Oduduwa News

Ogun State has stepped up efforts to stop the spread of cholera after an outbreak in Magboro in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of the state.

Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, said in a statement issued on Monday in Abeokuta that the reported outbreak was predominant among motorcycle riders and scavengers.

She stated that the index case was reported to have returned to the state from elsewhere, while the public toilet used was the channel of transmission.

The commissioner explained that the causative agent had not been confirmed because appropriate samples could not be collected as there was no active case.

She added that a number of persons were receiving treatment and expressed consternation that an unregistered clinic ran by a quack had contributed to the spread by not reporting cases it had been managing.

Dr Coker stated also that a treatment centre had been set up at the Magboro-Akeran Health Centre, adding that the suspected public toilet had been sealed for sanitisation.

She said neighbouring communities had been sensitised on steps to take and where to seek care or report suspicious cases.

The commissioner also stated that traditional rulers in the area had been engaged for their support in keeping their communities safe, while healthcare workers continued active surveillance in the affected community.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has expressed confidence in polytechnic education, describing it as a major contributor to the economic and technological development of the country.

Oba Adeyeye stated this on Friday while receiving the authorities of The Polytechnic, Ibadan (TPI) who paid him a courtesy call in his palace.

Oonirisa noted that the tutoring he received at The Polytechnic, Ibadan in his days as a student adequately prepared him for his future challenges in life.

The royal father who accepted the Home Coming programme being designed by the authorities of the institution to celebrate him on a date to be agreed upon expressed happiness and willingness to return to the institution that taught him that hard work is the panacea to poverty (Ise ni Oogun Ise).

Earlier, the Rector of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Professor Kazeem Adekunle Adebiyi had observed that the story of the institution will not be complete without a portion for Oba Enitan Ogunwusi.

Oba Adeyeye said The Polytechnic Ibadan that produced the royal father and other distinguished Nigerians including governors, senators, business icons, industrialists among others also produced him as he cut his teeth at the mechanical engineering department of the institution where he bagged a National Diploma before proceeding to the university for further academic laurels.

Adebiyi said the homecoming programme planned to celebrate the monarch will also ginger the current students of the institution to work hard and excel as the world is at their feet.

The chairman of the governing council of TPI, Professor Kunle Akinyemi who was unavoidably absent was represented by Ayaba (Barrister) Moji Adeyemi (the wife of His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi) who is also a member.

Also present were Mrs Module Theresa Fawale (Registrar), Mr Olawole Adebayo Ojetola (Bursar), Dr Ismaeel Oyefemi Oyetunji (Dean, Faculty of Financial Management Studies and Chairman Committee of Deans).

The Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, has on Sunday, said that we have come too far as a nation and people for Nigeria to break up, or for anyone or group to agitate for the breakup of the country, Page 36 learnt.

Governor Oyetola said this while featuring on the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Forum, stressing that, it is our togetherness that would lead us to become a great country.

His exact words: “What I believe in is that for us to live together as a people, every unit of the enclave should have rights and responsibilities clearly defined.

“To me, restructuring does not mean that people should separate. Whoever is thinking along that line is not serious.

“We have come a long way, and it is togetherness that can make us get to where we are supposed to be within the space in the world.

“I believe in devolution of power to the States, let the States have more power to do most of the things they have been doing.

“Give the States more support, and I believe we should look at the issue of revenue allocation. We should allow the States to have more funds to develop some of the things they have.”

Following the judgment of Federal High Court in Port Harcourt empowering states to collect Value Added Tax (VAT) and not the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the governments of Lagos and Rivers states have expressed their readiness to begin #VAT collection.

However, the Federal Government and some states in the Northern part of the country are already mounting a stiff opposition to the plan by Lagos and Rivers states to collect VAT on the ground that it would greatly shrink their revenue and adversely affect their economy.

Details later.

Supporters of Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State affirmed a 27-man executive committee to run the affairs of the party in each of the local government areas of the state with the governor commending leaders and members of the party for a job well done.

Addressing party faithful at the St. Saviour Anglican Primary, Ikenne, venue of the congress in Ikenne Local Government Area, Abiodun said the peaceful manner in which the party conducted the exercise was a strong indication that APC remains the party to beat, not only in Ogun but in Nigeria.

He said the consensus approach in electing the executive committee in each of the local government areas in the state would further entrench internal democracy in the party.

He thanked the Wale Ohu-led Local Government Congress Committee for ensuring a rancour free exercise in the state, saying the party would continue to welcome members from other parties.

The seven-man committee last night declared that any congress conducted in the state outside the one it conducted was dead on arrival, null, void and of no effect.

The chairman of the committee, Wale Ohu, spoke at the APC state Secretariat Abeokuta while fielding questions from newsmen following reports that loyalists of former governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, conducted parallel congresses in parts of the state.

Speaking on behalf of the Amosun’s faction, Tajudeen Lamboye, the SouthWest Legal Adviser of APC, insisted that the Amosun faction remained the authentic executive body of the party in Abeokuta South LG.

Lemboye said: “We have successfully elected our officers for Abeokuta South Local Government Area of the party. I’m a supporter of Senator Ibikunle Amosun and I’m one of his loyalists, and we all here are his loyalists and we believe in his leadership. That is why we are here.”

The local government congress of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State was relatively peaceful across the 18 local government areas.

Leaders of the Ondo APC had earlier agreed to use the consensus method to select local government leaders of the party.

In Akure South, Akure North, Ifedore and Idanre monitored by our reporter, the Ondo APC affirmed the consensus list after the names were read out.

Acting State Chairman of the party, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, applauded party members for improving on the ward congresses.

Engr. Adetimehin said the LG congress was peaceful because party members were well organised.

He said: “The local government congress is going on peacefully in Ondo State and we are doing it as required by the law.

“Ondo State is a state to be proud of under APC. Ondo APC members are well organised. They comport themselves to the rules and regulations.

“We held a stakeholders meeting and it was unanimously agreed that we were going to select our executive through consensus.

“Our Ward congress was the best across the country and we are going to build on it. All the leaders agreed on consensus.

The Ondo State Local Government Congress Committee Chairman, Gbenga Isiaka, who spoke after monitoring the exercise, described the process as wonderful.

He said issues arising from the Ward Congresses had been resolved, adding that all necessary materials had been distributed.