures:

Hajia Zainab Mohammed and Barrister Akingbade Oyelekan.

Deputy Governorship Candidate, Barrister Ali and wife Mrs Olufunmilayo Ali

(L-R)Members of Mega Rally Planning Committe: Prince Niran Adeyoju; Barrister Nike Ajagbe; State Chairman, Comrade Olugbega Olayemi and Chairman, Dr Kola Balogun.

Engr Kehinde Amodu and Senator Brimo Yusuf.

L-R Oyo North Senator candidate,Hon Abisodun Kareem Tajudeen, Oyo Central Senatorial candidate, Comrade Oluboade Abiala and Oyo South Senatorial candidate, Chief Nurudeen Akinyo

Labour Party logo

 

Akala Volunteers Co-ordinator, Ayantoye Christopher with Barrister Sharafadeen Alli and a women Co-ordinator

 By Lashley Oladigbolu 
 Mapo Hall Ibadan

Nigeria election: Jonathan and Buhari sign peace deal

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President Jonathan (L) is facing a strong challenge from Gen Buhari (R)

Nigeria's two main presidential candidates have signed a peace accord to prevent violence in tightly contested elections due on Saturday.

Ex-military ruler Abdussalami Abubaker brokered the deal in talks between President Goodluck Jonathan and his main challenger Muhammadu Buhari.

Nigeria's Peace Committee raised concerns on Monday that campaigning had been marred by hate speech.

Some 800 people were killed after the disputed 2011 elections.

Mr Jonathan is facing a strong challenge from Gen Buhari, with some analysts predicting a photo-finish.

In 2011, official figures said Mr Jonathan won by a wide margin.

Gen Buhari said those results were fraudulent, and violence broke out in his mainly northern strongholds.

On Wednesday, Nigeria's government ordered the closure of all land and sea borders to ensure a peaceful election.

OPEN LETTER TO GENERAL MOHAMMODU BUHARI: BE GALLANT ENOUGH TO ACCEPT DEFEAT

The Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has been told to be gallant enough to honorably accept defeat instead of bandying highfaluting slogans and threatening fire-and-brimstone over imaginary Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rigging plot. This was contained in letter written in Abuja on Wednesday by the National Scribe of the Labour Party Dr. (Barr) Olukayode Ajulo to the APC Presidential Candidate, Gen. M. Buhari.

“Events in recent times have not only revealed your party's (APC) desperation to clinch power at all costs, but also revealed that such tall ambition has fallen flat in the face of the real aspiration of the ordinary Nigerian.

The anticorruption garment in which you (Buhari) has being paraded round having been shown to be none but an Emperor’s garment and the tailor that sowed this garment having himself been exposed as a most unworthy clothier, your party the APC has now resorted to

barefaced stratagem of war-mongering.

The preparation for mayhem is being perfected as exemplified in the establishment of a ‘rebel radio’ dubbed APC Change Radio, which broadcast only in Hausa as Radio Changi. “

According to the letter, “the Radio Changi, though ostensibly meant to galvanize support for you (Buhari), is actually an instrument of hate meant to beam out misinformation and base propaganda, including fake electoral victory.

"Its purpose is clearly meant to instigatve the public as had been done in the past and prime society to accept the roguish machinations of the APC and their already concocted results.”

“But that has not stopped the drive by Nigerians towards transformation and real change. In the Southwest, the home zone of your (Buhari) major backbone, the change façade has tumbled as the people have come to the realization that their quest for true federalism and restructuring can only come to fruition on the basis of the National Conference report and not on the basis of denial of the relevance of the Confab as being championed by APC.

"In the South-South, another pillar of your  change behemoth, Gov. Rotimi Amechi is still reeling in the shock of the last minute abandonment of the foundering APC boat by his Deputy.

"In the whole of the North it is clear that the people are not really ready to put their trust in you, a man whose first coming when he was younger and supposedly more alert and self-assured projected the image of all that is detestable in a true leader.

“The reality today has given the lie to your party's claim that APC is the party of change Nigerians have been waiting for. All the other political parties which you had unwittingly referred to as mushroom parties but had tried to woo into the APC are now with President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and your party, APC has come out boldly as the real pariah party of motley aggregate of political bigots and self-acclaimed bigwigs.

"Our party, the Labour Party, which they had looked up to as a hopeful bride because it is the third largest party with elected legislators at all levels has also declared support for President Jonathan.

"It is very apparent that you're not in the first place qualified to contest, having not met the conditions. The serial loser in you must by now have learned how to savor the bile of defeat with a little syrup of clear conscience. “

Barrister Ajulo, concluded that, “The handwritings are clear on the wall; this election will not be won by grandstanding, propaganda and or falsehood.

"The people themselves will decide with their thumbprint on the ballot papers and it is expected that a someone who has risen to the enviable rank of a General of Nigerian Army must be gallant enough to accept defeat.

"You therefore need to face up to the truth and abandon vainglory and illusory victory for the reality of defeat.”

Obama Speech: 5 Qoutes APC not Comfortable With

 The president of the United States,  Barack Obama, on Monday 23, sent a special message to Nigerians regarding the upcoming elections, urging that the voting exercise be carried out peacefully.

President Barack Obama

Here are five quotes from Obama’s message that members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are very uncomfortable with:

1. “Nigeria is a great nation and you can be proud of the progress you’ve made.”

Obama acknowledges that Nigeria has made tremendous progress that we can be proud of. Listening to the APC’s message you would think that Nigeria is not working, and Obama rightly points out that we have made progress under the present Jonathan administration.

Who would want uncertain change over the chance to keep progressing?

2. “Together, you won your independence, emerged from military rule, and strengthened democratic institutions.”

Read the quote again. Obama says there is no going back to military rule. Do we want to go back to being bound by the shackles of dictatorship? Buhari says he is a “reformed democrat” but as we all know a leopard doesn’t change its spots.

3. “You’ve worked hard to improve the lives of your families and to build the largest economy in Africa.”

Contrary to all the lies that the APC has been trying to sell, our economy is progressing, and it did not become the largest economy in Africa by chance but by the good policies of the Jonathan administration. Obama states this fact whilst acknowledging that the lives of Nigerians haveimproved, and thereby showing the APC to be liars. 

4. “Violence has no place in democratic elections — and that they will not incite, support or engage in any kind of violence — before, during, or after the votes are counted.”

When violence is mentioned, Nigerians cannot extricate General Buhari from his famous statement before the 2011 elections and his famous silence after his supporters went wild. The Blood of Dog and Baboon statement recently made concerning the 2015 elections still echoes deeply. The APC is threatening a parallel government also… Obama’s speech is a clear warning against that.

5. “Boko Haram wants to destroy Nigeria and all that you have worked to build. By casting your ballot, you can help secure your nation’s progress.”

Secure your nation’s progress. Don’t change your fortunes.

Obama’s call on Nigeria to secure our progress is like a call to retain President Jonathan under whose presidency this progress has been achieved. As it is ill advised to change a commander-in-chief during war, Nigerians must fight together and eliminate Boko Haram with the armed forces who are presently winning the war and sustain this momentum.

Obama also said: ”in this task of advancing the security, prosperity, and human rights of all Nigerians, you will continue to have a friend and partner in the United States of America.”

Lest we forget, Nigerians are still much aware of the flagrant violation of human rights under General Buhari, resulting in a rupture in diplomatic relations with the UK and others.

What other areas of this Obama speech do you think the APC is uncomfortable with?