Category: South West

Hundreds of market men and women on Thursday benefited from Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) Movement Free Health Outreach and Sensitization in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The outreach meant to support ambition of the presidential candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was for the people to ascertain their health status.

Traders at Bodija market came out en mass to check their Blood Pressure (BP), Random Blood Sugar, Pulse Rate, Respiration Rate, and Weight while drugs were given to those that needed it.

A member of BAT movement, Lukman Laoye, said the self-funded project was as a result of love and passion for Tinubu who has contributed his quota towards development of Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole.

Laoye, who was former chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan branch said Tinubu’s achievements in Lagos as Governor are second to none, saying the APC candidate would perform better if elected in 2023.

“Tinubu is the best among all the contestants looking at his pedigree and antecedents. He has more support in the North than the South. This gives him edges ahead of others. He has contacts across regions of Nigeria. So, this is the payback time for him because he has paid his dues as a successful politician.”

“This is the time for him to reap benefit of what he has done over the years, let support his ambition so as to take this nation to greater height.”

Laoye however urged Nigerians particularly Yorubas to rally round their kinsmen, who has been a leader and a father figure to many politicians across the nation.

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National Secretary of BAT movement, Yemi Badru, said Tinubu is the only one that can proffer solution to challenges facing the nation out of the three leading presidential candidates.

He maintained that Nigeria needs a President who will hit the ground running, saying Tinubu has what it takes to be the next President.

“Yoruba should know that this is our time to be at the helm of affairs of this nation. We must ensure that this opportunity didn’t go, we must support our own kinsmen.”

Some beneficiaries of the free health outreach commended BAT movement for the good initiative, saying their love and support Tinubu remained unshakeable.

The Labour Party (LP) candidate for Ibadan Southwest/Northwest federal constituency, Hon. Sunday Oni has argued he remains the best candidate to represent the constituency considering his dedicated work and passion for the people.

He noted that his success stories and impact on youths, especially people of his constituency can not be overemphasized.

Speaking in Ibadan during a Gala Night for actualisation of his ambition, Oni said he has been giving his resources, skills and knowledge to help many people before going into politics, adding that he would continue to do so after leaving office as a lawmaker.

According to him, going into politics would give him the platform to serve Nigerians on a larger scale and impact more on his constituents.

He said:” I am going into politics to be an agent of change, to implement the change we want, our constitution has alot of loopholes that need to be worked on.

“This can not be done as an individual. I plan to work with youths in the National Assembly so that we can implement more policies that favor the masses.

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“I’m going there to be a good representative of the people of my constituency, to present bill, move motions and support bills that will bring positive changes and improvement to the lives of the members of my constituency and Nigeria at large, I’m interested in pushing for changes that will improve event and entertainment industry in Oyo State

“What belong to the people of my constituency will not be diverted to my political party because this has been the practice of previous politicians which has denied the real beneficiaries of their right and privileges in favor of party members.”

He said if voted, he would focus on reviving the entertainment industry in Oyo State including sports entertainment.

“I will push for a motion to establish and recognize sport academy for youths who seek a career in sports with certificates equivalent to B.S.c in all the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

“I will push for more power to be given to royal Kings and chiefs like Baales, Mogajis and Obas to handle security issues in their localities, and also support bills for state Police.”

“I plan to build a mini sports complex in my constituency, a modern health centre for pregnant women where they can safely deliver their babies for free and receive free health care.”

The Orangun of Oke-Ila in Osun State, Oba Adedokun Abolarinwa, has said said poverty and unemployment are major causes of insecurity in Nigeria, particularly Yorubaland.

He said insecurity would continue as long as youth across the nation are not productive and engaged to contribute to the development of the country.

Speaking in Ibadan at the Yoruba Leadership and Peace Initiative (YLPI) workshop on safety and security, theme: “Safety and Security in Yorubaland: An Advisory to Stakeholders”, the monarch urged stakeholders in Yorubaland not to see security of the region as the sole duty of the government, but duty of all, adding that democracy and stability can not thrive without security.

According him, Yoruba people should put aside their personal interest and differences and support call for security of lives and property of people in the region.

He said, “Poverty in the land is cause by unemployment, let’s attack the issue of poverty at the rural areas, let’s be our brothers keepers and chart a pathway to unite and tackle insecurity in this region.”

“Let us all get involve, we cannot afford to leave everything to government, we traditional rulers have our role to play on safety of Yorubaland, everybody also have to contribute their quota towards the security of our region.”

“There can’t be development without security, all hands must be on deck in tackling insecurity, let all of us be involve in finding solutions to the security challenges facing southwest.”

The President of TYLPI, Mr Olusegun Ahmadu said there were worries about insecurity across southwest region which have become big issue over the years.

He said: “We decided not to just sit down with the level of our exposure, education and experience and fold our hands and be looking till the region is capture for ransome, that is why we bring people who have wide experience, knowledge and committed to protect the region to brainstorm on the way forward.”

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Chairman, Oyo State Security Network (Amotekun), Rt. Gen. Kunle Togun said Amotekun should be allowed to carried sophisticated weapons as their counterpart in the Northern region of the country so as to defend the southwest region.

He said, “Let’s operate presidential system correctly, if Amotekun is to be, let’s the Federal Government announce state police, each state has its own Police in America, the Central Police is call FBI, they know which case to send to FBI, if there is state Police, our Police will be fully train and armed, it will also reduce crime and they will have equipment to defend themselves.”

Carbon MicroFinance Bank has faulted media reports that a 300-level student of the Federal University of Technology (FUTA), Olona Emmanuel Babajide, committed suicide because he was debited without successful transaction on its platform.

The bank said the deceased didn’t carry out any transaction on its platform in recent times.

A statement by the bank on Monday reads:

“Our attention has been drawn to media reports on the incident involving a 300-level student of the Federal University of Technology, Akure Mr. Olona Emmanuel Babajide, who was said to have committed suicide at his residence in the Aule Area of Akure, the Ondo State capital.

“We are deeply saddened to learn about this incident, and we very well acknowledge and share in the pain and grief of his family and loved ones.

“To protect our customers’ privacy and in line with existing laws we can’t reveal the transactions of customers but can confirm that no transaction took place on our platform in the amount and by the individual reported in the publications.

“Once again, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the late Olona Emmanuel.”

Former lawmaker Folaranmi Oyebanji has been arraigned at an Ogbomoso Chief Magistrates’ Court in Oyo State for alleged perjury, false and defamatory publication on a pending matter in the court.

Oyebanji had earlier been arraigned and charged on July 9, 2022 with alleged “conspiracy, forgery, publication of false documents and threat to murder Chief Solomon Ojedayo and his family members.”

According to the fresh four-count charge numbered: MOG/11c/2023, brought against the 57-year-old defendant by the prosecution, which he pleaded not guilty to, he with another person now at large, allegedly “on September 16, 2021 at about 10am at Oko, Ogbomoso, in Ogbomoso Magisterial District, did conspire to commit felony to wit perjury, publication of false and defamatory news, and conduct likely to cause breach of peace, and therefore committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.”

Having pleaded not guilty to all the counts, Oyebanji’s lawyer, I. O. Atofarati, prayed the court to grant him bail in most liberal terms. Dorcas Olatunji held the brief of Dr. Olutayo Oyewale for the complainant.

Ruling, Chief Magistrate Muideen Salami granted the ex-lawmaker bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

He adjourned the matter till February 27 for mention.

However, the prosecutor, Abdullahi, told the court that the police would substitute the charge on the next adjourned date.

A socio-political group, Team Better Naija, has offered free medical services to residents of Ekiti State, as part of its efforts to promote the aspiration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

The medical outreach, which attracted a large turnout, featured medical tests, medical consultation on diabetic, blood pressure, optical care, general check-ups and free health counselling.

The beneficiaries, after examination by health professionals, were given free medications to treat their ailments and free eyeglasses for those in need at no cost.

The group National Coordinator, Remi Omowaiye, an engineer, said the initiative was meant to assist the less privileged that lacked access to free and qualitative health care services.

Omowaiye said no fewer than 1,000 indigents spanning different strata of the society benefited from the free medical outreach, adding that free medical tests were offered and drugs were dispensed to the beneficiaries based on their health conditions.

He said the exercise was a way to further explore more innovative strategies to mobilise support for the APC presidential candidate for a better and more prosperous Nigeria.

He called on the beneficiaries to get their permanent voter cards (PVCs) and vote for Asiwaju Tinubu and his running mate, Sen. Kashim Shettima, on February 25.

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who launched the event, hailed the group for the kind gesture, noting that the life changing medical initiatives would help to complement his administration’s efforts in providing quality health care services for the people.

Oyebanji, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Habitat Adubiaro, advised residents to take advantage of the medical outreach for improved health.

The Team Better Naija in Ekiti State and

Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties, Olufemi Aduloju, described the free medical outreach as a success.