The Oyo State Government has strongly denied insinuations that it is responsible for the delay in burying the immediate past governor of the state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, who died on Thursday.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the insinuations amounted to a wicked lie.
The statement reads: “In view of the intense enquiries from news media organisations regarding the perceived delay in burying the late former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the Oyo State Government wishes to place on record that there is no truth in the rumour making the rounds that the burial is being delayed by the state government.
“The rumour, which is being deliberately spread to give the state government a bad name and to play undue politics with the dead, initially came by the way of social media gossip, which gained traction to attract the attention of traditional media outfits.
“Several media outfits reached out to the Media Office of the Governor of Oyo State to make enquiries on this barefaced lie on Saturday.
“Let it be stated clearly that the Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has played no role at all in causing any delay whatsoever regarding the burial of his immediate predecessor, Senator Ajimobi.
“The truth of the matter is that the family, through a proxy, approached the state government and sought approval to bury the late governor on a plot of land at Agodi GRA, which is currently under litigation.
“Incidentally, it was the same former Governor Ajimobi who instituted the legal action.
“Governor Seyi Makinde had no choice than to state the facts as they are to the emissaries and turn down the request.
“Governor Makinde, however, against the established land use rule in Oyo State, gave approval that the family can bury the late governor in his Oluyole Estate residence.
“It is to be noted that the rules guiding land use in Government Reservation Areas (GRA) forbid the burial of bodies in such locations as Oluyole Estate and Agodi GRA.
“Let us also put on record that whereas the family did not follow the laid down protocols in passing information on the sickness and eventual demise of Senator Ajimobi, Governor Makinde overlooked all that and directed the full cooperation of the government with the family on this matter.
“It can only amount to a wicked lie to insinuate that the incumbent government in Oyo State attempted to obstruct the burial of the immediate past governor.”
*Re: Who Succeeds Osinowo in Lagos East?.*
Our attention had been drawn to the article of a popular newspaper “ *THE NATION” titled: “WHO SUCCEEDS OSINOWO IN LAGOS EAST?”* published on June 23rd, 2020. Even though we are still mourning the passing away of our late benefactor and leader, Senator Bayo Osinowo. The article clearly is an indicator that high level consultations and politiking had began in the quest to find a suitable candidate for our great party that will succeed our dear Peperito at the senate.
The article on *”who Succeeds Osinowo in Lagos East”,* mentioned Chief Lanre Rasak, KLM as the most qualified, matured and experienced person to represent the lagos east senatorial district. We strongly believe such position remains the thought and imagination of the writer and cannot reflect the appropriateness of the good people of Lagos East at large, we also feel at this stage in our political sojourn efforts should be geared at putting forth *vibrant, experienced and more importantly a youthful representative* as such, it is disservice to mention someone *aged, with no legislative Experience* as the only candidate who is fit to represent Lagos East in the red chamber of the National Assembly.
Interestingly and to set the records straight, we all are aware that Senator Anthony Adefuye at the age of 46 became a senator, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora became a senator of Lagos East in 2003 at 50 years, Senator Ganiyu Olarenwaju Solomon got elected a Senator in 2007 at 48 years, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro was 46 years a Senator in 2003 and Senator Solomon O. Adeola (Yayi) in 2015 got elected at 45 years. etc. The recent of it all is our proactive Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwoolu who just clocked 55 and our well-articulated Speaker representing Surulere, RT. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila who is now 58. They have all been instrumental to the growth and development of this nation at large and not bench warmers.
*Therefore, it is agreeable that Lagos East senatorial district needs someone with criteria as follows:*
1. Someone within the *age bracket of 35 to 55 years,* a party loyalist with capacity, character and competence, *who is ranked first out of many*
2 A person with grounded legislative experience, policy formulation and implementation, friend of all, accessible, youthful and useful to the populace.
3. A team player with legislative knowledge who can set the ball rolling with little or no guidance, as there should be no room for freshers or learning on the job.
4. A marketable candidate whose loyalty has been tested and trusted by the party and not a technocrat or individual who isn’t known or involved in the progressive movement of our dear party before now.
We cannot but agree that Lagos East Senatorial district have productive, experienced and competent leaders within the age bracket mentioned above, who can be given the mandate to continue transforming the representation of Lagos east Senatorial district at the upper Chamber positively. To mention but a few are *Hon Dayo Alebiosu (former member House of Representatives, Kosofe), Hon Jimi Benson (Member House of Representatives, Ikorodu), and probably Hon Segun Olulade Eleniyan (former member Lagos State House Of Assembly, Epe) and other capable hands* that can be suggested with capacity and character marketable to the populace.
Conclusively, We crave the indulgence of the party leadership to consider the above recommendations towards picking the right individual whose brand is marketable to all and can stand to defeat any candidate from the opposition. We so much believe that our leader, the political strategist, *Jagaban of Africa Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu* will understands the importance of choosing a person of attributes above as replacement for our late distinguished Bayo Osinowo. Our development in Lagos East remains our concern and we do not see our senatorial district divisible by any means whatsoever. We therefore opine that our voice should be led by an intelligent, Progressive, loyal and well experienced youthful personality who will deliver democratic governance to the people.
*”Lagos State had made an unarguable tremendous progress with the visionary leadership of Asiwaju and other party leaders, owing to their ingenious ability to identify talents that delivers and the list are numerous as we all know. Thus, this vacuum presents another opportunity for them to do what they knows how to do best by placing a round peg in a round hole”!*
Thank You.
*Long live Lagos East Senatorial District!!!!!*
*Long live Lagos State*
*Signed*
*LAGOS EAST ARISE MOVEMENT*
#YoungVibrantSenator #LagosEastSenatorialDistrict #FressBlood #LoyalPartyMan #InteligentParliamentarian