Category: Politics

The contractor handling the Moniya-Iseyin road has begun repair works on the flooded section of the road on Monday, as instructed by the State government after the heavy downpour that led to the rising of rivers along the route.

Recall, the gubernatorial candidate of the Accord Party in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu has raised concern on the dilapidated part of the road, claiming he has been vindicated on his position that the road was poorly constructed.

In a statement made available by the Oyo State Commissioner of Information, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun obtained by ODUDUWA NEWS as read in part:

“The step was as a result of complaints from motorists plying the road, whose movements were restricted by the flood that crossed the road, which prompted the officials of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to embark on an immediate inspection tour to the area to assess the level of damage on the affected area.

“The road which was commissioned by May 2021 has been a relief to the people of Oke-Ogun and its environs as it has afforded them the opportunity to travel within less period from Ibadan to Iseyin, as different from the situation before the reconstruction.

While addressing newsmen during the inspection at chinage 47.750km of the road, the Commissioner for Public Works and Transport, Professor Dahud Kehinde Sangodoyin made it known that the cause of the damages was a result of the continuous heavy rain due to climate change and that It was not particular to only Oyo State, but all over the world.

The Commissioner explained that “we were informed that during the heavy downpour on Thursday and Friday, there were some issues as the water overflew and caused some damages by the side road, we are here to examine and assess what happened and what can be done.

“The first thing discovered is the overflow because the culverts there have been sealed up by mud, then the chainage that should be able to address the free flow of water has a problem on the other side of the road, it is not new because there is climate change all over the world, so we should prepare for it, not only in Oyo State but Nigeria as a whole.

“Work will start on it today, on the right-hand side, the channelization and on the left-hand side, retaining the walls and shifting of the culvert, in the long term, during the dry season, if we find out from weather forecast that we will have a heavy rainfall like this next year we will have to change the size of the culvert.

“The Consultant and the Contractor are with me to assess it together and we found out that it is not a serious issue but climate change that is affecting everybody all over the world, including vegetation and other things.

“I have instructed the contractor to mobilize their machine immediately so that the work can start on the channelization and to retain the wall and I can assure you that the work will start before we finish the inspection, I am assuring our people that our road is intact as it was when commissioned last year, the only damage there is on the shoulder and from today, work will start on it so that it will not hit on the road.”

The team also extended the inspection to the ongoing construction of Iseyin-Ogbomoso-Fapote road to see the progress of the project, where the Commissioner told reporters that the project would be completed by January 2023.

“They have completed the bridge around the chainage 16.0km and we are at chainage 6.0km at the culvert which is 3 by 3, as it is now, the earthwork is almost completed up to chainage 16km, the line drain is almost completed also, they have started to put the stone base from the spur which is 2km and I have advised them to put in more effort so that the contract can be completed in January 2023, as you can see, they have completed about 20% of the job at chainage 6.0km and 32.2% of job at Ogbomoso-Fapote as of last week Monday.”

Professor Sangodoyin said that the slow pace of work is due to the persistent rainfall and that the work would be faster during the dry season with proper supervision because the Government has done its part.

Buttressing the words of the Commissioner, the Consultant to the Governor on Moniya-Iseyin-Ogbomoso road construction, Engr. Wale Lagunju explained that the team has assessed the whole situation and discovered that the pavement at the flooded section of the Moniya-Iseyin road was still intact but there was need for remedial works and the Contractor has been instructed to start work immediately to make sure that the pavement does not fail so that the traffic flow would not be affected.

The Project Manager of the Construction Company, KOPEC Construction Limited, Engr Aymanza Zakhour revealed that despite what has happened, the road is still intact because the work was done with standard specification, adding that he has instructed his men to report to the construction site with machines to start the repair immediately and assured the citizenry that the work will finish in no time.

A total of eight Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) have been hired by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor-elect, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, to defend them at the governorship election petition tribunal, sitting in Osogbo, capital of the State of Osun.

No fewer than 45 other lawyers are reportedly in the legal team of both the PDP and Adeleke who are second and third respondents in a petition filed by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola against Adeleke’s declaration as the winner of the July 16, 2022 governorship election in the state.

OSUN DEFENDER reliably gathered that the legal team of the PDP and Adeleke will be led by popular election legal experts like Alex Ezion, SAN; Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN; Chief Nathaniel Oke, SAN; Mr Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN; Dr Paul. Ananaba, SAN; among others.

The Deputy Director of Adeleke Campaign Council, Barr. Kolapo Alimi, told the medium yesterday that the PDP has assembled his legal team to ‘thrash’ Oyetola’s petition.

According to Alimi, Oyetola’s petition at the tribunal is just a waste of the ‘precious time’ of the judiciary.

It would be recalled that the PDP had on Tuesday filed and submitted its defence to Oyetola’s petition at the tribunal, praying the court to dismiss the petition.

According to ODUDUWA NEWS, the PDP, the governor’s petition is frivolous and baseless.

The response was submitted to the tribunal by the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Adekunle Akindele.

Akindele told the tribunal that Adeleke convincingly won the election and was duly declared the winner, stating that there was no over-voting in any of the polling units being challenged by Oyetola and the APC.

He asked the election tribunal to dismiss Oyetola’s petition, describing it as frivolous, baseless, and un-meritorious.

Maintaining that the election was free, fair and credible without any iota of non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022, Akindele said the allegations listed in Oyetola’s petition are lame and imaginary.

Akindele concluded that the petition filed by Oyetola and the APC is time-wasting and effort in futility, noting that Adeleke, the governor-elect, fulfilled all qualification criteria and conditions to run for the election.

Mayhem erupted at Mile 12 area of Lagos on Sunday following the killing of a member of the parks and garages, Sulaimon Onaolapo, popularly known as Akiru.

His body was seen on the road, after he was reportedly shot by gunmen on Sunday. The incident led to pandemonium in the area as commercial activities were paralysed.

There were intermittent gun shots as rival cult groups engaged in supremacy battle following the killing of Ariku.

Traders hurriedly shut their shops and took off to avoid being caught in the mayhem that ensued.

Report indicated that the dispute occurred when a cult member named Akiru was hit by a rival cult member which subsequently led to complete mayhem.

The deceased was said to be the chairman of the Motor Park under the Mile 12 bridge, a position he was before the state government banned National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and handed over the affairs of commercial vehicles operators to a 25-man committee.

The report of the clash quickly spread on social media as users warned Lagosians to stay off the Mile 12 axis for now as there was mayhem in the area.

A former House of Representatives member, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has claimed that the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, now controls the northern votes of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Jibrin stated this during an interview with Channels Television on Friday.

Recently, there have been speculations that Kwankwaso might ask his supporters to vote for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the 2023 election.

Reacting to the speculation, Jibrin, who is the spokesperson of the Kwankwaso presidential campaign, said the former governor is not considering merging with the APC.

“We have debunked these lies over and over again. It is an attempt to give a wrong impression to the public for one or two parties to be able to raise their standing in public.

“Kwankwaso is a practical politician, we are serious-minded people. We are not in this race for anyone and I have said it over and over again.

“People should disregard all these rumours that ‘Kwankwaso is working for Asiwaju, We are going to merge with APC’.

“How will he do that? Somebody who is controlling the heart of the north. Somebody who is the beneficiary of the 12 million Buhari’s votes.

“Kwankwaso is the most popular person, most loved. He is the person who is going to control those votes. Now look at the dynamics of the election today, there is no sitting governor in the northern part of the country that is contesting for the presidency so every governor has its peculiar challenges in his State.

“What the governors are interested in is to deliver their States. They know it is dangerous for you within your States to say you are going against Kwankwaso because Kwankwaso has his own direct connection with the masses.

“In the entire northern part of the country, nobody is going to get the quantum of votes Kwankwaso is going to pull out,” Jibrin said.

The vice-presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Kashim Shettima, has said that he deliberately wore sneakers to the Nigeria Bar Association conference on Monday.

Shettima made this revelation in a social media video on Thursday.

The former Borno State governor had become a trending topic on social media and even the subject of a ‘challenge’ over his choice of outfit for the conference.

In the trending video, he said, “I was in Lagos for the NBA conference. It was held in Eko Hotels, it was largely funded by the Lagos State Government, the APC government of Lagos State. Subsequently, they moved to Eko Atlantic city, a product of an idea conceived by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“When I sent my recce team… One of the presidential candidates, his team held meetings for three consecutive nights to commit mischief. When I was told it was a hostile crowd. I’m a banker, trained by one of the best bankers in the world. I’m a Jim Ovia boy. I deliberately wore sneakers to the NBA to mock (sic) at them.”

The Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun has presented a brand new operational bus to the Artisans Association of Ogun State during yesterday’s insightful meeting with the association where he deliberated on issues of cooperation and collaboration.

The governor disclosed that he made the donor to aide the comfortable movement of the members of the association.

“In recognition of our Administration’s support to their crafts, the group honoured me with the title: Grand Patron and Táyéṣe of Ogun State”, said Abiodun.

The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has handed over a property located at 1A, Joke Ayo Street, Riverside Estate, Alagbado, Lagos as well as a Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle, SUV, a black BMW car, a black Toyota Land cruiser car and a white Toyota Hilux recovered from a convicted fake Army General, Bolarinwa Abiodun, to one Bamidele Safiriyu Olusegun.

Abiodun had posed as an Army General to defraud Olusegun of the sum of N266,500,000 (Two Hundred and Sixty-Six Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira.

Upon his conviction on July 8, 2022, the trial judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, had sentenced Abiodun to seven years imprisonment and also ordered him to forfeit all the proceeds of the crime.

The Lagos Zonal Commander, Ahmed Ghali, while handing over the vehicles on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at the EFCC’s Lagos Command, described the development as a milestone in the fight against corruption and appealed to the people to always provide information to the EFCC to assist it in fighting corruption.

“Finally, justice has been served. Whoever commits a crime will not get away with it. Sooner Y, the arm of the law will always catch up with you. We take pleasure in seeing fraudulent people brought to justice.

Olusegun Obasanjo, a former president, met with Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State, and Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, on Thursday in London.

Although the meeting’s specifics were still hazy at the time this report was filed, it was discovered that it was a part of discussions for the 2023 presidential election.

Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Donald Duke, the former governor of Cross River State, and other friends of Wike attended the meeting.

Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun on Thursday said Governor Seyi Makinde has fulfilled his campaign promises in the State.

Olatubosun, who stated this at the inauguration of GSM Market and Artisans Marine at Saki Town Hall, Saki, noted that the present administration has been transparent and accountable to the people.

He also reiterated Governor Seyi Makinde’s commitment to doing more for the zone, if re-elected in 2023.

Olatubosun enjoined the people of Saki-East, Saki-West and Atisbo to disregard any “falsehood” by the opposition, adding that Makinde has fulfilled his campaign promises to Oke-Ogun residents.

During the engagement with Traders and Artisans in Saki-East, Saki-West and Atisbo Local Governments, Dr. Olatubosun said the Governor’s foray into politics was for service delivery and not for personal gain or deception.

Olatubosun who also spoke on the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, Alaga sub-station and Gravity FM Igboho, assured Traders and Artisans that the governor would consolidate on his administration’s achievements in the last three-and-half years if re-elected.

Olatubosun said the Free Education policy of the present administration has been a huge achievement of the Makinde’s administration.

On Free Healthcare, Olatubosun said the Governor has instructed that a Primary Health centre must be functioning in each of the Three Hundred and Fifty-one wards in the State.

He further hinted that Two-hundred and twenty health centres have been completed throughout the State, while the remaining are on the verge of completion.

Speaking on the Security architecture in Oyo State, Olatubosun praised Governor Makinde’s wisdom in ensuring Oyo State is secured, despite the little resources in the State.

“Governor Makinde has also donated patrol vans to security agencies to enable them to provide effective security in the state”, he said.

He added that the state government would provide more patrol vans to ensure that the needs of the security agencies are met in overcoming the security challenges affecting the state.

Dr. Olatubosun said, just recently, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State approved the recruitment of additional 500 corps into the State Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) codenamed Amotekun.

He said recruiting new corps would enhance Amotekun’s performance and further deepen the security architecture of the state.

Olatubosun said residents and indigenes of Saki, are enjoying the best of times, with the thoroughly revamped Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme (OYSADEP) which now bears Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), with its headquarters in Saki.

“The newly constructed Saki township road has given you a new lease on life. While the Ogbooro-Saki Township road is underway.

He said these, amongst many other things are part of the Governor’s policies on Expansion of economy through agribusiness pillar.

Olatubosun also enumerated the Governor’s commitment to the welfare of civil servants and retirees, pointing at the continuous payment of their entitlements.

Speaking at the event, the full time commissioner of teaching service Commision, Mudasir Awujoola lauded Seyi Makinde-led government for the lofty infrastructural development Saki town has enjoyed.

While the Chairman of Saki-West, Alhaji Omirinde who spoke through his Chief-of-staff, Alhaji Abdulahi, assured that the three Local Governments and the entirety of Saki Township would always support the Governor’s re-election bid.

He said Makinde’s policies have ameliorated the conditions of living of the people of Saki.

Also speaking, the Babaloja-General of Oyo State, Alh. Ismail Jimoh; the President Market Advisory council, Alh. Dauda Oladepo and the Babaloja of Oke-Ogun, Elesin Wahab Adebayo lauded Makinde’s Government, for inaugurating the first of its kind Market Advisory Council.

They said the Governor has shown unparalleled love for Traders, pledging their support for Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration.

The Traders’ Union leaders said that he had in the last three years shown purposeful leadership, especially by appointing one of them, Odunayo Kayode-Danjuma, as Special Adviser on Trade matters.

They therefore promised that members of the union would support the governor’s quest to ensure better service delivery to the people.

In his own remark, the People’s Democratic Party PDP chairman of Saki West who spoke on behalf of his colleagues at the federal constituency, Hon. Wasiu Ayenro urged residents of the towns to vote for Governor Seyi Makinde.

The President, Progressive Artisans, Alh. Salaudeen Quamorudeen and the President, Saki- West Artisans, Mr. Abdulraheem Ojolowo highlighted several developmental projects embarked upon by the State Governor, adding that the Governor has not reneged in his promises to residents of the State.

They therefore said all leaders of Associations had unanimously agreed to work for the present administration’s success.

Highlight of the Commissioner’s visit to the three Local Governments, was the inauguration of Saki-West, Saki-East, Atisbo GSM Market and Artisans Marine by the Honourable Commissioner.

August 25, 2022.