Category: South West

A 50-year-old man identified as Ojo Ogundeji, has set himself ablaze and subsequently razed his father’s house in the Oloruntedo area, Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Witnesses said Ogundeji locked himself inside a room and lit the fire.

It was gathered that the man told his rescuers before he died that he committed the act because he was being mocked about his living condition.

He was said to have returned from Lagos to celebrate Christmas and New Year with his family.

It was crying from his room that attracted people but he died minutes after he was taken to the hospital.

A witness, Mrs Sabaina Ogundeji, said: “In the morning, Ojo set a fire under the staircase of the house and said nobody should put it off. But with the help of people on the street, it was put off.

“In the evening, everybody was outside playing. So, Ojo went in and brought out his clothes and set them on fire. He later went inside and locked himself up in the room and set it on fire. It was his voice we heard when he was shouting. People ran there to force the door open and brought him out. But he later died in the hospital.”

Another witness said, “When we rescued Ojo, he was not yet dead. He told us that he set the house on fire because some people were making jest of him because of his problem.

“His remains have been deposited at the morgue in the state hospital, Ondo,” he said.

Police sources at the Enu-Owa division confirmed that the incident was reported.

The Oyo State Chief Judge, Munta Abimbola, on Friday officially retired from active service in the state’s judiciary after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 65 for High Court Judges.

At the Valedictory court session in his honour at the state’s High Court Ibadan, the Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo, said Abimbola played a multi-dimensional role.

Oyewo, who praised him for his hardworking, firmness and immense contribution to effective administration of justice, also prayed that the rest of his life might be the best.

 The NBA National President, Mr Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), represented by Mr. Seun Abimbola, SAN, said Abimbola left an indelible mark in the judiciary across the federation and not only in Oyo State.

Maikyau commended the retiree for effective administration of Criminal Justice Law in the state.

 ”The Retiring CJ among many other achievements, scored very high in the setting of Oyo State Multi-Door Courthouse; by this, he demonstrated that justice dispensation is indeed the primary role of the judiciary.

 ”Also, it was during his tenure that family court was established in the state which boosted public confidence in the judiciary,” he said.

 The first female SAN in Nigeria, Mrs. Folake Solanke, congratulated the retiring CJ for a safe landing after a hectic but successful service.

 Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State described Abimbola as his good teacher and solid adviser who worked in good synergy with his administration.

 Makinde promised that his administration would continue to prioritise the welfare of the judiciary and make their jobs easier.

 ”We thank God that the CJ is ending well today. Thank God for the work God used you to do in Oyo State entirely and not only in the judiciary,” Makinde said.

 Responding, the retiring CJ remarked that he maintained peace in the judiciary and had peace with all while his judgments were the subject of international discourse.

 Abimbola, who stressed that for one to go far in life, one must work in synergy with others, added that he wouldn’t have gone so far in life without the sacrifices of others.

 He thanked God for the opportunity given to him to be the CJ, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Oluwakayode Ariwoola for his mentorship and support and also Gov. Makinde for giving him all necessary support.

“I also thank immensely my family, friends, colleagues, staff and well-wishers for always being there for me.

“I’m happy and proud for the past and exceedingly hopeful for the future,” he said.

Among the dignitaries were the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Oluwakayode Ariwoola, Abimbola’s family and friends.

•Youths kick against appointment of park manager

A group of young persons under the aegis of Coalition of Osun Youth Voice have threatened to embark on massive protests following the scraping of activities of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) from parks across Osun State by Governor Ademola Adeleke,

In a statement issued on Friday, the leader of the group, Comrade Adebisi Emmanuel rejected and berated the appointment of one Alowonle as the park manager for the transport sector of the state by Governor Adeleke.

He said: “It is unfortunate that the action of the government is not predicated on any report of violence by the members of NURTW. The reason for scrapping the union and replacing them with park managers is purely to promote thuggery in the state because most of those that were appointed are the ones causing unrest immediately after the new government took over on November 27 2022.

 ”A known dreadful thug has been the one responsible for the chaos in motor parks across the state and the same man is appointed as a park manager. He was responsible for shooting two policemen at Aregbe and destruction of property including the alleged killing of an NURTW member which is still a court matter till now.”

The statement added: “It is so sad for a responsible government that Osun indigenes voted for massively to come on board and start to support violence against a union who has been going about their lawful duties. In the past, NURTW are known for violence but now they are responsible and it is unfortunate that this union’s hands are held back for their tormentor, Alowonle to have a free day over them.

 ”It is our fear that this can cause unrest because, from the inception of this government, Alowonle has been the harbinger of violence in this state. We demand Alowonle’s removal failure to do that we will organise a massive protest against the government because we can not fold our hands for Osun state to be turned into an arena of lawlessness.”

Leaders and members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti South District on Friday staged a solidarity rally for the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar and the senatorial candidate, Senator Biodun Olujimi.

At the 10,000-man rally held in Ikere-Ekiti, party members across six council AreaS in the district also rallied support for the party’s candidates in Ekiti South Constituency II, Henrich Akomolafe and House of Assembly candidates.

Speaking, Senator Olujimi who is seeking a third term in the Senate, called on the people to keep the faith and vote for the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa to help in rescuing the nation from the hands of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Lamenting the myriad of challenges confronting the nation across all sectors, the former senate minority leader explained that the PDP government when elected next month would turn things around and improve their livelihood.

She called on the citizens to collect their permanent voter cards(PVCs) and commenced the mobilization in their communities towards rejecting the APC and its candidates at the poll.

Olujimi said: “ The suffering in the country is biting harder every day due to the poor and incompetent government of the APC and I want to assure our people that PDP is ready to end this suffering; Our candidate Atiku Abubakar has the solutions to our problems.

“ Let’s go home, mobilize our friends, relatives and neighbours and use our PVCs to reject APC at all levels; people should take their anger to the poll and vote PDP for peace, progress and national development.”

Olujimi who reeled out his contributions to the district since he was elected in the senate ranging from empowerment, infrastructure and human capital development and scholarship, among other interventions, said the people of the area would enjoy more dividends of democracy if elected again.

Residents of Iseyin have assured Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde of their readiness to vote en mass for his re-election in 2023.

They said Makinde’s administration have changed the face of Iseyin community for the better through various infrastructural developments like reconstruction of Moniya-Iseyin road, about-to be-completed Iseyin-Fapote-Ogbomoso road and the Oyo-Iseyin road that is under reconstruction.

Speaking in Iseyin during the distribution of free sanitary towels, drugs and other hygiene materials to female students of Iseyin District Grammar School, the head of the Iseyin Traditional Council, High chief Ismahil Odubiyi, said some of the achievements of the Governor in Oke-Ogun and Iseyin include the establishment of the College of Agricultural Science and Renewable Natural Resources of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso (LAUTECH) in Iseyin.

He said people of the community would pay back by standing with the Governor by voting for his second term in office.

“Iseyin has one peculiarity in being united to vote for a candidate that stood with them in their time of need, we shall also stand with Seyi Makinde come 2023.

Read Also: Makinde supports  Ogbomoso Recreation Club with golf equipment 

“I am delighted that Her Excellency could find time to attend this event which is dedicated to the future of Iseyin, our girls, Mrs Titilayomi Ahmadu has shown the age-old proverb of the Apple not falling far from the tree, she is a replica of her father, late Pa Okediran, we appreciate you for giving back to the girl-child,” he said. 

Odubiyi however described the founder of  Women’s Organization of Resources, Knowledge and Skills (W.O.R.K.S), Mrs Titilayomi Ahmadu as a unique daughter of Iseyin community who has impacted very well in the development drive of the indigenes.

Wife of the Governor, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde said she was elated to be in the midst of happy students and a community that appreciated the good work of her husband as the governor of Oyo State.

She enjoined the female students to take their hygiene serious, especially in the process of maintaining a healthy menstrual period while giving kudos to the donor whose birthday coincidentally fell on the same day.

“I shall deliver your message to the Governor that you promised to pay back with votes what he has done for the Oke-Ogun and Iseyin people.

“The celebrant has made available today, a special training on hygienic menstrual exercise as well as presentation of free sanitary towels, drugs and other materials to five hundred female students of this school, we salute you for this gesture.

“I am happy to be part of the mentoring session and believe our students will be motivated by this kind gesture to study hard to be a better person and good ambassadors of Iseyin and your families.

“Study hard and be successful among other women you shall be meeting in your future, come back and also make impact on those coming behind you.

“I thank you, Mrs Titilayomi Ahmadu for this opportunity for giving back to the community and the girl-child, we celebrate you on your birthday and pray for continuous prosperity.”

The celebrant, Mrs Titilayomi Ahmadu appreciated the dignitaries, especially the wife of the Governor, for creating time for the welfare of the girl-child and community development, saying the special menstrual hygiene session and distribution of free sanitary towels would be replicated in other public secondary schools in Iseyin.

She said the idea to equip the girl-child with orientations about menstrual hygiene came up because of rising cases of diseases caused by poor hygiene during menstruation.

She enjoined the female students to spread the message of simple hygiene, especially during their menstruation, as a healthy girl-child is a precursor to a healthy future of the community.