Author: oduduwanews

The Ekiti House of Assembly has made it known to the public that the recent passage of bill for the creation of additional 19 Local Council Development Areas, into Law followed wide consultation and due process. This came after a report from certain quarters alleging that the passage of the bill did not follow due process.

The governor had, on last week Tuesday, through his Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Wale Fapohunda, sent the bill to the house to add to the existing 16 council areas in the state.

The new 19 LCDAs are; Ado Central LCDA; Ado North LCDA; Ado West LCDA; Ajoni LCDA; Araromi LCDA; Ekameta LCDA; Ekiti South East LCDA; Ero LCDA; Gbonyin LCDA; Ifedara LCDA and Ifeloju LCDA.

Others include; Ifesowopo LCDA; Igbara-Odo/Ogotun LCDA; Ikere West LCDA; Ikole West LCDA; Irede LCDA ; Irewolede LCDA; Isokan LCDA and Okemesi/Ido-Ile LCDA.

Following the new creation, the state now has 35 council areas.

The executive bill was unanimously passed at last Wednesday’s plenary presided over by the Speaker, Funminiyi Afuye.

Leading the debate, the majority leader, Gboyega Aribisogan commended the governor for the initiative, adding that the new council areas would further help to take governance and dividends of democracy close to the grassroots.

The lawmakers, at the plenary also passed a bill for a law to provide for the management of funds of the judiciary arm of government in Ekiti State.

Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon, a renowned Ifa Priest and Araba of Osogbo, has called all Yorubas to be more alert and protect themselves in a traditional means.

The popular Ifa priest said there is a need for Yorubas to be more alert and protect themselves traditionally not just only to go to church and mosque for prayer.

He noted this during the 2021 Osun Osogbo festival grand finale on Friday at the Osun groove.

Speaking further, Elebuibon said Yobubas should Discover themselves and start to uphold tradition and culture God gave them for maximum security.

“Yoruba people should discover ourselves. We must uphold tradition and culture which Eledumare gave to us, Osun is part of our culture and I encourage all other Yoruba land to awaken to revive their culture and festival to be able to communicate with our ancestors, Eledumare and all our divinity for maximum protection against all evil.

“We need to be more alert and protect ourselves traditionally not just only to go to church and mosque for prayer, we need to use our traditional means to protect ourselves,” he concluded.

The pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere said the Federal government had no right to proscribe any group in as much as the organisation is not involved in any criminal activity.

According to the leader of the group, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, said any attempt to proscribe Yoruba Nation group is an act of dictatorship.

ODUDUWA NEWS had earlier reported that Umar Gwandu, Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), disclosed that the Federal Government would explore all options within the context of the law including proscribing the Yoruba Nation separatist group to ensure a peaceful and united Nigeria.

The Afenifere leader said, “We are not members of the group but the government has no right to proscribe any organisation in as much as the organisation is not involved in any criminal activity. What criminal activities are they involved in? They have a right to exist. Why has (British Prime Minister), Boris Johnson, not proscribed the Scottish Nationalist Party campaigning for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom?

“You may not agree with Igboho or Akintoye but they have a right to exist. It is an act of dictatorship for the AGF office to say it may proscribe an organisation in a democracy. Under what right? They have no right to do it.”

The 93-year-old, Adebanjo said it was the refusal of the President Muhammadu Buhari government to restructure Nigeria to federalism that birthed the Prof Banji Akintoye and Sunday Igboho’s group.

“We have been saying it that Igboho is asking for secession because the government does not want to restructure back to federalism. We made that clear. It is the act of the government’s refusal that is encouraging the Igbohos and Nnamdi Kanus. And they (government) know it,” he said.

A member of Igboho’s legal team, Pelumi Olajegbensi, said the Federal Government should focus on addressing the grievances of the people rather than chasing self-determination proponents.

He said, “Why are people demanding for a country of their own? It is because of the reckless injustice affecting the state. It is because people don’t feel comfortable and safe within the Nigerian nation. So, if people are safe and they believe their interest is secured within the political structure called Nigeria, there will be no need for self-determination and Yoruba Nation.

“Yoruba Nation is the feeling of the people that if this country cannot work, they deserve a country that can work.

“The Federal Government should channel its energy to give the people a country that they will be proud of rather than grandstanding and acting as if the country is all about some people. The Federal Government should channel its energy in addressing the challenges so that people can be willing to associate with Nigeria and call the country their own country because it will shock us one day that even some people from the North and Middle Belt, will begin to demand a country of their own when this government or any government is not doing what it should do. No nation can continue with this level of injustice, it is not possible. Instead of threatening people, the government should build a country that the people can happily associate with.”

As part of its determination to uplift the standard of Ibadan Airport, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde will commission the Protocol Lounge at Alakia Airport in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital Today.

Recall that the governor had facilitated the commencement of flights from Ibadan by Air Peace Airlines.

The airline, in a confirmation notice said to have been issued to authorities of Ibadan Airport, affirmed that it will commence flights operations from Abuja to Ibadan and back starting from August 16, 2021.

ODUDUWA NEWS learnt that the Governor will receive the inaugural flight of Air Peace Airlines on Tuesday by 10 a.m.

Vice president Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has spoken on Nigeria’s security and socio-economic challenges. According to Osinbajo, the country will eventually rise into the glorious light of dawn that would herald greater things for the country and its citizens, because the Spirit of God is in the land.

In a statement made available to newsmen by the presidential spokesman, Laolu Akande, indicates the vice president said this on Sunday, August 15, during a Send Forth Service for Revd. Dr. Israel Adelani Akanji.

In a short remark, he gave at the service the vice president related events surrounding the creation of the heaven and earth to the nation’s present challenges and the lives of great individuals.

Osinbajo was quoted to have said: “Indeed, the lives of great men and women, even as the lives of nations teach important lessons. In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. The beginning was bleak, confused, without form, empty. “This is the way of the lives of some of the greatest men and women and also nations.

There might be confusion, grief, trouble, darkness and fear. But even in that confusion, the Bible tells us that the Spirit of the Lord was hovering over the face of the deep. God was in the darkness, He did not run away, He is not asleep.

Vice President Osinbajo speaks on importance of unity and tolerance amid secession agitations “So, it is with our nation.

Today, some things may seem bleak and grave, with insecurity, economic difficulties, but even in the midst of these problems, the Spirit of God is in this land, it is here, hovering over this nation.”

In line with the T.H.E.M.E’s Agenda of the present administration and fulfilling the promise of qualitative healthcare delivery to the residents of Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the recruitment of clinical staff to fill the existing vacancies in the 27 secondary healthcare facilities in the State.

The recruitment, which is aimed at reducing brain drain, is also to ensure that residents get optimal healthcare services whenever they visit any of the government hospitals for medical treatment.

A release signed by the Permanent Secretary, Health Service Commission, Dr. Ademuyiwa Benjamin Eniayewun, said that “Vacancies to be filled include posts for Consultants, Registrars, Medical and Dental officers, Health Records officers, Pharmacists, Nurses, Medical Laboratory Scientists and Physiotherapists.

“Others are Radiographers, Optometrists, Dental Therapists and Technologists, Medical Laboratory and Dental Technicians as well as House Officers and Interns.”

Eniayewun stated further that all applicants are expected to apply online, from Monday, August 16, 2021, to Saturday, September 4, 2021, through the Commission’s portal at http://www.lshscrecruitment.com.ng , adding that only shortlisted candidates will, however, be contacted for the computer-based test and interview.

Similarly, the Permanent Secretary also revealed that Mr Governor has approved the upgrade of five comprehensive hospital centres in the State to General Hospitals.

According to him, the affected Hospital Centres are those in Onikan, Harvey Road, Ebute-Metta, Ijede and Ketu-Ejirin.

The Junior Chamber International JCI Nigeria on Thursday 12th August, 2021 held International Youth Day programme in Ibadan. The event coupled with awarding of ten outstanding young persons was held to celebrate talented and creative young persons who have carved a niche for themselves in their chosen careers.

According to Kemi Irinoye, the Chairperson of the JCI Nigeria TOYP/IYD team, the JCI Nigeria TOYP award, a domestication of the global JCI TOYP is an annual award that recognizes youth within the ages of 18 and 40 in Nigeria who have distinguished themselves in advancing the cause of human and global development.

The 2021 edition of the TOYP Award process commenced in January 2020 with nominations of over 1000 industrious young Nigerians received.

The themes of the event were discussed by the duo of the Minister for Youths and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare and a foremost Communications and Public Relations Expert, Mrs. Titilope Oguntuga.

Mrs. Oguntuga while speaking on the theme titled – Transformation Food System: Youth Innovation For Human And Planetary Change highlighted the need for Nigerian Government to embark on aggressive and sustainable agricultural policies to achieve food security that would be far-reaching for overall economic development.

Oguntuga advocated for value chain in agricultural produce while decrying the poor state of agricultural sector which has paved way for importation of some agricultural outputs that should have been grown locally.

In his words from the panel session, the Oyo State Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Oyewo Oyewole spoke on Youth Inclusion in The Socio-Economic Development of a Nation. The Attorney-General said, the present leaders must apologize to Nigerian youths for depriving them some of the things they enjoyed while growing up.

“My generation must apologize to the youths because some of the things i enjoyed during my University days could no longer be seen again.

“Little wonder you find most of our youths looking for visa to Canada, some go through desert and other dangerous routes to search for greener pasture,” said Prof. Oyewo.

Ikhille Helen, one of the Organizing Committee Members while speaking to the correspondent of ODUDUWA NEWS said, the significance of the International Youth Day was to celebrate youths globally and to award some creative young minds to motivate the entire teeming youthful population. JCI Nigeria President, JCI (Amb.) Abiola Olorunisola while addressing the press also highlighted the role the organization and its members are taking to ensure youth development in Nigeria.

The ten outstanding young persons awarded at the event included Shola Akinlade, Co-founder and CEO of Paystack; Maryam Akpaokagi, a popular Commedian known as Taooma; Olalekan Sipass, Co-founder, Project Ozone; Asisat Oshoala, Footballer, Barcelona FC/Super Falconets; Gideon Olanrewaju, Founder Areai; Hamzat Bala Lawal, Anti-Corruption Activist, Olivia Onyeamobi, Founder, Pad Up Creations; Dr. Alexander Ezenagu, Assistant Professor, College of Law, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar among others.

It is with deep pain, a sense of loss and shame on our collective nationhood that I write to condemn the calamitous killing of at least thirty (30) Nigerians in Jos, Plateau state by a militia group. At least 30 Nigerian Muslims who were traveling back south from a Muslim New Year programme in Bauchi state were dragged off their bus, stabbed and hacked to death. It is also reported that several others sustained varying degrees of harm and are receiving critical care as I write.

There can simply be no motive or reasoning that justifies this senseless killings, and having to die in such a gruesome manner owing to one’s religion as has been determined by widespread report is truly tragic and ominous. In fact, escalating internecine and inter-religious conflicts which have caused the loss of lives and properties nation-wide threaten the very unity and sovereignty of this country, and the time for decisive action is now.

It is unacceptable that this crisis keeps defying security solutions thrown at it so much so that we question the availability of the political will and capacity to deal with it heads-on. Are we simply not doing enough or are the solutions treating just the symptoms and ignoring the cause. How much more lives would have to be lost for concerted effort to be made to forestall future occurrences? Indeed, what is the value of Nigerian live today?

I want to commiserate with the surviving families of today’s victims and pray God’s fortitude over them. It is indeed a dark day in our nation’s history.

I also must charge our political leaders and security chiefs to do more in safeguarding the lives of Nigerians. This is more death too many, and it has the potential to spiral into something so massive as to decimate the very foundation of our nationhood. Enough is enough. It is time for decisive action.

Pelumi Olajengbesi Esq., is a Legal Practitioner and the Principal Partner at LAW CORRIDOR PARTNERS, Abuja.