Governor of Ekiti State, H.E Biodun Oyebanji on Friday led other dignitaries including the immediate past Governor of the state, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Ayegbatiwa, to grace the burial of the late Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Funminiyi Afuye in Ikere-Ekiti.
Other dignitaries at the event include the state deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; Ekiti State First Lady, Dr. Olayemi Biodun-Oyebanji ; former first lady, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, former deputy Governors – Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, Prof Modupe Adelabu; and Surveyor Abiodun Aluko; Senators Bamidele Opeyemi, and Olubunmi Adetunmbi, Hon Femi Bamisile and Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon Hakeem Jamiu were also in attendance.
The remains of the late Speaker proceeded in a motorcade from Ado-Ekiti, the state capital to Ikere Ekiti on Thursday after a special valedictory plenary session and lying in state ceremony at the State House of Assembly Complex.
The National Universities Commission (NUC) on Thursday presented Letter of Recognition for the official take off of University of Ilesa.
The presentation of the letter gives birth to the successful completion of the formal documentary process into the establishment of the University.
This is even as Governor Adegboyega Oyetola reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring that the establishment of the university will not in any way put unnecessary financial burden on the State.
By the recognition, the University becomes the 60th State University and 220th University in Nigeria.
The letter conveying the recognition was personally received from the NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed by the Osun Governor.
This is just as the NUC Executive Secretary lauded the governor for the initiative. He noted that the establishment of the university remains one of the most important legacies of Governor Oyetola, adding that the governor established the university in the “right place, with the right people. I am sure the people of Ilesa will not allow it to go under.”
Among those present at the brief ceremony were: former Osun Governor, Chief Bisi Akande, Emeritus Prof. Olu Aina, Speaker of Osun House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye, Chief of Staff to Osun Governor, Dr. Charles Akinola and former Health Minister, Prof . Isaac Adewole among others.
Receiving the Letter of Recognition at the NUC Secretariat, Abuja, Governor Oyetola said the event has further laid credence to his commitment to upgrading the 44 years old College of Education to a University.
Oyetola who described education as the bedrock of socio-economic and political development, said the establishment of the University would go a long way to address palpable deficit in university education, particularly in the State and beyond.
According to him, the University would further help to train and equip a diverse group of youths with professional skills, entrepreneurial ability, and innovative insights, especially in agri-business, mining and health.
He noted that since higher education is central to the creation of future wealth, better socio-economic attainment, efficient agro-economy and mining technology in the current dispensation of the knowledge economy, hence the quest to upgrade the College to a full-fleged University.
“The establishment of the University of Ilesa is necessitated by the massive gap between qualified candidates and available space in existing higher institutions within the State, as education remains the primary industry in Osun. The yearning is considerably insatiable, and as responsible leaders, we cannot ignore these needs.
“Our commitment is to contribute to developing the human resources needed to drive growth in Osun and Nigeria. Higher education worldwide is a veritable driver of human development, innovation, technological advancement, and resource exploration.
“The new University of Ilesa shall focus on Agriculture and Agri-business to address food insecurity; mining technology, building on the abundant gold deposit in Ijesaland; and Medical Sciences to enhance the human resource need in the health sector.
“We are very deliberate in our approach as we seek to contribute to the diversification of our economy and wean it away from over reliance on oil.
“In anticipation of the take off, we have identified credible candidates for the Governing Council and Principal Officers, ready to be appointed and hit the ground running.
“The outgoing College of Education facilities are more than sufficient to conveniently accommodate the University in the first phase of its development. We have made adequate provisions for the students of the College of Education to complete and better their careers as the life of the College of Education comes to an end.
“I wish to put on record the sincere appreciation of the Government and people of Osun to the National Universities Commission (NUC) for your cooperation and support in bringing the LAUTECH issue between Oyo and Osun states to a win-win close.
“We recall your promise to support the Government of Osun should it decide to set up another university. Today’s exercise opens a new chapter in this regard, and we look forward to continual support.
“Let me once again reiterate that the proposed university has been carefully conceived as a thoroughly entrepreneurial and innovative institution that would be funded through a mix of sources such as the government, community, industry, and other stakeholders without exerting unnecessary pressure on the finances of the State”, Oyetola added.
It was gathered that the she had disembarked from a cab, headed towards the railing of the bridge and plunged into the water.
According to the Uber driver, Adedokun had an argument with her boyfriend and in the heat of the altercation, she ordered him to stop and disembarked from the cab.
She had alighted from a Uber taxi, headed towards the railings of the bridge and plunged into the lagoon.
About four months ago, she was said to have received commendations from the DG, DSS, as the best unarmed combat operative in her set.
The victim’s fiancé was also reported to have proposed to her a few weeks ago.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu who confirmed the incident said a search and rescue team had been mobilised to search for her body.
LRT officials, Men of Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), and officials of the DSS swung into action in search of the victim.
The Oyo State Police Command under the able leadership of CP Adebowale Williams psc(+) fdc, has re-affirmed its commitment to leave no stone unturned in ridding the State and its surrounding environs off undesirable criminal elements.
Today, Thursday 10/11/2022 in the company of his Ogun State Counterpart, CP Lanre Bankole psc and in a bid to proactively forestall future criminal occurrence along the highway, both Commissioners embarked on a strategic assessment patrol and eventual deployment of assets around areas concerned.
Consequent upon the above, the Security Architecture of both Commands were also deliberately remodeled with cooperation from adjoining State Police Commands to deal decisively with criminal elements whose mindset is to use both States as a criminal hideout after being dislodged.
In furtherance of the above, the good citizens of Oyo State are advised not to panic or agitate as adequate deployment of tactical and operation assets would be seen swarming the axis and embarking on; joint intelligence -led surveillance, aggressive patrols with adjourning states, combing of forests alongside local hunters and vigilantes and permanent visibility policing measures intensified along the busy highways.
In addition, private and public users of the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway are encouraged to go about their day to day activities without any form of fear of molestation or harassment from unscrupulous elements as adequate security measures in its topmost capacity are on ground.
While cooperation with the Police in exchange of credible and timely information is encouraged, the CP enjoins the good people of Oyo State to eschew crime and criminality at all times.
In cases of emergency, the Command can always be reached through these emergency control room numbers: 615 (toll free) (OYO STATE SECURITY TRUST FUND), and Oyo State Police Command emergency lines 07055495413 and 08081768614. The NPF rescue me app is also available for free download on both Android and Apple IOS, for Android and I phone users respectively.
The gunmen suspected to be kidnappers stormed the road from the bush before the Sagamu Interchange en route Lagos and started shooting at motorists in the 18-passenger inter-state bus.
According to one of the victims who craved anonymity, “We (passengers) were only lucky to escape the gunmen but many of us have been injured by the bullets and our bus has been badly damaged too.”
Another video shows a man who survived bullet wounds recounting his experience saying, “I thought I was dead, having been shot by them.
“They faced our vehicle shooting at us, we all lay down except the driver who was the target. They thought we were all dead and retreated into the bush.
“The joint patrol team of police officers from Ogun and Oyo states arrived at the scene later.
All attempts to reach the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, for further details proved abortive as of the time of filing this report. He did not take his calls nor reply to the text message sent to his phone.
Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of Interior, has written to the Nigerian Governors Forum to request a meeting in order to decongest jails around the country.
This was made known to our correspondent by the Minister’s Media Adviser, Sola Fasure, on Tuesday.
In exactly one month, Aregbesola stated he would meet with state governors to agree on the mass release of at least 30 per cent of convicts from correctional facilities across the country.
The minister said that the interface was necessary as more than 90 per cent of the inmates were being held for contravening various state laws, noting that over 70 per cent of the 75,635 inmates at present were awaiting trial.
He said that the federal offenders in the system were far fewer than 10 per cent, adding that the bulk of people in custody were those who had run afoul of state laws.
Aregbesola said that they were therefore being kept under the legal jurisdiction of their respective states.
The minister added that the decongestion of the 253 custodial centres nationwide was necessary as some of the inmates have no reason to remain in custody.
However, speaking on the action taken by the minister, Fasure said, “The minister has written to the Governors Forum, but he has not met with them because they will have to communicate with him and give him a date.
“He wrote to them with the request that he wants to meet with them, but he is yet to get a response. In other words, the meeting has not been held.”
12,000 inmates
Meanwhile, the Federal Government on Tuesday revealed that over 12,000 inmates were released from various correctional centres across the country within the last six years in line with the policy of prison decongestion.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice , Abubakar Malami, stated this to members of the Senate Committee on Judiciary , Human Rights and Legal Matters during 2023 budget defence session with the committee .
Malami, who made the declaration in response to question from Senator Ajibola Basiru ( APC Osun Central ) , said the Federal Government was able to decongest prisons across the country through policy actions aside from the Administration of Criminal Justice Act , meant for expeditious dispensation of Justice.
“When this government came on board in 2015, the problem of prison congestion was at the front burner of national discourse , which made President Muhammadu Buhari to set machineries in motion in different ways for required solution.
“One of such machineries set in motion was a presidential committee set up for prison decongestion which liaised with other stakeholders in the justice sector for way out .
“Aside from the committee, Mr President himself also wrote letters to the 36 states governors and Chief Judges of the states for required visitations to prisons and exercise of prerogative of mercies from time to time .
‘In one of such visitations made by the Governor of Kano State , Abdullahi Ganduje , about 500 inmates were granted pardon in one day, totality of which had led to release of over 12, 000 inmates across the country within the last six years .
“Special attention was given to awaiting trial persons who constitute the bulk of the inmates across the various correctional centres in the country by taking Magistrates and Judges to the centres for on the spot dispensation of Justice .
Earlier in his remarks , the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele ( APC Ekiti Central), said the 2023 budget estimates for the Federal Ministry of Justice and its agencies as contained in the Appropriation Bill submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari , is N71.291billion.
The people of Iseyin in Iseyin local government will on Saturday, hold a summit to discuss the causes and solutions to rising cases of insecurity, especially kidnapping within and around the community.
Recall that four farmhands at the Iseyin farm settlement were kidnapped while one was killed in a gun duel between the kidnappers and security forces and the rest were later freed after the payment of ten million naira by their families.
According to the convener of the summit who is a community newspaper publisher, Mr Alhazan Abiodun, the reason behind the meeting of stakeholders, which will hold on Saturday at the hall of SAF Group of Schools, Oluwole, Iseyin, is to discuss the major causes of kidnap cases and how local solutions could be found to prevent further occurrence.
He said heads of security agencies like the military, police, Directorate of Security Services (DSS), other paramilitary forces, as well as Amotekun and local vigilante groups will be in attendance at the summit.
Abiodun added that the people have the responsibility to support the efforts of the government to put an end to insecurity in the nation, especially at the community level, so as to allow investors to operate and increase opportunities in employment and economic development of Iseyin and the Oke-Ogun region.
“As at the last time there was a report of kidnapping in which the four farmers were snatched at the farm settlement in Iseyin, I got many calls from friends and relatives saying they would not be able to visit their businesses and farms along at home for the fear of being kidnapped.
“Many farmers have abandoned their farms because they were not sure they would not be kidnapped or killed, this should make us worried and it is the reason why we are gathering at Iseyin on Saturday to discuss and find permanent solutions to the problem.”
The summit, tagged ‘Stakeholders’ Summit on Insecurity’ will feature a keynote address from the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Security Matters, CP Fatai Owoseni (rtd) and a special lecture titled “Rising Cases of Kidnapping: Beyond Ethnic Stereotype, Mirroring Local Causes and Solutions” to be delivered by Dr. Oludayo Tade, a Criminologist and lecturer at the University of Ibadan’s Sociology department.
The Lagos State Government has said it will henceforth begin impounding all unregistered vehicles plying Lagos roads.
Engr. Abdulhafiz Toriola, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, made this known on Tuesday, November 8, at Alausa, Ikeja, saying it is in line with Section 16 and 196 of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law (TSRL), 2018.
Toriola said the move was necessary in a bid to checkmate the activities of some criminal elements who devised strategies including the use of unregistered vehicles to attack unsuspecting members of the public; thereby making it difficult for law enforcement agencies to track or trace such incidence.
He explained that number plate is a vital security feature of any vehicle as it is the only means of identifying the detail of vehicles that are registered in the state government’s data base.
He urged Motorists to register their vehicles under the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) and the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) in order to prevent the clamp down of their vehicles.
Oyo State Government has kick-started the equipping of the three-hundred and fifty one (351) Primary Healthcare Centres in the State, with new power generating sets.
Doing a symbolic presentation of 97 generating sets to some primary healthcare centres, in Ibadan today, the Engineering Technical Lead of PHCs Renovation Committee, Engr. Ademola Aderinto said henceforth PHCs will be powered by an alternative source, whenever there is disruption of power supply by the electricity provider.
Engr. Aderinto, wwho is the Special Assistant on Environment said the aim of Governor Seyi Makinde was to ensure that 351 primary healthcare centres in Oyo State are equipped for the comfort of patients.
He added that part of the project’s goal is to deliver generators for electricity supply to all renovated centers.
Aderinto also said, the Oyo State Government has sunk boreholes to ensure a steady supply of water not only to the PHCs, but also to the community through taps placed outside the PHCs.
Engr. Aderinto said Engr. Seyi Makinde’s vision is to make healthcare more accessible and equitable to all residents of Oyo state.
“Part of this vision is the renovation/upgrade of one (1) Primary Healthcare Center (PHC) per ward (there are 351 wards in Oyo state) to the standard category three (3) PHC. This project that began in 2021, has resulted in over 206 newly renovated PHCs, as well as many newly built PHCs”, he said.
“This project was initiated by the Oyo State Governor’s Office in collaboration with the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board and the Oyo State Ministry of Health, and is led by the Special Adviser to the Governor Health, Dr. Funmi Salami, as the Project Lead and Chairperson of the Renovation Committee”. Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Muideen Olatunji, said the aim of the Government is to make healthcare available to all Oyo residents.
Dr. Olatunji said the project was executed to ensure quality health service delivery at the centre.
He thanked Dominant Engineering, who upgraded/ built new 99 PHCs, for handing over 97 generators to the PHCs. Speaking earlier, the Chairman, Ward Development Committee, WDC, Mr. Abdulfatah Oloyede said the development initiative has been well-received by the Oyo state communities.
He thanked Oyo State Government for the gesture, adding that WDCs, an apolitical group applauds the laudable gesture.
The event was graced by the Chairman, ALGON and Egbeda Local Government Area, Hon. Sikiru Sanda; Chairman, Ibadan North Local Government, Saheed Oladayo Yusuf among others.
The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised alarm over leaked plan by the Oyetola administration to pay cumulative future salaries amounting to Ten Million Naira each to the 30 falsely imposed local government chairmen in Osun state.
PDP Caretaker Chairman In Osun state, Dr Adekunle Akindele in a statement on Tuesday disclosed that the outgoing Governor in anticipation of the imminent exit of his kangaroo council chiefs has concluded a compensation packages.
The defeated Governor had earlier paid severance allowances to councillors and chairmen even when they were less than a month in office.
Not satisfied with that illegal payments that breached state financial regulations, Mr Oyetola is now in the process of paying a whopping sum of Ten Million Naira each to local government chairman as cumulative future salaries.
“We learn on good authority that the payment process was directed by the Governor. We were told payment vouchers are being prepared. This is the height of state plundering, a reprehensible conduct that should stop now.
” We alert the public to this latest war against Osun people. For how long does Oyetola want to go in his revenge war against Osun people? Is it a crime for a people to vote for a leader of their choice?”, the PDP Chairman asked.
● Says Denying July 16 Outcome is Heretical
Meanwhile, the party has mocked the outgoing Governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola, for still living in denial of losing the July 16 governorship election in the state, stressing that the people’s will can not be hijacked.
Dr Adekunle counsels the outgoing Governor to drop the thought of imposing himself on Osun people for the second time, noting that the mandate willingly entrusted on Senator Ademola Adeleke by Osun electorate can not be stolen.
“If democracy is about the people, then it amounts to absurdity for anyone to think he can manipulate himself to power against th will of the citizens,” the statement reads in part.
“As far as we are concerned, Osun people have made a choice of who should be the Governor of the state, and we can only sympathize with Governor Oyetola for failing to accept this simple reality.
“Let Oyetola or whoever is with him in this illusionary mandate restoration know for a fact that this is 2022 and not 2018 when the will of Osun people to determine who lead them was fouled and shamelessly abused as the foisting of Oyetola on them evidently demonstrated.”
Dr Akindele said the PDP has no issue with Oyetola going before the Tribunal over the election, noting that “We believe strongly in the Judiciary to uphold the victory of Senator Adeleke in the poll notwithstanding the antics of Oyetola and his backers.”
“In a democracy, the ballot remains the acceptable route to leadership, and we have firm faith in the Judiciary to affirm this straightforward principle. Our party shares the overwhelming resolve of Osun people to decide who is their Governor and warn that anything to the contrary, will not only hurt our democracy but have far reaching implication on Osun state.
“Senator Adeleke victory has come to stay and we want to assure our supporters and the generality of Osun people that we will do everything to safeguard this mandate.”
