Category: News

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Emotions ran high on Friday when family members and friends gathered to inter the remains of a final student of the Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Rachael Opadele, at the Baptist Conference Cemetery, Aroje, Ogbomoso.

Opadele was abducted by gunmen last week alongside Mr Olugbenga Owolabi; owner of a hotel where she worked part-time due to the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities. They were both killed on Wednesday by their abductors despite payment of N5m ransom.

Owolabi was said to be living in Maryland, United States of America and recently decided to invest in a hospitality business in Ogbomoso. The hotel was said to have been opened in December 2021 and he was killed a few months after.

Sources said he travelled outside of the country a few weeks ago and only returned to Ogbomoso the day he was kidnapped by the hoodlums.

Rachael’s corpse was taken from the mortuary to the burial for interment witnessed by the deceased’s two siblings, members of the First Baptist Church, Abaa and the Lydia Auxiliary, a unit she belonged to in the church.

The pastor in charge of the church, Rev. Gbenga Adedokun, in a brief sermon at the cemetery said security should be prioritised by those in government.

Adedokun said, “Death does not strike according to age. There are times the younger person will be taken and the older ones will be spared by death. Death is the end of all but nobody knows the time. That is why we must all be ready. Age doesn’t determine who the next to die is but judgment is fixed for all.

“The poor, the rich, the young and the old will stand to give account of their sojourn here on earth before the throne of God. Nobody knows who the next person is but judgment is fixed.”

The bereaved mother, Mrs Grace Opadele, in a brief interview with our correspondent on Friday said that she couldn’t query God over the incident.

She said, “I cannot query God over the incident. Rachael had many dreams which I cannot mention all. The request I want is that the government should tackle insecurity with seriousness. I don’t want what happened to me to happen to anyone. It’s a painful thing which I don’t want others to experience.

“I also want the government to find a permanent solution to the problem of ASUU. I am not seeking justice. I am not interested in any case. The governor should address insecurity and the problem in the education sector. Those are the two requests I make of the government.”

The management of LAUTECH during a condolence visit to the mother of the murdered student described the killing as saddening, while praying to God to console the family.

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the institution’s spokesperson, Mr Lekan Fadeyi, said the government was working to improve security in the area. He said the university had told the family to make available to it any information they wanted to escalate concerning the case.

Apart from the two victims killed by the gunmen, they also shot dead a commercial motorcycle rider popularly called Okada rider contacted to convey the N5m ransom bearer to the kidnappers’ den, Mr Idowu Ajagbe. But the ransom bearer luckily escaped with gunshot injuries. He was said to be the one who broke the news of the gunmen’s havoc after collecting the ransom.

The slain LAUTECH student who was studying Fine and Applied Arts was said to have started a part-time job at the hotel in the Abaa community close to the institution pending the suspension of the ASUU strike before hoodlums kidnapped her and the hotel owner on July 28 around 8pm at the hotel.

Our correspondent gathered that the lady’s father died some months ago back and the family had yet to overcome the grief when the kidnappers struck.

It was further gathered that there were cries at the homes of the bereaved families on Wednesday when news filtered in that the abductors killed them after collecting ransom.

The senseless killings sparked a massive protest in the community, forcing students and youths including commercial motorcycle riders to block the Ogbomoso-Ilorin highway.

The First Baptist Church, Abaa, was also hit hard by the killing because Rachael and the Okada rider, Ajagbe, were members of the church.

While Rachael was a member of Lydia Group in the church, Idowu was said to be the treasurer of the church. The death of the members was devastating to the church.

Adedokun told our correspondent that the motorcycle rider was contacted by the Baale of Abaa to assist in conveying the ransom bearer to the kidnappers and he obliged.

Adedokun said, “The Okada rider was our church treasurer and before any member can attain that position, they must have shown commitment, integrity and availability to the service of God.

“Rachael was a member of Lydia Auxiliary. Lydia Auxiliary is a union under Women Missionary Union (in Baptist churches). Last Sunday was Lydia Week for the year and the lady was slated to handle one of the programmes but she could not participate because she was abducted. Before then, she was always available. Her mother is also a member of the church. Her husband who was Rachael’s dad died late 2021.

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) on Friday gave the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, notice to quit the government house by 2023.

The quit notice was given over the governor’s plan to return schools to missionaries which was announced yesterday.

The quit notice was contained in a press statement issued by the director of MURIC.

The statement read, “Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State yesterday announced his plan to return public schools to missionaries. We receive this announcement with a pinch of salt. It is a blow below the belt. It is arbitrary, a betrayal of trust, and a most provocative move. Coming at a time Muslim liberation struggle is at its peak, the move is most unwise, audacious, and insensitive. It had better not be. Makinde should perish the thought.

“The governor is acting the script written by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). It will fail. Those schools are our common patrimony. He cannot give them out just like that after the government has spent billions of Oyo State taxpayers’ money on adding more, renovating, purchasing equipment and maintaining the infrastructure, paying teachers’ salaries, etc for more than 50 years.

“The idea is to perpetuate the suppression of Muslim children in public schools by claiming that the schools belong to missionaries. These are neo-imperialists seeking all means to remain relevant, powerful, and dominant.

“Yet the so-called missionary schools were built on land belonging to our Muslim forefathers who were deceived by the Christian colonialists into giving out the land ‘gratis’ in most cases. Apart from the land which was given free, our Muslim forefathers also paid tax into the coffers of the colonialists to build the schools. Nobody should try to pull the wool over our eyes. The difference between the colonial government and the missionaries is like six and half dozen. Peter was robbed to pay Paul. The colonialists collected our hard-earned money and gave the missionaries.

“It was the mother of all treacheries when the colonialists gave the schools missionary names after completing the buildings. Not only that, they turned round to bite the finger that fed them by rejecting Muslim children who refused to change their names to Christian nomenclatures. Majority of the Muslims had to succumb. Thus Abdul Rasheed became Richard, Yusuf became Joseph, Ishaq became Isaac and Maryam became Mary.

“Anybody who observes the trajectory of Makinde’s administration will know that he came with the sole agenda of subjugating Muslims in Oyo State to the whims and caprices of CAN. But the Muslims of Oyo State will resist this with every legitimate means at their disposal.

“There must be consequences for irresponsible and reckless leadership. There will be peaceful rallies and protests until Makinde rescinds his decision. The Muslim youths in the state have taken Makinde’s plan to return schools to missionaries as a confrontation. Already, the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) has fired the first salvo. Makinde has miscalculated. He assumes that his very few contract-seeking Muslim business partners control the Muslim community of Oyo State. He will soon know the truth.

“Makinde is in the habit of snatching from the Muslims what belongs to them. Yet he wants Muslims in the state to continue to cooperate with his administration. He lives in self-delusion with his divide et impera as he hoodwinks an infinitesimal minority of Muslim dealers and ignores the real Muslim leaders. With this ill-advised announcement, he has betrayed those few stomach-infrastructure Muslim dealers who always claimed they needed to be near the governor.

“Makinde will soon know his fate. Muslims will teach him an electoral lesson. We expect Oyo governors to take a cue from what happened to Bola Ige in 1983. Nobody plays with Muslim interest in Oyo State and gets away with it.

“Makinde started by toying with the Hijrah holiday which his Muslim predecessor (ex-governor Ajimobi) gave us. He also refused to issue any circular on hijab to date. He marooned his Muslim deputy governor for three good years until the latter was eventually impeached and replaced with a Muslim-by-name deputy. Seyi Makinde’s anti-Muslim agenda cannot stomach the idea of a genuine Muslim deputy governor.

“We hereby give the ‘Eleyi of Agodi’ notice to quit Agodi Government House come 29th May, 2023. The Muslim dealers masquerading as Muslim leaders and romancing with our traducers for contracts will not be able to save him. Makinde’s days in the government house are numbered. He has murdered sleep. From this day to 29th May, 2023, Makinde shall sleep no more. We advise him to start loading his backpack with his most essential commodities from today.

“MURIC calls on Muslims in Oyo State to possess their possessions. We shall all face Allah Yawm al-Qiyamah to report what we did for Islam and the Muslims. How did we meet the Ummah of Muhammad (SAW) and how did we leave it? It is time for Oyo Muslims to decide whether they want freedom or slavery. Those who do not respect and preserve our spiritual heritage must not be allowed to rule us. Makinde must not be allowed to stay in Agodi Government House a day beyond 29th May, 2023.”

President Muhammadu Buhari has sent condolences to family, friends and associates of Prof. Akin Mabogunje, 90, whose departure will be greatly felt by the nation, especially the academia.

The President commiserates with Prof. Mabogunje’s network of professional associates and experts, at home and abroad, who have shared in his vision of nation building, with cerebral works in urbanization, human and regional development, geographic perspectives and shelter provision.

President Buhari notes the depth, reach and extensive research of the first African President of the International Geographical Union, who in 1999 was first African to be elected as a Foreign Associate of the United States National Academy of Sciences, and in 2017, was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and received the Vautrin Lud Prize.

The President affirms that Prof. Mabogunje’s contribution to education in Nigeria, and in many parts of the world, remains indelible, especially the leadership positions he held, which include Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Ogun State University, Chairman of Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy, Member, Board of Trustees Nigerian National Merit Award Endowment Fund and later Chairman of the Fund.

President Buhari prays that the Almighty God will grant the renowned geographer a peaceful rest, and comfort his family.

This world is filled with wonders and many things happen under the sun.

There was apprehension as people opened their mouths and couldn’t close it when a case of father impregnating his daughter was heard on a popular people’s parliament programme on Agidigbo FM.

A 15-year old teenager narrated how her father used to have sexual intercourse with her helplessly. The young girl mustered courage to expose sharp thorn in her heart as a result of the ugly experience.

She made this disclosure while speaking with Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat on Kokoro Alate, Agidigbo FM, Ibadan, the anchor of the popular programme.

The story tilted to a very bad state when the father featuring on the programme having been questioned by the anchor alluded to the fact that he used to have carnal knowledge of his daughter and that he was responsible for her pregnancy.

The girl said during a live broadcast that her father has had sex with her more than six times, despite the 58-year-old man’s claim that he had only had sexual intercourse with his daughter twice.

The adolescent remembered that when they traveled outside of Ibadan in the past, her father engaged in sexual activity with her as well.

The young girl’s mother displayed the results of a pregnancy test to demonstrate that the girl is indeed pregnant.

Speaking about what she had seen, the mother claimed that her husband had been acting oddly, and her own observations suggested that he was to be held responsible for the pregnancy.

Soldiers from the Ojo Military Cantonment on Wednesday beat a police officer identified as Inspector Monday Orube to death in Lagos over rights to way.

The Soldiers who were said to be over thirty (30) in numbers were reported to have kidnapped two policemen who were working as traffic warden to their barracks while the third officer managed to escape from being kidnapped.

A source claimed that the lane through which the Soldiers were driving in a Coastal bus was stopped by the three Police Officers who were on duty at the time of the incident to allow other road users on the other lane to pass not knowing that the coastal bus was conveying Soldiers who were still behind.

The Soldiers got infuriated and insisted on taking one-way during an argument with the Officers.

They were said to have pounced on the officers and beat them to a pulp. The Soldiers also kidnapped two of the police officers to their barracks where the beating continued.

The source further said when the soldiers noticed that the abducted policemen became unconscious, they decided to take them to their hospital at the cantonment.

However, one of the Police Officers. Inspector Monday Orube unfortunately gave up the ghost on Thursday afternoon.

The 81 Division Nigerian Army has instituted a Board of Inquiry to unravel the circumstance surrounding the unfortunate incident.

At the end of the investigation, anyone found culpable will be made to face the full wrath of the disciplinary provisions. Consequently, the Division wishes to commiserate with the PoliceNG Ojo Division and members of the family of the victim.

The 81 Division is already in touch with the Lagos State PoliceNG Command to resolve the matter. This incident is highly regrettable given the Division’s disposition and zero tolerance for any misconduct.

The Nigerian Army has vowed to probe into what led to the death of a Police Officer allegedly beaten by Soldiers in Lagos State.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen by Defence Headquarters as read in part;

“The attention of the 81 Division Nigerian Army has been drawn to a story online over the unfortunate incident that occurred between some soldiers and policemen around Ojo in Lagos resulting in the loss of the life of a police officer.

“The Division is already in touch with the Lagos State Police Command to resolve the matter. This incident is highly regrettable given the Division’s disposition and zero tolerance for any misconduct.

“Accordingly, the Division has instituted a Board of Inquiry to unravel the circumstance surrounding the unfortunate incident At the end of the investigation, anyone found culpable will be made to face the full wrath of the disciplinary provisions.. Consequently, the Division wishes to commiserate with the Ojo Police Division and members of the family of the victim”.

The management of Ekiti State Government-owned Bamidele Olumilua University of Science and Technology, Ikere Ekiti has proscribed all the staff unions in the institution.

The acting Registrar, B.S. Momoh, said the step was necessary as the unions, through their actions, were distracting the university from its development vision and mission.

Momoh, in a memo to the university community, titled, ‘Proscription of staff unions in BOUESTI,’ listed the affected bodies as Academic Staff Union of Universities, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, and Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities.

He said that the situation in the university had been “one day one trouble” since June 2, when the unions protested against the activities of the instruction’s Governing Council.

Momoh stated, “The management views these acts as unbecoming of and unexpected of responsible staff members hiding under the guise of union activism.

“BOUESTI, being a new university, certainly does not need these distractions if it must develop properly to fulfill the vision and mission for which it was established. It has, therefore, become imperative to ensure that irresponsible acts like these are avoided in our university.

“After a review of the incidents and in line with the directive of Ekiti State Governor and Visitor to the university, the three trade unions in BOUESTI – ASUU, SNANU and NASU are hereby proscribed with immediate effect.

“Members of staff are hereby enjoined to go about their normal duties without fear and desist from getting involved in unlawful activities.”

There is palpable tension as a traditional head of Iku Quarters, the Oniku of Iku in Ikare-Akoko, high chief Mukaila Bello and three other indigenes of the town were kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

Report says they were abducted on thursday evening at ago panu axis of Owo-Ikare road on their way from Akure to Ikare-Akoko.

Agopanu is in owo local government area of the state while Iku area of Ikare-Akoko is popular for hosting awara dam and ikare stadium among other symbolic facilities.

other victims are another chief from ikare, Yèyé Gbafinro as well as a former state house of assembly candidate for akoko north-east constituency and apc chieftain, Hon Adeniran Adeyemo and a community leader, Bashiru Adekile, while driver of their car was matcheted and now receiving treatment at undisclosed hospital in owo.

The kidnappers are yet to contact families of the victims as at the time of this report, but a family member of one of the victims confirmed the incident to our reporter.

JUST IN…INSECURITY IN NIGERIA. .

GUNMEN ABDUCT TRADITIONAL RULER,TWO OTHERS IN ONDO.

There is palpable tension as a traditional head of Iku Quarters, the Oniku of Iku in Ikare-Akoko, high chief Mukaila Bello and three other indigenes of the town were kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

Report says they were abducted on thursday evening at ago panu axis of Owo-Ikare road on their way from Akure to Ikare-Akoko.

Agopanu is in owo local government area of the state while Iku area of Ikare-Akoko is popular for hosting awara dam and ikare stadium among other symbolic facilities.

other victims are another chief from ikare, Yèyé Gbafinro as well as a former state house of assembly candidate for akoko north-east constituency and apc chieftain, Hon Adeniran Adeyemo and a community leader, Bashiru Adekile, while driver of their car was matcheted and now receiving treatment at undisclosed hospital in owo.

The kidnappers are yet to contact families of the victims as at the time of this report, but a family member of one of the victims confirmed the incident to our reporter.

Police in Ondo state are yet to react to the development.

Police in Ondo state are yet to react to the development.

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, commissioned the first Cassava-based Sorbitol Factory in Africa owned by Psaltery International Limited and located in Alayide Village, Ado-Awaye, Oyo State.

The governor declared that his government will continue to prioritise the safety and security of lives and properties, while providing enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

Governor Makinde, who also announced the approval of the reconstruction of the 48- kilometre Ido-Eruwa Road, during the commissioning exercise, said that his administration’s commitment to reducing the infrastructure deficit in the state remains a top priority.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as saying that building infrastructure needed for businesses to thrive is a top function that governments must continue to undertake.

The governor promised the people of the state that the present administration will continue to ensure development that targets the economy of the state.

He added that apart from the planned reconstruction of Ido-Eruwa Road, the state government will also embark on the rehabilitation of feeder roads across the state.

He said: “Today, Psaltery International Limited is making history as we commission the first cassava-based sorbitol factory in Oyo State, in Nigeria, in Africa and the second in the world.

“Each time I am privileged to attend an event like this, I am again reminded that the decision we took in the early part of our administration to create the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency, separate from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, was a solid strategy.

“We took the decision and we chose to be deliberate about our actions. Seeing you all gathered here today to celebrate this agribusiness milestone at Psaltery International, we know that we made the right choice to be deliberate.

“We needed to move away from the years of government thinking they could run the business of agriculture. “Now, this is a private sector-led initiative but the government is in full support.

“Our strategy is based on one principle, and the principle is that there cannot be agricultural transformation without rural transformation. If you look at our communities, there is no water, no good road. That was why one of the first projects we awarded was the 65km Moniya-Iseyin Road. So, our model has achieved great success for us.”

“In the last three years, Oyo State has attracted over N23 Billion in agribusiness investment and about $125m in development partners-blended finances for rural roads, agro-logistics, markets and industrial hubs in investment into this sector.”

“We have also been very strategic about how we apply the funds to accomplish our goals. So, the market had to drive the demands. And I promised our people that our infrastructural development will hunt our economy.”

“Apart from Moniya-Iseyin road, we moved on to Apete-Akufo to take advantage of the Akufo Farm Settlement. We are not done, as we are presently constructing the 34.85km Oyo-Iseyin road.”

“Lastly, we are constructing the 76.76km Ogbomoso-Fapote-Iseyin road. So, the catchment area for Psaltery is not just around Iseyin, Ado-Awaye and Ibarapa axes, you can go to other parts of Oke-Ogun and also get to Oyo zone.”

“You can also connect to Ogbomoso zone. All the zones of Oyo State are connected with the hub now being Iseyin.”

“Well, we will not stop here. “The Speaker (of Oyo State House of Assembly) has been on my case for the Ido-Eruwa road. “I am making the promise to you again that we will soon start reconstructing the 48km Ido-Eruwa road, because all of these will reduce travel time, which is essential to agribusiness success.”

The governor maintained that the administration will shift its focus to rehabilitating feeder roads so that the people of the state would have ease of movement within the cities, towns and communities and across the state.

“Our next focus is to rehabilitate the feeder roads across the state under the RAAMP. “Although we paid to access the counterpart funds in 2019 as soon as this administration came in, we have just received funds few months ago from the World Bank.”

“So far, we have sent 3,000 youths to an integrated farm in Nasarawa State.”

Today, we can confidently say that agribusiness is taking hold in Oyo State.

“My request is, some of those youths we have trained should be accommodated here and we will support you to settle them in. You can sleep here with your two eyes closed if you are sure this place is safe and secure.

“And as a government, we will continue to prioritise the safety and security of all the citizens and residents of Oyo State. If you are doing what you are not supposed to be doing, we will remove you from this state.”

“So, the last request was that you want pipe water from Eruwa dam to this place. This is one of the pet projects of Mr. Speaker, and he has been putting pressure on me to reactivate the Dam.

Now, you have given me a good reason to accede to the request of the Speaker. So, we will look at it and I will say that you should consider it done,” the governor said.

In his remark, Nigeria’s former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who was represented by his wife, Mrs. Bola Obasanjo, commended Governor Makinde for implementing policies that encourage agribusiness.

He equally charged the governor to continue to encourage mechanised farming.

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, commissioned the first Cassava-based Sorbitol Factory in Africa owned by Psaltery International Limited and located in Alayide Village, Ado-Awaye, Oyo State.

The governor declared that his government will continue to prioritise the safety and security of lives and properties, while providing enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

Governor Makinde, who also announced the approval of the reconstruction of the 48- kilometre Ido-Eruwa Road, during the commissioning exercise, said that his administration’s commitment to reducing the infrastructure deficit in the state remains a top priority.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as saying that building infrastructure needed for businesses to thrive is a top function that governments must continue to undertake.

The governor promised the people of the state that the present administration will continue to ensure development that targets the economy of the state.

He added that apart from the planned reconstruction of Ido-Eruwa Road, the state government will also embark on the rehabilitation of feeder roads across the state.

He said: “Today, Psaltery International Limited is making history as we commission the first cassava-based sorbitol factory in Oyo State, in Nigeria, in Africa and the second in the world.

“Each time I am privileged to attend an event like this, I am again reminded that the decision we took in the early part of our administration to create the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency, separate from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, was a solid strategy.

“We took the decision and we chose to be deliberate about our actions. Seeing you all gathered here today to celebrate this agribusiness milestone at Psaltery International, we know that we made the right choice to be deliberate.

“We needed to move away from the years of government thinking they could run the business of agriculture. “Now, this is a private sector-led initiative but the government is in full support.

“Our strategy is based on one principle, and the principle is that there cannot be agricultural transformation without rural transformation. If you look at our communities, there is no water, no good road. That was why one of the first projects we awarded was the 65km Moniya-Iseyin Road. So, our model has achieved great success for us.”

“In the last three years, Oyo State has attracted over N23 Billion in agribusiness investment and about $125m in development partners-blended finances for rural roads, agro-logistics, markets and industrial hubs in investment into this sector.”

“We have also been very strategic about how we apply the funds to accomplish our goals. So, the market had to drive the demands. And I promised our people that our infrastructural development will hunt our economy.”

“Apart from Moniya-Iseyin road, we moved on to Apete-Akufo to take advantage of the Akufo Farm Settlement. We are not done, as we are presently constructing the 34.85km Oyo-Iseyin road.”

“Lastly, we are constructing the 76.76km Ogbomoso-Fapote-Iseyin road. So, the catchment area for Psaltery is not just around Iseyin, Ado-Awaye and Ibarapa axes, you can go to other parts of Oke-Ogun and also get to Oyo zone.”

“You can also connect to Ogbomoso zone. All the zones of Oyo State are connected with the hub now being Iseyin.”

“Well, we will not stop here. “The Speaker (of Oyo State House of Assembly) has been on my case for the Ido-Eruwa road. “I am making the promise to you again that we will soon start reconstructing the 48km Ido-Eruwa road, because all of these will reduce travel time, which is essential to agribusiness success.”

The governor maintained that the administration will shift its focus to rehabilitating feeder roads so that the people of the state would have ease of movement within the cities, towns and communities and across the state.

“Our next focus is to rehabilitate the feeder roads across the state under the RAAMP. “Although we paid to access the counterpart funds in 2019 as soon as this administration came in, we have just received funds few months ago from the World Bank.”

“So far, we have sent 3,000 youths to an integrated farm in Nasarawa State.”

Today, we can confidently say that agribusiness is taking hold in Oyo State.

“My request is, some of those youths we have trained should be accommodated here and we will support you to settle them in. You can sleep here with your two eyes closed if you are sure this place is safe and secure.

“And as a government, we will continue to prioritise the safety and security of all the citizens and residents of Oyo State. If you are doing what you are not supposed to be doing, we will remove you from this state.”

“So, the last request was that you want pipe water from Eruwa dam to this place. This is one of the pet projects of Mr. Speaker, and he has been putting pressure on me to reactivate the Dam.

Now, you have given me a good reason to accede to the request of the Speaker. So, we will look at it and I will say that you should consider it done,” the governor said.

In his remark, Nigeria’s former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who was represented by his wife, Mrs. Bola Obasanjo, commended Governor Makinde for implementing policies that encourage agribusiness.

He equally charged the governor to continue to encourage mechanised farming.