Category: South West

•Governor: defence an afterthought

 

Osun State former governor Adegboyega Oyetola has accused men of Governor Ademola Adeleke of looting property at the Government House in Oke-Fia, Osogbo.

Oyetola, through his aide, Ismail Omipidan, at a news conference, expressed disappointment about the false alarm raised by Adeleke’s men, who, according to him, should have been guided by the record of the inventory taken before the formal handover of the items at the Governor’s Lodge and Presidential Quarters at the Government House.

He said Adeleke’s stooges raised empty alarm over an illicit action taken by them, noting that it was on record that the new government took over the possession of the Government House a day to the inauguration of Governor Adeleke.

Omipidan described the looting allegation as not only ridiculous, but also sarcastic, as it was intended to dent the reputable image of Oyetola, who left N14billion in the government coffers.

“Oyetola stopped sleeping at the Government House on November 19, and by November 26, an inventory was conducted in company with Department of State Services (DSS) officials, who were attached to the Government House at the time and security operatives attached to the new governor, particularly A. Umale and Pius Akpan.”

Omipidan said in the DSS report dated November 26 and titled: ‘Inventory of Items in Osun State Governor’s and Presidential Lodges’, it was reported that “on November 26, about 1400hours, a team of the Protocol Department, Osun State Governor’s Office, Abere, led by Mr. Falode, in company with two officials of the DSS, namely Usman Adediran and Sunday Posu, painstakingly took the inventory of items in the above mentioned places.

“The items were thereafter handed over to A. Umale and Pius Akpan, DSS personnel and security details of the new governor, Ademola Adeleke, without any complaint.”

Reacting to the allegation, Governor Adeleke through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said: “It is wicked on the part of the past administration through Ismail Omipidan to attempt to shift the looting on innocent security agencies, who he claimed Oyetola handed over the assets that were looted bare to.

“It was even an aberration in democratic clime that an outgoing government would claim to hand over to security agencies, instead of the incoming administration. Omipidan’s afterthought denial is shameful to say the least.”

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been praised for slashing tuition fees for pioneer students of the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) Ijanikin/Epe, and Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Ikorodu, by 65 per cent.

The management of the two universities had proposed tuition fee of N195,000 for their pioneer students before Sanwo-Olu slashed it to N68,000.

A statement by the governor’s Special Adviser on Education, Tokunbo Wahab, said the Sanwo-Olu administration would continue to support the two institutions and work towards making them one of the best in the country.

The Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom, Oba Abdul-Semiu Kasali, described the tuition fees slash as a big relief, as more parents would be able to send their children to acquire university education.

The Baale of Parafa in Ikorodu Local Government, Chief Jamiu Odusanya, described the governor’s kind gesture as a welcome development.

He thanked the government for assisting students from indigent homes to meet their university aspirations, saying the reduction would promote the growth of university education.

Students’ Union Government (SUG) President of the defunct Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Okeychukwu David, a 300-level student of Mathematics and Economics; expressed happiness about the news.

David said his major fear had been how to further his education after his NCE programme, especially as many of his colleagues, who completed their NCE programmes, could not further to the university.

His counterpart in LASUSTECH, Aderemi Balogun, an HND student of Business Administration, said his fellow students were excited over the news.

He hailed the governor for his kindness, saying the new fee was pocket friendly and affordable.

“We are happy to receive the news, as expectations were high before that the government might increase the fees, since the schools were converted to universities. We owe Governor Sanwo-Olu a lot of gratitude for the reduced tuition fees and for the infrastructural projects ongoing on our campus,” Balogun added.

The police have placed N2.5m reward for reliable information on the arsonists that recently attacked Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) office at Iyana Mortuary area of Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The Police Command said whoever that feeds the command with useful information leading to the arrest of those behind the attack, would collect N2.5m as reward.

The Abeokuta South office of INEC, was on November 10 set ablaze by hoodlums, who sneaked into the premises in the wee hour of the morning with loaves of bread soaked in petrol, which they threw into different parts of the building and set it on fire.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole, had since directed the State Criminal Investigation Departments of the Command, to commence investigation to unravel the arsonists behind the fire.

The Command’s spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the directive was meant to get to the root of the matter, and bring the perpetrators to justice.

“The Command has resolved to reward anybody with credible information that will lead to the arrest of the perpetrators with the sum of N2.5 million.

“In view of this, any  member of the public with useful information that will assist the command  should come forward, and be rest assured that such information will be treated with utmost confidentiality,” Oyeyemi stated.

Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu yesterday presented a budget proposal of N272.736 billion for the 2023 fiscal year to the House of Assembly.

Akeredolu presented the budget tagged: “Budget of Shared Prosperity” to the lawmakers during a plenary sitting presided over by the Speaker, Bamidele Oleyelogun, at the newly renovated House of Assembly Complex, Igbatoro road, Akure, which was inaugurated last week.

The House of Assembly complex built in 1979 by the late Pa Adekunle Ajasin-led administration was renovated by the Akeredolu administration

The governor said N143.511 billion was budgeted for capital expenditure and N129.224 billion for recurrent expenditure.

The 2023 budget proposal is higher than that of the total projected budget outlay for 2022 fiscal year, which was N199,282,437 billion.

Akeredolu disclosed that the 2023 budget was prepared on the basis of the inputs garnered during the Town Hall meetings with stakeholders across the state.

He noted that the budget was tailored towards achieving the REDEEMED agenda of his administration, which is also in tandem with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to the governor, the projects and programmes  carefully selected in the budget cut across critical areas of infrastructure and environment, education, health, social safety -net, security, industrialisation, among others.

Governor Akeredolu said with the resources available to the government, his administration had continued to pursue its developmental agenda in areas of priority.

He added that government had been able to record modest achievements across board in various thematic areas of the REDEEMED agenda.

The Governor listed some of the achievements to include construction of more than 450km of roads across the state; construction of over 238 blocks of classrooms; provision of 16, 874 sets of pupil’s furniture and 3,394 Teacher’s furniture; strengthening of Amotekun and other security Agencies in the State through provision of operational vehicles and equipment; empowerment of over 9,068 Youths through ONDEA; rehabilitation of water supply schemes in Araromi Obu, Oke-Igbo, Oba-Akoko, Idoani, Okitipupa and Ilutitun.

Others are distribution of over One Million Cocoa seedlings to Cocoa farmers; peri-urban electrification in the Akure-Irese corridor; regular payment of salaries to State Workers; provision of free maternal health care (Abiyamo/Solayo Scheme) for over 40,000 pregnant women and children; and empowering of 48,761 under the ONDO-CARES Programme.

He commended the Speaker and other members of the House for their passion and timely effort in considering the 2023-2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) as well as the passage of the 2022 Revised Appropriation Bill in response to the exigencies of deepening security, infrastructural development and to cater for the vulnerable.

Governor Akeredolu equally thanked the people of the State for their unflinching belief, confidence, co-operation and support for his Administration.

The Governor informed the Lawmakers that in fulfilling the aims and objectives of the 2023 budget proposal, his administration will pursue policy stance that will entrench efficient spending, curb waste, engender inclusivity, and enable excellent service delivery.

“Notwithstanding the present climate of uncertainty, we are steadfast in our resolve to put the economy on the sustainable path to realize its full growth potential. By the grace of the Almighty God, we shall leave no stone unturned as we continue to build a strong, vibrant and resilient economy, powered by good governance and people-centered programmes,” he added.

Present at the budget presentation are the deputy governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa; members of the State Executive Council led by the Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu; state chairman of the APC, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, and several other top government functionaries.

In his speech, the Speaker of the House, Bamidele Oleyelogun, affirmed that the presentation is in tandem with the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic or Nigeria 1999 (as Amended).

He noted that the content of every budget, no doubt, has great impact on the life of everybody in the society.

“lt is a reflection on the journey so far in our conscious effort to collectively work for the upliftment of the welfare of our people in terms of ensuring that developmental projects cut across all segments of the State and are people oriented.

“As an arm of government, it is another opportunity to examine the fundamental linkages between our past, as a people, present concerns as well as the vision, hopes and aspirations for the future of our State.

“I want to specially appreciate Mr. Governor for the total overhauling, renovation and commissioning of our Legislative Chamber equipped with the State of the earth materials and gadgets. The ninth (9th) Assembly is particularly proud of you and we are assuring you of our unalloyed loyalty, commitment and dedication to work,” he said.

The Speaker specially commended the Governor for the undiluted attention his administration accorded to every sector of the economy in the State.

He stressed that it is generally acknowledged that the people have indeed witnessed rapid infrastructural development within the last few years, even in the face of very limited resources.

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has hailed the judgment of the Supreme Court, affirming him as the validly- elected candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the June 18 governorship election.

Supreme Court had yesterday dismissed the case instituted by one of the APC governorship aspirants, Kayode Ojo, an engineer, challenging the validity of Oyebanji’s emergence as candidate of the party.

Oyebanji, reacting to the ruling of the apex court, described it as a welcome development and a triumph of truth and justice.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, Governor Oyebanji, who described the ruling of the apex court as a landmark judgment, said the Supreme Court had put a final seal of validity on the primary election of the APC that produced him as the party’s candidate for the June 18 governorship election.

“Again, the judiciary has lived up to expectation as the bastion of our democracy and rule of law. The ruling has put to rest, the controversies surrounding the January 27 APC primaries.” Oyebanji said.

While hailing the judiciary for living up to its reputation as the last hope of the common man, Oyebanji said he was happy the court upheld the decision of over a hundred thousand APC members that voted for him across the 16 local governments as the party’s candidate during the primaries on January 27.

The governor, however, urged his supporters to be magnanimous in victory, stressing that the case was a family affair, which should not warrant any name calling or bad blood among members of the party.

He called on Ojo and a few others, who might have issues with the outcome of the January 27 primaries of the party to sheathe their swords and re-direct their energy towards working with his administration to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state.

“I congratulate the judiciary for living up to expectation as the last hope of the common man. I also appreciate my brother, Ojo, for approaching the court for the determination of the matter, instead of resorting to self-help.

“Now that the Supreme Court has ruled and affirmed my candidacy, I urge my brother,  Ojo and others who may have issues with the outcome of the January 27 primaries of our party to join hands with us in the task of building a more prosperous Ekiti State,” he added.

He congratulated the national and state leadership of the APC for the victory.

“It is victory for democracy; it is victory for our people. We thank God Almighty from whom all blessings flow. We thank the Judiciary for living up to expectation. We thank entire Ekiti kete for their demonstrated love and support.

“To all APC members, our next assignment is to work and mobilise massively for the victory of our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and our party in the coming presidential election.” Oyebanji said.

•Seeks support

 

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has visited the House of Assembly to solicit support.

He visited the lawmakers at the plenary to extend hand of friendship to the legislative arm.

Addressing the lawmakers, Adeleke said since there should be continuity in government, his administration would not abandon any of the projects embarked on by the previous administration.

He promised to sustain the harmonious relationship between the executive and the legislature, to move the state forward.

Speaker Timothy Owoeye said the assembly would support the government.