Author: oduduwanews

Osun Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola has declared tomorrow, Friday, 29 July, 2022, to mark 1st Muharram, 1444, as a public holiday to commemorate the commencement of the new Islamic year.

The declaration was contained in a statement released on Thursday in Osogbo, the State capital by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ismail Omipidan.

Omipidan quoted the governor as congratulating Muslims in Osun and across the globe for witnessing the outset of yet another Islamic year, and implored them to reflect on the significance and lessons of Hijrah.

“Governor Oyetola also called on the Muslim faithful and non-Muslims alike to use the occasion to pray to Almighty Allah for peace, unity and development of Osun and Nigeria as a whole,” he said.

The Osun Government has flagged off the 16th edition of the food support scheme aimed at meeting the needs of the vulnerable citizens and bringing succour to the less privileged in the society.

The government reiterated its commitment to ensuring the continuation of the scheme as long as the incumbent Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, remains in power.

Governor Oyetola disclosed that half a million households and vulnerable citizens and their dependents had benefitted tremendously since the inception of the programme last year April.

Flagging off the 16th edition at the open field of the Multipurpose Hall, Local Government Service Commission, State Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, Governor Oyetola said his administration is irrevocably committed to ensuring the continuity of the initiative.

Governor Oyetola emphasised the determination of the administration to revolutionalise the economy, saying there are verifiable records to the fact that the administration has indelibly made its imprints in the sand of time towards the enthronement and sustainability of good governance in all the strata of the economy and human endeavours.

Oyetola, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji, said the administration was not in any way deterred by the outcome of the election as the implementation of the initiative was in fulfilment of the promises to make life meaningful and worthwhile for the citizens.

“You will recall that 16 months ago, we flagged off the food support scheme for the vulnerable citizens and we did say that as long as we are in power, we would continue this scheme. Election or no election can’t hinder the continuity of this programme and many others and the effect of the commitment is what you are seeing today.

“As of today, we are still in a Government and as long as we are in government, we shall continue to champion the cause of the masses of our people in line with the mandate. We must among other things ensure their welfare and security.

“We are in government and we shall continue to provide this welfare scheme. We have impacted about half a million households directly since the commencement. We are aware that agriculture is the mainstay of our economy. That is why we have been encouraging our youths to participate in the agriculture and go back to the farm.

“As a matter of fact, we have a responsibility to encourage them to do so. And those that are participating in the supply of this month’s food items are more than 24 groups of young, dynamic and hardworking local entrepreneurs.

“As you can see, we are distributing garri for this month edition and the purpose of this is to further encourage and promote local production and empower our entrepreneurs. This garri is produced by our people and that is the focus of our Administration. We expect our people to continue to support our Administration as we are committed to revolutionalising the economy of the State”, Oyetola added.

While elucidating on the impact of the scheme on the local production and advancement of the local entrepreneurs, the Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Engr. Olalekan Badmus, said the state government through the scheme had been able to build entrepreneurs to expand the scope of their businesses.

“It is a thing of joy to see that the mandate and promises of Mr. Governor are fulfilled and sustained. Today is another day that is attesting to his promise at ensuring that, on a monthly basis, 30,000 vulnerable citizens are reached with food items.

“We went through all the local governments to look for those that can supply us, and today the scheme has really encouraged local production. We have been able to build many entrepreneurs as many of them have been able to increase their staff strength and local productions. The fund for this programme is the fund for the economy of the state because the money used to finance this is being expended locally”, he added.

In their separate remarks, some of the gari processors, Hammed Adekunle and Prince Wale Afolabi, affirmed the great impacts the scheme had made on their businesses.

“I want to say with all sense of pride that the present Administration of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has made us and impacted greatly on our lives and businesses. Before I was incorporated into the list of government for the supply of garri, I was not known to anybody, but to the glory of God today, I have expanded the scope of my business.

“I was only in the streets of Ode-Omu where I was producing garri. But today, I have been made a garri contractor just as I have recruited a greater number of people in the production of garri. As I speak to you, more than 15 persons have been engaged for the processing while many women were equally engaged in the production process. I can’t thank Governor enough for seeing the potential in us and for uplifting us from nothing to something,” Adekunle added.

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has said that the Wednesday shooting at the yard of the Craneburg Construction Company in Owo was aimed at destroying some of their equipment and not to maim or kill anyone.

Governor Akeredolu, who visited the construction site in company of Heads of Security Agencies in the State including the Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Chief Tunji Adeleye, urged the people not to panic.

The Governor was also accompanied to the yard by the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Lands and Housing, Engr. Raimi Aminu, and the Special Adviser on Union Matters and Strategy, Mr. Dare Aragbaiye.

Governor Akeredolu said: “I want to allay the fear of our people. Clearly, what happened here on Wednesday night was not an attempt to kidnap anybody because they went away with nobody. And we have in the premises over hundred people living there.

“Yes, there were sporadic gunshots at the wall but they never went inside to kill anybody. It is better for everybody to know. They didn’t go inside there to kill anybody. The only two people who had some gunshots were security men who they saw outside the premises.

“So, it is clear to us that their intention was to attack one or two equipment here, which they did. Their explosives affected the tyres and the windscreen of another vehicle.

“And we have close to 50 vehicles here. For us we are looking at it. We are not clear yet about their intention, but this is not one that should send unnecessary panic or fear into the minds of our people. This should not cause panic.

“For the contractors, Owo is a relatively safe place for them. So, they didn’t have armed people here. Maybe we will have to support them to have armed people here to protect all their equipments and vehicles.

“They have been here for over five years. They had the Ore bridge, they had other roads. So, they are doing so many things for us and they are doing well and we are ready to give them necessary protection.”

The Governor also reassured the people of his administration’s commitment to the protection of lives and property, stressing that the Wednesday night shooting was not anything near the June 5 attack in the town.

“We will protect our poeple and their property. So, there should be no panic. Yes, there was shooting but it was not anything near what we had during June 5 attack at St Francis. This was not aimed to maim and kill. No.

“I believe our poeple will understand better to know the difference. So, there is no need for any panic, no need. We have given them all the assurance, we will get this place protected. I will continue to support them.

The Oyo State Government has said it will commence serving traders and residents of Ibadan and its environs contravention notices for structures illegally erected on flood plains, blockage of waterways, and buildings under high tension powerlines.

Speaking with pressmen in Ibadan today after a meeting with key stakeholders in the sector, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Town-Planner Emmanuel Olusegun Olayiwola decried the present State of Physical Planning in Oyo State, adding that its has become an issue of concern to government.

He further decried the illegal development under powerlines in the State, saying that some developments on Pipelines, under High-tension cables, are in deviance to the State’s Physical Planning Law.

Olayiwola said that ultimately, illicit development activities without adherence to planning standard in the State, gave birth to the sprawl of illegal structures all over the State.

The Commissioner said illegal developments if not checked on time, would pose huge threat to residents of the State.

According to him, the Ministry, following reports from concerned citizens of the State over erection of structures under powerlines and its attendant health hazard to the good people of the State, will swing into action very soon.

He explained further that the State Government would soon embark on Property Auditing, Enforcement of planning standards and Technological innovations.

Olayiwola also said the Oyo State Government has introduced a Lands administration system, to manage the generation of demand notice.

He said the Billing System has been deployed to eleven local government town planning offices in Ibadan zone, for a test run, while the Ministry is on the verge of eradicating manual invoice/bill.

Townplanner Olayiwola added that the State Government has therefore constituted an enforcement initiative, that will check the excessive growth of urban blights in the State.

“This exercise is just to ensure a sustainable, organized and livable environment for the citizens of the State”, he said.

The Commissioner for Lands however, sternly warned members of the public against attack and abuse on Government Officials in the course of duty.

He also advised developers in the State to obtain approval from the Town Planning Offices in their various local governments before embarking on any development.

He urged all residents of the State to continue to abide by the provisions of the Oyo State Physical Planning policies in order to achieve the developmental plans of the Government for the entire State.

“The Public should understand and strictly adhere to Physical Planning rules and regulations “, he added.

He also urged the public to serve as watchdogs, by reporting any illegal activity around them.

“If you see something, say something because Government officials cannot cover every area of the State, so when you see any illegal development/ structures in any place within the State,please inform the appropriate agency of Government”, he said.

“They should ensure all Government fees are paid accordingly. In order to achieve this, Government has acceded to the yearnings of the public by approving a revised tax regime for planning approvals”.

In connection to this, Mr. Olayiwola announced that the Oyo State Government has revised the mandatory tax clearance fee downward for convinience of residents.

He hinted that the 11 Local Government Areas in Ibadan fall under the first category, who would pay N50, 600 as tax and development fees, rather than the initial payment of N 120, 000.

In the second category are residents in Oyo East Local Government, Oyo West Local Government, Atiba Local Government, Ogbomoso South Local Government, Ogbomoso North Local Government Saki West Local Government.

Others in the second category are Iseyin Local Government, Surulere Local Government, Afijio Local Government, Ibarapa Central Local Government and Ibarapa East Local Government, who would pay N 30, 600 as Tax and development fees.

The third category of tax payers are those residing in Orire Local Government, Ogooluwa Local Government, Itesiwaju Local Government Iwajowa Local Government, Ibarapa North Local Government, Orelope Local Government, Kajola Local Government, Atisbo Local Government, Olorunsogo Local Government, Irepo Local Government and Saki East Local Government. He added that they would pay the sum of 20, 600 as tax and development fees.

The Commissioner included in his statement that State Government will further strengthen orderly development that would promote Socio-economic growth, safety and security of lives and properties, aesthetics and wellness of the citizen and inhabitants of the State.

The meeting was attended by the SSA on Lands, Hon Tilewa Folami; Chairman, Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue, Mr. Femi Awakan; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Mofoluwake Adebiyi and the Directors of Townplanning in all 33 Local governments of the State.

E-signed:
Hon. Wasiu Olatubosun, Ph.D.,

Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism.

The Governor-Elect of Osun State, Senator Nurudeen Jackson Ademola Adeleke has constituted a 37-member Transition Committee to facilitate a smooth transition between the incumbent and the newly elected administration in the state.

A statement issued by the Media office of the Governor-elect disclosed that the Transition Committee is made up of seasoned technocrats, present and former public office holders and experts from a diverse field of endeavour including the Academics, Finance, Law, Engineering, Labour, Local Government administration and the Media.

The Committee is to be Chaired by a Doctor of Nuclear Medicine and a Fellow of the Euro Institute of Reticulo-endothelial Biology & Medicare, Dr Muyiwa Oladimeji while the Director-General of Ademola Adeleke Campaign Organisation Hon. Sunday Bisi will serve as Deputy Chairman.

The Secretary of the Transition committee is a serving member of the House of Representatives who is also a legal practitioner, Representative Bamidele Salam and will be assisted by a Project management expert, Sir Adekunle Adepoju.

The Transition Committee will be inaugurated by the Governor-elect on Thursday.

The Palace of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen. Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, has stated that the piece of news alleging ‘concern over the health’ of the monarch is nothing but a mere fabrication to suit whatever may be the sinister purpose of the author.

A statement issued and signed by Personal Assistant (Media) Olubadan of Ibadanland Oladele Ogunsola, indicated that the evil wish of the author became more manifest with the claim that Olubadan has been moving in and out of hospitals in the past few weeks, a claim that was nothing but a concocted and wicked, baseless and unfounded lie.

“Before anybody could be reasonably said to be moving in and out of any place, it means such a person, at least must be found in such a place once or twice in a week and I don’t know of any hospital where such a record exists for the current Olubadan.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Oba Sen. Lekan Balogun has been performing all his expected traditional and social roles since his ascension to the throne in March this year and where he could not be due to crowdy engagements, his members of Council (Olubadan-in-Council) have always been taking up such on his behalf.

“Though, the author claimed ‘Palace sources’, but, it amounts to recklessness and lack of respect for the ethics of journalism profession which enjoins the practitioner to investigate and ascertain the truth before rushing to the press and the ethics even says, when you are in doubt, you leave out.

“For a journalist that worths being called one, I wonder what other credible source could be outside of the palace spokesperson who readily obliges colleagues necessary information. What’s more, Kabiyesi himself has been a friend of the media for decades and his becoming Olubadan has not changed him a bit as far as his relationship with the media is concerned.

“So, except for mischief and undue sensationalism, the author has no basis to hid under ubiquitous ‘palace source’ to do his job except for a purpose- hatchetry job. Just last Friday, the about 80 -year old man was in his Majesty at his ancestral ancient Aliiwo palace to promote the Chiefs in Iyalode line of the Olubadan traditional system.

“One cannot claim to be oblivious of the current trend of everybody becoming journalists without any form of training whatsoever and what they can only claim is just a possession of an handset. There is need for caution and mind what they dish out to earn people’s respect and commendation. In this instance, the author goofed and whatever might have been his imagination to come up with such wicked piece was not in good faith,” the statement said.