Oduduwa News

The family of the owner of Hilton Hotel, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Chief Ramon Adedoyin, has called on Nigerians on social media to stop dragging the hotelier on social media.

The family insisted that Adedoyin is not a ritualist and has no hand in the death of a Master’s student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Mr. Timothy Adegoke.

In a statement by the family’s lawyer, Mr. Abiodun Williams, they claimed the hotelier has businesses managed by employees on his behalf.

Part of the statement read, “Like every other Nigerian and a parent for that matter, Chief Adedoyin is saddened by the death of the young man.

“And for the avoidance of any doubt, Chief Adedoyin is not only an educationist and hotelier but also an established business man with investments in different other sectors of the economy.

“So, he does not involve in the day-to-day running of the hotel and indeed his other business establishments as such roles are left in the hands of hundreds of his employees.

“We therefore wish to say, once again, that Chief Adedoyin and members of his family are not ritualists and will never condescend to such devlish act.

“So, we call on the media, especially the bloggers to verify information before going to press and also allow the police to conduct proper investigations on the death of the young man and bring anyone culpable to justice.

“We also urge the police on their part not to be swayed by the social media rumours being spread around on the matter rather to remain professionals in their investigations even as we wish to express our sincere condolences and sympathy to the Adegoke’s family while we pray God to comfort them.”

Ekiti State Government on Sunday said it is up to date with the payment of the salaries the state medical and health workers.

Akinjide Akinleye, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Human Services, made the clarification in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Akinleye was reacting to a news article credited to the National President of the Nigerian Medical Association NMA, Prof Innocent Ujah, alleging that the State Government is owing doctors four months salary.

Akinleye said that government had diligently paid the salaries of all workers in the State, including doctors.

According to him, public servants in the State, including medical and health workers, receive their salaries regularly without any default from the government.

Akinleye explained that for the purpose of clarity, medical and health workers in the state, are employed across the three tiers of health facilities.

“Those at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti; the 22 secondary care hospitals under the management of the Hospitals Management Board and Primary Healthcare facilities, managed by the State Primary Health Care Development Agency.

“Health workers employed through the State Hospitals’ Management Board and the State Primary Health Care Development Agency are paid directly by the State government through the Office of the Accountant General,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary noted that workers employed at EKSUTH and other autonomous entities such as the State University, receive their salaries from their organisations, with subventions released by the state government to the institutions.

“As at today, all health workers in the State, including doctors, have been paid their salaries up to November 2021,” he said.

Akinleye said members of the public are aware that past administrations in the state owed workers salaries between July and September 2018.

According to him, Gov. Kayode Fayemi took over the liability from the previous administration and had begun to defray the arrears to the workers.

“It is important to state that the present administration is not owing any worker since its inauguration in October 2018,” he said.

Akinleye said the State Government hold its workers, including medical and health professionals, in high esteem and would continue to make their welfare a top priority at all times.

He said government would continue to create the enabling environment for its workers as a catalyst for improved productivity.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the weekend assured that there would be more intervention by the state government to support the fight against all forms of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the state.

The Governor spoke at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja during the presentation of six vehicles by the First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu to critical agencies of government and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to facilitate a prompt, efficient, and effective response to the menace of rape, defilement, domestic violence, child abuse, and associated crimes.

The beneficiaries are Family Court, Lagos State Judiciary; Directorate of Family Health and Nutrition, Lagos State Ministry of Health; Guidance and Counseling Unit, Lagos State Ministry of Education; Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP); Auntlanda Bethel Foundation; and SGBV Response Team, Office of the First Lady.

The vehicle presentation was the highpoint of the commemoration of the global 16 days of activism against SGBV, as spearheaded in the state by the Office of the First Lady.

Mr. Governor commended all the stakeholders, partners, and donors, saying the feat clearly confirmed that a lot could be achieved working together.

“I am happy with all of our partners, the NGOs, the various offices, and the judiciary that are doing great things. What this means is that just keep doing what you are doing, somebody somewhere is watching, and at the appropriate time, you will be encouraged and we all need to encourage ourselves. I am sure next year, others who are also raising up the bar and they are best in class at what they do will be encouraged.

“On behalf of the government and people of Lagos State, I want to thank all of you for what you are doing. I want to thank my wife, the First Lady; the wife of my brother the Deputy Governor; everybody in the Office of First Lady, and all stakeholders that have put this together.

“What this means is that next year, we should do a lot better, we should have a lot more partners, we should have a lot more intervention, we should indeed be able to say that indeed these are the things we have done and we are on the right path,” he said.

Earlier, the First Lady said a lot had been done to scale up the fight against SGBV, saying it was gratifying that vehicles were being presented to further ramp up the capacities of relevant agencies to deal decisively with the menace.

“A lot has been done with regards to the 16 days of activism. We had our Community Sensitization on the 29th of November, followed by School Sensitization. We also took part in the Interfaith parley where we had the opportunity to talk to religious leaders (Christian and Muslim).

“In between, I went to Abuja to attend the Second Annual Conference of Nigeria Governors’ Wives Forum against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, and we also had the opportunity of meeting the National Union of Road Transport Workers to sensitize them on the dangers and position of the law on SGBV.

“We are presenting six vehicles today making a total of Nine vehicles we have presented to support the fight against SGBV. Recalled that we had earlier presented three to the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) of the Ministry of Justice; Child Protection Unit of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development; and the Gender Unit of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti, Lagos. For us, we will not relent in our fight against the SGBV,” she said.

Besides the vehicles, rape kits were also donated to the Ministry of Health to help in the treatment of rape survivors.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye commended the First Lady for her passion and genuine commitment and consistency displayed to the cause against SGBV, assuring that the vehicles and the rape kits would be deployed for the intended purpose.

The donors are the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) and Lagos State Gaming and Lotteries Authority, while the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) supported the 16 days of activism campaign with adverts on billboards and electronic media.

His Imperial Majesty, Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi JP CON, CFR, Ajagungbade III, the Soun Of Ogbomoso Land has been confirmed to have died in the early hours of Sunday, 12th December, 2021 at the age of 95.

Details later.