Author: oduduwanews

The Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, on Friday pledged that the multimillion naira worth Ife Grand Resort and Industrial Park, was established for youth development and capacity building.

Ooni Ogunwusi who made the position known at the official opening of the facility along Ife/Ibadan expressway, Ile-Ife, explained that direct employment has been created for over one hundred youths while indirect employment opportunities have equally been created for over five hundred others.

In his address through a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Ooni Ogunwusi urged stakeholders especially those in leadership capacities to create platforms capable of engaging the youths productively, to discourage them from involving in criminal acts.

“Our father the Ooni is sending a strong message through Ife Grand Resort and Industrial Park to all of us here that we should engage our youths and offer them dependable mentorship. This is one among several activities of the Arole Oduduwa and I want us all to emulate this enviable gesture.”

Delivering his address, the Executive Governor of Osun State, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, lauded ‘Ooni’s exemplary passion for socioeconomic development’.

Governor Oyetola said the initiative is in tandem with his administration’s development agenda which is focused on revitalising the economy and stimulating the local socioeconomic indices for maximum growth.

“For anyone familiar with Kabiyesi’s trajectory and passion for youth and socioeconomic development, this indeed would not come as a surprise.

“In 2019, he organised a Summit on Addressing Growing Youth Unemployment in Nigeria: The Significance of Made in Nigeria and Buy Nigeria, to rally Nigerians to patronise made-in-Nigeria goods.

“Ooni Ogunwusi donated motorised Local Fumigators to States across Nigeria during the Covid-19 pandemic. He also partnered with Afe Babalola on clinical research to develop drugs and vaccines to combat the Coronavirus pandemic.

“As a Government, we are immensely proud of your achievements since your assumption of the throne of your forefathers. This sprawling edifice is another worthy feather in this regard.

“I must note that this resort, no doubt, is in tandem with our Administration’s Development Agenda, which is focused on revitalising our economy and stimulating the local economy for maximum growth. This we are doing by leveraging, in the first instance, our comparative advantage in tourism and culture, mining and agriculture.

“Our infrastructure development plan is also carefully targeted at ensuring that we open up the latent economic potential of our towns by ensuring that our people are supported with the requisite social amenities for a decent living.

“Therefore, we are immensely grateful to Kabiyesi for joining forces with us to strengthen our economy. I urge other royal fathers to take a cue from Kabiyesi by using their influence and instrument of office to support the development of our State.

“Let me employ this medium to stress that initiatives such as Ooni is creating and attracting to Ile-Ife will only thrive and be sustainable in an atmosphere of peace. I therefore appeal to our youths and people to continue to allow peace to reign so that they can enjoy the dividends of the enterprise,” he added.

The same vein, the Vice-President, ARM Africa; an internatiional firm partnering the Ooni on the project, Mr. mark Tampoya, said, “We at ARM Africa are proud to have you as our Chairman and we assure you of efficient service delivery.”

The event which was heavily attended by top dignitaries including the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, ex governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Ife-born former Deputy Governor of Osun, Senator Iyiola Omisore, ex Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Erelu Olusola Obada, Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi, also had traditional rulers, business tycoons and other top dignitaries in attendance.

The Ife Grand Resort and Industrial Park is spread on over 1,000 acres of land, consisting of facilities for lodging/accommodation, a 3, 000 seating capacity Meeting Incentives Conference and Event (MICE) Centre branded ‘Ojaja Arena’ and multiple industrial parks.

Governor of the State of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, has again appealed to Muslims and Traditional worshipers in the State to give peace a chance and allow the ongoing judicial process run its full course.

Oyetola had in the wake of the clash between a group of traditional worshippers and Muslims in a part of Osogbo, the State capital, condemned the development and directed the Police to get to the root of the matter and ensure that justice was served.

In a press statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, on Friday, the Governor noted that Osun and her people were known for peace and urged all to avoid acts that could tarnish the enviable recognition.

He further asserted that religious intolerance was injurious to the unity and collective peace of Osun, stressing that residents and citizens must respect the State’s unique diversity.

While appealing to both parties involved in the court case to allow the judicial process run its full course, the Governor also said that government would not tolerate any act of criminality or violence in any part of the State under any guise, including religion.

“I appeal to both parties to sheathe their swords and toe the line of peace and the law.

“Since the matter is already in court, both parties should remain calm and allow the process to run its full course. We are known for peace as a people. We should all do all in our powers to sustain that recognition in our collective interest,” the Governor said.

ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that the self-styled activist, Sunday Igboho who was declared wanted by the Department of State Security DSS during a raid on his house where two people were killed has been confirmed by Federal Government to have been trying to acquire a new passport to flee the country.

Recall, that the government during the raid on Igboho’s house has placed him on watch and and stop-list in order to facilitate his arrest and directed the security agencies to apprehend him anywhere he is found.

In the security circle, a person whose name is on the stop-list is denied all constitutional rights and privileges a citizen is entitled to.

The Federal Government’s directive against Igboho was contained in a letter by the Nigeria Immigration Service dated July 9, 2021, addressed to the Director General, Department of State Services, the Inspector General of Police and the DG, National Intelligence Agency.

The activist, a spearhead of the separatist agitation for the Yoruba Nation, had been declared wanted by the Department of State Services on allegations of stockpiling arms to destabilise the country, which he has since denied, but his whereabouts remain unknown.

The whereabouts of Igboho, a lead figure in the separatist agitation for the Yoruba Nation, has been unknown since he narrowly escaped arrest during the July 1 midnight raid by the secret police, ahead of a major rally in support of the call for Yoruba Nation in Lagos.

Following the bloody raid on Igboho’s Sooka residence, the DSS arrested and detained 13 of Igboho’s associates, adding that during a “gun duel,” it had killed two of Igboho’s supporters later identified as Adogan and Alfa.

The Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the statement credited to Senator Teslim Folarin describing the PDP as being in vegetative state, and one in his past has exposed his political ignorance and naivety.

The PDP further described Folarin as a mere political opportunist, a barren politician with zero political clout
It described him a political orphan’ without any known stronghold or base.

According to a press statement by the Oyo State chapter of PDP signed by its state Publicity Secretary, Akeem Olatunji, and made available to newmen on Friday July 16, the party maintained that the Senator remains a liability he was to the PDP, which led the party to the collosal failure when he flew the party’s flag for governorship in 2015.
Recently, one of the leaders of PDP in Oyo state, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi, while featuring in an interview with Ajibola Akinyefa Tv, was quoted to have said that former members of PDP in Oyo state including former governor Alao Akala and Teslim Folarin would return to the ruling party in the state.

However, in what was seen as a swift reaction, Folarin was quoted as saying that the PDP belongs to his past and APC belongs to his present adding that only dying politicians would return or remain in PDP which he said has being in a ‘vegetative state.’

The Oyo state PDP however stated that such remarks by Folarin could only emanate from a ‘nobody’ in the Nigeria’s political space adding that Folarin was a political opportunist and an ingrate who was privileged to have used the political party mechanisms and instrumentalities to win public office.

“The Oyo State PDP was thrown into amusement by our ‘Pakute setter’, Senator Folarin, who is reputable for being one of the foremost political opportunists in Oyo state in the last 25 years but instead of making impact in the lives of the people has turned himself into a great liability to every political party he belongs at every point in time.

“We are not unmindful of the fact that, as a political orphan without a political leader or mentor, chances are high that he would say and do things within his state of political nativity in a desperate attempt to curry political favour from his present political party, there was almost nothing he didn’t say against APC, his new darling, when he was in PDP, and as a politician without political integrity and clout he could say anything against the finger that not only fed him politically but also gave him everything he holds today politically.

“Senator Folarin has just one single ambition and that is to become Governor of Oyo state at all cost and be addressed as Mr Governor, nothing more
But it is clear he has absolutely nothing to offer the people of Oyo state in that capacity than plotting ‘pakute’, violence, and other forms of political ills.
He us only desperate to be governor.

“It is on record that the supposed governorship hopeful removed a power transformer donated by the federal government to a community in Ibadan through his office as a senator because members of the community rejected him at the election polls by voting against him.

“It is also a public knowledge how our great party, PDP, through our very revered baba and political icon in Nigeria, late Alhaji Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu took Folarin in as a political son being a political orphan and gave him an opportunity to become a senator in order to test his self proclaimed desire to effect positive change in our dear state.

“It is very sad and disturbing not only to us in the PDP that many of the undemocratic and unrefined traits and tendencies we saw in him which made PDP leaders and members reject him in the past across the state to reject his political aspiration to has not only remained but has grown worse in him.

“Witthout mincing words, we made bold to say as a party that if Oyo state PDP had given a roadside mechanic that senatorial slot given to Senator Folarin, such mechanic would have won and be in Folarin’s shoes today because of the popularity and acceptability of our great party not because of his individual personality, but the strength of our party.

“We urge Senator Folarin and his likes in his shattered ‘broom’ party to focus on their internal party misfortune and the political battle that lies ahead among others.

“Aside the ‘Mr Senator’ title he has to his name, we challenge Senator Folarin to mention one present PDP politicians in his Ona-Ara local government or ward he has the political clout to defeat square and fair in a transparent, free and fair election. We urge Senator Folarin not to overrate himself as his days in the Senate are numbered. He also must admit to the fact that he lacks all the ingredients required to become Governor of our pacesetter’s state.”

ODUDUWA NEWS has just gathered that some Police officers have been stationed at Gani Fawehinmi Park over another planned Yoruba Nation rally set to hold in Lagos tommorow as announced by a group, Yoruba Appraisal Forum.

The Police said, it has mobilized its boys immediately to forestall breakdown of laws when it received an information that a certain group identified as Yoruba Appraisal Forum YAF revealed its plan to hold another rally in Lagos.

Details later.

As part of major condition for the implementation of financial autonomy for State Legislatures across the Country, the Oyo State House of Assembly has passed its Funds Management Bill, 2021 into Law.

The Bill tagged Oyo State House of Assembly Funds Management Bill, 2021 was passed Thursday at a plenary session presided over by the Speaker Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin.

The Chairman House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Hon Akeem Mustapha, (Kajola) had earlier presented and submitted the report of the Committee on the bill before the House.

The bill was later read and considered clause-by-clause by the Committee of the whole House after which it was read for the third time and passed.

The Speaker while addressing the Press shortly after the passage of the Bill said it was meant to ensure accountability, transparency and efficient utilization of funds accruing to the Oyo State House of Assembly from the consolidated funds of the State.

“We are happy that we met up with the deadline. We had a forty-five day deadline. That’s why we did everything possible to scrutinize the bill thoroughly. And I can assure you that it was all inclusive. We are very happy with the Bill as it will strengthen the Legislature. With Legislative independence comes more responsibilities and this will be followed by more positive and outstanding results. Surely , the whole Oyo State House of Assembly is excited about the passage of the Bill. “

Hon Ogundoyin stated further that the Legislature was optimistic that the Bill will be assented to by Governor Seyi Makinde very soon.

The Bill which is meant to enhance and ensure proper management of the income and expenditure of the Legislature is being deliberated and considered by State Houses of Assembly across Nigeria.

When it becomes operational, the Funds Management Law wi give total freedom to the State Legislatures and put an end to their dependence on the Executive arm of Government.

It will also guarantee the rule of law, and enhance the concept of separation of power.