Category: South West

A midnight fire yesterday gutted a shopping complex in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

It destroyed six of the 41 shops in the complex.

The inferno was said to have been caused by an electric surge in one of the shops in the mall located at Gari-Alimi,  opposite Kwara State Art and Culture Centre, Ilorin.

A victim, who sells ready-made wears, Mrs. Anifat Adetoro, claimed to have restocked goods two days ago ahead of Christmas festivities.

She said: “Goods in my shop alone worth three million Naira, because I also sell jewelleries. I’ve just got a jewelleries order to deliver to a client in Saki, Oyo State. These were destroyed. I want the government and well to do people in the society to please come to our assistance. Our kindhearted governor should assist us.”

Fire Service spokesman Hassan Adekunle said the agency became aware of the incident through a police officer.

He said: “Our men were able to put out the fire in time. Of the 41 shops, only six were affected. The fire was caused by an electric surge in one of the shops.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has swept all the 35 available chairmanship seats and 176 of the 177 councillorship seats in last Saturday’s local government election.

The election was held across the 16 local governments and 19 local council development areas, as well as the 177 wards.

The main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had boycotted the election, claiming that the ruling APC was incapable of conducting any free, fair and credible poll, devoid of violence.

The six parties that participated are APC, Action Alliance, African Democratic Congress, Young Progressives Party, National Rescue Movement and All Progressives Grand Alliance.

Declaring the results yesterday, the Chairman of the state Independent Electoral Commission, Justice Jide Aladejana, said APC won 176 of the 177 councillorship seats.

He said councillorship election in Erinjiyan ward has been postponed due to alleged violence that broke out during the election in the town.

Aladejana hailed the security agencies and the workers of the commission, as well as the electorate for participating in the election and cooperating for its success.

Some of the candidates declared for the chairmanship seats include Mr. Bosun Osaloni in Ado Ekiti Local Government,

Augustine Ojo, Ado Central, Oso Oluwadare, Ado North, Ado West LCDA, Adeyemi Taiwo, Oke-Imesi/Ido-Ile LCDA, Mr. Sunday Ajibade,  Ekiti West, Sesan Okere, Igbara Odo/Ogotun LCDA, Abiodun Ayodele, and Ekameta LCDA , Oyebola Kayode.

Others are: Ekiti South-East LCDA , Alaba Omonusi, Gbonyin LCDA Oluwadamilare Ajayi, Ayekire Local Government, Ayodele Fadunmuye, Ijero Local Government , Adeyemo Adeola, Emure Local Government,  Joseph Adu,  Ekiti East, Mr. Oluwasegun Ojo, Ido Osi Local Government,  Dr. Lawrence  Ogunsina, Irewolede LCDA, Mrs. Dupe Bakare,  Isokan LCDA, Olumide Fadipe, Ikere Local Government, Femi Ayodele and Ajoni LCDA, Prince Michael Ogungbemi .

The winners also include: Irede LCDA, Johnson Abobade, Ilejemeje Local Government, Oloruntoba Osadare, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government, Babatola Ogundana, Ikole West LCDA, Mr. Kayode Ogunsakin, Ise/Orun Local Government, Mr. Ayodele Akinluyi , Araromi LCDA, Chief Olorunfemi Alade, Oye Local Government, Sunday Ajimoko, Ifedara LCDA, Olawale Ogunleye,  Moba Local Government, Oriyomi Adeoye, Ifeloju LCDA, Babatunde Ogunmolugba, Ero LCDA, Akinwale Alebiosu and  Ifesowapo LCDA,  Kayode Akerele, among others.

The Ekiti State chapter of the PDP has discredited the exercise, claiming that the results and the low turnout of voters confirmed the opposition’s fear that the result was predetermined by the APC.

The party, in a statement by the Publicity Secretary, Mr. Raphael Adeyanju, said the conduct of the election in the newly created LCDAs was unconstitutional and sheer illegality.

He said since the 1999 Constitution recognises only the 16 local governments, election in the LCDAs is not only an aberration, but also a waste of resources.

“The reality in Nigeria today is that the APC cannot win any free and fair election in any state of Nigeria.

“That none of the six other parties that took part in the council election was able to win a councillorship position shows the desperation of the ruling party.”

The people of Abijo town in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, have appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to urgently intervene in the land matter between the community and a private developer, Alpha Mead Development Company Limited.

In a statement made available to our correspondent, Abijo’s legal counsel, Barrister Olusegun Ajayi, said the community took Alpha Mead Development and its partner, Ibile Holdings Limited, to court in December 2017 for compulsorily acquiring 1,025 hectares out of the town’s total 1,450 hectares in seven tranches without paying any compensation.

He stated: “The last tranche of 50 hectares, which was to be made an estate by the companies, got an interlocutory injunction to stop on May 22, 2018. But despite this injunction, Alpha Mead Development Company Limited and Ibile Holdings Ltd continued to develop the estate in flagrant violation of the injunction and got the injunction to be stayed by order of another Judge during the annual vacation on 7th September 2018.

According to him, the Abijo community appealed against the order of stay and the Court of Appeal in Lagos on February 24, 2020, reversed the order of stay and reimposed the order of interlocutory injunction stopping further development of the estate.

Ajayi added: “The Attorney General’s office on the same day that the Court of Appeal judgment was granted called their office for settlement of the matter and based on series of meetings between our representative Otunba Dr. Wale Osinowo, former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the present Governor Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the terms of settlement were agreed to as follows payment of compensation to the Abijo Community for the 1,025 hectares acquired, grant of excision of 200 hectares out of their remaining land and the only access road of over 100 years old to over 42 towns and villages from Abijo town should remain a public road serving both the estate and them.

He said their client, the five landowning families representing the whole of Abijo town, had signed their part but the Lagos State Government was yet to sign.”Our appeal now is for your office to kindly intervene to ensure the quick signing of the terms of settlement by the Lagos State Government as many of our clients are old and one is even dead,” he stated.

Not less than 200 people would benefit from the free eye test and cataract screening exercise organised and sponsored by Dr.  Adelaja Adenuga Foundation as part of efforts to reduce incidence of avoidable blindness in our communities.

Both old and young, most especially the senior citizens from Ijebu Igbo, Awa, Ilaporu, Ago Iwoye Ibakan, Odosapo, Falafonmu and Iganran communities would be provided with necessary tests in an exercise slated for Thursday 30th and Friday 31st December, 2021.

The outreach, according to the founder, was borne out of the need to improve the health conditions of the community people.

Dr. Adelaja stated that he decided to contribute a quota to help the community in the area of health because of the importance of physical, social and mental health as key factors that determine total well being of an individual noting that community members would benefit from the free eye checks, treatment and distribution of reading glasses and medication at no cost.

‘’We are doing this to support and put smiles on the faces of others by helping them not only with screening, but also with treatment and medications in furtherance of its efforts to fill the vacuum in the health sector towards producing an environment filled with healthy people that can read and write without issues,’’ Dr. Adelaja said.

“There are a lot of people who have different eye challenges and some are already losing their sight and as a foundation, we felt that this is something that we can do to support our people. That is why we decided to provide free eye test for the people to check the status of their eyes and treat whatever ailment they have; we will be providing eye glasses to those that need them and we may also sponsor cataract surgery for those that require such after the screening, all at no cost to them at all”.

Osun State Former Deputy Speaker, Nike Omoworare has described the Governorship ambition of Lasun Yusuf, a Former Deputy Speaker of Federal House of Representatives in 2022 as effort in futility and advised the former lawmaker to close ranks with the Governor for better Osun State.

Omoworare, a former Senior Aide to Lasun Yusuf said except those who are chasing shadow, the political reality in Osun is emergence of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for second term during the 2022 governorship election.

Omoworare said this while reacting to the recent declaration of Lasun to contest for the Osun Governorship Election in 2022 declaring that Oyetola stand the best chance to win the election with massive support he is enjoying from the All Progressives Congress (APC) members and the people of the state.

The pioneer Osun Deputy Speaker was a close ally of Lasun Yusuf while he was Deputy Speaker said she supported Lasun Yusuf in 2018 but as a political realist who want the development of the state, Governor Oyetola deserve the second term.

According to her, “Lasun Yusuf can never defeat Oyetola in any election, his temperament alone is a strong factor against him not to talk about the excellent performance of Mr Governor. Oyetola of 2018 is different from Oyetola of 2021, he has been widely accepted by the people of the state with his cool calm and resourceful posture.

“He has successfully balanced and stablised the state economically and politically, he stands the best chance to win election and that is why we are all standing by him. Just few days ago he has awarded another set of roads in my city, Ile – Ife, I am very confident that he will emerge for second term.

While speaking on the allegation by Yusuf that Osun 2018 election was rigged in favour of Oyetola, Omoworare said. “I don’t think he actually said it, he must have been misquoted, because somebody of his caliber, will not say that, I don’t think he will say such a thing.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has called for the review of teachers training curriculum in order to make it relevant to the creative thinking of the children and improvement of the society.

Sanwo-Olu made this known at the book launch “The Seven Stars Teacher” held recently in Lagos.

The governor informed that education is much more that reading and writing. It is motivational, inspirational, and transformational and is about the development of every child and that can only happen with a transform presence practice in the classroom.

Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Lagos State Education Commissioner, Mrs. Folshade Adefisayo, stated that teachers cannot afford to teach the same old ways considering the level of transformation in the 21st century.

He noted that the review of the teachers curriculum should start with what should a teachers be able to do and what should a teacher know. The teachers must have subject knowledge but the teacher must be able to teach that particular subject.

Sanwo-Olu posited that there must be an intersection between the subject and the teaching methodology that today’s teacher deploy and a teachers be a role model, inspirer, motivator and must understand  what motivate the learners to learn.

He added that the teachers must be tech savvy, adding that it is not enough to know geography but today’s teachers are required to be role model, motivator and inspirer and all these skills are required to be successful teachers.

He announced that the Lagos State Government is set to launch what is called Comprehensive School next year.

The governor explained that the school would teach subjects different from the regular ones and that the students can relate to within their immediate environment.
“We are starting the initial phase with a pilot scheme which is of course assessing the level of preparedness of the project before take off.

“The subjects we are considering are practicable ones which require hands-on skills to be able to deliver the intended result.

“We are looking at subjects such as Information Technology (IT), Events Management, Fashion Design, Beading, Construction, Agriculture and Drama.”, he said.

He therefore, called for more partners to collaborate with the state government in bringing the enviable features of the comprehensive school to fruition.

Earlier in his words, an educational consultant and author of the book, Akin Akinpelu called for new generation of teachers that would uphold the ethics of the profession in tandem with the latest development in the 21st century.

He explained that a new generation of teachers would be equipped with the rudiments of a seven star teacher which involves effective communication, leadership, and vision.

The consultant added that collaboration, adaption, learning and mentorship must also not be left out in the desire for a 21st century teacher.

He noted that there is need to understand every student’s style of learning and properly communicate each and everyone of them regardless of the manner in which they assimilate.

“Nigerian needs a new generation of teachers who demonstrate the virtues of being a teacher, destiny molder and nation builder”.

“The seven star teachers would be able to equip themselves with the right teaching skills in a bid to achieve the desired learning outcomes”.

“A seven star teacher must possess effective communication, vision, learning, mentorship, leadership, collaboration and adaption”, he said.

An aspirant for the Akure federal constituency by-election, Prince Demola Adegoroye, has inaugurated coordinators to enable them  reach out to all members of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the party primaries.

Prince Adegoroye is among the many aspirants of the APC gunning for the party’s ticket for the Akure North/Akure South seat in the House of Representatives.

The Akure seat was last month declared vacant following the death of Omolafe Adedayo popularly known as Expensive.

Prince Adegoroye said it was necessary to put structures across all the wards in Akure South for the purpose of massive mobilization for the APC.

Adegoroye said the APC could not afford to lose Akure federal seat to the opposition political parties.

He promised to give robust representation if given the opportunity to represent the constituency in Abuja.

Among those inaugurated were  Fasola Richard, Comrade Ajinki, Oloruntola Oluwaseun,  Ajayi, S. A Akintunde,  Adebiyi Tolulope;  Idowu and  Tayo Dada.

Vicar in charge of St. David Anglican Church, Ido-Ekiti, the headquarters of Ido/Osi Council Area of Rev. Emmanuel Adegoke has warned Nigerians to desist from inordinate pursuit of vanities of life.

Adegoke said that Nigerians should toe the path of righteousness, noting that everybody no matter how great, rich and powerful will leave this world one day to give account to their Creator at the end of their sojourn on earth.

He gave charge at the weekend at the funeral service held in honour of Princess Mary Aina Ekundayo at the St. David Anglican Church, Ido-Ekiti.

Delivering a sermon entitled “ We should not pursue worldly things,” and quoting from Matthew 6: 33 and Luke 16: 17, the cleric emphasized that death is the end of human beings who must repent and turn to God before the end comes.

The cleric decried the prevailing moral laxity in the society where people have elevated inordinate acquisition of wealth, property and other vanities of life as their way of life rather than true worship of God and love for fellow human beings.

“The most unfortunate thing in life is that man does not remember that he will die one day and what are we pursuing in this world?

Adegoke extolled the virtues and ideals of the deceased, urging the children to uphold the ideals their deceased mother stood for in her lifetime.

He noted that the late Ekundayo lived an exemplary and a fulfilled life and was a model in all spheres of life, advising her children never to depart from the path of faith, love for God she exhibited in her lifetime.

He said that the late Ekundayo’s demise offered an opportunity to celebrate his ideals of selfless service and honesty.

Speaking on behalf of the Children, Dr. John Ekundayo applauded his mother for her sterling contributions to humanity and christainity.

He described the deceased as a faithful and religious person whose way of life was consistent with the teachings of the Bible.

The two-day 22nd Biennial Conference/Annual General Meeting of the Lagos State Branch of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), will begin in Lagos on December 7.

The event with the theme: “Health and Security: A Critical Appraisal”,  will be held at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

Speaking in Lagos during a press conference, the Acting President of the association, Dr. Ibironke Sodeinde said aside from the first day being for the opening ceremony, there would also be a scientific session on the first day and this continues till the second day.

She said the theme for the two day conference is health and security; a critical appraisal. While the two sub-themes: “The Drug Abuse Pandemic: Collateral Health and Security Implications” and “Resilience and Coping Strategies in Mental Health by Doctors”.

A panel of experts from different sectors will also discuss the 16th Dr. Irene Thomas Memorial Lecture presented by the President of Chestrad Global, Dr. Lola Dare.