Category: South West

Lagos State Government has expressed its commitment to the well-being of residents.

Speaking yesterday in Lekki, Lagos at a stakeholders’ engagement for a review of the proposed Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC) regulation programme, organised by the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Tajudeen Ghaji, said the safety of residents could no longer be taken for granted.

LSSC Director-General Mr. Lanre Mojola said the regulations needed to be reviewed, adding that great countries were built through strong institutions and not strong personalities, hence the efforts in reviewing the regulations, which would later go through the Ministry of Justice for action, to ensure a safer Lagos.

He said his agency would engage, educate, regulate and enforce to make sure that the safety regulations are strengthened, thus ensuring a zero accident, zero injury and zero fatality for a safer Lagos.

Mojola said the commission would spread the message of safety, adding:  “It is only a safer Lagos that can guarantee the attainment of a greater Lagos.”

As part of preparations for the 45th coronation anniversary of the Owa of Idanre in Ondo State, Oba Fredrick Adegunle Aroloye, Arubiefin IV, prominent indigenes of the town living in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states will, on Sunday , converge on Canaanland Event Centre, Ojodu Berger, Lagos to develop a framework for the celebration.

A statement by the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Dr. Anthony Omolola, said the event would, among others, be used to deliberate on the renovation of Owa’s palace, in preparation for the coronation anniversary, preparation and execution of the anniversary proper in a befitting style, and remodelling of the Owa’s palace after the anniversary to a befitting level of a first-class Oba in Yoruba land, as well as other developmental projects for the kingdom.

The statement said the organisers have launched a N500 million appeal fund.

According to the organisers, in the last 45 years, the reign of the monarch had brought development to the community, just as he had succeeded in uniting interests in the community.

They said Oba Aroloye had brought progress to Idanre, adding that he deserved to be celebrated in a special way, part of which was to raise N500 million for the reconstruction of the palace.

Dignitaries expected at the event include a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Chief Pius Akinyelure; the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Ayo Akinyelure; Chief Babu Akinbobola and media mogul, Sir Folu Olamiti.

Also expected are the former Commissioner for Information in Ondo State, Kayode Akinmade, Yemi Olowolabi and others.

Monarchs, politicians and religious leaders have hailed Senator Adetokunbo Abiru for inaugurating four blocks of 24 classrooms with 16 toilets at Aga Primary School, Ikorodu.

Abiru, the Senate Committee chairman on Industries, was also praised for giving financial assistance to indigent tertiary students from the Lagos East Senatorial District.

The classrooms, which are equipped with chairs, tables and other modern instructional equipment, replaced a distressed two blocks of four classrooms.

The senator said other local governments in Lagos East Senatorial District are also benefitting from projects.

He said: “Projects like these are going on in Kosofe, Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, Somolu, among others. So, this is the way we have staggered the projects.

“The essence of this is to create a platform where pupils can learn in a conducive environment and develop knowledge that will enhance their education pursuit.

“This new edifice will assist the pupils to concentrate on their study. All the things we are seeing here today were done within four months. It shows a lot of determination.”

Abiru urged the pupils to concentrate on their studies.

He said: “I advise you to be focused on your education. There is nothing impossible because I am also a product of a public school.”

The Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government, Mr. Wasiu Adeshina, lauded Abiru.

He commended his performance in Lagos East Senatorial District within a short time.

Adeshina enjoined parents and guardians “to take advantage of this good initiative by the senator to allow their children enrol for primary education.

He said education is the best legacy parents can give their children.

The Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) Chairman, Wahaab Alawiye-King, hailed the gesture of the senator, saying Abiru’s resolve to ensure qualitative education for children was commendable.

Leaders who attended the event include Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Bashorun, former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Prince Biodun Ogunleye, Grand Chief Imam of Ikorodu, Chief Imam Seifudeen Jamiu Adenoritan Olowooribi, council chairmen, lawmakers, among others.

Ondo State Chief Judge (CJ) Justice Williams Akintoroye has said he always prayed to God to help him succeed and achieve his vision for the judiciary.

Akintoroye, who spoke when executives of the Ondo City Bar visited him, said he was aware of the problems in the judiciary.

He urged members of the Ondo City Bar to show interest anytime judges were to be appointed.

The CJ advised them to work in unison to achieve a lot for the Bar.

Ondo City Bar Chairman Thompson Akinyemi said the visit was to show solidarity and congratulate the chief judge, who is former chairman of the Ondo City Bar.

Akinyemi appealed to Justice Akintoroye to look into problems in the judiciary, especially the poor state of the courtrooms.

Spokesman for the Ondo City Bar and a former editor of the defunct Prime People Magazine, McNezer Fasehun, said it was during the tenure of the current executives that former members of the Ondo City Bar were made a Justice of the Supreme Court and a Justice of the Court of Appeal.

“There is a lot of social engineering going on in the Ondo City Bar. The chief judge is a product of this Bar. It is a solidarity visit and to make sure our judicial infrastructure is improved on.

“The CJ promised to ensure something is done. Our courts are an eyesore, roof tops are blown away. We want Ondo people, who are outside the jurisdiction, to be active in the Bar.”

The former Minister of State for Works, Senator Adedayo Adeyeye, has inaugurated parallel executives for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State.

Speaking in Ado-Ekiti while inaugurating the parallel APC ward and local government executives, he said congresses that produced the executives were authentic.

Adeyeye described the Paul Omotoso-led executives elected by a group loyal to Governor Kayode Fayemi last Saturday as mere impostors.

Speaking about the parallel executives, the APC chieftain said: “Those that were inaugurated today are the authentic APC executives in Ekiti State. The party at the national level brought out a guideline that people should come out and queue to vote for the ward and local government congresses, but their people didn’t come out. They were inside a room concocting names under the guise of consensus.

“But SWAGA members filed out. We have a video clip that we will present. What they did on October 16 was a nullity and a complete waste of time. We knew what we did for Fayemi to win in 2018; he couldn’t have won on his own because he was not popular.

“I know that they can’t buy you with money, you are for SWAGA. This government has finished, don’t let them deceive you with positions. Only the Fayemi’s ‘Tokantokan’ group is enjoying the dividends of what we did, others are sidelined. It is now ‘chop’ alone, die alone.

“Even many of those with appointments are aggrieved; many will shock them during the governorship primary. We are now using direct primary. They can no longer sleep because the party now wants direct primary, owing to the fact that they are not popular.”

Reacting to the parallel congresses, the state APC Publicity Secretary belonging to Fayemi’s group, Segun Dipe, described the inauguration as a mere jamboree and complete exercise in futility.

He insisted that the Omotoso-led State Working Committee remained the authentic executive, as it enjoyed the support of the APC national secretariat.

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Life Support Network (LSN), has said improving the living standard of Nigerians is its goal.

Speaking with reporters during a one-day skills acquisition programme tagged: ‘Food For All Strategic Summit’, FOFASS-1, held in Akure, Ondo State, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), LSN, Miss ItunuOluwa Ajayi-Albert, said over 60 participants were trained in subsistence agriculture for self-reliance in food security and sufficiency, such as snail farming, fish farming, organic farming, livestock, among others.

Ajayi-Albert said her organisation had held similar skill acquisition programmes for youths in about six states in Nigeria and in Uganda and Kenya.

The keynote speaker, Prof. O. J. Babayemi, delivering his address titled: ‘Strategies to Achieving Food Security in Nigeria’, expressed worries about the consequences of hunger in Nigeria, saying limited access to food had negative consequences on people’s health.

The Executive Director, LSN, Ondo State chapter, Mr. Emmanuel Alegbeleye, said the organisation held the programme in pursuance of its objectives in helping the poor to develop mechanisms for their survival.

All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Dr. Samuel Adedayo yesterday lauded the contributions of the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to progressive politics and national unity.

He urged the eminent politician to run for president in 2023, saying his participation in the election would be in national interest.

Adedayo, a doctor, unionist and former Apapa Iganmu Council chairman, called for power rotation to rekindle hope in a united nation and foster equity, fairness and justice.

Describing Tinubu as a visionary, talent hunter, developer of human resources and competent leader, he said the former Lagos governor will deploy his wisdom, experience and capability in the service of the country.

Adedayo, whose supporters recently held a reception to mark Tinubu’s return from medical trip abroad, hailed the APC national leader for grooming competent successors in Lagos State.

He said:”Tinubu has developed people. Why should they deny him now? He has sacrificed his life, experience, wealth and all he has while building people. If he becomes president,  he will take Nigeria to greater heights.”

The League of Imams and Alfas in Southwest, Edo and Delta yesterday urged Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to take action over the alleged interference of Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, with the affairs of Muslims.

The clerics, led by their President, Imam Jamiu Kewulere, were at the Government House in Osogbo to register their annoyance with Oba Akanbi for allegedly attempting to install Grand Mufti of Yoruba land.

Imam Kewulere said “if Oba Akanbi is not checked, his action may lead to chaos in Yorubaland.”

Responding, Governor Oyetola promised to intervene in the matter.