Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, CON, has suspended the Chairman, Governing Council of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Mr. Banji Alabi.
The suspension followed the report of the Visitation Panel that Alabi refused to honour its invitation on several occasions.
The Governor announced the suspension while receiving the report of the 7-member Visitation Panel to the Polytechnic.
According to the Governor, “the Chairman stands suspended until I hear from him.”
Submitting the Panel report on Thursday at the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka Akure, the Chairman, Professor Olabode Kolade Koriko, appreciated Governor Akeredolu for finding it necessary to constitute the Panel.
Prof. Koriko applauded Governor Akeredolu for releasing about N1.6bn bailout to the Polytechnic, adding that the commitment of the Governor to reposition the Polytechnic and restore its lost glory is commendable.
The Chairman revealed that the Panel in the course of its assignment, held meetings and had interactions with relevant stakeholders from the Polytechnic and the host community at different locations in Owo before arriving at its recommendations.
“Rufus Giwa Polytechnic until recently remains a model of institution in the South-West over the year, however, poor management of human and material resources appears to have eroded the gains of the past and turned the once famous citadel of learning that has produced very successful men and women in the society to a shadow of its self.
“Your decision to set up the Visitation Panel at this auspicious moment could therefore not have come at a better time and is no doubt altruistic. It is expected that at the end, your desire to emplace probity and accountability in the management of this great citadel of learning would be realized.
“The assignment which spanned a period of 3 months, commenced with the inauguration of the Visitation Panel by your good self on 21st September, 2022.
“The Panel in the course of the exercise met at different locations in Owo and Akure during the three months duration of its assignment, critically perused all the items listed in the 7-point Terms of Reference , met with the relevant stakeholders, collected Memoranda from Staff, students and the Community, executed an extensive verification of staff and accounts of the Polytechnic, reviewed the laws of the Polytechnic, critically analyzed the content of the submitted Memoranda, other materials and oral evidence available to it to arrive at its recommendations.
“The Panel also had extensive interaction and meetings with Principal Officers of the Polytechnic, union bodies, Chiefs of the host community, and of course the petitioners who were often invited to the Panel sitting for interrogation while a comprehensive inspection of facilities of the Polytechnic (including buildings, vehicles, ventures etc) diligently executed”, the chairman stressed.
Receiving the report, Governor Akeredolu appreciated all members of the Panel for their labour, with a promise to look into the report.
Governor Akeredolu, who expressed worry over what he called downward slide being observed in the Polytechnic, said the report would guide government on what to do.
“Coincidentally, I am from Owo, I was inundated with several complaints here and there. A number of them I am not able to solve. I asked questions and got answers that probably were not correct, I can’t understand.
“I got information that several people have been recruited and when I ask, they will say no. Then why is your wages going up? Why can’t you pay?
“We have intervened on one or two occasions and we gave money with specific instruction to pay salaries. At the end of the day you cannot still complete salary payment. I’m sure your report will contain this.
“Management, yes, there might be some problems with human and material resources but as I always say when they come and meet me, I know from verifiable facts that the Rector has attracted enormous funding to that place either through TETFUND or others, because of his connection. You can’t take that away from him”, Akeredolu explained.
The Governor also declared that it has become more desirable now to turn the Polytechnic to university, noting that there is no going back.
He stressed that the Polytechnic has all it takes in terms of facilities to become a university.
The 2023 Ibadan Cultural Week Festival of Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes decorated the founder of Copacapana Lounge & Club, Bodija Ibadan, Mr Ahmed Ajibola as grand Omoluabi of Ibadanland.
Speaking at the event, the President- General of Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes Prince Oluyemisi Adetayo Adeaga stated that the award is in recognition of Mr Ahmed contribution to the Ibadan Entertainment Industry, as he is promoting the Indigenous culture in a modern trend, and also advised the recipient to continue to uphold the Omoluabi virtues.
The Chairman of the 2023 Cultural Festival Week Committee, Engr. Sunday Gbenjo stated that the award decoration is that of the Pre-activities of the 2023 cultural festival where industrious sons and daughters of Ibadan who are contributing to Ibadan development and of high moral standard are identified and honoured.
Responding to the award, Mr Ahmed appreciated the organizers for finding him worthy and reiterated his commitment towards the development of Ibadanland.
Presents at the presentation includes the mother of the Awardee, Iya Loja General of Oyo State, Executive and members of Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes; Vice Chairman 1 &2 of 2023 Ibadan Cultural Week, Mr Jide Iyanda & Chief Mrs Simiat Larodo; Secretary of 2023 Ibadan Cultural Festival Week Committee Chief Adeola Oloko, members of the 2023 Cultural Week, friends of the awardee, representatives of Markets leaders and other well wishers.
Adébáyọ̀ Adelabu, governorship candidate of Accord in Oyo State has been advised to go contest with the likes of Aliko Dangote and others if he feels he is the best investor.
Teslim Folarin, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in a reaction to remark by Adelabu, who was the candidate of the party in the 2019 election before defecting to his new party after failing to get the gubernatorial ticket, at the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC Yoruba, debate in Ibadan, said: “We would like to ask him (Adelabu) what individual candidate’s choice of business has got to do with political campaigns? The statement credited to the Accord gubernatorial candidate has further portrayed him as a learner in the field of politics. Whatever success he is laying claim to in the business world was there in 2019 when he ran an uninspiring campaign for the same post and he lost scandalously.
Adelabu had, during the debate, described both the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and APC candidates, Governor Seyi Makinde and Folarin respectively, as people without stakes in Oyo State because they have no investments in the state.
”Before Governor Seyi Makinde was sworn-in in 2019, he declared N48 billion assets. The APC governorship candidate, Sen. Teslim Folarin has represented Oyo Central Senatorial District three times, meaning he has been collecting government money for 12 years. Please ask both of them why they have not established a single factory, even if it is a pure water factory that will employ at least five persons, in Oyo State?
“Why are they taking all their money abroad? They are like birds which fly as soon as the tree falls. They are portmanteau politicians. If anything negative happens, they will easily relocate abroad. I can not leave Oyo State because my treasures are here.
“Wherever your treasure is where your heart goes. Since I lost election, I have not relocated from Ibadan. I have met and engaged more people that can be of help in my election. And I have also learnt and invested more in the state. There has been no year that I did not add new investments in the state since 2019 because as a stakeholder, I won’t want the state to regress or collapse. All my businesses and family members are in Oyo State. My friends are here. I grew up here,” Adelabu had said.
But reacting, the three-term senator, who spoke through the APC Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr Olawale Sadare, has explaining that “For the avoidance of doubt, Sen. Teslim Folarin has been involved in the business of government at the zenith level in the country for more than 20 years now and he has never been found wanting. His chain of business in the corporate world did not matter to us when he was seeking the ticket of our party because neither the Electoral Act nor the APC Constitution requires him to submit the record of his private business engagement.
“If Mr. Adelabu feels he is the best investor in the world, he should leave politics for the serious players and strive to compete favourably with the Dangotes, Adenugas, Elumelus or even Bill Gates of this world. The fact remains that the remnants of Mr. Adelabu’s bloated ego will be finally deflated in the next general election and the shame of electoral defeat would make him run away from future contest.
We at APC will never take him seriously because he is not ready to learn at all.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC has reacted on the recent arrest of the former Director-General of Labour Party Presidential Campaign, Doyin Okupe.
The commission in a statement made available via his official Twitter account disclosed that it is ready to release Doyin Okupe because it is already in the process of formalizing the lifting of the watchlist.
The commission was quoted as this:
“”The Department of State Services, DSS, today, January 12, informed the Commission of the interception of Dr. Doyin Okupe, former presidential adviser, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
“The Service acted on a Watch-list request issued on July 18, 2016, over six years before his recent conviction on money laundering charges by the Federal High Court, Abuja.
“The Commission was in the process of formally lifting the watch-list before his interception and will expedite action in this regard”.
As political parties and their respective Senatorial candidates vie to represent the good people of Oyo North by winning the 2023 election, Ore TV in partnership with Oduduwa News and other news outlets organizes a debate programme that will be a live broadcast and streaming production that offers a singular forum for direct interaction and communication between the senatorial candidates and the constituents.
The programme comes up tommorrow at the Ore TV station located in Saki by 10am.
Being the first of its kind, the programme will make all the good people of Oyo North proud regardless of which candidate they support and offer the best possible platform for all the leading candidates to come and share their best plans for their people.
There will be an audience of 20 people for the debate, including CSOs and the Diplomatic Corps. It will be an opportunity for the people to hear directly from the aspirants and to ask them questions on governance and nation building.
The debate will be broadcast on ORE TV,and partner TV stations like Korrectnews, 1207media and Oduduwa News. It will also be streamed online on YouTube and social media platforms to enable those in the diaspora to participate.
The Polytechnic of Ibadan will begin the first semester examination for the 2022–2023 academic session on Monday, January 16, 2023.
Regular and part-time students will also take the exam, according to a statement from the institution signed by the registrar, Mrs. Modupe Theresa Fawale.
All applicants for admission, their parents, and guardians should take note that all admissions for the 2022/2023 Academic Session have been terminated by the institution since the matriculation of new students on January 5.
The management therefore enjoined the students to allow peace to reign during and after the commencement of the examination.
According to reports, the fire outbreak was caused by an electrical spark inside one of the shops down Odi Olowo Street immediately they brought electricity as at 1:30am.
An eyewitness added that the security guards alerted the residents who tried all their best possible to quench the fire while waiting for the fire service but all to no avail.
Millions of goods and valuables were said to have destroyed by the fire.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday, 11th January, 2023 dismissed the separate appeals filed by Otunba Jimi Lawal and his group members, Taiwo Olabode Idris against the appeal court ruling that allowed Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu’s application against the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta delivered by Justice O. Oguntoyinbo on 27th September, 2022.
The Supreme Court panel of Justices led by Justice Kekere Ekun before dismissing the two appeals expressed displeasure against the actions of the appellants appealing against the decision of the Appeal court, stating that their actions were just aimed at frustrating the appeal of Hon. Adebutu at the Appeal court sitting in Ibadan despite been heard and allowed.
The interpretation of the judgement is that Hon. Adebutu Kensington is now the authentic PDP Gubernatorial candidate for Ogun State.
The police have arraigned a forex trader, Temitope Badmus, for allegedly stealing N221.6m from six investors.
Our correspondent gathered that the 36-year-old allegedly collected the money from the complainants on the pretext of trading with it on Forex Online trading platform.
Badmus was arraigned before Magistrate A.O. Salawu on six counts of stealing.
The prosecutor, Godwin Oriabure, who held brief for the prosecution counsel, J. Ebosereme, said the offences contravened Section 280 and were punishable under Section 287 (9) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2015.
The charges read in part, “That you, Temitope Badmus, from February 2022 to September 2022 at No 2, Taiwo Close, Surulere, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did receive and stole by fraudulent conversion to your use the sum of 93,300,000 that was meant for you to trade with on Forex Online trading platform, property of one Oladimeji Akolade, thereby committing an offence.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Magistrate Salawu admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N3m with two responsible sureties in like sum, who must have landed property in Lagos State.
The case was adjourned till February 23, 2023, for mention.
