Category: South West

Aggrieved landlords and indigenes of Ijoka, Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, yesterday protested government’s delay and unwillingness to pay compensations for their demolished buildings located in the heart of the metropolis.

The buildings, about 100, acquired in overriding public interest in 2016, were demolished to give way for the building  of a car park, now being converted to a bus terminal by the state government.

The expansive area was demolished by the administration of former Governor Ayodele Fayose when the construction of the ultra-modern Ado Ekiti Central Market began.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Mr. Kehinde Adeosun said the foot-dragging in payment of their dues had rendered many homeless and brought trauma to property owners in the area.

“The existence of Ijoka community dated back to 1300. The community, until its demolition in 2016, was the commercial nerve centre of Ado-Ekiti where traders made millions of naira daily.

“We want to stress that all other communities and towns acquired after the demolition of our dear community had received compensations from the government. An example is the land acquired for the construction of airport in Ado-Ekiti and other towns where their owners had received compensations.

“The trauma on our members as a result of this neglect has caused a lot of havoc and psychological distress. We plead that the government should pay us our entitlements.”

An 80-year-old former labour leader, Mr. Isa Bello, said the community had written letters to Governor Kayode Fayemi and Deputy Governor Bisi Egbeyemi, an Ado-Ekiti indigene, but their efforts were fruitless.

The youth leader of Ijoka, Olasehinde Omotoso, said it was unfortunate that the government spent billions of Naira to institute projects in the area, while failing to pay compensations due to them.

Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo has reinstated Mr. Olayinka Mohammed Amuni as the registrar, following Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s approval.

Amuni, who was asked to step down last May for not advising the then governing council properly on the selection process for a new vice chancellor, will resume at his old post on February 1.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello welcomed Amuni back to the institution in a statement signed by the Coordinator, Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations, Mr. Ademola Adekoya.

The statement said: “The Governor of Lagos State and Visitor to the Lagos State University, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has approved the reinstatement of Mr. Olayinka Mohammed Amuni, fnim, as registrar of the university, with effect from February 1.

“Recall that Mr. Amuni had been directed by the state government to step aside from his position on May 21, 2021, in the wake of the dissolution of the former governing council of the university, until the completion of the process of the appointment of the 9th substantive vice chancellor of the university. The process eventually culminated in the appointment of the current Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello,  mni.

“The vice chancellor, on behalf of the entire university community, congratulates Mr. Amuni on his reinstatement and wishes him well in the remaining part of his tenure.”

Amuni thanked Sanwo-Olu, the Special Adviser on Education (SAE) and the VC for their roles in his reinstatement.

He said: “My deepest appreciation to our amiable governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, for his approval and also the SAE, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, for driving the process.

“Many thanks to my VC, Prof (Mrs.) Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, for her kindness and for being a part of this. I appreciate your kind gesture. May the almighty God be with you. I also appreciate the entire LASU family.”

The families of Bank-Akinnuoye and Luwoye Ogoma of Ondo town and Ikale in Ondo State have announced the funeral arrangement of their wife and daughter, Chief Margret Funmilayo Bank-Akinnuoye, who died on September 19, 2021 at the age of 84.

She is survived by children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, sisters and brothers.

Christian wake will be held today by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), at her home, 22, Oluwabamikole Street, Yaba, Ondo town.

Funeral service by RCCG will be held at her residence, 22, Oluwabamikole Street Yaba, Ondo town, Ondo State. Time is 10am.

Interment will follow immediately at the same address, while guests entertainment will take place at Divine Event Centre, Akinkugbe Avenue, behind NIPCO Petrol Station, Brigadier Ademulegun Road, Ondo town, Ondo State.

No fewer than eight aspirants are to slug it out at the January 27 All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary for the party’s ticket for the Ekiti State governorship election in June.

The aspirants appeared before the Sen. Domingo Obende Screening Committee at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja yesterday.

Those screened by the committee are Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, former Secretary to State Government, Biodun Oyebanji, Sen. Dayo Adeyeye, Mr.  Femi Bamisile and former Commissioner for Public Utilities, Mr. Bamidele Faparusi,

Other aspirants are Kayode Ojo,  Mr. Ademola Popoola and Arole Oluwatoyin Olusola Afolabi.

Members of the Olubadan-in-Council yesterday agreed to withdraw the case that has been cited as an impediment to the enthronement of the new Olubadan of Ibadan land.

The high chiefs took the decision at their meeting held at the Olubadan palace, Oja’ba, Ibadan.

The latest decision has cleared the way for the formal announcement and enthronement of the Otun Olubadan, Sen. Lekan Balogun, as the next Olubadan of Ibadan land.

The Otun-Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, who addressed reporters after the two-hour meeting, said the high chiefs agreed with the governor to withdraw the suit.

He said the process of withdrawing the case had begun; stressing that due process would be followed.

He said: “The case was adjourned till February 1 and whatever happens, we will have to get to the court before the withdrawal can take place.”

As earlier reported by The Nation, yesterday’s meeting was informed by an agreement the high chiefs reached with Governor Seyi Makinde last Saturday that all parties would do whatever necessary to ensure the selection and enthronement of the next Olubadan were smooth.

The high chiefs who became royal majesties and baales who were elevated to coronet-wearing obas by the 2017 review of the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration, filed separate suits challenging a consent judgment obtained on the suit challenging their elevation. They argued that the consent judgment was obtained without their participation, stressing that their fate could not have been decided behind them.

The elevated baales have scheduled their own meeting for tomorrow during which they will also review the current situation of things on the succession process and take a position.

They have, however, indicated that the high chiefs’ decision to withdraw their own case did not affect their own suit in any way since they are separate suits.

The Ibadan Anglican Diocese is to mark its 70th founder’s anniversary.

The Bishop of the diocese, Rt. Rev. Joseph Akinfenwa, said events had been lined up to commemorate the week-long anniversary slated to hold between January 24 and 30.

Speaking with reporters yesterday in Ibadan at a news conference to herald the anniversary, the bishop said the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, would preach the anniversary sermon with the theme: “God with us, as with our fathers”.

He said awards would be given to distinguished members of the diocese, who had contributed to the development of the church.

Rt. Rev. Akinfenwa said the church had contributed to the development of the society through education, agriculture, health, infrastructural development and societal re-orientation, among others.

He added: “Programmes scheduled for the event include Evening of Praise and Miracle, Holy Communion Service, Men’s, Women’s and Youth Day, Uniform Organisation and Documentary Day and Thanksgiving/Awards Day, among others.”

The loyalists of Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, under a group, The Osun Progressives (TOP), have denied an alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the coming governorship election.

The state Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Sunday Bisi, had in a viral video claimed that the party is a friend of TOP, saying: “At present, we and TOP are not enemies; we are friends. Whoever that does not want Oyetola for a second term is our friend. We shall jointly send Oyetola away.”

But the caucus through its Chairman, Elder Adelowo Ogunbiyi, said in a statement: “From an unbiased mind, it is clear that the PDP chairman was referring to reckless Facebook posts by members of the Ileri Oluwa camp.

“This is the same way they started the politics of pettiness and division.

“However, to set the record straight, TOP is a caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and our hearts and souls are with the party. We did not have any alliance with the PDP or any other party in the state. Why do we even need to form an alliance with any party when we are sure of victory within our party before and after the July 16 governorship election?

“We also want to tell the PDP that it is a wishful thinking for them to expect us to work against our party because of the current crisis. We are progressives to the core; we cannot betray our ideology.”

Students of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) yesterday protested harassment and extortion by thugs and cultists at the south gate entrance of the school.

They blocked roads leading to their school, causing gridlock, which extended to the Akure-Ilesha highway.

The protesters became more annoyed when a motorist, in a bid to manoeuvre through a blockade set up by the students, hit two of them.

The victims were rushed to hospital, while the motorist escaped.

One of the students, Ayo Bami, said the thugs beat up the students’ union leader on Sunday evening after chasing some students into the school premises.

He said: “We are here to express our displeasure about what has been happening in our school in the past months. The boys at south gate are cultists and also indigenes of the community. They harass us and demand money from us. If you are well-dressed, they will stop you and collect your money. Sometimes they force students to make bank transfers. They beat up our students’ union leader yesterday. We want the government to intervene.”

Another student, who simply identified himself as Emmanuel, said the protest was to express their grievances about the pains they went through in the hands of the hoodlums.

FUTA spokesman Adebanjo Adegbenro said it was not a protest but a sensitisation march against actions of some persons living close to the south gate, who bullied some of the students.

“Sometimes, they also rob them. It is a sensitisation march and also to let the security know the behaviour of these individuals.

“We have done all we can to ensure students’ security. We are also in constant engagement with the community to ensure those things do not fester. Our duty is to make report. It is the police that will make arrest and prosecute.”

A coalition of governorship aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State yesterday protested the conduct of the ward congress to elect three ad hoc delegates to participate in the January 26 shadow poll.

The aspirants include former Ekiti State Governor Segun Oni, Sen. Biodun Olujimi, Alhaji Lateef Ajijola and Mr. Yinka Akerele.

The four aspirants, who stormed Adebayo area of Ado-Ekiti with supporters armed with placards, alleged manipulation of the exercise to favour former Governor Ayodele Fayose’s political group.

The inscriptions on the placards were “Enough is Enough”, “We Say No imposition”, “Fayose Alone Can’t Win Ekiti for PDP”, “We Are Not for Sale”, “There was No Ad hoc Congress in Ekiti”, among others.

Addressing reporters in Ado-Ekiti, Olujimi, flanked by Ajijola, Akerele and Oni said the ward congress didn’t take place in any part of the state, adding that the purported result being bandied around was allegedly concocted by Fayose.

She slammed the five-man panel sent by the PDP national secretariat to supervise the congress, lamenting that the exercise was shrouded in secrecy to subvert people’s will, transparency and inclusive participation of the aspirants.

Olujimi said the exercise was devoid of democratic ethos and ideals, as many PDP members across the 177 wards waited in the sun for hours, expecting the arrival of electoral materials, only to be told that the election had been conducted.

“There was no ad hoc ward congress and we want cancellation. What really happened was that one person hijacked the materials and wrote the list. If you hijacked the materials and wrote the names of the delegates, then, you will face the consequences.

“It’s not about me. It’s about our party and future. What is important is fairness and justice. Any place where there’s no fairness and justice, there won’t be peace. So, all the peace agreements have been broken. When you break a peace agreement, what do you expect us to do? To fold our arms? No, we won’t,” she said.

She alleged that the exercise was designed from the outset to favour Fayose to ensure his preferred aspirants secure the party’s flag in the June 18 governorship election.

Olujimi described the development as unfortunate and fraudulent, lamenting that it had placed a strong moral burden on the democratic credentials of the party, which many believed as the bastion of democracy.

She urged the party leadership to intervene by allowing compliance and adherence to democratic norms devoid of manipulation, warning that the development, if allowed to persist, would be a threat to the victory of the party at the polls.