OduduwaNews has just gathered that some Yoruba youths are currently staging rally in Lagos State to seek for the secession of Yoruba race from Nigeria. Details later.
Breaking: Oduduwa Republic rally ongoing in Lagos State.
Oyo LG election may not hold this year – OYSIEC
The chairman, Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC, Barrister Isiaka Olagunju has said the upcoming local government election may not hold this year due to premature logistics.
The OYSIEC Boss disclosed this on Friday in a chat with Oyo Affairs correspondent, maintaining that the commission’s feasibility studies are yet to be concluded.
He noted that the election will hold after the commission has successfully conduct advocacy visits to all the 33 local government areas of the state and put other logistics and
necessary machinery in motion.
Barrister Olagunju further said OYSIEC has written letters to the 18 registered political parties in Oyo state and the commission will start paying each of the political parties a courtesy visit starting from next week in a bid orientate and sensitize the political stakeholders on the conduct of the forthcoming local government election, as well as to assured a democratically elected representative at the grassroots.
The OYSIEC chairman, however, hinted that the commission is in constant touch with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and that the electoral body which oversees elections in Nigeria has promised to assist the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission to have a free, fair, and credible local government election.
Tinubu urges youths to embrace vocational, technical skills acquisition programmes
…as Akeredolu inagurates Bola Tinubu Skills Acquisition Centre in Ile-Oluji
Former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Friday urged Nigerian youths to brace up to emerging socioeconomic challenges by committing themselves to different technical, vocational and skill acquisition programmes.
The programmes, he noted, are designed to make them to be self-employed, self-independent and self-reliant.
He said the time has come for government at various levels to narrow down focus on the informal sector by premising their policies and programmes on things that would reduce drastically, the mad rush for white cola jobs among the unemployed population.
Tinubu spoke at the official launch of the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Skill Acquisition Centre, in Ile-Oluji, Ondo State, through Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the State of Osun.
The Centre, built by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Nigeria, was established to provide technical and vocational skills for the teeming populace.
The APC National Leader said the state of the nation’s economy has made it imperative for the citizens to think out of the box and brace up for entrepreneurship programmes.
He called on the people to see the Centre as a place where they can acquire maximum training and skills, saying the era of seeking jobs under government and its parastatals has gone.
“It is important for us to appreciate that skills acquisition is the best way to go for now in view of the nation’s economy.
“The era of white collar job is gone. Entrepreneurship is the best way to go for now. Just as it is important to acquire conventional education, skills acquisition is also the way to go.
“I commend the initiator of the Centre, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, for this wonderful vision to rescue the people out of the scourge of unemployment.
“It is evident that this Centre can provide jobs for the teeming citizens, particularly residents of Ile-Oluji and Ondo State in general.
“I appeal to you all, particularly the beneficiaries of this Scheme to take the advantage of this Centre to learn skills that can make you to be self independent and become employers of labour and create jobs for others”, Tinubu said.
While commending the Federal Government for the timely implementation of the SDGs programme, the former Lagos governor also urged the host community to put the facility to good use.
He seized the occasion to canvass for the people’s support and cooperation for the Akeredolu-led Government in the State, just as he urged them to re-elect the governor for a second term.
Inaugurating the centre, the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, applauded the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for taking the welfare of the citizens as priority.
He lauded the leadership of the SDGs in the country for taking Nigerians out of the scourge of unemployment, poverty and hunger.
Akeredolu who described the initiative as a complement to numerous people-oriented programmes of his administration, said the Centre would go a long way to reduce poverty among the people.
He sought the continued support of the people of the State and assured them of further good works when he is re-elected for a second term.
Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said the Centre remains a strategic tool for the economic empowerment of the teeming youths.
Orelope-Adefulire who commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his continued commitment and support for the implementation of the SDGs in Nigeria, said the initiative was aimed to improve the economy, eradicate poverty, banish hunger and stamp out societal vices among the unemployed segment of the population.
“A crime-free society is the one that its youths are productively engaged. Investing in youths will lead to poverty eradication, which in turn leads to social security”, she added.
Agboola Ajayi lacks contentment, he was highest paid deputy gov in Nigeria – Akeredolu
The Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on Thursday, said he never could have treated his estranged Deputy, Agboola Ajayi, better than he did, stating that “he is just greedy and lacks contentment”.
Akeredolu said he paid his Deputy #13million monthly as running grant which makes Ajayi the highest paid Deputy Governor in Nigeria.
The Governor who spoke while responding to questions on the state-owned Radio Station, Alalaye FM, in Akure, the state capital, said Ajayi had a free hand to operate with unfettered access to all state properties and to his office, stating that two ministries was given to Ajayi to manage but the Deputy Governor was never contented.
“Agboola Ajayi is the highest paid deputy Governor in Nigeria as I speak. He earn more than the Deputy Governor of Lagos State. He earns over N13 million monthly as running grants for his office.
“Ajayi is just a greedy man that lacks contentment. I gave him a free hand to perform as a deputy governor. I gave him two ministries to run. He constructed roads. He built a number of schools. His wife also built a number of schools. The list is endless.
“Ajayi enjoyed more benefits than his predecessors as a deputy Governor but was only greedy. He had a free access to all state properties. He had a free access to me and all documents.
“He was even nick-named Arakunrin Kekere. So, a man that would betray you would betray you no matter how you treat him. I have left Ajayi to God and posterity to judge him” Akeredolu, said.
Shielding more light on the #4.3billion discovered in a secret account by the state government in Zenith Bank, Akeredolu said contrary to the affirmations of the opposition elements, the money was found in a dormant account without any interest paid to the state Government.
He however disclosed that he has petitioned the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ask reasons why interest is not paid on the fund.
“The recovered N4.3 Billion naira was discovered in a Zenith Bank account. When the bank was asked to release the fund, they said the account was already dormant. The money was in a current account and not a fixed deposit account.
“So, the bank didn’t pay any interest on the money. But we are currently talking to the CBN about getting something out. The recovered money has been accounted for in the budget. It wasn’t stolen. It has been accounted for. Those saying the money was stolen are merely playing politics”, the Governor stated.
On why he should be reelected, Akeredolu said he is coming to complete the projects he has started to drive the State towards the path of industrialisation.
He disclosed that the Ondo-Linyin Industrial Hub at Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of the State is a joint ownership between the State Government and the Chinese Company.
“Today, by the grace of God, there are about 10 industries at the Ondo-Linyi Industrial hub. There is a textile industry, cassava to ethanol, production of MDF, HDF plant, production of ply-wood, truck assembly plant and others. These industries have employed over 4,000 people. We made it happen within four years.
“Business activities have increased in Ore. Farmers sell their cassava to the cassava to ethanol plant at a more higher price. There is still another industrial hub at Ore. There are about five companies that have gone there to start up businesses. Denki, a company that produces electric wires is currently at the Ore hub. I really mean business. I want to leave an Ondo State that will pay salary to her workers without relying on Federal Allocation. We can make it possible.”
On infrastructure development, Akeredolu said “my administration has constructed more roads than my predecessors in three and a half years. I stand to be corrected. Examples are; Ore flyover, dualization projects in Akure – the dualization of Oda road, Idanre to Ijoka road, Owo road and Ikare road among others.
“Today, Over 700 public primary schools have been renovated and reconstructed with perimeter fence and play ground equipment. I have built over 700 boreholes to provided water for those at the grassroots.
“My administration is working on five major dams in the state. We took a bank loan to construct the Owena Dam. It is only the reticulation that is left to be done. We have also repaired five dams. By the grace of God, water will soon be flowing in all taps across the state.
On Education, Akeredolu stated that his administration has successfully managed the three state-owned Universities without abandoning anyone.
“The Ondo State Government has three Universities. By the grace of God, we have successfully managed the three Universities with significant strides recorded at the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa (OAUSTECH) which was abandoned by the Mimiko led-administration for 8 years.
” Equally, gaint strides have been recorded at the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) where courses were not accredited with no equipment until we facilitated the accreditation of over 14 courses and established a teaching hospital in both Ondo and Akure.
“A 500-bed teaching hospitals in both Akure and Ondo are currently being constructed at UNIMED. The Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko has been ranked the best state University in Nigeria for three consecutive years in the World University Ranking” the Governor, stated.
Oduduwa Republic: Some Yoruba elders betrayed our struggle – Sunday Igboho cries out
The renowned socialite based in Ibadan, Chief Sunday Igboho who is the convener of Oduduwa Republic in Ibadan has berated some Yoruba leaders who betrayed the struggle to seccede from Nigeria.
Chief Sunday had sometime made it known that he would gather some youths and elders in Yorubaland for a rally seeking for the declaration of Oduduwa Republic come October 1st, the day Nigeria celebrated its 60th anniversary.
Meanwhile, the rallies that were carried out by Yorubas in diaspora suffered a setback in Nigeria due to the low turn-out across Nigeria.
According to Sunday Igboho, the rally which was to kickstart in Ibadan yesterday did not receive the people he expected to join the rally having agreed prior to the day of rally.
Igboho while addressing journalists yesterday at his residence said, he was very disappointed with some Yoruba elders who had sold their conscience in the struggle to liberate Yoruba race. He stated further that those he planned the struggle together left him to carry his cross alone.
“I am utterly bewildered that some Yoruba elders and youths cannot come out en masse to join us, as you can see the Federal Government has stationed security agencies in my residence. We said we want to liberate ourselves from slavery and some people in Yorubaland connived with the government to disrupt our plans”.
“I am totally disappointed with some of our people, we planned the struggle together and in the mid of the night they had sold their land for the sake of porridge. Meanwhile, if the security agencies did not allow us to go beyond our residence, we shall organze those who we see here and do our rally within our enclave to send signal to the whole world that in Oduduwa Republic we stand”, said Igboho.
JUST IN: Oduduwa Republic rally ongoing in Oshogbo, Osun State
OduduwaNews has just gathered that Oduduwa Republic rally is currently going on in Oshogbo, Osun State. Details later.
2023: 3 days after declaration of intention, Lagos ex-Commissioner, Lateef Iyepe resigns from APC
Barely 3 days that the Lagos ex-Commissioner, Abdulateef Iyepe declared his intention to run for the governorship position against the incumbent governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu in 2023, there have been intrigues and politicking trailing his recent action as it was just learnt that he had tendered his resignation from the ruling All Progressives Congress APC.
He announced this via his Twitter handle.
In his Independence Day message, AbdulLateef said his decision to resign was due to the rejection of his movement and governorship ambition by some “close leaders” he respected in the party.
Nigeria @ 60: With our never-say-die spirit, we have forced the world to take note – Dapo Abiodun
Happy 60th Independence Anniversary!
Today, after pangs of pain and treasure troves of triumph, Nigeria attains the Diamond age. Over the years as Nigerians, we have endured conflicts and borne the scars of failed expectations but at no time have we given up. We have always overcome adversity, looking at the future with renewed hope and rededicated energy to negotiate the pathway to a prosperous future.
With our never-say-die spirit, we have forced the world to take note.
Today, and at this moment, we excel in all spheres, from sports and the academia to business and communications technology. Our leadership role in Africa remains unparalleled. As former US President Bill Clinton once said, the world needs Nigeria to survive.
Today, as in the former years, the forces of division are as vicious as they have always been, but they must not distract us from our place in history. We must conquer the afflictions that ail us and forge ahead with love, oneness, unity and harmony amidst diversity.
Therefore, I warmly congratulate the President and commander in chief of the Armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI, GCFR, and the good people of Ogun State and Nigeria, on this milestone independence anniversary.
TOGETHER SHALL WE BE
Happy Diamond Anniversary and many happy returns.
Nigeria @ 60: Oyo lawmaker, Dele Adeola urges Nigerians to root for visionary leaders
Nigeria @ 60: The time for visionary leaders – Dele Adeola
The honourable member representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju State Constituency at the Oyo State House of Assembly has joined the people of Nigeria to celebrate the 60th independence anniversary.
This was contained in statement personally released by him today.
The Honourable said, he joined entire people of Nigeria to celebrate the 60th independence anniversary not just because we have attained our desired vision as a country but due to our resilience and doggedness amidst several challenges facing us as a nation.
He said, Nigerians should not lose focus in their bid to press further for visionary leaders that will take Nigeria to the promised land as the challenges facing us today are surmountable if we all desire collectively to right the wrongs.
He attributed the current problems bedeveling Nigeria as a result of inability to elect visionary leaders at the centre to strenghten a pro-masses’ system that will cater for the yearnings and aspirations of the entire country not the few ruling elites that have continually turned themselves to a clog in the wheel of Nigerian development.
“I am worried that after 60 years of freedom from colonial era, we are still stuck in medieval-like era where both economic and political policies are achaic and fashioned out on the premise of primordial sentiment not on the basis of general interest of entire Nigerians.
He said, for Nigeria to move from the current stagnancy to a developed status, we must all exhibit attitudinal change that will entrench visionary people in all sectors and the attitudinal change not limited to the leaders alone but to all collectively as a people.
“Our perspective on every issue affecting us as nation must change, we cannot afford to run a country on the basis of tribalism, ethnicity and religious sentiment and expect meaningful development”, said Adeola.
Adeola, while commending Nigerians for their patience, resilience and can-do spirit despite numerous challenges battling the country, said he is optimistic that Nigeria can get it right if we all play our roles towards ensuring that visionary leaders are given mandate not reactionaries who do not have anything to offer other than milking Nigeria dry.
“Let us shun attitude of vote-buying, conscience selling and above all attitudinal change by all Nigerians irrespective of our status”.
He however charged Nigerian leaders to live above board and shun any act that can threaten the sovereignty of Nigeria as prioritizing the welfare of Nigerians in their policies will douse the tension and agitations for disintegration in some quarters.
God bless Nigeria!
God bless Oyo State!!
God bless Oke-Ogun!!!
Signed:
Hon. Dele Adeola
Nigeria @ 60: Towards the land of our dreams – Babajide Sanwo-Olu
NIGERIA is 60- despite all that she has been through as a nation. For some, it is a time to hit the street in colorful dresses for a carnival to exhibit what many a critic have described as our proclivity for flamboyance. To others, it is a time to get on our knees, thank The Almighty for bringing us this far as a united nation and, thereafter, reflect on our tortuous journey to adulthood.
How have we fared? Have we disappointed our forefathers? Are we more purposeful as we were at Independence? Are our youths happy? Are the elders smiling? What is the state of our infrastructure? Are we proud of our democracy? Is the world leaving us behind? How long will our teething problems last? When will our security challenges abate? When are we going to fully recover from the terrible effects of COVID-19 that has dealt our world a lethal blow? These are some of the many questions on my mind as I reflected on Nigeria’s Diamond Anniversary.
It all began here at the old Race Course, Tafawa Balewa Square on that rainy October 1, 1960 morning. Lagos served as the cradle of our sovereignty and the capital of Nigeria as a protectorate, then a republic (from 1914 to 1991). The unique topography of Lagos – its islands, sandbars and lagoons; our heterogeneous nature as a town that is the melting pot of cultures – has positioned our state for its leadership role in the economic, political, social and cultural development of our great country. What originated as a fishing village on an island has metamorphosed into a thriving seaport and megacity.
Lagos is no longer the nation’s political capital, but it is undoubtedly its business and financial engine-room. Indeed, it is West Africa’s commercial nerve centre. Lagos contributes 30% of Nigeria’s GDP and holds no less than 80% of the country’s industrial capacity. This is quite remarkable, considering the fact that Lagos is home to 10% of Nigeria’s 200 million+ population on a landmass representing less than 1% of our great Nation.
Realizing early that long-term investment in critical infrastructure is an intrinsic part of economic development, Lagos pioneered many key projects, such as the early rail transit system, which yielded a corresponding growth in urbanization along the line of the railway on which towns, such as Ebute-Metta, Yaba, Surulere, Ijora, Ikeja and Agege, sprouted. We witnessed the population boom of the 1970s as a result of the growth in the oil industry. This signaled a paradigm shift in our history – a period which opened up our coastal city with the influx of thousands of people seeking greener pastures and jobs in the oil industry as well as the construction of a social housing programme. It was the crystallization of an idea that would go on to define the very essence of life in the sprawling metropolis – the hot chase for “The Lagos Dream”.
As far back as the 80s, with rising unemployment statistics, we had understood the need to maximize the opportunities inherent in a city-state such as ours by diversifying the abundant economic potential and harnessing human capital for better growth. The road to actualizing this was a dedicated will to develop alternate industries in agriculture, technology, hospitality and entertainment, among others, as well as in the informal sector. Our founding vision of a megacity in which there are opportunities for all, regardless of race and colour, remains strong.
Today, a population of over 21 million residents is evidence of the unprecedented rate at which Africa’s largest city is growing. Our urban footprints in the last 60 years provide a window into the urbanization of Lagos, illustrating a story of the social, economic, environmental and political factors that have reciprocally shaped our city. Research suggests that these changes may be nothing compared to what we will witness in the next 60 years. Maintaining the current growth and migration rates, Lagos could become the world’s largest metropolis, home to 85 or 100 million people.
How are we poised to further steer Nigeria through the next decades of her independence? We must look to the foundational pillars which define good governance in any democracy. Our administration condensed this to six cardinal indices of development particular to Lagos State, yet adaptable to any city of the world, namely: Traffic Management and Transportation; Health and Environment; Education and Technology; Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy; Entertainment and Tourism; Security and Governance. These are encapsulated in the acronym T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda for a Greater Lagos.
What do you see when you close your eyes and imagine the Nigeria of the future, say 5, 10, 20, 50, 60 or even 100 years from now? This is the question I ask myself daily in the discharge of my duties and in implementing policies which are designed to be adapted for a world beyond our present circumstances and realities. The litmus test for any course of action is to objectively answer whether a policy would be of benefit to our children and generations yet unborn.
Afro-futurism is a concept that is largely shaping developments around the continent, Nigeria inclusive. In our quest for a semblance of what a utopian African society would look like (our very own Wakanda if you like), Lagos is making monumental strides in the transport and housing sectors. These are the two behemoths which often pose great challenges to a city with a sprawling population such as ours. Some of the priorities of my administration are solutions which accommodate people and move them efficiently from one place to another, significantly reducing lost productivity time associated with current commute challenges.
The Lagos Light Rail system is one of such projects which will redefine our commuting experience and overhaul the entire transport system. Gleaning lessons from the railway operations of old and infusing ultra-modern technology, this will open up Lagos like never before, easing the movement of people and goods within the metropolis. We are in the final phase of delivering the 27km Blue Line, which connects Marina in the heart of the city with Okokomaiko on the outskirts. It is set for test-run in December 2021. This will pave the way for the Red Line from Agbado-Marina and six other planned routes, which are part of our transport masterplan. The future of transportation is the ability to connect from opposite sides of the mainland to Lagos Island in minutes. This will not only positively impact the ease of doing business within Lagos, but promote enhanced interstate commerce with better opportunities for all.
We are making the most of our unique topography by investing aggressively in an operational water transport system. Commuters are being ferried across Lagos waterways along various routes, comprising Ikorodu, Ebute-Ero, Apapa, CMS, Ikoyi and Ajah, with LAGFERRY services. We launched 14 boats earlier this year and are set to double the fleet by the end of first quarter of 2021. We extended the campaign to safety of passengers by removing water hyacinth from the water channels and creating navigation routes through the use of directional balls. These are all geared towards easing the pressure on our roads.
We recently flagged off the 13.68km long BRT corridor from Oshodi-Abule Egba, which has drastically reduced travel time from an average two hours during peak periods to approximately 30 minutes. This is in addition to an upgraded e-ticketing system, which will be integrated into the BRT, LAGFERRY and Light Rail services. Acknowledging the need for partnership in meeting the demand for commuting services, we have engaged ride-hailing companies to develop regulatory guidelines which meet this demand and prioritize safety of passengers. These are all aimed at improving the public commuting experience and increasing productivity of an average Lagosian.
Occupying just 0.38% of Nigeria’s land mass and one-third of that figure under water, it would seem the odds are stacked against us in housing. With our sight set firmly on the future, we are developing Lagos Homes housing projects in many parts of our dear state. Some have been delivered in Ikorodu, Igando, Lekki and Badagry. Besides, we are implementing policies which make the creation of housing solutions easier, but we are not oblivious of the limitations of the government to solely reverse the housing deficit. We are continuously seeking partnership with the private sector and real estate developers to jointly address this problem.
One such venture is the Eko Atlantic City, a mega real estate project which challenges our perceptions of what is possible in the realm of city architecture. Popularly referred to as the “Great Wall of Lagos”, this entirely new coastal city being developed on land reclaimed from the Atlantic Ocean will become home to a quarter of a million people and provide 150,000 with jobs. This template will set the stage for us to join the league of smart cities; this would have been inconceivable decades ago.
Our commitment to providing sustainable energy and affordable power is challenging the traditional stereotypes. A few months ago, the Lagos State Government launched an innovation challenge (Lagos Smart Meter Hackathon), which is leveraging the tech community to find crowdsourced solutions to our metering gap through locally developed prototypes for prepaid meters. Similar initiatives aimed at accelerating the pace of technological advancement are constantly incubated through dedicated programmes at the Eko Innovation Center.
In the same vein, we expanded the Olusosun landfill, one of Africa’s largest dumpsites, by 42 acres to accommodate increased activity and plans to harness energy from the natural gases which build up there. This is one example of the ways in which Lagos applies homegrown solutions to problems, in this case waste management.
To Lagosians, I cannot overstate the crucial roles we all have to play as individuals in the achievement of the Lagos of our dream. We rely on you, because you are our greatest resource –the demographic dividend which is only payable when our young, vibrant workforce exert their full capacities to driving economic growth.
When I close my eyes and think of Nigeria of the future, it is one that has largely been influenced by the advancements we make here in Lagos. And so, my imagination is filled with the endless possibilities of an intermodal transport system that optimizes the use of road, rail and water as well as intracity aerial modes of transport. I see the fantastic buildings that will dominate the city’s skyline as we continuously build up and also our coastline with the advent of floating cities.
But, most especially, I see you: the creative, passionate, resilient people, who will make these dreams come true with your output and advancement in commerce, industrialization, service delivery and commitment to excellence.
I see a Lagos that becomes a net exporter of talents with ambassadors whose names reverberate from all corners of the world. Our art and fashion gracing the runways of coveted shows and adorning the closets of icons; a pristine environment devoid of pollution and white sand beaches that will be the toast of the tourism industry; our Afro-fusion music and Nollywood works driving global conversations, dominating the screens of an enthralled audience from Sydney to California, Amsterdam and Mumbai. Ever present in my mind’s eye are upscaled levels of export production and much needed foreign exchange from the industrious merchants of the international markets at Ladipo or Balogun; and the sophisticated innovations that pop out of Yaba, our own Silicon Valley.
Encompassing these socio-economic advancements is the infectious warmth of our people and their boundless energy, their calmness in the organized buzz that characterizes our city and, perhaps most importantly, a cohesive security infrastructure that promotes peace.
I refuse to accept that this is all the fruit of my fertile imagination. No. I truly believe in our inherent power to advance the course of Lagos and, by extension, Nigeria’s path towards realistic dreams. Adapting the lingo that has come to be associated with another metropolitan city, I make bold to say that “You can make it here, and win everywhere”.