The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • Firm sensitises companies to act

    The Eni Group made up of Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) Nigeria Agip Energy (NAE) and Agip Energy and Natural Resources (AENR) has promised to sensitise Nigerian companies on the opportunities available to them in the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010.

    The General Manager, District of NAOC, Mr Paola Carnevale made the promise during the Vendor Upgrade, Awareness and Sensitisation Engagement, which is the third session of the Nigerian Content Week organised in Port Harcourt by Eni for indigenous contractors in the oil and gas industry.

    Carnevale said the training programme, which is in collaboration with the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB), would help to enlighten indigenous companies on the provisions of the NOGICD Act.

    Other aspects of the training which he said companies would be enlightened on are “the key requirements for successful tendering and contracting process targeted at eliminating Nigerian content failures; Nigerian content measurement and evaluation; Nigerian content opportunities as well as NCDMB monitoring requirements.”

    He also said the initiative, which began  last year, has so far been attended by 250 companies, pointing out that out of this number, 130 promising companies that were unable to scale the Nigerian content pre-qualification participated in the third session of the training.

    In his keynote address, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr Denzil Kentebe said the NOGICD Act is a “demonstration of government’s emphasis on indigenous contractors’ active participations in the oil and gas sector.”

    Kentebe, who was represented by the Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation of NCDMB, William Arikekpar also stressed on the five major roles which the NOGICD Act conferred on his board, adding that “the focus of Nigerian content is not ‘Nigerianisation’ of the oil and gas sector but ‘domiciliation’ of value-adding activities.

    The NCDMB boss also said his organisation’s Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGAPS) programme would create about 10,000 direct jobs from parks design, construction operations and support.

    Continuing, he said the NOGAPS would stimulate manufacturing of equipment packages, components and spares for oil and gas industry and develop local small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) and then partner them with original equipment manufacturers to enable them acquire manufacturing expertise.

    While advising local vendors to take advantage of the fairs being organised for SMEs, he also promised researchers and academics specialised in oil and gas research to adopt and create funding mechanisms for research work and clusters, majority of which are in the Niger Delta area.

     

  • …water, roads, jobs top residents’ demands

    Potable water, rehabilitation of roads and schools, insecurity, provision of street light, employment opportunities, flooding/erosion menace and the need for proper drainage were the major demands when members of the Lagos State House of Assembly met their people.

    At Lagos Mainland 2 Constituency, a constituent complained that the boreholes provided by the government at Iwaya-Yaba does not supply water, while pleading that the government should provide tricycle and motor cycles for ‘Areas Boys’ to get them engaged and reduce their menace in the society.

    In Somolu 2 Constituency, the Oba of Bariga, Oba Gbolahan Timson lamented the poor state of inner roads in the area, urging the government to quickly make available large car park to ensure that available roads were made free for vehicular traffic. He also requested for the establishment of markets in the area.

    At Eti Osa 1 Constituency, the constituents requested for primary/ secondary schools, transformers, security within the estates, small and medium-scale loan for their businesses, cemetery for the Muslim, health facility, roads and drainage to prevent flooding, law against drug and child abuse within the constituent.

    The theme of the stakeholders’ meeting was “Towards a Better Constituency Engagement”, and was designed to educate constituents on the duties of the legislators and what the constituents expect from their representatives.

    Addressing his constituents at Agege 1 Constituency,  Speaker Mudashiru Obasa revealed that the outcome of the meetings would be a major determinant of the direction the 2016 Budget will take, adding that it is the Assembly’s desire to deepen the democratic culture as well as facilitate participatory governance in the state.

    Talking to his people in Somolu 2 Constituency, Chief Whip, Hon. Rotimi Abiru said the parley was also aimed at deepening democracy, assuring that all the complaints and suggestions made by constituents would be addressed with the appropriate authorities, just as he assured that the Palmgroove-Pedro Road now under construction would be completed by the end of the year as the needed fund has since been released.

    Also addressing his constituents at Eti Osa 1 constituency, Kazeem Alimi said the assembly had always welcome the people’s opinions to develop the state. He promised them quality representation from him and urged them to help, support and participate with him in making  Eti Osa a better place.

    The lawmakers promised to make sure that all the demands are worked on and forwarded to the executive so that it can be captured in the next budget.

    Speaking on the activities of the current Assembly, the lawmakers said, since June 15 when the 8th Assembly was inaugurated, it has passed 28 resolutions “covering a broad range of socio-economic, political and other issues pertaining to the welfare of Lagosians, the progress of the state and the nation as a whole. We have settled communal clashes, played the Ombudsman’s role while not neglecting several petitions referred to us for mediation and resolutions.

     

  • Buhari, Tinubu hailed over Mohammed’s appointment

    Buhari, Tinubu hailed over Mohammed’s appointment

    The Igbomina community in Lagos State has praised President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other party leaders for making it possible for Alhaji Lai Mohammed to be appointed as the Minister of Information and Culture.

    The Chairman of the community, Chief Rasheed Afolayan, in a statement in Lagos, said the appointment was in recognition of Mohammed’s efforts toward the success of the APC in the general election.

    He used the opportunity to invite those indigenous to Igbomina who reside in Lagos of the Igbomina Day which holds on November 29 at the Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) secretariat, Adekunle bus stop, Yaba, Lagos, as important issues concerning the development of Igbomina area of Kwara State will be discussed.

    Afolayan said prominent monarchs from the area and eminent citizens, including Prince Samuel Adedoyin, Bishop David Oyedepo, Chief Raheem Oladimeji, Prince Jacob Aboyeji and Sheikh Rabiu Adebayo would attend the event.

    The Asiwaju of Igbomina land, Chief David Bamogboye and the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, are chief hosts.

  • Modern abattoir: Oyo set to boost health, economy

    Modern abattoir: Oyo set to boost health, economy

    After years of construction and perfecting administrative procedures, the Oyo State Government is set to inaugurate a multi-billion naira abattoir, which is the largest in Nigeria. BISI OLADELE writes that the project, will bring about world-class meat  processing standard and transform the city’s economy.

    Along Ibadan-Oyo Expressway in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State is the sprawling Ibadan Central Abattoir. It holds the key to hygienically produced meat, job opportunities, revenue generation for the government as well as protection of public interest.

    In its resolve to build a model abattoir that meets the standard set by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the government spent N4 billion on the project which sits on a 10-hectare land. Construction of the state-of-the-art abattoir lasted for about one year.

    The abattoir  is, perhaps, the largest in West Africa.

    By the time Governor Abiola Ajimobi inaugurates the project for operation by the end of the year, meat processing will  have stepped up to the standard of the World Health Organisation (WHO). No fewer than 200 traders, including meat retailers and those trading in ancillary products and services, are expected to be  employed. More traders will also access shops at the market complex and the in-built motor park; thereby injecting life into the small community.

    With a police station, clinic, commercial bank and other social services incorporated in the abattoir complex, Ajimobi’s name will go down in the history of Oyo State as a governor whose tenure witnessed massive economic rebound and urban renewal. When fully operational, the abattoir will create an economic cluster and mini-town with potential for growth and development based in meat and allied products from the slaughtering and processing centre.

    The project

    The Ibadan Central Abattoir is a Private-Public-Partnership (PPP) project undertaken by C & E Limited, a local construction company that specialises in PPP ventures. The abattoir project was conceived and initiated in 2009 during the tenure of former governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala. It was conceived as a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) project for 30 years.

    His successor, Abiola Ajimobi, continued with the arrangement though with a minor amendment in the shareholding and tenure structure. Currently, the tenure stands at 25 years with the government earning 30 per cent of the abattoir’s total annual revenue.

    The abattoir offers both modern and traditional slaughtering methods, rapid turn-around time and excellent hygienic conditions as against the current informal structure that leaves room for unhygienic slaughtering and meat distribution processes.

    The project has the capacity for 1,000 heads of animals (cow, sheep/goats and pigs) per day and is expandable to 5,000 heads per day with excellent ancillary facilities.

    Manual slaughter slabs

    The abattoir has two manual slaughter slabs with average area of 1500 m2 each and well furnished to accommodate over 200 butchers slaughtering cows, pigs, goats and sheep simultaneously.

    Mechanical slaughter slab

    The abattoir boasts of the mechanical slaughter slab, which is in use in all developed countries. It has the capacity to slaughter 500 cows per day, which is expandable to 2,000 per day.

    Lairage

    The lairage comprises the Veterinary Doctors’ Office, Health Officers’ Office, Modern Laboratory and three concrete-paved holding pens for animals before slaughtering. The holding pens are approximately 12, 000 m2 in size. Arrangement for offices for veterinary doctors and health officers makes the environment conducive to the discharge of their duties. Since animals are brought into the abattoir in large quantity, the doctors and health officers will find it more convenient to offer services in a centralised place; thereby ensuring that all animals pass health test before they are slaughtered and passed on to the public for consumption. Their services will also be enhanced with the provision of the modern laboratory.

    The holding pens offer a comfortable place for the animals to stay for a minimum of 24 hours before they are slaughtered. This enables the animals to be stable after a long journey from the northern part of the country before they are slaughtered. The pen for the cattle is different from the sheep’s and pigs’.

    Security and storage

    The abattoir has two large cold rooms with 24-hour electricity supply and a modern red brick incinerator. It also has three gate houses and a police station for security purposes.

    Administration/hospitality

    Within the large complex is an administrative block, which comprises offices for members of staff of the firm and related workers. The block also houses Butchers Cooperative Building, a commercial bank, a canteen and a clinic to cater for ailing butchers, staff and customers.

    Market and shops 

    There are currently 224 shops for grabs by meat sellers and other traders in the abattoir.

    External services

    IMG_1402The abattoir contains five conveniences, good road network with asphaltic pavement and concrete drains as well as external electrification, including solar-powered street lights.

    As part of the agreement reached by the government and the firm, all other abattoirs in the 11 local government areas in Ibadan are to move to the central abattoir to ensure slaughtering of animals in a hygienic manner. The idea is to guarantee standardisation of the meat being processed in the city for the health of consumers.

    Other smaller informal abattoirs in the city have already been declared illegal by the government; with the expectation that butchers will move to the central abattoir to begin operation before the end of the year.

    Representatives of government and the firm have held series of meeting with the butchers’ association in a bid to educate them on the importance and gains of the central abattoir to their businesses and the health of members of the public. The association, in a December 10, 2014 letter to Ajimobi, also expressed their preparedness to move to the new abattoir.

    Government has also written to all other abattoirs in the city to move to the modern abattoir for further activities.

    When the government finally enforces the order by December, activities in the central abattoir will be in full swing, bringing fulfilment to all stakeholders, including residents in the community.

    It is estimated that the project will generate about 2,000 jobs with coordinated revenue to the government and protection of the health of the public.

    Much more than the government and members of the public, veterinary doctors practising in the state are very excited at the project.

    Speaking about the abattoir, the Chairman of the Oyo State branch of the Association of Veterinary Doctors, Dr Musbau Ibrahim, said the association would be the happiest to witness its inauguration.

    According to him, the association had been in the forefront of agitation for a modern abattoir, given the dangers inherent in informal abattoirs which he described as unfit.

    Dr Ibrahim said a modern abattoir is central to the health of the public, given the fact that Nigerians consume much meat.

    He explained that the new project will ensure that all necessary ante-mortem and post-mortem tests are conducted on all the animals before they are passed onto the public for consumption.

    He added that the central abattoir would also ensure the welfare of animals; from where they are purchased to where they are slaughtered.

    “The animals are properly checked to ensure wholesome meat is delivered to the populace, thereby reducing diseases such as tuberculosis, brucellosis and anthrax that could be contracted from eating meat,” he said.

    The veterinarian also expressed hope that meat can be exported from the abattoir if properly managed, adding that it will also help the disease reporting system in the country.

    He added: “We have met with butchers to educate them on the need to run a proper abattoir.”

    He said the association was willing to partner with the government on the project for the health of the public.

  • Firm to provide solution to electricity in Oyo

    A firm, Bolamark Engineering Limited, a partner with Schneider Electricity Nigeria Limited, has inaugurated a branch of his office in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital with the aim of providing ultimate solutions to electrical problems in the state.

    In his remarks at the launching of the branch office at Joyce B junction, Ring-Road, Ibadan, the Managing Director of the firm, Alhaji Bola Azeez, said the distribution of quality electricity materials will improve power distribution in the state.

    “We have workforce made up of Electrical Engineers, Technicians, Administrative and Support Staff in various Engineering field, and we are a leader in the area of installation, servicing, repairing, maintaining, and commissioning of electrical systems.

    “Why we keep having electricity problem in this country is due to selling of fake products, but we are here to curb that now.

    He said: “We will be selling quality transformer to power generating companies and the Licenced Electrical Contractor Association of Nigeria (LECAN), will also be used to market our products.”

    Similarly, the Country President of Schneider Electric Nigeria Limited, Mr Walid Sheta said they are global specialist for energy provision and aim to provide safer electricity for the people of Oyo State and Nigeria.

    The Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdul-Ganiyu Adekunle Ologun Ebi Ajinose I and former deputy governor in the state, Barr. Iyiola Oladokun thanked the firm for opening their branch in Ibadan, promising to give their unalloyed support.

  • The high schools of Aregbesola’s dream

    The high schools of Aregbesola’s dream

    Despite dwindling revenue, Governor Rauf Aregbesola is determined to make Osun State the home of  new generation school structures that will change the face of public education institutions, writes Assistant Editor SEUN AKIOYE

    It was an unusual Saturday for Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. At a time his aides had concluded the weekend was free for their boss, a relief from the usual events-soaked weekends of the Governor, Aregbesola jumped out of his house and hopped into a privately-marked car. He was accompanied by a close aide and a police orderly. He drove out of Government House.

    In less than 10 minutes, Aregbesola had arrived at the premises of the Osogbo Grammar School, on Iwo-Osogbo Road and made straight for the magnificent structure that is the new face of that school. It is one of the 20 ambitious modern high schools being constructed across the state by his administration.

    The Saturday’s round of visit was about the 7th to that school in the last one month. Obviously, it was an unscheduled one which caught the site engineers and other workers unaware. As he moved from one section of the massive project to another, he closely examined the components and structures of the new building.

    The governor began to take notes as he moved from one end of the site to the other. As an Engineer, he knows what to look for in an ongoing project to ensure that the end-product satisfies the standards and specifications prescribed in the contract papers.

    Where he got satisfaction, you saw refreshing smiles on his face and a nod as he went on. Where the quality of the job fell short of his expectation, you would see the frowns. “I won’t compromise on the standard that we know is good for our school children,” he muttered as he went along in his inspection.

    Done with Osogbo Grammar School, Aregbesola made for the Ataoja School of Science, another sight to behold at the busy Gbongan/Osogbo Road. From one classroom to another, he repeated the same process at the Osogbo Grammar School, taking notes, approving of works meeting specifications and noting areas that need to be adjusted.

    From Osogbo, the Governor drove to Ejigbo, in Ejigbo Local Government Area. This is the site of the first completed High School in the state. The school, a three-in-one 3,000 student’s capacity, had actually been completed last year and was scheduled for inauguration.

    But then, tragedy struck! A seemingly mysterious rainstorm brought down the roof of the hall located within the school premises. The contractors went back to work to give back a befitting hall for the school.

    Last week, Aregbesola was in Ilesa where he inspected a similar project. However, what he met at the project site was not satisfactory, prompting the governor to send very strong signal to the contractor that he would not tolerate any slip-shod handling of the school projects.

    Engineer Gboyega Adeeyo, an expert with international experience said of the ongoing projects in Osun: “What is going on now is a product of long time thinking.”

    He said Aregbesola had long before he became the Governor of Osun State, seen drawings of some foreign school projects he had been involved in on his computer.

    “This Governor saw a drawing on my own computer long time ago and he said how some people can go to schools like this and our people cannot. We must not give up until we give our own people things like these. He was not governor then. When he became the governor, he called me and said ‘those drawings I saw on your computer that time, bring them.’ That was how the idea of these mega schools began,” he said.

    A high school housing 3,000 pupils will have three schools in one location. While the United Nations international best practices states that a high school cannot accommodate more than 1,000 pupils, the idea of three schools in one with different principals make sharing of facilities possible.

    “We can combine three schools in one with different principals. Each of the principals runs his school purely on the academic front. The management of the school becomes the responsibility of a facility manager,” said Adeeyo.

    The novel idea of having schools to be managed not by academic personnel such as the Principal or the Vice-Principals but by professionally qualified facility managers has the capacity to change the face of running schools in Nigeria. Over the decades, schools had run down to dilapidated structures simply because there were little or no attention paid to maintenance.

    “Who cares for replacement of the electricity bulbs? Who ensures that water taps run? Who ensures security of the students, personnel and facilities installed in the schools for the convenience of the pupils? Who cares if the paints are fading? Who maintains the electronic boards? These are too much for the Principal of any school whose main job should be the delivery of perfect and functional learning processes,” said Semiu Okanlawon, Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor.

    Okanlawon said those concerns brought about the well-thought out innovation of facility managers for the schools to ensure that these would not be projects run down in no time as usual with many of the publicly-owned facilities in this part of the world.

    “The idea of shared facilities such as the laboratories came because if you look at it well, all the three schools won’t be having laboratory works at the same time. So, when a school is through with the laboratory, it will be the turn of another. With that, you can maximise facilities and still have the quality learning in an environment conducive to teaching and learning that we desire for our people,” Adeeyo added.

    Of the 20 high schools that Aregbesola has tasked his administration with producing for Osun, 11 are currently at different stages of completion. Next week, the governor will also inaugurate the Ejigbo edifice which Okanlawon described as a “dream come to reality.”

    He gave the example of what is now the Salvation Army Government Middle School, Osogbo which had not become decrepit, but was a big hideout for hoodlums who used the school along the popular Alekuwodo area of Osogbo as centre for hatching their criminal activities.

    “There is a new lease of life,” said Alhaji Waheed Bakare, a human rights activist. “The emergence of these schools alone has changed the colour of the environment and it is gratifying that there are more to be established,” he said.

     

  • ‘I’ll promote peace, citizens’ welfare’

    ‘I’ll promote peace, citizens’ welfare’

    The newly installed Baale of Ilupeju, Lagos, Chief Michael Idowu Orelaja, has pledged to promote peace, progress and ensure the welfare of the Ilupeju residents.  He also promised to support the local and state governments’ programmes to make life better for his people.  He spoke at his palace while marking the seventh day of his coronation.

    Chief Orelaja was installed as the fifth Baale, having succeeded the late Chief James Adeboye Olaleye, who died on April 20, last year.

    He was selected after much screening by the Council of Chiefs among many contestants. Many traditional chiefs, monarchs, political stalwarts and dignitaries across the country were present at the event to rejoice with the ‘authentic’ Baale as he was fondly called by youths.

    While thanking the Council of Chiefs and citizens of the town, Chief Orelaja pledged to contribute his quota to the development of Ilupeju Township. He promised to find solution to some of the challenges that members of the community experience and create an enabling environment for residents to realise their potential; just as they will be made to live harmoniously.

    The Baale said he would work with both state and local governments to re-orientate his people and create awareness on environmental safety and security within the township.

    He urged the youth to shun all forms of indiscipline and social vices that can cause chaos in the area. Chief Orelaja harped on peaceful co-existence within the town as panacea for development and progress promising to embark on youths’ development programme that could make them acquire skills that can make them useful to themselves and the community.

     

  • Rig owners to Water Resources Minister: pursue implementation of National bill

    The Association of Water Well Drilling Rig Owners & Practitioners (Borehole Drillers Association) has tasked the Minister for Water Resources, Adamu Suleiman, to pursue with vigour, a quick implementation of the bill to enhance sanity in the industry.

    The President of the association, Michael Ale said the bill, Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management, NIWRMC is poised to create a framework that will guide the conducts of practitioners in water industry and make the sector more organised.

    Reacting to some of the anomalies in the sector, Ale said: “Nobody is licensed to drill borehole anywhere in the country due to lack of regulation. Because there is no law of water regulation and standardisation, some Asians have come into the country and are drilling illegally everywhere and it is very risky to the lives of the masses.”

    He said when a driller is not licensed, there is risk of exposing the drilled water to danger of unsafety for consumption which has resulted to high mortality rate in the country due to water related sicknesses.

    He noted that water sector is more profitable and can compete with oil and gas and telecom sectors if it is well coordinated saying that unorganized state of water sector is an indictment on Federal government and Ministry of Water resources.

    He also noted that water can become business if it is made pure and save for consumption saying though it is a natural resources but must be paid for to promote profitability and save water infrastructure from moribund.

    The president thanked President Mohammadu Buhari for granting their two requests of not merging the Ministry of Water Resources with others and to choose an expert in the field as minister.

    While congratulating the minister, Ale said the minister has been in the system for over 30 year as an expert and he still remains one saying that the minister need to seek advise from the stakeholders to get ideas that can move the sector forward despite he is an expert.

  • Police advise Nigerians on community policing

    Police advise Nigerians on community policing

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, has advised Nigerians to embrace community policing.

    Arase gave the advice in Ogun State during the stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Ogun State Police Command for the residents at Connect Event Centre, Ijako in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area. He was represented by the Sango Ota Area Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Fayoade Adegoke.

    Those in attendance were monarchs, Baales, Chiefs, market men and women and professional associations.

    According to the Area Commander, the meeting was a directive of the Inspector General of Police to enable the communities interact with police and other security agencies.

    This, he said, would prepare the country against all forms of criminal activities including robbery, raping, car snatching and other vices confronting the residents.

    The ACP said: “It is high time residents took a larger share in security and policing of their environments”. He noted that community policing involves a resident being conscious of what is happening around his/her environment and reporting abnormalities to the police. He said the obligation of ensuring that a community is safe should be the business of everyone and not just the police.

    His words: “There are various crimes, disorderliness, nuisances even traffic problems within the communities that have created so much fear even to go out on day time for the fear of not to encounter circumstances that would make people compete with criminals. We have seen that policing have gone to a level that it has to be for community through community and for community.

    “Community must be an integral of part of policing of an environment to make it more safer, secure and even for the roads to become accident- free to reduce fatality in the country.”

    ACP Adegoke appealed to Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to end epileptic power supply which has been the major threat to the residents. This, he said, would enable   the police to be more effective and efficient while on patrol, saying criminals are prone to operate in dark environments.

    He appealed to Nigerians to be careful and security conscious while moving with cash on the road during this ember months and also remain confidential while doing financial transactions.

    Adegoke appealed to landlords to be mindful of their tenants and tenants to be mindful of their landlords to check wrong doings. Doing so, he said, will not not  only do  good to the police, but also  to  everyone living within the environment.

    He urged men and women to keep their jewelries in their bags or pockets  when going to a party, put it on in the party venue and removed them immediately before leaving the party.

    The jewelries, he said, could attract criminals.

    “Help police and let police help you,” he added.

    Speaking at the event, the Baale, Ilupeju Iyana Cele, High Chief Olufemi Olalekan (JP), appealed to the Area Commander to assist residents in curbing the problem of land grabbers (Omo-Onile) which their major business is to terrorise the communities and appealed to the junior rank officers to shun cooperation with them.

    He also urged the Police to assist the communities to disband and dismantle the hideouts where the criminals sell and smoke Indian hemp and other hard drugs within the state.

    Chief Olufemi also appealed to police to always respect their uniform while on duty, maintain friendship with the citizens and ensure all the information giving them by the community are well kept.

    The President, Ifo branch of Hoteliers Association of Nigeria, Chief Mrs Bolanle Adekale,  appealed to the police to quickly respond to any distress calls from the residents.

     

  • Pro-justice group urges Oyo Apc to reverse expulsion of chieftains

    A group within the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peace and Justice Vanguard, has urged the elders of the party to prevail on the laedership to reverse the expulsion of Hon. Olujide Adewale and Hon. Oyeniran Oyeniyi.

    Its statement reads:  “We, of the above Group, and, committed members  of our great Party-All Progressive Congress, wish to appeal to our revered elders, leaders, and all justice lovers within our party to prevail on the party executives to reverse the purported expulsion of the duo of Hon. Olujide Adewale- former Commissioner for Environment in the state and Hon. Oyeniran Oyeniyi- the majority leader of the 7th Oyo state House of Assembly, as widely reported in the media recently.

    “This action, in our view, poses great danger to the survival of our party beyond 2019. The personalities concerned, by our reckoning,are dedicated party stalwarts and leaders of their constituency with large follower ship. Our party’s performance in their Local Government- Oluyole, during the last elections attests to this. Can we therefore, as a party, afford to do away with them?

    “More so, when their “offence” was, as we all know, that they cried when whipped!, by exploring constitutional means in seeking justice in the face of the failure of the internal crisis resolution mechanism of the party. How could this be an offense in a democracy!Democracies around the globe thrive through the rule of Law.

    “The opposition, which is now re-grouping and re-branding should not be allowed to benefit from this self-inflicted crack in our wall. In stead, we should by now be consolidating,empowering and further bonding and growing our membership towards retaining power beyond 2019. The opposition, like the eagle, over the mother hen and her  chicks, are hovering!

    “We therefore plead with the Leader of our party in the state;  His Excellency, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi to rally other leaders and elders towards strengthening the party by ensuring that peace and justice prevail in the party; as espoused by Martin Luther King Jr. that “when evil men plot, good men must plan, when evil men shout words of hatred, good men must commit themselves to the glories of love; and where evil men would seek to perpetuate an unjust status-quo, good men must seek to bring into being a real order of justice”. We know, our Leader is a good man.