Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde yesterday urged the new head of Department of State Services (DSS) in the state to assist in investigating the cause of the Abolongo jailbreak in Oyo town.
The governor, while receiving the new head of DSS, Mr. Agada Alex, at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, said he wanted the DSS to get to the bottom of what led to the jailbreak at the correctional centre.
Agada assured the governor that the DSS would do its best to secure the state.
Politicians from political divides yesterday jettisoned their differences to attend the 9th year remembrance for the late former governor, Lamidi Adesina.
Adesina, who was governor between 1999 and 2003, died in 2012 at 74.
At the Felele house of the late ex-governor, venue of the event, former Governors Rashidi Ladoja and Adebayo Alao-Akala, Alhaja Sarat Adesina as well as Lam’s deputy, Iyiola Oladokun, were in attendance.
Others were Senators Teslim Folarin, Fatai Buhari, Monsurat Sunmonu and Adesoji Akanbi, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general election, Oloye Adebayo Adelabu, Chief Niyi Akintola, Oyo APC caretaker chairman Chief Akin Oke, among others.
The list also includes federal lawmakers, state lawmakers, party chieftains and other dignitaries.
The Chief Imam of Ibadan and Grand Imam of Oyo State, Sheikh AbdulGaniy Agbotomokekere, led other Islamic clerics to the 9th year Fidau. They prayed for the repose of the soul of the late former progressive leader.
The Chief Imam of Oluyole, Alhaji Mudathir Bada, who preached, said politicians were in the habit of forgetting God, adding that God, at any time, could make leaders and remove anybody and nothing would happen.
The son of the late National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) chieftain, who is a former member of the House of Representatives, Adedapo Lam-Adesina, thanked those who came to honour his father, saying “the attendance has shown that everybody who wants to be remembered after his death must live a life of legacy.”
Asked why some known faces were not in attendance, the APC chieftain said: “We invited everybody. It was so stressful, but we extended invites. However, we cannot say what made some of them to be absent. They will surely have reasons, but that does not matter.”
Speaking about the crisis rocking the party in the state, Lam-Adesina urged the gladiators to sheathe their swords in the interest of peace and progress.
He said: “We should not allow our selfish interest to spoil the party. I am confident we I’ll get over it.”
Lam’s deputy, Oladokun, thanked those who attended the event.
A one month capacity training has begun for workers in the Lagos State Unified Local Government Service, to increase their efficiency in local government administration.
The Permanent Secretary (Local Government Establishments, Training and Pension Office), Mrs. Kikelomo Bolarinwa, said: “This is the first training, and the first set of trainees are directors on grade levels 15-17.
“The theme of this workshop, ‘Strategic Leadership’, was chosen because these directors are strategic managers in their local governments. So they need to be equipped with the skills that are needed for leaders in charge of strategies.”
The Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Kamal Bayewu, urged the participants to optimise the benefits of the training and utilise same to give back to the state and their councils.
Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) yesterday expressed its displeasure over the continuous detention of the self-acclaimed Yoruba nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
YCE said although Igboho is not in Nigeria, the Federal Government has an ambassador in Benin who can fast track his trial.
Speaking with reporters in Ibadan, Oyo State after their meeting, the General Secretary of the council, Dr. Kunle Olajide, said it was wrong for Igboho, a suspect, to be detained, urging the government to try him in time to reach a quick conclusion on his matter.
He, however, said that Igboho should be treated in accordance with the law without bias, adding that he remained a suspect until a competent court of law pronounced him guilty.
Igboho, who is in a detention facility in Benin Republic, has been reportedly diagnosed with possible kidney or lungs illness.
One of his lawyers, Yomi Aliyyu, made this known, saying the activist developed the illness in Benin Republic prison custody.
He said the agitator had been taken to hospital.
The Soka, Ibadan, Oyo State home of the pro-Yoruba self-determination activist was invaded by men from the DSS about 1:30am on July 1, leading to the arrest of 12 of his aides, while Igboho managed to escape.
He was later arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic, on July 16 with his wife, while travelling to Germany and has since been in detention.
Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and other dignitaries are to attend the 60th anniversary celebration of St. John’s Grammar School, Oke Atan, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
The event is scheduled to hold from January 17 to 23, 2022 on the school premises.
The President of the Old Boys Association, Mr. Festus Osoba, disclosed this yesterday during a visit to the corporate head office of Vintage Press Ltd in Matori, Lagos, the publishers of The Nation, Sporting Life and Gbelegbo.
He was accompanied by the former Lagos State Commissioner for Information, who is also the Publicity Secretary of the association, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan.
Osoba, who reiterated the commitment of the old students towards taking the school to greater heights, noted that the late Canadian founder of the school, Revd. Father Fabian Cloutier, would be honoured posthumously at the event.
“We benefitted from the school. Therefore, we want to give back to our alma mater.
“In the past 10 years we have been active. During our 40th anniversary, we did a lot of projects. During our 50th anniversary, we spent N50million on projects in the school. For our 60th anniversary, we are committing another N20million on projects,” he said.
Activities lined up for the current pupils during the celebration include drama, debate, sports and mentorship programme.
Others include thanksgiving service at the mosque and church, meeting of class sets, inauguration of projects, among others.
Osoba said outstanding members of the association would be honoured.
“We want to showcase our own. We want the world to know that the school has notable people who are pulling their weight in all fields of endeavour and contributing to the development of the society.
“Some of them are Mr. Bamigbetan, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, Editor-in-Chief of Vanguard and Provost, Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), who is the chairman of the anniversary planning committee, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Osun State former Deputy Governor Iyiola Omisore, the former Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Anthony Elujoba, among others,” he added.
Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Igbara Oke in Ifedore Local Government, following a violent protest by some youths in the community.
The youth were protesting the outcome of the councillorship rerun, which was won by Kehinde Lawal of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The leader of the protesters, Francis Ayeni, said the protest was to reject imposition of what he termed an ‘alien’ councillor representing the community.
He alleged that Lawal hails from Oyo State.
An elder in the community, who preferred anonymity, said Lawal won the election and was declared winner.
He said it was surprising that the protest turned violent, adding that the youth vandalised vehicles and destroyed buildings.
Security was said to have been beefed up around the community.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Akeredolu, Richard Olatunde, said the curfew was with immediate effect.
“This is sequel to the violent dimension of what was initially considered a peaceful protest in the town, following the outcome of a councillorship by-election.
“Security agencies are urged to enforce to the letter, this order. In the same vein, monarchs, opinion leaders and all persons of goodwill are enjoined to rein in their children and wards, as non-compliance with this curfew order shall not be tolerated,” the statement said.
A popular cleric, Evangelist Daniel Kolenda, yesterday arrived in Ibadan ahead of a three-day revival taking place between today and Saturday in the Oyo State capital.
He is the successor to the late Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, whose evangelistic exploits were documented all over Africa and Nigeria in particular.
Speaking with reporters in Ibadan after his arrival, Kolenda said the crusade would be the greatest that had ever happened in the world.
He said having realised the difficulties the world is facing, particularly Nigerians, God has directed him to come to Ibadan for the liberation of souls.
“It’s a joy to be back in Nigeria after some years of being in other nations, preaching the gospel of Christ all over the world.
“We realise that this is a difficult time for the whole world, particularly Nigerians. Many countries asked us to come to them, but we chose Ibadan, Nigeria because the Holy Spirit has directed us here.
“God has a special gift for this town and Nigeria. Come to the crusade for you to know the special message for Ibadan. You are going to begin to see the manifestation of God’s power starting from tomorrow,” Kolenda said.
The popular cleric and his delegation from Christ for All Nations Evangelistic Crusade (CfaN) visited the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, before heading for the office of Governor Seyi Makinde.
Stakeholders have urged the Federal Government to harness potential in the creative and cultural industry, to strengthen the growth of the economy.
The President of Asa Day Worldwide, Olaniyi Oyatoye, at a news conference yesterday, said Nigeria stands a great chance of surviving the current economic lapse if it can focus more on cultural tourism.
The news conference was to herald the Lagos 2021 Asa Day celebration, to be organised in partnership with the Lagos State Government. It will hold on November 21, and its theme is ‘Let’s use our cultural heritage to revive our economy’ .
Oyatoye said: “There is an urgent need for a meaningful and a sustainable financing of cultural development by the government, financial institutions and multinationals. The arts, culture and tourism sector has been denied government attention and financial empowerment.“
If properly funded, the creative and cultural industries will enhance and strengthen the growth of the economy, as well as contribute to stemming youth restiveness and criminality.’’
Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has told the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) to limit its operations to curriculum formulation, monitoring and implementation, rather than takeover of secondary school administration in the country.
He spoke yesterday when he hosted NSSEC officials, who were in the state for a one-day advocacy and sensitisation workshop on the establishment of the commission, with education stakeholders in the Southwest.
Akeredolu said that the hue and cry about restructuring was about devolving power to the states to make them function.
He said the fiscal policy and over-centralisation of power in the hands of the Federal Government had turned Nigeria into a unitary country.
The governor said the many items on the exclusive list concentrated too much power in the hands of the Federal Government, adding that the unity of the country was based on sustainable true federalism.
The Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr. Benjamin Abakpa, said the sensitisation in the geopolitical zone was to get policy makers informed why the commission was set up.
He said regulation of secondary school education, intervention in areas of needs and setting minimum standards are objectives before the commission to actualise, in a bid to strengthen post-primary level of education in the country.
The University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo town in Ondo State yesterday announced the indefinite suspension of resumption for new and old students.
The suspension followed moves by the students to protest the new fees released by the school authorities on Monday.
According to the school authorities, medical students are to pay N2,245, 000, against the old fee of N764, 750, an amount many parents consider outrageous.
The suspension of academic activities, our correspondent learnt, was to avoid a protest earlier scheduled for yesterday by the students over the increase, many of who considered the vice chancellor’s position on the increment as insensitive and inciting.
The school, in a statement by the PAR, Governing Council and General Administration, Mr. Ezekiel Adeniran, on behalf of the registrar, said the resumption for returning students is suspended indefinitely.
“By this circular, returning students are directed to vacate the campus and their halls of residences within the next 48 hours, or latest on November 11 (today),” the statement said.