Nothing But Fact
Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has dissolved the state executive council today, Tuesday, 29th June, 2021.
ODUDUWA NEWS gathered that the dissolution of the cabinet affect all cabinet members except Secretary To The State Government and Head of Service.
Details later.
A bill to establish the Oyo State Audit Commission scaled through first and second reading at the Oyo State House of Assembly on Tuesday.
The plenary was presided over by the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin.
Aside from seeing to the establishment of the Oyo State Audit Commission, the Bill titled “Oyo State Audit Bill, 2021” will also make provision for the appointment, condition of service, functions and powers of the Auditor General of the State and Local Governments.
It will equally see to the Auditing of Public Accounts at the State and Local Governments.
The bill has consequently been referred to the Oyo State House of Assembly Committee on Public Accounts, Finance and Appropriation for further scrutiny and deliberations
The Speaker said the bill was yet another bold attempt to strengthen and improve auditing activities in the State.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon Akeem Mustapha (Kajola) said the bill was meant to give power to the Auditor General and others who will ensure checks and balances on the spendings of Government at both State and Local Levels.
According to him, the Oyo State Audit Bill, 2021 will make the office of the Auditor General to be autonomous.
While speaking, Hon Seyi Adisa (Afijio) added that, when passed , the Law will ensure regular and frequent auditing of Government spendings.
He said the bill is reviewing the functions of the Auditor General for more optimum performances.
In the meantime, a bill for a Law to further amend the Mineral Development Agency Law, 2013 also passed through second reading at the plenary.
Hon Julius Okedoyin (Saki West) said the bill was to ensure further regularization of the activities of Miners in Oyo State.
Other Lawmakers Hon Asimiyu Alarape (Atiba), Hon Isiaka Kazeem Tunde(Oyo East/West), Hon Babajide Gabriel (Ib.North 2), Hon Kazeem Olayanju (Irepo/Olohunsogo) and Hon Seyi Adisa (Afijio) agreed that though Mining is in the Exclusive Legislative List of the Federal Government, the bill will ensure that certain benefits accrue to both the State and the host communities from Miners operating in the State.
According to them, the bill when amended will make it mandatory for all Miners in the State to register with the State Mineral Development Agency.
The bill was later referred to the House Committee on Solid Minerals for further deliberations.
The pictures highlighted therein are the snapshots of the youths protesting against estimated electric power billing in Agege, Lagos State.
The Federal Government has approved extension of deadline for NIN-SIM data verification to July 26, 2021.
The government said the decision to extend the deadline was reached after a request by stakeholders on the needs to consolidate enrolment and NIN-SIM verification process.
It added the development followed the rapid increase in the number of enrolment systems across the country.
The linkage by Nigerians has hit 57.3 million.
The government made the announcement in a statement signed jointly by the Director of Public Affairs of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Dr Ikechukwu Adinde and Head of Corporate Communications of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Mr Kayode Adegoke.
The statement reads: “The Federal Government has approved the extension as part of its effort to make it easier for its citizens and residents to obtain the NIN and it is important to take advantage of the extension.
” There are now a total of 57.3 million unique NIN enrolments, with average of 3 to 4 SIMs per NIN. With the great number of enrolment centres across the country, every citizen and legal resident should be able to obtain their NINs.
” Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, on behalf of the Federal Government, appreciates Nigerians for their patience and compliance with the Federal Government’s directive on the NIN-SIM registration exercise.
“The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof Umar Garba Dambatta, and the Director-General/CEO of that National Identity Management Commission, Engr Aliyu Azeez, urge citizens and legal residents to make sure they use the opportunity to complete the process of enrolment and verification.”
ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that a mild drama occured at newly established Garage, Podo, Ibadan on Monday as members of the Oyo State Park Management System (PMS) foiled the attempt by some unidentified policemen, to arrest the Chairman of PMS Disciplinary Committee, Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi, a.k.a, Auxilliary.
The drama had started early in the afternoon when the unknown policemen arrived the Podo Garage and attempted to whisk Auxiliary away.
Sources close to the PMS said that the large number of PMS members at the garage prevented the said policemen from easily gaining entry into the office and taking Auxilliary away.
A source at the scene said that the PMS members were present in large number at the Podo Park on Monday because they were on hand for the fortnightly meeting at the Park.
The source said: “We smelt rat on sighting the two unmarked cars and seeing the policemen who were looking very strange.
“We quickly checked with the police in Oyo State and the police in the state denied sending anyone to arrest Auxilliary.
“The team that supposedly came from the IGP’s office claimed to have come from Abuja and that it was heading back to Abuja with instructions to pick Auxilliary. But we couldn’t allow them pick our man when their real identities were shrouded in secrecy.
“If it is about the incident that happened at Iwo Road, the Police in Oyo State has paraded some suspects and the case is on course, why the planned arrest of Auxilliary again, especially by Police from Abuja, that is why we were curious.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the PMS, Comrade Emiola Jelili said that he got wind of the incident but was told that his members who were at the park for the regular meeting rebuffed the alleged infiltration.
The indigenous students under the aeges of Ibarapa Students Association FIBSA has advised the senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Senator Kola Balogun to live up to expectation and wake up from self hibernation he has been since the inception of his administration.
This was contained in a release signed and sent to ODUDUWA NEWS by National President, Ogunjobi Oladimeji Feranmi and National Senate President, Ogunlowo Soji Aderemi as read in part:
“Dear Distinguished Senator Kola Balogun,
“Good day sir, We the ever sagacious students of Ibarapa tremble as we write this note to you especially with the open wound your unfeeling actions have continued to inflict on the generality of Ibarapa Students who you constantly refer to as “leaders of tomorrow”. The profound leadership crisis when combined with the increasingly dangerous politics of neglect, spawns gloomy prognostication about our collective future as students of this senatorial district which we are unfortunately marginalized into.
“We write to you today as a concerned and passionate Constituents of your senatorial district in the name of Generation Hope to plead with you and our leaders on behalf of our founding fathers-those who came before you, on behalf of our generation (Generation Hope)- those to come after you and for the most part, on behalf of hundreds and thousands of Ibarapa Students, now is the time for you to listen to the voices and cries of our generation and we all crying in one voice Enough is Enough.
“Dear Senator Kola Balogun, we are doubtful whether this your system can be refocused to make any modicum of progress in the realm of the educational life of our dear district. This is largely because the statements and body language towards our region as far as students is concerned have being bias, contradictory and cacophonous. There are also the problems of near absence of charismatic leadership skills coupled with poor administrative acumen by you with due respect. It is rather unfortunate that when is it all going to stop? When are you and our other leaders going to start bringing hope to the thousands of hopeless students across our senatorial district? we just can’t fathom how a senator like you chooses@ to belittle a student Republic like FIBSA, only for you to come back during Electioneering period. We are aware of your hefty salaries and allowance, yet you find it extremely difficult to give out common bursary to the students Republic. If you keenly take note, we have chosen to use Republic because we are Country on our own, that no individual must ever sideline or neglect. Mr. Senator, let me be frank with you, if anyone tells you that you are doing well, the person must actually be a run away patient from Yaba left or absconded patient of Aro Abeokuta. I expected a distinguished personality like you to have learnt from history but reversed is the case. Let me remind you perhaps if you have forgotten, you won against a mighty Incumbent Sitting Governor of our dear state in the last election not because you have done anything special in the past, but rather as a victim of circumstances. Instead of seizing the rare opportunity to perform extraordinarily, you are instead performing below par
“In FIBSA, the wind of change is blowing and definitely when we say this, we speak on behalf of our generation; OUR generation DOES NOT want to be left behind. Now is the time for every Students of Ibarapaland to start benefiting for the Senatorial district’s commonwealth, now is the time for you and our leaders to start investing into the future of our students and youth, and now is the time for you and our leaders to start looking beyond political, tribal, ethnic and religious differences and put emphasis on those things that bring us all together as a formidable district in Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole.
“The last time we checked, Ibarapa Students are still very much part of your Senatorial district. We can vividly remember the Last FIBSA Senate Program we held, FIBSA have to go far down to Oyo North Senatorial district to invite the Ever Ready Senator Buhari Abdul Fatai to our program, when our senator is no where to be found. This is a big slap on our face, even though we choose to be silent then. Funny enough, two weeks you gave the scorecard of your two years in Office, which is a big hall of shame and display of mediocrity at the zenith level for Citing wrong Project location and Audio Constituency projects. We FIBSA only chose to be cautious, We don’t want FIBSA to be seen as Political tool, nevertheless we can’t watch our region being cheated. Dear Senator, Please don’t take our gentility for TIMIDITY.
“It may also interest you to know that we are pushed to the wall. Our parents are beginning to see us as unproductive rascals. This, our Senator, we must confess is an irredeemable embarrassment to a district that prides herself as the heart of Oyo State. Your attitude and approach are disturbingly predictable, so shocking, so unimaginative and very much characteristic of your predecessors in those dark days who watched helplessly as cherished values of leadership standard run utterly to seed and the whole system took its quantum leap into mediocrity and darkness.
“There’s still a whole lot you can do in the remaining part of your tenure as a Senator, to write your name in gold. Sir, you can still enact laws that will have direct positive impact on the people, you can still employ your influence as a Senator to champion developmental causes towards Oyo south and Oyo State as a whole. Sidelingling the Students Republic of Ibarapa might be extremely dangerous for you sir. Will heaven falls if you give out Bursary to our students or give us a bus we have been yearning for? This apparently will take nothing from your oceanic purse.
“You can still be that Senator that will be eternally loved and revered by his people for his sacrificial, statesmanlike and honourable actions and not disliked for his personal and phoney ambitions of 2023, that’s only if you take this letter with good heart, then amend to incorporate and prioritize the Students Republic as part and parcel of your government. While anticipating a responsive action on the points raised above, we hope that you give this letter your outmost attention and consideration because a stich in time saves Nine”.
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Oyo State chapter, has declared that July 2, 2021, will be set aside as a day of intercession against insecurity in Oyo State and the country.
This was part of resolutions reached on Monday, between the state government and CAN during a stakeholders meeting with the Christian body in the state.
During the meeting, the state government represented by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun and the Executive Assistant on Administration, Rev. Idowu Ogedengbe and CAN agreed to go spiritual, as the Christian body, vowed to hold a special praise, worship and prayer session to intercede for the state.
Recall that the state government, had met with Islamic and Traditional leaders in the state, who also agreed to work with the government to eradicate insecurity in the state.
Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, noted that the state government resorted in seeking the intervention of religious stakeholders in the State, to forge a new front against insecurity in the state.
“In a bid to renew our efforts against insecurity, Oyo state has been working tireless against insecurity in recent times. We have purchased needed gadgets and vehicles for security agents in the State and we will do more.”
“However, we can not do it alone, we apparently need to change our strategies and work with you religious stakeholders in the state.”
“We are meeting christians and Christian body for a specific reason, which is to trigger a religious war against the devilish act of banditry, abduction and insecurity in the state.”
“This government seeks to secure the state from insecurity and we will do so regardless of the state of the nation.”
“And as we redouble our efforts, we will never allow insecurity to divide us— this is why we have engaged representatives of all religion in the State: Christian, Muslim and traditional worshippers.”
In his comment, Chairman, CAN, Oyo State chapter, Apostle (Col) Joshua Akinyemiju, said the body in partnership with the Chaplain of the state government house will commence a powerful intercession for the state.
“Yes, insecurity is not exclusive to Oyo State, but we believe as Christians, we will not give in. We will intensify our efforts to pull down the strong hold of the enemy,” he said.
The CAN Chairman, however, berated those promulgating falsehood that the state government has neglected Christian or Islamic bodies, rather seeking only traditional means.
“We are glad this meeting is coming up today. This strategy by the State Government is commendable and we thank the Government for inviting us,” he said.
Some Muslims and traditionalists on Monday traded blame over who provoked the first attack in an alleged religious crisis in Osogbo, Osun state capital leading to the death of an elderly Muslim worshipper.
The Missioner, Kamorudeen Society, Ustaz Qosim Yunus said a Masquerade and its supporters deliberately provoked worshippers during a prayer programme at the society’s Central Mosque at Oluode Aranyin and shot one Alhaji Moshood Salawudeen, an Iwo resident, who was at the mosque for the service.
Yunus added that 14 other persons sustained various degrees of injuries including gun shot and cutlass wounds, adding that one of the victims is in critical condition.
“Almost 3 hours into the prayer, commotion occured at the hitherto peaceful environment of the mosque. Alas, the society praying for peace ended up being causalities as the Masquerade and its supporters led by an Ifa Worshipper, who is also an APC stalwart in Osun state, Chief Kayode Idowu stormed the Mosque and unleashed mayhem on the Islamic Faithfuls leaving one person dead and scores injured with various degrees of gun wound, the mosque vandalised, vehicles destroyed and other properties of the society destroyed.
“The remains of the deceased, Alhaji Moshood Salawudeen is already deposited at the morgue of UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital and other people that are injured are presently receiving treatment at the hospital and Osogbo Central Hospital.
“Some of the victims presently at the hospital include; Abdul Jeleel, 12, Adebayo Awolesin, 15, Taofeek Fatai, 17, Malik Abdulkabir, 17, Quazeek Al-Ameen, 12, Quazeem Aseyori, 47, Ayuba Abdulhakeem, 60, Abdulsalam AbdRauf, 39, Ajagbe Ishaq, 37, Owolabi Maruf, 45, Risiqat Zakariyahu, 45, Isiaq Ibraheem, Yahaya, and Oladosu Halimat, 47”, he said.
Addressing a press conference at the Osun Corresponts’ Chapel in Oshogbo, Coalition of Muslim Rights Activists of Nigeria (COMRAN) gave government and police 72 hours to effect the arrest of the deity’s custodian, Kayode Esuleke and others involved in the killing of the deceased.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Abdulganiy Sahid also demanded that Government takes over the management of all the injured victims at the hospital, take care of the vandalized properties, saying failure to do so would force the group to demonstrate it constitutional capacity to defend and protect itself, as well as its property and interest.
However, Ifashola Esuleke, who escorted the masquerade said the procession was attacked by the Muslim worshippers, who attempted to unveil the deity.
He added that about five supporters of the masquerade were also injured during the crisis, including a youngboy that was stabbed in the stomach.
“We passed through the area peacefully to pray for a family member in the community and when we were returning, one of the worshippers, like it was their tradition, attempted to unveil the masquerade but was protected by its followers.
“Some of our people too were injured while those held hostage were later rescued by the Police and Agbekoya Association who escorted us to the area”, he added.
…we are making progress in dealing with insecurity ~Gov
… ‘govt’ll continue to collaborate with federal establishments’
Members of the National Assembly on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Oyo State, on Monday, passed a vote of confidence in Governor ‘Seyi Makinde, praising him for the unprecedented achievements of the government in the last two years.
They equally commended the efforts of the government in tackling the wave of insecurity in the state.
The senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Senator Kola Balogun, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues during a courtesy call to the governor in his office, said that the visit was meant to congratulate the governor on his tremendous achievements in the last two years in the state.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the senator as saying: “Your Excellency, on behalf of my colleagues from the National Assembly, we have come to officially pay this courtesy call, and to use the occasion to congratulate you on your tremendous achievements in the last two years as the governor of this pacesetter state.”
He explained that the present administration in Oyo State has moved the state forward in terms of performance ranking and surpassed the past administration in terms of regular payment of the salaries of the civil servants, teachers, pensioners as and when due; provision of instructional materials to schools and other infrastructural development in the state.
“I have the mandate of my colleagues and brothers to let you know that we are aware of what you have been doing and to congratulate you for it. We know that before you came into office, in this state, pensioners and teachers were not being paid as and when due. Instructional materials were not given to schools.
“So, with these efforts, you have been able to move Oyo State in terms of performance ranking, because we know that, going by the record, the last administration, in WAEC, was 26 or 28. That has improved a lot.
“This is because of your commitment and passion for developing the education system in Oyo State. After all, education is the foundational bedrock of human development. So, we commend your efforts in that regard,” Balogun said.
He added that the governor has been able to bridge the trust deficit between the people and the government, adding that Oyo State has turned to a sort of London where everywhere is lit, particularly the capital city.
Balogun assured the governor that the people of Oyo State will continue to support his administration and that those of them at the National Assembly will equally continue to make the government proud by complementing the efforts of the state government.
In his response, Governor Makinde explained that his administration is making progress everyday in dealing with insecurity in the state, saying that all hands must be on deck to secure lives and properties in the state.
He maintained that his administration would continue to collaborate with the federal establishment to find a lasting solution to the insecurity in the state, urging the federal lawmakers not to be far away from their constituencies, adding that he is looking forward to interacting with the Oyo State Caucus of the National Assembly.
He said: “I want to thank you, distinguished senator, and honorable members of the House of Representatives, for this visit. Next time, come with your APC colleagues so that we can share our thoughts also with them. We can share some of the things we are doing with them so that we can reduce the amount of misinformation going on.
“Yes, you all belong to the PDP but I always say that players will come and go but our state will remain.
“I especially want to thank you because it is not about party affiliation. But in terms of providing that bridge between the state government and the federal establishment, you have done very well. It is only PDP senators and House of Representatives members that I know are doing things to bridge that gap.
“You have the interest of our people at heart and I want to commend you and urge you to continue in that direction. For me, we will continue to provide the environment for our state to thrive. We will continue to cooperate and collaborate with the federal establishments.
“The issue that I know is a little bit touching is on security. I said last week that, even if you want to rule Oyo State in 2023, you don’t destroy the state you want to rule. It is very similar to somebody wanting to draw water from a well to drink and decided to, first of all, pollute the well. By the time you draw out the water, you are going to be drinking polluted water. “So, we should not destroy our state.”
Governor Makinde, who maintained that his government has been doing a lot to attract investments into the state, said: “We are doing a lot to attract investments into our state, expand our economy and we know that investments are cowards as they will only go to where they feel secure.
“So, if you are going out there to say our state is not secure; if you are telling the truth, we don’t have any problem with that. But when you go out there to blatantly peddle lies or you even go to the extent of doctoring videos to show the world that your state is not secure, you are damaging the state. Say things as they are, come to us to ask questions if things are not clear.
“We are dealing with the issue of insecurity in Oyo State and we are making progress. I can say that with all sense of seriousness and responsibility. And I want to plead with you, I may go out and take responsibility for the security situation in the state but the truth is we all have to take collective responsibility.
“We all have to play our own part – distinguished senator and honorable members, traditional rulers, the Mogajis, local vigilantes, voluntary policing sector, town unions and the rest – must play our part to secure our state. We don’t want to keep passing the buck and that is why I always claim responsibility. It is not because I am super-human but because I don’t want buck-passing. I want to be held accountable.
“We have to share the responsibility and that is the only time that we can beat our chest that the issue of insecurity in the state will be a thing of the past.
“When we came in, we strengthened all the things we met on the ground. We bought patrol vehicles for the SRS, Operation Burst, and others. There is no federal security agency that operates in the state that we have not done one thing or the other for them to be more effective.
“So, we are ready to cooperate with the federal agencies. And as you are there in Abuja as our representatives, please do more with the federal establishments. “We may be in opposition to the party in power at the federal level but we are not out to politicise the issue of insecurity. “We are ready to find a lasting solution to this problem. So, we are partners in progress.”
The governor, who stated that Nigerians are already waiting for the PDP to retake power at the centre, appreciated the lawmakers including Senator Balogun; House of Representatives members representing Ibadan North-East/South- East, Hon. Abass Adigun Agboworin; Ibarapa East/Ido, Hon. Adewale Oluyemi Taiwo; Ibadan North-West/South-West, Hon. Adedeji Stanley Olajide.
The Oyo State Post-Primary Teaching Service Commission TESCOM has today commenced the training of five thousand newly recruited teachers in the State.
The disclosure on the training was made known by the Chairman of the Commission, Pastor Akinade Alamu while briefing the press men during the induction of the teachers.
Pastor Alamu said, that examination malpractice in schools has been stamped out in the State, as the 5000 newly-recruited teachers and 700 were trained on working ethics and conducts among other areas, as part of induction exercise approved for the teachers.
He said this while declaring open a two-day Induction and Training Programme for the newly-recruited and converted teachers on Monday at Ansar-Deen Grammar School, Sango, Saki, Saki West Local Government.
Alamu stated that reports coming from the schools the newly-recruited teachers were posted showed that they have been performing more than expected, an achievement he attributed to the rigorous academic standards set for their recruitment.
Recall that about 400 of the applicants for the teaching appointment were first class graduates from universities in Nigeria, while the cut-off mark for selection of successful applicants was pegged at 50% (fifty percent).
“We have achieved what many administrations before the advent of Governor Seyi Makinde could not achieve, today I can tell you that apart from an upward curve in performance chat of our students in internal and external examinations, the evil effects of exams malpractice is no more, as we have stamped out the bad habit.
“This was achieved through the provision of required teaching and learning inputs and encouraging welfare package for the teachers, while students today have access to books, science equipments and good learning environment.
“The aim of this training is to ensure that students performance in WAEC and NECO examinations match government investment on education, we believe that in line with the national policy on education declaration 2006, which states that no education system can rise above the quality of teachers in the system.
“There is need to focus on teachers’ adequacy and competence since the success of students will always depend largely on the amount of learning that take place in the classrooms, I appeal to all participants to make the best use of the opportunity provided by this training exercise.”
The TESCOM Chairman informed the gathering that the State government has recently approved the establishment of four new zonal offices for the State, out of which two would be at the Oke-Ogun area of the State.
He added that the implication of the new zonal offices was that four new Permanent Secretaries would be appointed.
Also at the training was the Chairman, Saki West Local Government, Engr. Sarafadeen Omirinde, the Full-Time Member of Board of TESCOM, Alhaji Mudasiru Awujoola, Part-Time Board Member, Hon. Akeem Olalekan, representative of the State Chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), who is the Chairman Saki West NUT, Alhaji Mikhail Adedoyin and the Oke-Ogun Zone 1 Chairman of the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary School (ANCOPPS).
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