The Nation Newspaper

Category: South West

  • Sanwo-Olu seeks LSPBMMA partnership in Lagos

    Sanwo-Olu seeks LSPBMMA partnership in Lagos

    THE Lagos State Planks and Building Materials Marketers Association marked a milestone in the history of their organisation as they celebrated their 30th anniversary.

    According to the president of the association, Alhaji Lateef Adelodun, the purpose of the event was to strengthen ties and to canvass support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Sanwo Olu.

    To demonstrate their oneness, the traders showed up at the event in uniformed Ankara clothing. Some members received awards for their contribution to the society.

    At the event, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu sought partnership of Lagos State Planks and Building Materials Market Association (LSPBMMA) to win the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

    Sanwo-Olu who was represented by Cornelius Ojelabi, Lagos State APC chairman, spoke at the LSPBMMA 30 anniversary last week.

    Calling for partnership, Sanwo-Olu said his team would continue to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive without closing down any or carrying out anti-people policies.

    According to him, LSPBMMA has contributed immensely to the development of the state and that’s why he always involved them in his administration. He also said he knows the contributions of the group to the state economy.

  • Desist from making inflammatory remarks, Abiodun urges Nigerians

    Desist from making inflammatory remarks, Abiodun urges Nigerians

    OGUN State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has called on Nigerians to desist from using inflammatory words capable of aggravating the current situation in the country. He observed that it is only in the atmosphere of peace, harmony and tranquility that the country can attain the desired development and growth.

    Abiodun made this call yesterday while speaking at the Leadership Capacity Building Conference of the Ogun State Chapter of the Nigeria Pentecost Fellowship (PFN), held at the Fellowship Secretariat, Kobape, Abeokuta.

    He stressed that it was imperative for Nigerians to continue to see themselves as one and pray for the nation to overcome her challenges. The governor noted that the theme of the Conference, “The Throne of Grace, Building of Nations through the Church”, was appropriate especially at this time when Nigeria is experiencing insecurity and several other challenges.

    “As individual citizens, we have to be patriotic in our utterances and deeds. It is important for all of us to desist from using inflammatory words which are capable of aggravating the situation. Let us continue to build bridges instead of fences.

    “Nigeria is faced with lots of challenges like insecurity issue, the exchange rate and others that have affected our economy. All these create uncertainty and have effects on our psychic”, he noted.

    He described the church as one of the institutions that have played vital roles in educating, enlightening and embarking on citizens ‘orientation of their civic duties as patriotic citizens, saying that it was important for Nigerians to be mindful of the type of leaders they choose in the forthcoming elections, as it would have impact on their well-being.

    “Leadership is a dynamic revolutionary process of influencing behavior which means influencing the actions of others towards a shared purpose. It is about character, influence, integrity and positive impact made on the lead.

    “We must choose leaders that will impart on our lives and that of the next generation. We all have individual and collective roles to play for the development of our State, nation and humanity”, the governor emphasized.

    While enumerating some of his administration’s achievements, he maintained that policies and programmes that would increase the prosperity of the people, would be formulated and implemented, just as his government remains unwavering in  building the future of the state as encapsulated in the ISEYA Agenda.

  • Court invalidates Kwara APC Reps member’s candidature

    Court invalidates Kwara APC Reps member’s candidature

    A Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, has invalidated the primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that produced Raheem Olawuyi as the House Representatives candidate for Isin/Oke-Ero/Ekiti/Irepodun federal constituency in the 2023 National Assembly election.

    Olawuyi, a member of the House of Representatives, is seeking to return to the green chamber.

    But, Oluwasegun Adebayo, also an aspirant and son of ex-Kwara governor Cornelius Adebayo, had approached the court challenging the modus operandi of picking Olawuyi.

    He argued that he was the authentic winner of the APC primary election of the constituency.

    Adebayo in a suit filed before the court, said Olawuyi had sought to get the Kwara South APC senatorial ticket and participated in the primary election that eventually produced Senator Lola Ashiru as candidate.

    In his judgement, Justice Mohammed Sani declared Adebayo as the winner of the election.

    He thus affirmed Adebayo, an engineer, as the APC candidate for the 2023 election in Isin/Oke-Ero/Ekiti/Irepodun federal constituency.

  • ‘Kwara saves N3.9b from being pilfered via consultancy’

    ‘Kwara saves N3.9b from being pilfered via consultancy’

    Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) has said in the last three years, it has prevented the pilfering of N3.9 billion “via dubious consultancy services.”

    The revenue agency said it had ended “the era of bogus and often opaque consultancy fees of the past.”

    In a statement, Head, Corporate Affairs, KWIRS, Mrs. Titilayomi Ogunwale, said “unlike in the previous regime, KW-IRS is today subject to strict fiscal discipline and monitoring at higher levels. It does not control its spending, nor does it handle any fund anymore. This is an improvement in prudence, transparency and accountability.”

    She added that the agency “is appalled by the weight of bile and determination of some persons to undermine the Service for their selfish gains.

    “However, what keeps us above the malicious intent and envy is our professionalism, transparency and the huge gains so far made in raising the bar in revenue generation and good ethics.

    “A report in an online medium purporting some imaginary mismanagement of any funds is an exercise in futility.

    “The savings from what was paid as consultancy before are now ploughed back to the public treasury for investment and development projects.

    “It is this transparency and patriotic act of the current management that are being twisted by the detractors, who are not used to such culture.

    “The Service is aware of the vast network of conspiracies to sully its image through propaganda and false equivalence as political campaigns begin. However, we shall remain true to our commitments to raise the bar in our service to the people of Kwara State without compromising the law or our ethics. We will not succumb to lies and blackmail of any kind.

    “The public are enjoined to ignore the falsehoods, join hands to build a more prosperous Kwara, and continue to play their lawful part of tax payment as and when due to support the developmental agenda of the government.”

  • Lagos intensifies efforts to eradicate open defecation

    Lagos intensifies efforts to eradicate open defecation

    Lagos State Government, as part of efforts to eradicate open defecation and urination, yesterday engaged public toilet operators to promote healthy sanitation practices in public toilet management across the state.

    Speaking during the second edition of the training workshop for public toilet operators held in Ikeja, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Omobolaji Gaji, said the government was determined to eradicate the menace of open defecation by 2025.

    He said part of the objectives of the one day training was to build capacity for toilet operators as well as ensure a cleaner, more hygienic and safer public toilet environment.

    Gaji, represented by the Director, Sanitation Services, Dr. Hassan Sanuth, said the government had four cardinal points of operation, which included advocacy, regularisation and standardisation, bridging the gap and monitoring, evaluation & enforcement, adding that the training workshop came under regularisation and standardisation.

  • Students urged to imbibe reading culture

    Students urged to imbibe reading culture

    An alumnus of Ibadan Grammar School, Mr. Jide Ogungbadero, in conjunction with Urban Books and Technology, USA, yesterday urged students, particularly those in secondary schools, to be studious, to eradicate negative thoughts that could lead them to banditry, hooliganism, kidnapping, yahoo-yahoo, among others.

    He said book reading would assist them to develop intellectually, adding that education remained the only weapon for nation building.

    Speaking in Ibadan at the 2nd Annual Spelling Bee Competition to commemorate his 71st birthday, Ogungbadero, represented by the former Lagos chairman of the alumni association, Mr. Akeem Suara, said education was the weapon Nigerians needed to develop the nation.

    He said the purpose of the competition was to reawake educational standard and develop reading culture among students.

    “Six winners will emerge today, three from the junior school, while the remaining three will come from the senior school. The winner of the senior class will become the principal of the school for one day. Cash prize and other educational items will be given to the winner.”

    The Vice-President of the alumni association, Gafar Ojetola, lamented that curricula in schools “have become obsolete, as they do not meet up with global standard. There should be rejigging of the syllabus.”

    He said the government should invest more in education “because no nation can be great beyond its standard of education.”

    The Principal of Ibadan Grammar School, Gbenga Oladejo, said the programme was borne out of Ogungbadero’s passion towards educational development of students.

  • Osun: Tribunal accepts BVAS reports showing over-voting, Adeleke’s alleged forged certificate, others

    Osun: Tribunal accepts BVAS reports showing over-voting, Adeleke’s alleged forged certificate, others

    Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has admitted in evidence, the Certified True Copies (CTC) of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) reports showing the over-voting in favour of Ademola Adeleke during the July 16 governorship election.

    The tribunal, led by Justice Tertsea Kume, also admitted in evidence, Adeleke’s Diploma Certificate from Penn Foster High School, B.Sc. Certificate from Atlanta Metropolitan State College, Letter of Attestation dated May 22, 2016 from Ede Muslim High School, NYSC Certificate of Exception and some other documents as exhibits.

    Also admitted are, forms EC8As, for Olorunda, Obokun and Ila local governments, forms EC8Bs, which are results of the wards and forms EC8Cs- the results of each of the 10 local governments being challenged, forms EC8D which is the summary of the overall result, EC8Es the declaration of the result and form EC9.

    Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are challenging the declaration of Adeleke by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as winner of the election in 10 local government areas, just as it is also challenging his qualification to stand for the election.

    At the resumed hearing of the petition yesterday, counsel for Oyetola, Dr. Saka Layoonu (SAN), tendered additional documentary evidence, including the CTC of the much celebrated BVAS reports, which indicated that the number of accredited voters is lower than the total number of votes cast in the said councils.

    Layoonu, while formally tendering the documents, informed the court that the evidence had been jointly cross-checked by both parties and the secretariat of the tribunal and confirmed to be accurate.

    Respondents’ counsels,  Jamiu Olabode (INEC), Niyi Owolade (Adeleke) and Nathaniel Oke, SAN (PDP) objected to the admissibility of the documents and indicated that they would canvass arguments in the final written addresses.

    The tribunal, in its ruling admitted the documents in evidence, marked them as exhibits and adjourned till November 16.

    Earlier, the PDP counsel, Oke, raised the alarm before the court alleging that the media reports being circulated were not actually what transpired in court, saying: “My Lord, we are not comfortable with the reports of proceedings by reporters in this court.”

    But the tribunal chairman, while responding, asked for evidence, hard facts to that effect.

    The panel further said it was unaware of any inaccurate reportage of its proceedings, saying: “We can’t comment on what we don’t know, unless you come up with hard facts. We are not here for social media commentaries.”

  • Fasoranti expresses concern about Afenifere’s dignity

    Fasoranti expresses concern about Afenifere’s dignity

    Leader of pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, has said he is concerned that the organisation should survive in dignity and remain a purveyor of the interest of the Yoruba.

    Pa Fasoranti, in a statement by his personal assistant, Adedapo Abiola, said his main concern was the interest of the Yoruba in the complex political situation.

    He said the false statements ascribed to him by some sections of the media, especially the social media, were designed to cause confusion and polarise the organisation.

    He said he never mentioned that Chief Ayo Adebanjo was no longer the acting leader of Afenifere or that all future Afenifere meetings be held at his home in Akure.

  • Expulsion of Adebutu, four others compounds Ogun PDP crisis

    Expulsion of Adebutu, four others compounds Ogun PDP crisis

    The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State worsened yesterday, as the party expelled its former governorship aspirant, Ladi Adebutu and four others for alleged involvement in the manipulation of the delegates’ list.

    The party said the alleged manipulated delegates’ list was used in conducting the May 25, 2022 governorship primary election in defiance of court order.

    PDP on October 25 suspended Adebutu and four others – Taiwo Akinlabi, Sunday Solarin, Kayode Adebayo and Akinloye Bankole, for alleged violation of agreed terms of settlement of the challenges confronting the party.

    However, PDP in Ogun State took a step further yesterday to finally expel Adebutu and four others after the Working Committee of the party reviewed the report of a five-man disciplinary panel set up to look into the allegations of anti-party, indiscipline, division and acts capable of bringing the party into disrepute.

    The Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, Akintunde Mufutau, said in a statement: “After a thorough review of the allegation levelled against them, the panel found Adebutu and others guilty. Subsequently, they have been recommended for expulsion and same has been communicated to the necessary organs of the party for ratification.”

    The governorship hopeful of PDP in Ogun State, Otunba Jimi Lawal, has withdrawn a suit he filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seeking leave for an order of mandamus to compel the commission to give effect to the court-ordered governorship primary election held on October 17, 2022.

    When the matter came up yesterday before Justice Joyce Abdulamalik of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, it was discovered that Adebutu, who refused to participate in the court-ordered primary election, had filed a motion to join the suit.

    His counsel contended abuse of court process and told the court that there was a pending appeal that had been slated for hearing on November 14, 2022.

    The court advised counsel on both sides to do the needful or else she knows what ruling to give.

    Consequently, counsel for the applicants, Dr. Kemi Peinhero (SAN) & co., applied to withdraw the application for leave an order of mandamus.

    The court granted the request to withdraw the suit. It struck out the matter.

    In doing so, the court said the right of the applicants to return after the determination of the appeal was preserved.

    It refused to hear Adebutu’s application to join the suit, describing it as “premature and unwarranted.”

  • 52 Ijebu traditional rulers endorse Abiodun for second term

    52 Ijebu traditional rulers endorse Abiodun for second term

    Fifty-two traditional rulers in the Ijebu Traditional Council yesterday announced their endorsement of Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun for another term of four years.

    The royal fathers, who converged on the Awujale’s palace in Ijebu Ode, unanimously threw their weight behind the governor’s re-election bid, citing his sterling performance since he assumed office in 2019.

    A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, said the monarchs conveyed their endorsement in a communique read by the Secretary of the Council, Obiri of Ayepe-Ijebu, Oba Rosiji Ogunbanjo, at the end of their monthly meeting presided over by the President of the council, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikirulai Kayode Adetona.

    Reading the communique, Oba Ogunbanjo said after reviewing happenings in Ijebuland and Ogun State under the leadership of Governor Abiodun, the Council unanimously endorsed him to continue in office beyond 2023.

    The monarchs hailed the governor for signing into law, the Obas and Chiefs Laws of Ogun State 2021, which, according to them, has positively reformed installation and burial rights of traditional rulers in Ogun State.

    The traditional rulers, who noted that the governor has demonstrated inclusive governance that has brought down drastically, the political heat in the state, also lauded him for carrying out projects equitably in the divisions of the state.

    They listed projects such as the ljebu-Ode-Epe dual carriage way; the Agro-Cargo Airport located in Iperu-Remo; the reconstruction of Sagamu-Abeokuta Expressway; Kobape Housing Estate; the Ray-Power Road; llaro-Owode Road; Imasayi – Ayetoro Road among infrastructural projects carried by Abiodun-led administration.

    “The Ijebu Traditional Council noted the governor’s pledge on the development of the deep seaport in Ogun Waterside Local Government and we encourage him to see to the actualisation of the project;

    “The governor has attracted an unprecedented inflow of direct foreign investments to the state and making the state the preferred investment destination.”

    “The governor has increased the Internally Generated Revenue for

    the state to a record level that has made the state number three in Nigeria according to BudgIT Report 2021.

    “The governor and his officials continue to accord regard and

    reverence to traditional rulers and institutions in Ogun State.

    “Taking the sterling performance of the governor and his team into

    cognisance, members deliberated further on the future of the state. And therefore, the ljebu Traditional Council (ITC) unanimously endorsed the second term bid of Governor Dapo Abiodun as governor of Ogun state, for him to continue his good, people-oriented developmental projects and services in the state beyond 2023,” the traditional rulers submitted in the communique.

    The Dagburewe of Idowa, Oba Yunusa Adekoya, said another four years of Abiodun’s leadership would turn Ogun to the utopia area.

    Responding, Governor Abiodun thanked the monarchs for their support and declaration of their endorsement for his continuity in office.

    Speaking at the event, Abiodun, who extolled the virtue of Adetona, said the monarch, is a father to him, recalling some of good things he had benefitted personally from the traditional ruler.

    Abiodun, who highlighted some of the developmental and infrastructural projects executed by his administration in Ijebuland and the state in general, said the Agro Cargo Airport alone had attracted multi-billion naira projects to the state.

    According to him, the airport project he inherited from his predecessor had earned the state a cheque of N3.5billion from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), for 100 hectares.

    In addition, the governor said one of the partners of the state had paid $400million dollars to invest in the Cargo Airport area.

    Abiodun said for these investments, the state only contributed land.

    The governor, who appreciated the people of the state for their support, promised not to rest on his oars, as he continues in 2023.