Oluyede Lauds SWAGA, Expresses Hope for New Ekiti

Politics
lagosstreetjournal
October 24, 2021

By Dayo Badmus,

A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Oluwole Oluyede, has described the rising profile of the South West Agenda for Asiwaju 2023 (SWAGA), in Ekiti State as a new twist.

According to him, this is signposting the determination of the people to break away from the dark past to embrace progressive democracy.

He said, the sacrifice and commitment on the part of SWAGA to build a solid foundation for Ekiti politics has been enormous, hence he urged members to continue to build on their inputs, so as to bequeath a state that flourishes in prosperity.

Oluyede who spoke on the heels of the huge turnout of members of the group in Ado Ekiti on Thursday for the inauguration of its Ward and Local Government officials, as a prelude to mobilizing and organizing for coming elections, said the time for the political emancipation of the people is now.

Dr Oluyede described SWAGA as leading light in the current quest for a new Ekiti State, where the people’s voice will be weighty, their choice sacrosanct and their will unchallengeable.

He therefore admonished members of SWAGA to be steadfast in their resolve to rescue the state from petty politics of materialism and be resolute in the pursuit of an enduring and futuristic politics that builds and not cajole.

“For a long time, Ekiti people have been subjected to a politics of a few deciding for the majority. The principle of welfarist politicking has long developed wings and has disappeared with the reigns of our founding fathers. The voice of a few has now overwhelmed the roar of the majority, as the tail now wags the dog of our society.

Read More APC Presidential candidate, Tinubu claims he never attended primary, secondary schools, says University degree certificates stolen by unknown soldiers Bola Tinubu, the ruling All Progressives Congress' presidential candidate, has informed the electoral commission INEC that he did not attend primary and secondary school. The former Lagos governor, on the other hand, claimed to have two degrees from two American universities, which he claimed were stolen by unknown soldiers during the 1990s military junta. Mr Tinubu made the revelations in an affidavit submitted to the electoral office as part of his eligibility filings for the 2023 presidential elections. Mr Tinubu left the columns for his primary and secondary education blank in the documents released on Friday. However, he claimed to have received a degree in business and administration in 1979, presumably referring to his previous claims of attending Chicago State University. The electoral law requires candidates to submit their personal credentials, which will be made public ahead of the elections. Mr Tinubu's latest claims appear to contradict his previous election submissions, particularly in 1999 and 2003, when he ran for governor of Lagos. He claimed to have attended primary and secondary school both times. He stated that he attended St Paul Children's Home School in Ibadan from 1958 to 1964, and Government College in Ibadan from 1965 to 1968. Mr Tinubu stated that he attended Richard Daley College in Chicago from 1969 to 1971 after graduating from Ibadan. He finally admitted to attending both Chicago State University and the University of Chicago. Mr Tinubu was admitted to Chicago State University and graduated with a degree in business and administration on June 22, 1979. A prominent Nigerian lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi, however, challenged all of the submissions as fraudulent. Mr Fawehinmi, 1938-2009, took the case all the way to the Supreme Court, which dismissed it on technical grounds rather than on the merits. Ikenga Ugochinyere, an Abuja-based political activist, said he would challenge Mr Tinubu's filings in court, accusing him of perjury. Mr Tinubu "commits perjury by abandoning his earlier claim of attending primary school," Mr Ugochinyere said in a statement. His "new forms contradict his 2007 affidavit that he has primary and secondary school education." Mr Tinubu's spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on the alleged discrepancies in his submissions to the electoral commission.

“Obviously, our political situation in Ekiti State is pathetic, frustrating and is already heading for the jugular before the coming of SWAGA; a gathering of selfless, determined politicians on a mission to liberate Ekiti people from petty politicking and also enthrone Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Nigeria’s next President, come 2023.

“We are seeing for the first time in our land a group of people spending their own time and money to lay a decent, enduring and comfortable political future for our people. I commend our members’ commitment and sacrifices, even in the face of palpable intimidations and oppressions. I salute your courage, your doggedness and resilience, even with the lingering suppressions and threats. You have done our land and our people proud and prosperity shall sure reward you all.

I think what we are seeing in Ekiti State today is a revolution; the ardent resolve of a people to break away from a past that had offered nothing but stagnations, tears and agony. SWAGA has metamorphosed to a movement; a liberation group, that must be embraced across party lines,” he said.

He pleaded with SWAGA members to remain focused, noting that very soon, the group will present a leader to take over the Oke-Ayaba Government House, come October 2022.

“We have laboured in pain, now we are at the threshold of reaping with joy. Certainly, we have grown to become a force within the APC and even beyond. We have been painstakingly dedicated and very consistent too. Now is the time we need to be extra careful because the devil has not gone to sleep. We must persevere in our resolve to have a state of our dream where there is equity and justice. We are certainly the winning side. We should not by any means rescue defeat from the mouth of our obvious victory,” Oluyede cautioned.