The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • Yewa Council signs bills into laws

    Yewa Council signs bills into laws

    With excitement, the Legislative and Executive officials of Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, last Thursday, signed two bills into bye- laws. They were the bye- law on the Sales of identification jackets to all commercial motorcycle riders and bye -law for the establishment of an environmental sanitation task force.

    The event was epoch-making   as it was the first of its kind in the council; the  first time bye- law to be so gazetted by the state government and because of the calibre of guests that witnessed the event.

    In his opening remarks, the Leader of the Legislative Council, Hon Bankole Sheriff Olanrewaju, underscored the relevance of the bye-laws in regulating the conduct   of commercial motorcyclists and ensuring   a hygienic environment for residents of the council. All these, according to him, will guarantee good governance.

    He assured that the legislative arm under him would always make laws for the good of the council. He described the event as very germane as it had public presentation, enlightenment and promulgation being performed at the same time.

    In his welcome address, the Chairman of the council, Alhaji Safiu Abiodun Odebiyi, described the event as “the product of the activities of the councillors.” He added that without bye-laws, councils will not function well, noting that the Sanitation and Commercial motorcycle bye-laws are necessary to ensure better life for the citizenry. He, therefore, enjoined   guests to properly   enlighten the people on the laws.

    The  Legal Adviser to the council, Mr  Tunde Ogunsola spoke on some  of  the important aspects of the bye-laws  and the  public presentation .He said as commercial  motor cycle riding has become  a means of livelihood for many, coupled with recent happenings  as they relate to  attitude  of the riders ,it has become necessary to regulate  the conduct of individuals in the business. He  enjoined owners  and motor cyclists to visit the council  and register for Identification  jackets  as ignorance  will not be an excuse .

    On the Sanitation  bye- law,  he said every Thursday of the week would henceforth be observed  as Sanitation day in all markets ,stalls and shops within the council  between 8.00am and 10.00am.Besides,al l residents in the council  shall observe last Saturday of the month as a Santation day in line with state government regulations  from 7.00am to 10.00 am .Under the law,  it is now an offence to  dump refuse  in public  places ,it carries a fine. It is also mandatory for each household to procure dustbins from the council. Again, vehicles shall not be abandoned on the road beyond 24 hours after which it may be impounded.

    During question and answer time, guests praised the efforts of the council in making life more conducive for residents but asked for   more time to spread the news.

    In his closing remarks, the Head of Local Government Administration, Engr Babatunde Odunlami    allayed all fears of rushing into implementation.  He said the  council would visit every nook and cranny  of the council area  to explain to the people, assuring  that  every interest   would be taken care of .He said that consultation on the bye-law started  on August 13,2013 and interestingly, they were gazetted  for April 2014.Besides using the public address system of the council  to popularise the laws, the council will  go radio ,television, newspapers and other  media outfit to inform   the residents  of the council  before  implementing them, he assured.

     

     

  • ‘Save us from multiple taxes’

    ‘Save us from multiple taxes’

    The hospitality industry in Ekiti State is growing, thanks to the efforts of entrepreneurs like Asiwaju Oyedeji Olajubu, the owner of De Jewel Apartments one of the most popular hotels in Ado-Ekiti the State capital. The businessman who also sits atop other companies spoke with ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA on the challenges facing the hospitality industry and other issues.

    What challenges are you having  running a hotel in Nigeria?

    The cost of running hotel is enormous. You know without power, you cannot wash. You have to make the place neat and so many facilities are linked with power.  Most of our colleagues resort to running their generators at night alone maybe to 10 pm or 12am and they shut it down because they are trying to conserve fuel, we don’t do that here, we don’t short-change our customers.  Even if there is no guest we still have to keep the generator running.

    What inspired you into the hospitality business?

    I came to Ekiti in 2007 after retiring from the federal civil service to come and run an administrative company but on getting here, I found out that there was no quality accommodation, no five- star treatment and so, I ventured into hospitality management to provide something different from what was on ground here.

    How much have you invested in this business?

    It is an ongoing business so we cannot say this is how much it has cost us to do this. Mostly in Nigeria, we rely on banking facilities, so if you talk to our bankers they will tell you how many negative zeros we have in our account.  But this will not discourage us because tomorrow will be better and because a man without a dream is a dead man and the reason why we are all alive is because we believe that tomorrow will be better. In our organization we believe that there is a better future for Nigeria and there would be a major turnaround for the country. What made Germany and other countries in Europe to work will make Nigeria work, we only need to be disciplined a bit and be more committed in whatever service we render, a man should aspire to do his best all the time. I can give an example; you can’t just pick someone on the street and put him to work, when we pick someone we send him on an intensive training, minimum of two weeks before he can fit in to our culture here. We see ourselves as stars so we smile to our customers.  We anticipate our customers with interest and respond quickly to whatever request they make. We know that if we do that, one day in nearest future, people will appreciate what we are offering and our business will have a turnaround from what it is now and we start smiling to the bank and by then, our power system would have improved.

    Earlier this year, we were thinking of acquiring solar power considering the expenses of diesel but when the management and the board sat, we discovered that within a year the possibility of us having a full power is there considering the huge investment government is making on it.  So it will be too early and may be wasteful for us to go and put N24 million into a solar system when it is being said that before next year, we will have better power supply in the country.

    In about 27 months that we had been in existence, we have not had any case of armed robbery attack and the reason is that we have very effective security system. You can see that when you were coming in, your vehicles were checked with bomb detectors. Also we are very close to the police station who in their magnanimity support us very well. Every night, we have two armed guards here. And we usually have regular patrol. Apart from this, we do not just open our doors to just anybody, in town you would have been told that De Jewels Hotel is an elitist facility. If you are coming here, there is a way you would dress that we may not allow you in. Some boys came hold a party here sometime ago and from the way they were behaving they were unruly, so we had to return their money to them and asked them to leave.

    This we do because we do not want our esteemed guests to be rubbished by any miscreant. That is why we screened anyone coming in here. We restrained ourselves from building a swimming pool until the demands were so high, because we have seen that swimming pools attract unwanted elements, some people may use the swimming pool to spy on important people. But now that we have a swimming pool, we raised our stake, for you to swim here it not N500 like everywhere else and even if you can afford to pay there is a way you have to comport yourself so that our esteemed guests are not harassed. We want our customers to leave here and have confidence in us.

    We have a guest register and you can see the comments that people made there. I’m sure Professor Jega of INEC slept here, Former Governor Alao Akala also slept here. Kate Henshaw and so many important people and they have good things to say about us. It is because of the way we run this business, we are not only after the money but also to give you the comfort that you deserve.

    What advice do you have for the Police?

    Every system is garbage in, garbage out, what you put in is what you get as output. We have invested in our community. I’m sure nobody in this community would see somebody who wants to vandalize (what we have done for them) and would not stop the person. There was a time the police station here didn’t have light and we took it upon ourselves to provide them power with generator. As such they respond to us as soon as possible.

    If all hospitality people would not look only at the money they would put in their pockets, but also think of what they can give the society, I’m sure people around them and even the police would protect them. But I can tell you, as far as we are concerned here, we have enjoyed maximum security from the police.

    What is your staff strength and do you have preferential treatment for the natives?

    On your last question, we don’t discriminate on whom we employ. Our doors are open to as many as would come. We screen you and do proper interview and also train you for the job. And if you respond well to our training, we employ you. There is no preferential treatment for those who are natives of Ado Ekiti. For you to be residing here makes you a native of Ado. For example, I’m from Ilesha but have been living here for many years. I have so many investments here and I have over 200 employees in my business.

    But on social responsibility, we count ourselves as being very responsible.  If you are working here, we ensure that you pay your tax. We enjoin our staff to do PENCOM. All our staffers are entitled to free medical services. Just last year, we gave out five motorbikes to our junior staffers who have worked here for two years. It is a policy here that as a senior staff, if you have worked for two years, you get a vehicle. The company pays a quarter of it, you pay the rest in installment out of your salary, interest free. We even encourage training of our staff. We constructed a tarred road up to a kilometre and drainage to control the volume of water during rainy season.

    What makes your services here unique?

    The services you get here, you cannot get it anywhere else. From what we have gathered in other hospitality businesses elsewhere, here we offer extraordinary service. As a guest here, we carry your bags for you, hardly would you open the door, unless nobody sees you coming in. We open the door for you with a smile, and offer the services for you promptly. Here, we have about 25 rooms and 53 staff. So, the number of staff outnumbered the rooms. The culture we have here is that of humility, it is a culture of putting the other person first. It is only someone who is humble that would want to take care of others first before self, this is what we do here. That is why we say whatever you want, we can provide it. If you come here and you say you want to eat the Gbanunu (local food) that is being eaten in far away Ondo, we would just tell you to give us 45 minutes and before you know it, the Gbanunu is right there on your table. You would be surprised that I can also help you serve your drinks if I see that my staffers are so busy with other things. It doesn’t take anything away from me or my staff, we are here to put a smile on your face.

    What advice do you have for the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC)?

    The NTDC, as a regulatory body, must fight for us in the area of taxation. The Federal Government through the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the State Government through tax collectors always approach us for taxes. We also pay tenement rate, which are affecting our investment and reducing our ability to expand. The Signage and Advertisement Agency will come and impose its charges. The NTDC needs to do proper registration of all hotels and come up with recommendations to the States and Federal Government on a definite tax that can be paid and this should be based on the services being rendered. Hospitality business must enjoy some tax reliefs because we are operating under a harsh condition in our efforts to give customers the needed comfort. This will enable it to grow faster to be able to contribute to the economy of this country, specifically in the areas of tourism and job creation.

  • ‘Say No Campaign’ calls for hitch-free election

    ‘Say No Campaign’ calls for hitch-free election

    The ‘say No Campaign’, an NGO committed to sentisizing Nigerians on the need for peaceful election organized a voter education forum for stakeholders in Akure, the Ondo State capital recently. DAMISI OJO was there.

    AS the rescheduled 2015 general elections draw near, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) “Say No Campaign” has stressed the need for Nigerian youths and electorate to eschew violence to pave way for a peaceful poll.

    The group gave the charge during a Town Hall meeting on non-violent electoral participation which it organized in Akure, Ondo State capital to educate members of the public, especially the youth on the importance of voting and making their votes count in the rescheduled elections.

    The objective of the group is to promote non-violence and prevent electoral fraud ahead of the forthcoming elections.

    The South-West zonal Coordinator of the group, Mr. Abiodun Ajijola said the project is aimed at promoting citizens’ participation and deepen democratic governance in Nigeria with the objectives to support citizens, especially, youth to participate effectively in a violent free electoral process.

    Ajijola noted that most of the violence that occurred before, during and after 2011 general elections, was perpetrated by youth a repeat of which he said they have started again in the build up to 2015 elections.

    He said peace is a major ingredient toward achieving any meaningful development by any country.

    He added that conducting credible, violence free and fair election was one of the ways to achieve peace by any nation saying “Electoral violence, whether before, during or after, will always disrupt the needed peace that will be the catalyst for the desired growth and development of a nation”.

    Highlights of the seminar include voter education to members, questions and answers on Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) collection, new dates for the elections, voting process and what constitute electoral offences.

    Addressing the gathering, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Segun Agbaje said the journey towards consolidating and deepening the country’s nascent democratic process should be the collaborative efforts of the Civil Society Organizations.

    He explained that to foster effective security for the conduct of the coming general elections, the commission had established the inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security in the state.

    Agbaje said the committee had mapped out several strategies towards ensuring that the elections are conducted in a rancor free environment.

    He said:” For the avoidance of doubt, only PVC shall be used for voting during the 2015 General Elections. The Temporary Voter’s Cards (TVCs) shall not be used saying “No PVC, No Voting”.

    The President National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Ondo State, Kowe Odunayo who also spoke at the event appealed to students not to compromise their future by saying no to corruption and election rigging.

    He noted that politicians would want to gain their support by offering them money, decrying a situation where students would be allowed to remain in school during the general elections.

     

  • Force Hqtrs probes Ondo doctor’s death

    Force Hqtrs probes Ondo doctor’s death

    Nearly three months after the mysterious death of a one-time chairman of the Ondo state branch of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. David Oguntuase, the Police High Command in Abuja has taken over investigations into his death. DAMISI OJO reports.

    The Force headquarters of the Nigeria Police, Abuja have taken over investigations into the mysterious death of the former Chairman of the Ondo State Branch of the Nigeria Medical Association,(NMA) Dr David Oguntuase .

    Oguntuase, a pediatrician and Head of Pediatrics department at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, was burnt to death in a mysterious circumstance on Christmas eve last year at his private clinic, Universal Medical Centre (UMC), Akure, the Ondo State capital. His body was laid to rest penultimate weekend.

    The Ondo State Commissioner of Police Mr. Isaac Eke, who disclosed the new course of investigation said the command handed over the case to Force Headquarters to ensure proper investigation.

    The Police boss, who noted that the command handled the matter with high level ofprofessionalism while handling the case, said the force headquarters had commenced investigations on the matter.

    Various interest groups including the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) have called for a thorough investigation of Oguntuase’s death.

    However, the Commissioner stressed that the Police would get to the root of the case and ensure that those found culpable were dealt with.

    He warned criminals operating in Ondo state to move out of the state as the Police are prepared to fish them out and ensure that the state remains safe to live for all and sundry.

    Meanwhile, the leadership of the Nigeria Medical association in the state has confirmed that it had gotten a preliminary autopsy report on what led to the death of their former leader.

    But the Chairman of the Association Dr Bamidele Betiku said the body is not too anxious to disclose the cause of Oguntuase’s death to the public until after completion of the full investigation.

    There had been controversies over the cause of the death of the former Head of Pediatrics at FMC, Owo since his body was found severely burnt inside a room in his hospital.

    Family sources are alleging that the deceased was killed and later burnt to give a semblance of a fire incident, while others linked his death to electric power surge that sparked the fire that later burnt him.

     

  • Ayangburen: Court restrains parties from interfering in the vacant stool

    Ayangburen: Court restrains parties from interfering in the vacant stool

    Justice Akintunde Savage of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikorodu has ordered parties in the obaship tussle of the ancient town to refrain from doing anything towards the vacant stool of the Ayangburen of Ikorodu.  Justice Savage gave the order last week while ruling on an application filed by John Osighala, counsel to claimants in a suit filed before the court contesting the nomination of the Odofin of Ikorodu, Chief Kabiru Shotobi by the kingmakers, as the next Ayangburen of the town and after taking submissions of all counsels to parties in the suit.

    The trial judge emphasized the need for parties to adhere to the order which he said was a test case in the on-going process adding that he does not expect anything to happen to the res (the stool of Ayangburen) before the next adjourned date.

    Although, the court had fixed Thursday last week for the hearing of an application by persons seeking to be joined in the suit before proceeding into the substantive suit, it failed to do so because various defendants in the suit had filed different counter affidavits in response to the application by those asking to be joined.

    When it became apparent that the matter would be adjourned again to allow Sulaiman Talabi, counsel to parties seeking to be joined, to respond to the various counter affidavits, Osighala applied to the court for an order for parties to maintain “status quo ante bellum” pending the next adjourned date  in order to preserve the res (the stool of Ayangburen) which he said is the main issue in the substantive suit.” My lord, there are strong indications that third respondent (Chief Kabiru Shotobi) and 11th and 12th defendants, (the Lagos State Ministry of Local Government and the Attorney General), may do something to the res before the next adjourned date. If something happens, they have nothing to lose.

    “I also see that the 11th and 12th defendants having filed counter affidavits can no longer be said to be neutral in the matter. So out of abundance of caution, I urged my lord to make a preservative order at this point on the res. If 11th and 12th defendants are the Attorney General and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, they don’t have anything to lose. They should give us an undertaken that nothing would happen to the res. Having filed a counter affidavit, they have taken a position and can no longer be a mediator”. He said, arguing that the respondents have shown all indices that made an interim order inevitable.

    Citing Supreme Court decision in Eresi versus Idika 1987 NWLR, part 503 and 512, Osighala argued that there was need to enhance the dignity of the court,  emphasizing that it would be embarrassing to the court if by the adjourned date, a fundamental change had taken place and the res is affected by the change.

    In his response, counsel to the 11th and 12th defendants, Mr. S.A. Quadri opposed the application and declined to sign an undertaken on behalf of his clients when the trial judge asked him to do so but promised that nothing would happen to res before the next adjourned date.

    “I cannot give any undertaken because there is no justification for it. Making an oral application is an abuse of the court process. There is a ruling of the court dated February 5, 2015 which gave an interim injunction.  That still subsists. I have appeared in several chieftaincy matters on behalf of the state, I never gave any undertaken”, he said, arguing that “the court does not act on assumptions. The court relies on concrete facts before taking a decision”.

    Counsel to the second applicant, Kazeem Adebanjo aligned himself with the counsel to the other applicants. Adebanjo submitted that the refusal of Quadri to sign an undertaken that nothing would happen to the res before the next adjourned date reinforced the fear of the applicants.

    “The position we are taking is consequential on the event of today (last Thursday) because what the court  sought to achieve by its February 5, 2015 ruling has been overtaken by the joinders’ application”, he stated. He argued that there was no harm done to the court if a fresh order is given to protect the res.

    Osighala also stated that the refusal of counsel to the state government to sign an undertaken was a pointer that” the res was in mortal danger. It is also an admission that there is destructible”.

    Opposing him, Gbenga Hassan, the counsel to the first and third respondents, said the application of the claimants was baseless, insisting “the res in issue is indestructible.

    “No sufficient reason has been adduced by the claimants to warrant the order he is asking for”, he said, adding that the ruling of February 5, 2015 has sufficiently addressed the issue the claimants are asking for.

    Also opposing the application for maintenance of the status quo ante bellum, counsel to the fourth to the seventh respondents, O. Fabunmi said that the application of the claimants cannot be made orally. He also noted the refusal of the 11th and 12th respondents to sign an undertaken to preserve the res.

    Fabunmi submitted that the court had already dispensed with the application of the claimants with the interlocutory injunction in the February 5, 2015 ruling of the court.

    Delivering his ruling, Justice Savage noted the submission of the counsels to the applicants for the need to preserve there and the refusal of the counsel to the government to give an undertaken.

    “Having heard all the counsels, I am of the firm belief that my order would be complied with by all parties on the preservation of the res and as in my February 5, 2015 injunction order”, he reiterated.   On the application for joinders, none of the parties opposed the application of the parties seeking to be joined in the matter as their counsel, Talabi promised to serve parties his response to all the counter affidavits on the point of law.

    Justice Savage further ordered all counsels to file their responses on the point of law and to serve all parties before the next adjourned date.

    Earlier, a septuagenarian, Chief Babatunde Olusola Benson (SAN), who is an “amicus curiae” (friend of the court) and a prominent son of Ikorodu, had reported to the court that his intervention in the obaship tussle as instructed by the trial judge at its sitting of February 19, 2015, was yielding positive result. Chief Benson said some decisions were taken during the mediation and that all the counsels said they would report back to their clients adding that they would report back to the mediatory meeting fixed for last Thursday.

    Justice Savage thanked Chief Benson for his efforts and urged him to continue playing the role aimed at securing settlement among the various factions of the Adegorushen branch of the Lasunwon Royal family of Ikorodu.

    He thereafter adjourned the matter to March 18, 2015 for definite hearing of the application for joinders.

    Messrs Mathew Adetayo Shodipo, Omobo Sokelu, Shakiru Shodipo, Nurudeen Fakomaya and Albert Aina had, for themselves and on behalf of the Lambo Branch of the Lasunwon ruling house of Ikorodu challenged the nomination of the Odofin of Ikorodu, Chief Kabiru Shotobi for the stool of the Ayangburen.

    The first to 12th respondents in the suit are Ezekiel Shodipo, Tajudeen Odofin for themselves and on behalf of the Adegorushen branch of Lasunwon ruling house.

    Other respondents include the Odofin, Chief Kabiru Shotobi; the Olisa and regent of Ikorodu, Chief Oludele Odusoga; Solomade of Ikorodu Chief Afolabi Adekayaoja; Apena of Ikorodu, Chief Karimu Ore; the Oponuwa, Chief Jacob Kolawole Adaraloye for themselves and the kingmakers of Ikorodu.

    Other respondents are the Ikorodu Local Government; Ikorodu Division of Council of Obas and Chiefs; Secretary, Ikorodu Chieftaincy Committee; Lagos State Ministry Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.

    In their originating summon, which was supported by a 22 point affidavit and filed through their lawyer, John Osighala, the claimants asked for six issues to be determined by the court. They asked the court to determine “whether the consent judgment of a Lagos High Court, Ikorodu division in suit IKD/57/2007 (Mathew Adetayo Shodipo and others versus Ezekiel Shodipo and others) is subsisting and valid; whether parties and privies are bound by the aforesaid judgment until same is set aside on appeal; whether fourth to eighth respondents-kingmakers are bound by the aforesaid judgment being parties in suit no IKD/57/2007 and whether eighth and ninth respondents are not bound as well being parties/ privies thereon”.

    They also prayed the court to determine “whether third defendant/respondent is not bound and stopped from being presented, nominated and selected as a candidate from Lasunwon Ruling House to any future chieftaincy title” and “whether indeed the Adegorushen Branch of the Lasunwon Royal Ruling House is not precluded by the decision in IKD/57/2007 from presenting a candidate for the now vacant title of Ayangburen of Ikorodu” The claimants also sought five reliefs which were hinged on the affirmation of the six issues raised before the court. They sought a declaration that the consent judgment of the Lagos High Court dated April 1, 2009 in suit IKD/57/2007 is subsisting, binding and in force; a declaration that by clause 2 of the consent judgment, the first, second and third respondents conceded the right to the claimants in future to the next chieftaincy title that is due and available to the Lasunwon Ruling House.

    They also sought a declaration that the kingmakers, fourth to seventh respondents were bound by the decision in suit IKD/57/2007 as the seventh to tenth defendants and that they cannot now consider any candidate from the Adegorushen branch of the Lasunwon ruling house and a further declaration that the third respondent, having by the aforesaid judgment, been installed as Odofin of Ikorodu cannot in defiance of the judgment, present himself as a candidate for the vacant Ayangburen Royal Chieftaincy title “and he is thereby stopped from contesting any other vacant Chieftaincy title available to the Lasunwon family.

    They therefore prayed the court for an injunction restraining the fifth to 10th respondents by themselves, agents, privies from considering the third respondent nor any candidate from the Adegorushen branch of the Lasunwon Chieftaincy family for the candidature of the vacant stool of Ayangburen of Ikorodu.

    But in their counter affidavit to the originating summon, the deponent Prince Odofin Adegboyega Aliu, averred that contrary to paragraph 17 of the affidavit in support of the originating summon, the first to the  third respondents and all other defendants are not in breach of the judgment in  exhibit A, paragraph 2, the first to fourth defendants conceded the right to the next chieftaincy title to that is due and available to Lasunwon ruling house to the claimants and listed the titles available as Otunba of Ikorodu.

    He said that contrary to paragraph 18 of the affidavit in support of the originating summon, the defendants ought not to be restrained as they have not breached the order of the court.

    He said counsel to third to seventh defendants informed him that judgment in suit IKD/57/2007 relates to chieftaincy title and not an obaship stool or position; that a chieftaincy title is different from obaship stool or position and that the nomination/selection of the third defendant by the family and kingmakers was not a breach of the judgment in suit IKD/57/2007.

    He urged the court to dismiss the claimants’ originating summon.

  • Why Egba must live together, by Alake

    Why Egba must live together, by Alake

    As Egba celebrate the 29th edition of Lisabi Festival this week, the Alake and the paramount ruler of the Egba, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, has reminded his people why they must live together as one, despite their diversity. ERNEST NWOKOLO reports.

    With the whole of Egbaland comprising of Egba Alake, Oke Ona, Gbagura and Owu gearing up to celebrate their hero, Lisabi, this week for liberating them from the oppressive domination of the Alaafin of the old Oyo empire, the Alake of Egba land and the paramount of ruler the Egba, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, has reminded his people that the benefits of staying together as one indivisible entity far outweighs the parochial and sectional interest of living in disunity.

    Gbadebo said Egbaland has been practising federalism since 1830 with no autonomous town lording it over another but added that all the constituent units of Egba are equally endowed.

    The monarch who called for unity while explaining some aspects of the history and culture of Egbaland at his Ake Palace, Abeokuta, to reporters in preparation for 29th edition of Lisabi Festival slated for the whole of this week, said it is only when his people live in unity that they would be able to harness the potentials inherent in each of the federating parts for the genuine growth and development Egba land.

    He noted that the traditional Egba Council area (Ogun Central) which had been practising federalism for centuries is such that not all the towns, communities and villages are of the same natural and human resources endowments, but said in spite of the diversities, they have managed to remain as one.

    Gbadebo said: “our people say unity is strength. When you are more in number, you can achieve a lot. We all know the benefit of unity. The potential is great but we have not got our acts together yet; but we’ll get them together.

    “While some are more endowed, others are less blessed. In Egba land, we practiced federalism.  There is no federation where all the federating units are equal. Is it in California or Wyoming (USA)?

    “The religious groups in Egba land have been accommodating one another to promote religious tolerance and harmony. In terms of religion we are not divided and any attempt to divide us…, even members of that person’s religion would be the first to accuse that person of over-stepping his bound.”

    The monarch listed the benefits of this year’s Lisabi Festival being sponsored by the Globacom, an indigenous telecom giant, to include opportunity for the Egba to practise their traditional heritage as well as a period for rekindling their cultural heritage.

    He broke his silence on why the Ijemo people despite their numerical strength and also being among the first ethnic groups to settle in Egba land, do not have monarch yet in Ijemo area of Abeokuta till date.

    The Alake acknowledged that the three quarters of the Abeokuta South Local government, Ake and stretching to Moshood Abiola Polytechnic and the Federal Prison at Oba in Obafemi Owode Local government, are originally Ijemo land but said today the area is within the (Abeokuta) city centre and as such require no separate traditional ruler.

    The paramount ruler alluded that since there are already five traditional rulers within the state capital, it would not be advisable to have additional ones even though such practice exist in Sagamu (Remo) area of Ogun state.

    gbadebo2He said traditional rulers are set in the hinterlands to fast – track development hence the installation of some coronet Obas in recent years to drive growth and developments among Egba rural folks.

    He said: “in terms of number, it is not totally fair or balanced in Egba land yet. The smallest Ijebu town has water and electricity because they have Obas and they attract development to their communities.

    “Obas are to attract development, bring market, police post, post office and health centres and in this regard, we are trying to copy a system that is not our own.

    “Three quarters of Abeokuta and Ake area are part and parcel of Ijemo but we don’t want another Oba in the town.

    The purpose of appointing Obas is to develop the areas so that they can talk as traditional rulers. Obas are higher in rank than Baales. People will listen to them when they are Obas rather than Baales.

    “What we have done now is the phase of appointing Obas in towns where they have the potentials to develop very well. We want more of our people to live in the countryside.”

     

  • 6,000 people benefit from MTN free eye treatment in Ondo

    6,000 people benefit from MTN free eye treatment in Ondo

    Succour has come the way of no fewer than 6000 people across the 18 Local Government Areas of Ondo state who had eye problems.

    They have benefited from the free eye care treatment organized by communications giant, MTN, Nigeria.

    The beneficiaries of the free medical eye treatment in the state also went away with financial gift, eye glasses and other medical facilities courtesy of the MTN Foundation.

    Speaking at the programme held at the Medical Village, Ondo, the state Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko said the initiative was similar to that of the state government.

    He said the present administration in the state has committed huge resources to the medical need of the citizenry.

    Mimiko lauded MTN for supporting his administration through the programme, just as he assured that his government would continue to cater for the medical needs of the overwhelming people of the state.

    The Governor, who highlighted the achievements of his administration in the health sector, said the people of Ondo state, especially the women folk enjoy free medical care since his assumption of office.

    Also speaking, the Director, MTN Foundation, Mr Dennis Okoro said the initiative was borne out of the research carried out by the foundation which revealed that over one million Nigerians are blind, while over three million of them are living with visual impairment.

     

  • Council chief on how to improve education standard

    Council chief on how to improve education standard

    Stakeholders at this year’s Spelling Bee Competition in Oriade Local Council Development Area of Lagos State have proposed genuine commitment on the part of government, parents and teachers to revive reading culture in schools and improve the dwindling fortunes in the education sector.

    Speaking at the event held at the council’s secretariat, the Executive Secretary of the LCDA, Hon. Bola Badmus- Olujobi said reading is the gateway to learning without which children cannot access a broad and balanced education, even as she noted that in today’s literate world, academic success, securing employment and personal autonomy depend on reading and writing proficiency.

    She expressed her appreciation to the wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola for ensuring the continuity of the annual competition which was initiated by wife of former governor of the state, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

    Hon. Badmus-Olujobi noted that education is the bedrock of any emerging society, saying: “the event aimed at encouraging our young ones to strive towards excellence and hard work as means of achieving greatness. This competition is all about learning and improving one’s knowledge through spellings and mastering of words and how to build them.”

    Describing reading as a skill that enhances other skills, she lamented the alarming prevalence of poor reading culture among all segments of the Nigerian society, especially among school children. She added that with little or no direct instruction, almost all young children develop the ability to understand spoken language while majority never learn to read unless they are taught to.

    She suggested that the best way to stop reading failure is to teach reading in an organised, systematic and efficient way by knowledgeable teachers in a well-designed instructional approach.

    “The problem is that our pupils have never been efficiently and effectively taught to read. Sadly, the method of teaching reading in Nigeria today places undue emphasis on vocabulary and encourages memorisation.

    “What a reader needs most is how to decode and comprehend a word. Every primary school teacher in Nigeria knows that the greatest problem of children with reading disability is decoding. However, a good instructional approach will not produce the desired result without a knowledgeable teacher. Teaching reading is a job for experts. Learning to read is a complex linguistic task which is, in itself tasking. For many children, it requires efforts and incremental skill development,” she said.

    Hon. Badmus-Olujobi emphasised that children should be given the necessary encouragement to regard reading as a habit, saying it is one of the tools through which illiteracy could be eradicated.

    “Errors that have been seen as normal by classroom dynamics over the years can be overcome by reading extensively and through constant practice. We must return to a culture of reading,” she said.

    Continuing, she said spelling is a fundamental step in education and should be taken seriously. Her words: “Spelling forms part of the fundamentals of reading even though many inadvertently ignore it. It is a matter that should be taken seriously.”

    The Spelling Bee Competition was among various primary and secondary schools within the council area.

    Master Kadiri Fawaz of Kuje Amuwo Primary School came first in the primary school category for his brilliant performance while Avworhokai Favour of Oluwole Primary School took the second position and Miss Mabel Joseph came third.

    In the secondary school category, Shoriola Oluwatobi of Dr Lucas Memorial Senior High School took the first position; Miss Odafe Joy of Amuwo-Odofin Senior High School came second, while Olugbese George of Dr Lucas Memorial Senior High School took the third position.

    Commenting on his ability to defeat other contestants, Shoriola Oluwatobi said it was through hard work and God’s favour that he was successful. He promised to work harder, even as he urged his colleagues to also put in their best in their studies.

    Master Kadiri Fawaz said he was elated for clinching the first position in the primary category.

    “I am very happy because it is not easy. I want to win at the state level of the competition. To achieve this, I will start preparation early,” he said.

  • Council cleans up community

    Cleanliness is next to godliness so goes a saying. This was the message the wife of Executive secretary of Ikeja Local Government Area, Mrs Olaide Adeokun sent to the resident of Ikeja community during the February sanitation exercise in the area..

    In an effort to ensure cleanliness in the communities within the Ikeja Local Government Area, the office of the Executive secretary organised the monthly environment sanitation exercise which hold on the last Saturday of every month.

    The programme which was kicked off at council headquarters at Ikeja was led by the deputy Executive Secretary, Prince Oluranti Olufon and involved other council officials.

    Sanitation tools such as hand gloves, brooms, rakes and waste nylon were distributed to the participants.

    Mrs Adeokun urged residents of the community to imbibe good satiation habits as a way of staying healthy and keeping environmental hazards at bay.

    She advised the residents to dispose of their wastes properly rather than dumping them in drainage channel which could trigger health problems and cause severe flooding.

     Mrs Adeokun said poor sanitation habits could jeopardise the people’s health, thereby reducing their productivity.

    Also speaking Deputy Executive secretary said that the council was disturbed over the nonchalant attitude of some residents who block water channels with domestic wastes.

     

  • ‘SURE-P not a treasury looting gimmick’

    Ekiti State Coordinator of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), Chief Femi Akinyemi, has debunked claims in some quarters that the scheme was designed by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to loot the nation’s treasury.

    Akinyemi who spoke with reporters in Ado-Ekiti also denied that SURE-P was a means of political patronage for PDP leaders and members stressing that the scheme was meant to empower Nigerians not minding which party they have sympathy for.

    He disclosed that the Federal Government pays monthly stipends of N32 million to 3,000 beneficiaries of the scheme in Ekiti State.

    The SURE-P chief explained that the scheme has helped in stemming the tide of unemployment in the country.

    Akinyemi added that the employment of the youths to perform some communal jobs under the scheme, had helped in nipping the rising wave of criminality in the State.

    He assured that drivers of the scheme will continue to live up to the expectations of Nigerians by being prudent and ensuring that all unemployed youths are captured into the scheme to expand the scope of its benefits.

    Akinyemi said: “About 3,000 are benefiting from the scheme monthly In Ekiti State and you can imagine the effect it would have on Nigerians considering the number of people that are benefiting across the country”.