Category: Featured

The Oyo State Chapter of All Progressives Congress has advised Gov. Seyi Makinde to adopt the security template of late Gov. Abiola Ajimobi towards addressing security challenges in the state.

This is contained in a statement signed by the state APC interim Publicity Secretary, Dr AbdulAzeez Olatunde on Tuesday in Ibadan.

Olatunde said that Makinde should have built on the security template inherited from his predecessor to sustain peace in the state.

“Sen. Abiola Ajimobi came out with the novel Operation Burst during his tenure as the state governor.

“The effort secured Oyo State people for the eight solid years and the good people of the state attested to it with accolades at the expiration of his tenure,” he said.

He said that Ajimobi demonstrated strong will as a leader with no tolerance for violence, brigandage and destruction.

“In fact, Ajimobi vowed to deal with anyone implicated in endemic and senseless conflicts which had in the past given the state a bad name.

“That was a serious government. From the above analysis, it is very clear that the Ajimobi-led government fashioned out an ingenious means of banishing crime and criminality in the state,” he said.

He said that the recent upsurge in kidnap and murder cases in the state was a sign of weakness by the government.

“Today, it is Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria that is threatening to shut down its retail outlets in the state because one of its members was affected, who is next?

“This is why we are calling all concerned to advise Makinde to assume his responsibilities and leave politicking for the future,” he said.

Chief Ugheiemhekhia Yahaya, head of the Imiakebu Community in the Etsako East Local Government area of Edo State on Tuesday , asked for N 50bn compensation for the alleged murder of five youths by a police officer , John Agaga .
Yahaya told the state Judicial Panel of Inquiry for victims of SARS and related abuses that the incident happened on December 28 , 2019 , claiming the lives of Sabo Abacha, Garuba Shaka , Sunday Augustine, Isaac John and Sunday Junior .

The Chief also asked for N 50 m compensation each for five others who were wrongfully detained at the state police command for two days .
Yahaya urged the panel to compel the police officer to release the bodies of the slain youths to their families for a befitting burial just as he called for the redeployment of Agaga from the Community as his presence there would instigate fear and may also lead to violence.

“ They have been in the morgue since December 2019 . It is the DPO that is keeping them . We want compensation for our community . Those persons have relations, and they deserve compensation” he added.

Edo State Governor , Godwin Obaseki, was on Tuesday cleared by the management of the University of Ibadan of alleged forgery of his degree certificate brought against him by the All Progressives Congress following the recently concluded governorship election in the state.
Court hearing in the matter continues today ( Wednesday ) at a Federal High Court in Abuja .
The degree certificate was confirmed to have been issued to Obaseki by the institution in 1979 after his official graduation from the school.

Abayomi Ajayi , the Deputy Registrar, Legal Affairs, University of Ibadan who testified on subpoena , told Justice Ahmed Mohammed that the governor graduated from the university on the said date.

Relevant pages of UI calendar for 1976 , admission brochure for degrees, award of diplomas and certificates and Obaseki’ s application for admission and another one for collection of his certificate from the university were tendered by the witness and admitted as exhibits by the court.
The witness maintained that from the records of the university , Obaseki was admitted as a student through direct entry in 1976 through direct entry and graduated in 1979 .

Under cross examination by counsel for the APC , Chief Akin Olujimi ( SAN) , the witness said , “ I will not regard the photocopy of the original certificate as forged, but incomplete photocopy , because the certificate of the University of Ibadan is larger than the paper upon which the photocopy was made. ”
Earlier in his evidence, an unofficial advisor to Obaseki, Charity Aiguobarueghian had admitted making the disputed photocopy of the original degree certificate for his principal .
All the original copies of certificates , were admitted as exhibits by Justice Mohammed.

The Police, on Tuesday, arraigned two officials of Oyo State government before an Iwo-Road Chief Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, for allegedly stealing and selling 40 bags of sugar from the state’s COVID-19 palliatives.

The defendants are a 50-year-old driver, Adebiyi Azeez, and Sunday Akinleye, a 43-year-old Assistant Protocol Officer in charge of palliatives at the Ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendants were charged alongside a trader, one Kafayat Babalola, for allegedly receiving and buying the stolen items.

The defendants are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and receiving stolen goods.

The Prosecutor, ASP Sunday Ogunremi, told the court that Adebiyi and Akinleye conspired to commit the offences.

Ogunremi said: “Adebiyi and Akinleye, stole 40 bags of Dangote Sugar, valued at N60,000, being COVID-19 palliatives and property of Oyo State government.

“The duo of Adebiyi and Akinleye used the official vehicle of the ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs to convey the goods to the buyer.

“The third defendant, Mrs Kafayat Babalola, a trader at Agbeni Market, Ibadan, received the 40 bags of sugar, knowing full well that they were not for sale, being property of the state government,” said Ogunremi.

He said that the offence contravened Sections 516, 390 (9) and 427 of the Criminal Code of Oyo State, 2000.

Ogunremi stated that the offence was committed on Dec. 30, 2020 at the ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs, Secretariat, Ibadan.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Taiwo Oladiran, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N20,000 each, with two sureties each in like sum.

Oladiran, thereafter, adjourned the matter till Feb. 8, for hearing.

The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit today arraigned 65 offenders at the Special Offences (Mobile) Court over movement during the ‘COVID-19 Midnight Curfew’ on New Year’s Day in Lagos.

Chairman of the Agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye disclosed that the 65 offenders were arrested in Lekki, Surulere and Ikeja during a midnight enforcement operations in the early hours of January 1, 2021, as directed by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu.

CSP Jejeloye disclosed further that 11 vehicles were also impounded for being on the road during the period, stressing that the State Government is determined to sanction any person or organisation caught breaching ‘Public Health Regulations and Protocols’ on the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Chairman, “If we don’t do the needful, the spread of the disease will continue unabated. We must also be conscious of the fact that the new strain of the virus spreads faster than the old strain, as such the Lagos State Government will continue to insist and encourage Lagosians to obey all the COVID-19 stipulated protocols”.

He, therefore, urged the citizens to always wear face masks at all times, wash their hands with soap and running water or use hand sanitiser while practising physical distancing in compliance with the COVID-19 safety guidelines.

The Court fined the 65 offenders N20,000 each with additional one hour ‘Community Service’ after they had pleaded ‘Guilty’ to the one count charge of breaching the curfew order, while the owners of the 11 impounded vehicles were fined N50,000 each.

ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that the Commander of the Oyo State Security Network Agency also known as Amotekun, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (rtd) has made a clarification on the statement he made while granting interview on a radio Programme, insinuating some media got it wrong.

The story quoted him [Olayanju] to have accused some aides of the Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, of “being behind the unrest in Ibadan, the state capital.”

He said one SA to the Governor only put pressure on them to release somebody arrested while holding carnival.

Olayanju maintained that it was equally untrue that he accused some aides of the governor of having links with arrested hoodlums, stating that mischief makers had only twisted his words to suit their evil intentions.

In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, Olayanju said that though he appeared on Fresh FM’s Situation Room and a Yoruba programme, Dende Oro, most of the things the news reporter claimed he said were taken out of context.

He said: “I never said anything like Governor Makinde’s aides having links with arrested hoodlums. Somebody called in on the programme and said that Amotekun and the Police are supporting hoodlums. But I said there had been times we apprehended some hoodlums and when their people came to beg us to release them, we refused and told them they were already with the Police. That was what I said.

“Another thing I said was that the only time we released somebody was when a member of the House of Assembly came to meet us and said one of the persons arrested was not part of those that committed the crime in the area, which happened to be his constituency.

“I said since the Honourable was an elected official and part of the government, he could not have lied to us. So, that was why we released the person to him.

“I also said one SA to the Governor put pressure on us to release somebody and we said no and that the fellow had been transferred to the Police. I said I told that S.A to go and deal with the Police. That was all I said.”

He further clarified that the SA in question actually called him in respect of some persons arrested for holding a carnival during the Yuletide, after the government had pronounced a ban on carnivals.

He said: “What has carnival enforcement and an appeal to release those arrested have to do with such headline?”

The Amotekun commander maintained that his agency has been up and doing since it was put in place, noting that he could not have gone on air to badmouth an administration that means well for the state and has been doing everything possible to improve its security architecture.

Olayanju warned media men to be wary of sensationalising stories to the extent of falsehood, noting that as members of the fourth estate of the realm, they owed the society the responsibility to report only the truth.

The Oyo State government has compelled road side traders to disengage from street trading within 7 days with effect from Tuesday, January 5th, 2021 to Tuesday 12th, January 2021.

The Commissioner, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Dr. Abdulateef Idowu Oyeleke gave the directive on behalf of the State Government while sensitizing the road side traders yesterday at Molete under bridge, Challenge, Ringroad and Eleyele market in Ibadan, reiterating that the present administration has zero tolerance for street trading, because of the hazards associated with the act.

Idowu decried the environmental nuisance constituted by the road side traders by displaying their wares on the roadside, an act which he said was at the detriment of the safety of the traders and buyers.

There have been reports of trailers and other vehicles losing control and killing roadside traders within Ibadan metropolis and other parts of Oyo State.

The government also emphasized the clean and green initiative which he maintained should be embraced by all and sundry so as to add aesthetics on many of the major roads and also to check traffic gridlock, caused by street traders.

The Commissioner said the State governor has fulfilled his promise not to rid the major roads around markets in Oyo State of street traders until alternative spaces and shops were created for them, which according to him has been done at the Scout Camp Neighborhood market among others.

“It would be recalled that Governor Seyi Makinde had earlier stated that provisions would be made for street traders before disengaging them from the streets.

“To that effect, the Scout Camp Neighborhood market have been made available for the traders to occupy free of charge this year, while they will also be enjoying the essential amenities in the market such as the generating plant, Bore hole water supply and security of the market,” he added.

Dr. Oyeleke further said that traders should visit the Ministry of Trade for proper allocation of the shops.

He hinted that it has become an offence for anybody to sell on the roadside starting from next week, as anyone caught would face the wrath of the law.

…says initiative complementing state’s effort to reduce unemployment

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Tuesday, kicked off the Extended Special Public Works Programme of the Federal Government, saying it is a step in the right direction to address the unemployment challenge and to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

The governor maintained that the programme, which is targeted at empowering 1,000 beneficiaries in each of the 774 local governments of the country, for about three months, will complement the efforts of the Oyo State government to tackle unemployment in the state.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that Governor Makinde, who was represented by the deputy governor, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan, kicked off the programme at the premises of Akinyele Local Government Secretariat, Moniya, Ibadan.

He said: “This programme is a step in the right direction. In Oyo State, when we see a good initiative, we are always sure to commend it. This programme is targeted to reach 1,000 beneficiaries in each of our 33 local governments.

“Though it will be for three months, it is an initiative that will complement the efforts of our government to tackle unemployment across the nooks and crannies of Oyo State.

“In Oyo State, we are already putting up efforts to address the unemployment challenge. Soon, the state will issue employment letters to 5,000 teachers and 2,000 non-teaching staff. These people will be in permanent employment for 35 years.

“We are also going to issue letters of employment to medical and paramedical staffers, while state counsels have already been given their employment letters. All these efforts will deplete unemployment in the state. So, you will agree with me that the extended special public works programme is complementing our efforts.”

The governor, who lauded the initiative, admonished its beneficiaries to demonstrate good conduct, stating that it is a great opportunity for them and that the conduct of the pioneer beneficiaries will determine whether or not it would last or be short-lived.

“To the participants of this programme, this is a great opportunity for you. To whom much is given, much is expected; you can use the opportunity of this programme to do well for yourselves and even convince the government to make it continue or to terminate it. If you do well, the Federal Government can even increase the beneficiaries to 2,000 per local government,” he added.

He equally charged the members of the committee of the programme to always carry the state government along in the selection process so as to make it more transparent and generally acceptable to all and sundry in the state.

Earlier, the Acting Director-General, National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Mallam Abubakar Nuhu, who was represented by the state coordinator, Mrs. Olayemi Olayinka, said that the programme is a significant step in Nigeria’s quest to win the war against mass unemployment and to ameliorate the effect of COVID-19 pandemic.

He described the programme as “the single most far-reaching grassroots-based employment creation initiative in the history of our great nation.”

In his remark, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr. Festus Keyamo, who was represented by Captain Ajao Olufemi, said the programme was organised to address the ballooning population of the unemployed and rising insecurity in some parts of the country and to cushion the adverse socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He noted that the Federal Government will closely monitor the implementation of the programme to ascertain the efficient utilisation of the resources, human/material committed to the programme.

Similarly, the chairman, Oyo State Selection Committee, Mr. Ope Salami, advised the beneficiaries to see the programme as a golden opportunity that can be used to take them out of poverty in the nearest future.

Salami equally commended the Makinde government for demonstrating a non-partisan disposition during the processes leading up to the kick-off, even as he commended the Akinyele Local Government chairman, Mr. Taoreed Adedigba, for his cooperation with the committee.

The event had in attendance the representatives of the Alaafin of Oyo, Olubadan of Ibadan, Soun of Ogbomoso, the Senator representing Oyo Central, Teslim Folarin and a host of others.

Six Thousand and Two Hundred (6, 200) bags of 10kg CACOVID rice were on Monday distributed by the Osun Government to the members of Muslim and Christian Communities in the State.

The distribution was in continuation of the distribution the over 40,000 10kg bags of rice donated to the State by the Private Sector Coalition Against Covid-19 (CACOVID) as part of efforts to cushion the effect of the global Coronavirus pandemic.

This is just as the State government said that it has followed the equitable distribution template to ensure that every segment of the population benefits from the gesture.

Receiving the stimulus package at the Government Secretariat, Osogbo, the leadership of the State Muslim and Christian Communities eulogised the State government for taking the struggle of life-supporting programmes to the grassroots through the religious leaders.

The Assistant Secretary, Osun Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Clement Fayemi, commended the Administration of Governor Oyetola for taking the welfare and well-being of the citizens as his priority.

Fayemi who described the gesture as timely and rewarding, noted that the initiative would go a long way to meet the most critical need of the people, particularly the vulnerable at the grassroots.

He applauded the style of distribution adopted by the State, which according to him had facilitated the inclusion and incorporation of religious groups in the mode of distribution of the palliative.

“First of all, I must commend the Osun Government through the leadership of CACOVID for bringing this succour to our people at this critical time.

“We are very appreciative of this gesture and we do hope that the hands of fellowship extended would in no small measure help to meet the needs of the beneficiaries.

“We are very glad that they remembered us. God will continue to remember them.

“On behalf of the State Chairman, CAN, Bishop Ogunrinde, we are very appreciative of this noble gesture”, he added.

Also, the Mufasir of Osogbo, Alhaji Maroof Ishola, expressed profound gratitude to the donor for counting adherents of the two faiths worthy of the palliative.

Ishola also appreciated the State government for taking into cognisance the vulnerable individuals among the adherents of the both faiths.

“We are very delighted to be here today to receive the food item (rice) donated to the State by CACOVID. This is a good development for the needy as it will help to put smile to their faces.

“I am particularly glad that our people are remembered in the distribution process. I commend the State government through Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for his Administration’s resolve to guarantee the security and welfare of the citizenry.

“As we are taking this to our people, we shall ensure that it gets to them in all the Local Governments and we shall distribute it accordingly and as planned”, he added.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Dr. Bode Olaonipekun, expressed satisfaction at the people’s positive feedback and applause of the government’s distribution template.

Olaonipekun said the government’s distribution template which was designed to accommodate every segment of the population, particularly the vulnerable groups, had helped to evaluate the level of reach since the commencement of the distribution.

“The template we adopted gives room for proper monitoring and evaluation of the exercise and this has really helped us to evaluate the strength of the distribution so far.

“As you all know, the distribution is still ongoing. We distribute on receipt, and this technique has been the driving force through which we reach out massively to the target beneficiaries of the rice component of the CACOVID palliative.

“We shall continue to do this until the last bag is released”, he stated.