The Awofenwa family of Adefenwa, Elenusonso area of Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State have staged a peaceful protest at the palace of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, accusing the owner of ADRON Homes and Properties Limited, Adetola Emmanuel King of using thugs to drive them out of their ancestral land.
The family led by Chief Sunday Olayori, Soji Oladosu Olayori, Adebayo Abbas and Suleiman Badmus thronged the palace of the Ibadan monarch, carrying placards with various inscriptions such as ‘Save Us From ADRON, ‘ADRON Is Using Thugs To Take Over Our Lands, appealed to Olubadan to intervene and call ADRON to order.
The family said that it has obtained a favourable judgment, even from the Court of Appeal on the 150 hectares of land situated at Elenusonso area of Ido Local Government Area of Oyo state.
The Family also accused the owner of ADRON of using thugs led by one Muri Ido to harass and intimidate members of the family.
“We got a warrant of possession from High Court and to our greatest surprise when we visited our land, we were attacked by thugs. Some members of our family were seriously injured in the process.”
While addressing the protesters, the Personal Assistant to Olubadan, Ahmed Rufai assured the protesters that the monarch will look into the issue with a view to finding a peaceful resolution.
The Oyo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has condemned the state’s rising debt profile under Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration.
The main opposition party spoke against the backdrop of a recent request by the state governor’s administration for a new N2bn loan facility from Fidelity Bank PLC at a concessional interest rate of 12 percent per annum.
Oyo State APC Chairman, Hon. Isaac Omodewu in a reaction made available to pressmen in Ibadan on Thursday, described the fresh loan request as an act of wickedness and recklessness on the part of the Governor Makinde.
The Oyo State APC wondered why an administration that regularly lists the improvement of the state’s IGR from N1.7bn to N3.3bn as one of its sterling achievements and executes many of the projects it claims on a public private partnership arrangement, would need to rely on domestic borrowing to pay salaries.
The party noted that salary payments being a recurrent item on the state budget should never have been financed by loans, especially a domestic loan for that matter, considering that the most basic of economic practice and wisdom dictates that loans should be taken to finance capital projects. Such naive and fundamentally inept economic policy can only lead Oyo State into insolvency and economic depression if not immediately stopped.
The party also noted that Oyo State is already ahead of Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states with her N141,193, 578,346.57 domestic debt burden, according to the domestic debt data for the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory released by the Debt Management Office of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as at March 20, 2022.
The statement reads in part, “We are still shocked as a political party to hear that Governor Seyi Makinde has obtained approval to take an additional N2bn loan from a domestic source at a concessional rate of 12 per cent per annum and a repayment period of 12 months as well as a N3.5bn overdraft to pay salaries despite claims of increased internally generated revenue and the deployment of public private partnership arrangements in financing many of the projects being undertaken. This is particularly appalling as many of the projects financed by the numerous loans remain unfinished and inconclusive.
“It is thus saddening and shocking that Oyo State economy has been pushed to the point where overdrafts are being taken to pay salaries while billions are wasted monthly on powering streetlights lights with diesel generators after the removal of cheaper and environmental-friendly solar powered street lights.
“Apart from routine contracts inflation, borrowing is another Makinde’s way of siphoning funds for his already-failed second term bid.
“It’s regrettable that the PDP-dominated Oyo State house of Assembly is only active when they are financially-induced to approve Governor Makinde’s loan requests. We hereby advise the lawmakers to stop acting as rubber stamps. They are expected to serve as checks and balances for the executive arm of the government, instead of routinely serving the governor’s selfish whims.”
The statement concluded by cautioning Gov. Makinde on the rising Oyo State debt profile, advising him to instead rejig his economic policies and repurpose the improved internally generated revenue he constantly claims, instead of mortgaging the future of Oyo State.
The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the fees allegedly being charged public school teachers by the state government for a training programme.
The PDP said the government charged a sum of N130,000 per teacher for the mandatory training at the Public Service Training Institute, Ilara-Mokin, in the Ifedore Local Government Area of the state.
Waterfield Luxury Hotel Akobo, Ibadan
The training was said to be a requirement for the promotion of the teachers.
This was contained in a statement issued by the state PDP Public Secretary, Mr Kennedy Peretei.
According to the opposition party, the amount being charged for the mandatory teachers’ training programme was outrageous.
It described the action of the government as insensitive when those concerned had not been paid salaries as and when due.
The statement read, “Teachers in Ondo State who just received January, 2022 salaries on the 7th of June have been put on notice that, effective from July 2022, it will be mandatory to have a master’s degree in education or a six months training at Public Service Training Institute, Ilara-Mokin to qualify for promotion.
“For those without M.Ed, the six months training comes with a sum of N130,000 financial requirement.
“For this category of workers who are already in a very bad shape, what a very ingenious way of creating hardship for the people. In what other ways can a government fail the people?
“Training and re-training are key requirements for every organization desirous of efficiency and growth. But there are always safety nets and welfare packages that make such training sought after. This one being proposed by Akeredolu is ill-timed and the height of insensitivity to the plight of the people.”
There was mild drama at the Supreme Court, Abuja, on Thursday as a Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Malcom Omoirhobo caused a stir in the courtroom when he appeared in the full traditional attire of an “Olokun priest” to attend court proceedings.
The lawyer said he dressed to court in that manner to exercise his fundamental human rights following the judgment of the Supreme Court that allowed all Nigerians to express their way of worship and the use of hijab in schools and public places.
It would be recalled that the Supreme Court had on Friday given approval to female Muslim students to wear hijab to school in Lagos State.
Five out of the seven members of the court’s panel which sat on the case ruled in favour of hijab while the two remaining members dissented.
The lawyer, who arrived at the court at about 9:05 am, created a scene in the courtroom when other lawyers who had been seated were taken by surprise to see him robed in traditional attire to look like an herbalist.
The lawyer who gained entry into the court was barefooted with feathers attached to his wig.
He was also wearing a gourd on his necklace with cowries and a red wrapper tied around his waist.
He dared the police officers and security guards who approached him to go out saying that he has the right to come to the court in his traditional regalia without any harassment in line with the judgment.
The court proceedings were abruptly stopped when the presiding justice suddenly announced that they would be going for a short break.
Though it could not be immediately ascertained what was responsible for the short break.
The situation attracted a large crowd who thronged the courtroom to catch a glimpse as people were seen using their mobile phones to take his pictures.
Malcom who addressed journalists said, “I am very grateful to the Supreme Court just last week Friday they made a very resounding decision that promotes Section 38 of the constitution. That is our right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. That we are free to express our way of worship in our schools and in our courts. That decision was reached on Friday and that has encouraged me.
“Because I am a traditionalist and this is the way I worship. Based on the decision of the Supreme Court this is how I will be dressing henceforth in court because I am a strong adherent to “Olokun” the god of rivers.”
Malcom said the implication of the judgement was that every Nigerian, including doctors, police, military students, and journalists, can now wear their mode of worship in public places.
He added that he was not against the judgement rather he was happy with the decision because it strengthened and enriched the rights of all Nigerians as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
It was the end of the road for two robbers on Thursday, June 23, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, when an angry mob set them ablaze after they snatched a motorcycle popularly known as Okada from a commercial motorcycle rider.
They were sent ablaze at the Ijokodo-WAEC area along the Sango-Eleyele highway after they snatched the Okada at the Ologuneru area and were pursued by other Okada riders who then caught up with them.
I was heading towards WAEC office in Ijokodo when I saw a crowd that gathered and with smoke pervading the scene.
On getting to the area, I asked an onlooker what happened and he told me that the two young men were set ablaze after snatching a commercial motorcycle from the owner around 8:00 a.m.
I also asked an official of the Oyo State Road Transport Management Agency (OYRTMA) who was also at the scene for details of the incident and he told me that the information they got was that the two robbers snatched the Okada at Ologuneru and were pursued to Ijokodo before they were caught up with.
According to his report, as they snatched the Okada, the owner raised the alarm and this caused other Okada riders around to pursue them from Ologuneru to Ijokodo, a distance of about four kilometres, and eventually caught up with them.
When they were apprehended, according to the onlookers at the scene, the two robbers were said to have disclosed that they came from the Agodi Gate area of the city to snatch the motorcycle at Ologuneru.
However, it was gathered that by this time, more Okada riders and other residents of the area had converged and started beating the two robbers mercilessly. Some of the Okada riders later scooped petrol from their motorcycles and poured it on the robbers before setting them ablaze.
The photographs of their burnt bodies may be too gory for use in this article.
However, shortly after the two robbers were set ablaze, policemen from the Sango Division of the Oyo State Police Command raced to the scene and dispersed the crowd while officials of OYRTMA were also seen pouring water on the fire that was set on the robbers.
By the time I left the scene, policemen had taken over the road while efforts were being made to remove the burnt bodies of the robbers.
The Oyo State government has revealed that plans are underway to issue identification numbers and registration jackets to commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as Okada riders, in the State.
The Commissioner for Budget and Economic planning, Prof. Musibau Babatunde, said the registration is part of Oyo State Government’s drive to ensure effectiveness of the ongoing State-wide Residents’ registration programme.
He made this known in Ibadan on Thursday during a stakeholders’ meeting with over 100 Commercial riders Association leaders.
Waterfield Luxury Hotel Akobo, Ibadan
Prof. Musibau said the registration will help in planning properly for the security architecture of the state, in the long-run.
“States across the south-west have been banning operations of commercial motorcyclists, but we know that will have its own socio-economic challenges. So rather than banning them, we felt it is pertinent to know the number of bike-riders in the State and use that for our security architecture”, he said.
He added that there are multi-dimensional benefits accruable to the registration exercise, both for the motorcyclists and the state, in terms of security and economic planning.
Also, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun said the registration will help regulate the influx of commercial motorcyclists into the state.
Olatubosun emphasised that the registration will be free, adding that the proactive approach to regulate the activities of commercial motorcyclists by the Governor Seyi Makinde led administration, is in order to prevent breakdown of law and order.
Dr. Olatubosun explained that the Oyo State Government has made necessary arrangements to update the database of the riders in conjunction with its Consultant.
“We will set up a task force consisting of both the union and other relevant agencies that will make sure that unregistered riders don’t operate within the state,” he said.
On his part, the Special Assistant to the Governor on ICT and e-governance, Bayo Akande, said that the registration process was initiated by the State Government to distinguish every rider operating in the state.
This, he said, had become imperative in order to curb every form of criminality and other social vices.
“Actually, registration exercises had commenced months back at every Local government and office of the Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority. All is now set to provide numbered jackets, in order to identify riders who are duly registered with the state”.
He said part of the dividends of the registration is provision of Health insurance and other palliative for Riders in the State.
The Governor’s Aide added that the registration will require each commercial bike rider’s name, address, fingerprint, passport-sized photograph, and a unique ID number will be given to their bikes.
Responding on behalf of the commercial bike riders, Comrade Yusuf Muritala commended Governor Seyi Makinde led administration for not considering a ban on their activities.
Comrade Muritala likewise said Oyo State Motorcyclists are ready to cooperate with the state government to register its members in the state’s database.
He, therefore, expressed the readiness of the commercial motorcycle riders in Oyo State to abide by the rules and regulations established by the government to regulate the activities of their operations.
He pledged the support of all motorcyclist associations in the State to the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration.
He however, appealed to the Consultant in charge of the registration exercise to work with leaders in each zone, so as to ensure an expansion of registration points for commercial motorcyclists.
Kidnappers have again struck at Orin Ekiti in Ido Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State where they abducted a former Chief Pharmacist in Ekiti State civil Service, Mr. Israel Bamisaye on his Farm.
A Commercial Driver and one of the Victims of the attack, Mr. Aina Vincent Femi who had escaped before the Kidnappers made away with Mr. Bamisaye said he was at the farm where he was offloading Miillennial seedlings he brought from Ado Ekiti when two of the suspected Kidnappers, one with an A.K 47 gun and another with a Cutlass surfaced and asked him to lie face down which he swiftly obeyed.
According to him, “all of a sudden, I saw another four Men with an A.K 47 each and the first question they asked me was the whereabout of White men working at the farm settlement? But I told them, I am a stranger who only came to deliver Millennial seedlings.
They later asked me, how much was with me? I told them, I dn’t have money but immediately, I rushed into my Car where I found #4,500 which was all the money, I was able to gather from my trip from Ado Ekiti to Orin Ekiti and I handed over same to them.
The suspected Hoodlums ransacked my Car, moved up and down severally while speaking in Hausa which I do not understand before releasing a gunshot.
While leaving us, they also removed the batteries of my Phone and that of a Woman Mrs. Aribasoye whom we were together at the Scene inorder to prevent us from making calls.
On their way, they sighted some Farmers and shot at them but they were managed to escape”.
But, confirming the kidnapping of his Father, one of Mr. Israel Bamisaye’s Children, Mr. Sunday Bamisaye said, the Kidnappers have not make any contact with the Family.
All attempts to reach Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Sunday Abutu to confirm the incident proved abortive as at filing this report.
But the Commander, Ekiti State Amotekun Corps, Brig Gen Joe Akomolafe, confirmed the incident.
Akomolafe said: “We are aware of the kidnapping and my men are really working on it”.
Meanwhile, People of Orin Community have stagged a protest to call on the State government and security Agencies to rescue the agrarian Community from incessant kidnapping attacks.
It could be recalled that, many People have been kidnapped with at least two People dead at Orin Ekiti in recent times.
The governorship candidate of African Democratic Congress in Saturday’s Ekiti State governorship election, Wole Oluyede, on Wednesday expressed regret for joining politics, following the turn of events in the poll.
Oluyede, an Australia-based medical doctor, who said he had lost hope in the electoral process in Ekiti State, said, “I am not going to run again because I think any contest now is for the highest bidder and I won’t waste my time and energy”.
Adetunji Adeleye , the Commander of the Ondo State Amotekun Corp has confirmed the arrest of some of the perpetrators of the Massacre at St Francis Catholic Church , Owo on June 5,2022.
Adeleye said this while parading the arrested suspects in Akure on Thursday, June 23. He said the Corp also recovered the vehicle used for the operation . Details later.
51-year-old man, Usman Madaki, who has been trekking from Bauchi to Lagos in support of the presidential ambition of Bola Ahmed, arrived in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State on Wednesday.
In a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria, Madaki, said he commenced the trekking on June 10 and planned to arrive in Lagos on Saturday (June 25).
He said, “I want to meet Tinubu in Lagos to celebrate with him on his victory as the presidential candidate of the APC.
“I share the belief that he will be Nigeria’s next President. I like Tinubu, he is my godfather even though he doesn’t know me.”
