Category: South West

The Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Lekan Balogun, has promised to meet holders of Ibadan chieftaincy titles periodically, to harness their potential for the development of Ibadan land.

He made the promise while receiving the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai (rtd), who is the Akinrogun of Ibadanland and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Republic, who was at his Alarere, Ibadan palace, at the weekend.

The ambassador visited to congratulate the new monarch.

The monarch, who spoke through his younger brother, Sen. Kola Balogun, said such meetings would afford the title holders the opportunity to justify their installation as chiefs.

Balogun said the meeting would hold once or twice in a year with title holders who lived in different locations around the world.

The Olubadan, who described his guest as a dedicated and loyal Army general, said his appointment as an Ibadan chief was not a mistake and prayed that his shadow would not grow less.

Buratai had described the new Olubadan as a person whose name and personality preceded his enthronement as Olubadan, owing to his philanthropic gesture, detribalised posture, politics and activism.

The former COAS said the enthronement of Dr. Balogun as the new Olubadan “is a well-deserved one, for he has always been a man of honour with good poise and carriage that befit royalty. It is a divine call for you, Kabiyesi, and you will always be divinely guided as you direct the affairs of Ibadan people, among whom I’m one as one of your chiefs.”

Congratulating Ibadan indigenes and residents for having Balogun as their monarch, Buratai said the attributes mentioned earlier would come to play during the reign of the new king.

Accompanied by Brig.-Gen. S. K. Usman (rtd) and Lt.-Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, among others, he promised to remain a loyal chief to the monarch and Ibadanland by answering to his duties as the Aare Akinrogun of the ancient metropolis anytime the need arose.

An Ogun State-born Information Technology expert, Hon. Akeem Oluseye (HAO) has declared his ambition to contest for the state House of Assembly in 2023 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The seat is currently occupied by a former Commissioner for  Education, Science and Technology Commissioner, Mrs. Modupe Mujota, who won the seat in 2019 on the ticket of Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and afterward returned to the ruling APC.

Oluseye, a social scientist and former chairmanship aspirant declared his aspiration to represent the people of Abeokuta North State Constituency at Ward 7 in Gbagura Community, Abeokuta North LGA on Wednesday during a political meeting. While addressing the political gathering, HAO lauded his people for their encouraging unflinching support, pledging to quality legislation, representation, and provision of dividends of democracy to serve the people of Abeokuta North Constituency.

“This is my immediate community and Constituency. it makes fundamental and logical sense to come here first to make my intention known because all Politics is local. I need the support of everyone; this is our project, we must all work effectively in achieving the dream. Representing you will bring various progressive projects to improve the status of Abeokuta North and the people.’’

Oodua People’s Congress Reformed (OPC-R), has restated its commitment to securing communities in the southwest region of the country.

A statement issued by its President, Ambassador Dare Adesop said the security of lives and property in Yoruba communities has been uppermost in his mind ‘’from time immemorial.’’

Adesope noted that securing Yoruba communities goes beyond just having a new nation but a very peaceful one.

‘’ Although, the Yoruba Nation is necessary, saving its states from enemies within and outside is more paramount. Aside from the enemies within, Yoruba need to tackle enemies beyond its territories, especially herdsmen.

‘’A new nation is very much achievable by doing the needful and this simply means that we have to go back to the drawing board. Security of the lives and property of our people is of utmost importance to us, that is why we have our ears on the ground sniffing for intelligence reports and we act speedily on intelligent information.

‘’Also, our people who are engaging in human rituals must be dealt with including their herbalists. My group, OPC(R) of over 100,000 members all over and beyond Nigeria have set their mind on security and have been performing wonderfully well in that field.

”We are doing a great deal of job but we also need we are very close to our people, we have members in different zones that know every corner of their area like the back of their palm, we can fish out a thief even by looking at him.”

He also felicitated with Yoruba Nation activist Chief Sunday Adeyemo also known as Sunday Igboho on his release from Benin prison.

According to Adesope, ‘’though the release is based on the health issue, Igboho is set to enjoy his freedom beyond the prison box.’’

The Methodist Girls’ High School Yaba, Old Girls’ Association (MGHS OGA), has encouraged the current students of the alma mater, to pursue their dreams rather than allow anybody to limit them.

They were also advised to be focused, self-confident, and have a voice no matter what people say about them.

The Methodist Girls’ High School Old Girls’ Association celebrated 2022, International Women’s Day (IWD) with the current students of the school with the Theme:” #Breakthe bias.”

Speaking at the event, Nigerian Retired Track and field legend, Modupe Oshikoya, encouraged the students and admonished them never to let anybody take their talents from them.

She said that for those of them that would like to run far, they shouldn’t allow anybody to take their talents from them, and if they have talents they should use it to the best of their ability, adding that because of her tracks she got a scholarship.

Oshikoya, a product of Methodist Girls High School, Yaba, is one of the greatest athletes Nigeria ever produced, competing in sprint, long jump, high jump, and heptathlon.

”You girls that like to run far, don’t let anybody take your talents from you.  If you have talents, do it no matter what anybody tells you. If you like any sports do it to the best of your ability. Because of my tracks, I got a scholarship, my daughter got a scholarship too running tracks.’’

Also speaking at the event, The President of the Old Girls’ Association, Maj Gen Tilewa Amusu (rtd) acknowledged the principal, Dame Oluyemisi Idowu for facilitating the close relationship that old girls had with the school.

The Ogun Alternate Medicine Board has said that it will set up a task force to fish out uncertified traditional medicine practitioners rendering evil services to perpetrators of criminal activities.

Speaking at a strategic meeting with members of staff and stakeholders in Abeokuta on Friday, Chairman of the Board, Mr. Balogun Olaleye condemned the rising rate of ritual killings, kidnapping, and cultism in the country, saying the situation should be nipped in the bud to ensure peace in the society.

“I am saying that the use of human beings or human parts for ritual is not in our value system and we will not accept such.

“The board is strategic in curtailing the evil acts and we are deploying all means to track down the unscrupulous traditionalists,  whom the people believe are the ones rendering the evil services,” he said.

According to him, some of the measures to end the menace include re-orientation of alternate medicine practitioners, traditionalists, and herbalists as well as strengthening the synergy with security agencies on enforcement.

He said findings had shown that the heinous acts were being perpetrated mostly by youths due to moral decadence in society and the ‘get rich quick syndrome’.

He said the board would ensure that certified practitioners in the state abide by the operational rules and guidelines of the practice for human wellness.

A member of the board, Alhaji Ajisope Aroyewun, pointed out that 70 percent of culprits arrested and interrogated by the Police had no connection with certified herbalists or traditionalists.

Also, Alhaji Adetunji Kalejaye, the Director of Administration and Supplies, Ministry of Youth and Sports, commended the efforts of Gov. Dapo Abiodun at ensuring that culprits of human rituals were punished in accordance with the law.

Kalejaye promised that the ministry would continue to engage youths in fruitful and meaningful ventures.

World Bank has given Lagos state a sum of N900 million as an advance payment for implementation of the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (NG-CARES).

The money was part of the sum of N35.3 billion advance payment distributed to all the 36 states of the federation and the FCT by the World Bank to cushion the effect of the pandemic on livelihood, welfare, food supply system, the informal sector, and local economy.

The Lead Specialist cum Task Team Leader, NG CARES, World Bank Country Office, Abuja, Prof. Foluso Okunmadewa, made the disclosure at the 1st Implementation Support Mission for NG-CARES on Tuesday in Ikeja.

Okunmadewa explained that the programme was organised for the World Bank, the Federal Government, and State delegates who would be participating in the implementation of the programme in Lagos state.

He said that all the 36 states were running the programme and had become effective in every state.

”Advance was given to the states at different amounts ranging from 500 million to 1.3 billion in some cases.

”A total of N35.3 billion has been disbursed to all the 36 states of the federation and the FCT as advance. Lagos state is among the best, It got N900 million,” he said.

In a keynote address, the Lagos State Commissioner for Budget and Physical Planning, Mr. Sam Egube, said that the state was participating in all interventions that suit it and that would alleviate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its citizenry.

He added that the State Government had put in place the necessary machinery that would ensure smooth implementation of the intervention in accordance with the dictate of the operational manual.

“FADAMA project in the Ministry of Agriculture will work on food security and safe functioning of food supply chain while the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund will be facilitating, recovering and enhancing the capabilities of MSMEs.

Egube said that the Lagos State Government had received N900 million as an advance payment for the implementation of NG-CARES as of March 7.

There is disquiet in the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo state over the alleged move by Governor Seyi Makinde to offer automatic tickets to some of the serving members of the State House of Assembly.

Some members of the party are of the opinion that such a move may affect the performance of the party in the 2023 general election.

It would be recalled that the names of 13 of the members of the state legislative house were said to have been penciled down for automatic return to the state assembly.

Concerned PDP members were said to have argued that such a move would give the lawmakers an undue advantage over others that may want to aspire.

According to them, many of the legislators abandoned their constituencies and party members since they were elected in 2019.

It was further learnt that the lawmakers being considered for automatic tickets were allegedly considered to have failed to complement the efforts of Makinde at ensuring the socio-economic development of the people of their constituencies.

A party leader from one of the local government areas in Ibadan, who spoke in confidence, explained that any idea of an automatic ticket could be problematic for the party, noting that the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), in the state was not resting on its plan to take back the state from the PDP.

He said: “All that we want is a level playing ground for everybody, it is morally wrong to force these lawmakers on the party members and if they are forced on members they cannot be forced on the electorate.

“We are the people at the grassroots, we know what the electorate is saying, let everyone that is interested go to the field and contest a free and fair primary election, any serving lawmaker that wins will know he has loved and wanted and has done his homework perfectly instead of trying to get the tickets through the back door.

“This is an election where the voters will have multiple choice, so the governor and the leaders of the party should give us level playing ground, all we want is a free and fair primary which we know the party members would abide with”.

The majority leader of the state assembly Hon Sanjo Adedoyin, was said to have been attacked at the Ogbomoso south local government meeting of the PDP over an allegation that he had not been responsive to the people and was seeking a return ticket.

A governorship aspirant in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Popoola Olukayode-Joshua, yesterday declared his intention to contest against Governor Seyi Makinde in the 2023 election.

Popoola, an engineer, said he would unseat Makinde because the security situation in the state had worsened.

He said it should be tackled before it got out of hand.

Popoola said the government should tell the truth about the arrest and detention of the accountant-general.

He said Makinde should give account of the borrowing by his administration since he assumed leadership.

He said the people deserved the best governor in 2023.

“For how long can we continue to borrow money for payment of salaries? For how long can we empower strangers from Osun State to determine our fate in Oyo State? Our leaders are yet to tell us why the accountant-general was arrested and detained. The only statement the government made was that they were harassing them.

“I offer myself and declare to contest the 2023 governorship election in Oyo State on the platform of our party. I am well equipped to defeat the incumbent,” Popoola said.

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Oyo/Osun Area Command, said yesterday that it had impounded contraband goods worth Thirty-Four Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty-One Thousand Naira within three weeks.

Speaking with reporters in Ibadan at the command’s headquarters, the Comptroller, Babajide Jaiyeoba, said efforts of the anti-smuggling operations of the command led to the seizure.

He said the seizure was made between February 17 and March 10.

Jaiyeoba said the items seized include seven used vehicles with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of 11,745,000, 548, 50kg bags of imported parboiled rice with DPV of 9,644,800, 898, 25litr kegs and 101 of 200ltr drums of petrol with DPV of 1,975.600, 355 pieces of used tyres with DPV of 2,130,000, 57 bales of second hand clothing with DPV of 6,840,000, five sacks of used shoes with DPV of 300,000, one sack of used bag with DPV of 60,000 and 10 cartons of used compressor with DPV of 378,000.

He said the achievements were made possible through timely sharing of credible intelligence and effective collaboration between the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’, CGC Strike Force Team and Joint Border Patrol Team.

He said the command would maintain zero tolerance for smuggling, bearing in mind its negative implications on the economic growth and development of Nigeria.