Category: Politics

Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has felicitated Muslim faithful in the state on account of the New Year Hijrah 1442 AH, which begins Friday, 21 August, 2020.

He wished Muslims in the state, Nigeria and across the world a new year filled with blessings and benevolence of the Almighty Allah.

The felicitation by Makinde came on the heels of the acceptance of Friday, August 21 as the first day of Muharram 1442 AH by the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar (CFR), following a recommendation by the National Moon Sighting Commitee of the NSCIA.

The governor said: “Hijrah (immigration to Madinah), no doubt, kindled the light of hope in the hearts of the early Muslims who set a shining example for all Muslims, in every generation, to emulate. It symbolises a new beginning.

“So, it is my prayer that all Muslims in Oyo State and the country will experience positive improvements and progress as the Hijrah 1442 AH begins.”

Governor Makinde, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, congratulated the Muslim Ummah in the state on the opportunity to witness a new Islamic year, urging them not to relent in praying for the state and the country.

The governor, who stated that Hijrah began when the Holy Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Madinah, enjoined Muslims to continue to demonstrate good neighbourliness, love and dedication to the state.

He urged them to work deliberately to ensure peaceful coexistence at all times.

According to him, the essence of Hijrah is that it is a process of transfer to a better situation, a search for an environment more favorable to continuous and constructive effort.

He noted that Muslims in the state should follow lessons taught by Prophet Muhammad following his immigration to Madinah.

“The Holy Prophet, following his immigration to Madinah, taught a lot of lessons including worship to God, brotherhood, good neighbourliness and good welfare for the people, among others. In short, the Hijrah teaches that wherever Muslims go, they should bring goodness to that land. Muslims should work for both moral and material goodness of the society.

“Therefore, I urge the Muslim Ummah in the state to continue to show their dedication to the wellness of the state, contributing their quota in different ways to its development and I assure that the administration will continue to fulfill its promise to uplift the state and and move its people from poverty to prosperity.

“I commend the Muslim Ummah for the immense contributions they continue to make to the progress of our dear state and wish them a successful and prosperous Hijrah 1442 AH.”

The Baby Blue Angels Foundation donates alcohol-based sanitizers, surgical masks to Oyo State Government.

The donation was made known today at the State Secretariat as part of the objectives of the Foundation to reach out to the less privileged, government agencies, MDAs, indigents and others in its bid to contribute and play a pivotal role towards nation building.

Motunrayo Omolara Ajadi who spoke on behalf of the founder of the Foundation, Ramata Agberemi Dabo while delivering the items today to the Ministry of Health as received by the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Bashir Bello and members of his staff gave the background and historical records of the Foundation as thus:

In her words, “Let me go back to the memory lane and give a brief historical background and track records of the Foundation. The Baby Blue Angels Foundation was initially established in the United States of America by our noble, soft-spoken and kind-hearted founder, Ramata Agberemi Dabo, with the main aim of affecting lives positively both in Nigeria and in the diaspora.

“The foundation was launched in Nigeria on the 23rd of December, 2019. It is amazing to know that before we were officially launched, we had already hit the ground running by reaching out to schools, hospitals, the less privileged within and outside Ibadan metropolis in our own little way.”

She further highlighted some of the past achievements and the vision of the Foundation. She said, on the eve of the official launching, they were able to donate an optimal hearing aids to the deaf and dumb unit of the Methodist Grammar School, Bodija, Ibadan and also distributed some gift items to the widows, aged, persons with disabilities and the less privileged individuals.

She was further quoted as saying, “on the 25th of December, 2019 which marked the Christmas day was another eventful day as Baby Blue Angels Foundation team visited hospital, specifically, Adeoyo Maternity State Hospital to donate gifts and money to mothers who gave birth on that day, as well as visiting the less privileged, orphanage homes and market women to donate gifts in order to bring succour to them so as to ensure that the festive period was glamorous for them. We also ensured that they maintained good hygiene by engaging them in health talks on health related issues while also stressing the need for lactating mothers to remain healthy and strong”.

She said, ‘in addendum to the health talks, they distributed quite a number of vitamin supplements to them immediately.”

The account of the past activities of the foundation further reads: “on the 14th of February, 2020 which happened to be another memorable day of celebrating love, the Foundation out of the love for social service and service to humanity donated 32 inches LG television to motherless home in Ibadan and alot of food items were also distributed to several households in commemoration of the significance of the day and also reached out to the motherless homes, Agodi Correctional Centre with alot of gifts such as towels, toiletries and personal items most especially for female inmates”.

She disclosed further that “In March, during the partial lockdown occasioned by the spread of COVID-19, alot of palliative measures were given to widows, adults and less privileged people in the outskirt of Ibadan and that they talked to them on the need to take care of their health while also stressing the importance of taking multivitamin to boost their immune system. She averred that, cash gifts were also distributed to them to buy the required vitamin thereafter.

Omolara, while speaking further, said, In April, the second batch of palliatives were distributed which included gloves and sanitizers to primary health centers and that on 13th of July, 2020 which was the second week of resumption day for pupils/students in terminal classes in Oyo State, Baby Blue Angels Foundation team presented tap-fitted buckets and sanitizers to Oyo State government through the Ministry of Education so as to contain the spread of Coronavirus.

She crowned her remark by saying that the above highlighted historical records of the achievements of the Baby Blue Angels Foundation were few out of many they have done in Oyo State.

She likened the decision to donate 500 alcohol-based Sanitizers and 1500 surgical masks to the Ministry of Health as an effort in complementing the efforts of the state government towards containing the spread of the pandemic and stressed the need for solidarity and collective efforts to flatten the curve of the disease. She however commends all stakeholders from the health practitioners to government agencies and the security agencies for their doggedness and commitment to ensuring the safety of all.

The Commissioner of Health, Dr. Bashir Bello while commending the kind gesture shown by the Baby Blue Angels Foundation thanked them for showing solidarity at this trying time and charged them not to relent in their task of service to humanity.

In a statement released today by the Executive Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu via his official twitter handle read below:

A smear campaign aimed at discrediting the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, is already at an advanced stage.

The plot is being sponsored, as usual, by a desperate politician whose next political leaning in readiness for the October 10 governorship election still remains shrouded in a web of conspiratorial intrigues.

Among others, this desperate politician has packaged lies and inciting thought lines in his own imagination to be planted as stories in about three national dailies beginning from tomorrow, Sunday, August 8, 2020.

Specifically, the story lines outlined for publication include but not limited to the following:

..that party chieftains are not happy with Governor Akeredolu, having allegedly reneged on some conditions after winning the party primary.

..that the governor allegedly dribbled party leaders by announcing Lucky Aiyedatiwa as his running mate.
It was said to have been agreed that the aggrieved members would choose the running mate.

…that such aggrieved members are demanding the dissolution of the current state executive and that a caretaker committee should be constituted to run the affairs of the party pending the time a fresh congress would be held.

…that civil Servants are also said to be angry with the Governor on the emergence of Mr. Dare Aragbaye as the Head of Service, having allegedly retired about nine Permanent Secretaries to appoint Mr. Aragbaye as HoS.

…that Mr. Aragbaye is holding the position of a Permanent Secretary, Director of Finance and Administration in the Governor’s Office after the retirement of Prince Ajibade Ogunoye, the present Olowo of Owo?

It is imperative to state that these tissues of lies are not unusual, especially in the light of the frustration that has persistently challenged the treacherous moves of such persons behind the lies and blackmail.

Governor Akeredolu is committed to the welfare of the people, especially civil servants whose lives were reduced to nothing prior to the advent of the current administration in the State. These civil servants cannot forget in a hurry the level of incurable poverty they were subjected before now.

It should be further noted that the post primary scenario within the APC has been that of harmony and cohesion. The leaders of the party, including very serious aspirants, are on the same page with the Governor to confront these political mercenaries who have chosen the path of perfidy.

Governor Akeredolu will not be distracted by the activities and antics of those who have become victims of their incurable desperation and lust for power with tainted integrity and demonstrated incompetence.