Category: South West

A coalition of youths from Akoko North in Ondo State wants the member representing Akoko North East  and Akoko North West federal constituency in the House of Rep,  Olabunmi Tunji-Ojo given an automatic return ticket to the House in 2023.

The coalition made up of youth groups across the federal constituency under the auspices of Coalition of Akoko North Youths ask traditional and religious leaders across the area to ensure that Rep Ojo return to the House without any form of opposition from any quarter.

Rising from their summit, the youths said in their communique signed by Convener, Ife Ehindero and Director General, Thalis Apalowo that the achievement of the lawmaker since his election is unprecedented in the history of the federal constituency.

The communique which was made available to The Nation in Abuja said ”We are aware of Rep. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo’s development master plan for our constituency and we are giving him our full backing to ensure this plan is sufficiently implemented.

“We, therefore call on Rep. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo to contest for the House of Representative seat again as we are sure his continuity will ensure more development even more than we have witnessed in the past 2 years under him.

“Rewarding BTO with our support and votes is the only true way to encourage other leaders that our people are not ingrates, and that they will always appreciate quality representation.”

Increasing with the epileptic state of our electricity. Portable water and many other necessities were becoming so hard to come by.

A Federal lawmaker representing Ijesa South consistency, Lawrence Ayeni yesterday inaugurated 1000 team to embark on door-to-door awareness for Governor Adegboyega Oyetola second team bid.

Ayeni speaking during the programme explained that the 1,000 team christianed ‘Ayeni Team For Oyetola’ are volunteers who will move round the 42 wards in his constituency and the team would start working from the grassroot, through house to house propagation of the good works executed by Gov. Oyetola in the last three and half years of his administration.

He said, the volunteers that will work inwardly in ensuring that APC and Gov. Gboyega Oyetola win the Osun gubernatorial election in July will commence work immediately.

Reeling out the achievement of the governor, Ayeni pointed out the recently upgraded Osun State College of Education, Ilesa to a full-fledged University, saying Oyetola is a talk and do governor that is always ready to listen to the yearnings of the people.

“ I took the bull by the horn today to inaugurate this team and later we will move to the 42 wards in the federal constituency.

Speaking at the event, the Director General, Ilerioluwa Campaign Organization,  Israel Famurewa, lauded the efforts of hon. Ayeni for putting the team together to support the party and Governor Oyetola in his re-election bid.

The Police command in Ondo State yesterday  foiled an attempted kidnap of nine passengers on the Lagos/Ore expressway.

This is contained in a statement signed and made available to newsmen by SP Funmilayo Odunlami, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ondo State Command yesterday in Akure.

Odunlami said the victims were rescued on Friday, April 22 at about 6:30pm when the Police Rapid Respond Squad of the command were on routine check on the highway.

“Police Rapid Respond Squad of the command on Friday, received a distress call that some people were being whisked into the bush by people suspected to be kidnappers.

“With the joint effort of policemen attached to the Ore Division, all the victims were rescued.

“While a victim who had a matchet cut on his right finger was taken to the hospital for treatment, an Android phone belonging to one of the victims was also recovered in the bush.

“Effort is in top gear to arrest the culprits while the driver and other passengers have been allowed to continue their journey,” Odunlami said.

The PPRO, therefore, assured the commitment of the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Oyeyemi Oyediran to all road users in the state of adequate security within its   command.

As part of his consultation and familiarization exercise, to stakeholders and SDP party chieftains, High Chief Oluomo of Ijero Kingdom, Chief Sesan Arowolo, paid a visit to the ex Ekiti State governor, Chief Segun Oni, the SDP party gubernatorial flag bearer in the forthcoming election in Ekiti State.

Speaking during the visit, Oluomo brought the chief to speed on some of the works and events he has been executing for the success of the party in the June 18 gubernatorial election, he expressed his readiness at all times to support the party to victory up to presidential level morally and financially.

In his response Oni said he was happy to receive the Senatorial candidate and expressed his gratitude for the visit and advised further that Oluomo and his team should leave no stone unturned until the party SDP records success in all the elections.

He further said: His humility, his dedication to his work and the cause of the people even his compassion for Ekiti youths, not to talk of his humanitarian gesture to people especially the people within Ekiti Central where his local government Ijero falls and Ekiti in general where several people have benefited from his scholarship schemes, free medical and other financial assistance, can be described as unprecedented.

Little wonder he was honoured by the Owa Ajero of Ijero Kingdom with the prestigious chieftaincy title of Oluomo of Ijero Kingdom which literally means Field marshal of the youth.

A governorship hopeful on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun state, Otunba Jimi Adebisi Lawal (JAL) has felicitated with Christians on the occasion of this year’s Easter celebrations.

In a statement issued in Abeokuta on Friday, Lawal rejoiced with Christians for the grace and strength to fast all through the 40-day Lent. This, he said, culminates in the Easter celebrations.

The statement reads in part, “By observing the 40-day spiritual exercise, Christians imbibed Jesus Christ’s virtues of discipline, love, and sacrifice, culminating in his death, burial, and resurrection for the common good.

“As Christians all over the world and Ogun state, in particular, celebrate Easter, we must not lose sight of the lessons of discipline, love, and sacrifice which the life and ministry of Jesus Christ exemplified.

“We must be ready to get out of our comfort zone, live a life of love and sacrifice for the good of the greatest number of people. That is why I always say the best way to worship God is to serve humanity.

“In the midst of the Easter celebrations, let us spare a thought for our dear country and state; and pray to the Almighty God to intervene in our situations and systems, and give us leaders after His own heart even as we begin the processes of choosing a new set of leaders.

“If ever there was a time we needed men ‘who possess opinions and a will; men who have honour…tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog in public duty, and in private thinking…’, this is the time. And we need the guidance and intervention of the Supreme being to lead us aright. So, let us take time out to pray along this line even as we celebrate the Easter.”

The factional governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Osun State, Prince Dotun Babayemi has urged Christians on religious harmony and tolerance.

In his Easter message released by his Director of Media, Kayode Oladeji, Babayemi noted that a lack of religious tolerance would continue to breed conflicts which could be creating more security challenges in the country.

”Regardless of where one belongs to; whether Christianity, Islam, or any other religion, we remain brothers and sisters. As the creations of the almighty, we remain congenially bonded. We all have the latitude to believe in any faith we so desire without any friction.”

Babayemi implored Christians and adherents of other religions to continue to pray for the successful outcome of the coming governorship election in the state, particularly for the victory of the PDP at the polls.

Operatives of Ogun State Police Command have arrested a 65-year- old landlord, Samuel Adekoya, over alleged physical molestation and child abuse of 11-year-old twins brother namely, Taiwo Enoch Olishe and Kehinde Emmanuel Olishe.

According to a statement released by the police spokesman, Mr. Abimbola Oyeyemi, Adekoya was apprehended on Friday after the mother of the victims, Gbemisola Olishe reported to Ijebu Ode Area Command reported that ‘’while she was away on her business, she received a phone call from a good Samaritan informing her that her landlord was seen tied her twins’ hands and legs like goat and dragging them on the ground with the rope after beaten them with cable wire. The suspect was also video recording the cruel act while carrying it out.’’

Oyeyemi noted that the twins sustained varying degrees of body injuries as a result of the way they were manhandled by Adekoya.

‘’Upon the report, the Area commander ijebu Ode, ACP Adeniyi Omosanyin, detailed some policemen to the scene where the two boys who were met tied down on both legs and hands were rescued and taken to hospital for treatment.

‘’The suspect who happened to be the landlord of the victims’ parents was promptly arrested and taken to the station.

‘’On interrogation, the suspect explained to the police that he was informed that one of the twins excreted within the compound despite his warning that the compound must be kept clean always. When asked to take the policemen to where the excreta is, he said the boy has already washed it.

Oyeyemi explained that one of the twins is currently on admission at Ijebu Ode General Hospital as a result of the injury he sustained when Adekoya dragged him to the ground.

He added: ‘’Meanwhile, the commissioner of police, CP Lanre Bankole, has ordered that the case be thoroughly investigated and that the suspect must be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is concluded.’’

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly Mudashiru Obasa has felicitated with Christian faithful in the state and Nigeria as a whole.

Obasa, in an Easter message by his media office, described the season as a celebration of God’s divine love for mankind, as confirmed by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

He noted that such love, spread among neighbours, will help to put Nigeria in an enviable position among the comity of nations. According to Obasa, love comes before other considerations for a society’s existence or progress.

He said: “It is love that propels peace. It is love that makes leaders want to act right, it is love that helps the followers live in unity. Even Jesus noted that loving your neighbour is one of the most important commandments of God.

“It is love that will help us build faith in our country and grow it further from where it currently stands. With love, there can’t be cases of man’s inhumanity to man.

“Just as Easter allows us to understand the importance of love and forgiveness, I urge Nigerians to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus with sober reflection on His virtues and lessons He left behind.”