Category: South West

Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ondo State has elected executive council members (Excos), led by Mr. Stephen Adewale

He was elected at a congress of the party held last weekend.

But some members of the party insisted that no congress was held.

They claimed that many party members were dissatisfied with the method adopted by the Congress Committee.

SDP Publicity Secretary Mr. Remi Olayiwola accused some members of instigating violence in the party with a view to duping unsuspecting aspirants ahead of the 2023 general election.

Speaking after he emerged as SDP Chairman, Adewale urged members to close ranks, as the general election approaches.

He said: “Members of our newly-elected State Working Committee of our great party and I express our gratitude to the delegates of our great congress. We acknowledge the responsibility they have bestowed on us, and we will strive to meet their goals for the growth of our great party in Ondo State.

“In the following days, we will knock on every door in the state, demolish every stronghold and visit every nook and cranny, to ensure that the SDP is registered in the minds of the people.

“You will need to do feasibility studies if you wish to launch a new profitable firm. On this basis, we have done our homework and discovered that Nigerian political parties have been using the incorrect formula since 1999, and that their incorrect formula has left the country poorer and more backward than when they arrived, and that their bad policies have satisfied no one, enraged everyone and succeeded in deepening the cleavage of the very crisis they were supposed to solve.”

THE constituents of Ijero/Ekiti West/Efon Federal Constituency have endorsed the incumbent occupant of the legislative seat, Omowumi Ogunlola, for second term.

The constituents comprising traditional rulers, youths, market women, elders and artisans endorsed Ogunlola for re-election on Sunday in Ijero during the third edition of her empowerment programme.

Some of the items donated included an ICT centre to Ijero Comprehensive High School, a comprehensive health centre in Ejiyan-Ekiti, nine vehicles, five tricycles, 60 motorbikes, 100 sewing machines, 110 generators and 40 deep freezers.

Others were 15 wheel chairs, 47 grinding machines, 15 vulcanising machines, 100 barbing kits, six rice processing machines, five cassava processing machines and cash gifts to hundreds of traders, widows and students.

Speaking on behalf of the monarchs, the Owa Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole, said Ogunlola deserved another term, following her sterling and unprecedented achievements.

The wife of Ekiti State Governor, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi, hailed Ogunlola for her superb performance.

The APC state Chairman, Paul Omotoso, praised the lawmaker’s effective representation.

Ogunlola said she was committed to enhancing the well-being of her constituents.

The National Alumni Association of the University of Ilorin (Unilorin) has called on the institution’s authorities to avoid ethnic and religious sentiment in choosing the next vice chancellor, warning that it would monitor the process to ensure that only the best candidate emerges.

The association, in a statement by its National President Dr Olawale Fasakin and Assistant General Secretary Dr Lai Oparinde, said its warning became necessary in view of the crisis trailing the selection of new VCs in Nigeria today.

Unilorin has advertised the position in national dailies.

The association encouraged all qualified candidates from within and outside the university to apply for the position, assuring that it would monitor the selection process to certify compliance with extant rules and ensure that nothing is done to favour any candidate by reason of ethnicity or religion.

The statement read in part: “We encourage all interested persons who think they have met the stated criteria, within and outside the University of Ilorin community to apply for the position.

“While wishing all the candidates the best in their quest to take the baton of leadership of our dear university, the National Alumni body is constrained to register the statement below in view of the recent ugly incidents that have characterised the selection process of vice chancellors in Nigeria.

“As a stakeholder in the matters of our alma mater, we believe that the opportunity to be the next vice chancellor is open to all qualified persons, irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliation. Therefore, more than before, the body shall, closely, monitor the process to ensure that the candidate with the best qualification gets appointed as the Vice Chancellor of our great University.

In commemoration of the 2022 World Oral Health Day, Pepsodent, a toothpaste brand endorsed by the Nigerian Dental Association is set to engage one million children in Nigeria on the importance of oral health to people’s overall well-being and quality of life.

The children will be reached through the educational schools’ programme with emphasis on the importance of brushing day and night. Free toothpastes and toothbrushes would be given to the children to facilitate their brushing habits.

The theme for this year’s World Oral Health Day is ‘Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late #TalktoaDentist.’ The aim is to help raise awareness to ensure people understand the importance of acting early, from the moment a problem arises.

Speaking during a press conference to commemorate the day, the Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director, Unilever West Africa, Soromidayo George, said, “In demonstration of our commitment to improving oral hygiene in Nigeria, Pepsodent has reached over 5 million school children by educating them on the importance of brushing twice daily and creating a 21-day routine for them to develop a habit of brushing first thing in the morning and the last thing at night.

A nonprofit Organisation under the auspices of Caring Hands International has offered free medical checkup and treatment to market women and traders in Osogbo, Osun State to mark the World Health Day.

During the medical outreach at Alekuwodo Market in Osogbo, the group conducted series of tests on the beneficiaries for early detection in those that have health issues.

The Executive Director of Caring Hands International, Mrs Fehintola Obilomo said the World Health Day was celebrated on April 7 of every year to raise awareness about the overall health and well-being of people across the world.

She noted that the World Health Day was an initiative of the World Health Organization since 1948. The theme for this year is “Our Planet, Our Health.”

Obilomo who was represented by the Coordinator, Mrs Eunice Jolasun said the NGO takes the medical outreach to the market because majority of the traders take their health with levity.

One of the beneficiaries including Mrs. Tijani Elizabeth said the programme enabled her to know her health status. She expressed gratitude to Caring Hands International for the gesture.

A member of the NGO, Mr A.O Omisore said the event was to raise health awareness among market women and traders and to encourage them to take their health seriously.

Non-Ibadan residents were yesterday enjoined to live peacefully with their hosts and cooperate with the Olubadan Palace towards ensuring that nobody is unjustly treated.

Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, made the call at his Alarere, Ibadan residence while hosting the executive members of the Offa Descendants Union (ODU), Ibadan zone who paid him a congratulatory visit.

Oba Balogun, who remarked that Ibadan has for a very long time in history become a melting pot of different nationalities would not change under his reign, rather, he said the Palace would encourage the metropolis to be more conducive for indigenes and non-indigenes alike.

To however complement his gesture, the monarch declared the need for all to live peacefully among themselves, adding, “the accommodating nature of Ibadans is second to none which accounts for our daily expansion to our joy and satisfaction.

“It is however incumbent upon our visitors to reciprocate Ibadans’ good nature by shunning all forms of act capable of disrupting the age-long tradition of good neighborliness and I want to assure you of my fairness to all in the relationship between the residents and the Palace as a father of all”, Olubadan stated.

The Senator representing Ondo South senatorial district, Senator Nicholas Tofowomo, has said he deserved a second term at the National Assembly because of several developmental projects he attracted to the district.

Senator Tofowomo who spoke after leaders of Ondo South endorsed him at an enlarged meeting at Ile-Oluji, headquarters of Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government said the people would benefit more.

Towofomo urged the Ondo South electorates to take example from their northern counterparts who ensured an individual served in the National Assembly for more than two terms

He had more access to budgetary allocation and access to attract vital constituency projects.

Senator Tofowomo said he has sponsored 12 bills while five other bills were at the third reading.

He said, “In the history of Ondo South, nobody has ever sponsored bills as I have. So far, I’ve sponsored 12 bills and these bills have exposed Ondo South as one of the richest senatorial district in this country without federal government touching.

“We have the largest bitumen deposit in the whole Africa, second largest in the world. We have the longest sea shore which can accommodate six seaports and we don’t have a single seaport here.

“Also, we are the largest producer of rubber in this country and rubbers here are being taken abroad for refine, these is unfair. We have the largest production of oil palm, so God has blessed us with natural resources and we need someone to call the attention of the federal government to develop these resources.

“When you become a ranking senator, you have the opportunity to create jobs for your people. Second timer is a world of opportunities. For instance, I’ve sponsored a motion for the repair of a particular bridge in Ijaw part of Ondo South but because I am not a ranking senator, it has been abandoned.

Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), yesterday denied what it called false alarm that it is stoking religious crisis in Osun State by revoking a land earlier allotted to the Muslim community and gave it to a Christian and a Pastor.It said the report which went viral on several news platforms including Sun News Online, was a figment of imagination of its authors.

The NRC management however asserted that it has called for a full scale investigation into the matter and all parties involved have been invited by the corporation to come forward with their documents and claims to the disputed land. The report had alleged that “NRC officials are taking steps to convert a piece of land already granted to the Muslim Community for use as a Muslim prayer ground for the use of one Pastor Solomon”.

The management in a statement issued yesterday said the grave allegations against its officials are untrue, as the issue is about two temporary allottees having misunderstanding over matters bordering on boundaries on its land.

The Management of Nigerian Railway Corporation and the Railway Property Management Company Limited however admitted that the differences had lingered as efforts to resolve the differences/misunderstanding on the matter amicably had been unsuccessful.

“The Management of Railway Property Management Company Limited wish to categorically state that the issue in contention is between two temporary allottees on Railway land who have misunderstanding over boundaries. Efforts have been made to resolve the problem with no success.”

The NRC/RPMCL in the statement said a piece of land measuring 20m2 was allocated to one Lateef Oriade on Temporary permit in 2015. Another piece of land measuring 56m2 was allocated to one Bukola Solomon in 2016 and both allottees have been occupying the space since 2015 and 2016 respectively.

“In November 2021, one Imam and his son came and complained about an attempt by someone wanting to claim the land. The Area Manager in trying to resolve the issue, went with the complainant to the said site. On getting to the site, the Manager discovered that the land in question was the one allocated to Lateef Oriade which the Imam claimed had been transferred to him even though there was no evidence to back that claim.

“The Area Manager discovered that the space being occupied by the Imam is 372m2 as against the 20m2 on the letter of allocation to Lateef Oriade. But the Imam claimed that the space allocated to them is 372m2 and the 56m2 allocated to Bukola Solomon. The Area Manager further directed that both the Imam (representing Lateef Oriade) and Bukola Solomon should apply for the regularization of their allocation since the allocation in their possession is a temporary permit which they both promised to comply.

However, instead of them applying for the regularization, the Area Manager received a report that the two tenants continued their disagreement over the matter. To this note, the Area Manager gave both of them a six months revocation notice due to their refusal to reconcile and to comply with the directive to regularize their stay.

The Corporation said it does not have any record of allocation of the land in question to any Imam, Muslim Community nor any Pastor, as such, the claim to incite any religious crisis might be the handiwork of mischief makers.

The good people of Osun State and indeed the general public should disregard any malicious claim to disrupt the peace in Osun State.