The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • Crash-free season our priority, says FRSC

    Crash-free season our priority, says FRSC

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has urged its officers to be more committed to enable the Corps achieve its crashes-free target during the Yuletide and beyond.

    The Lagos and Ogun states Zonal Commander, Nseobong Charles Akpabio (ACM), made the plea at the zone’s retreat organised for its officers at its Lagos headquarters. He said the retreat aimed at reviewing road safety strategies for improved performance.

    The theme for the one-day retreat was “Leadership Effectiveness as Change Agent”. It was organised for its officers in Zone two which comprises Lagos and Ogun states to review the performance in the third quarter of the year. It was also an opportunity to decorate the newly promoted officers of the zone.

    Akpabio said the task of the FRSC was to reduce road crashes that claim people’s lives due to some unwholesome activities of some motorists.

    He, therefore, urged all commanders and other officers to be determined and ensure that crashes are drastically reduced during the festive period and beyond.

    He said: “Zero-crash is our dream for this period. To achieve this, all officers must be determined; more engaged and shun unethical practices that could tarnish the image of the Corps.

    The Special Marshals pledged to embark on patrols nation-wide to complement the efforts of the Corps in reducing road accidents on highways across the country.

    The National Coordinator of the Special Marshals, Mr Titsi Kwabe revealed this at this year’s Special Marshals’ Zonal Conference at Daktad Hotels, Abeokuta whose theme was “Marshalling Resources for Improved Stakeholders’ Consultation.”

    The conference, according to Kwabe, was organised to enable them to review their activities from the past and to develop other strategies that would make them discharge their duties effectively.

    He said Special Marshals are expected to complement the FRSC in ensuring safety on highways, adding that they would intensify efforts to aid Regular Marshals in curbing losses on the roads.

    He said the Special Marshals will carry out intensive road safety campaigns to reduce accidents because of the priority they placed on human life.

    Kwabe said companies and other stakeholders would also join them to organise conferences, workshops and retreats at both state and national levels to improve marshals’ performances. He said marshals would be involved in prosecuting offenders at mobile courts and other legal matters, embark on researches to complement the efforts of regular marshals in the reduction of road crashes and fatality rate.’’

    He urged the FRSC to create a national database to enhance the enrolment of volunteer ‘men and women’ of proven integrity into the group, saying “the Special Marshals need people who are really passionate about lives and people who can use their time and resources to influence their immediate environment in terms of creating safety awareness.’’

    The zone Coordinator, Special Marshal, Alhaji Toyin Kadiku said the conference was part of the strategies that would enable them to review the past/previous activities and to chart the way forward to allow them key into the FRSC’s strategic goals.

    He urged the Special Marshals to work in peaceful co-existence with the regulars to enable the Corps to achieve its goals.

     

  • Ecstasy at Ewi’s 25th coronation anniversary

    Ecstasy at Ewi’s 25th coronation anniversary

    The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, Aladesanmi 111 had cause to thank God as he rolled out the drums to celebrate his 25th anniversary on the throne of his ancestors. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports

    It was celebration time for the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, Aladesanmi III as he marked his 25th coronation anniversary. Other eminent guests from far and near and his subjects joined him in the celebration of his silver jubilee on the throne.

    For the Ewi, who ascended the throne in 1990, the occasion calls for appreciation to God for giving him the opportunity to realise his dream to become a monarch.

    Apart from this, he is also fulfilled that Ado-Ekiti became the state capital and had grown in leaps and bounds in the past 19 years of its creation.

    The role played by Oba Adejugbe and personalities such as Chief Afe Babalola, Chief Deji Fasuan, Chief Paul Alabi, Chief Ojo Falegan the late Prof. Sam Aluko, among others has remained legendary.

    Apart from being the state capital, Ado-Ekiti now plays host to two universities, two polytechnics; several businesses and is being daily besieged by people from all walks of life seeking greener pastures.

    Governor Ayo Fayose led eminent personalities to the coronation anniversary which took place at the newly-completed Palace Amphitheatre to join the Ewi in adding glamour to the ceremony.

    Those who attended the event included the former Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu (who was represented), wife of the former Governor of Benue State, Mrs. Yemisi Suswam; former Deputy Governors, Chief Paul Alabi; Dr. Sikiru Lawal and Prof. Modupe Adelabu; Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, the Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye; retired Anglican Archbishop of Ondo Province and Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, the Most Rev. Samuel Abe; retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice Olufunmilola Adekeye, top government officials, community leaders and captains of industry.

    Babalola, the Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) and the Aare Bamofin of Yoruba land was the chairman of the occasion.

    The Kabiyesi was joined by his brother monarchs led by the current Chairman of Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers who is also the Ologotun of Ogotun Ekiti, Oba Samuel Oladapo Oyebade.

    A compendium on the life and times of Oba Adejugbe, Echoes of the Throne, edited by Mrs. Rolake Adewumi was launched at the ceremony.

    Fayose launched the magazine with N5 million on behalf of the state government while Aare Babalola launched it with N2 million. Mrs. Suswam launched with it N1 million.

    The Ewi received homage from members of his traditional cabinet otherwise known as the Ewi-in-Council, the Omo Owas; honorary chiefs, Iyalojas, Ado-Ekiti Progressive Union (APU), clubs and other tribes in the town.

    Mrs. Suswam, a native of Emure Ekiti said she was delighted to identify with Ekiti people, saying: “I will continue to be proud to have been born an Ekiti girl.”

    She revealed that she had her first encounter with Oba Adejugbe at the University of Jos (UNIJOS) where he served as Chancellor.

    Mrs. Suswam said she was impressed by the Ewi’s speech as UNIJOS Chancellor, describing the speech as “excellent and brilliant.”

    While saying she is proud of Oba Adejugbe, Mrs. Suswam prayed for a long and peaceful reign for Kabiyesi, saying Ekiti State would continue to benefit from his wise counsel and experience.

    Former Deputy Governor Alabi said the Ewi will be eternally remembered for being in the forefront of the creation of Ekiti State out of the old Ondo State.

    Alabi, who served as Director of Budget in the Presidency during the Abacha era when agitation for the creation of Ekiti State reached its peak revealed that he followed Oba Adejugbe to the late former military ruler to push for the creation of a new state.

    “I remember Kabiyesi telling Abacha that Ekiti people would not allow him back home if the state creation wouldn’t be a reality.”

    The Ologotun of Ogotun, Oba Oyebade, said the entire members of the State Council of Obas celebrate with one of them for witnessing the landmark. He wished the Ewi more fruitful and prosperous reign.

    In his speech, Fayose, who was the guest of honour, promised to attend any similar event organised in honour of any traditional ruler in the state.

    “The governor is for all traditional rulers and people of the state. I want to assure our royal fathers that occasion such as this is not limited to Ado. As many of our royal fathers that have such a great event like this, the governor is at your beck and call.

    “Ado is central to us all as a state and I am for all royal fathers. Any event that tells the history of your existence, I will always be part of it. I also promise that by God’s grace, the new Oja Oba Market, if not completed by this time next year, will be near completion,” he said.

    Fayose added: “I pray that new things will be happening in this palace anytime we come here. We have spent over a year in office and in another five months, it will be two years.

    “I look forward to the time I will say bye-bye as the Governor of Ekiti State. I work hard to ensure that value is added to governance.”

    The Ewi told the gathering that he had prepared a 22-page address but said he would not want to bore the guests with long speech other than to appreciate them for making the day a glorious one.

    Oba Adejugbe thanked Governor Fayose for his tremendous efforts at developing Ado-Ekiti and the state at large.

    “Ado people cannot thank you enough. You have helped us a great deal and we pray that God will continue to support and bless you. I thank you also for the pavilion here in the palace. It was through your great support and effort that it has been completed.

    “I appeal to all Ado sons and daughters to support the administration,” he said.

    Oba Adejugbe said his longevity on the throne was due to the grace of God and the people over whom he reigns as king.

    He said: “I give glory to God. Twenty-Five years is just like yesterday. The mountains I thought I won’t be able to climb, I was able to climb them.

    “I want to appeal to my people, let us give peace a chance. It is when there is peace that the governor can think of the right thing to do for the people. It is when there is peace that Aare Babalola will think of what to do for our people.

    “I have no other job other than to pray for the peace and overall development of Ado-Ekiti. I want to urge every one of us to go back to the basics. Let us go back to farming.

    “There is no house in Ekiti that does not have a PhD holder but we must go back to the farm irrespective of your status.

    “If salaries are irregular and if you have yams in your farm you will have something to sell and eat. In those days, terminal ailments are rare and people enjoy long life because they eat fresh food unlike today when people eat food treated with chemicals.”

    Earlier, Babalola had listed the qualities that made Fayose excel as a governor.

    He described Fayose as a realistic and pragmatic person, who has brought that to governance.

    He said with the dwindling revenue base of the government at all tiers, those in leadership positions have to make extra efforts to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

    “Thank God that we have a governor that is realistic and pragmatic. When he says yes it means yes and when he says no it is no.

    “We have a governor that is truthful, honest and transparent and that has been helping us in the state. It has also manifested in the recent award given the state government.”

  • Canada, Kunike School sign pact

    Canada, Kunike School sign pact

    The Delta School District recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Kunike International School, an Oshogbo, Osun State-based school.

    Speaking shortly after the signing of the agreement, the School Director Mr. Amos Adekunle who met with the Delta Board of Education and senior management staff of the school said: “We are very excited about this partnership. Kunike International School was recommended by the Canadian Trade Commissioner in Nigeria who visited its campus and appreciated its excellent academic standards.

    Speaking at the occasion, the Director of International Programmes, Annett, noted that students of Kunike have travelled extensively and will bring their diverse experience to Delta School communities.

    As part of the agreement, Kunike students in lower grades will come to study in Delta for short-term sessions and older students will come on a full-time basis to graduate from Delta Schools. Delta will also provide summer camps for the Nigerian students.

    To celebrate the agreement, a delegation from Kunike recently visited Delta. As part of their visit, they travel around schools and met with staff and students. They appreciated the-state-of- the-art facilities provided by management of the school for academic excellent.

    With the MoU, Nigeria will be the 28th country that the Delta School District welcomes her students as part of the international students’ programme.

  • Traditional rulership: The Alaafin’s example

    Traditional rulership: The Alaafin’s example

    For some time now, the relevance of traditional institution in modern day politics had been in focus. This should not be unexpected going by flamboyancy of a section of traditional institution leadership in the country.

    This can be traced to the superfluity of getting the so-called constitutional role for traditional rulers in the country. The search for the phoney constitutional role had led to the formation of the so-called National Association of Traditional Rulers in the country to the point that traditional institution turned itself to a trade union organization with the holders of such exalted office turning themselves to ‘comrades’. Those questioning their relevance cannot be totally blamed. The situation in which traditional rulers are competing with politicians for power in the name constitutional role leaves much to be desired.

    It is uncharitable for traditional rulers to be competing with institutionalized interest groups like political parties and trade union movements for parcels of land to build national secretariat at Abuja. It is no wonder therefore that given his forthrightness and focus oriented disposition the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi had taken serious exceptions to the glamour for the so-called constitutional role for traditional rulers in the country. For the Alaafin, although the operations of traditional rulers are subject to the laws of the land, some of them are not the creation of the modern day constitution. Some of them had existed before the amalgamation of Nigeria as a single political entity.

    The question therefore is what role were they playing then and how did they establish their relevance? In days past, traditional rulers were the closest to the people in terms of welfare of their subjects and socio-infrastructural developments of their domain.

    Unfortunately today however, the search for national relevance had taken some Obas especially in Yoruba land away from their people to the extent of not minding the development levels of the communities to which they preside. No wonder why some of them are totally alienated from their grassroots.

    In the case of Oba Adeyemi however, he is first and foremost the Alaafin of Oyo. That of course makes him narrow his searchlight for development of his ‘immediate constituency’ i.e. Oyo and its environs.

    In his quest for the infrastructural development of Oyo and its environs, he had in the past been called all kinds of names.

    What had been the guiding principle of Oba Adeyemi in the last forty-five years on the most exalted Yoruba throne had been cooperation with all relevant governments both at the centre and state levels without minding the political colours the gladiators wear.

    That explains why in 1979 the Yoruba nation pitched its tent against the NPN controlled Federal Government, he did not allow that sentiment affect his policy of cooperation with constituted authorities at all tiers of government. Even a section Oyo political elite did not spare him.

    He was called all kinds of names even by his own people with partisan interest in Oyo. But he remained undeterred. As far as he was concerned, while people of partisan values were free to use any method to advance themselves including calling him names, if the situation demanded it, he however remained focused his goal for the development of Oyo.

    What is however instructive is that those Oyo Elite who used Alaafin negatively to advance their political cause in the past by calling him names are today his best friends. Some of them even in their advance age realized that the style may be different but they are on the same page with Kabiyesi as far as development of the ancient city is concerned.

    Even to those who among the elites have died, their children had got cause to reconcile their families with the palace. This is because they are living witnesses to the development which Oba Adeyemi’s subtle but dogged diplomacy had brought to Oyo at the Federal, State and private sector to Oyo.

    Today, under Oba Adeyemi, Oyo can boast of tertiary institutions like the Federal College of Education Special Oyo, Alayande College of Education as well as the Ajayi Crowther University owned by the Anglican Church of Nigeria among others.

    This could not have been so under a turbulent crisis prone environment as was witnessed in some parts of Yoruba land. For forty five years, Oba Adeyemi had presided over a peaceful community without any kind of violence or war whether religious or ethnic.

    • Sanni, a public commentator wrote from Ibadan.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Rotary raises funds for community projects

    Rotary raises funds for community projects

    It was a gathering of families, friends, well-wishers of members of the Rotary Club of FESTAC Town District 9110, Nigeria who gathered to raise funds for various community projects. The event was also used to install Rotarian Alex Geonlebedum, the Executive Director, Summer Storm Investment Company Limited as the 34th President of the club who will pilot its affairs for the next one year.

    It was also a gathering that witnessed a hand over of the reigns of leadership from its out gone President, Rotarian Gabriel Onyema, a renowned Accountant to the new President, Rotarian Geonlebedum. The event took place at the Golden Tulip Hotels, Amuwo Odofin Lagos State.

    As his guest arrived at the massive hall to identify with his achievements, Rotarian Geonlebedum was appreciative of their presence.

    Rotarian Gabriel Amalu and Rotarian Orji Udemezue anchored the event.

    After introduction of some distinguished guests, the new president was ushered into the hall in the company of members of his family. Guests stood up in honour of the President.

    In his address to welcome the guests, the chairman of the investiture committee, Mr. Collins Onyenze thanked them for coming and appealed to members of the club to support the new president in his efforts to raise funds for the success of the planned projects.

    “In line with the Rotary International theme of ‘Be a Gift to the World’, we have resolved to make the future of Rotary better in our community through service,” he said.

    Rotarian Onyema described his tenure as a year of learning and fulfilment, saying that, during his tenure, the club spent N25 million on humanitarian projects.

    He added that the club also sent three children to India for hole-in-the-heart surgery.

    Onyema recalled that when he assumed office on July 1, last year, the club began well in implementing its programmes.

    “We had plans for the execution of 39 projects which were successfully carried out. N25m was spent on humanity which we are proud of. Some of the projects were water sanitation, provision of bore holes, disease prevention and treatment, economic and community development through training people in different fields and construction of Amuwo Odofin public library, among others,” he said.

    Done with his speech, he installed the new president of the club.

    He advised Geonlebedum to protect the name and integrity of the club, saying he has handed over to him a banner unstained and he must hand over in the same manner.

    In his acceptance speech, Geonlebedum said he was overwhelmed by the honour done him, promising to continue where his predecessor stopped.

    He said the club has six areas of focus for the year. These areas, he said, included peace and conflict prevention and resolution; disease prevention and treatment; water sanitation; maternal and child health; better education and literacy and economic and community development.”

    He described his predecessor as a nice man, a jolly good fellow who is open- hearted and a guardian.

    He said Rotarians’ expectation during his tenure is that every day is a plus in life, saying things have come to change.

    The Guest speaker who is Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC) Chief Eze Duruiheoma (SAN), urged the new president and his directors to discharge their duties credibly.

    He urged Geonlebedum to be resilient, accountable and diligent, stressing on the need to render service to humanity.

    He commended Rotary’s service to humanity and called on Nigerians to ask for a credible census as they were in quest for a credible election this year.

    After receiving his award, the father of the new president who doubled as Royal Father of the day, Chief Nze Alionu described his son as a child and appealed to everyone to support him in order to succeed.

    The District Governor, Mr. Bolaji Onabadejo congratulated the ex-president and his directors for the good jobs they did. He also congratulated the father of the President, saying that it is not everybody that has the opportunity to celebrate with their children.

    Mr Bolaji, who was represented by Mr. Wale Ogunbadejo spoke on the development of the club, saying it should embark on projects that have global appeal and work hard on partnership.

    He added that the club should work towards recruiting new members for development.

    Awards were later presented to members and non-members of the club for their contributions towards enhancing the well-being of people. There were also donations towards the club’s projects.

    Patron, World Fashion Organisation, Dr. Merit Gordon Obua, who donated N5 million told Southwest Report that she has always taken pleasure in helping people. She said wealthy Nigerians should help the less-privileged persons.

    “It’s not all about accumulating wealth for the future, rather wealth should be measured according to the number of lives you have touched and transformed,” she said.

  • ‘Charms don’t prevent accidents’

    ‘Charms don’t prevent accidents’

    The Ogun State Coordinator, Federal Road Safety Corps’ (FRSC) Special Marshal and Partnership (SMP), Elder Emmanuel Fagbenro, has urged motorists to stop believing in the efficacy of charms while driving. He also advised them against the erroneous belief that road crashes during the “ember” months are either spiritual or caused by evil spirits.

    Elder Fagbenro spoke during the “ember month” campaign rally organised by the Egba Division of SMP at Panseke Motor Park, Abeokuta the Ogun State capital.

    He noted that the last four months of the year are usually characterised by an upsurge in road crashes which are attributable to non-compliance with traffic rules and regulations. He reeled off these traffic infractions to include overloading, over speeding and driving against traffic by motorists. This, he said, is widespread due to an increase in vehicular movement and greater number of travellers.

    He said: “Accidents occur on the road as a result of what we do or failed to do. Statistic has shown that most of the crashes occurred on the roads as a result of wrong beliefs and over-confidence on the efficacy of charms on the part of drivers.

    Fagbenro reiterated the FRSC’s commitment to work with other traffic agencies to ensure discipline and orderliness are maintained on the highways during the Yuletide period and beyond.

    The SMP Coordinator appealed to transport unions and other stakeholders to prevail on their members to have a change of attitude on use of the roads. This, he said, would guarantee safety of lives and properties during the Christmas festivities and beyond.

    He urged motorists to avoid driving under the influence of alcohol while on the wheel. He advised vehicle owners to ensure that their vehicles are road worthy before setting out on a journey.

     

  • A day with youngsters

    A day with youngsters

    It was a day for the top management of Zenith Bank to make merry with children and youths drawn from over 30 schools/orphanage homes in Lagos, Delta and Ogun states.

    But the 10th Zenith Christmas Youth Parade held at Ajose Adeogun Street in Victoria Island Lagos, which lasted over 10 hours, turned out an all-in-one package.

    From the entrance of the usually-busy street, it was obvious there was something for every age group that made it to the parade, including parents.

    For the over 1, 000 participants who attended the event, there was no dull moment, as the electrifying spectacle was reminiscent of the yearly Calabar Festival.

    The participants came in clusters with colourful costumes, differentiating each school from the other, while other guests brandished a Zenith-inscribed red T-shirt and faze cap for uniformity.

    The ZCYP as an annual Christmas carnival to celebrate children and youths, according to the bank’s Group Managing Director, Peter Amangbo, is a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative aimed at supporting the development and education of the Nigerian child.

    “Nurturing the Child for a Greater Future” as its theme, Amangbo said the yearly ZCYP partnership was a culture that has impacted self-belief in the participants as well as the hope for a brighter future.

    He said the parade has created a platform for children from diverse cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds to meet, interact and have fun, just as he added that it also provided an avenue to create partnership that will engender a common course and vision.

    “Zenith will continue to support the youth in all they do so that they are empowered technologically and otherwise, to enable them to compete favourably with their mates in other parts of the world.

    “To this end, our youth empowerment programme will be further strengthened in 2016 to help the youngsters achieve their aspirations,” he said.

    Designed to occupy the youth meaningfully during the Yuletide season through funfair and youth development activities, the parade features activities such as quiz, contemporary Nigerian dance, South African, Indian, Scottish, Chinese and Lebanese dances as well as special music performances from Kiss Daniel and Korede Bello.

  • Communities protest years of power outage

    Communities protest years of power outage

    For some time now, the relevance of traditional institution in modern day politics had been in focus. This should not be unexpected going by flamboyancy of a section of traditional institution leadership in the country.

    This can be traced to the superfluity of getting the so-called constitutional role for traditional rulers in the country. The search for the phoney constitutional role had led to the formation of the so-called National Association of Traditional Rulers in the country to the point that traditional institution turned itself to a trade union organization with the holders of such exalted office turning themselves to ‘comrades’. Those questioning their relevance cannot be totally blamed. The situation in which traditional rulers are competing with politicians for power in the name constitutional role leaves much to be desired.

    It is uncharitable for traditional rulers to be competing with institutionalized interest groups like political parties and trade union movements for parcels of land to build national secretariat at Abuja. It is no wonder therefore that given his forthrightness and focus oriented disposition the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi had taken serious exceptions to the glamour for the so-called constitutional role for traditional rulers in the country. For the Alaafin, although the operations of traditional rulers are subject to the laws of the land, some of them are not the creation of the modern day constitution. Some of them had existed before the amalgamation of Nigeria as a single political entity.

    The question therefore is what role were they playing then and how did they establish their relevance? In days past, traditional rulers were the closest to the people in terms of welfare of their subjects and socio-infrastructural developments of their domain.

    Unfortunately today however, the search for national relevance had taken some Obas especially in Yoruba land away from their people to the extent of not minding the development levels of the communities to which they preside. No wonder why some of them are totally alienated from their grassroots.

    In the case of Oba Adeyemi however, he is first and foremost the Alaafin of Oyo. That of course makes him narrow his searchlight for development of his ‘immediate constituency’ i.e. Oyo and its environs.

    In his quest for the infrastructural development of Oyo and its environs, he had in the past been called all kinds of names.

    What had been the guiding principle of Oba Adeyemi in the last forty-five years on the most exalted Yoruba throne had been cooperation with all relevant governments both at the centre and state levels without minding the political colours the gladiators wear.

    That explains why in 1979 the Yoruba nation pitched its tent against the NPN controlled Federal Government, he did not allow that sentiment affect his policy of cooperation with constituted authorities at all tiers of government. Even a section Oyo political elite did not spare him.

    He was called all kinds of names even by his own people with partisan interest in Oyo. But he remained undeterred. As far as he was concerned, while people of partisan values were free to use any method to advance themselves including calling him names, if the situation demanded it, he however remained focused his goal for the development of Oyo.

    What is however instructive is that those Oyo Elite who used Alaafin negatively to advance their political cause in the past by calling him names are today his best friends. Some of them even in their advance age realized that the style may be different but they are on the same page with Kabiyesi as far as development of the ancient city is concerned.

    Even to those who among the elites have died, their children had got cause to reconcile their families with the palace. This is because they are living witnesses to the development which Oba Adeyemi’s subtle but dogged diplomacy had brought to Oyo at the Federal, State and private sector to Oyo.

    Today, under Oba Adeyemi, Oyo can boast of tertiary institutions like the Federal College of Education Special Oyo, Alayande College of Education as well as the Ajayi Crowther University owned by the Anglican Church of Nigeria among others.

    This could not have been so under a turbulent crisis prone environment as was witnessed in some parts of Yoruba land. For forty five years, Oba Adeyemi had presided over a peaceful community without any kind of violence or war whether religious or ethnic.

    • Sanni, a public commentator wrote from Ibadan.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Advance Niger Delta centre, minister told

    The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged Prof. Cladius Daramola to see his appointment as the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs as an opportunity to advance the cause of the oil-rich region.

    Prof. Daramola is a chieftain of the APC and indigenous of Ode-Aye in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    A statement signed by the Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro said it was unarguable that the Niger Delta region is experiencing serious depravity in recent times, adding that a holistic overhaul is needed at the moment to take the region to an enviable height.

    APC noted that the appointment of Mr. Daramola, a Professor of repute and a workaholic with eyes for details and thoroughness is therefore a commendable move.

    It said: “The appointment of Prof. Daramola, who is indigenous to Ondo State, clearly shows that President Mohammudu Buhari recognises the important role Ondo State plays as the only oil-producing state from the South-western part of the country.”

    While thanking President Buhari for the confidence he reposed in Prof. Daramola, the statement said: “We are assuring the President and the minister that the leadership and membership of the party in the state will support him and be available to render a helping hand at all times.

     

  • Church holds Christmas Carol service

    Church holds Christmas Carol service

    The Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church also known as Ayo Ni, has held its 25th Inter-denominational Nine Lessons and Christmas Carol Service, at the church sanctuary.

    Tagged “Arise; Shine for thy Light is Coming, the Carol service was alive as the church choir filled the sanctuary with Carol renditions.  Most of the songs were sung in Yoruba language and others in the English language. The choristers and worshipers were all dressed in their white gowns.

    The programme featured lessons with Bible verses which were divided into how the birth of Jesus Christ came to be.

    There was also the prayer session where religious leaders, the peace of the nation, workers, traders, business people, the sick, needy; physically-challenged, children, teens and youths in higher institutions were prayed for.

    The Chief Host, Prophet Sunday Korode gave thanks to God for the service as he recognised the late Prophet Mr. Gabriel Fakeye, who was the past general leader.

    He said: “This is the time of divine revelation and we shall understand the glory of God when there is hardship. The stars appear when there is darkness. If we esteem Jesus Christ above all things, we shall enjoy the glory of Christmas.

    In a chat with Southwest Report, Prophet Korode said the carol was a continuation of what they have been doing as it is rooted in the general culture of Christians to celebrate things of this nature.

    He also said the occasion was a special one because they have gone through a number of years and now 25 and to that extent have every cause to glorify God.

    He further said it was a time for them to make merry to ensure an inclusive society and to worship the lord.

    “It is a period of release from bondage to enjoy new freedom because Christ has come to end all negatives in our lives and put an end to the curse humanity got from Adam,” he said.

    His message to all Christians during the Christmas was for them to replicate the love of Christ in their various ways and by examples so as for the nation to be librated.

    “Revelation comes at the peak of hardship and when it comes to serious encounter between night and darkness, the light is ahead and we should not give heed to distractions that would afflict us as a nation,” he said.

    The prophet told Nigerians that 2016 would be a year of redemption; a year of liberation, a year of freedom, once they accept Christ, pray to Him and do His will. We would see a new Nigeria.

    Important dignitaries such as His Royal Highness Oba Lateef Abayomi, the Oba of Itire and Her Excellence, Audrey Ajose former Ambassador to Sweden were present at the service.

    General Overseers, Reverends and Pastors from other churches were also present at the service.