The Executive Secretary, Badagry West Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Hon. Joseph A. Agoro has praised Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for his commitment to the health of the residents. He said the governor’s inauguration of 20 Mobile Care Units Ambulances and 26 Transport Ambulances for general hospitals and primary health care centres was proof for this commitment.
Hon. Agoro spoke during the sensitisation programme which the council held at Gbaji about the Lagos State Emergency Medical Service (LASEMS) and Lagos State Ambulance (LASAMBUS) unit.
He said to ensure that all hospitals function at the optimum, Governor Ambode approved the purchase of power generating sets and X-ray machines to be installed in all general hospital to ensure that there is 24-hour power supply.
The council chief also revealed that the governor had also approved the recruitment of more paramedic staff and special medical coordinators to ensure smooth provision of medical service for the people.
To this end, he said, it is necessary on our part to enlighten our people on this people-oriented programme and also to let you know the importance of these programmes to our council area.
Hon. Agoro noted that “rapid urbanisation and industrialisation of Lagos State has led to appreciable increase in the number of road traffic, industrial and marine accidents and medical emergencies. This informs government’s commitment to the strengthening of the Lagos State Emergency Medical Service (LASEMS) and establishment of the Lagos State Ambulance (LASAMBUS) in March, 2001.”
Both services run on 24 hours a week basis and have led to significant improvement in the response time and quality of care with attendant improvement in morbidity and mortality rates occasioned by medical emergencies.
These services cover awareness campaign on the preventive aspect of medical emergencies, including home, road, traffic and industrial accidents and how to access services; training of personnel in pre-hospital-based management of trauma and medical emergencies and effective radio communication; establishment of an effective radio communication network linking the public, LASAMBUS, LASEMS and the Ministry of Health, dedicated (easy-to-remember) phone hotline (112) and free treatment within the first 24 hours of emergency policy.
“As part of measures to enhance prompt response to emergency situations, Governor Ambode inaugurated 20 Ambulances and 14 Mobile Intensive Care Units (MICU) in addition to the existing fleet of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) for public use in which our LCDA was among.
“Today, we are sensitising our people and also inaugurating this worthy project in our LCDA to the glory of God and to the service of humanity.”
He thanked the royal fathers, community leaders, Commander of Army, Police, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), members of staff of the LCDA and other guests for attending the event.
THE Lagos State government has explained why it institutionalised maternity and paternity leave for the parents of the first two babies given birth to by its female and male employees.
“It is part of government’s intervention aimed at addressing the adverse effects of maternal deprivation among families in the Centre of Excellence”, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Modele Osunkiyesi has said.
She spoke at the Annual Faculty Day Lecture of the Faculty of Public Health, National Post-graduate Medical College of Nigeria, Ijanikin, Lagos.
The Permanent Secretary noted that the implementation of the paternity and maternity leave was premised on research findings on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and bonding.
Her words: “In full realisation of the public health burden of maternal deprivation on child health and mental health, Lagos State Government has designed relevant policies and programmes which address the promotion of family support activities.
“The government, is determined to protect, promote and restore the health of Lagosians and facilitate their unfettered access to quality health care services without financial or other barriers. As stated in its development plan (LSDP) 2012-2025, the state hopes to reduce the prevalence and burden of socio-cultural pathologies arising from maternal deprivation.
“The government is committed to the establishment of skills and empowerment centres for youths and the vulnerable. It will also implement the Child Rights’ and Adoption Laws through the Ministries of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and Youths, Sports and Social Development. This will help in alleviating the negative effects of psycho-social problems caused by maternal deprivation.”
Mrs. Osunkiyesi noted that the topic of the annual lecture, entitled “Maternal Deprivation: A Socio-Cultural Pathology” is intriguing and bears direct relevance to contemporary socio-cultural issues in Nigeria.
She added that maternal deprivation due to death, illness and abandonment results in acute anxiety, depression and character instability. These result from emerging psycho-social issues such as rape, crime, suicides and suicidal attempts, juvenile delinquency, emotional difficulties and anti-social behaviour, adversely affect the livability of our cities.
“The topic should also be viewed from the perspective of dysfunctional childhood development and the pivotal roles mothers or primary care-givers play in achieving optimal socialisation of their children or wards,” she said.
She further explained that the term “maternal deprivation” is a catchy-phrase which summarises the life-long research of a psychiatrist and psycho-analyst; John Bowlby on the effects of separating infants and young children from their mothers or mother substitutes.
She added that the psychiatrists and psycho-analysts have postulated that the relationship between the infant and its mother during the first two years of a child’s life are the most critical time for bonding.
Osunkiyesi noted that infants and children must form close relationships with a single primary care-giver for healthy development, adding that in most cases, the attachment is with the mother.
According to her, the strategies and programmes geared towards reducing the prevalence and burden of socio- cultural pathologies arising from maternal deprivation must be evidence-based, explaining that maternal deprivation which may be either physical or emotional could be due to death, illness or abandonment.
Besides, it could also be as mild as in trusted foster homes, partial; where mother or mother substitute was unable to provide the required loving care, or complete; as in crèches, hospitals and other institutions.
Mrs. Osunkiyesi posited that children who are cared for physically but lack social interaction and physical contact with their primary care-giver often exhibit many of the same symptoms as children who have been denied contact altogether.
She noted that the deleterious effects of maternal deprivation range from acute anxiety, depression and character instability to crippled capacity for relationships; adding that, as teenagers and adults, individuals suffering from maternal deprivation can be more aggressive, display emotion-affective psychopathy and more prone to depression.
The Guest lecturer, Prof. Adefunke Oyemade listed that the long-term consequences of maternal deprivation as delinquency, reduced intelligence with resultant poor scholastic performance and inability to show affection or concern for others.
She stated that prolonged deprivation beginning early in life and lasting for as long as three years usually has serious adverse effects on physical, mental and social development, stressing that the effects may be reversed if relief from deprivation is instituted early enough.
The guest lecturer pointed out that many mothers can hardly fulfill children’s need for love, understanding; patience, consistency for fairness, good and companionship because of their numerous social obligations and gainful employment which takes them outside their homes.
“Deprivation is not an inevitable result of mother-child separation. It may occur in the presence of the mother and may be relieved in her absence. It is evident that deprived children in institutions have not the same opportunities as those living in their own homes. Supportive measure to families should aim to reduce number placed in institutions,” she said.
In fulfilment of his promises during the electioneering campaigns to enhance the living standard of members of his constituency, the member representing Akure North/South Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Afe Olowookere has embarked on several projects that will alleviate the suffering of the people.
One of the projects is the construction of one- kilometer concrete drainage and erosion control along Faparusi Layout, off Ijoka Road, Akure the Ondo State capital.
Solely sponsored by Olowookere, the project would cost between N3.5 million and N5 million.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker said it was part of his Akure North/South Community ýDevelopment Project (ACDP), promising to execute more projects in order to reduce the suffering of the people in his constituency.
Expressing sadness over the deplorable state of roads in Akure, Olowookere said: “I’ve gone round the state capital and discovered that the roads within my constituency are in deplorable condition. I am not happy with the state of these roads. I have identified some roads that should have been fixed by the government which have been neglected. I have made up my mind to reconstruct some of these roads.”
The chairman of the Landlords’ Association of Faparusi community, Tolani Ologun, commended Olowookere’s gesture.
He said the construction of the drainage system would help to reduce the plight of the residents.
He said: “We can hardly bring our cars into the community. Even okada riders no longer ply our area because of the state of the road, especially during rainy season. Erosion has sacked some people from their homes. This has been our nasty experience. This project is one of the best gifts any community can get from its representative.
“The road has been abandoned for years. The erosion that has seriously affected the community is caused by the flow of current from Abusoro area of the town. It has rendered so many residents homeless.
All efforts made in the past to address the problem did not yield any fruit.”
Ologun said representatives of the community have visited the chairman of Akure South Local Government Area several times to officially register their plight without any tangible result.
Hon. Olowookere has also commenced the construction of town hall for Emiloro community near Oda in Akure South Local Government Area.
The laying of the foundation of the modern town hall was performed by the lawmaker amid jubilation.
The town hall project estimated by the site engineer, Dele Bello to cost N10 million would boast modern facilities for the convenience of members of the community.
According to the chairman of Emiloro Community Development Forum (ECDF) Dare Olowookere, the sons and daughters of the community must emulate the lawmaker, saying he had not forgotten his roots.
He urged the people to embrace peace and unity, noting that without unity, there would be no development.
The Olu of Emiloro, Chief Tayo Alake, commended Hon. Olowookere for the gesture, saying the lawmaker was a patriotic son who had the interest of the community at heart.
Chief Alake also called on the people of Emiloro to emulate the lawmaker’s example in order to help in the development of the community.
The chairman of the APC in Akure South, Elder Ayo Alogba, ascribed the intervention of Olowookere in Emiloro to the love he has for his people.
Alogba lamented that some people who represented the constituency in the past had nothing to show for their representation.
He commended Olowookere for the giant strides which he said are lasting legacy he will bequeath the community.
The lawmaker said he decided to construct the town hall because the old one where the community holds important events had collapsed.
Olowookere said he made the project a priority because it was in fulfilment of his promise to the people of the community during his electioneering campaigns.
Youths have been advised to contribute to the growth and development of the country’s economy by engaging in profitable ventures, even as they were urged to eschew acts capable of portraying them as irresponsible and unpatriotic.
The pieces of advice were given by a Belgium-based ex-footballer, Tosin Dosunmu during the unveiling of his world-class events centre he established in Lekki Lagos. Urging them to develop their potential, he maintained that self-discipline is vital to overall development of an individual.
Speaking to Southwest Report on what informed the establishment of the events centre of such magnitude, Dosunmu said he was buoyed by the call by the Federal Government to Nigerians in the Diaspora to either return home and invest in their fatherland or contribute their expertise to nation-building.
Located at Sagote on the busy Lekki-Lagos Expressway, opposite Crown Estate, TT Parkwest Events Centre’s two letters were taken from the name of Tosin and his wife Toyin.
Dosunmu said he was touched by the Muhammadu Buhari administration’s policy to encourage Nigerians in the Diaspora to come home and invest.
On why he chose to invest in the events subsector, Dosunmu, said though he initially planned for a filling station, “because it is the easiest thing for me to manage’’, he changed his mind as he wanted something clean and different from what others had been doing, saying from there, he would expand to other businesses.
Explaining why he chose to locate the business in Lekki, he said: “This is where we have land. This events centre was borne by the words of God and prayers. We bought the land and waited for two years before embarking on construction. It took me another two years before the work was completed.”
Dosunmu further explained that the centre was the outcome of a vi sion he shared with his spiritual director, Pastor Mike Nwanegbo, who gave him the nod, after fervent prayers. “It was a celebration of success and how a young man listened to God and followed it through,’’ the cleric said.
Dosunmu said: “The centre is unique in many ways. It can accommodate 800 guests, has a kitchen, two giant power generating sets to tackle power failure and a bathroom. Our tent is also different. It could last for 20 years. We have franchise with a foreign firm.”
Continuing, he said: “It was quite challenging. God has been good to us. I didn’t borrow. I built it from my savings. God started it and completed it. Everything was done by God. I knew from the beginning that football career has a short life span. So, when you are playing, you have to save for the rainy day. The plan had been there.”
To his colleagues, he said they had similar challenges, noting that it was not easy to be a man at a young age.
“Football brings huge money in a short time. They should start thinking of doing something at a young age,” he advised.
Dosunmu, who was the highest goal scorer in the Belgian premier league, also played in Austria, France and Holland, among others. He said his colleagues were JJ Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo and Obafemi Martins. To him, playing in Europe was a bit taxing.
It was for this he advised the youth. “If you want to be successful, you must listen to those who are experienced. Talent is not enough; self-discipline is vital. If you want to marry, do so. Don’t jump around, he added.
Pastor Nwanegbo, a Senior Pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), said he was glad to have Dosunmu as a member of his church in Belgium and be part of the project. The cleric, who flew in from Belgium, to attend the ceremony, said: “We came to celebrate with him.’’
Nwanegbo, who is the Coordinator of RCCG in eight European countries, including Switzerland and Russia, said he has five ex-Super Eagles players in his church. His objective is to reposition them and invest in the country.
On whether Dosunmu’s project would succeed, Pastor Nwanegbo was optimistic that it would.
He said: “We wanted to put something back home. We did something in Belgium but home is home. We’ll monitor it regularly. There won’t be a problem with running it. There is a management team in place.’’
He revealed that Dosunmu also has other projects in the pipeline.
Police deserve respect from the public and the public deserve same from the police.
This is the view of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni who stressed the need for partnership between them.
•Owoseni
Mr Owoseni was addressing members of tricycle operators who were protesting the killing of their member, Mr Godwin Ekpo by a police Corporal attached to the Isheri-Oshun Police Station in Alimosho area of Lagos State.
The protesters said the death of Mr Godwin in the hand of policemen was one of the many cases in which defenceless Nigerians had been “murdered” by policemen.
Sometime in the early 80s, the country was thrown into deep mourning for losing one of its high profile athletes, Dele Udoh.
To many, the concern and emotional outpouring was not just because of the death of the promising young man but because of the way in which he died.
Udoh, then a foreign-based athlete, was cut down in his prime by police bullets at a check-point in the Ojuelegba area of Lagos.
The “slaughter” of Udoh by an overzealous policeman was said to be as a result of an argument that ensued between them at the check-point. The police claimed that Dele’s death was as a result of “accidental discharge”. That was how and when “accidental discharge” became one of the lexicons in the police circle.
Despite the huge outcry over his death, what has become more worrisome now is that since after the death of the great athlete, many more innocent and defenseless Nigerians have been “murdered” by policemen for little or no reasons.
Despite efforts by government and police authorities to prevent some policemen from giving the institution bad name, the rate of killing keeps increasing.
Against the Inspector-General of Police’s and Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni’s instruction against mounting of road blocks by policemen, an eight-man team from Isheri-Oshun Police Station in Alimosho area of Lagos, had mounted a checkpoint at Obalagbe bus stop Ijegun, where they allegedly extorted various sums of money from tricycle operators.
Obalagbe bus stop was the scene of the recent death in the hands of trigger-happy policeman attached to the Isheri-Oshun Police Station.
Mr Godwin Ekpo, his wife, Idongesit and their two-month-old baby were said to be returning from a church programme at 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday last week when the eight-man police team stopped him and demanded money from him. He told them that he, with his family, was returning from a church programme.
As he moved to park well, it was gathered, one of the policemen identified as Aremu thought he was running away and fired a shot at the back of the keke. The bullet hit the woman in the neck. Her husband was also seriously wounded. Mrs Idongesit died instantly while her husband was rushed to Igando General Hospital and later moved to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja for treatment; as his condition was said to be critical. The following day, it was alleged that Mr Godwin had also died.
Enraged by this, members of tricycle operators’ union Ikotun to which Godwin belonged went on protest.
In their numbers, the tricycle operators that ply the Ijegun-Ikotun route literally shot down Ikotun. They trooped out to the road on Thursday, September 17 to protest what they called frequent police brutality and killing of their members. Their placards explained their grievances. Some read, “Isheri Police, your generation will suffer,” “Stop killing us,” and “We are law-abiding citizens and have rights to life”, among others.
Tricycle operators protesting police killing of member
One of the leaders of the group, Osas Olobi said when members got wind of the death of their member; they had to gather to protest the killing.
“Last week at Iyana-Isheri bus stop, a policeman from the same station wanted to arrest one of our members for not giving him N100. As they were dragging over the matter, the policeman opened tear gas canister in his eyes. The man died the following week because he was asthmatic.
“We are tired of frequent police harassment and embarrassment. They do not allow us to operate freely as stipulated by law. They always extort money from us almost at every bus stop. Each operator spends not less than N2, 500 daily.
“Some of our members, 13 of them, were arrested and detained at the station for refusing to give them money. One of us called one woman who is a member of a human rights group. When she came, the DPO and his men manhandled and seized her camera and phone.
“Surprisingly, the DPO himself cocked his gun to shoot the woman and we shouted shoot, shoot so that we will know what will happen,” he said.
Kabiru Olaoye, one of the operators told Southwest Report that he was at his bus stop (Obalagbe) watching how the policemen were stopping and collecting money from tricycle operators.
He said: “It was around 10:00 p.m. when the man was stopped by the policemen. The man told them that he was returning from church with his family. The next thing I heard was a gunshot which had killed the wife of our member and seriously injured him.
“When I saw what happened, I started shouting and some residents quickly formed a crowd at the scene and prevented the policemen from leaving. They cocked their guns. Out of fear, the crowd dispersed and the policemen fled.
“Today (Thursday), we heard that Godwin, our member had died. That was why we are protesting.”
Another member of the tricycle drivers association in the area, Nse Okon, said tricycle drivers in the area were being constantly harassed by the police at the Isheri-Osun Police Station, adding that they have a peculiar mode of operation
Okon said: “Any time an operator is arrested, he will pay at least N2, 000 before he will be set free. I do not know whether we are working in order to take care of our various families or working to feed the police that are being paid with tax payers’ money. They connive with the head of Agbero to extort money from us.
Operator’s receipt of N100 bought at the cost of N1, 300
“Instead of buying the operator’s ticket for the stipulated N100, we buy them at the cost of N1, 300. We are handicapped as government has allowed them to decide our fate. Government should save us from the hands of these Agberos.”
Southwest Report gathered that policemen at that station were fond of unlawful arrest and detention of drivers who refused to give them money.
It was also gathered that the protest against the death of Mrs Idongesit who was breastfeeding a two-month-old baby, led to the release of 13 other tricycle drivers, who had been arrested and detained under contentious situations.
A visit to the Isheri-Oshun Police Station revealed that there were armed policemen in more than five security vehicles. An Armoured Personnel Carrier was also stationed very close to the station.
The member of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Comrade Chinazo Ifechigha, who was allegedly assaulted by the police during the Thursday protest called for justice.
She accused the DPO of encouraging his men to molest and brutalise the masses that they were meant to protect.
“Because I refused to compromise my position as a member of a group that defends the defenseless and the voiceless, he said he would disgrace me before everybody.
“He pointed a gun at me and the crowd dared him to shoot. He then ordered his men to beat me up because I refused to give him my phone. He embarrassed me before the protesters. But I stand firm to get justice for the couple; and I want my phone back.”
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, who confirmed the incident, said the policeman, Aremu had been arrested and detained.
Addressing the protesters at Oropo bus stop in Ikotun, Mr Owoseni pleaded with them to be peaceful, adding that justice will be done.
He added that the DPO of Isheri-Oshun had also been issued with a query for disobeying the Inspector-General of Police’s instruction against mounting of roadblocks.
He said: “The police are doing all they can to ensure that the deceased’s children are taken care of. The police corporal involved has been taken into custody. When we complete all necessary disciplinary action, he will be charged to court for murder.
“The team leader and the DPO of Isheri-Oshun Police Station have also been issued queries for disobeying the IGP with regard to policemen performing duties without wearing their uniforms, and without a properly-labelled police van.
“The Inspector-General of Police does not condone such ugly acts. We at the Command headquarters here frown at it. I have visited the home of the deceased, I have seen their children and we sympathised with them. We will ensure that they are properly taken care of.”
He also stressed the need for community partnership and mutual trust among the police and the public.
Nutritionists have said that healthy eating habit is a gateway to healthy living. They, therefore, advised Nigerians to eat good food for sound health and wellness.
•Dr Diran delivering a lecture
The call was made at the first free community health and nutrition fair organised by Phison Nutrition and Wellness Centre. Speaking at the event held at Rhema Auditorium, Bodija, Dr Diran Oyewole, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Public Health and Nutrition, College of Medicine of the University of Ibadan, revealed that human existence is influenced by many factors part of which, he said, is nutrition.
He said: “One of the components of nutrition is healthy eating which many claim to know much about but sometimes make mistake about; an action that makes them susceptible to non-communicable diseases.”
He noted that there is a need to create awareness on how to maximise the power of healthy living for sound health and wellness through preventive strategy.
His words: “At times, we eat more or less than what the body actually requires, unknowingly. Wrong food choices and combination, drug use, meal timing and health condition affect healthy eating. If you take a food item in the morning and you don’t have the sensation to eat more, the food is not good.”
To live a healthy life, he advised people against skipping breakfast. “Avoid late night meal, don’t eat legumes, oily and fried food late in the night. Never start your day with artificial or soft drink. Don’t drink chilled drink immediately after meal. And more importantly, seek information from reliable sources to know if you are eating well or not,” he said.
Speaking earlier, Mrs Shirley Isi-Ejoh of the Department of Human Nutrition, University of Ibadan, revealed that most of the nutritional problems that occur in human beings started when growing up, adding that “a malnourished pregnant woman will give birth to a malnourished baby.”
She added that nutrition brings together the complex social and biological factors of how individuals and populations maintain optimal function and benefit. “The same food that somebody eats and benefits from may not be good for another person,” she explained.
On why she organised the fair, 28-year-old Miss Tubi Ibukunoluwa said the programme was borne out of the need to answer some salient questions about health, nutrition and wellness.
“With diet-related diseases on the increase, messages on health, especially from health professionals, become priority. As the saying goes “information is power”, but there seems to be a gap between health professionals with the information and the people that need the message.
“The health and nutrition fair seeks to bridge this gap by providing a platform where nutrition-health professionals are brought to the community where people of all age groups can get information on how to use the power of food for sound health in a fun, interactive and educative manner.”
She said though the fair was the maiden edition “we have been harnessing several platforms to pass the message of health and wellness through nutrition programmes on radio, nutrition talks in gatherings and organisations when invited. We also operate nutrition blog but the free community health and nutrition fair is the first.”
On how to sustain it, she said the health and nutrition fair model is self-sustainable as “it gives corporate institutions several opportunities to advertise their services and products.”
Ibukun, who is an expert in human nutrition, was optimistic that the fair would become a national matter.
“Since a lot of people need to know how to develop a healthy eating habit and lifestyle, I see it going beyond Ibadan into other states in Nigeria for as many people to benefit,” she said.
Properties belonging to the ex-chairman of Ondo State Oil-Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Mr. Debo Ajimuda seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have been released by the anti-graft body.
Southwest Report learnt that the vehicles and other property were allegedly released to Ajimuda by the EFCC.
The properties, comprising about 13 exotic vehicles and some documents were seized by the anti-graft agency on March, 2012 and put in the custody of the State Police Command following an allegation of N540 million frauds against him.
Some of the flashy cars impounded are 2011 model Tundra with registration number, FY 195ABC, Mercedes Benz 500 with registration number DK 777FST, G.Wagon Benz.
When our correspondent visited the Police Headquarter along Igbatoro Road in Akure, the state capital, it was discovered that Ajimuda’s vehicles, which have been parked under trees very close to the entrance of the command, have been removed.
Police sources revealed that the command received a letter from the EFCC, ordering the police to release the seized vehicles in their custody to the ex-OSOPADEC boss.
It was alleged that Ajimuda was present at the Police Command when the vehicles were released to him.
When asked if the EFCC gave reasons for the release of the property despite the fact that there was a pending case against Ajimuda at the Federal High Court, the sources said they were not aware if the EFCC gave reasons for the release of the vehicles.
Ajimuda, who was arrested immediately after the seizure of his property by the EFCC, was later arraigned on June 2012 at the Akure Federal High Court with four others with 13 count-charges before they were released on bail.
Others arraigned with him were Man Omobayi Alli, Ikuomola Vincent Aghone, Mafolabomi Monday and Olayinka Olaitan Joseph.
Justice Gloria Okeke, now retired, however, granted the suspects bail in the sum of N1million each and sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till September, 2012.
Investigations revealed that the fraud charges against Ajimuda had been allegedly swept under the carpet.
When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Mr. Wole Ogodo confirmed the release of the vehicles in their custody.
Ogodo refused to speak further on the matter, saying he was not authorised to speak on behalf of the EFCC.
“They only kept the property in our custody. We only kept the vehicles safe and I have no information about why it was released. You can contact the EFCC on this matter. I have no information on this,” Ogodo said.
The ex-OSOPADEC boss did not pick phone calls by our correspondent as at the time of filing this report.
But, Wale Odusola, who is a member of Ajimuda’s legal team, gave another account of the story.
Odusola said the seized cars do not belong to the ex-OSOPADEC chairman, adding that eight of the flashy cars belonged to dealers who want Ajimuda to either help them to sell or buy them.
His words: “The day EFCC came, they removed five vehicles from Ajimuda’s compound and the remaining eight vehicles from the compound of his neighbour where they were parked. One Banjo Ayenakin and I are the counsels to Ajimuda.
”In the course of our duty as counsels, we were informed by our client that eight of the vehicles belonged to some dealers who wanted him to either buy the vehicles or help them sell to his friends who may desire to buy.
“Out of the five vehicles removed in Debo’s house, two actually belonged to his wife while the remaining three belonged to him. We invited about four of the dealers. Following their briefings, we filed an application on their behalf to the Federal High Court where the charge was pending, praying the court to release the eight vehicles whose ownership were not traced to Ajimuda but to the dealers.
We equally filed an application praying that Ajimuda’s name be struck out of the charge because there was no evidence linking him with the offence.
“Recently, we wrote a letter to the EFCC, appealing to them to release the vehicles because of wear and tear. The EFCC, in its wisdom, agreed to release the vehicles.
EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren refused to pick calls to him and did not reply text message sent to him by our correspondent.
The lawmaker representing Ibadan North East/South East Federal Constituency, Hon. Adedapo Lam-Adesina has inaugurated two constituency offices.
Inaugurating the offices at Ile-Titun area and Oje Market, Lam-Adesina said he was not running a race with anybody by using two offices but only wants to be accessible to the people of his constituency.
“I am representing two local governments; so it is my responsibility to have two offices that will make my people to be accessible to me. I am doing all this in order to bring the dividends of democracy to my people.
“Politicians seem to fail in providing dividends of democracy to their people because they are far from their people. That informs my inaugurating two constituency offices. I want to go down to the people at the grassroots and I want to be closer to them even if I am in Abuja,” he said.
The lawmaker informed the gathering that channeling requests through the constituency office would be the most efficient method of having them attended to.
Lam-Adesina also advised other political office holders to always ensure that they do not abandon the people that elected them into office, noting that good representation entails doing something positive for constituents.
While commending the lawmaker, the chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ibadan South West Local Government, Alhaji Kayode Arowolo stated that Hon. Adesina has started fulfilling his campaign promises within a short while in office.
“He is a promise-keeping person who does not segregate or marginalise the people within his constituency,” he said.
Also, the leader of APC in Ibadan North East Local Government, Elder Ayo Eniade said: “The inauguration of two constituency offices is splendid and we must commend the lawmaker for it. This is the first of its kind in our local government. His 100 days in office is also very commendable.” Elder Eniade said.
The rich cultural heritage of the people of Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, was on display on Saturday, August 29, as the community marked this year’s Udiroko Festival. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports
For several hours on Saturday, August 29, Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, was in festive mood as guests from far and near joined residents to celebrate this year’s Udiroko Festival.
The town was literally shut down as a huge crowd of residents made their way to the palace of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti to behold a cultural spectacle and catch some fun usually experienced once in a year.
There was heavy drumming, singing, trumpeting and breathtaking dance steps by cultural dancers who thrilled the guests who had seated before the arrival of the dignitaries.
The Udiroko Festival marks the beginning of a New Year in the Ado-Ekiti traditional calendar during which indigenes gather at the palace of the Ewi to offer supplications for the favour of the Almighty and to deliberate on issues affecting the development of the town.
Indigenes of Ado-Ekiti, various ethnic nationalities, interest groups, quarter chiefs, traditional chiefs, queens, indigenous war chiefs, age groups, market men and women and politicians from all walks of life pay homage to the monarch.
•Governor Fayose (left) Oba Adejugbe and Olori Bosede
This year’s edition of the festival was different from the previous ones as the Ekiti State Government, led by Governor Ayo Fayose played a pivotal role in adding colour to the occasion by majorly sponsoring the event.
Fayose had mounted huge billboards in many parts of Ado-Ekiti to raise people’s awareness and personally going on air to invite residents to the festival.
The governor was joined at the festival by other dignitaries, including his deputy, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, Senator Fatimat Raji Rasaki, Deputy Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Segun Adewumi; Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Modupe Alade; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Dipo Anisulowo, Chairman, Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Idowu Faleye; Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Senator Bode Ola and the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Ademola Ajakaye.
Others were the Vice-Chancellor of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Prof. Saminu Abulrahman Ibrahim; the Rector, Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti, Dr. Taiwo Akande; Provost, College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, Prof. Francesca Aladejana; Director-General, Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Mr. Sola Omole, state legislators, council chairmen and board chairmen.
It was a culmination of a week-long activities which commenced with prayers at the palace of Ewi on Monday, public lecture on Tuesday, health seminar on Wednesday, homage by artisans, market women and other professionals on Thursday, final of the Ewi Cup Football Competition and Draught and Ayo Olopon on Friday.
Earlier on Friday, Fayose inaugurated the Palace Hall financed by his administration in its contribution to making more facilities available at the complex.
Barely 24 hours to the D-Day, the excitement in the air had reached its climax and was temporarily put on hold by the conduct of the monthly environmental sanitation between the hours of seven and 10 in the morning of Saturday.
As the sanitation exercise was concluded at 10:00 a.m., enthusiastic indigenes and other residents started making their way to the palace to witness the festival.
Courtesy of Fayose, this year’s Udiroko Festival was transmitted live on the Africa Independent Television (AIT) and the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES).
Obey
Music legend, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey added colour to the festival with his evergreen songs while other local musicians dotted the palace grounds entertaining crowds at various designated points.
Fayose later moved to Obey’s bandstand where he danced enthusiastically to the tunes dished out by the septuagenarian musician.
Aspirants jostling for positions in the forthcoming local government elections also used the Udiroko Festival to market their ambitions as the palace square was adorned with various campaign banners and posters.
The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, who wore a special crown for the occasion, beamed with smiles as he received homage from various segments of the population.
The Ado-Ekiti king, who was joined on the dais by his consort, the Eyesorun, Olori Margaret Bosede Adejugbe and Fayose, waved the royal horsetail (irukere) in appreciation of the obeisance paid to him by his subjects.
Groups that took their turns to pay homage to the Ewi included the Oloris (palace queens), the Omo Owas (princes and princesses), Iyalojas and Iyalajes (market chiefs), the Elegbes (traditional war chiefs), the Efas (traditional police) and the Bafon (traditional generalissimo) who was followed by the traditional troops.
•The Elegbes (Ado-Ekiti traditional war chiefs) on their way to pay homage to the Ewi
The President of Ado-Ekiti Progressive Union (APU), Chief Obafemi Ojo, praised the various projects initiated by the Fayose administration in the town.
He also urged the governor to give more Ado sons and daughters political appointments to enable them to contribute to the development of the state.
The chairman, Caretaker Committee of Ado-Ekiti Local Government Area, Alhaji Dauda Ajise, explained that Fayose’s contribution to the development of the town would remain indelible.
Ajise said the Governor, within the short time of his second stint in power, has beautified the town and executed projects such as roads and drainage, among others.
Founder and President of the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, who was represented by the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Michael Ajisafe, donated N10 million towards the completion of the projects going on in the palace.
Fayose, who defied protocol by prostrating before Ewi said he decided to contribute immensely to the success of this year’s Udiroko Festival because of the huge electoral support he received from the people of Ado-Ekiti at the June 21, last year governorship election.
He explained that he couldn’t ignore or neglect a community that gave him over 50,000 votes which played a key role in swinging electoral victory in his favour, saying no governor can afford to joke with the people of Ado-Ekiti.
Fayose also used the opportunity to explain the projects being carried out in the community, promising to build and complete a new Etekesan Market before next year’s Udiroko Festival.
Extolling the virtues of the Ewi, Governor Fayose promised to continue to accord the royal father the respect he deserves and work closely with him to develop the kingdom and give it what is due as the capital of the state.
Fayose said: “Kabiyesi, we are proud of you and I am proud to be called the Governor of Ekiti State under your monarchy. When it is good, there are forces behind it and you are the force behind Ado-Ekiti.
“Your reign has witnessed unprecedented development and under my government, we are about to start. Last year, I was here as governor-elect but today as the olori oko patapata of Ekiti State.
“I want to build the new Ado Market, which will be more beautiful than the Tejuoso Market in Lagos. By this time next year, you will join me to inaugurate the project. I want to put a flyover in Ado-Ekiti.
“In less than two months from now, we would have completed this amphitheatre and by the time I leave, no governor will have any project to do in this palace again.
“Next year’s Udiroko Festival will be greater than this year’s. They used to bring small musicians here before but this year, I brought Ebenezer Obey here but next year, I will bring both Obey and Sunny Ade.”
In his address, the Ewi, Oba Adejugbe described this year’s Udiroko Festival as “the best arrangement in the past 25 years despite the fact that it used to be celebrated with kola nuts in the past”.
He expressed satisfaction that Udiroko Festival now competes favourably with prominent traditional festivals such as the Argungu Fishing Festival in Kebbi State, the Ojude Oba Festival in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State and the Osun Osogbo Festival in Osogbo, Osun State.
The traditional ruler paid tributes to ABUAD Chancellor, Aare Babalola who holds the title of Fiwagboye of Ado-Ekiti.
The Ewi expressed concern over the activities of hoodlums popularly known as Area Boys and land grabbers known in local parlance as the Omo Oniles; urging the government and security agencies to clamp down on them to allow law-abiding residents go about their normal businesses without molestation.
Oba Adejugbe further said: “Governor Fayose, you are doing well and I want you to continue doing your good works. If dividends of democracy get to the people, they don’t care who is in power.
“I urge all sons and daughters of Ado-Ekiti to support the government of the day and I appeal to the governor to do more for citizens of Ado-Ekiti and Ekiti State.
“I also appeal to all sons and daughters of Ado-Ekiti all over the world to assist the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH).
Mr. Linus Okeke, a Prof. of Surgery in the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Ibadan (UI), has revealed that Benigh Prostate Enlargement (BPH) is caused by old age and not by increased sexual activities.
He also said that BPH is not a death sentence as it can be treated satisfactorily.
Okeke spoke while delivering his inaugural lecture entitled: “Lord, That I May Urinate” at Trenchard Hall Ibadan.
“BPH occurs in the ageing male. It is purely caused by aging because there is imbalance between the blood levels of androgen and estrogen and this imbalance is thought to be responsible for this enlargement. The more prevalence is put at two out of 10 in men aged less than 50 years and rises to nine out of 10 in patients over 80 years. However, the enlargement affects different individuals in varying degrees.
“But unpublished data shows that the society at large believes that prostate enlargement is due to too much sexual intercourse, especially with multiple partners.” he said.
On how to prevent the prostate gland from enlarging, the don said two methods are currently in vogue. He said they are: “if a boy is castrated before puberty as is said to be practised in some kingdoms and if a boy dies before reaching adulthood.”
He said nobody is too old to undergo prostate operation, adding that if carried out by an experienced surgeon, age is not a restriction to operating patients with enlarged prostate.
Prof. Okeke said: “Although not all patients with BPH will require an operation, when operation is needed, patients can undergo such surgery operation without any cut on the body and they can return to normal activities the same day.”
