Category: South West

The Association of Women Leaders of Edo State has pledged their unyielding support for  Governor Godwin Obaseki  for uplifting women in his recently inaugurated cabinet.

The women disclosed this position during the conclusion of their annual three-day conference in Benin City with the theme “The Politics of Progress & Gender Inclusion”.

They noted, with extreme delight, that even appointments made thereafter, such as the recently announced appointment of Solicitor-General to the State and SUBEB chairman have been gender-balanced.

Of the Commissioners and Special Advisers recently appointed by the Obaseki administration, women make up about 48 per cent of the cabinet.

The keynote speaker at the conference, Pastor  Edna Omame, in her presentation, decried the situation where women are used as assets for votes during electioneering and campaign season, but never integrated or included into the affairs of governance.

“Sometimes, it is almost as if they are telling us that we are unqualified, that we don’t have capacity. Look at the Federal Government. How many women are there? Meanwhile during campaign, you will see them running after our association, or our sister associations at market level. This is not sustainable.”

Publicity Secretary of the group,  Dorothy Nosa-Uyigwe, echoed her sentiments and suggested that Edo women have become more enlightened and more empowered and there will be no going back on full participation of women in the governance of the state. She described the governor as Godsent at a time when Nigerian women are seeking liberation and advocated for more political leaders across Nigeria to emulate Obaseki.

Also, Women in Medicine and Sciences Foundation, Edo State chapter, described as unprecedented, the gesture of immense goodwill extended to the womenfolk  by Obaseki.

In a statement  signed by the President of the Foundation, Mrs.  Agnes Orobosa Igiebor, the group applauded the governor’s appointment, saying: ‘’There can be no stronger statement than this for the Edo women, young and old to see that she is a valued member of society. That her dreams are valid. And that if she works hard and is honest and dedicated, she too can serve in leadership capacity in any institution across this entire country and the world in general”.

The Olusegun Obasanjo Health Foundation on Friday disclosed that, it would screen 10 million Nigerians from across the federation for diabetes within the next one year.

The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Dr. Olalekan Makinde made this known at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, Ogun state while briefing newsmen as part of activities  to mark the year 2021 world diabetes day.

Earlier in his remarks, Obasanjo said diabetes had no known cure yet and had continued to claim lives yearly,  advising those living with diabetes to manage the disease well by maintaining good healthy lifestyle, saying diabetes, although has no known cure, but it is not a killer disease.

Obasanjo said he was diagnosed of diabetes over 40 years ago, saying he has been able to survive the disease by maintaining good healthy diet and regular exercise.

Obasanjo said : “Diabetes is a disease that affect people across the globe. It is not limited by age, race, geographical location, social position, religious beliefs or political association.

“It is a disease that strikes you whether you are white, black or yellow. And it is a disease that, for now, there is no known cure, but it can be managed like other diseases that have no cure.

“And to know that it can be managed, I think I’m a typical example, I have been diagnosed diabetic for more than 40 years ago. And the fact that after 40 years of been diabetic, I’m still alive, kicking and walking about, doing within limit all the things that I would want to do, carrying out my exercises and going places is an indication that if you are diabetic, you can manage it.

“And it is simple, there are dos and don’ts once you know that you are a diabetes patient, stick to the dos and move away from the don’ts and then you can live for as long as God as destined you to live in active service to humanity and to God.

“Let us mark this diabetes day with resolve by those of us who are diabetic to do what is right.

“And those of you who are close to us, diabetes patients, make sure that you do not inadvertently continue to commit suicide by not doing what you should do and by doing what we should not do.”

Following the notification received from the Federal Ministry of Works on the reconstruction of Apapa/ Oworonshoki Expressway, the Lagos State Government has released a four months diversion plan, commencing from Monday, 18th of October, 2021.

According to the construction schedule contained in the notification, traffic would be diverted at the Gbagada/Berger axis for recycling and asphalt works at night each day between 10:00pm and 5:00am.

Explaining the diversion plan for the duration of the project, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde stated that during the Asphalting process for both lanes of the road, a section of the chosen lane for construction (inbound or outbound) will be left free for motorists to utilize which will minimize inconveniences, adding that the State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will be on ground to coordinate movement.

Oladeinde further assured that signage’s with information on traffic directions will be hoisted by the Federal Government on the outbound carriageway to Ibadan and inbound carriageway to Lagos to guide motorists on movement during the construction period.

No fewer than 12 suspected internet fraudsters have been arrested by the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Friday.

The suspected cyber scammers were arrested at Alapata and Awotan areas of Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

The suspects are: Adetola Oluwaseyi Francis; Yusuf Sadam Opeyemi; Usman Adam Abudulahi; Usman Adams Shehu; Ogunleye Timidehin Paul; Omobowa Oluwagbemileke  Israel; Owoade  Kehinde Elijah and Kamorudeen  Sodiq Akano.

Others are: Adeboye Abdulazeez Ayodeji; Ojekunle Tobiloba Micheal; Adewole Peter Adewunmi and Adetola Olamilekan Abidemi

A statement by the Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, said that a number of the suspects who claimed to be undergraduates were apprehended following actionable intelligence on their alleged involvement in internet-related crimes.

The statement added that at the point of the arrest, series of fraudulent documents and other instrument allegedly used in committing the crimes were recovered from them.

The statement gave the list of the items to include: Toyota Corolla, sophisticated phones and laptops, adding “they will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.”

The death has occurred of Dr. Taiwo Olaleye.

According to a burial programme by the family, a service of songs was held yesterday at 5pm at Bisdakem Hotel, Abesan Housing Estate, Ipaja, Lagos. Interment holds today at 11am at Ibogun, Ifo, Ogun State.

Elder Gabriel Adesoji, the former General Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Osun State chapter and Baba Ijo CAC, Oke Irunu Alao Zonal Headquarters, Osogbo, is dead.

He passed away on October 6, 2021. He was 87.

The deceased is survived by children and grandchildren. Burial arrangement will be announced later.

A Coalition of Concerned Civil Society Organisations yesterday objected plans by some groups to hold protest in Lagos to mark the first anniversary of #EndSARS demonstrations.

They said while they recognised the right of people and groups to protest, the action must be within the ambit of the law and it should not violate the right of other people.

The groups said those planning the protest should have a rethink, considering the likelihood of unscrupulous elements hijacking it, leading to mayhem.

Their spokesman, Nelson Ekunjjmi, urged the police to recognise the right of citizens to protest.

He said they should act professionally in protecting the economic and human rights of Lagosians as they move about, without let or hindrance.

Ekunjjmi said the last #EndSARS protest resulted in public disorder because it was hijacked by hoodlums, who could not be controlled by the planners.

He recalled that while attempts were made to assassinate Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola during the protest, his Lagos counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was physically and verbally assaulted.

He said the demonstration turned violent in other states and assumed ethnic and religious dimensions.

Ekunjumi lamented that many policemen lost their lives, while police stations, palaces, business places and courts were vandalised.

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Epe, Lagos State have urged the State Working Committee (SWC) to cancel ward and council congresses held in the area on October 5.

They said the exercise was not free and fair.

Speaking at a rally at the party’s secretariat, the aggrieved members, namely the Vice Chairman, Pastor Alfred Ogunsanwo; Secretary-General, Adelana Adedoyin;  Ajiborisha Ademola; Naheem Balogun and the Woman Leader, Ward Five, Madam Abigail Kikelomo Taiwo, demanded fresh election to give every contestant a level-playing field.

Ogunsanwo accused some members of the party of writing fictitious names and sending them to the SWC for endorsement.

He said following their protest, they were asked to report at another centre.

Ogunsanwo said although they remained at that venue till 5pm on that day, nothing happened.

He said some of their leaders did not carry them along.

Ademola said although delegates to the congress to elect the executives were on ground from 10 am on October 5 at the venue, the election did not hold.

He said they were, therefore, surprised to learn that some members had been elected.

Ademola advised PDP members and the public not to recognise those said to be have been elected.

“We must all come together to fight this injustice,” he said.

Ademola recalled that though delegates to the congress to elect the executives were on ground from 10 am on October 5, at the chosen venue with relevant officers of the party from the state, police and their Department of State Service (DSS) counterparts to keep the peace, the election did not hold. He said they were, therefore, surprised to learn that some members had been elected. He advised PDP members and the public to not recognise those said to be have been elected nor attend any meetings that they would call until an election was held, adding: “We must all come together to fight against this rape of our party constitution.’’

Adedoyin said the list used for the purported election did not emanate from his office. He decried that those the party sold nomination and expression of interest forms to had not had the opportunity to participate in the election as the process was hijacked. He accused some people in the party of sending a different list to the SWC.

He debunked the idea that they were fighting. “We want due process. We decry the imposition of leaders. Let their men come and face ours. The tenure of our local government and ward executives will end this month. We are expecting the National and State Working Committee officers to come and hold an election.’’

He urged the four caucus in the party, namely Imole Group, and Transformation, among others, to be given the opportunity to participate in the election,’’ he said.

He thanked Hon Balogun, his Personal Assistant, Tiamiyu Adeolu, Ademola, among others, for their contributions to the party.

Hon. Balogun, who claimed the members who were disenfranchised spent N3 million to purchase nomination forms, said they were not properly treated.

Balogun, one of the party’s stalwarts, said in an era of democratic rule, the same should be practised in the party and that there was the need for credible leaders to be elected in the party in Epe.

The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics and the Non-Academic Staff Union of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, have begun an indefinite strike over 11-month salary arrears.

The workers said they were owed salaries of December 2016, January 2017 and January to October 2021.

They said they have also not been promoted in the last two years.

Reading a communiqué yesterday after the congresses of both unions, the Chairman of the institution’s SSANIP, Mr. Chris Olowolade, said the strike became inevitable because the management had shown insensitivity to their plight.

The Chairman of NASU, Mr. Adebayo Obayoriade, said efforts had been made to resolve the impasse, but the management had failed to show positive response.

Contacted, spokesman for the institution Mr. Samuel Ojo said the situation was under control.