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Oyo Govt debunks rumour of robbery incident in Oyo’s SSG office

The government of Oyo State has clarified as Fake News, a report circulated online by Mega Icon News and Sahara Reporters, which indicated that the office of the Secretary to the State Government was burgled last week.

The government equally insisted that newsmen must always seek clarifications from requisite authorities to avoid the allure of Fake News.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, stated on Saturday that there was no iota of truth to the claim in the story.

Checks with all arms of security at the secretariat confirmed that the story was fake, unfounded and indeed an outright lie, the statement said.

“Indeed, the original publisher of the story, Mega Icon, was so mischievous that he didn’t crosscheck the purported story with any government official. He only added a line debunking the story after an official of the SSG had questioned the veracity of the fake report.

“He had claimed to an official of the government that he had to publish the fake news because he was once shunned by officials of the Ministry of Agriculture.

“Surprisingly, Sahara Reporters lapped up the Fake News, an indication that the integrity of the media houses is at stake.

“The story not only failed the simplest tests that news men worth their onion subject news stories to, it raised all the red flags of Fake News, as it claimed that no arrest had been made without stating which police station the alleged burglary was reported to and by whom.

“The Fake News had also gone ahead to state that imaginary valuables were carted away without stating what and what was stolen. Sadly, the purveyors of the Fake News have also let down their readers by not being able to provide further details days after publishing the initial lie.”

The government warned media men to always ensure professionalism in the discharge of their duties, stating that responsible and ethical journalism espouses truth and the sanctity of facts above fiction.

It added that anyone who deliberately publicises fake and concocted stories would be made to face the wrath of the law, as there are constitutional stipulations that guide against publication of falsehood.

“We find it appalling that a media house worth its name would publish a story that has no basis and is not in any way close to reality.

“In fact, we can no longer doubt the fact that the purveyors of this Fake News are out to blackmail the government in an attempt to rubbish the initiatives of the administration in the security sector.

“We want to, however, state categorically that the state will ensure no offender goes unpunished, as there are constitutional provisions against the publication of falsehood by the press despite the fundamental freedom of expression, because the administration can no longer condone the excesses of the Fake News carriers.”

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APC will fulfill its campaign promises – Lagos Speaker

Mr Mudashiru Obasa, the Speaker of Lagos State Assembly has vowed that the All Progressives Congress APC will do its best to ensure that Lagosians enjoy dividends of democracy.

According to a statement titled ‘We’ll Sustain Growth, Unity in Lagos APC – Obasa,’ the speaker made the promise when he received the APC Women in Barracks (Lagos West branch) who paid him an end-of-year visit.

The women, led by Mrs. V. Ayadi, from Ikeja Cantonment, and Sunny Orbunde, a youth leader, had sought for more recognition beyond elections, as well as jobs for their wards.

Obasa, in his response, urged the APC women to consider whatever they do as being in the interest and for the success of the party. He also promised to inform Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu that the group existed within the APC.

He was quoted as saying, “I am sure everyone has a willingness to be good and do good, but sometimes, challenges that we do not see or envisage do not give us the opportunity to meet our overall desires. But we will continue to do the best we can, reach out to as many people as we humanly can and ensure that Lagosians enjoy democratic dividends.

“As a party, we will make sure we do everything to appease you (APC women) and work to make sure we deliver the dividends of democracy. So, you just have to bear with us and endure. You are working for the party and we know your importance.

“Since this relationship has been established, I know we may not be able to meet all the time, but once in a while, we would. You can always invite us to join your activities and if you have important information and ideas to share with us, please do not hesitate.”

On employment, the speaker noted that the government could not provide all the jobs needed by residents of the state.

He, however, noted that the government has a duty to provide the environment for jobs and urged parents to encourage their wards to equip themselves with alternatives in the form of trades and vocations.

According to him, the skills will make them hard-working, self-sufficient and less drawn to white-collar jobs, which had no guarantee.

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#RevolutionNow: Sowore, others arrested for staging ‘crossover protest’ in Abuja

Human rights activist and presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections on the platform of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore and other protesters were, on December 31, arrested by the police in Abuja as they staged a procession to herald in the New Year.

According to one of the protesters, Sowore, who is also the publisher of Sahara Reporters and a staunch critic of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, was arrested by police officers who stormed the Gudu Junction area in the FCT.

The witness said the police fired teargas canisters and shot into the air to disperse the crossover procession, and arrested Sowore along with other activists from the location.

The protesters were later taken to Abattoir Police Station of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit in Abuja where they were detained.

“We were at the Gudu Junction on a procession to usher in the New Year as well as tell Buhari that he should sit up and do well in 2021,” the protester who claimed he managed to escape said.

“We were on a peaceful procession but the police came and fired teargas and live bullets into the air to disperse us.

“Sowore, Sanyaolu Juwon, Michael and two others were arrested and taken to the Abattoir Police Station where they are being detained.

“While trying to arrest Sowore, the police injured him in the leg and even though he was bleeding profusely, they still took him away and detained him without caring to give him first aid.

“Sowore was particularly singled out for torture by the police who kept saying he wants to overthrow Buhari. They beat him up, gave him a bloodied nose, before whisking him away.”

In the evening of Thursday, December 31, Sowore had taken to his Twitter handle where he wrote:

“How about a crossover protest/uprising tonight? Anyone willing to participate?

“Pick up a candle and a placard showing your grievances against the regime; let’s upload our short videos and photos across our social media platforms. Let’s welcome the regime to a resolute 2021!

‪”#CrossoverWithProtest against tyrant ‬@mbuhari’s regime, candlelight for #LekkiMassacre; a placard for #EndBadGovernment; procession to usher in #Revolutionary 2021, a fist for victims of repression-frozen bank accounts, malicious prosecution and detention of #Endsars.”

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Prize money, kits donated to participants as Dele Adeola football final holds in Iseyin

Hon. Dele Adeola, member representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju State Constituency yesterday held the grand finale of his football competition.

The football competition which started early this year was abruptly suspended due to the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic but later resumed again immediately the FG and State Government eased the lockdown.

The football competition had no fewer than 13 communities as participants that constitute Iseyin/Itesiwaju State Constituency.

According to the organizer of the competition, Hon. Dele Adeola said, the football competition was organized to foster love, peace and harmony among various communities in his constituency.

Adeola while speaking to the crew of ODUDUWA NEWS at the event appreciated the organizing committee for their steadfastness and dedication towards making the day a reality.

He expressed his profound gratitude to the chairmen of both Iseyin Central LG and Araromi LCDA, the duo of Hon. Mufutau Abilawon and Hon. Timothy Ogunleke as well as all other stakeholders that contributed to the success of the football competition.

The final football competition was held between Golden Boys FC of Ado-Awaye and Super JET FC of Iseyin at ATORI Stadium, Iseyin.

Super JET FC of Iseyin defeated Golden Boys FC of Ado-Awaye with one to nil in the tournament that lasted for 90 minutes.

Adeola while appreciating the participants at the tournament donated football kits to all teams in all the communities that pertook in the competition.

He however donated cash prize and handed over a medal cup to Super JET FC being the winner of the tournament. Cash prize was also given to 1st runner up as well as 2nd runner up.

The tournament came to an end at exactly 6pm.

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Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu felicitates Nigerians on New Year 2021

The Executive Governor of Ondo State, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has joined his colleagues to felicitate citizens, indigenes and people of Nigeria on the New Year.

In his short message to Nigerians, he prayed for better days and wished everyone a happy celebration.

He pledged to continue to uphold the trust reposed on him by the people by following his campaign promises and completing all ongoing projects in the State.

The Governor also assured citizens of the State of continuous support for the people’s interest and work towards achieving sustainable development for the State.

He noted that his visions and dreams for a greater Ondo State is still on and will work hard to meet up with all the set goals for the State.

“We will see to the realization of a new and better Ondo State”, he added.

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2020 came with challenges but we have to renew hopes for a better new year 2021 – Gov. Dapo Abiodun

The Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun has extended his new year felicitation message to the people of Ogun State.

This was contained in a statement personally released by him today via his Official Twitter handle which reads in part:

“The past year came with its own challenges, but we are grateful we have renewed hopes for a better New Year 2021.

“The Ogun State Government remains committed to good governance and productive investments in critical sectors.

“Our gratitude to God and people is especially because of the many achievements we recorded in the past year, all of which have earned us awards of excellence in education, agriculture, affordable housing, security and ICT.

“All these couldn’t have been possible without the special grace of God and your sustained support, both of which we need to recover and sustain our collective place of pride in the prosperous New Year.

“The Ogun State Government, my family and I wish you and your loved ones a Happy New Year”.

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OPINION: The Looting of Public Food Warehouses and Consensus Crimes! – Dr. Misbau Lateef

As a fallout of the legitimate #ENDSARSNOW protests and their subsequent degeneration into disturbances, anarchy (leading to arsons and jungle justice acts of murder), and then the unfortunate state-violence leading to murder of citizens by security agents in different places, we have also seen a sudden rise in the alarming discoveries of “food banks” leading to spate of looting of public warehouses and stores across different States in the South of Nigeria. The unfortunate events of the past weeks, particularly the latest criminal acts of looting of food items and other supplies carefully stockpiled in different public warehouses, have helped to further expose the fragility of the Nigerian State and the tensed situation between the few haves and the multitudes of have-nots in the society. Put differently, these events have removed all doubts about the level of discontents in the land from the poverty stricken masses who are in the majority and against the few elites feeding fat on the commonwealth.

To be sure, the spate of looting of the supposed COVID-19 palliatives from different public warehouses and stores across different States in Nigeria is nothing but acts of criminality that could well earn the perpetrators some terms of imprisonment under the criminal laws of the affected States. However, the kind of “public” support and applause that the acts of criminality (looting of public warehouses) have enjoyed appear to have overwhelmed the States to submission, thereby frustrating the capacity of the States to either resist the crimes or apprehend the perpetrators. In fact, the States have become helpless.

But why have the people been so emboldened to commit these crimes of looting the public warehouses of food items? Why have the people been so brazen to cart away food items and other supplies as we have seen in different videos? Why have those in governments decided to keep and failed to share the palliatives weeks after they received and warehoused them? Why have the bureaucracies of distribution of the palliatives taken so long even as the targeted or supposed beneficiaries were/are dying of hunger? Are the people justified to commit the crimes of looting of the food items? Clearly, there are more questions as there are answers.

One of the immediate answers to the above last question on whether or not the people are justified to commit the crimes, is to attribute the acts of criminality here to the unpardonable level of poverty in the land. Yes, poverty in the land is a plausible explanation here, but this explanation itself poses another question of whether or not poverty is enough to justify the acts of criminality or any criminality at all. The answer to this latter question requires a value judgement that is neither here nor there. This value judgement criminologists have tried to explain by their classification and explanation of crimes.

Therefore, in the sociological study of crimes and acts of defiance in the society, certain social structural factors such as poverty and social disorganisation can validly explain, if not justify, the incidences of some crimes called consensus crimes. These are crimes that almost everyone is defiant to their legal consequences. People simply deviate from the norm almost spontaneously. They are the sort of crimes which evoke near-unanimous public agreement. Such crimes are so classified because of their perceived non-severe harmfulness, the degree of consensus concerning the norms violated or deviated from, and the severity of the response to them. For example, does the Nigerian populace of the common folks see the looting of the warehouses of food supplies as something reprehensible or severe or harmful to anyone or the public? No. Does that make the looting non-criminal acts? No.

So, given the level of support and seeming consensus from the public, can the ongoing looting spree across different public warehouses in some States be regarded as consensus crimes? I think YES! For clarity, arson, murders and like crimes that we have equally seen in the recent time DO NOT fit into the ball of what sociologists and criminologists call consensus crimes. Crimes such as arson, murders, and the likes are generally regarded as morally intolerable, injurious, severe, and subject to harsh penalties. Looting of public warehouses for foods by hungry or desperate or angry members of the public, on the other hands, will definitely be viewed as more tolerable and less harmful – if harmful at all, than destruction of public properties by the same people.

This then brings me to my last question. Will the States at some auspicious time in the nearest future go after the perpetrators of the acts of criminality (looting of public warehouses) in order to serve as a deterrence to others in the future? I don’t think so. While it is necessary that States take steps to enforce their laws and punish acts of criminality to deter others, I do not think the States will be justified at this time and in the present circumstances to take that routes with respect to the looting of the public warehouses of food items by hungry and justifiably angry people.

Why do I think so? Because I am convinced that the looting of those public warehouses are consensus crimes as I have explained above. I am not in the least justifying the acts of criminality. I am simply explaining them. The States should just move on and learn lessons to prevent future occurrences that could be worse than we have witnessed at this time. How many people can the States prosecute in the circumstances of the consensus crimes that we are seeing now?

Going forward, the States should just take definite steps to bridge the widening gap between the haves and the have-nots. The States should make efforts to pull down every factors of DELAY in the bureaucracies of supporting the poor and the needy. As a matter of fact, I do not think any public support that is worthy of being called palliatives should take more than 78hrs between the time of receipt and distribution to the rightful beneficiaries.

Why stockpiling food items and allowing the bureaucracies of delay in their distribution to the beneficiaries, in the midst of palpable poverty side by side with opulence in the land? Why????

The Looting of Public Food Warehouses and Consensus Crimes!

As a fallout of the legitimate #ENDSARSNOW protests and their subsequent degeneration into disturbances, anarchy (leading to arsons and jungle justice acts of murder), and then the unfortunate state-violence leading to murder of citizens by security agents in different places, we have also seen a sudden rise in the alarming discoveries of “food banks” leading to spate of looting of public warehouses and stores across different States in the South of Nigeria. The unfortunate events of the past weeks, particularly the latest criminal acts of looting of food items and other supplies carefully stockpiled in different public warehouses, have helped to further expose the fragility of the Nigerian State and the tensed situation between the few haves and the multitudes of have-nots in the society. Put differently, these events have removed all doubts about the level of discontents in the land from the poverty stricken masses who are in the majority and against the few elites feeding fat on the commonwealth.

To be sure, the spate of looting of the supposed COVID-19 palliatives from different public warehouses and stores across different States in Nigeria is nothing but acts of criminality that could well earn the perpetrators some terms of imprisonment under the criminal laws of the affected States. However, the kind of “public” support and applause that the acts of criminality (looting of public warehouses) have enjoyed appear to have overwhelmed the States to submission, thereby frustrating the capacity of the States to either resist the crimes or apprehend the perpetrators. In fact, the States have become helpless.

But why have the people been so emboldened to commit these crimes of looting the public warehouses of food items? Why have the people been so brazen to cart away food items and other supplies as we have seen in different videos? Why have those in governments decided to keep and failed to share the palliatives weeks after they received and warehoused them? Why have the bureaucracies of distribution of the palliatives taken so long even as the targeted or supposed beneficiaries were/are dying of hunger? Are the people justified to commit the crimes of looting of the food items? Clearly, there are more questions as there are answers.

One of the immediate answers to the above last question on whether or not the people are justified to commit the crimes, is to attribute the acts of criminality here to the unpardonable level of poverty in the land. Yes, poverty in the land is a plausible explanation here, but this explanation itself poses another question of whether or not poverty is enough to justify the acts of criminality or any criminality at all. The answer to this latter question requires a value judgement that is neither here nor there. This value judgement criminologists have tried to explain by their classification and explanation of crimes.

Therefore, in the sociological study of crimes and acts of defiance in the society, certain social structural factors such as poverty and social disorganisation can validly explain, if not justify, the incidences of some crimes called consensus crimes. These are crimes that almost everyone is defiant to their legal consequences. People simply deviate from the norm almost spontaneously. They are the sort of crimes which evoke near-unanimous public agreement. Such crimes are so classified because of their perceived non-severe harmfulness, the degree of consensus concerning the norms violated or deviated from, and the severity of the response to them. For example, does the Nigerian populace of the common folks see the looting of the warehouses of food supplies as something reprehensible or severe or harmful to anyone or the public? No. Does that make the looting non-criminal acts? No.

So, given the level of support and seeming consensus from the public, can the ongoing looting spree across different public warehouses in some States be regarded as consensus crimes? I think YES! For clarity, arson, murders and like crimes that we have equally seen in the recent time DO NOT fit into the ball of what sociologists and criminologists call consensus crimes. Crimes such as arson, murders, and the likes are generally regarded as morally intolerable, injurious, severe, and subject to harsh penalties. Looting of public warehouses for foods by hungry or desperate or angry members of the public, on the other hands, will definitely be viewed as more tolerable and less harmful – if harmful at all, than destruction of public properties by the same people.

This then brings me to my last question. Will the States at some auspicious time in the nearest future go after the perpetrators of the acts of criminality (looting of public warehouses) in order to serve as a deterrence to others in the future? I don’t think so. While it is necessary that States take steps to enforce their laws and punish acts of criminality to deter others, I do not think the States will be justified at this time and in the present circumstances to take that routes with respect to the looting of the public warehouses of food items by hungry and justifiably angry people.

Why do I think so? Because I am convinced that the looting of those public warehouses are consensus crimes as I have explained above. I am not in the least justifying the acts of criminality. I am simply explaining them. The States should just move on and learn lessons to prevent future occurrences that could be worse than we have witnessed at this time. How many people can the States prosecute in the circumstances of the consensus crimes that we are seeing now?

Going forward, the States should just take definite steps to bridge the widening gap between the haves and the have-nots. The States should make efforts to pull down every factors of DELAY in the bureaucracies of supporting the poor and the needy. As a matter of fact, I do not think any public support that is worthy of being called palliatives should take more than 78hrs between the time of receipt and distribution to the rightful beneficiaries.

Why stockpiling food items and allowing the bureaucracies of delay in their distribution to the beneficiaries, in the midst of palpable poverty side by side with opulence in the land? Why????

Misbau Alamu LATEEF, Ph.D.

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Unemployment: We will engage youths through direct labour system, says Makinde

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, on Friday, said that his administration would address the growing youth unemployment in the state by engaging a teeming number of them through a direct labour system for public works and infrastructure.

“This step, he noted, will reduce the number of unemployed youths and keep them occupied and able to make ends meet.

The governor stated this while inspecting an ongoing road project at Jankata-Benbo-Apata Road, via Akala Express, Ibadan, saying the government needs to engage the youths, as, according to him, an idle hand is a devil’s workshop.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the governor made the position against the backdrop of youth restiveness in the last few days, stating that his government has heard the youths and that it will design a sustainable way to engage them so as to make them self-reliant.

He said: “Well, I will still say to the people of Oyo State that we have listened to the youths. We are designing a sustainable way to engage them, because I will continue to say that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. We have to engage our youths. We will design means.

“One of the things we are currently considering is a direct labour agency that can absorb some of the youths, even if it is just for fixing our roads, putting our drainages in place. We just have to engage them one way or the other.

“Also, from the agriculture standpoint, we want as many of them as possible to be attracted to agribusiness.”

While inspecting the road, which has been abandoned since 2011, but was re-started by his administration, Governor Makinde said that the road is quite strategic, adding that when it is completed, it will help to decongest roads and ease vehicular movement in the areas.

He added that despite the fact that the contractor handling the road has not been mobilized, he has demonstrated the readiness to do the work.

The governor said: “This project has been abandoned since 2011. It was started during Governor [Adebayo] Alao-Akala’s time and it is very strategic, because people going to Lagos from Abeokuta and vice-versa, can bypass Ring Road.

“If you are coming from Lagos and you want to go to Apata, you also don’t need to go through Ring Road anymore if this road is completed.

“The contractor has mobilised but we are still putting together the paper works for their payment. But, at least, even without payment, they have demonstrated readiness to do the work. I think we are on course with that road project,” he added.

Addressing the pockets of violence and youth restiveness in some parts of Ibadan, the state capital, in the last few days, Governor Makinde stated that the situation has been brought under control, saying that things had become better as people could move peacefully and do their business activities without any hindrance.

“Things are getting better. We passed through Beere, Yemetu, Challenge and we saw that people were just eager to carry on with their lives and go on with their business activities. I believe we are doing better,” he said.

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#EndSARS: Akeredolu orders closure of schools in Ondo State

Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has directed that all schools that resumed on Monday 19th October 2020 are closed for the meantime because of the engulfing nationwide protest and the need to ensure safety of students and staff.

This was made known today via his official Twitter handle.

He directed Parents and the public to take note the directive and all schools should comply with immediate effect.

He said, any inconvenience the recent decision might have caused is regretted,while the State Government would ensure resumption of our schools as soon as possible.

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