APC Ilesa

29/03/2022

LUKULUKU BANTASHI

For those that were old enough between the mid 80s and the 90s, Lukuluku Bantashi was a well-known comedian in the Yoruba movie industry who flourished for a very long time through his own unique cast and brand identity that no one has beaten till today. Lukuluku Bantashi Awo-Erin, as he was popularly called, was one among the many notable actors in the Yoruba movie industry that their stars have sunk prematurely into the history.

Not much is known about Lukuluku's personal life, but his comedy brand was known far and wide across the western part of the country.

Lukuluku Bantashi was able to build his own stage identity from his own template, and his comedy brand reigned for decades while his comical style continues to be unmatched till this moment.

Lukuluku, during his time, ruled the comic scenes of the industry while the likes of Epo-Tin-Tin, Baba Suwe, Ajirebi, Godogbo, James Dẹ̀pẹ́, Dẹ̀jo Tunfulu, Larondo and others queued behind him.

Lukuluku was the most beautiful bride in the movie industry that all the movie producers sought his graceful appearance in their movies, there was no known popular movie at that time that he did not feature, and movie viewers always looked for his head in the posters or on the video cassette jackets. He was indeed a hot selling point that none of the movie producers at that time would want to jettison his appearance.

Lukuluku Bantashi was popular for his unique comical crying-style which could crack one's ribs to pieces. He always played 'an old fool' whilst his face was always painted in charcoal black. Lukuluku would always wear oversize unmatched cloth which could throw you out of balance at a mere sight of him.

Lukuluku Bantashi presented his artistic talents in many movies like Yemi My Lover, Ti Oluwa Nílẹ̀, Imulẹ̀ Ìfẹ́, Legal Wife, Ami Orun, Itunu and many other movies before his untimely death in 1995.

The entire South west of Nigeria was shaken to its foundation on the day Lukuluku's death was announced. Sun refused to shine and moon hid its glow.

All the radio and television stations rendered heart touching tributes to him. The entire Yoruba actor guild (ANTP) at that time was stirred up and all its members were thrown into absolute bereavement. The untimely death of Lukuluku Bantashi was seen by many among the co-artists as a irreplaceable lost, and the tribute upon tribute was rendered to honor him.

Alhaji Gboyega Lawal, a popular Ibàdàn ace broadcaster, tried to douse and bring people's mourning under control, he planned to prank Lukuluku's resurrection from death in one of his live program on Galaxy Television Ibàdàn on a weekend that followed.

He costumed Yinka Ayefele to look almost exactly like Lukuluku and brought him on his program known as ON ROSY. Yinka Ayefele truly delivered as a replica of Lukuluku that beautiful Saturday afternoon on live broadcast, and that provoked people anxiety.

Hundreds of thousands of over-excited people besieged the TV station and requested to see the resurrected Lukuluku face to face. Things went out of control and Alhaji Gboyega Lawal and Yinka Ayefele were nearly mobbed by the angry fans of Lukuluku Bantashi.

Lukuluku's death is twenty six years now and his replacement still cannot be identified. Like I had said earlier, not much is known about his personal life and family. Rumour had it that he left no child after him to blow the horn.

The vacuum that Lukuluku left behind is still there till the moment as many of us that knew him are still missing him so much.

11/10/2019

Appeal Court nullified Sen Dino Melaye election,& order for fresh election for Kogi West Senatorial District.
😁😁😁

09/05/2019

Court of Appeal grant Governor Gboyega Oyetola request, upturned tribunal verdict.

04/03/2019

Sai Buhari 😃😃😃

26/05/2018

We welcome all APC governorship aspirants.
Contact us for proper propagation of your activities as you strive to win APC primary.

Mail: [email protected]

15/01/2018

To those who paid the Ultimate price to keep us safe, we pray your gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

12/01/2018

Discharge or Declare as Expired the Orders of Local Government Allocations and LCDA Elections-
Osun Attorney General tells Abuja Federal High Court
The Hon Attorney General of Osun - Dr. Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru has urged a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja presided over by Hon. Justice Tsoho to declare as having expired by effluxion of time orders of injunction granted by the court on 4th of December, 2017 in line with Order 26 rule 12 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules, 2009 and/or to discharge the orders on the sundry grounds like absence of jurisdiction, absence of real urgency, suppression of material facts and breach of legal right to fair hearing.
Dr Basiru, who appeared along with Hassan Agbelekale State Counsel, Idrees Mikaheel Abiodun State Counsel, Oghenovo Otemu Esq. and Kafayat Abiola Olajide Esq. made these submissions while moving two applications filed by Osun Government who is the 7th Defendant in a case instituted by three individuals challenging the legality of the creation of Local Council Development Areas in Osun.

Arguing the application filed on 29th of December, 2017, the Attorney General of Osun stated that the 7th Defendant had filed, 0n 8th December, 2017, an application to discharge the ex parte order granted on 4th December 2017 but that the court did not hear the application within fourteen days as required by the Rules of Court. He further argued that by express provision of the Rules, the order ex parte have expired by effluxion of time citing several legal authorities. On the contrary, Chief Robert Clarke, SAN, on behalf of the Plaintiffs argued that the orders made on 4th of December, 2017 were on notice and therefore the 14 day rule does not apply. The Senior Advocate also stated that though the court refused reliefs 1 to 5 of their Motion Ex-parte on 27the December, 2017 but that the Court on 4th December, 2017 resuscitated the prayers and granted the relief 1 to 5 earlier refused. The Attorney General of Osun, while replying on points of law, posited that the position of the Learned Silk for the Plaintiffs in fact supported the argument of the State Government that the court was functus officio having refused the interim orders on 27th December, 2017 and went ahead to still grant the same reliefs on the same application. He also argued that an order to show cause upon the ex parte application of the Plaintiffs formed part of the hearing of the ex parte application and does not convert the application ex parte to one on notice. Furthermore, that the court granted expressly reliefs 1 to 5 of the motion ex parte as interim orders and made same to be contingent on the hearing and determination of the motion on Notice.
Honourable Justice J.T Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja having heard the 2 applications adjourned the matter to 24th day of January, 2018 for ruling.
Opeyemi BELLO Information Officer, Ministry of Justice.

01/01/2018

PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI’S 2018 NEW YEAR ADDRESS
I join my fellow citizens this morning to welcome and celebrate the New Year 2018. This year promises to be pivotal in our quest for CHANGE.
Unfortunately, I am saddened to acknowledge that for many this Christmas and New Year holidays have been anything but merry and happy. Instead of showing love, companionship and charity, some of our compatriots chose this period to inflict severe hardship on us all by creating unnecessary fuel scarcity across the country.
The consequence was that not many could travel and the few who did had to pay exorbitant transport fares. This is unacceptable given that NNPC had taken measures to ensure availability at all depots. I am determined to get to the root of this collective blackmail of all Nigerians and ensure that whichever groups are behind this manipulated hardship will be prevented from doing so again.
Such unpatriotism will not divert the Administration from the course we have set ourselves. Our government's watch word and policy thrust is CHANGE. We must change our way of doing things or we will stagnate and be left behind in the race to lift our people out of poverty and into prosperity.
My address to fellow Nigerians this morning is devoted mainly to informing you about the intense efforts this Administration is putting to address our country's huge infrastructural deficit.
We are going to make significant in-roads in advancing road, rail and power projects across the country.
The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing is one of the drivers of this Government’s commitment to renew and increase Nigeria’s stock of infrastructure in order to achieve global economic competitiveness as targeted under the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.
With regards to Railways, we have set ourselves ambitious targets. Already in construction stage is the Lagos-Kano Standard Gauge Railway.
The line should reach Ibadan from Lagos by the end of 2019 and will carry two million passengers per year and five million tons of cargo will be transported every year giving a substantial boost to the country’s economy.
Construction of the Kano – Kaduna segment is expected to commence this year and reach Kaduna by the end of 2019. By the end of 2021 the two ends will be joined so that we will have standard gauge railway across the main North-South trading route.
The Abuja – Kaduna route will be boosted by additional rolling stock next Thursday and will be able to handle one million commuters annually.
At the same time I have approved and negotiations will be concluded in the first part of this year for the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri line covering Aba, Owerri, Umuahia, Enugu, Awka, Abakaliki, Makurdi, Lafia, Jos, Bauchi, Gombe, Yola and Damaturu. The Abuja to Itakpe line will go through Baro and terminate in Warri with construction of a new seaport at Warri.
Negotiations are also advanced for the construction of other railway lines, firstly from Kano to Maradi in Niger Republic passing through Kazaure, Daura, Katsina, Jibia to Maradi.
Secondly, Lagos to Calabar the “Coastal Rail” through Ore, Benin, Agbor, Asaba, Onitsha, Sapele, Ughelli, Warri, Yenagoa, Otuoke, Port Harcourt, Aba, Uyo and Calabar. In the next few years, all these Nigerian cities will be linked by functional modern rail systems, giving enormous boost to the social and economic life of our people.
With respect to the Abuja Capital Light Rail, progress has reached 98% completion, as at 64% completion when we assumed office. Only test runs remain before start of operations.
This train service will stimulate economic activities in the Federal Capital and provide residents with an efficient and safe transportation system. Twelve railway sub-stations around the capital over a 45.2 kilometre route will serve as a catalyst and a pull factor to the economy of the area. The Light Rail System will reduce traffic congestion and carbon emission in line with the Administration’s policy on climate change.
Management of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has been reconstituted and has been charged with a 12 week rapid intervention in road repairs to cover all the geo-political zones. Government is undertaking repairs and maintenance of 44 roads within the six geo-political zones.
Twenty five major highways will be funded under the N100b SUKUK facility. Each geo-political zone will benefit by an equal amount of N16.67b. The following major highways are to receive special attention:
a. Oyo – Ogbomosho,
b. Ofusu – Ore – Ajebandele – Shagamu,
c. Yenagoa Road Junction – Kolo Otuoke – Bayelsa Palm,
d. Enugu – Port Harcourt Dual Carriage Way,
e. Onitsha – Enugu Expressway,
f. Kaduna Eastern Bypass,
g. Dualization of Kano – Maiduguri Road,
h. Dualization of Abuja – Lokoja – Benin Road,
i. Dualization of Suleja – Minna Road.
In addition, Government has approved work to start on the re-construction of Abuja – Kaduna – Zaria – Kano road which is in a state of disrepair. Work will soon start...

01/01/2018

Speech of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to Osun people for New Year 2018.

My good people of Osun,
I am most pleased and grateful to God for the New Year. Irrespective of our condition at this moment, given our endowments and God’s natural blessings around us, we have the hope that a happy and fulfilling year is ahead of us. For when we have life, we have hope.

The last year was challenging but we can say that it was better than the two years before it, just as we believe that this New Year will be better than the old one.

In that last year, 2017, the IITA agriculture training and research centre was launched in Ago Owu, in a major push for farming and food security in our state.

We also commissioned three of our state-of-the-art schools. These are Saint Augustine Elementary School, Ipetumodu, CAC Middle School, Araromi, Osogbo and Ilesa Government High School, Ilesa.

In the past year, we celebrated the graduation and return to the country of the medical students of Uniosun, who went to study in Ukraine.

We also established and commissioned Justice Research Centre at the Osogbo High Court. This will aid legal research and promote the cause of justice.

In 2017, our state was spared the scourge of monkey pox and Lassa fever, even as it ravaged many states, including some of our neighbours.

We thank God for His protection over us and especially our dutiful and hard working public health and medical workers and officials of the Ministry of Health that acted proactively and with dispatch at the appropriate time.

Also in the outgone year, work resumed on the Moshood Abiola International Airport. This airport, when completed, would serve as cargo airport, maintenance hub and a major boost to tourism in the state, among others.

Also, in the same year, we successfully held callisthenics competition among secondary school pupils in Osun. This is another innovation from our state that helps children to develop physical and mental coordination, team spirit and character building.

In 2017, we signed a memorandum of understanding with investors on the establishment of N216 billion industrial park in Osun. This is a landmark economic development event that will give Osun an industrial breakthrough, when it takes off.

We also, within the same year, lunched a micro, small and medium enterprises empowerment scheme that will benefit 50,000 people in the state.

Before the year ran out, we broke a three decade plus jinx by turning the sod on the 60 million litre daily water supply scheme to Ilesa. We were able to secure N48.7 billion facility from Islamic Development Bank for this landmark project.

It was also a year of harvest of deaths as my mother, step mother, close friends and political associates like Lateef Raji, Prof Abdulrauf Mustapha, Senator Isiaka Adeleke and Moses Hustode all went to the great beyond. Death came calling and snatched my Egbon and confidant, Sir Olu Abiola, Mrs Omowumi Akande, who was the wife of our leader in Osun, Chief Bisi Akande, Olori Bola Akinyemi and regrettably Mrs Oluwakemi Kolawole, who was Permanent Secretary, Bureau of General Services, Office of the Governor. Death took also Sheikh Salaudeen Olayiwola, the chairman Osun Muslims Community. May God grant them all comfort in their new station.

For the past seven years, we have laboured to bring people centred progressive governance to Osun.

This has been visible in youth, vulnerable senior citizens and women empowerment, agriculture development, industrialisation, infrastructure development, education, job creation, human development, water resources development, urban renewal and so on.

All these have transformed Osun and projected it positively beyond what we met. Osun has now become the reference point in prudent management of resources and responsible governance.

On Thursday last week, I presented to the State House of Assembly the budget for the administration of this state for next year. That budget is the culmination of all our effort and will represent the crowning glory of our achievements. I fully intend to implement it to the last kobo.

For it to work however, there must be a clear departure from the past of dependency on allocation from the federation account. It is imperative that we generate our own revenue. This requires that we all work hard.

The collective wealth of the state is the aggregate of what everyone contributes and we can only be economically and financially safe when everyone produces more than he or she consumes.

All of us should pay our taxes, rates, levies, fees, fines and other financial obligations to the state.

From our population, if one million of us productively engaged can contribute N250 for 20 days in a month, we will be able to raise N5 billion.

This will enable us comfortably pay our workers and pensioners full salaries, run the government, provide infrastructure and carry out social protection services for all the people.

31/12/2017

24/12/2017

PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI’S 2017 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE TO THE NATION

Dear Compatriots,

I felicitate with all Nigerians, particularly our Christian brothers and sisters, on the occasion of this year’s Christmas day celebration.

The commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ is an important opportunity for us to show love to one another and encourage unity by spending quality time with our friends, families and the less-privileged.

It is also an occasion to draw inspiration from the exemplary lifestyle and teachings of Jesus Christ, who constantly stood for what is right, true and honest.

The Holy Book describes Christmas as a festival of peace, joy, healing, hope and fulfilment. It kindles great expectations in the heart, irrespective of the challenges of the moment.

As we celebrate this Yuletide season, let us devote some time to pray and appreciate the sacrifices of members of our armed services to keep our nation safe and secure.

By the same token, and keeping with the spirit of the season, our gallant troops serving in the frontlines in the fight against insurgency; those wounded, lying in the hospital, as well as civilians who have suffered the brunt of evil and wicked elements these past years, deserve our fervent goodwill and sustained prayers.

The personal fortitude of these individuals will continue to inspire us to victory as we turn the tide against the enemy and annihilate those who work against the unity of our nation.

In this season of hope, let us remember to provide refuge to those who cannot enjoy Christmas at home with their families, or have been driven from their homes by insurgency or violence, particularly the Internally Displaced Persons.

Lately, we have witnessed an upsurge in the activities of trans-border syndicates who lure our youths to modern slavery through irregular migration. While we have stepped up our efforts to halt this wickedness against the upwardly mobile generation, and have evacuated some of our compatriots stranded abroad, we appeal to them to shun the allure of embarking on such perilous journeys.

I am deeply convinced that better days lie ahead for us as a nation as we make progress on all the major fronts where we have set our energies to surmount the challenges.

I wish you all Happy Christmas celebrations.

Muhammadu Buhari

18/12/2017

ADOPTING ‘STATE OF OSUN’ NOT ILLEGAL, FALANA REPLIES ANYIM

Barrister Femi Falana (SAN) yesterday disagreed with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, over his reference to ‘State of Osun’ as illegal and unconstitutional.

Falana, in a press statement, tagged “Adoption of ‘State of Osun’” is not unconstitutional, said it is not stated anywhere in the constitution that it is illegal to refer to any particular state government as the government of a state.

He challenged the SGF to point to specific provisions of the constitution or any other law, which the governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, is alleged to have violated.

Falana stated: “At a public event which held at Abuja yesterday, the Secretary to the Federal Government (SFG) who is inappropriately referred to as ‘the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, described the ‘State of Osun’ as illegal and unconstitutional. With respect to Senator Anyim, who is a senior lawyer, the statement credited to him cannot be justified under the 1999 Constitution as amended.

Section 2(2) of the Constitution states that “Nigeria shall be a federation consisting of states and a Federal Capital Territory while the thirty six states are listed in section 3(1) thereof and in the First Schedule to the Constitution. Specifically, section 3(2) of the Constitution provides that “each state of Nigeria named in the first column of Part 1 of the First Schedule to the Constitution, shall consist of the area shown opposite thereto in the second column of that schedule.”

In the said Part 1 of the First Schedule the 36 states of the Federation are listed together with the local governments and the capital cities being the headquarters of the governments of the states. Nowhere is it stated in the Constitution that it is illegal to refer to any particular state government as the government of a state.

“For the avoidance of doubt; section 176 of the Constitution refers to ‘the governor of a state’ and not to a ‘state governor’ while section 194 thereof refers to the ‘government of a state’ and not to a ‘state government.’ Furthermore, section 90 of the Constitution provides for the establishment of ‘a House of Assembly for each of the states of the federation’ while section 270 refers to ‘the High Court of each State’. Since there are no references to ‘state governors’, ‘state governments’, ‘state houses of assembly’ and ‘state high courts’ in the Constitution the adoption of the ‘State of Osun’ is not illegal or unconstitutional.

“However, if the Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator Anyim, disagrees with our submissions on this diversionary debate, we challenge him to refer to the specific provisions of the Constitution or any other law whatsoever which the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is alleged to have violated. This challenge has become necessary in view of the fact that it is not considered illegal or criminal in the United States of America, a federation which operates a presidential system of government to refer to New York State as ‘the State of New York.’