The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • Badagry youths pray for Nigeria

    Badagry youths pray for Nigeria

    Worried by the political misfortune the people of Badagry Division experienced in the just-concluded general elections during which a candidate of the now-opposition party; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won, youths of the division have pledged to close all ranks to enable them to enhance the division’s political fortunes in the coming years.

    In the circumstances, thousands of youths of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of Badagry Division, under the aegis of Glorious Badagry Division Movement (GBDM) have held prayer for the well–being of the party and its leadership. The prayers were organised for God’s guidance and protection of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Akinwnmi Ambode; the Deputy Governor, Dr. Mrs. Idiat Adebule and leaders of the party across the country.

    The youth, drawn from 10 local government areas of Badagry Division of the party converged on Ojo Town Hall, Ojo Local Government Area, Lagos, for this year’s prayer session.

    Apart from prayers for the leaders of the party and for the party to succeed in its leadership role in the country, the youth used the session to appraise the socio-political situation in the division with a view to making amends.

    Rev. Canon Samuel Amho, who led the prayers stressed that Nigeria, especially the youth, should pray for their leaders, for “God to control their hearts’’. He sought God’s intercession for the APC government. He also advised Nigerians against hasty criticism of actions of government, saying it was too early to make certain unhealthy and destructive criticisms. They need our unceasing prayers to succeed.

    The youth prayed for divine guidance to enable our leaders to make right decisions that will bring positive change and relief to the people.

    They also prayed for peace, asking God to intervene against Boko Haram insurgency.

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    •Akanbi (right) with one of the youth

    The convener of prayer conference, Comrade Saheed Akanbi, said the prayer session aimed at bringing like political minds together after successful general elections and to appraise how people of Badagry fared during the just-concluded general elections in terms of their efforts, successes, losses and areas that need to be improved upon. It also an opportunity to pray for our party, leaders and our own sister, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State Mrs. Adebule for spiritual direction and understanding. He said any society that neglects its youths would have a bleak future.

    “We believe prayers are important in the life of any organisation for its progress. We want to carry youths along in anything we do as the future is theirs.” he said.

    The State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adebule who was represented by Mr. Emmanuel Kappo commended the youth for the laudable programme which she said would be a reference point in Badagry Division. She  reminded the youth that the future belongs to them.

    In her message entitled “Towards a Formidable, United and Glorious Progressivism in Badagry Division,’’ she described the youth as leaders of tomorrow. “The youth are the future of any country. Therefore, if they are given proper foundation, development and opportunities, they will be capable of turning the adversity of the country into prosperity

    “On the other hand, any country that fells to accord good education to the youth prepares to ruin its expectations in terms of progress and development.

    “Since our youths have decided to organise this kind of prayer summit, elders have to support them in order to excel; knowing the importance of prayer in our daily life and nation-building.”

    She further said it was important to hand over President Buhari’s and Governor Ambode’s administrations to God so that their steps would be guided by the Almighty.

  • FRSC urges parents on children’s safety

    FRSC urges parents on children’s safety

    In its bid of reduce untimely death of children, the Ota Unit Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Matthew Olonisaye (ACC), has urged the school proprietors to include child safety education as part of their curricular.

    This, he said, would guarantee the safety of the young ones from various attacks and mishaps befalling them on daily basis.

    Olonisaye spoke during a children’s safety and sensitising programme, organised by the command for the public, school owners and the pupils. It held at the command’s ground.

    The theme of the programme was “Children’s Safety and Security: A Shared Responsibility.”

    He said: “The theme was considered suitable because of the ugly trend of insecurity of children across the nation. He noted that the welfare and security of Nigerian children need more improvement and requires urgent measures, including actions to curb road mishaps.

    Olonisaye said: “It is imperative to be reminding the public that young ones are more prone to dangers of road crashes caused by factors of which human errors take the lead.

    He urged parents and guardians to be more committed to the responsibility of ensuring the safety of their children/wards rights.

    Olonisaye advised parents, guardians and drivers to consider these tips to enable them to achieve reduction or total eradication of maiming of children on the roads. He said: “Every driver should be consistently educated on security and road sign consciousness while driving. Children also should be watchful and vigilant while in transit.

    On vet domestic staff, he said parents should ensure their domestic staff are properly examined and scrutinised before they are employed; noting that the domestic staff must always be studied. He further said that most incidents of child kidnapping have been traced to domestic staff.

    Concerning child education and supervision, Olonisaye advised parents/guardians to “ensure their children/wards are taught on issues concerning discipline and moral behaviours, choosing the right friends and guide them against atrocities and other social vices that could jeopardise their future. As the Bible says ‘train up a child the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it,” the FRSC boss added.

    The chairman and chairperson of the occasion, Mr Abidemi Oguntade and Mrs Jackie Kassim, requested that the FRSC should organise more orientation programmes such as this. They said most of the drivers lack adequate knowledge on road signs because some of them didn’t attend driving schools.

    Mrs Jackie said a lot of orientation and enforcement need to be done by the FRSC, noting that majority of the commercial drivers are ignorant of roads rules and regulations. She urged the Corps to start the orientation from the scrap and to be strictly before issuing the driving licence to the drivers.

    She urged the Corps to increase their enforcement on recalcitrant motorcyclist carry overloading and riding against traffic. These, she said is one of the major cause of crashes on the road.

    Mrs Jackie appealed to the parents and private vehicle owners to always consider the safety of their children when loading their vehicles.

  • Group sets agenda for new govt

    Group sets agenda for new govt

    In Association of Muslim men in Business and Professions, The Companion is adding its voice to the widely anticipated New Nigeria debate as the country just transited to another administration.

    The group for the second time is holding a National Discourse on Sunday with the theme: “2015 General Elections: Setting Agenda For the New Government”.

    According to a statement by The Companion National Amir (President) Alhaji Musbau Oyefeso, the lecture will be delivered by the Director General, The Electoral Institute, Prof Abubakar Momoh.

    Oyefeso said the trio of Lagos based Human Rights Activist and Constitutional Lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) and Comrade Isaa Aremu of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) will deliver the keynote addresses.

    The event, which will hold inside the main auditorium of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, will have All Progressives Congress (APC) National Legal Adviser and former Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Muiz Banire; a lawyer, Mr Wahab Shittu and Comrade Abiodun Aremu as discussants.

    •Adeola
    •Adeola

    It will be chaired by the Pioneer Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Guaranty Trust Bank plc Mr Fola Adeola.

    After the lecture, Oyefeso said, a special prayer for the nation will be conducted by the Chief Imam of Lagos State, Sheikh Garuba Akinola Ibrahim.

    The former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister and incumbent Kaduna State Executive Governor, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai discussed the theme: “Corruption and the Challenge of Good Governance” at the maiden edition of The Companion National Discourse last year at the same venue.

  • We’re loyal to APC govt, say Ndigbo

    We’re loyal to APC govt, say Ndigbo

    To further demonstrate its readiness to work in harmony with the ruling party in Lagos State, the Igbo United Political Coalition (IUPC) in the All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated patrons to help steer the affairs of the party

    They are the Chairman, Council of Ndi Eze in Lagos State, Gordian Orji; Samuel Udoh; Rotn. Innocent Umeh; Agha Chukwumere Eze. Others are Fred Nwajagu, Ferdinand Eze and Gordian Ogidi.

    The group, with other patrons, is to ensure that the united coalition work in the interest of the party and its members. They will also, from time to time, give advice and support as well as making sure that the Igbo were included in the affairs of government in the state

    The leader of the group, Chief Chris Ekwilo, said it was to demonstrate team spirit with the present administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, adding that  “we did that to tell everybody that Ndigbo in Lagos remain committed and loyal members of the APC in the state”.

    He said: “We members of the party did our best during the election to canvas for Igbo votes hence some of Igbo electorates gave us their sympathy votes against the backdrop of accusation that Ndigbo did not vote for APC”.

    He explained that majority of the Igbo reasoned with the founding members and gave their block votes to the APC, adding that where one lives is where one should preserve and protect.

    “The assertion that the Igbo did not vote for APC is not true. Again, it is not all Yorubas that voted for APC, if all the Yorubas voted for APC why we should get 830, 000 votes whereas over three million people in Lagos registered as card carrying members of the party”

    “If APC has the strength of more than three million registered voters and we got 830, 000 why should you now single Igbos out that they did not vote for the party”, he expressed

    He said though some of the Igbos gave sympathy votes to Jonathan but for the governorship they gave the block votes they were supposed to give to APC.

    According to him, the inauguration of patrons was to show unity with the newly elected government adding that the government of inclusion given to Ndigbo in the state shall be followed without any bias

    “They promised us government of inclusion, we are still expecting the commissionership that is given to the Igbos, under no circumstance shall we be excluded as cabinet member of the present administration, it is not acceptable”, he uttered

    He said: “We are humbly requesting for continuity in being government of inclusion by carrying Igbos along into commissionership appointment and Igbo coalition in Lagos is solidly behind the Ambode government”

    Samuel Udoh said the united coalition will work in the interest the APC led government. He however urged the Lagos state government to use his office to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people living in the state including the Igbos

  • Traditional rulers wade into LASU’s crisis

    Traditional rulers wade into LASU’s crisis

    Ojo, the host community of the Lagos State University (LASU) and other communities contiguous to it are bearing the brunt of the closure of the institution since March. The landlords and landladies in these communities are losing revenues that accrue to them from rent students pay. Worried by this and desirous of peace, traditional rulers of the communities hosted the V-C and members of the unions of the institution in a bid to resolve the crisis, writes OLUKOREDE YISHAU

    On Sunday, May 17, the Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Oladapo Fafunwa, and members of the executive of unions in the institution were hosted by traditional rulers of communities surrounding its main campus in Ojo.

    At the meeting were the chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Lagos State University (LASU) chapter, Adekunle Idris and the chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) LASU chapter, Saheed Oseni.

    The Ojo Local Government traditional rulers, who included the Olojo of Ojo, Oba Galib Rufai, Oloto of Oto-Awori, Oba Josiah Olanrewaju, Oniba of Ibaland, Oba Yushau Oseni and Onijanikin of Ijanikin, Oba Momodu Asafa, pleaded that nobody should be prevented from entering the university premises. Two other Obas outside of Ojo Local Government Area, Oba of Igbo-Oye, Oba Michael Onakoya and Oba of Inoforija, Oba Babatunde Ogunlana, also participated in the parley. The two Obas are from Epe Local Government Area, which houses a campus of the institution.

    The Obas decided to intervene in the crisis which has seen the school on recess since March, for the sake of peace. But beneath their quest for peace is the fact that thecommunities are losing economically.

    LASU is bound on different fronts by communities, such as Iba, Okokomaiko, Ojo, Alaba, Ijanikin and others.

    Most of the students in the school live off campus. The landlords in these communities have the students as their tenants and they make so much money housing tomorrow leaders.

    Aside the fact that the communities house these students, the markets and businesses in the areas are built around the students. So, the school’s closure means businesses are down. The closure of the 31-year-old university is bad business to landlords, landladies and businesses in Ojo, Iba, Okokokomaiko, Cele Niser and other communities around Ojo.

    Not a few of the residents of these communities have also taken up space inside the school to run business centres where students type their assignments and do other things such as photocopying and spiral binding.

    LASU, in a nutshell, is a goldmine for the communities around it; hence, the traditional rulers’ interest in the resolution of the crisis. Unfortunately, the traditional rulers’ intervention has not yielded the expected result.

    The school remains closed and all eyes are now on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who assumed office Friday last week from Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) as the Governor of Lagos State, to resolve the crisis.

    The crux of the matter

    Members of ASUU, SSANU and Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU) unions want Prof. Obafunwa removed as the Vice-Chancellor of the university. But, the Fashola administration said the unions went beyond bounds, as deciding the V-C’s fate was beyond them.

    The Students’ Union Government (SUG) of LASU, on March 20, passed a confidence vote on Obafunwa, urging him to complete his four-year tenure which will expire in the next six months.

    Four days before the SUG statement, the day the 20th convocation programme was to take off, the unions shut down the university. They demanded immediate action on certain issues, failing which there would be no more work. And for no less than three hours, Obafunwa and members of the management were sent out of the school by the unionists. They were pelted with sachet water and stones.

    Unionists’ demands

    The major demands of the unions are getting rid of casualisation of security staff, outstanding 2013/2014 promotion exercise, payment of arrears of salary increase, removal of Acting Chief Security Officer and payment of increment in overtime for security staff.

    The university expressed its readiness to stop casualisation. “The management has directed that all casual staff should respond to the advertisement and this has been largely complied with.  All received applications have been duly processed and approval has been given to conduct written and oral interviews. However, this has not taken place as a result of the ongoing recess,” the management said.

    It said the promotion of members of NASU was affected by the crisis in the school; as the exercise was originally planned for April 7 and 8. Over 750 members of Non-Teaching staff are up for promotion.

    On the issue of salary, the management said: “It is necessary to state that this money is not salary arrears, but salary increase arrears, a derivative of the FG/SSANU/ASUU/NASU/NAAT agreement of 2009.”

    The initial sum stood at N2.2 billion.  The Lagos State government assisted the university in off-setting N1.1 billion, which represents 50 per cent of the total debt. The university management was directed to source the balance through internally-generated revenue (IGR).

    So far, it has been able to source N505 million; leaving a balance of N495 million. According to the management, it planned to pay the balance of N495 million by September last year.  But there was a serious dip in its IGR when the government crashed school fees.

    At meetings convened by the government and the university’s Governing Council on March 17, May 11 and 16 to resolve the crisis, the Council directed the management to pay 25 per cent of the outstanding arrears, which amounts to N123.75 million. The balance of 25 per cent was to be paid a month later.

    SSANU’s main grouse is about the outstanding 2011/2012 and 2013/2014 promotion exercises and payment of the balance of the said arrears.

    The management, at meetings, explained that all outstanding 2011/2012 promotions had been treated, while promotion letters had been issued to qualified beneficiaries. It added that the 2013/2014 promotion exercise was being processed.

    Unimplemented communiqué

    On May 11, 16 and 20, the unions, management and Governing Council held meetings at the Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja.  A communiqué was prepared after the meetings. But the resolutions of the communiqué have not been implemented.

    The communiqué reads: “The consultative meetings of the representatives of the Governing Council, university management and the representatives of the four Staff Unions of Lagos State University (LASU) were held on Monday 11th, Saturday 16th and Wednesday 20th May, 2015 respectively at the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Ikeja, to discuss the dispute between the Staff Unions and the University Management.

    “The meeting observed that the continued closure of Lagos State University has negatively impacted on the image of the university.

    “The meeting noted information provided by the leadership of the staff unions that there were several issues bothering on staff welfare, promotion; salary increase and arrears, among others which had remained unattended to by the University Management.

    “The meeting further observed the submission of the staff unions that some of the agreements had been reached on some of the issues in contention previously but such agreements were not honoured.

    “Meanwhile, the meeting noted the need for amicable resolution of the issues in dispute to ensure peace and harmony on campus.

    “Consequent on the observations above, the meeting resolved as follows: Vice-Chancellor’s Position: The Ag. Chairman pleaded with the staff unions to allow due process for the appointment of a Vice-Chancellor, while also appealing that the Vice-Chancellor and his management team should be allowed unfettered access to their respective offices now that all issues have been addressed and decisions agreed upon. However, the unions asked for the understanding and fairness of Council on the matter.

    “The meeting noted the update provided by the Registrar that the promotion process in respect of members of the Non-Academic Staff was kick-started on May 5 and 6, this year with promotion training, while the examination for the 2013/2014 promotion would take place on May 28 this year.

    “However, on the request for back-dating of promotions of some staff who were not promoted as a result of the “No Vacancy, No Promotion” Policy, the meeting resolved that the staff unions should forward their formal positions on the issue to the Governing Council for consideration after the affected members of staff must have participated in the 2013/2014 promotion examination, while affected members of NAAT-LASU whose promotion year was erroneously processed, should forward a formal complaint to the Registrar on the issue.

    “The meeting resolved that 50 per cent of the total outstanding sum i.e. N247.50 million would be paid on or before Tuesday, June 30, this year. However, half of this payment is predicated on the receipt of refund being expected from the State Government, on or before June 30, 2015.

    “The Governing Council thereafter promised to try its best in persuading the LASG in expediting action on the payment of the refund being owed the university. Meanwhile, modalities for the payment of the balance of 50 per cent arrears would be discussed at the next meeting.

    “The meeting resolved that an assessment of damaged vehicles would be done by the University Management to ascertain the extent of damage and thereafter carry out repairs on the vehicles. However, SSANU and NASU were both enjoined to fix back the tyres removed from the vehicles, so as to enable the movement of the vehicles to where repairs would be carried out.

    “The meeting resolved that the information that erstwhile Ag. Chief Security Officer had been relieved of his duty would be published in the University Official Bulletin as soon as the university is fully re-opened.

    “The meeting resolved that the recruitment process would be concluded not later than one month after the university re-opened fully. The meeting resolved that the directive of the Chairman, Governing Council that the interdiction of Professor Fatunde should be reversed would be effected.

    “On the issue of withdrawal of PhD degrees, the meeting resolved that Senate should consider the report of the panel on the outstanding two candidates within its next two statutory meetings.”

    Also, the meeting agreed that no member of staff will be victimised on the account of his/her participation in the crisis which started on March 16.

    Students want school re-opened

    The Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State University Students’ Union, Mr. Adebanjo Fatai lamented the school’s closure.

    The students have staged several protests. The SUG President, Wasiu Adeyemi, late last month in Abuja, said the students could no longer bear to stay at home.

    “We want to learn and we must go back to school…When the elections were over, we expected that they would allow the student to come back to school since there was no crisis,” he said.

    He further said only a valid explanation of the reasons behind the continuous closure would calm the students.

    “If the government or management gives us other reasons (for the continued closure), we would tag along with them, but to remain mute is unacceptable,” he said.

    The Special Adviser to the immediate past Governor on Education, Fatai Olukoga, blamed the unions in the institution for the crisis.

    All eyes on Governor Ambode

    All eyes are now on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to resolve the crisis. While campaigning to be governor, Ambode said: “We have a major programme for higher education in our manifesto; we will pursue that together with the national government when we win the election on Saturday, March 28.

    I am a product of a lot of Ivy League Schools, I have been to different schools, and I understand and know the kind of standard and quality of education I have been able to benefit from those schools.

    “If we say Lagos is a centre of excellence, we must then strive, deliberately, to ensure that whatever it is we are providing in terms of infrastructure, curriculum and content, the students actually benefit, because they are actually the future leaders of this country.

    “The truth is that if we don’t start a succession plan from our higher institutions, then we are joking, because it is not about the people who are almost getting to 50 or 60 years and are going away. It is actually about the younger ones whose capacity we really need to start to build and then allow them to take over from us.

    “I am going to take advantage of my social capital, being in the party as the centre, combined together to allow us use it for the improvement of higher education in Lagos State.’’

    He added that LASU’s fees would not be increased.

    A first sign that all is well will perhaps be the opening of the Library Administrative Block 1 housing the offices of the V-C, two Deputy V-Cs, Registrar, Bursar and the University Librarian, which have remained locked. Since March, vehicles have been used to block roads leading to the building.

    LASU, undoubtedly, deserves peace. Its 31 years of existence has been marked by one problem or the other. It can only thrive on peace, peace and peace.

  • Don challenges lawmakers on constituency projects

    A don, Prof. Ladipo Adamolekun has urged the incoming legislators in both the states and National Assemblies to willingly get rid of the provision for constituency projects from their budgets.

    He said this would prove that they have embraced the change for which Nigerians voted them into office.

    Delivering a lecture on “The Role of Legislators in Good Governance” during a Sunday Service at the Archbishop Vining College Of Theology, Akure, the Ondo State capital, Prof. Adamolekun noted that the oversight roles of the lawmakers had always been total failure.

    At the event, which was attended by the State Commissioner for Education, Mr. Jide Adejuyigbe who represented Governor Olusegun Mimiko, the guest lecturer explained that a good number of constituency projects are uncompleted.

    He said: “Since legislators cannot assure oversight over their own projects, the whole idea is an anomaly. More concretely, it is a huge wastage; a significant number of legislators simply convert fund for constituency projects into additional allowances.

    “The idea of legislators’ constituency projects that was first introduced in Africa in Kenya in 2003 must not be allowed to take root in Nigeria. The good news is that Kenya’s Parliamentarians’ Constituency Development Fund Act (2013) was challenged by civil society groups and declared unconstitutional by a High Court in February this year.”

    He also advised the legislators to focus on legislations that would ensure progress towards the achievement of good governance.

     

  • Accountant is Ondo Man of the Year

    AN accountant and Chief Executive Officer of Ade Adetuwo & Co, Chief Adetuwo Ogunjumelo, has emerged the Ondo State Man of the Year.

    The organisers of the award, Groundbreaker  Media Group, in a statement yesterday, said Ogunjumelo was chosen for the honour because of his “striking attributes of hard work; development initiative; tenacity of purpose; philosophy of giving back to the society and subtlety of mind in recent time”.

    The Project Coordinator, Omo’ba Adekunle Ayegbe, said: “The credible award platform, Ondo State Man of the Award seeks to publicly celebrate excellence, reward exceptional accomplishments, salute positive personal character and industry, and honour the outstanding career achievements of illustrious sons and daughters whose performances have made a significant contribution in private and public sector to engender on a local, national or international basis. This award also seeks to attract annually the political and business leaders, academics and professionals from all disciplines, both famous and uncelebrated, whose daily work makes a difference- not just those who populate the headlines. Some of the past winners are Prof. Ajayi Borroffice, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, President National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Emeritus Prof David Ijalaye SAN, among other.

    “Among the lined-up programmes that will add glitz and glamour to the event includes, a  red carpet reception, live studio broadcast, command performances from top rated music stars and humour merchants;  and a national roundtable specially designed to garnish the award dinner with an intellectual spice geared towards fostering the cross pollination of ideas, engendering national debate and pushing the frontiers of conceptual solutions on contemporary national issues such  that, beyond the limits of award presentations, the event would also serve a national interest through an assemblage of a robust discuss among some of the nation’s  most prodigious leaders and intelligentsia.”

    Ogunjumelo will be honoured at seventh edition of the award scheduled for July 25 at the Royal Bird Hotel , Alagbaka, Akure.

  • Ondo communities groan over bank closure

    Ondo communities groan over bank closure

    Residents of Owo and Ikare, two major towns in Ondo State are groaning over the continued closure of commercial banks in the area. The closure of the banks resulted from frequent bank robbery incidents in the areas recently.

    The situation has brought indescribable hardship on the residents, especially business men and students who rely on the banks for their day-to-day activities and upkeep respectively.

    For almost two months, all the banks in Ikare and Owo have not opened for business transaction since some banks were robbed in the two towns, a situation which also led to loss of lives.

    The robbery operations in the towns, led to the untimely death of many residents of the communities and the incident has affected economic and commercial activities.

    Although the police in the state have arrested some suspects who carried out the act, the residents still live in fear.

    Many residents of Owo, especially students of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, travel to neighbouring towns such as Akure, the state capital, to carry out their banking

    transactions.

    Residents of Ikare-Akoko, especially business persons also experience the same situation.

    They have therefore called on the government to provide security for them in order to restore banking activities in the communities for the economic and commercial benefits of inhabitants of the two communities.

    It would be recalled that dare devil robbers had stormed two banks in Ikare-Akoko on January 14 this year, killing several innocent people and security officuials.

    The bank has remained desolate since then and the managements of the banks

    are not doing anything to improve the situation.

    Similarly, the ancient town of Owo had witnessed serious robbery incident two days to the Presidential elections when heavily armed robbers attacked four out of the five banks in the town, killing several people including bank officials.

    The two robbery operations on the banks also sent many security operatives to their early graves.

    It was not certain whether the state police command took responsibility for the burial of the affected police officers, as the relatives of one of the victims had

    earlier petitioned the Inspector-General of Police on the matter.

    It was learnt that the affected banks have refused for commercial operations since the ugly incidents as managements of the banks have not renovated the damaged structures of the banks.

    The aged people in the two towns are not left out in the hardship as they also pass through rigorous process of traveling to Akure which is about 45 minutes from Owo and almost two hours from Ikare-Akoko before making their banking transactions.

    Even the elite, who rely on Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card for their banking transactions also have to travel to the state capital to make any withdrawal or perform any form of banking transaction.

    Some of the residents of Owo who spoke with our correspondent expressed worry on the current situation in terms of banking transactions.

    One Dele Oni, who said he has been living in the town for over two decades said the people have never had it so bad as it is now, saying that the development was already affecting commercial activities in the town.

    Also a resident of Ikare-Akoko, Mrs. Aina Oyeleye complained of the agony her people pass through while making any transactions, stressing that “even for those who need to withdraw N2, 000 from the ATM, they would still have to go to Akure to carry out the transaction.”

    Also, Madam Kikelomo Bobola, who is a trader in Owo said non-functioning of banks in the town is seriously affecting her business.

    She said she could not stay in the shop beyond 2:00 p.m., especially when a huge amount of money was paid to her, saying she would have to abandon the shop and travel all the way to Akure to make the deposit.

    The trader said the stress has become too burdensome so much so that most market women have become sick and closed shop recently.

    However, while reacting to the development, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the state Police Command, Mr. Wole Ogodo said robbery threat was not responsible for the continuous closure of the banks in the two towns, saying the command was committed to ensuring safety of lives and property of the people.

    ýHe said the banks recently attacked at Ikare and Owo towns had not been able to open to customers because of the inability of their managements to renovate them.

    The PPRO said the State Police Command under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Isaac Eke, had since made all necessary security arrangements to ensure that residents and banks across the state go about their lawful businesses without fear or threat from any quarters.

    He noted that the Ikare and  Owo robberies were unfortunate, saying the police should be commended for their gallant approach towards fighting robbers.

    “The security operatives rose immediately to challenge the scores of robbers that came to rob in Owo and succeeded in killing some of the robbers and arrested a few of them. Cache of weapons and cash carted away from various banks by the robbers were recovered. The tight security in the state has not suffered lapses since the assumption of office of the present Commissioner of Police.

    “The successes recorded so far as regards the security of the state can be traceable to the synergy between the Commissioner of Police and sister security agencies. The symbiotic relationship with members of the public, robust relationship and

    constant interaction between the state government and security chiefs assisted us in fighting crime in the stateý.

    “These assertions could be attested to in the just-concluded general elections as there was no major violence in Ondo State compared to other states where elections were characterised by killing of people, burning of houses and kidnapping.

  • Rotary’s projects lift needy communities

    Rotary’s projects lift needy communities

    When Rotary Club of Omole-Golden District 9110 decided to key into the Lagos State’s Ministry of Education’s Support Our School Initiative by donating an

    information technology laboratory to Oke-Ira Senior Grammar School, in Ojodu Local Council Development Area, it was driven by the need to improve access to ICT to as many students as possible.

    Among its members, it raised about N2.5 million with which it procured 21 computer sets, 21 uninterrupted power supply (UPS) sets, two air conditioners, tables and chairs which it donated to the school. In addition to the donation, the club also provided internet connectivity with a year’s subscription and maintenance fully paid.

    Though that was not the club’s first intervention in the school, as it had done so several times; ranging from the sinking of a borehole, renovation of restroom facilities and provision of classroom furniture, among others. The ICT laboratory opened for it a new vista, as it won for the club a “Corporate Social Responsibility Award” from the immediate past Governor of Lagos State Babatunde Fashola, in March.

    The Governor, who had always enunciated the need for private support in improving governance, praised the club for the intervention; which, according to him, has gone a long way in adding value to government’s huge expenditure on education and improving teacher-learning outcome.

    The President of the club, Chris Alabi; an expert in information and telecommunication (IT) said the club’s decision to embark on the project was informed by the Rotary International’s tradition of needs assessment in its bid to

    improve the lives of the under-privileged people. This, he said, was carried out after consultation with the school authorities.

    He said: “Having identified the ICT laboratory as a key deficiency in the school and allotted a space for it, we started with tilling the floor, painting the walls, getting the furniture ready and procurement of the computers and their accessories.”

    In her remarks, the school Principal Mrs. Sarumi expressed her gratitude to the club’s good gesture towards the students in the past six years, adding that the ICT project would help to improve access to information and improve the students’ academic performance in both local and national examinations.

    Though the school’s ICT laboratory was one of the flagship projects, it was

    just one of the 13 major projects embarked upon by the club in its six jurisdictions in the past one year for which it won the district’s coveted “Overall Best Club Trophy,” at a lavish event which held on May16 at Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. It was the overall best, beating 80 other clubs that constitutes District 9110.

    Another intervention carried out during the year was donation of a six-room restroom and sinking of borehole in Ajuwon Grammar School under its water

    and sanitation programme.

    Within the year, the club donated an incubator to the Ifako Ijaiye General Hospital. The incubator, which brings to six the number of incubators the club had so far donated to the hospital, aimed at improving access to quality health care and reducing infant mortality in the state.

    Still on its intervention on health, was the de-worming of over 2,000 pupils of Oba Ogundimu Primary School, in Iju, another catchment area of the club, in its bid to prevent and treat the various forms of worm infestation.

    The exercise, which took place in March, was directly carried out by members of the club who administered drugs on the pupils. This results from their determination to ensure the success of the exercise.

    In a lecture by Rotarian Dr Omowunmi Bakare, a member of the committee in charge of the project, the pupils and staff of the school were informed of the

    importance of maintaining proper hygiene as well as regular de-worming which he described as the key to prevention of several diseases and worm infestations.

    In its bid to arrest the spread of Ebola when the epidemic broke out last year, it carried out sanitation awareness campaigns to the grassroots. The club, in August last year, had an Ebola awareness campaign at Iju Market, Iju Agege. It was a-three-in-one event that not only witnessed the awareness campaign but also hand- washing exercise aimed at teaching the traders how often they should wash their hands and the proper way of doing so.

    The club also donated environmental sanitation materials such as waste bags, rakes and trolleys to the traders for the proper cleaning of the market.

    Though Polio, a crippling and potentially fatal infectious disease has declined rapidly since 1985, the club has been very active in waging a war against the disease which is ravaging more than 10 million children under the age of five and is capable of rendering them paralysed.

    The club chose to intervene this year with a walk tagged “the golden walk,” to create awareness not only to mark the 10th year anniversary of the club, but also to draw attention to the intervention in the global war against polio.

    The club also organised polio quiz competition for secondary school students tagged “End Polio Now” message.

    Speaking on his major achievements as he prepares to step aside this month, Alabi said he was happy to be leading a team of young professionals and philanthropists who have unbridled dedication to service to humanity.

    Alabi further said his greatest achievement would be the overall best trophy

    won by the club this year, beating all other member-clubs in district

    9110 to the coveted trophy.

    According to him, he has also introduced probity, transparency and accountability in the administration of the club, a development, he said, has improved members’ drive to be part of the club’s activities and funding.

    Alabi, who was a member of the youth arm of Rotary Club when he was in the secondary school said: “It is all about young people trying to do something little in their community and ensuring that they leave their communities better than they met it.”

    He said he was moved to joining Omole-Golden in his bid to continue with the humanitarian activities after his education.

    “I joined the club because of my interest to continue to contribute to humanitarian causes after my university education. I love doing it and I won’t stop serving humanity through Rotary Club,” Alabi said.

    At its weekly meeting held penultimate Friday, which also marked the presentation and launch of the club’s magazine called Golden Tones, Alabi said he was proud to be bequeathing a strong and vibrant club, adding that he is confident that his successor would be inheriting a tradition of service and would better the records he has set in the club.

    He added that he is looking forward to his successor leading the club towards attaining the mega status which would be attained if the club hit the 100 membership mark.

    He said the desire for membership growth would continue to fire its capacity to achieve more for the under-privileged and poor masses who daily live under dire conditions.

  • Fire guts shopping plaza in Ondo

    Ayede-Ogbese, a sleepy town in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State has witnessed mid-night fire outbreak that gutted a shopping complex in Ayede-Ogbese along Akure-Owo Road. It destroyed properties worth millions of Naira.

    The fire, which completely razed the shopping complex reportedly began in the night and lasted for hours before it was eventually put off.

    According to an eye-witness, the residents of the area heard a deafening sound and moved out only to discover that a shopping complex located in the area was being gutted by fire.

    However, residents of the area prevented the fire from spreading to the residential houses in the neighbourhood. The cause of the fire outbreak was not immediately known.

    One of the victims of the fire outbreak, Olu Olowe said he was devastated when he heard of the ugly incident, even as he said he ensured that all electric appliances were switched off before he left the shop the previous day.

    Olowe, who said he recently acquired the shop, expressed sadness that he had lost all his equipment to the fire incident.

    It was learnt that there was no electricity supply in the town at the time of the incident.

    He appealed to the state government, institutions, philanthropic organisations and individuals to come to his aid as the fire incident had destroyed all he had worked for in the past 14 years.