A former lawmaker, who represented Ajeromi-Ifelodun State Constituency II in the 7th Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdoulbaq Ladi Balogun, has presented gift items worth thousands of naira to Bab-es-Salam, an orphanage at Joel Ogunaike Street, GRA, Ikeja Lagos.
He had earlier reached out to So’Said Charity Home in his constituency at Ajegunle where he donated several gift items and empowerment items worth millions of Naira to some less-privileged persons such as widows, as well as his political supporters in the constituency at the event which took place at the premises of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area secretariat.
The empowerment items donated included six mini-buses for transportation, fridges and 50 packs of table water for each of 12 beneficiaries. Twenty-five other beneficiaries also received gas cookers as food vendors received cooking utensils and satellite decoder for viewing centres, among several other items.
Hon. Balogun said the gesture was part of programmes lined up for his 40th birthday. Making the presentation, Hon. Balogun appealed to wealthy Nigerians to always remember the less-privileged as a way of reducing the socio-economic inequality among the citizens. Reaching out to the less-privileged people, he said, will make the environment a better place to live in for all.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the presentation, Balogun, who said he felt very happy at 40, thanked his supporters and those who have been part of his success story. He appreciated God for giving him the magnanimity and the means to assist the less-privileged people as well as be a blessing to those around him.
“Giving to charity from what God has given to me has been a way of life for me right from when I was in the private sector. I thank God for giving me the magnanimity and the heart to do this.
“It is my 40th birthday and it is a milestone in my life. I chose not to confine the celebration to my nuclear family alone. I had always celebrated my birthday through the years by reaching out to the less-privileged.
“This has been the practice in the past,” he said.
Dignitaries present at the event included the Leader of Lagos West Senatorial District, Chief Rabiu Adio Oluwa, Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon (GOS), Hon. Adekanye MHR, Hon. Funmlayo Tejuosho, Hon. Kasumu, immediate past deputy Speaker, Lagos Assembly, Kolawole Taiwo, former Commissioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa and other stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The President of the Association of Proprietors of Innovation and Vocational Institutions (APIVI), Dr. Andrews Jegede has faulted views of those who oppose the new policy by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), which seeks to redistribute successful candidates in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) whose scores are below the requirements of their universities of first choice to other universities whose requirements they met.
Jegede, who spoke in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, explained that tertiary institutions in the country have turned post-UTME admission process into a money-making venture which they included as part of their major internally-generated revenue (IGR) drive.
Of late, criticisms have continued to trail the new admission policy of the examination body, as students and parents protested at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
Explaining that the introduction of post-UTME as part of admission process by tertiary institutions had made the cost of tertiary admission highly exploitative and expensive at the expense of the poor Nigerian masses, he posited that “Nigeria is not the only country that has university admission regulatory body; it is in all over the world. Then, why should Nigerians interfere in the affairs of the country’s tertiary admission regulatory body saddled with the responsibility of conducting entrance examination for eligible candidates and place them into the university of their choices if he or she meets the university’s cut off mark?”
He commended the board’s Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde for the introduction of the computer-based test (CBT); saying that the measure had reduced examination malpractices in the system. He noted that the CBT had rendered the Post-UTME test unnecessary in the tertiary admission process.
His words: “Since the establishment of JAMB, there was never a time a decision was taken in isolation of other stakeholders in the system; the Vice-Chancellors, Registrars, rectors of polytechnics, Provosts of colleges of education and Heads of innovation institutions were always carried along. Before this became public, we all met at a roundtable in Abuja to take a decision on this year’s admission process.
“When JAMB released this year’s cut-off point for admission, every university has its in-house admission standard, and that any student whose score does not fall within a particular university pass mark, JAMB has the statutory right to send his particulars to another institution where he or she could be considered. It could be polytechnic, college of education or private institution. So, also the candidate has the right to accept it, or re-apply to another one he or she wants.”
He decried the protests, especially by the association of tutorial schools, saying that “what concerns tutorial centres with admission. These are people who would promise candidates high mark in examination in order to dupe them. If not that we waded in, many more people would have been victims. You cannot see any poster, promising candidate 320 over 400 in an examination that has not been done. If care is not taken, we will start buying admission from cybercafé.”
A group of women, under the aegis of Women for Equity and Fairness Organisation of Nigeria (WEFON), has evolved what it refers to as ‘godmotherism’ which is its own way of grooming and mentoring young females into politics.
WEFON, which was founded in 2011 as a non-governmental organisation (NGO) will serve as a platform for women in politics irrespective of their political affiliations.
The group seeks to increase the number of women who participate in governance and decision-making in Nigeria.
Its South West Zonal President, Alhaja Nourat Babs-Olorunkemi, who spoke to journalists just after the group’s zonal and state elections, said they have branches in the six South Western states as well as three other geo-political zones of Nigeria. Some of the objectives of WEFON are to serve as unifying platform for women and support for the political ambitions of women.
She said: “We are here to promote women’s rights agenda, sponsor gender responsive bills in the legislature as well as mentor female youths in politics; since every woman, 18 years and above in politics is a member.”
She said the agenda for the group’s new administration is to put on the front burner women issues and how the leaders of the group can engage government on appointments for women in the current political dispensation.
The President of the Lagos State chapter of the organisation, who contested for governorship seat in Lagos State on the platform of Alliance for Democracy (AD), Dr. Abimbola Ajayi-Ojora urged women to begin from home to teach and build their daughters’ confidence in social involvement.
She called for equity of rights with men in the development and resources of the land.
“Men should carry us along if they want to succeed; else, they do so at their own detriment. We have no wish to compete with the men; we are only here to complement them to attain greater success,” she said.
Thursday was a bad day for many residents of Irewolede Estate in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, as they were forcibly evicted from their homes by the Ayo Fayose administration for alleged failure to complete payment of their mortgages. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports that reprieve came their way on Saturday when the deadline for payment was extended to November.
For many residents of Irewolede Estate that was later renamed Adekunle Fajuyi Estate, Thursday, August 6 was a day they would never forget in a hurry.
It was a day they witnessed the fury of a government that was bent on recovering the proceeds from the mortgage on the houses in the estate.
A combined team of armed policemen, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and officials of the State Housing Corporation stormed the estate to evict owners of houses who were yet to complete payment of their mortgages.
They were armed with guns, padlocks, chains and other gadgets in order to effect the “order from above”.
one of the buldozers tearing down.
Bulldozers were also busy pulling down what government officials referred to as “illegal structures” in the estate.
The operation was already in full swing at 10:00 a.m. when the operatives moved into the houses of the ‘defaulters’, forcing out the occupants and sealing off their residences.
Helpless wives, children and other relations were wailing uncontrollably; unsure of where next they would call their homes.
Government had, two months earlier, served them notice to pay up or be ejected, but raising the money within the short period was a task too taxing for many of them.
While some succeeded “one way or the other” to pay up, most of them, especially those who still had long ways to go to complete their payment, couldn’t meet the deadline.
Apparently learning from a Yoruba axiom which says “a war long declared well ahead of time would not consume a wise cripple”, many of the landlords in the estate who were unable to meet the deadline had since left to avoid the ignominy of being forced out of their homes.
They had left their residences to put up with relations, friends, members of the same faith and other Good Samaritans in other parts of the city.
Others who had nowhere to go to stayed put to face the fury of the “unwanted visitors”.
one of the locked gates
It was a pitiable sight to see landlords and landladies in the estate locked out of their residences for allegedly owing ‘millions’ of Naira and becoming homeless in a matter of minutes.
When reporters visited the estate again at 2:00 p.m., security personnel were seen at the gate, while the staff of the Ekiti State Housing Corporation were screening the landlords and identifying those that defaulted and prevented them from gaining entry into the estate.
A shouting march ensued in some houses as some landlords displayed documents to show that they had fulfilled their payment obligation but wondered how their names got into the defaulters’ list.
One of the residents claimed that his dogs which were barking ferociously at the invaders were shot dead.
The drama-of-the-day took place at the home of the chairman of the estate landlords’ association, Ayo Orebe, whose wife and three-day-old baby were locked inside by men of the task force in a bid to enforce the order.
Governor Fayose had earlier constituted a committee, headed by the Deputy
Governor, Dr Kolapo Olusola, to interface with the landlords, from where a directive was given to each of them to pay the amount authorised by the mortgage agreement on or before August 5, or face mass ejection.
The action was also entangled in the web of political intrigues as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) traded accusations on the eviction.
While the Fayose-led government said the eviction had no political undertone, the APC said it was targeted at opposition figures who served during the Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi administrations.
Many ex-government officials claimed they have a subsisting repayment agreement which are still ongoing, but wondered how they could be told overnight to complete payment within two months.
While speaking with reporters, residents of the estate lamented the indescribable hardship the sealing order had caused them.
A resident, Bolaji Fasanmi, alleged that government was biased in its mode of operation, stressing that some buildings belonging to the executive of the estate were placed under lock and key while those who owe huge sums of money were left unsealed.
Orebe
Mr. Orebe argued that they have mortgage between 10 to 25 years for civil servants and five to 10 years for politicians which he said the government has contravened.
He appealed to the governor to grant them more time to be able to respond to payment, saying the forced eviction could aggravate the poor economic situations of his members.
Orebe, however, blamed the Federal Mortgage Bank for its refusal to disburse funds to banks, claiming that some of his members had subscribed to the bank without remitting same to the government.
He said the sordid scenario would not have happened, but for the stoppage of disbursement of funds by Federal Mortgage Bank under President Goodluck Jonathan-led government.
Orebe urged the governor to set up machinery for the harmonisation of all the agreements reached by landlords for the payment through Aso Savings, Mortgage and outright purchase policies, so that members could be more committed to the payment schedules.
Orebe, who displayed evidence of his payment before reporters, explained that he has fulfilled his obligations through the primary mortgage institution and his house was still placed under lock and key with a three-day-old baby inside the house.
The chairman added that some of them had been living in the estate since 2008, while some moved into the estate in 2011, saying it will be wrong for them to be pushed out in this disastrous way, having contributed immensely to the development of the estate.
“Some of the landlords bought their houses through mortgage arrangement and outright purchase, which will last for a period of 10 years and five years for the payment of the full money respectively.
“Some of us have renovated our residences, spending several thousands of Naira. Some of the landladies are widows whose husbands bought the houses and died few months after they moved in here.
“These widows have no means of livelihood and there is no way they can continue with the payment. Should we now ask those people to vacate for their inabilities to pay?” he asked.
Continuing, he said: “My people are aware of their indebtedness and we have even confirmed to government when the Deputy Governor met with us. But it will be difficult for us to pay this huge amount within a spate of short time.
“But if proper arrangement is worked out, the government will get its money and it will, at the same time, be easy for us to pay. We shall be grateful if government could grant us this opportunity.”
When contacted to speak on the matter, the General Manager, Ekiti State Housing Corporation, Soji Awe was hostile to reporters as he refused to comment on the development.
Throughout the time the uproar lasted, many of the residents did not know their fate as to whether they would lose their houses completely or be given the grace to pay up as some of the buildings have been demolished by the agents of the state government.
But the state government justified its action when it claimed that house owners yet to complete payment owe government over N800 million.
It maintained that the sealing-off of the houses of defaulting occupants of Irewolede Estate has no political undertone; alleging that the affected persons “have bluntly refused to meet their contractual obligations to the government”.
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Idowu Adelusi in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, the government said out of 254 allocated houses in the estate, only 37 of those who were allotted houses had paid fully, adding that 217 were yet to complete payment.
“The total amount being owed by the allottees as at the time Governor Fayose assumed office was N904, 635,556.57.
“Total amount recovered since Governor Fayose assumed office was N82 million. Some of the allottees have sold or rented out the houses allocated to them.
“The allottees cut across political parties, as there are notable leaders of the PDP and APC among them. It is therefore not political. Over N800 million is being owed by the allottees as at today.
“Today alone, over N5 million was paid by some of the allottees. The government is insisting that allottees that have declined to pay for the houses allocated to them must pay. Those who are not defaulting did not have their houses sealed.
“Because Governor Fayose directed that Irewolede Housing Estate, Ado-Ekiti be sealed off because of the allottees’ refusal to pay for the houses allocated to them, over N10 million was paid today alone!
“One of the allottees paid N1million, another one paid N396, 500; two others paid N324, 000 and N225, 000 respectively. Others made payments ranging from N45, 000 to N70, 000.
“In all, 27 allottees have made payments as at 2:00 p.m., making a total sum of N87, 447,644 recovered today,” he said.
But the state chapter of the APC would have none of that as he alleged that the action was primarily targeted at its leaders, members, innocent civil servants and other members of the public perceived to have sympathy for the party.
In a statement on Thursday by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the APC described the action as “barbaric, heartless and brutish, as a three-day-old baby and her mother were locked inside the house”.
The APC said: “The action was like a movie from the blues as dangerous-looking thugs and some policemen from the Government House invaded the estate and started harassing residents, sealing off their houses.
“This caused panic among residents, including women and children, some of whom suffered shock,” it explained.
Olatunbosun regretted that the governor behaved “in this reckless manner” even though there was a subsisting mortgage agreement, which allowed the residents to pay over five to 10 years, but Fayose insisted that all the money must be paid within one month.
“As if this harassment was not enough, bulldozers have been moved into the estate to demolish structures which they claimed were constructed without approval in an apparent move to inflict pain on our members.
“If approval was not obtained, the right thing to do is to ask such people to pay the required amount and not to resort to demolition, which is in bad faith,” he said.
Olatunbosun added that the governor had earlier impounded monetised vehicles to political appointees who served in Fayemi’s administration.
Calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to save members of the APC from the governor’s iron rule, Olatunbosun warned that further harassment of APC members would be resisted by all means civil.
“Fayose should be called to order by all men and women of goodwill, as his reign of impunity is becoming embarrassing to all citizens of the state.
“His continuous trampling on the fundamental rights of citizens should be checked without further delay,” Olatunbosun said.
Following the outcry generated by the massive eviction from the estate, traditional rulers and other prominent citizens of the state made representations to Governor Fayose to show mercy to those affected.
After meeting the Obas and some leading lights of Ekiti State, Fayose, on Saturday, granted concession to the “defaulting landlords” by extending deadline for payment till November 30 while government will resume action on December 1.
Another press statement issued on Saturday by Adelusi on Fayose’s behalf said the extension was considered due to intervention by the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, other traditional rulers and some prominent Ekiti indigenes.
He claimed that the monarchs and other eminent Ekiti citizens condemned the “lackadaisical attitude of the defaulting landlords” but pleaded with the governor to give them more time to pay up.
“The governor, however, showed compassion but warned against defaulting, stating that government will resume action against defaulters by December 1.
“Since the government action began, N13 million has been paid by some ýof the defaulters”, the statement concluded. With the temporary reprieve given to the beleaguered landlords and other residents in the estate, they are in a race against time to raise the money as another extension may not be granted.
Meanwhile, lawyers to the victims of forcible ejection have sought police protection for their clients.
They warned Governor Fayose against “avoidable violent clash between residents and law enforcement agents” over his handling of a civil matter that did not follow legal procedure.
The residents have also reacted to their plight, calling on the police authorities not to allow their men be used for illegal activities against law-abiding citizens. In a letter dated August 6, 2015, the Law Chambers of R.O. Balogun and Company called the attention of Ekiti State Commissioner of Police to the alleged Fayose-induced breach of mortgage agreement in the purchase of their clients’ houses.
“Our clients applied to the Housing Corporation for purchase of their houses and accepted the offer and paid the initial deposit in line with the Letters of Offer and took possession, and, accordingly, all of them have been occupying their respective houses, having paid the initial deposit in line with the agreement.
“By the tenure of the sale agreement, our clients are requested to pay the total cost of their houses within the period of five years from the day Offer Letters were written to them by the corporation,” the lawyers explained.
They added that the agreement also included extension of another five years to make it convenient to pay up the mortgage sum, regretting that even the first five years had not been exhausted let alone the extension of time before the governor moved against their clients.
“It is worrisome that the governor can be threatening fire and brimstone when the tenure of the mortgage has not expired.
“During the last meeting His Excellency had with our clients, he restated his threat pointblank that he will eject our clients and allocate their houses to interested buyers contrary to the mortgage agreement,” the lawyers said.
They urged the Commissioner of Police to protect their clients and prevent avoidable breakdown of law and order and its adverse consequences.
In a separate petition to the police, the residents and house owners in the estate also alleged illegal use of policemen by the governor to forcibly evict them from their homes.
In the petition also copied to the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase; National Human Rights Commission and State Director of the Department of State Services by their chairman, Ayodele Orebe; and Secretary Fidelis Adikwu, the residents complained of harassment and forceful eviction, following refusal of the governor to accept a mortgage agreement with Ekiti State Housing Corporation in the payment for their houses.
“We wish to intimate you of the subsisting mortgage repayment agreement with the State Housing Corporation ranging from five to 10 years.
“However, the corporation suddenly made a U-turn to renege on the agreement on the instruction of the governor by insisting that we must pay up in just one month,” they explained.
They said they were shocked on Thursday when armed policemen and thugs were led by some aides of the governor to seal off the houses and, in the process, a three-day-old baby and her mother were locked inside their house and the thugs went away with the keys.
They said all efforts to have audience with the governor were futile, as he insisted of having his way.
“We see this as a brazen impunity, unnecessary victimisation and violation of our fundamental human rights and we urge you to use your good offices to prevent your men from being used for illegal and inhuman actions, as the residents have not breached their repayment agreement,” they said.
They also urged the police to protect the residents against any form of harassment and forceful eviction that does not have the backing of the court of law.
The Lagos branch of Egbelu Progressive Union (EPU); a socio-cultural group that seeks to promote peace, co-operation, unity and general well-being among communities in Amaimo Ancient Kingdom, Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, has elected new members of executive to pilot its affairs in the next three years.
Swearing in the newly elected officers, Pastor Thaddeus Onyejiuwa reminded them of the need to work hard for the development of the town, which he described as one of the largest and most progressive towns in the local government area.
The former banker with the Union Bank noted that the current socio-economic changes being witnessed in several communities are driven by members of those communities, saying he was optimistic that “with the caliber of members elected, I am sure that the ongoing development initiatives being carried out in the town would receive great boost. Leadership could be taxing, but with determination and commitment to rendering selfless service to the people, great achievements would be attained.”
Pastor Onyejiuwa therefore urged members of the newly elected executive to regard their election as call to service, without minding the hassles they may encounter while discharging their respective duties.
In his acceptance speech on behalf of other members, the newly elected President, Chief Ikechukwu Madu promised that his executive would work hard to justify the confidence the people reposed in them. He urged all members of the group to join hands with the executive to engender the much-needed development of the community.
He noted that time has come for concerted efforts towards building and enhancing the society that has given every individual great opportunity to excel in life, even as he enjoined every resident of the area; whether at home or in the Diaspora, to be preoccupied with lively sentiments of how to move the community forward.
Noting that the group had always been in the forefront of socio-economic development of the town, Chief Madu said he was proud of members of the group whom, he said, are always responsive to issues and calls pertaining to the development of the community. He pledged the commitment of the executive to fast-track socio-economic and political development of Egbelu town in particular and Amaimo Ancient Kingdom in general.
He said: “Government alone cannot provide all that the people need. It is in realisation of this fact most of our members who are imbued with the spirit of charity and benevolence always come forward to assist in the development of the town.
“The inability of government and policy makers to provide the needs of the people due to dwindling economic fortunes paved the way for our patriotic members to pool resources to embark on self-help projects such as rural electrification, among others,” he said.
Admonishing members of the group not to rest on their oars in making life more meaningful for people at home, the President reminded that: “Life will begin to change the moment we begin to think of changing the lives of the less-privileged people to the better. Situations will become better when we purge ourselves of greed, selfishness, man’s inhumanity to man and embrace a life of being more interested in the happiness of the next person and help in enhancing individual and community development.”
Other members elected were Messrs Moses Okoro, Vice-President; Louis Osuji, Secretary-General; Chidi Anyanwu, Financial Secretary; Hyginus Okoro, Treasurer; Ikechukwu Okoro, Chief Provost and George Anyanwu as Assistant Provost.
The former Press Secretary to the late Bola Ige and Aare Alaasa Olubadan of Ibadan land,Oloye Lekan Alabi has said the administration of President Mohammadu Buhari is capable of promoting entrepreneurship in Nigeria.
He added that lack of rule of law and merit had been major setback to both political and economic development in the country.
Alabi, who was the chairman of this year’s annual lecture whose theme was “Entrepreneurship: A Veritable Panacea to Youth Development” organised by a student forum from the University of Ibadan, said the time when rule of law and merit could thrive again as it was in the time of our founding fathers is here.
Chief Alabi noted that the late politician, Adegoke Adelabu (aka Penkelemesi) was able to become a first African Manager of United African Company (UAC) at the age of 20 years and first minister at the age of 39 years because merit was used as a yardstick. He urged the present government to provide the citizens with adequate security and social amenities as a condition to promote entrepreneurship.
In his lecture, the guest lecturer and former chairman of Advertising Practitioners’ Council of Nigeria (APCON), Chief Olu Falomo said entrepreneurship is the only way to sustain our economic development.
He defined entrepreneurship as a process of starting a business with a capacity and willingness to manage it to make profit, saying the problem with Nigeria is that most businesses are owned by government, thereby inhibiting creativity and economic development.
Chief Falomo, however, urged all up-and-coming entrepreneurs to anticipate challenges and be ready to make a breakthrough, saying that youths have the determination to succeed as entrepreneurs such as Aliko Dangote, Oba Otedeko and others.
Peace has eluded Ago-Are, a sleepy town in Atisbo Local Government Area of Oyo State. Since the death of the late Aare of Ago-Are, Oba Jubril Oyesiyi Oladoke Gbadewolu 1, the town has been without a king. OSEHEYE OKWUOFU, who visited the agrarian town, reports that the crisis sparked by the election of a new king threatens to dismember the community as some of those who lost out in the kingship contest threaten to pull it down.
FOR some time now, peace has eluded Ago-Are, an agrarian community in Oyo State. This was because of a tussle for the vacant stool of the Aara of Ago-Aro.
Fifteen contestants from the Ruling House of Ude, and eventually one won the election. This didn’t go downwell with others who insisted that the election should be annulled.
The residents and the British American Tobacco (BAT) Company share common business interest in tobacco trade, which has produced many wealthy individuals in the ancient town.
•Entrance of Ago-Are
Undoubtedly, in Ago-Are town, the residents have also had a pleasing taste of religious harmony among Muslims and Christians as adherents of the two faiths live in peace.
Indeed, the people have been enjoying relative peace and tranquillity for decades until Tuesday, July 7, this year, a day when the 15 candidates who were in contest for the vacant stool of Aare of Ago-Are presented themselves before the six kingmakers in a process that will produce the next king for the town.
Before the July 7 election, the Head of the Edu Ruling House, Alhaji Lawal Oyebisi Olaniyonu said opportunity was given to all the families of the Edu Ruling House for them to nominate their sons who are interested in the vacant stool.
Alhaji Olaniyonu related how several meetings were held in his house before the list of the nominees was forwarded to the Head of the kingmakers, who is the Agoro of Ago-Are, Chief Jonathan Kehinde Adetoro.
•Alhaji Olaniyonu
Alhaji Olaniyonu said: “We made sure that there was a level playing field for all the aspirants. We called for nominations which they responded to. There is no secrecy about this; every aspirant was free to come up to say anything he feels like. The process was open and transparent enough for all the aspirants.
“So, I don’t see any reason why someone will ask for the cancellation of the process. We made it clear that this is not a do-or-die affair. If you win fine, but if you fail also fine.
In a race, it’s one person that will emerge winner. Why should someone allow his selfish interest to over-ride that of the majority? All I know is that I have satisfied the provisions laid down by our forefathers and the law of the land in respect of the procedure for election of a new king to the vacant stool. “
Alhaji Olaniyonu noted that it will be honourable for those who lost the election to support the winner, and desist from setting the whole town on fire because of personal interest.
While calling for understanding and support, the Head of the Edu Ruling House, advised anyone who felt aggrieved to seek redress in court of law and avoid creating tension in the town.
After the nomination of the aspirants, Alhaji Olaniyonu said he forwarded a list of 15 names to Chief Adetoro for the conduct of election.
In a letter signed by the Head and Secretary of Edu Ruling House, Alhaji Olaniyonu and Secretary, Prince Salam Kazeem respectively dated June 30, 2015 to Chief Adetoro, the 15 aspirants were listed and forwarded to the kingmakers.
The letter entitled “Nomination of Candidates for the Vacant Stool of the Aare of Ago-Are Land” and copied to His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111 and the Chairman Caretaker Committee of Atisbo Local Government Area reads in part: “This is to inform you that, on receipt of letter with Ref. No ALG/782T/48 dated 23 June, 2015 from Atisbo Local Government Area, Tede; we the entire members of Edu Ruling House of Ago-Are chieftaincy family have nominated candidates to fill the vacant stool of the Ago-Are land in accordance with our customary law for the consideration of the Are of Ago-Are kingmakers…”
Attached along with the letter were the minutes of the meeting of the Edu Ruling House of the Are of Ago-Are chieftaincy family with names, signatures and telephone numbers of 83 members in attendance.
Also in attendance were officials of the Atisbo Local Government Area led by Head of the Local Government Administration, Alhaji K.O. Akeem.
There were eight kingmakers in the community, out of which two are dead and their seats declared vacant; six are still alive, with Chief Adetoro as the head.
The eight king makers are Agoro -Head, Maye, Jagun, Sobaloju, Egbe omo, Abese, Otun Agoro and Osi Agoro.
However, Maye and Osi Agoro stool remained vacant following the death of the occupants.
Chief Adetoro told Southwest Report that “following the receipt of the letter from the Head of the Edu Ruling House, he swung into action by calling a meeting of all the kingmakers, the 15 candidates on the list, the security personnel and local government officials to witness the election of a candidate to fill the vacant stool.
“However, among the 15 candidates, one Prince Amusat Yisau Adewale Oladoke wrote a letter dated July 3, 2015 informing the kingmakers of his intention to withdraw from vying for the vacant stool, which was duly acknowledged.
“At the end of the election, Prince Rasheed Oyewole Olakanla polled two votes, while Prince Bodunrin Oyetunji Olakanla polled four votes and was subsequently declared winner as the king-elect. The other 12 candidates had no votes.”
He also attached the minutes of the election and a copy of the result of the election signed by the six kingmakers and observers.
•Chief Adetoro
Chief Adetoro explained that, to his dismay, after the election witnessed by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the town, the State Security Service (SSS) official in the local government, the officials of the local government and other observers, some of the candidates who lost out of the election came to his house with over 20 men in protest against the outcome of the election.
The Agoro of Ago-Are wondered why some youths will choose to make trouble and disrupt the community’s peace.
He said the matter was promptly reported to the elders of the community, adding that the process to produce the next Oba was done under a free and fair atmosphere.
He further explained that after the presentation of 15 applicants to the kingmakers by the Head of the Edu Ruling House, there was an election where one of the applicants scored two votes, while the other one polled four votes and the rest 12 had none.
“Before the election, the kingmakers ensured that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ago-Are , the official of the SSS , the officials of the local government and all the applicants were present . We also invited other observers and there was video recording of the entire process. At the end of the election, all the applicants signed the result sheet, indicating that they accepted the outcome of the election, and we have forwarded the document to the appropriate authorities.
“So, if anyone now is complaining, I will advise that such a person should seek redress in the court of law and we will present all the facts and evidences at our disposal. No one can intimidate us, they want us (the kingmakers) to forge the document and this we cannot do,” he said.
Commenting on the issue, a community leader and former chairman of Atisbo Local Government Area, Mr Josiah Makanjuola (aka Makensi) who hails from Ago-Are described the development as very unfortunate.
Makanjuola
While expressing his determination to ensure that justice and truth prevailed, Makanjuola reiterated that no person or group of persons can drag the community backward, noting that the community is greater than any individual.
Makanjuola, who was the former Commissioner for Sports, expressed dismay over the reported protest against the kingmakers, saying that the leaders of the town would not fold their hands and allow a few disgruntled elements to set the community on fire.
He said what the Head of Edu Ruling House and the kingmakers had done were strictly in line with the provisions of the Oyo State Chieftaincy Laws of 1957.
When contacted, one of the candidates to the vacant stool who lost out in the election, Prince Taoheed Amusat condemned the alleged threat on the kingmakers and the attempt by some elements to incite people to violence in the town.
Prince Amusat, who described the election as free and fair, said: “Of course, I am one of the aspirants that vied for the kingship position in Ago-Are.
“Ordinarily, the election that was conducted by the kingmakers was free and fair because it began with opening and ended with a closing prayer. Definitely, the election was free and fair.
“And at the same time when we conducted our own, that is from the head of the family where they nominated an aspirant, it is also a free and fair exercise. It is unfortunate that when a matter did not favour an individual, especially in this part of the globe, he will want to disrupt the peace of the community because of selfish interest above the general well-being of the community. That is exactly what is causing the problem currently in Ago-Are.
“But, as far as Ago-Are is concerned, there is no problem in the town because if you enter the town, you will not find any sign of crisis. It is only a few disgruntled elements that want to disturb the peace.”
He further appealed to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi to consent to the election of Prince Bodunrin as the Are of Ago-Are and Governor Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi to give approval to the election.
While calling on co-contestants to give peace a chance, Prince Amusat said: “I just want to add that we are appealing to the Iku Babayeye , the Alaafin of Oyo to consent to the election of Dr Abodunrin Tunji Kofoworaola Olakanla as the new Are of Ago-Are. And at the same time, I am also appealing to Governor Ajimobi to give immediate approval to the election conducted by the kingmakers of Ago-Are.”
However, efforts made to get those aggrieved over the election process were futile. The Head of the kingmakers, Chief Adetoro refused to give names of any of the men whom he alleged came to his house threatening himto reverse the result of the election.
He only said he saw the agitators in the evening leaving the town in a convoy of buses, without anybody knowing their next line of action.
In a related development, the Oke-Ogun professionals; a group that seeks to promote peace, co-operation, unity and general well-being among communities in Oke-Ogun, has pleaded with the relevant authorities to expedite action on the process that will pave way for the coronation of the Oba-elect- Prince Kofoworola Abodunrin Oyetunji.
In a statement signed by the Secretary-General of the group; Chief Tiamiyu Adebayo, it praised both the Ruling House and the kingmakers for observing due process in the exercise leading to the emergence of the Oba-elect; by following all traditional practices and complementing same with openness and transparency which are features of modern day democracy.
It, therefore, urged other candidates to join hands with these institutions and the Oba-elect towards ensuring a smooth transition and avoiding unnecessary bickering or litigation.
The group said its stand was informed by the fact that the only ruling house -Edu met about five times in the house of the family head; Alhaji Lawani Oyebisi to enable it accommodate all interests, resulting in not less than 15 princes showing their intention. Their names were subsequently transmitted to the kingmakers as stipulated by the extant Chieftaincy Laws of Oyo State.
Thereafter, the kingmakers; in the presence of appropriate officials of Atisbo Local Government Area, the police, Department of State Services (DSS), Secretary of Atisbo Local Government Area Traditional Council voted to elect Prince Oyetunji as the next Oba of Ago-Are.
With this substantial compliance with the laid down procedure and rules therefore, the group said it is appealing to the consenting authority- His Imperial Majesty, The Alaafin of Oyo and the final approving authority; Governor Ajimobi to graciously expedite action on the process, so that pockets of discontent, which cannot be ruled out in most human contests, may not snowball into acts capable of breaching the peace of the community.
THE Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has commenced inspection, assessment and rehabilitation of all federal roads across the Southwest states.
The Deputy General Manager, Road Maintenance Management Services (RMMS) Mrs Bola Ilemore spoke with reporters in Ibadan, on during a tour of federal roads.
Ilemore revealed that the essence of the inspection exercise, which, according to her, commenced from Lagos State, is expected to provide a platform for maintenance of all federal roads in the region.
Ilemore, who led a team of FERMA officials on the iexercise in Oyo State from old Oyo/Ojoo Road in Ibadan through Ibadan Expressway-Iseyin/Oyo old Road-Ado-Awaye and Maya/Igboora Road, said the Federal Government is determined to improve on the current status of its roads nation-wide.
Those who were part of the tour were Mrs Ilamore; the zonal co-ordinator Southwest, Mrs Mary Adeniran, representative of FERMA in Oyo State, Francis Ishabiyi, Yemi Olaniyan and Mrs Adunola Bamgbopa.
Ilemore stated that the aim was to ensure that the intervention works that had been done before now are sustained. She added that the exercise was also targeted at looking at the federal roads generally, identify critical failure areas and make arrangement and recommendation to government on how to commence the repairs of these failures immediately.
Ilemore said: “We’re also inspecting our repair works and maintenance contracts generally and direct labour works to ensure that these works are done in line with our specifications and standards.
“We actually commenced the exercise in Lagos State. In Lagos, we inspected Lagos-Badagry/Seme Border dual carriage way, Apapa/Oworonsoki dual carriage way, Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road, Ikorodu/Itoikin Road and Ikorodu/Sagamu Road. “In all the roads inspected, our contractors are working while our direct labour work are also in progress and the quality of work done is satisfactory. What we saw was in line with our specification and standards and we have looked generally at our drainage network. We’re also ensuring the desilting of base to allow for timely discharge of run off from our roads whenever it rains.
Then, we proceeded to Ogun State and inspected Agbara/Atan Road, Ota/Abeokuta Expressway and moved to Papalanto/Sagamu Road, then to Sagamu/Ajebandele Expressway. There also, work is in progress with our contractors and we have identified critical washout which we’re going to effect and ensure that repairs are done immediately.
“In Oyo State, we started with Oyo/Ibadan Old Road and Ibadan/Oyo Expressway. We inspected a critical washout on the road, the old alignment on Oyo road and have identified the problems and we have also come up with solutions. In no time, we will commence repair work of that failed section.
For Ibadan/Oyo Expressway, we discovered movement of the wearing course on the surface of the road and we’re looking at milling and overlaying the peeled section of the road. Maybe, in the nearest future, we may consider entire overlay stretch of the road to further strengthen the road.”
She addressed reporters in Maya where FERMA is currently providing alternative bridge which had been dilapitated over the years.
Mrs Ilemore said FERMA’s main priority was to ensure that all road users across the country ply the road with ease, adding that work will soon be completed on the bridge for the use of the people of the area.
The arrest and detention of former chairman of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in Ekiti State, Chief Rotimi Olanbiwonnu, popularly known as Mentilo, sparked a controversy as his family alleged victimisation. But government maintains that he has a case to answer. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports.
For the ex-chairman of Ekiti State chapter of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Chief Joseph Rotimi Olanbiwonnu and members of his household, invasion of their privacy in the dead of the night on Monday, July 27 was the least they expected.
Members of his family had retired to bed and were looking forward to seeing a new day to conduct their various businesses.
Policemen, armed to the teeth, stormed his residence in Ado-Ekiti at 12:30 in the morning and whisked him off, to the consternation of the bewildered members of his family.
A shouting-match ensued between the policemen and the Olanbiwonnu’s household on the propriety or otherwise of the arrest of the head of the family without any search warrant or warrant of arrest.
The former RTEAN chief was said to be wearing only his knickers at the time the policemen stormed his residence. He had to dress-up before he was taken away in the presence of members of his family.
The state government claims that Olanbiwonnu was arrested in connection with the killing of the former chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Chief Philip Omolafe Aderiye on September 25, last year.
But that claim is being vehemently disputed and denied by the Olanbiwonnus who alleged that the arrest and detention of their breadwinner was politically-motivated.
The family maintained that Olanbiwonnu’s arrest was a political vendetta and an attempt to punish him for his perceived closeness and support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) when the party was in power and during the June 21, 2014 governorship election in the state.
Prior to the governorship election, the leadership of the two unions-RTEAN and NURTW- supported different parties. While the RTEAN backed the APC, the NURTW supported the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
It was alleged that the late Aderiye had been having issues with the leadership of the NURTW after he had ended his tenure and succeeded by Mr. Julius Jegede.
The late Aderiye was said to have set up a private bus park in Ijigbo area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital and floated a transport company known as Lafe Ade Transport Services which did not go down well with NURTW, which saw the step as “an affront.”
He had running battles with men of the NURTW on the private bus park he established till the period of the election. The late Aderiye had been an ally of Governor Ayo Fayose during his first term and after he (Fayose) had left office.
The latest governorship bid of Fayose was another opportunity for Aderiye to assert himself in the politics of transport unions and he (Aderiye) mobilised financial and human resources for Fayose’s election.
Rumours were rife in the political circles of the state that Aderiye’s name had been pencilled in as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation after Fayose might have been sworn in which would give him full control of transport unions in the state as a reward for his support.
These were the issues on ground until that fateful day of September 25, last year when unknown gunmen killed Aderiye right inside his private bus park; a killing which sparked an orgy of violence in Ado-Ekiti for about two days.
Houses and properties of people perceived to be unfriendly with Aderiye were burnt down and among the victims who suffered the attack were the former caretaker chairman of RTEAN, Mr. Bayo Aderiye, popularly known as Ojugo and Olanbiwonnu who had left office before Ojugo took over.
Ojugo was arrested alongside the state leader of the O’odua Peoples Congress (OPC), Prince Adeniyi Adedipe popularly known as “Apase O’odua”.
At a funeral service held in honour of the late Aderiye at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel (Anglican Communion), Okesa, Ado-Ekiti shortly after being sworn into office, Fayose had vowed to bring all those linked with Aderiye’s murder to justice.
The latest arrest of Olanbiwonnu is believed to be the fulfilment of that promise but the supporters and members of the former RTEAN chairman are crying foul, maintaining that he had no hand in Aderiye’s death.
Olanbiwonnu’s sympathisers alleged that Aderiye’s killing was connected with the internal wrangling in the NURTW and that he (Olanbiwonnu) had since left office as RTEAN boss.
The family of the former RTEAN chair claimed that a police report on the September 25 murder had exonerated him from complicity in the alleged murder; wondering the sudden twist of event that led to his arrest and remand in prison.
The Olanbiwonnus further maintained that their patriarch had no hand in Aderiye’s death, wondering why it took about 10 months before he was arrested, adding that “those who killed Aderiye are walking freely on the streets while an innocent man is being punished for what he knew nothing about.”
Speaking with Southwest Report, Olanbiwonnu’s wife, Falilat Eniola attributed her husband’s refusal to work in support of Governor Ayo Fayose’s governorship ambition as the reason for his arrest and detention.
Mrs. Olanbiwonnu wondered how the former RTEAN chief could be arrested without any police investigation and remanded in prison “in a decent society”.
Mrs Olanbiwonnu
According to Mrs. Olanbiwonnu, Fayose has been allegedly looking for ways to ‘deal’ with her husband; alleging that the fear that her husband would disrupt the planned inauguration of the new RTEAN executive held on penultimate Thursday was another reason for the arrest.
She also added that the policemen who came to arrest her husband did not produce any warrant for search and arrest.
Mrs Olanbiwonnu said: “I don’t know what Fayose wants again after our houses were burnt and our cars destroyed last year. Why are they doing this again?
“Definitely, it has a political undertone because of my husband’s affinity with the APC. My husband was not the only RTEAN on their wanted list but they didn’t arrest others because they had gone to pledge their loyalty to Fayose.
“His arrest has political undertone, the governor had always complained that my husband did not support him and my husband has been threatened several times and my husband said he is a decent man and will not associate with indecent people.
“Since the attack on our homes and property last year, I could no longer sleep in our house because of the fear of the unknown. Help me beg Fayose to leave us alone and release my husband. He should look elsewhere for Aderiye’s killers.
“We heard that RTEAN was planning to hold a swearing-in of new executive and my husband was RTEAN Vice-President 1 for Nigeria, RTEAN Southwest chairman and RTEAN caretaker chairman for Oyo State and he used to attend the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
“Daddy (Olanbiwonnu) called Agbede (the new Ekiti RTEAN chairman) that he (Agbede) wants to be sworn in without informing him as a former state chairman.
“My husband was arrested because they feared he would go there to disrupt it and he had no intention of doing such thing. We just saw armed policemen invading our home without any warrant of arrest and the next thing to happen was that he was charged to a Magistrate’s Court.”
Olanbiwonnu’s son, Olayide, claimed that he challenged those who came to arrest his father at a “very unholy hour” to produce a warrant of arrest and search warrant which they could not.
Olaide said: “They forced our door open and dragged me out of the house. They said I am not the suspect; that they came for my father.
“Since my father has nothing to fear, he came out and they arrested him almost naked. But they allowed him to go into the house to dress-up before they took him away around 12.55 a.m.”.
He said his father is being victimised unjustly and being punished for committing no crime.
According to him, life has not been the same since the dramatic arrest in the early hours of Monday.
He insisted that his father had no hand in the killing of the former chairman of state NURTW Aderiye as being alleged by the government.
Olaide expressed anger that his father was being victimized because of his perceived closeness to the APC administration led by former Governor Kayode Fayemi.
Olaide stressed that the first Police Report exonerated members of the opposition and sympathisers earlier accused by the Ayo Fayose government of being involved in Aderiye’s murder.
Olaide wondered why the sudden turnaround in a “desperate bid to hang a murder charge on the neck of an innocent man.”
He also claimed that his father’s arrest and detention might not be unconnected with what he called “an unfounded fear” in government circles that he (Olanbiwonnu) harboured plan to prevent the inauguration of new RTEAN executive.
Olaide described his father as a “man of peace” who would never subscribe to violence, saying since the former RTEAN concluded his tenure in office, he has been living his life quietly having served the union meritoriously.
He said: “The arrest of my father was politically-motivated and this is very unfortunate that this is happening in a democracy. We are not under the military era in which people are victimised anyhow.
“How can somebody’s privacy be invaded without any search warrant or any warrant of arrest? How appropriate is it for an innocent man to be arrested at an unholy hour because of desperation to hang a frivolous murder charge on him?
“My father has no problem with anybody and has no reason to kill anybody as he and other people had been cleared of complicity by the police.
“We, the members of the Olanbiwonnu family are demanding his unconditional release because his arrest was politically-motivated and government should look elsewhere in search of the culprits. My father has no hand in anybody’s killing.”
The police spokesman Alberto Adeyemi said: “I only heard that he (Olanbiwonnu) was arrested and charged to court. That is the only thing I can say for now.”
The Commissioner for Information, Youth and Sport, Lanre Ogunsuyi, said justice must be done to the person that was killed (Aderiye) and his family who are still mourning him.
Ogunsuyi explained that government has a duty to assist the police and the judiciary to ensure that justice is done.
He maintained that the police and the judiciary must be allowed to do their jobs and no political meaning should be read into the unfolding scenario.
He said: “If the police are informed about any crime that was committed, they have the power to investigate such information. I want you to know that some people have been murdered.
“They too had used government against people in the past, but justice must run its full course. It is the duty of government to ensure that justice is done to those whose family members were killed.”
Olanbiwonnu was later arraigned at Magistrate’s Court 2, in Ado-Ekiti the same Monday morning he was arrested.
While addressing the court, the defence counsel, Niran Owoseni, raised preliminary objection that as at the time his client was brought to the court, case on the matter has been concluded.
The presiding Magistrate, Idowu Aiyenimon, later adjourned the matter till Friday last week, when the defence counsel is expected to bring a letter to the court to that effect.
Speaking with reporters after the court session, Owoseni said the action of government was an attempt to incarcerate his client and put him out of circulation.
He noted that “what the state is trying to do is the abuse of court processes”, adding that some people have been charged on the matter and legal advice was out.
Owoseni, however, wondered why the state should bring out his client on the same matter, or is it that the late Omolafe Aderiye died two times.
The police prosecutor, Sergeant Bankole Olasukanmi, prosecuted the matter. The court proceeding on Friday was dramatic as the legal team of Olanbiwonnu raised a preliminary objection to the notice of remand filed by the state.
The courtroom was filled to capacity by supporters, friends, associates and family members of Olanbiwonnu who came to witness the court proceedings.
Olanbiwonnu’s lead counsel at the Friday’s proceeding, Lekan Olatawura, said his objection was predicated on Section 264(1) of the Ekiti State Administration of Justice Law 2014.
Olatawura argued that there was a pending legal advice as regards the murder of Aderiye, saying the presence of legal advice has not been denied by the state in its counter-affidavit.
According to Defence counsel, in the Exhibit EO2, which is the legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, Adeniyi Familoni, the names of the key suspects were stated clearly and the name of the applicant (Olanbiwonnu) was not there.
Olatawura argued further: “If there is nothing by way of advice, you cannot come by way of remand in order to incarcerate the applicant. There was no direct evidence linking the applicant with the offence.
“It is an abuse of process for the police to remand the accused person as cited in the case of Snaefule v the State as reported in 2005 4 ACLR page 96 particularly at page 121.
“When there is legal advice, they had already filed a process. Why rushing? The legal advice does not include or does not mention the accused person/applicant as being involved.
“Looking at the application for remand (Form FK), it is defective. The police, under Section 254 are to prepare grounds for the remand of the accused but in respect of this, there was nothing like that.
“It is an attempt to hoodwink the court and the information provided is misleading.
“Looking at the counter-affidavit of Ayobami Agbekumi of the Ministry of Justice, paragraph xii, Exhibit OE1 (our own application), a letter from the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) to DPP for legal advice, nowhere is the accused person mentioned and he was not indicted.
“It is an abuse of process, particularly in view of Section 74(2) of ACJ for the accused person to be remanded and this is proper in view of Section 36 of the Constitution which presumes the innocence of every accused person.
“The DPP did not mention the name of the accused person and to entertain the remand application is an infringement on the right of the accused person. He can’t be unjustifiably sent to prison on remand.
“It is unfair to be using legal process to curtail the freedom of somebody who has been living in Ado-Ekiti and he has never run to anywhere. It behoves the state to prove to the court the efforts it has made to arrest the suspects.”
Responding to the submission of the defence counsel, government counsel, Ibironke Babatunde, a senior legal officer in the Ministry of Justice, told the court that the prosecution has filed a nine-paragraph counter-affidavit deposed to by Ayobami Agbekumi dated July 31 and filed same day which was attached with two exhibits.
Babatunde said: “We rely on all paragraphs of our counter-affidavit. It will be irregular to hold that the accused persons contained in this case HAD/12C/2014 are the only people suspected to have committed the offence for which they are charged.
“Ever since the incident occurred, the applicants have been at large. We have to charge them in the court pending when other witnesses’ statements will be filed.
“It was right to have charged the accused and bringing the accused to remand is not an abuse of court process and I want to cite the case of Lufadeju v Johnson as reported in 2007 8 NWLR part 1937 page 566 paragraphs A-J.
After listening to lawyers to both parties, Magistrate Ayenimo adjourned to August 17 for ruling.
As the legal fireworks rage on in the court, the state chapter of the APC has criticised the manner Olanbiwonnu was arrested and detained.
The party raised the alarm over what it called ”reckless clampdown on its leaders and supporters by Fayose”, saying “the hounding of its leaders into jail is a fulfilment of the governor’s declaration at his inauguration ceremony last year to run APC leaders out of the state”.
A statement by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Taiwo Olatubosun said the alarm became imperative in the face of persistent victimisation of APC members arrested on trumped-up charges that saw them end up in jail.
Reacting to the arrest and detention of Olanbiwonnu, he said: “Governor Fayose at his inauguration ceremony in October last year, publicly declared a one-minute silence for the death of APC in the state, promising to send the party members out of town.
“True to his declaration, no fewer than 10 leaders of our party have been hounded out of town while two are in jail over trumped-up charges, even as teachers that were perceived as having sympathy for APC were transferred to the remote areas of the state while the governor is still after Fayemi’s officials to seize their cars even when the matter is in court.
“This is the same way he wants to eject them from their housing estate homes against legal agreement in the purchase of their houses.
“His first victim was our chairman, Chief Jide Awe, who the governor implicated in the murder of Mrs Juliana Adewumi and Ayo Jeje in Erinjiyan-Ekiti, even when it was proven that Awe was out of the town when violence broke out among party rivals that claimed the lives of the victims,” he said.
Olatubosun said other persecutions followed in quick succession, including attacks on APC members and candidates during campaigns and destruction of candidates’ posters, while the APC Assembly candidates were not allowed to run their campaigns.
“Another top sympathiser of our party, Mr Rotimi Olanbiwonnu (aka Mentilo), was arrested over alleged complicity in the murder of the late leader of the drivers’ union, Omolafe Aderiye, who was killed by unknown assailants in September last year,” he explained.
Olatubosun expressed worry over police handling of the cases levelled against APC members, citing Niyi Adedipe’s case. He claimed that the police in cahoots with the governor allegedly conspired to ensure that the innocent man was clamped in jail over Aderiye’s murder.
He said: “Niyi Adedipe’s case is the cruellest of how to punish an innocent man. We understand that the first police report indicated that the late Omolafe was a victim of factional crisis within drivers’ union politics.
“We knew of how the police chose to be reporting to Fayose instead of Governor Kayode Fayemi immediately he became the Governor-elect and how Fayose rejected the first police report that exonerated the opposition members in Omolafe’s murder and then went ahead to coerce the police into implicating Niyi Adedipe, leaving out those the police recommended for prosecution after their investigation.
“The real suspects are walking free now while innocent Adedipe is rotting in jail.
“Hon. Folorunso Ogundele would have been in jail now over alleged complicity in murder in Efon after the Fayose government hired a woman to impersonate the mother of the victim to implicate Ogundele, but God saved him when the real mother of the deceased emerged to accuse the fake mother of impersonation.
“She told reporters that Ogundele had no hand in her son’s murder,” he explained.
Continuing, Olatunbosun said: “It is so bad that the concocted list of murder suspects kept increasing by the day at the whims and caprices of the Governor who had turned himself into a demigod.
“Whenever he wakes up and feels an opposition member should be in jail, such name will be added as a murder suspect and would be arraigned swiftly before a pliable Magistrate who would send the person to jail.”
The APC spokesman said it was worrisome that a pliable Magistrate could be “hurriedly procured” to send Sola Adenijo (aka Solar) to jail over Erinjiyan incident while the PDP masterminds of the violence were walking free.
Olatubosun concluded: “We are watching the judiciary again as one of our sympathisers is being held over trumped-up murder charge. The same police that are very active now to help Fayose achieve his agenda were helpless when we complained to them over indiscriminate attacks on our members.
“We call on the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, to intervene in the various cases against our members in Ekiti State because it is clear that the State Police Command is in firm grip of the governor and they are willing tools in the suppression of our party members to help the governor carry out his clampdown on the party leaders.”
But the current chairman of RTEAN, Pastor Rotimi Agbede, who spoke with Southwest Report shortly after he was sworn in to office described the allegation of the Olanbiwonnu’s family as a “figment of its imagination”.
Agbede said the case Olanbiwonnu is facing in the court is different from the celebration of the inauguration of the current RTEAN executive in the state, saying that the travails of the ex-chairman had nothing to do with the union.
He said: “I will not deny the fact that I was aware of the Olanbiwonnu family’s allegation, but it was a figment of its imagination.
“Mentilo has played his own part and he has retired, his travails have nothing to do with what we are celebrating today. He has no stake rather than trying to disrupt what we are doing.
“He has five per cent of support while we have 95 per cent. They can’t disrupt what we are doing here.
“I want you to remember that he is facing a murder charge and it has nothing to do with this celebration. They are just trying to connect it with this celebration.”
Responding to a question on alleged existence of factions in the state RTEAN, Agbede said: “I will not say there are no factions, but it was then. I had three predecessors, Ojugo was never a chairman; he was chairman of caretaker committee.”
Agbede said the association is solidly behind Fayose, saying Fayose’s positive disposition to drivers’ unions is the reason why his party, the PDP, will continue to rule Ekiti State and stage a comeback to power in Aso Rock in 2019.
The Deji of Akure , Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladesulu has urged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to make its “change” agenda be noticed in Akure, the Ondo State capital by appointing one of his subjects as a minister in its proposed cabinet.
The monarch spoke through the Asamo of Akure, High Chief Rotimi Olusanya when APC leaders in the state visited him in Akure.
Oba Aladesulu noted that the last time Akure community felt Federal Government’s presence in terms of political appointment was during the era of the Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, when the Olu of Ilu-Abo, Chief Olu Falae was appointed as the Minister of Finance and Secretary to the Government of the Federation(SGF).
According to the traditional ruler, the people of Akure will support the government and ensure the sustenance of peace in the community.
The visit to his palace was led by the chairman of the state chairman of APC, Isaac Kekemeke with a promise that the party would support his reign for the development of Akure, the state capital.
He said the APC would work assiduously with Akure traditional council for the socio-economic development of the kingdom.
Kekemeke said: “Our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari is seen as a man of integrity by most world leaders. Now we want to change Nigeria, Ondo State and Akure and we know you too as a change agent.”
He described Oba Aladesulu as a man of integrity, stressing that APC members are for progress and development in all spheres of life.
His words: “Kabiyesi, we have many things in common to develop your domain. We know by next year, we will be working together because APC is forming the next government in Ondo State.
“We want to have a traditional rapport with the palace to have a common goal to develop Akure in particular and the entire state in general. Akure is vital to the development of the state.
“We have a great luck in having you as our monarch at a time we are preparing to take the mantle of leadership.”
Kekemeke called for peaceful co-existence among residents in Akure, saying “APC is committed to peace and progress of the ancient community.”
He condemned the recent protest by commercial motorcycle operators in Akure, emphasising that APC would not support the destruction of public property in the name of protestation.”
The former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) however criticised the alleged mismanagement and politicisation of all issues of governance in the state by Governor Olusegun Mimiko.
He urged the monarch to prevail on all unions in the state to operate within the confines of the law.
Another APC leader, Prince Olu Adegboro said the party was for transformation.
He lamented that Akure has been relegated to the background politically by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration in the state, promising the traditional ruler that the APC government would ensure that all glory of
the ancient town is restored.
Other APC leaders on the visit to the palace were Prince Olu Adegboro, the Vice-Chairman (Central), Gboyega Adedipe and the State Secretary, Rotimi Rahman.
