Author: oduduwanews

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has expressed confidence in polytechnic education, describing it as a major contributor to the economic and technological development of the country.

Oba Adeyeye stated this on Friday while receiving the authorities of The Polytechnic, Ibadan (TPI) who paid him a courtesy call in his palace.

Oonirisa noted that the tutoring he received at The Polytechnic, Ibadan in his days as a student adequately prepared him for his future challenges in life.

The royal father who accepted the Home Coming programme being designed by the authorities of the institution to celebrate him on a date to be agreed upon expressed happiness and willingness to return to the institution that taught him that hard work is the panacea to poverty (Ise ni Oogun Ise).

Earlier, the Rector of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Professor Kazeem Adekunle Adebiyi had observed that the story of the institution will not be complete without a portion for Oba Enitan Ogunwusi.

Oba Adeyeye said The Polytechnic Ibadan that produced the royal father and other distinguished Nigerians including governors, senators, business icons, industrialists among others also produced him as he cut his teeth at the mechanical engineering department of the institution where he bagged a National Diploma before proceeding to the university for further academic laurels.

Adebiyi said the homecoming programme planned to celebrate the monarch will also ginger the current students of the institution to work hard and excel as the world is at their feet.

The chairman of the governing council of TPI, Professor Kunle Akinyemi who was unavoidably absent was represented by Ayaba (Barrister) Moji Adeyemi (the wife of His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi) who is also a member.

Also present were Mrs Module Theresa Fawale (Registrar), Mr Olawole Adebayo Ojetola (Bursar), Dr Ismaeel Oyefemi Oyetunji (Dean, Faculty of Financial Management Studies and Chairman Committee of Deans).

The Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, has on Sunday, said that we have come too far as a nation and people for Nigeria to break up, or for anyone or group to agitate for the breakup of the country, Page 36 learnt.

Governor Oyetola said this while featuring on the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Forum, stressing that, it is our togetherness that would lead us to become a great country.

His exact words: “What I believe in is that for us to live together as a people, every unit of the enclave should have rights and responsibilities clearly defined.

“To me, restructuring does not mean that people should separate. Whoever is thinking along that line is not serious.

“We have come a long way, and it is togetherness that can make us get to where we are supposed to be within the space in the world.

“I believe in devolution of power to the States, let the States have more power to do most of the things they have been doing.

“Give the States more support, and I believe we should look at the issue of revenue allocation. We should allow the States to have more funds to develop some of the things they have.”

Following the judgment of Federal High Court in Port Harcourt empowering states to collect Value Added Tax (VAT) and not the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the governments of Lagos and Rivers states have expressed their readiness to begin #VAT collection.

However, the Federal Government and some states in the Northern part of the country are already mounting a stiff opposition to the plan by Lagos and Rivers states to collect VAT on the ground that it would greatly shrink their revenue and adversely affect their economy.

Details later.

Supporters of Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State affirmed a 27-man executive committee to run the affairs of the party in each of the local government areas of the state with the governor commending leaders and members of the party for a job well done.

Addressing party faithful at the St. Saviour Anglican Primary, Ikenne, venue of the congress in Ikenne Local Government Area, Abiodun said the peaceful manner in which the party conducted the exercise was a strong indication that APC remains the party to beat, not only in Ogun but in Nigeria.

He said the consensus approach in electing the executive committee in each of the local government areas in the state would further entrench internal democracy in the party.

He thanked the Wale Ohu-led Local Government Congress Committee for ensuring a rancour free exercise in the state, saying the party would continue to welcome members from other parties.

The seven-man committee last night declared that any congress conducted in the state outside the one it conducted was dead on arrival, null, void and of no effect.

The chairman of the committee, Wale Ohu, spoke at the APC state Secretariat Abeokuta while fielding questions from newsmen following reports that loyalists of former governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, conducted parallel congresses in parts of the state.

Speaking on behalf of the Amosun’s faction, Tajudeen Lamboye, the SouthWest Legal Adviser of APC, insisted that the Amosun faction remained the authentic executive body of the party in Abeokuta South LG.

Lemboye said: “We have successfully elected our officers for Abeokuta South Local Government Area of the party. I’m a supporter of Senator Ibikunle Amosun and I’m one of his loyalists, and we all here are his loyalists and we believe in his leadership. That is why we are here.”

The local government congress of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State was relatively peaceful across the 18 local government areas.

Leaders of the Ondo APC had earlier agreed to use the consensus method to select local government leaders of the party.

In Akure South, Akure North, Ifedore and Idanre monitored by our reporter, the Ondo APC affirmed the consensus list after the names were read out.

Acting State Chairman of the party, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, applauded party members for improving on the ward congresses.

Engr. Adetimehin said the LG congress was peaceful because party members were well organised.

He said: “The local government congress is going on peacefully in Ondo State and we are doing it as required by the law.

“Ondo State is a state to be proud of under APC. Ondo APC members are well organised. They comport themselves to the rules and regulations.

“We held a stakeholders meeting and it was unanimously agreed that we were going to select our executive through consensus.

“Our Ward congress was the best across the country and we are going to build on it. All the leaders agreed on consensus.

The Ondo State Local Government Congress Committee Chairman, Gbenga Isiaka, who spoke after monitoring the exercise, described the process as wonderful.

He said issues arising from the Ward Congresses had been resolved, adding that all necessary materials had been distributed.

The governor stated this at the inauguration ceremony of 2021/2023 Executive Council of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), led by its President General, (Prince) Oluyemisi Adeaga, at an event held at Ibadan House, Oke-Aremo, Ibadan.

The governor explained that the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes is an influential association in the whole of Oyo state, saying that he believes in the ideals of the association.

A statement by the Chief Press Secratary to the governor, Mr.Taiwo Adisa, qouted the governor as saying that most of the projects embarked upon by his administration in Ibadan will transform the city to a 21st Century city.

He said: “We all know where CCII started and know where it is today. We all know the influence CCII exerts not only on Ibadan issues. If one can solve the issues in Ibadan, that means one can solve issues in the whole of Oyo State. And for me, I personally believe 101 per cent in the ideals of CCII.

“The position of CCII on most germane issues concerning our state has always turned out to be the right one because our best, be it intellectual, be it spiritual, or social, are in CCII. So, I want to beg you, if you have any idea and you want us to provide access on it, come and tell us. We will do it.

“We have roughly two years to re-image Ibadan and we are already on that path. Few of the projects we are doing in Ibadan are projects that can lead Ibadan to a city of 21th century. We have commissioned the remodeled Lekan Salami Stadium when majority of states in Nigeria are talking about insecurity, kidnapping, banditry and insurgency; we were still at Adamasingba at 10 p.m. A foreign club was with us and we were not afraid.

“In terms of infrastructure, the Circular Road is one project that would change the landmark in Ibadan. It is 110kms but before our tenure ends in 2023, 75kms of it will be delivered.

“If we can vividly reflect, there used to be bus terminal in Ogunpa in those days. So, we also want to recreate the same with the bus terminals we are putting up at Challenge, Iwo Road and Ojoo. Many people have said they like the light up project we have done already. The ones we have done in Ibadanland alone is not up to 30 per cent of what we planned to do. We are actually supposed to light up 156kms of road in Ibadan. And all they have done is less than 50kms.

“Finally, before I became the governor, I have been contributing my own quota to the growth of CCII. I want to assure you that we will fix the road that leads to this place. Another thing that would be done is, I will donate a bus for CCII.”
The governor also told the gathering that the government and CCII members needed to be involved in the concerns of Olubadan of Ibadanland, adding that he would dust up the files and do something about the issues before the end of the tenure of the current government.
He said: “I do give Ibadan Indigenes scholarship and I want to contribute 10million Naira for that again.”

Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the State of Osun has felicitated the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha, on the occasion of his 65th birthday, describing him as a patriotic Nigerian and a dedicated public servant.

Oyetola in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, said he was delighted to join family members, associates, the All Progressives Congress, APC and rest of the nation to celebrate the SGF.

The Governor, who applauded Mustapha’s long years of sacrifice and selfess service to the nation, described him as “a patriotic Nigerian, dedicated public servant and an exceptional leader whose commitment to nation-building is phenomenal.”

He added that the SGF has been a loyal and dependable ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, noting that his contributions to the successes recorded by the APC-led administration are remarkable.

Oyetola also lauded Boss Mustapha for his contributions to the management of the Coronavirus pandemic in the country as Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

The Governor prayed God Almighty to grant the SGF longer life and to continue to strengthen him for greater service to the nation and humanity.