Category: South West

Muslim community in Ondo State has described the decision of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to return some public schools to Faith Based Organisations (FBOs) as barbaric, unprogressive and an initiative that posed danger to the development of education.

It threatened to seek legal action if the government refused to rescind its decision.

The Ondo Muslims said it would result in more children being thrown out of schools and deny children of the masses access to affordable and qualitative education in an atmosphere of religious freedom, devoid of bigotry.

Speaking at a news conference in Akure, the Chairman, League of Imam and Alfas, Sheikh Ahmad Aladesawe, said such action would prevent Muslim children from going to such schools.

Represented by the Secretary of the League and Chief Imam of Supare Akoko, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Akerele, Sheik Aladesawe accused the government of giving public property to empower certain individuals.

He said Governor Akeredolu wanted to return the state to the colonial era as well as acting contradictory to his electoral promises.

Aladesawe said: “It is a call to hand over public properties to individuals in the name of Faith Based Organisations. It is a call to return to the dark era in the history of educational development in our nation. The call is fraudulent; it is against progressive educational policy.

“The idea of the ‘original owner’ of the school is fraudulent, as it is a call to hand over government property to corporate bodies in the name of FBO’s.

“Are they (FBOs) ready to refund the money in its true value i.e. 2 dollars to one naira, or are they ready to buy the school in its present value? If the answer is yes, then we think the government is morally bound to publish the memorandum of understanding they signed with the purported ‘owners’ before the conclusion of handing over the schools to them.

“We want to say clearly that the idea of the ‘original owner’ is nothing but a cheap propaganda in order to arouse unwarranted sympathy from the innocent masses, who are ignorant of the consequences of this heartless request.

“Without fear of contradiction, the call for the return of schools to FBO’S or their ‘original owners’ is nothing but a call to return schools to the Christian missionaries or church. It is a calculated attempt to further deny the Muslim child free access to qualitative education in an atmosphere of religious freedom.”

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun yesterday swore in nine permanent secretaries and four principals-general, urging them to ensure efficient and effective service delivery in their Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

He advised the principal-generals to give their best in the various divisions in the educational system, which they now head.

The permanent secretaries include Mr. Waheed Adesina, Mr. Adetayo Adewale, Mr. Adedayo Oluyemi Somoye, Mr. Oluwaseyi Sokoya, Dr. Qudus Adegboyega Yusuf, Mr. Adenopo Adegbenga, Dr. Oladeinde Moshood Kayode; Messrs. Adebayo Bamidele as the Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary; and Mr. Aregbesola Thomas Babatunde as the Accountant-General/Permanent Secretary.

The new Principals-Generals are Mr. Sobulo Oluniyi Okanlawon for Egba Division; Mrs. Adeyemi Olaitan Abike for Ijebu Division; Mr. Odukoya Olusegun Owodunni for Remo Division; and, Mr. Orobiyi Sunday Akanbi for Yewa Division.

The governor noted that the event was another symbolic representation of his administration’s commitment to reform the way government business was conducted, disclosing that none of the appointees ever lobbied for the positions.

“We will continue to encourage merit and seniority in the appointment and never again will lobbying be a consideration in the appointment of public service positions,” he said.

Abiodun said the new appointees were men and women that had been found worthy in character and cerebral capacity by excelling in the Assessment and Evaluation Programme, in line with Ogun Standard.

According to him, the era of lobbying in the Ogun civil service is over.

“For emphasis, the era of lobbying is over. I salute members of their families on these well-deserved appointments. I must say that by your deeds, on and off the statutory duties, as public servants, you have demonstrated that you are of excellent parentage and thoroughbred. You are joining a group that has carved an enviable niche for itself in our administration with its superlative performance. You have all demonstrated uncommon commitment to the successful implementation of the “Building our Future Together” Agenda.

“I must also say that you must do more than what you did to merit these appointments. Your performance as directors and as principals is not sufficient to see you through at these positions of higher responsibilities. You have a great responsibility to continue to distinguish yourselves. In addition to that, you have the greater responsibility to ensure efficient and effective service delivery of your various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as the various divisions in our educational system which you now head. This will sustain the tempo of good governance for continued development of Ogun State and increased individual prosperity for the people,” the governor stated.

He urged them to unite the various constituents “of your MDAs and Divisions, respectively, around the vision and mission of this administration,” adding: “You must ensure cordial relationship in order to make your contributions to be meaningful. As you begin a journey in the footsteps of illustrious men and women of this great State, you must realise that you are receiving from the people the sacred trust, once conferred on your illustrious predecessors.”

Abiodun advised the new appointees to see their appointment as a call to greater service, as higher dedication is required for the continued development of Ogun State.

“As the Chief Accounting Officers and the Administrative Heads of your respective MDAs and Divisions, you are all enjoined to brace for the challenges of your new positions and apply yourselves diligently to the Building our Future Together Agenda. You are also to make probity your watchword, and be prudent in the management of both human and material resources under your care.  You must, therefore, provide leadership, be exemplars of virtues, integrity and consciously mentor your subordinates, who are equal catalysts to achieving the greatness of your MDAs and Divisions,” the governor said.

Abiodun, however, reiterated his administration’s unreserved allegiance to the development of all sectors of the economy of the state and continue to create the ambience needed for the optimal development of Ogun.

“We remain unwaveringly committed to the welfare of our public servants. Let me use this opportunity to reassure our public servants that we have not, and will not renege on all our promises. We have cleared the backlogs of the 2018, 2019 and 2020 promotion exercises. And, we will continue to work assiduously to off-set all outstanding dues and other entitlements as we continue to work on increasing our Internally Generated Revenues (IGR). Our state is one of the few states that continue to pay salary as and when due before the end of each month, and we will continue to do so,” he added.

ALL Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has congratulated former Ogun State Governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel on attaining 66 today.

He wished the ex-governor and APC stalwart many more years of good health to continue his contributions to democracy and national development.

In a statement yesterday by his Media Office, Asiwaju Tinubu said: “Warmest congratulations to former governor of Ogun State and prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Otunba Gbenga Daniel, on his 66th birthday today.

“Attaining this age is truly a gift from God. My family and I join you, your family, friends and associates in thanking God for you and the excellent human being that you are.

“Your contributions to Ogun State and Nigeria have been immense and enduring. You first earned your reputation as a prominent engineer before your election as governor of Ogun State.

“You embody the progressive and democratic spirit this nation needs and upon which our party is founded.

“Today, as you celebrate this joyous occasion, we pray that God Almighty grant you good health, vitality, increased wisdom and that the rest of your days be those of peace, prosperity and happiness as you continue to lend your talents to the improvement of our country.”

Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Lagos West), the chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, has decided to answer the call of his people in Ogun West Senatorial District by running for the seat in the 2023 general election.

At a rally in Ilaro, organised by West-to-West Convergence for Dapo Abiodun (W2W4DA) Group, the senator said he was heeding the call of his people to return home to contribute to the development of his people as he had done for Lagos West as their senator in the last six years.

“I want to thank God Almighty and the governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, my leader and governor and other leaders from Ogun West for their interest in me and their well wishes, leading to the event of today in Ilaro, the administrative headquarters of Ogun West. I am officially declaring to heed their call as their son to run as a candidate for Ogun West Senatorial District in the 2023 election,” Adeola told the crowd.

He said the W2W4DA had stated that there was no vacancy at Oke Mosan in 2023, as Prince Abiodun was returning for a second term, based on his achievements in his first tenure, adding that the style of governance of the governor had ensured that all parts of Ogun State to the ward level had one development project or another to point to, unlike what happened in the past, with concentration of multi-billion-naira projects in some areas.

The senator said over the years, he had contributed to the development of Ogun West Senatorial District through efforts and facilitation of projects, which would increase in leaps and bounds if he was eventually elected as the lawmaker representing Ogun West in the Red Chamber.

“I was the major donator to the multi- million-naira electrification of the College of Agriculture, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Aiyetoro Campus. I facilitated the building of a modern library at the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro as well as the ultra-modern community multi-purpose pavilion at Asade Agunloye Pavilion, Empire Ground, Ilaro and numerous empowerment in skill acquisitions, training and grants for many indigenes. As a ranking senator, all these will come in multiple for Ogun West just as I am doing for Lagos West at present,” he said.

Dr. Kunle Salako, the coordinator of W2W4DA, said similar rallies endorsing a second term for Prince Abiodun and for Senator Adeola to run as Ogun West lawmaker had been held at Imeko-Afon, Yewa North, Ado Odo-Ota and Ipokia local governments, adding that “this one in Yewa South is the grand finale as the home local government of Senator Adeola.

The convoy of the Segun Oni Campaign Organisation (SOCO) was yesterday attacked by suspected  thugs at Efon Alaaye in Efon Local Government of Ekiti State.

A statement by SOCO’s Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Jackson Adebayo, said the campaign train, which had toured nine local governments since Monday and was received by supporters of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), was attacked with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons at the centre of the town, around 3:30pm.

The statement said shortly after the SDP members had converged on the venue to wait for the party’s governorship candidate, Asiwaju Segun Oni, the suspected  thugs started to shoot. They reportedly attacked the SDP supporters with sticks and cutlasses.

Some supporters were injured and vehicles in the convoy were damaged by the thugs before the arrival of a detachment of police that overpowered the hoodlums.

An official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps was not spared by the thugs, as they attempted to snatch his gun. He was injured, but he refused to surrender his gun.

Police spokesman ASP Sunday Abutu confirmed the attack.

He said gun-wielding thugs invaded the campaign ground of the former governor and made efforts to disrupt it.

“Yes, the hoodlums came to the venue with dangerous weapons to disrupt the consultation process of the SDP candidate, Oni, but our men were able to put the situation under control.

“The police have begun investigation and arrest will be made. Those behind it will surely have a case to answer,” Abutu said.