Category: South West

Opeyemi Ojo’s book, ‘Be Stubborn,’ and a book app, ‘Kakowe,’ were weekend released to the public.

The author said ‘Kokawe’ has had over a hundred books. A review of the book revealed that it serves as both a biography of the writer and a motivation for the youth.

He gave insights into his life journey and his struggle as a young Nigerian entrepreneur, navigating through the hurdles of the systems and overcoming them through faith in his heart.

Present at the event were, the Chief Medical Director, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Professor Adetokunbo Fabamwo; Head of Enterprise/Management Directorate, TIB Plc, Femi Adekunle; Gbenga Ayo-Dada; Olowu of Kuta Kingdom , Oba (Dr) Hammed Adekunle Makama Oyelode (Tegbosun III). The author said his desire was to make both readers and authors earn from doing what they love best.

He also hinted on his plan to incorporate movies into the mix.

Speaking at the event, Ojo said: “the book talks about my life and my journey. We call it the ‘’Fs”- family, Finance, Failure, Fear and Future. For me, a child who was tagged the black sheep of the family eventually became the son of consolation, shows there is light at the end of the tunnel if you don’t give up. “My father was a disciplinarian, my mother was a praying mother and this really helped. In summary, it is like translating from darkness into light. I always tell Nigerian youth, do not cut the growth process.”

Adekunle, a lawyer and fellow author who wrote the foreword of the book, described “Be Stubborn” as classic. “ ‘Be stubborn’  is a metaphor for being tenacious, obstinate, passionate, and never giving up in life. It has thematic lessons that both young and old have to learn from the masterpiece ranging from family, to opportunities, managing failures and a lot of things that will bless you.

“He talked about the power of relationships and how you nurture it in order to lead you to a place of greatness,” he said.

The President, Ogun State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Mobolaji Ojo has hinted that the amended 2022 Customary Court Law of the state was to expand the scope of operations of Customary Court Judges, bars, benches and the public.

Justice Ojo made this known while unveiling/presenting the selected judgements of Ogun state Customary Court of Appeal Law report and the newly amended Customary Court of Appeal Rule 2022 to the bar and the public, held at the conference hall of the court, Isabo, Abeokuta, the state capital.

Justice Ojo said that the Ogun State Customary Court of Appeal exercises appellate and supervisory jurisdiction over Customary Courts in cases involving land held under Customary Law, noting that Customary marriage, inheritance under native law upon intestacy, guardianship and custody of children was also among.

“Indeed, the issue of the extent of the appellate jurisdiction of a Customary Court of Appeal has generated huge interest from lawyers, jurists, as well as academic writers, but the Supreme Court on its part has made profound pronouncements on the subject”, Justice Ojo said

He said that at the inception of the Court, Customary Court of Appeal relied on the High Court Rules to guide and direct the proceedings of the Court, noting that on the 14th September, 2020, a new Customary Court of Appeal Rules was launched and presented to the Bar and Public.

He added that it becomes necessary to effect some amendments and introduce new provisions in order to fill the lacunae in the old Rules, noting that the new innovations and improvements have now been Incorporated into the new 2022 rules.

“In fact, one of these innovations is the provision relating to the original jurisdiction of Customary Court of Appeal, which is contained in Order 7 of the new Rules, and additional Forms 10, 11, 12 and 13 as contained in the First Schedule of the 2022 Rules have also been introduced.

“Also, Order 4 Rule 2 (a) (b) and (d) of the 2020 Rules provided for Forms 13, 14 and 15 but those Forms were missing in the old Rules, and under the 2022 Rules, precipe Forms for service out of Nigeria and service of Foreign processes are now provided for in Order 4 Rule 2 (a) (b) and (d) under 2022 Rules”, Justice Ojo said

He also hinted that Customary Courts in Ilaro, Idowa, Iperu, Saapade, and Sagamu had witnessed physical structures, massive facelift and well equipped with the state of the art facilities, noting that it was aimed to bring conducive environment for the people, as well as to prompt service delivery in the dispensation of justice at the grassroots level.

He later hailed the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for his support for the Customary Court of Appeal since its establishment, equally appreciated the Chief Judge of the state, Hon. Justice Mosunmola Arinola Dipeolu for Her Lordship’s support at all times.

Peace has returned to the All Progressives Congress in Ondo North senatorial district as an aggrieved aspirant, Chief Alex Ajipe, has pledged to mobilise support for candidates of the party in the Senatorial district and across the state.

Chief Ajipe had lost at the APC primary to Pastor Jide Ipinsagba but filed a suit challenging the legality of Ipinsagba to be allowed to vote at the primary. Ajipe, who is the Director of Social and Humanitarian Directorate of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) denied his rumored defection to the Peoples Democratic Party.

Speaking to journalists in Akure, Ajipe said he has directed his supporters to begin grassroots campaign for all APC candidates in Ondo North and the entire state. Chief Ajipe said he has paid his dues in the Progressives family and was prepared to ensure the party remained in power.

According to him, “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is someone I love so much personally for a particular reason that he is a human capital developer. We have lots of his products today that nobody can deny across the globe. This is a very good opportunity for me to go through Ondo State and even the entire South West to campaign for him.

“I remain in my party. I’m going to campaign for everybody that INEC recognized as candidates of the party. We have started rebranding some of our campaign vehicles to reflect some of their pictures. We will also go through the nooks and crannies of Ondo State and even the entire South West to campaign for all the candidates that are INEC recognized and the party have pushed forward.

“No matter what happens, we will remain here. We believe in what we know, we believe in time, we believe in majority and we believe in God Almighty. “There’s no place like home. APC is our home. We will be here to make sure that we straighten it, we democratize it and at the end of the day, it will give us back the reward that we deserve.”

The ombudsman, Public Complaints Commission (PCC) has resolved the indebtedness of N153 million owe First Bank by Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE). The resolve of loan owed which affected 210 staff of Ede North Local Government Area of Osun State was get rid after 13 years when the loan was obtained. 

Speaking during settlement over the weekend, the Federal Commissioner of PCC, Soji Asolo explained that, “NULGE in Ede LGA had owed First Bank PLC sum of N153 million but that have tried all they could, yet they were unable to repay. The case was brought to us in 2021 and we were able to get rid of the indebtedness. 

He noted that the resolve will make the affected staff to access their salaries and retirement benefit without any restricted conditions. He noted that, “all the affected employers can go back to access their salaries and others who are retired can activate their retirement benefits.” The Vice Chairman of NULGE, Mr Bakare Taiwo commended the ombudsman for helping them to sort the indebtedness that had been on for over thirteen years.

•Seeks urgent action on indiscriminate killings 

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has condemned the gruesome murder and beheading of their colleague, Hardway Christopher Ohizu, the Sole Administrator of Ideato North Local Government Council of Imo State. 

The association described his death as shocking and callous.

Rising from its emergency meeting in Abuja, ALGON said the “perfidious, barbaric, sordid, distasteful and nebulous act, was carried out despite the payment of ransom by the family of the diseased.

“Such butchery theatrics and the killing of a Chief Security officer of the Local Government, and how he was dismembered, is wickedness of the highest order, and as such unacceptable, condemnable and reprehensible.” 

ALGON, in a communique signed by Willie Okolieogwo; Bala Usman Chamo; Emilola Gazal Babatunde; Miskoom Alexander Naantuam; Danladi Chiya and Emmanuel Offiong Bassey, urged the Federal and State governments, and all relevant stakeholders to urgently rise against indiscriminate killings of innocent lives by some criminal elements.

The association called for the speedy establishment of community policing for effective and efficient security architecture of the country.

The body also harped on the urgent need to develop solutions to problems and increase trust in police, civil defence, and all other security agencies.

The association urged the federal government to give issues bordering on Community Policing an urgent attention and diligence, as the 2023 general election draws near. 

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, CON, has urged senior civil servants, especially Permanent Secretaries in the State to mentor properly officers under them so that their wealth of experience could be impacted to younger ones  as they retired.

Akeredolu stated this  at the Year 2022 end of year get together and send-off for Retired Permanent Secretaries organised by the State Forum of Permanent Secretaries, held at the International Event Centre, the Dome, Alagbaka Akure.

The Governor, who was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Chief Olugbenga Ale, congratulated the retired Permanent Secretaries, stated that they have been pivotal in keeping afloat the REDEEMED Agenda of the present administration in Ondo State.

 ”When people are saying government is performing, it shows that the civil servants are performing. Because there is nothing the political leadership can do without your support,” he said.

Akeredolu later urged all Civil Servants in the State, especially the Permanent Secretaries to continue to share their wealth of experience with those coming behind them so that the system would be sustained.

 In his remarks, the Head of Service, Pastor Kayode Ogundele said that all the retirees contributed diligently to the growth and advancement of Ondo State just as he expressed the State Government’s appreciation and gratitude for their loyalty, commitment, dedication and untold sacrifices while in the Service. 

Reminding the retirees of the need to pay attention to their personal health and wellness, the Head of Service said: “I have no doubt in my mind that you will deploy your skills, wide knowledge and extensive administrative and managerial experience garnered over the years to continue to add value to yourselves, your communities and to Ondo State as a whole”.  

Earlier, the  Permanent Secretaries,  Ministry of Environment, Chief Bunmi Alade, who is also the

Chairman of Ondo State Forum for Permanent Secretaries, appreciated the Governor for payment of both inherited and other outstanding salaries arrears in the State.