APC members protest against alleged imposition of candidates

Some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State yesterday protested against alleged plan by Governor Abiola Ajimobi to impose candidates for the local council election slated for May 12, this year.

The protesters, who stormed the Oke-Ado, Ibadan Secretariat of the party, vowed to resist the governor in his alleged plan to foist candidates on them.

They warned that without free and fair primary that will accommodate all groups in the state, the party might lose the council polls.

They also alleged that the governor had perfected plans to substitute the delegates’ list with his own people so that only those who are loyal to him can emerge as candidates of the party.

The state Secretary of the party, Mr. Mojeed Olaoya, who was asked to react, said he was not ready to speak, alleging that the journalists were being sponsored to monitor the protest by some aggrieved members of the party.

He said he was surprised that no journalist came to the secretariat when the governor came there to address members of the party on the proposed local council election.

In another development, the Oyo State Executive Council has made the enrolment for its health insurance compulsory for all civil and public servants.

The state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun who disclosed this yesterday, said that the compulsory enrolment of all civil and public servants from Level 1 to 12 would be the standard plan of N8,000 premium per annum inclusive of N200 registration/service while from Level 13 and above would be on the standard plus plan of N13,500 premium per annum.

Arulogun said that the executive council also approved the compulsory enrolment of all students of Oyo State institutions on students plan with a subsidised premium of N2,800 per annum.

The government spokesman, who stated that the state government would also demand certificates of health insurance or evidence of same from individuals, groups, companies or institutions that intend to do businesses with Oyo State, said health insurance certificate shall also be part of pre-requisite to access loan or similar funds from Bureau of investment by individuals and co-operative societies.