Oduduwa News

Governor of the State of Osun and member, All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Committee, Adegboyega Oyetola has stressed the need for leaders and members of the party to observe and respect party supremacy by subsuming self-interest under the larger party interest.

Oyetola also noted that leaders of the APC must commit to enforce the Constitution of the party to the letter, saying that this was necessary for the party to continue to be strong, enduring and vibrant.

He said these while delivering the Keynote Address at the stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Special Committee on the Review and Amendments of the APC Constitution in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Governor Oyetola charged the Prof. Tahir Mamman-led Committee to come up with amendments that would engender justice, equity, fairness and the rule of law.

According to him, the review and amendment of the party’s constitution is a welcome development and necessary addition to the ongoing nationwide registration/revalidation exercise of the party. He added that the two exercises are geared towards repositioning and re-engineering the party for greater heights.

Oke Ogun-born Civil Engineer, Olufemi Alao has highlighted some rudiments he learned from both parents and mentors which he referred to as the driving force to success.

Olufemi is the Managing Director of FBS Construction Engineering Services Limited, a company which he founded in 2001.

Speaking on the lessons he learnt from his parents and mentors, Engr. Olufemi reminisced on his childhood which he described as tough and filled with moments such as his mother having difficulty in paying for their school fee. 

He noted, however, that the lesson: that one should be generous, which he learnt from his mother has since been shaping his path for good. According to him, the culture of tithe giving is one great lesson he has learnt from his dad. 

On his life values, Engr. Olufemi pointed out that he loves doing things at the right time. For him, no space for procrastination.

He further said that individuals whose lives have been blessed beyond need, have a moral responsibility to help and uplift others in need as, according to him, whatever is given to you is not for you and your family alone.

Perhaps, the greatest of his life lessons are the ones he learnt from his mentors, particularly, Engr. Olumide, who instilled the values of self-belief in him. He learnt from Engr. Olumide that he could achieve anything he puts his heart into.

In closing, Engr. Olufemi who admonished everyone to uphold their good names urged every parent to lay good examples for their children as whatever they do today will always tell in posterity.

Engineer Olufemi hails from Kisi town in the Irepo Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Olajide Oduyoye, has condemned in strongest terms the senseless and unwarranted murder of an officer of the Agency, Obasu Segun Godwin and the assault on another officer, Adeniyi Hakeem, by the operator of a Suzuki commercial bus otherwise known as ‘korope’ and others at Anthony area of Lagos State on Tuesday, 16th March, 2021.

Oduyoye explained that Obasu Segun Godwin and Adeniyi Hakeem were attacked with machetes and other dangerous weapons by the driver of a commercial bus with registration number FKJ 452 YC, plying Bariga to Oshodi via the Ikorodu Road axis in cohort with some other drivers, after his vehicle was apprehended for contravening the Traffic Law of the State.

According to him, the sad fact about the whole saga was that the two officers were in mufti and on their way home, having completed their morning shift and closed for the day before the recalcitrant commercial bus drivers went berserk, seeking any LASTMA officers to attack for carrying out their statutory duties.

He said: “Obazu was struck severally with machetes resulting in deep lacerations on the head and his eventual death, while Adeniyi Hakeem, who was also attacked in a similar fashion has been hospitalised and in a coma”.

While noting that some senior officers, who were also in mufti and around the area were lucky to escape the mob attack, the General Manager warned all cultists doubling as commercial bus drivers that any traffic violation or infraction shall be punished or penalised as enacted by the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Oduyoye noted that seven of the culprits have been caught and handed over to the police while the driver of the bus and others are still at large, assuring that the police would conduct a proper investigation, just as the full wrath of the law would be brought to bear on all those found guilty of taking laws into their hands.

The LASTMA Director of Operations, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba maintained that this is a very sad event that could have been averted, stressing that the unfortunate incident would not deter the agency from carrying out its functions and duties as laid down by the Law of the State.

Commiserating with the family of the deceased officer, Oreagba lamented that the State and the agency have lost too many good law enforcement officers to these lawless and recalcitrant motorists, assuring that the severely injured officer, who is still in a coma at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, is well taken care of.

The parents of the boy allegedly chased to death by a team of security personnel have lauded the Osun Government for endorsing the report of the Criminal Investigation Department revealing the names and other identities of the alleged officers involved in the murder of their child, Idris Ajibola.

The parents made the commendation at the resumed hearing of the Osun Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality Human Rights Violations and Related Extra Judicial Killings on Thursday.

The parents said the revelation of the identities of the alleged erring officers by the government through the Criminal Investigation Department was an indication that the government is a lover of justice and a clear justification of their request for the payment of a sum of N5billion as compensation.

This is even as the Counsel for the petitioners, Barrister Kanmi Ajibola, after the presentation of his final written address for adoption, lauded the panel’s formation and expressed confidence in its ability to dispense justice.

The names of the security personnel in the Joint Task Force (JTF) vehicle that allegedly chased and killed the deceased as revealed by the Criminal Investigation Department are Ejigbo Audu (NPF); Benjamin Ogunsesan (NPF); Jekayinfa Olutosin (NSCDC); Raji Adewale (SSS) and Hammed Yusuf (NAF).

The names of the officers were made public for proper disciplinary actions in their respective Commands.

The late Idris Ajibola alongside his friends were on 15th December, 2020 allegedly chased, leading to the subsequent death of the deceased by a team of security personnel.

Presenting his final written address in the case to the panel, the petitioners’ counsel, Barrister Kanmi Ajibola, argued that the alleged unlawful act perpetrated by the subjects of the Respondent by chasing the late Idris Ajibola to death, causing his parents an irreparable loss, was contrary to Paragraph 33 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

According to him, the said Paragraph of the Constitution provides that, “Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria.”

He submitted that his clients were entitled to compensation as enshrined in Section 35 (6) of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulates that, “Any person who is unlawfully arrested or detained shall be entitled to compensation and public apology from the appropriate authority or person.”

Barrister Ajibola who described the steps taken by the government to unveil the identity of the occupants of the JTF vehicle that allegedly chased the deceased to death as commendable, said the action has further informed the petitioners the need to pursue the case to finality by ensuring that whoever is found culpable is dealt with in accordance with the Constitution.

He commended government for not covering up the matter after the names of the officers were made known by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Nigeria Police Force assigned to investigate the matter.

Addressing journalists after the closure of their cases, mother of the deceased, Mrs. Titilayo Ajibola, commended the State government for unveiling the identities of the officers who were in the security vehicle that chased her son to death.

Mrs. Ajibola said the unveiling of the identities of the alleged erring officers was an indication of the fact that their case before the panel was genuine.

The petitioner who was accompanied by her husband and other members of the family said the request for the sum of N5billion compensation was to cushion the trauma experienced from the incident as the deceased was the only male child of the family.

A copy of the police investigation report forwarded by the government indicated that the incident that claimed the life of one Idris Ajibola (male), 17 years old, among the four occupants of the Toyota Corrola Sallon vehicle number ABUJA KUJ 553 LY, was assigned to State Criminal Investigation Department, Nigeria Police Force, Osogbo for discreet investigation and report.

“Consequent upon the investigation, the following: Ejigbo Audu (NPF); Benjamin Ogunsesan (NPF); Jekayinfa Olutosin (NSCDC); Raji Adewale (SSS); and Hammed Yusuf (NAF), who occupied the JTF patrol team 004 surveillance patrol vehicle on the fateful day of the accident, 15th September, 2020 have been recommended for withdrawal from the Joint Task Force (JTF) and to face departmental disciplinary action in their various commands,” the report reads in parts.

The panel, led by its Chairman, Justice Akin Oladimeji (rtd.), adopted the final written address forwarded by the petitioners’ counsel for recommendation to the government for appropriate compensation.

The panel also heard and adjourned the petitions filed by Mr. Elusanmi Kolawole versus Osun Commissioner of Police; Mrs Oluwatoyin Adetona versus Osun Commissioner of Police; Alhaji Adanku Oyinlola versus Osun Commissioner of Police and Mr. Taiwo Daniel versus Osun Commissioner of Police. All of the petitions have been slated for further hearing.

A chieftain of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) suspected to be involved in the gruesome killing of Dr. Fatai Aborode has been arrested by the Oyo State Police Command on Thursday.

The suspect, pa Olawuwo is said to be detained at Dugbe Police Division.

Meanwhile, local party chairmen from Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North LGAs, Alhaji Yisau Tapa, former caretaker chairman Iliasu Ololade as well as Mr Obey from Igboora were spotted at the police station.

More details to be communicated shortly.

Violence erupted yesterday at the Baptist Secondary School, Surulere, Ilorin, Kwara State over the refusal of the school authorities to allow female Muslim students to use hijab. Parents of the students engaged the school authorities in a hot argument which resulted into a stone-throwing contest between Christians and Muslims. Meanwhile the Nigerian Islamic human rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on stakeholders to call the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to order.

MURIC’s statement position was revealed in a statement issued by the director of the human rights group, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

“We are perturbed that people who claim to be civilised are disrespecting the rule of law. CAN is to blame for all these. CAN was the one that called on its members to occupy that school. Fortunately the ugly scene only played out in one out of ten schools. But it is a big shame that in 21st century Kwara, CAN is turning its members against democratic norms, against the rule of law.

“Both the Ilorin High Court and the Court of Appeal have ruled in favour of hijab. It is therefore illegal, illegitimate, unlawful and unconstitutional for CAN to insist that its members should not obey the courts and that the schools should not allow female Muslim students to use the hijab or even enter the school premises. It is the height of lawlessness.

“We assert that CAN should be held responsible for whatever happens in those schools. We wonder why the Nigerian civil society is silent over this open rape on the rule of law. Is it because Muslims are at the receiving end? Is it because the Christian leadership is the culprit? We reject selective justice. Those who are most vehement when democracy is in jeopardy must also speak up when any principle of democracy is under threat. Refusal to obey court order is a flagrant confrontation of democracy and a threat to good governance, law and order and peaceful coexistence. Or is CAN above the law?

“It is unfortunate that CAN has failed to learn from history. The latest order given to Christian students to wear strange garments like church choir and masquerade dresses to school will fail woefully just as it did in Osun State. For how long can Christian students wear choir dresses to school. We will see who blinks first. Truth will always overwhelm falsehood and darkness must disappear when light comes.

“We invite all right-thinking Nigerians to take a critical look at the game playing out in Kwara State. It is a well-known fact in modern society that any group that flouts court pronouncement is inviting chaos. This is exactly what CAN is doing in Kwara State. We therefore call on stakeholders to call CAN to order.

“MURIC warns the Kwara State Government (KWSG) against compromising its authority over this issue. Any attempt by KWSG to spoon-feed CAN or to sweep the right of the Muslim girl-child to wear hijab under the carpet will be resisted by the Muslim community. The law is on our side. On hijab we stand. There will be no retreat, no surrender.”

Igboho made the declaration while speaking in Ibadan on Wednesday. In a video of the event that has gone viral, Igboho said all the borders will be opened, while lamenting that major institutions in the south-west are headed by people of Fulani origin.

There is no evidence to substantiate this clam.

The youth leader came to prominence after he issued an eviction notice to herders in Ibarapa area of Oyo state. He also forced Seriki Saliu Abdulkadri, Fulani leader in Igangan, to leave the town and relocate to the north.Advertisement

“We no longer have peace in our home. We have a good country but our leaders are bad. We don’t want them again,” he said.

“After this discussion, we will hold meeting and open our borders so that rice, food and other things can enter easily. Enough is enough. All our borders that Nigerian government closed, we are telling them we are no longer under them, we will go and open the borders.

“We are ready for everything they want to do to us. I am speaking on behalf of Yoruba people.”Advertisement

The youth leader said the Yoruba are now united and with traditional rulers backing them. He also dared any traditional ruler that is against his own people to declare it publicly.

“Some people can say that Yorubas are not united, we are united. If you want to know how united we are, touch one of us, you will know that all Yoruba kings are behind us,” he added.

Igboho also asked the Yoruba in the north to return home and end their ”suffering”.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assured the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) that the State Government would continue to collaborate with it to address the scourge of drug crisis in Nigeria.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), at the Lagos House, Marina, Governor Sanwo-Olu said his administration has put in place some measures, among which is building a full-fledge mental health rehabilitation hospital to tackle drug crisis in the State.

He said: “Indeed we know that drug abuse is prevalent in our society in all forms and shape. For us as a government, it is not something we are sweeping under the carpet. We are not denying that it is there. Part of the things we are doing to tackle it is to ensure that we have functional and working rehabilitation centres and we are equipping them to identify real caregivers that will take victims through rehabilitation process.

“Beyond that, we are actually building a full-fledged mental health rehabilitation hospital at Ketu-Ejinrin in Lagos East Senatorial District. This we believe will not only have almost 500 beds but will also have a required expertise, medical and all of the complements to ensure that different categories of treatments required are available.

“We will collaborate with different commands of NDLEA in Lagos. We will try and strengthen our level of relationships for quicker response. All of us need to have a strong advocacy; parents, religious and traditional leaders need to be true to themselves and let us know that, it is only when we speak about it that we can indeed get proper solutions.

“We will not condone criminality coming out of this because that also portends a great danger to law abiding citizens. So, we need to define clearly between people that are just abusing it and people that are criminalizing it, and be able to deal with them accordingly.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu also assured Marwa, who was a former Military Administrator of Lagos State that his administration will continue to raise the bar of governance in the State.

“I want to welcome you and your team back home. On behalf of the people of Lagos State, we thank you for the blue print and all the innovative ideas as one-time Military Administrator in this State and for all the numerous and very laudable initiatives that you set up; that is what some of us are building on today and we certainly cannot thank you enough. We assure you that certainly we will not relent on our oars; we will continue to raise the bar of governance and make you proud,”

Speaking earlier, Marwa, who commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration for the efforts being made to address drug abuse in the State, called for integrity drug test for students and politicians, especially those contesting for public offices, noting that “running for public offices is a big responsibility. You shouldn’t be in this important assignment for the public and your head is filled up because of drugs.”

He said: “The drug scourge is now an epidemic in Nigeria. The prevalence is 15 per cent; three times the global average. One in seven Nigerians takes drugs. We have found out that there is nexus between drug use and crime.

“We know and commend Governor Sanwo-Olu for the efforts being made on the issue of drug abuse in the State. Lagos is first in Nigeria in some of the innovative ways. So, we felt that Lagos can show the way first with the integrity drug test for students because it is our youths that are affected mostly. So, students, especially those in tertiary institutions should do drug tests.”

Marwa also commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for providing effective leadership in Lagos State and for managing COVID-19 in the State.

“I want to use this opportunity to commend you for the excellent manner that you are running the affairs of the State. Quite a complex assignment and you are doing very well. In fact, it is because of your proactive nature on COVID matter that we are here today.

“In Nigeria, it would have been far worse but you picked it up with both hands and dealt with it and now, we are all benefitting in the country. We are grateful for this foresight,” the ex-Military Administrator of Lagos State declared.

Following the flag off of the General Gas, Akobo Ibadan flyover by Governor Seyi Makinde, the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly , Hon Adebo Ogundoyin has lauded the Governor for his resolve to improve infrastructure and boost the economy of the State.

The Speaker in a statement shortly after the ceremony said the flag off was another milestone by the present administration.

The Speaker expressed optimism that the new Contractor handling the project , Messr Peculiar Ultimate would speed up work on the flyover and execute its to specifications.

According to Hon Ogundoyin, when completed residents, commuters and motorists will heave a sigh of relief from traffic congestion and gridlock which has become the hallmark of the area.

” This is really commendable. Through flyovers, plenty of time is saved, pollution effect and risk of accident are reduced while the aesthetic value of the area the flyover is located is enhanced. It is my firm believe that the project will be completed in 6months as specified.”

” Though the project was started by the last administration, Government is a continuum hence the present administration is ready to complete it to taste to enable our people to enjoy free flow of traffic in and around Bashorun, General Gas, Akobo Ojurin and other adjoining roads ” Oyo Speaker said.