Author: Taiwo Ismael

…says alleged petitioner working for vested interests.

    Oyo Assembly

The Oyo State House of Assembly has described as fictitious and misleading allegations of scam in the purchase of official vehicles for members of the Assembly.

This is just as the State Legislature maintained that necessary due process was followed in the purchase of the said vehicles.

The Chairman House Committee on Information, Hon Kazeem Olayanju while reacting to a petition allegedly forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC by a former Prosecutor with the Special Presidential Panel on Recovery of Public Property , Tosin Ojaomo said that the House could not have executed such a project without following due process in line with the official procedures.

According to Hon Olayanju, quotations were received from three companies for the supply of the vehicles in line with the House rules , and the tender adjudged as the best and most satisfying was eventually picked and awarded the contract to supply the cars.

He noted that there was a glaring element of bias in the petition as the writer claimed that ” the contract was fraudulently arranged to favor the Contractor instead of Elizade Motors and Mandilas Motors which also tendered quotations. “

Hon Olayanju maintained that it was inconceivable that the petitioner was making a case for a dealer and suggesting that the contract should have been given to one contractor or the other.

” Why would the petitioner be talking about the interest of one contractor or the other and not the interest of the State and the Legislature?
Oyo Assembly as far as we are concerned followed due process in the purchase of the cars. I can say without mincing words that the petition did not emanate from any of the Lawmakers. It was a calculated attempt by some busy bodies who are seeking to see Oyo State plunged into imaginary crisis.
Some of these paid agents are equally seeking to cause disaffection amongst the Lawmakers when indeed all the cars have been supplied and delivered and are being used by the lawmakers and the staff, ” Olagunju added.

The Chairman House Committee on Information who also dismissed as a mere conjecture the allegation that the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker connived with the company that got the contract to divert the sum of #1.03billion meant for the official vehicles stated further that the rumour that refurbished cars were supplied is incorrect and impossible.

The All Progressives Congress in Oyo state has charged Governor Seyi Makinde to accept the reality of his unpopularity and lack of promise on account of poor performance in office after spending about 20 months in the saddle with no concrete achievements.

Governor Makinde was recorded to have claimed that he was still popular among residents of the state against the background of increased criticisms from political watchers and stakeholders who felt his administration had a long way to go if it planned to deliver on its pre-election promises of 2018/2019. The governor, at the weekend, reportedly challenged his critics to an ‘open credibility’ contest on the streets of the popular Oje market in Ibadan, the state capital.

While reacting to Gov. Makinde’s claims through a statement issued on Monday and made available to newsmen in Ibadan by its interim Assistant Publicity Secretary, Prince Ayobami Adejumo, Oyo APC submitted that the PDP governor was still living in fools’ paradise if he could boast of being popular without any proof of outstanding performance in office.

“The worst thing to have happened to Oyo state since its creation in 1976 is an executive governor still basking in the euphoria of winning an election two years after. Rather sit down to work for the state, Gov. Makinde wakes up every morning to take a joyful look at the result sheet of the 2019 poll which brought him to power. As a result of this, he does not care to appreciate what is expected of him in a tenure of four years.

“It is highly unfortunate for the good people of the state who had desired continuity of good governance after the expiration of the eventful and glorious two terms of late Senator Abiola Ajimobi to be faced with the tribulation of another PDP occupants in the Agodi Government House especially as the Makinde administration has turned out to be a disappointment for all and sundry.

“To address the question of delusional popularity claims, we would like to ask Gov. Makinde what he has in the last 20 months to better the lot of the state. Can a governor who recently promised to start performing in this 2021 still claim to have merited popularity? Where, in the whole world, does a governor challenge individual critics to a road show contest in his locality if not a man who has chosen idleness in power?

“Does Gov. Makinde he could still be.popular when it is clear he gave false hope to mislead unsuspecting voters? Can a Chief Security Officer of a state claim to be popular when he has failed to save his people from insecurity even as his ceaseless error continue to cost them their lives and property everyday? Can a governor in a state like Oyo who has failed to work with all relevant stakeholders be said to be popular? As at today, Gov. Makinde is not even popular within his government as virtually all his appointees groan because he runs a one-man show.

“Is Gov. Makinde thinking that everything ends with his induced popularity among givers of fraudulent loans, imposed Park Managers and aliens currently sleeping and feeding fat at the Government House. How can a governor who failed to justify the poor management of huge financial resources accrued to him through monthly allocations from Abuja, billions of naira from monthly internationally generated revenues, over 100 billion naira loans, grants and subventions from known and undisclosed sources in the last 20 months as well as proceeds from sales of government properties lay claim to any popularity among his victims?

“Since his access to state funds would afford him the opportunity to rent a crowd of cheer-givers and sycophants at will, Gov. Makinde cannot understand the enormity of hatred he has in the hearts of Oyo PDP leaders and members, not to talk about most members of the coalition group who helped him in 2019, as he continues to punish them unjustifiably. The only state with a record of frosty relationship with the Federal Government is Oyo and as if this was not enough, Gov. Makinde has decided to ostracize the Police and other federal security agencies in his state.
“However, if ‘street credibility’ is all what Gov. Makinde craved for during and after his four-year tenure of office, we would have to appeal to those expecting him to add value to governance to tarry a while and redirect their expectations while the good people of Oyo state warm up to correct the mistake of 2019 by voting for the candidate of the APC in 2023 to enable have a full dose of good governance and responsible leadership as it was the case between 2011 and 2019.” Oyo APC submitted.

The former Chairman, Oyo State Amateur Boxing Association, Mr. Akintunde Opaleye is dead.

He died on Sunday at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, according to a report by DailyPost.
Chairman, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in Oyo State, Mr. Adeniyi Alebiosu confirmed the death of the deceased.
Alebiosu expressed deep sadness at the demise of the boxing promoter.

Alebiosu added that Opalaye gave up the ghost on Sunday morning at the University College Hospital Ibadan, where he had been receiving treatments for an ailment.

He lamented that the death of Opaleye has robbed sportswriters in Oyo State of a big brother, reliable friend and great supporter.

South-West PDP: Lagos PDP pledges support for Makinde

….endorses gov as PDP South West leader

The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said on Saturday, that it was endorsing Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State as the leader of the party in the South West.

This was made known in a Statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor after the Lagos State PDP delegation met with the Governor on Saturday, and made available to OduduwaNews

“Lagos PDP leaders, who made the declaration after a meeting with Governor Makinde in Ibadan, said that they were highly appreciative of the outstanding role the governor has played in the life of the party.

The party leaders also pledged their unflinching loyalty to the leadership of Governor Makinde in the South West PDP, adding that his leadership style was exemplary.

The Deputy Chairman of the PDP in Lagos State, Alhaji Waliu Hassan, and the former House of representative member, Hon Rita Orji, who spoke to newsmen shortly after a stakeholders meeting held at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, asked the governor to continue his leadership role and never to relent in showing leadership.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the party leaders as saying that members of the PDP in Lagos have agreed to continually resolve their crisis amicably so as to ensure that the party takes over the baton of leadership come 2023.
The duo said: “The purpose of today’s meeting, to be very precise, is to thank Governor Makinde for standing by the party and to pledge total loyalty to his leadership of the South-West. No more, no less.
“we can tell you that the governor does not want anything from us. He, as the Chief Security Officer of Oyo State, needs nothing from the party, rather we are the ones who came all the way from Lagos, to plead with him to keep leading the party.
“We resolved to, irrespective of any rancor, move the party forward and we will ensure that the party takes its better seat in 2023.
They also hinted that all PDP members in Lagos state have restated their commitment to Governor Seyi Makinde and promised to stand by him always.

The duo said: “We did not come here to discuss who takes anything for zonal congress. The congress will soon come up and for all we care, we have come to restate our commitment to our own governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, and we stand by him anywhere he is going on the issue of the South West.”
They told newsmen that the full structure of the Lagos PDP Executive attended the meeting, adding that 12 executive council members were present out of 19, while all the 17 non -working committee members were also present.
They added: “Yes, it is the full structure of Lagos that is represented here. Out of 19, we have the representation of 12 local government chairmen. And we also have 17 complete non-working committee members of state exco here present. We have the deputy chairman of the party here. We have the secretary, legal adviser and the entire party structure of Lagos State here. This is a complete House of PDP, Lagos State.”

On his part, the Caretaker Zonal Chairman of the party, Dayo Ogungbenro affirmed that Governor Makinde remains the undisputed leader of the party in the zone.

Ogungbenro called on other leaders like Ayodele Fayose and others to rally round Makinde with a view to forming a formidable party for future elections.

The event had in attendance the former Federal House of Representatives member from Lagos State, Honourable Rita Orji, and a host of other party leaders.

Signed
Taiwo Adisa
Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde
January 17, 2021.

The Management of Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo State has approved the full resumption of Students after the long Corona virus break.

In a circular signed by the registrar Mrs O. O Fakorede, the Students are to resume to halls of residence on the 24th while Academic activities commence on the 25th.

In his bid to ensure a seamless process preparatory to a second term in office, the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN has constituted a Handover Strategy and Implementation Committee.

The Committee’s mandate, amongst others, is to help coordinate the hand over process, ensure this administration’s records are appropriately archived, facilitate the off-boarding of current administration personnel as well as ease the on-boarding process of incoming personnel.

The Committee’s membership is as follows:

1. Mr. ‘Dare Aragbaiye (HoS) Chairman
2. Dr. Patrick Tolani Member
3. Ms Cecilia Akintomide Member
4. Mr. Ayo Sotinrin Member
5. Mr. Omololu Elegbe Member
6. Mr. Babajide Akeredolu Member

The Terms of Reference of the Committee include the following:

i. Recommend and advise the government on result-oriented structural processes and practices for existing MDAs

ii. Set Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for returning and new appointees and MDAs

iii. Develop the architecture for a digital transition
iv. Develop a baseline for all sectors to serve as a benchmark for improvement.

v. Carry out systemic review of the operations of the Administration in the last four years with a view to evaluating its performance and to identifying areas of service improvement.

vi. Ensure that the achievements of the current Administration are properly reported and that records are appropriately archived.

vii. Facilitate the off-boarding of current Administration personnel with performance appraisal documented together with their recommended input for service improvement.

viii. Develop a new Agenda for the incoming administration focusing on performance-based income generation strategy as well as formulating SMART service delivery across Government departments and agencies of government;

ix. Streamline the Administration to meet best-in-class practices for future transitioning processes including templates and other resources.

x. Develop strategy for On-boarding incoming Commissioners and Heads of Agencies and run workshops to mainstream their input into the design of their Performance Objectives and Key Performance Indicators for the purpose of their periodic Self-Appraisal.

The committee will commence work immediately and shall work until a proper handover structure is developed, adopted, and implemented. The committee is expected to provide reports of its activities to Mr Governor frequently and submit a completion report at the instance of its dissolution.

The committee is also at liberty to co-opt other individuals, stakeholders, and relevant Government agencies to assist, where necessary.

Mr Governor has, therefore, directed all political appointees, MDAs and current administrative personnel to cooperate with the committee to ensure a smooth handover.

Signed

Donald Ojogo
Commissioner for Information and Orientation
Ondo State

January 15, 2021

The Senate of the University of Ibadan, has approved online lectures for the commencement of first semester of 2020/2021 Academic session, while the Senate also cancelled 2019/2021 Academic Session

“In approving the Calendar, Senate noted the prevailing circumstances occasioned by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to comply with the protocols established for the control of the spread of the pandemic.

“It, therefore, agreed that the 2020/2021 First Semester lectures will be delivered online. In this regard, students will not be accommodated on campus.

“Senate also approved the cancellation of the 2019/2020 session. The next session is, therefore, renamed 2020/2021 Academic Session. Consequently, students who have been admitted for the 2019/2020 session will now be regarded as the 2020/2021 intakes,”

The President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari participates at the Wreath Laying Ceremony of the 2021 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

The Ceremony which held at the National Arcade, Eagle Square Abuja on 15th Jan 2021. The event is an annual programme of the Armed Forces to remember and honour past warriors who laid their lives for the protection of the Nation.

See more pictures

Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the State of Osun has congratulated the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, on the occasion of his 50th anniversary on the throne, describing him as an extraordinary traditional ruler who belongs to a class of his own.

Oyetola in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, said he was delighted to join indigenes of Oyo, Government and the people of Oyo State as well as millions of Yoruba sons and daughters across the world to celebrate the milestone reached by the monarch.

He lauded him for being a symbol of peace, unity and development, for not only his subjects but the entire Yoruba race.

The governor who also extolled the leadership qualities of the monarch, commended him for upholding the rich culture and tradition of the Yoruba, saying that sons and daughters of Yoruba are proud of his intellectual prowess and commitment to the cause of the Yoruba.

“On behalf of the Government and the good people of the State of Osun, I am delighted to join indigenes of Oyo town, the Government and the people of Oyo State as well as millions of Yoruba sons and daughters all over the world to congratulate his Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, the Alaafin of of Oyo, on the occasion of his 50th anniversary on the throne of his forefathers.

“It is my prayer that Allah Almighty continue to bless Iku Baba Yeye and grant him more years of fruitful and peaceful reign on the throne,” Oyetola said.

The Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, on Thursday congratulated the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi ADEYEMI on his 50th coronation anniversary.

In a statement by the Director of Media & Public Affairs at the Ooni’s Palace, , Comrade Moses Olafare, Ooni Adeyeye described the Alaafin as a unique descendant of Oduduwa and great Nigerian who lives a life of service to humanity.

Ooni Ogunwusi who described Oba Adeyemi as a revered Nigerian monarch who has always dignified the cultural values of the Yoruba people with great passion, thanking God for blessing him with gift of long reign on the throne of his forefathers, adding that the monarch has seen it all for the country.

“Long life is a gift and those favoured by God in his infinite mercy to receive this gift should be celebrated and admired by all, such a person is Oba Lamidi Adeyemi who is among Nigeria’s elder statesmen and great Ooduan who saw this nation through post-colonial, military and democratic eras during his 50 years of reign as the Alaafin.

“I am proud of the frontline Yoruba monarch whose contributions to the growth and stabilization of the ancient town of Oyo as well as Yorubaland and Nigeria in general. He is a very responsible elder whose main concern is the promotion of the Yoruba’s prestigious culture, people and tradition in general.” The Ooni appraised.

Ooni Ogunwusi who explained that efforts of foremost nationalists like Oba Adeyemi cannot be overemphasized, wishing him more healthy long life filled with prosperity on the throne of Oyo kingdom.

The Ooni who is the Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, urged the Alaafin to continue his usual efforts towards ensuring a better society noting that the country and the entire citizenry have a lot to benefit from Oba Adeyemi’s wealth of experience as and elderly man and a long reigning Nigerian monarch.