Category: South West

Eight months after the invasion of Igangan town in Ibarapaland by suspected herders and armed bandits,  Oyo State House of Assembly has appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to fulfil his promise to the victims.

The appeal was contained in a motion yesterday by the lawmaker representing Ibarapa North/Central Constituency, Peter Ojedokun.

He recalled that besides the attacks experienced by Igangan last year, the town was invaded on June 5, 2021 leaving many dead and houses, shops, filling stations and vehicles, including lorries loaded with goods, burnt.

The palace of the Asigangan of Iganganland was also torched.

The House praised Makinde for his intervention through the deployment of security agencies in the town, the free treatment given to those injured in the attack and the presentation of cash to the families of the Amotekun commander and four others killed in the attack.

The Assembly urged the state government to make credit and loan facilities available through the Ministries of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Trade, Investment, Cooperatives and Industry to businessmen and women as well as other individuals who lost their goods and property during the attack.

The lawmakers equally appealed to the state government to work through the Ministry of Public Works and Transport as well as Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters towards rebuilding the palace of the Asigangan burnt by the assailants.

The Assembly called for all round security surveillance, especially in areas already identified as flashpoints in Iganganland, to prevent recurrence.

The death has occurred of  Pa. Jeremiah Olu Oma Ahonaruogho.

He was 84.

Funeral programme will be announced by the family later.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has inaugurated the second batch of 19 high capacity drainage clearing and maintenance equipment, as part of efforts to ensure Lagos is flood-free.

Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tunji Bello, said never again would Lagos be branded as a flood-ravaged city.

The inauguration was held yesterday at the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang (EFAG) yard in Oregun, Ikeja.

Sanwo-Olu said the government would be a step ahead in preparing for the aftermath of the rainy season because of the nature of Lagos as a coastal city.

He said his administration would position the Office of Drainage Services to perform its roles, adding that the equipment would be deployed in every part of the state.

“Complaints of non-removal of silts from drains will be addressed with the new tipping trucks,” the governor added.

He said: “We don’t have enough equipment to fight the menace. So, acquiring these ones is a big step in the fight. It’s an ongoing process and we hope to see changes as we move along.

“These ones were acquired last year, and we will do more this year until we have enough to cover the entire state.”

Special Adviser to the governor on Drainage and Water Resources, Joe Igbokwe, said the government was aware of its responsibility to evolve strategic methods that would improve the environment and guarantee that the state was flood free and beautiful for residents.

He added: “This feat can only be achieved through sustainable cleaning of all drainage channels.”

The Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Lekan Shodeinde, said he was confident that the new equipment would improve efficiency in providing all-year-round drainage maintenance for effective and efficient flood management.

The drainage maintenance equipment comprise two loader black hoe model, one low loader trailer, one track loader, four wheel pick up, five tipper truck, two light cargo truck, one low bed horse, one crane truck and two floodlights.

ALL Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders yesterday endorsed former Lagos State secretary Lanre Ogunyemi for House of Representatives in Ojo Constituency.

Grassroots leaders, representatives of monarchs, clergy and laity, women leaders and youths joined the delegation of Arewa, Igbo and Southsouth in the federal constituency at Iyana Ishashi, where he unfolded his ambition.

Ogunyemi, described as a humble and a loyal party man by many chieftains, is a former Alliance for Democracy (AD) state secretary, one-time special adviser to deputy governor, two-term member of House of Assembly and former APC state secretary.

The declaration and endorsement, which also coincided with the aspirant’s 59th birthday, was witnessed by party leaders, including the apex leader, Alhaji R. O. Olorunfunmi, Oto Awori Council Vice Chairman Abiodun Azeez, former Sole Administrator Wasing Sahala, Raji Babatunde, Mrs. Iyabo Asafa, Isiaka Yaya, Mrs. Sherifat Ogunleye, Rev. Esther Michael and Jimoh Adewale.

Clerics and market women leaders prayed for Ogunyemi, who donated cash to five non-partisan roadside women traders to augment their businesses.

Pa Olorunfunmi urged party members to revalidate their voter cards, saying Ojo Constituency was ready for shadow poll, whether direct or indirect primary.

Describing himself as father of all aspirants, he said: “All stakeholders are present here. It is a signal. The person we want and who God wants will get the ticket.”

Ogunyemi, who had been denied the ticket in the past by manipulators of ethnic politics, said he threw his hat in the ring, after months of personal reflections, private debate sessions, clarion calls, prompting, consultations and prayers.

He said his political career had been characterised by selfless service, advocacy and quality representation, stressing that he had performed creditably in previous tasks.

Ogunyemi said as a public officer, he had displayed honesty, forthrightness, integrity, discipline, tenacity, assiduity, firmness, hard work and credibility.

Reflecting on preparation for 2023, he said: “As we look forward to having quality representation and a competent federal representative in Ojo, so do we look forward to having a great president in Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

He added: “His political sagacity, as well as strategic mastery of national and global issues qualify him as the best hand the country needs at this time. That the progressives hold reins of power today could not have happened but for Asiwaju Tinubu’s prowess.

“That Lagos is walking tall in the comity of states in Nigeria today is because of the foundation laid by him as the architect of a modern Lagos.

“Asiwaju Tinubu is a clairvoyant leader and an intelligent person. Nigeria needs him. May God make Tinubu our president in 2023.”

The remains of Madam Felicia Ajibomode Akiri will be laid to rest on Saturday at Oke Emo Quarters, Ilawe- Ekiti, Ekiti State.

A devout Christian and a community leader, she died at 101 peacefully in her sleep on September 14 last year.

A statement by her son, Temitope Akindele, said she will be buried after a service at Methodist Church, Nigeria, Oke Emo Quarters, after which guests will be entertained at Ekiti Southwest Training Ground, Igbara Odo Road, Ilawe-Ekiti.

The former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Kayode Soremekun, has described the late Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University, Otuoke, Prof. Tunde Samuel, as an achiever, a diligent and an inspiring administrator with a Midas touch.

Soremekun, who was FUOYE VC when the late Samuel was the chairman of the Governing Council, recalled that the achievements recorded by his administration, which had made FUOYE the best among its contemporaries, were inspired and supported by the late Governing Council chairman.

He said the university community owed Samuel the growth and development associated with FUOYE today.

Soremekun, in a condolence message, commiserated with the Governing Council, the workers and students of the Federal University, Otuoke, over the loss, lamenting that the university would miss him, especially his determination to replicate his success story that made FUOYE cross the bar.

He said the deceased was a consummate democrat, who brought this quality to bear during council meetings by ensuring that matters were discussed and contributed to by all Council members before decisions were reached through voting and occasionally by consensus.

Soremekun said the late Council chairman was a standard in humility, transparency, accountability and a firm believer in results, who was not given to celebrating efforts.

“He was always saying that efforts that did not lead to results were not enough and therefore could not be celebrated.”

Soremekun described the late chairman as a nationalist and an ambassador to the Federal Government, who was ready to serve in any part of the country, at any given capacity and at whatever time, no matter how odd the time was or how inconvenient it was to him.

The former VC prayed that the Almighty God should stand by the family, the Governing Council of the Federal University, Otuoke and the university community and give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has postponed its outstanding state congress for the purpose of electing new Executive Committee in Lagos State.

The exercise, which was earlier scheduled to take place tomorrow, will now hold on February 27.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja yesterday, said the approval was given by the party National Working Committee (NWC).

PDP advised all aspirants, critical stakeholders and members of the party in Lagos State to take note.

After 28 years of interregnum, a new Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo, Oba Lawrence Jaiyeoba Adebajo, will be crowned tomorrow in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State.

The event is expected to attract sons and daughters of the town, guests and well-wishers.

As a mark of honour for the new monarch and to ensure a memorable event, Governor Dapo Abiodun has directed that all schools in Ijebu-Igbo and its environ should not open tomorrow.

This is to allow parents, teachers and students partake in the epochal event.

The government enjoins Ijebu-Igbo people and their guests to cooperate with the security operatives and traffic controllers to ensure that the historic ceremony is conducted in an orderly manner.

Some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Alimosho area of Lagos State yesterday pledged their allegiance to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Led by the senator representing Lagos West, Solomon Adeola, and apex leader, Abdullah Enilolobo, the group described actions of their leader and Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola as “unfortunate and regrettable.”

But another group loyal to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, described their (Adeola/ Enilolobo group) action as “medicine after death.”

Addressing reporters at the secretariat of Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Adeola and Enilolobo said all APC members in Alimosho were loyal to Tinubu.

Adeola vowed that nothing would make him and others stop being Tinubu’s followers.

“Asiwaju Tinubu made all of us in Alimosho and we will ever be grateful to him. He made me a senator; he made Akinbile (Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf) a commissioner; he made Eyes Open (Femi Adebanjo) a Reps member; he made Enilolobo a party leader and all the six council chairmen in Alimosho. We cannot be ungrateful to him,” he said.

He described the APC factional group that protested against Aregbesola on Sunday as “opportunists”, who wanted to benefit from the misunderstanding between Aregbesola and Asiwaju Tinubu.

“They can never take over the party structure from us,” he sang.

Adeola congratulated Governor Adegboyega Oyetola on winning the primaries last Saturday.

The APC Alimosho Liberation Movement and Veterans, under the leadership of Princess Orelope-Adefulire, described the action of Senator Adeola and Enilolobo-led group as “deceitful.”

Their spokesman, Lateef Ibirogba, a former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, said the group should come out to deny their loyalty to Aregbesola “if they are not being mischievous.”

The Orelope-Adefulire group accused them of working against the presidential ambition of Asiwaju Tinubu.

Ibirogba said Enilolobo led some of the party leaders to Osun State to support Aregbesola’s candidate, Moshood Adeoti, against Governor Oyetola.

He said: “They also mobilised party members in all the six local governments in Alimosho to support Prof Yemi Osinbajo’s presidential ambition in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, two weeks ago. We confronted them with evidence and they couldn’t deny it. What were they doing in Osun State on Saturday during the primary? Were they not there to support Aregbesola’s candidate? They returned to Lagos in disgrace. We were the group that came out on Sunday to rally against Aregbesola. This jolted them and their leaders, hence their show of shame today (yesterday). Their action today (yesterday) is medicine after death. They cannot deceive Asiwaju Tinubu with their fake support and rally.

“We want to let them know that they cannot serve two masters at the same time. It is either you are for Asiwaju Tinubu or Aregbesola. We made our stand known on Sunday that we are not for Aregbesola. Our total loyalty is to Asiwaju Tinubu. Let them also come out to declare where they belong. You can’t announce your support for Asiwaju Tinubu in the public and still work for Aregbesola in private.”