The Nation Newspaper

Category: South West

  • What drives my passion for giving, by Ondo regent

    What drives my passion for giving, by Ondo regent

    The Regent of the Araromi community in Ondo State, Mrs Adeola Omotayo Asaolu, has said lifting widows and the less privileged gives her satisfaction.

    She said the passion to give back to society comes from Proverbs 19 verse 17 which reads: “When you give to the poor, you lend to God and God owes no man.”

    She spoke while distributing Christmas gifts and food items to no fewer than 1,200 children and 450 widows.

    Asaolu said it had been a tradition for her over some years ago to cater for the needs of the underprivileged by putting smiles on their faces every yuletide.

    She said in granting the wish of an elderly woman, she realised that so many families were lacking in some basic needs and as such could not mark festive occasions.

    She said: “The plea of an elderly woman, a widow five years ago to give her money for Christmas, made me realise that not many enjoy the celebration due to lack of what to eat.

    “Consequently, l took it upon me to provide for the people irrespective of their religious and party affiliations.

    “However, the criteria to benefit from this gesture is that one must be a widow and an elderly who has no sufficient help.

    “The overall reason for this donation is to bring succour to families in need.”

  • Yuletide: Oyo Waste Task Force promises adequate waste management

    Yuletide: Oyo Waste Task Force promises adequate waste management

    The Oyo State Waste Management Task Force has affirmed its readiness to meet the waste management needs of residents during the festive season.

    The TaskForce said the committee would consolidate Mottainai Recycling Ltd’s year round vision of establishing a cleaner and healthier Oyo State.

    Speaking in Ibadan, the TaskForce Chairperson, Aderonke Adedayo noted that bearing in mind the anticipated increase in waste generation during the period, the Task Force would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the season was celebrated in a clean environment.

    She further said the Taskforce in collaboration with the State Waste Managemen consultant, Mottainai Recycling Ltd, will intensify the distribution of Mottainai Acccredited Franchise (MAF) to the nooks and crannies of the State.

    Adedayo stated that the MAFs, otherwise known as PSP operators had been mandated to work round the clock in their assigned areas of operation, while Mottainai would provide backup trucks.

    She also reiterate that PSP operators operating within the State, who refuse to adhere to the Zero Waste Initiative of the Seyi Makinde-led government would be dealt with.

    She added that unregistered PSPs caught while evacuating wastes will forfeit their trucks, while they risk six months imprisonment.

    The TaskForce enjoins all citizens not to throw their refuse indicriminately on the median thereby giving the state a dirty appearance. Resident are encouraged to wait for their MAFs /PSPs to collect their refuse or call the emergency number.

    The Managing Director, Mottainai Recycling Ltd. Mr. Adey Adewuyi stated that the agency recently put out emergency numbers to enable residents reach out to them when there is a service gap.

    Adewuyi added that phone numbers published, are also for the purpose of monitoring the situation of the environment during the yuletide.

    He appealed to residents to desist from acts capable of making life miserable for the environment and its inhabitants.

    Adewuyi equally urged motorists to drive with caution, to safeguard lives of street sweepers and other service providers, who would be discharging their duties during this period.

    While wishing residents a dirt-free Christmas and New Year celebration, he enjoined residents to call 070 0080 0700, or chat with 081 8190 0004 on whatsapp for inquiries on waste management.

  • Oghene honors Toyin Kolade, others

    Oghene honors Toyin Kolade, others

    To celebrate 10 years of impact in the fashion and entrepreneurship space, Princess Kelechi Oghene, CEO GMYT Fashion, foundation  and former model and beauty queen known for creating the next generation of entrepreneurs honored Nigerians who had supported the sector, society and touched the lives of the less privileged one’s in the society.

    The recipients of the 2022 GAHAWARDS which is linked to 9 of the 17SDGs included Toyin Kolade, Evelyn Oputu and the event themed,” Promoting Sustainable Economic Growth through Skill Acquisition featured awards in categories that included Humanitarian banking, emerging humanitarian of the year amongst others.

    According to Oghene: “ These are evident in the empowerment of over 5,000 women and youths through t h e GMY T S M E support scheme, empowerment of over 12,000 women and youths with free scholarships to study fashion design, and entrepreneurship development, and the provision of over 3,000 industrial/ domestic sewing machines through GMYT Foundation”.

     She added: “Today, GMYT Fashion Academy has taught more than 12,000 individuals, many of whom already operate their own Fashion schools, ready to wear businesses, Bespoke, Bridal.

    One of the highpoints at the ceremony was the presentations on the runway with a bridal theme by the graduating students who had metamorphosed into business owners with brands such as Euriel Touch,

    Crystal Signature and Dayetta signature. The dignitaries, parents, students, traditional rulers were excited as the event showcased great talents, creativity and proudly made in Nigeria designs.

    In her keynote address, the institutional consultant and equity investment expert, SEWA Assets Management Limited, Angela Jide Jones called for investments in innovation as well as skills acquisition.

    She also took the audience through the need to promote sustainable economic growth because the future will be shaped by the opportunities and the investment made today”.

    Oghene’s exposure to several business schools including Harvard and Netherlands has opened her eyes to different opportunities as well as the commercial side of the business. “I have always been a voracious

    reader with a strong thirst for knowledge, which prompted me to attend several Workshops, training, and obtain several executive degrees and

    qualifications from prestigious institutions such as the University of Lagos, the Harvard Business School, Lagos Business School, and currently pursuing an executive MBA with Business School Netherlands, all of which have made me more structured in my business dealings and in constructing the structures necessary for success”.

  • PDP chieftain tasks electorate on PVC collection

    PDP chieftain tasks electorate on PVC collection

    People’s Democratic Party, PDP, a senatorial candidate in Ogun State, Chief Olumide Aderinokun has urged the electorate to collect their Permanent Voter’s Card, PVC, to be able to vote during the next general elections.

    This is as market leaders in Ogun Central Senatorial District pledged to support and work for the victory of the PDP candidate.

    The people of Alaja Community in Ifo Local Government Area, Local Government Area, also applauded the PDP candidate for donating and facilitating the installation of an electricity transformer for them.

    The market leaders led by Iyaloja of Egbaland, Mrs. Oluwakemi Abeke, hosted the Akinruyiwa of Owu Kingdom at the Centenary Hall in Ake, Abeokuta, and engaged him on his plans to ease the current economic hardship being faced by the people.

    Other leaders present at the interactive meeting includes Otun Iyaloja, Mrs. Janet Gbadebo; Bada Iyaloja Egba, Mrs. Tayo Bamidele; Baba Oloja of Kuto Market, Chief Abraham Olabinke, and market leaders from the six LGAs that make up the senatorial zone.

    After reeling out his numerous contributions to the people, Aderinokun promised to do more and urged them to encourage their members to collect their permanent voter’s card, PVC, to be able to vote during the next general elections.

    “We have suffered a lot under this government. It is now time for us to change leadership with the right people who are ready to make a difference. I assure you I will not leave you alone when you elect me as your next senator.

    “I have been facilitating a variety of support programmes for traders across the six LGAs and I am not going to stop the good work I started in 2020. This will not be our last meeting because I would love to be having periodic consultations with our market leaders just as we’re having today. I cherish interactions with my people to know what their problems are and get solutions together.

    Meanwhile, Aderinokun Thursday, commissioned an electric transformer for residents of Alaja Community in Ifo LGA. The 300kva transformer would supply electricity to five  CDAs in the area.

    The senatorial hopeful, in a ceremony held within Alaja Community Development Associations, CDC, said the community leaders reached out to him for help after several months of darkness due to the government’s negligence and assured them of his continuous support including grading their roads by January 2023.

    The ceremony was attended by Baales of the five CDAs alongside community leaders and the PDP House of Assembly candidate in Ifo State Constituency 1, Hon. Okikiola Ogundele and other party chieftains.

    Speaking, the Baale of Alaja, Idowu Shorunke, said: “We are ready to stand behind you because what you have done is more than what we expected. As a way of showing our gratitude, among ourselves, we have formed a group and we are ready to voluntarily canvass votes for Aderinokun and PDP. We will be doing this with our strength and financial might.”

  • Ekiti PDP chieftain welcomes SDP members back to party

    Ekiti PDP chieftain welcomes SDP members back to party

    A Chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party in Ekiti State, Chief Sanya Atofarati has welcomed members of the Social Democratic Party back to the party after several months of exit.

    The ex-SDP members had in January left the PDP alongside the former governor Segun Oni after the party’s governorship primary where he emerged first runner-up to Bisi Kolawole, PDP flag bearer in the June 18 election.

    Welcoming the returnees, Atofarati who is the Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council in the state, commended them for their courage to return back to PDP.

    Atofarati, in a statement in Ado-Ekiti yesterday and entitled “PDP Back and Better in Ekiti “ said that with the return of former SDP members, the task of prosecuting the 2023 elections have been made easy. He equally commended the Sokoto State governor and Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation Aminu Tambuwal, for the full integration of the ex- SDP members into the party.

    He described the re-integration of the returnees back into PDP as a good omen for the party’s impending victory in the forthcoming general election.” The former SDP members had made the right decision by returning to their original habitat and  I want to commend the party leadership for accepting them back into fold unconditionally .With this development. I can boldly say that PDP is fully back and better in Ekiti. We should all roll up our sleeves and get the job done by making sure our Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and other candidates  are elected  across the board .

    “2023 offers the greatest opportunity for the PDP to return to power and end the maladministration of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Therefore, we must not allow internal scuffles to truncate it.

    “I want to also use this medium to again appeal to other aggrieved members of the party to retrace their steps and embrace the olive branch extended to them. We stand to gain more if our party is in power. Our strength lies in winning. “ Atofarati .

  • Oyo APC Rep promises to establish agency for non-indigenes

    Oyo APC Rep promises to establish agency for non-indigenes

    All Progressive Congress (APC) House of Representatives candidate for Ido/Ibarapa East Federal constituency, Engr Aderemi Oseni has disclosed that when elected into the red chambers on February 25, 2023, a separate agency for non-Indigenes would be created to cater for the needs of the various ethnic groups in the constituency.

    He also stated that a state of emergency on infrastructure would be declared in the constituency following the growing poor state of infrastructure if given the mandate to represent the people of the constituency come 2023.

    The APC candidate spoke on the heels of observable neglect of non-indigenes, and the disturbing poor state of infrastructure in the agrarian area.

    He was guest to leaders and members of different ethnic nationalities at a town Hall meeting held at ancient town of Eruwa in Ibarapa East Local Government of Oyo yesterday as part of his ongoing electioneering campaign for the February 25, 2023 election.

    Among the ethnic groups present at the four-hour meeting are the Chief of Non-Indigene, Middle Belt resident in Ibarapa East, Pa Yusuff Musa, the Chief Imam of Hausa/Fulani in Ibarapa East, Alfa Abubakar Usman, the Head of TIV community in Ibarapa East, Komi Jeremiah, the Head of Fulani Community, Alhaji Bello Mohammed, the Head of Hausa community, Alhaji Isiaka Idris , the Head of Igbo community, Daniel Nwaogu , and the Head of Igede community, Samuel Ida.

    The Hall which was filled to the brim with each ethnic group, saw scores of women from different ethnic communities present at the event.

    The APC chieftain who was overjoyed with the warm rousing reception accorded him, members of the Campaign Council and party loyalists, thanked the various ethnic groups for the large out, and assured them that all Nigerians are one family.

    He told the gathering that virtually every part of Nigeria was visited by him in the course of carrying out his trade as a structural engineer. 

    As a result, Engr Oseni explained that whenever he sees a non Indigene, the first thing would be to embrace him with all due respect and humility.

    He charged the people to troop out enmass to cast their vote for APC candidates starting from the APC presidential, senatorial, House of Representatives, governorship and state House of Assembly respectively.

    While reeling out many empowerment programmes including the ongoing construction of two bridges worth about N100million at Aretu and Gbelede areas of Ido Local Government of the state embarked upon in the last few months, the APC chieftain listed some of the projects which were also executed and donated to the people of Ibarapa East. 

    Angry Oseni further promised to establish scholarship grants, provision of portable water, creation of employment opportunities, establishment of agric storage facilities, creation of small scale business enterprises, provision medical grants, and social welfare programmes .

    Earlier, the chief of Non Indigenes  in Ibarapa East, Pa Yusuf Musa paid glowing tributes to the APC candidate,  not only for been the first ever politician to recognise non indigenes in the area, but for single handedly financing social amenities such as street lights, boreholes, and modern cold room for the people of the area.  

    The octogenarian, who mobilised a large number of non indigenes to the town Hall meeting, assured the APC candidate of the full support of his people, adding that the groups of non indigenes in Ibarapa East would ensure that they reciprocate the love and good works of Engr Oseni during the February 25, 2023 election.

  • Ogun PDP: INEC lists Adebutu, other candidates for 2023 polls

    Ogun PDP: INEC lists Adebutu, other candidates for 2023 polls

    The Independent National Electoral Commission has updated and uploaded its list of candidates for the 2023 general elections with the names of Oladipupo Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in Ogun State, and other PDP candidates in the state included. It would be noted that several court cases trailed the emergence of Adebutu and other PDP candidates in the state.

    However, a recent judgment by the Appeal Court in Ibadan upheld the primaries of the party in Ogun State held on the 25th May 2022. The development cleared the way for INEC to include the names of the winners of the said primary elections on its list. A release signed by Afolabi Orekoya, the Director, Media, and Publicity, for the Ladi Adebutu/Akinlade Campaign Organisation, confirmed the development.

    “On Thursday, INEC published the names of the governorship and deputy governorship candidates, (Dr) Oladipupo Adebutu and Adekunle Abdulkabir Akinlade, in compliance with the court order. It had earlier released the legislative candidate lists for both state and federal seats. In view of the above, we wish to notify our teeming party members, stakeholders, supporters, admirers, and the general public that we are back on the ballots and fully ready to take over leadership in Ogun State and rescue the good people of Ogun State from the shackles and maladministration of the APC government,” the statement read in part. Orekoya revealed that the party’s campaign will commence immediately.

  • Outrage over land grabbing as court remands suspects

    Outrage over land grabbing as court remands suspects

    Three men, Taiwo Olumide Enitiodunmo (T9) and Jamiu Alaya, and Adewale Kareem, have been arraigned before Igbosere Magistrate’s Court for offences of land grabbing-related activities and robbery.

     The suspects were arraigned in suit numbers R/52/2022 and R/23/2022 respectively.

    They were said to have committed the offences at the Imagba Ibonwon area of Igbonla in the Eredo Local  Council  Development  Area, Epe, Lagos. 

    It was learnt that Enitiodunmo”s aide, Kareem was arrested by detectives attached to Zone 2  Command , Onikan, Lagos, and taken to the same court.

    The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. K.K. Awoyinka ordered that the suspects be remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending the perfection of their bail requirements while the case was adjourned to January 13.

    Meanwhile, outraged residents of Imagba Ibonwon have urged the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Usman Baba, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to save them from suspected hoodlums terrorsing the community in a bid to take over their inherited land.

    A resident,  Waheed Adegbegba, said he and others narrowly escaped being killed recently when unnamed gunmen invaded the community causing pandemonium as people fled for their dear lives.

  • Obaseki connects communities to uninterrupted power supply

    Obaseki connects communities to uninterrupted power supply

    Governor Godwin Obaseki has commissioned the 6.8km of streetlights in Oko Community, Oredo Local Government Area of the state. The governor also connected the community along the Airport Road axis in Benin City, to the Independent Power Project (IPP) to supply 24 hours uninterrupted electricity to boost socioeconomic activities in the area.

    He said the connected communities would boost supply of  24 hours uninterrupted electricity in the area.Obaseki said the project was part of the first phase of ‘Operation Light Up Edo’ which is about 50km, noting, “We want to make sure that by the end of December 31st 2022, we have completed all the 50km plus some additional lengths. When we finish this, we will now start the second phase which will take us to 200km of streetlights around the city.

    “Our goal is for every street to have the benefit of having street lights in the city. We are coming up with a different scheme to encourage landlords to tap from the main streets. All the adjourning streets on Airport Road under a specific arrangement can benefit with extension from the stretch. At the rate we are going, we believe in another two years, we should have covered over 200km of streetlights in our cities.

    “We have a maintenance agreement with some of the contractors involved in the erection of the streetlights. They will be hired to help maintain it from time to time.”

    The Functioning Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Electricity, Engr. Victor Osagbouwa Obanor, noted, “Oko Community is one of the first to be captured and benefiting from this project. The IPP will be supplying uninterrupted 24/7 electricity. IPP starts from Ring Road to Oko Junction by IDCL. Airport Road and its environs are now further opened up for socio-economic activities and security surveillance.

    “The second project is the street light project powered by our IPP, ensuring that the light remains and darkness disappears. The light project spans 6.788km, and it’s a part of the phase one of the Project Light up Edo. The bulb is to the standard of 250watts, bright enough to see clearly at night and children can even read with it as well.”

    The Ohen of Oko Community, Pa Ikponmwosa Evbuowan thanked the governor for the streetlight and the IPP projects, assuring him that they will own the project and protect it from vandals.

  • Tinubu/Shettima: Your efforts will not be in vain, YTI assures Sanusi

    Tinubu/Shettima: Your efforts will not be in vain, YTI assures Sanusi

    A campaign group, Youth for Tinubu Initiative (YTI), has assured owner of Ilaji Hotel and Sport Resort, Ibadan, Engr. Dotun Sanusi, that his efforts on the emergence of the presidential candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2023 general elections, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu won’t be in vain.

    YTI said Sanusi’s contributions to the victory of Tinubu in Oyo State cannot be overemphasised, saying he holds special place in Tinubu’s heart.

    Speaking in Ibadan during a courtesy visit to the Ibadan chief, YTI Director General, Ajibola Afolayan maintained that Tinubu would recognise whoever contributes to his victory, adding that Sanusi’s efforts would not go in vain in 2023.

    “When someone is doing something meaningful, contributing to someone’s ambition, such person needs to be applauded. We are here to tell him that we know the importance of his contribution, we want him to know that what he is doing is noted by the party and the presidential campaign Council,” he stated.

    He urged Nigerians to vote for Tinubu to avoid seeking greener pastures overseas, saying the APC candidate would address all issues confronting the nation if elected.

    “Your vote is your power, you don’t have right to complain of bad governance if you don’t vote, vote so that you will be proud to say I’m part of those who voted this man into power,” he stressed.

    Read Also: 2023: Again, court dismisses ex-minister’s suit against Tinubu’s nomination

    Speaking on behalf of Sanusi, Mogaji Nurudeen Akinade said Tinubu has paid his dues towards the development of the nation, saying Oyo people supporting the APC candidate was a unified decision borne out of their love for him.

    He maintained that Tinubu is the only appropriate person to be President in 2023 having assessed all the leading presidential candidates.

    “He should be our president not because he is a Yoruba man or because he was a former governor, we know him as someone that can make required change in the nation, and that’s what Nigeria need for now.”

    “You can see the numbers of support group rallying around him, he can make social recovery, economic empowerment, and find solutions to insecurity, he has done it before, and he will also do it again,” he said.