Oduduwa News

The governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde has embarked on inspection on some ongoing projects in the State.

Earlier yesterday, the governor inspected two ongoing projects: the reconstruction of the 21km Airport-Ajia-New Ife Express Road with a spur to Amuloko and the remodelling of the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, both of which were flagged off recently.

The governor while addressing the newsmen after the inspection said both the projects are proceeding at a good pace and that he was satisfied with the quality of work being done.

He however promised the people of Oyo State that he would leave no stone unturned until all abandoned projects left behind by the last administration are completed within a short period of time.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Monday commended the State Judiciary for rising up to the challenges posed by COVID-19 in the justice sector.

Sanwo-Olu gave the commendation in his address at a church service held at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos to mark the commencement of the Lagos State Judiciary 2020/2021 Legal Year.

The Governor, who was represented at the service by his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, noted that despite the disruptive impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, the State judiciary continued to dispense justice through innovative measures.

He said “I want to particularly commend the State judiciary for rising up to the challenge in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. The courts continued to dispense justice in very innovative ways despite the ravaging impact of the pandemic. This is a testament of the commitment by our judges and magistrates to the effective and efficient dispensation of Justice”.

In his remarks, the Chief Judge, Justice Kareem Alogba, pledged that Judges and Magistrates of the State Judiciary will continue to dispense justice without fear or favour and in accordance with the law.

“We judges and magistrates in Lagos judiciary have always followed the path of God and will always apply the law as it is and dispense justice to the best of our ability. May the Lord lead us on the path of integrity and lead us aright”, he said.

Alogba sought the cooperation of his colleagues, management staff, stakeholders and members of the bar to ensure effective service delivery in the State, assuring the public that justice will be served as and when due.

In his sermon, the Diocesan Bishop of Lagos, Rt. Rev. Humphrey Olumakaiye admonished judges and magistrates to continue to uphold righteousness and justice while overseeing disputes brought before them.

Bishop Olumakaiye remarked that the judiciary has a role to play in salvaging Nigeria from the ills that have besieged the country and, therefore, must live up to its mandate of upholding justice at all times.

In his words: “You need to show that Justice is about the people and not about you. Justice and righteousness are closely linked and complement each other. You must not allow your moral integrity to be compromised”.

“To salvage this country which has been besieged by many ills, such as insurgency, kidnapping, corruption, armed robbery, child abuse and others, it is vital that you are upright and live a righteous life. You must serve God and mankind by upholding justice at all times”, he added.

Earlier at the Special Service held at the Central Mosque Lagos to herald the New Legal Year 2020/2021 of the Lagos State Judiciary, the Chief Imam of Oluwole-Ogba, Imam Sa’adallah Bella, who delivered the lecture, admonished judges and lawyers to be honest and truthful when discharging their duties, saying there can be no peace in the country if the people lose faith in the judiciary.

He said, “The judiciary is the pillar upon which the country stands, if it is shaken the country will collapse”.

The Grand Chief Imam of Lagos State, Sheik Sulaimon Abu-Nollah, in his supplication at the event, prayed that Allah, in his infinite mercy, grant Judges and Magistrates in the State the wisdom needed to dispense justice fairly.

The Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos Chapter has disagreed with the decision of Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu ordering all Mosques, Churches and others to be fully opened for worshipping in the State.

The Chairman, Lagos NMA Committee on COVID-19 Response, Dr Japhet Olugbodi, said the state should have waited awhile before the full reopening of churches.

He said, “I think we should have tarried a little bit and see what comes out of the reopening of the airports. The strain of COVID-19 in Nigeria is different from the one in some countries, and since we’ve opened the airport, we may have people bringing in another strain of the virus that is different and deadlier than the one in the country.

“We should have seen how that goes first before reopening the economy fully. I understand that people are hard-pressed, but there is a popular saying that goes thus, ‘safety first.’ I think we could have tarried a bit till about another month after reopening of the airports before the full reopening of the economy.”

The Ekiti state Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has assured the people of Oyo state that the incumbent governor of the state, Engr. Seyi Makinde, would be unseated in the state gubernatorial election in year 2023.

He made this known to pressmen on Sunday, after the Oyo APC reconciliation meeting held in his residence at Jericho, Ibadan.

According to him- “The target is to remove my brother, Seyi Makinde is my very good brother and as you know, I’m Chairman of Governors Forum, I can’t campaign against a sitting governor but this is about my party and I have a national assignment.”

When asked if he was sure Seyi Makinde would be unseated come 2023, he said, “I am not the one that will remove him, Oyo state members of our party have come together, and we are not selling groundnuts.”

In another development, the former governor of Oyo state, Otunba Christopher Alao Akala, has been endorsed as the Oyo APC Leader.

The decision was reached at the party reconciliation meeting chaired by Gov. Kayode Fayemi in Ibadan

Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Dr. Abd-Ganiy Adekunle Salaueen Oloogunebi Ajinese 1 has raised concern over reports of rise in cases of kidnapping in Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun areas of Oyo State.

The monarch said the federal government should step up efforts towards containing the act as according to him, it is becoming prevalent.
Oba Abd-Ganiy made the disclosure while praying for the country and Oyo State during the commencement of Oro festival on Saturday evening at his palace in Iseyin.

The age-long festival forbids women from sighting the Oro masquerade and will be celebrated in the seventh and 15th days after the day of commencement.
Aseyin said the flag-off of year 2020 Oro festival was used to pray for governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to achieve success in his strides as well as indigenes of Iseyin at home and those in diaspora.
“We have begun the traditional, ancient Oro festival as it was done before by our forefathers, we pray for good leadership, especially in Oyo State and specifically called for God’s guide and blessings for our governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde so that he will continue with his good works.

We also used the occasion to pray against those involved in social vices like kidnapping which has been reported to be incessant in Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun areas.
“We laid curse on those perpetrating the heinous act and also called on the federal government to quickly evolve solution against its spread to other areas of the State.
“Our children at home and abroad have seen the blessings of God and our ancestors have blessed our land to continue to see growth, all Iseyin Indigenes at home and abroad shall continue to see God’s hands in their endeavors,” he prayed.
Security men were seen at strategic points in the town during the commencement of the festival, directing traffic and assuring people of their safety.

The Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has ordered full reopening of Churches and Mosques in Lagos State.

He made the disclosure today while addressing the newsmen on the state of Lagos State on COVID-19 pandemic.

The governor had on Friday, August 7 allowed mosques and churches to commence their Friday and Sunday services only.

The governor said mosques can hold their prayers five times daily while churches can also commence weekly services.