Author: oduduwanews

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Makinde’s rejection of OAU VC as RO is a disgrace to public decency – Akeredolu

Says “INEC does not, and shall never appoint an indigene Ondo as Returning Officer”

The Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has described his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde as a disgrace to public decency and an embarrassment to the exalted office of the Governor he currently occupies.

Akeredolu, who is the flagbearer of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Saturday October 10th Governorship Election in the state said the statement from Makinde that INEC has appointed his kinsman, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) returning officer for the election is an evidence that his Oyo State Counterpart is an intellectual liliputian who found his way to the corridor of power through mischief.

Ogunbodede is the Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. He hails from Owo, ditto Akeredolu.

Speaking through the Spokesperson of his campaign Council, Mr. Richard Olatunde, Akeredolu said Makinde, being a member of the Nigerian Council of State, should know that INEC would never, under any circumstance, appoint an indigene of the State as a Retuning Officer but the Oyo Governor circumvented truth and decency for political exigencies.

Akeredolu’s statements reads in parts: “we find as unfortunate, the statement credited to the Governor of Oyo State and Chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council for the Governorship election in Ondo State, Seyi Makinde, rejecting the Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, as the Chief Returning Officer for Saturday’s Governorship election in Ondo State.

“While it is forgivable for the PDP in Ondo State to continue to raise false alarm and make spurious allegations over the election, it is inexcusable for a Governor like Seyi Makinde to market ignorance in such a shameful manner. This ridicules, in no small measure, the exalted office of Governor.

“As at the time he raised the objection, INEC had not even announced the appointment of a Retuning Officer for this Saturday’s election. We cannot but wonder how and where Governor Makinde in particular, got the information.

“Governor Makinde, as a member of the Nigerian council of State, ought to know that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) does not, and shall never appoint a Returning Officer who is an indigene to administer elections. No indigene of Ondo State can ever be made a Returning Officer.

“By this pedestrian dance, Governor Makinde has shown himself to be a disgrace to public decency and the office he is holding.

“For us in the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Akeredolu/Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation, we believe in fairness and the credibility. Our trust in INEC on a free, fair and credible election on Saturday remains undoubted.

“Therefore, we urge the people of the state to disregard the ignorance exhibited by the PDP and Governor Seyi Makinde while getting set to participate in the election on Saturday” the statement, concluded.

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Ondo election: PDP rejects OAU VC, Ogunbodede, as returning officer

The Peoples Democratic Party has rejected the choice of the Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Prof Eyitope Ogunbodede, as the Chief Returning Officer for Saturday governorship election in Ondo State.

The Chairman, National Campaign Council of PDP, who is also the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, said this at a press briefing in Akure on Thursday.

Makinde said Ogunbodede is from Owo Local Government Area like Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

He also claimed the VC is a known crony of Akeredolu and would not be neutral.

Although INEC has not announced Ogunbodede, Makinde said the party has been informed that the VC had been selected.

He said, “It has come to our notice that the people of Ondo State will not be getting free and fair elections if the Independent National Electoral Commission as presently composed will be overseeing the elections.

“We are speaking in particular about the appointment of Prof Eyitope Ogungbenro Ogunbodede, the Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, as the Chief Returning Officer of the Ondo State Governorship election.

“The PDP totally rejects Prof Eyitope Ogungbenro Ogunbodede acting as Chief Returning Officer. He is a known crony of Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, candidate of the All Progressives Congress and hails from Owo, the same hometown as the candidate. He cannot be a fair party in the proceedings by virtue of their association.

“We also want to state that Professor A. S. Bamire, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who conducted the training of returning officers is not a neutral party for the purpose of this election.

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MATOP proffers solution to challenges of waste management in Oyo State

A socio-cultural group based in Ibadan, MATOP has proffered solution to the waste management challenges in Oyo state.

This was contained in a statement sent to OduduwaNews today by leader of the group, Mrs. Temitope Aladegbowo which reads in part:

“We wish to call the attention of Oyo State government to some identified solutions to the challenges facing Oyo Waste Management Authority which inhibit its smooth activities towards making Ibadan and its environs a clean city.

“It is our resolved that the problems bedeviling waste management in Oyo State is as a result of putting round peg in square hole which the end-result will be counterproductive to the vision and aspirations of Seyi Makinde led-administration towards making entire Oyo State hygienic environment. We are very shocked from the information available to us that some of the contractors handling the waste disposal currently were part of those that aided the failure of West Africa Energy during the last administration despite the fact that their Managing Contractor had been sacked since last year November.

“We are aware that some contractors hired directly by the State government before the dissolution of board members of Oyo Waste Management Authority are yet to be allocated routes for the discharge of their responsibilities. There is need to resolve inherited crisis, the house divided against itself cannot bring meaningful result as some waste contractors contracted some months ago are currently left idled and have not been given letter of appointment. The delay in giving them their letter of appointment to bring them on board is a major setback to the waste management in Oyo State. We are aware that some of them have even invested huge amount of capital on documentation and other necessary requirements that qualified them for the task.

“The lamentation of the citizens on the state of dirtiness in Oyo State could be addressed holistically by putting measures in place to address the plights of the said idled contractors contracted some months ago but yet to be allocated routes and designations due to the delay in their letter of appointment and the formality of their contract. We therefore call on the State government to call on all the contractors, dialogue with them and charge them to expedite action in evacuating refuse littering the nooks and crannies of Oyo State within a short period of time. Staggering contract cannot achieve the desired results as it will only be a palliative or cosmetic approach to waste management in Oyo State.

“We hereby use this medium to also recommend that government should address below suggestions in its bid to ensure that the State is dirty free:

“All the dumpsites should be well taken care of on a daily basis by professionals in order not to become health hazard to the residents. We recall to the recent investigation, a Media platform which was said to have revealed  the state of Moniya and other dumpsites that have become horrendous and in need of urgent attention.

‘There should be transparency in the manner at which government gives waste management contract out so as to absolve serious minded people who will complement the effort of the State government towards the realization of a very clean environment. Also, more contractors need to be engaged so as to be able to cover every nook and cranny of Oyo state.

“PSP contractor needs to be strengthened by the government through soft loan so as to be able to improve service delivery as well as formation of environmental taskforce that comprises professionals to the core. All stakeholders must show a very serious concern towards the rejuvenation of agency in charge of waste management in Oyo state.

“Government should prioritized waste management in Oyo state and there must be adequate budgetary allocation for Oyo Waste Management Authority to perform supervisory role coupled with implementation, monitoring and enforcement of waste policy.

“Above all, we at the MATOP believe that the waste management agency should be placed under the supervision of the Deputy Governor,  Engr. Rauf Olaniyan as it was done during Akala and Lam Adesina regimes”.

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OYSIEC to partner with security agencies to achieve credible council poll in Oyo – Chairman

The Chairman, Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, (OYSIEC ), Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju, has solicited the support of security agencies in Oyo State, with a view to achieving credible and peaceful local government council elections.

Olagunju said this during a courtesy visit to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp’s (NSCDC ) Oyo State Command’s Office, at Agodi Ibadan.

He reiterated the Commission’s commitment to conduct Local Government election that would be void of any form of voters’ harassment and intimidation.

Olagunju, hinted further that the commission would not relent in its awareness and advocacy drive, driving home the importance of massive participation of residents at the electoral process.

On the likely date for the conduct of elections, Olagunju said building people’s trust and confidence remain the focus of the commission at the moment, having identified both as core challenges before the commission .

While commending the NSCDC for maintaining peace and order in the society, Olagunju allayed fears of the populace on various inadequacies attributed to past local government council elections in the state.

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Seyi Makinde Inaugurates Committees on Tomotiya New Health Initiative

OduduwaNews has gathered that on Wednesday, the Oyo state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, inaugurated the steering committee and technical working committee of a new health Initiative programme called Tomotiya.

The steering committee and technical working committee of the Tomotiya health initiative which was aimed at reducing maternal mortality in the state by 30% and reduce the neonatal mortality in the state by 20% were inaugurated at the International Conference Center, the University of Ibadan in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF.

Governor Seyi Makinde, while inaugurating the Tomotiya steering and technical working committees through his deputy, engineer Rauf Olaniyan, said the committees will oversee essential care for the mother and the newborn immediately after childbirth, including the continuation of routine reproductive, maternal, neonatal, and child healthcare (RMNCH).

In his speech, the commissioner for health, Dr. Bashir Bello, explained that the state’s government is set to increase the number of births by skilled birth attendants by 30%, increase health care facility utilization by 60%, Set-up newborn corners in one primary health care center per ward in selected pilot local government areas, and insured pregnant women and children.

The Tomotiya health initiative steering committee core members include the special adviser on health to the Oyo state governor, Dr. Funmi Salami; the permanent secretary, Oyo state ministry of health, Dr. Mufutau Adebisi Ayoola; the permanent secretary of the hospital management board, Dr. Olusoji Adeyanju; the executive secretary, Oyo State primary health care board, Dr. Muideen Olatunji, amongst others.

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HoS, Commissioner, others eulogize retiring Permanent Secretary in Lagos

The Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Rabiu Olowo and several other top government officials have applauded the sterling qualities of the retired Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Ganiyat Abidemi Raji, describing her as a major contributor to the various reforms witnessed in the State’s finance sector since the inception of the present administration.

Speaking at the send forth ceremony, Dr. Rabiu Olowo acknowledged the resourcefulness of the retiree, saying that she is an outstanding civil servant instrumental to all the successes recorded by the Ministry.

He emphasised that the contributions of Mrs. Raji could not be undermined in the area of improved reforms in the Ministry such as Land Use Charge Review as well as the raising of the biggest bond ever recorded by any sub-national entity in Nigeria.

Dr. Olowo, who was represented by the State Accountant-General and Permanent Secretary, State Treasury Office (STO), Dr. Abiodun Muritala, maintained that his working relationship with the retiree was hinged on their determination to prioritise the agenda of the State Government in delivering a very virile financial sector that will be an envy of other States.

Speaking earlier, the Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, commended the celebrant for contributing her quota to the Greater Lagos vision of the administration of Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu.

Muri-Okunola, who spoke through the Permanent Secretary, Public Service Office, Mr. Samson Ajibade, reiterated the need for civil servants to support the State government in ensuring that the dividends of good governance are bequeathed to Lagosians, irrespective of their localities.

Responding to all the goodwill messages and encomiums showered on her, Mrs. Raji thanked everyone present at the event and maintained that there is a need for government employees to be self-driven and self-motivated.

She, therefore, encouraged all civil servants to be passionate about personal development without being prompted by the government, advising staffers to “strive to learn and relearn and unlearn because the government cannot do everything for us all”.

Mrs. Raji retired from the Lagos State Civil Service at the age of 60 years.

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