The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • Ondo PDP: One party, two secretariats

    Ondo PDP: One party, two secretariats

    Without exaggeration, things have gone awry with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State since Governor Olusegun Mimiko officially dumped the Labour Party ((LP) for the PDP three weeks ago.

    The major victim of Mimiko’s defection is the party’s state executive committee under the leadership of Mr Ebenezer Alabi who worked hard to strengthen the party that nearly became extinct few years back.

    Before the defection of Mimiko, it had been rumoured that the National Working Committee (NWC) would favour him in the distribution of party’s offices.

    This forced the state executive to drag the NWC to Federal High Court, Abuja to seek legal redress on the alleged move by Mimiko to hijack the PDP.

    But, despite the ruling of an Abuja High Court that the status quo should be maintained in the Ondo PDP, Governor Olusegun Mimiko had established a parallel secretariat of the party.

    The parallel secretariat is located at No 3, Bishop Fagun Road Alagbaka Akure adjacent to the First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

    After Mimiko had defected to the PDP, he allegedly sought the dissolution of the structures of the party in the state.

    But, the Ebenezer Alabi-led State Executive Committee approached an Abuja High Court, praying it to stop the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party from dissolving the structures of the party in Ondo State.

    The court, presided over by Justice Oriji ruled that the status quo should be maintained and adjourned the case to tomorrow for further hearing.

    When contacted on phone for comment on the parallel state secretariat of the party opened by Mimiko, Alabi said it was clear that Mimiko was seeking to destroy the party in the state with the opening of the parallel secretariat.

    Describing it as illegal, Alabi called on members of the PDP not to have anything to do with the parallel secretariat.

    He said: “It is now clear that Governor Mimiko is seeking to destroy the PDP in Ondo State. We accepted his defection to the party but what we are saying is that due process must be followed in running the affairs of the party.

    “The last time we met President Goodluck Jonathan, we were told to go and resolve all the issues brought up by Mimiko’s defection to the PDP. Immediately we left Abuja, Mimiko went to open an illegal secretariat.

    “His action has revealed the kind of person he is and how desperate he is to by-pass due process. We are no longer interested in negotiating with him.

    “Members of our party should not go to the illegal secretariat. Our secretariat is at No 86, Oyemekun Road, Akure. We have been using the place since 1999 and nobody can change it now.”

    As the controversy over the parallel secretariat raged on, the NWC announced the dissolution of the Ondo State executive and appointed Dare Adeleke as the new chairman of the caretaker committee that will oversee the affairs of the party.

    When our correspondent visited the old PDP secretariat, the building was under lock and key. None of the party members was seen around the vicinity.

    Fierce-looking mobile police men and some operatives of the Directorate of Security Service (DSS) kept watch on the premises.

    However, at the Mimiko’s new PDP secretariat Alagbaka, workers were busy.

    The secretariat was opened to members of the public while one of the members of staff stated that all those aggrieved members of the PDP would soon accept their fate and consult the new secretariat for official matters.

    The PDP executive protested the deployment of armed policemen to effect a forcible shutdown of its secretariat along Oyemekun Road, Akure.

    They described the development as unnecessary, even as they queried the justification of their action.

    The party noted that the dissolution of the PDP executive by NWC did not, in any manner, justify police sealing off its offices and hinder all administrative duties.

    It called for immediate re-opening of the secretariat to prevent crisis.

    However, the chairman of the caretaker committee, Adeleke said the secretariat would remain closed for now.

    He said the step was to avoid unauthorised access and possible destruction or pilfering from the secretariat after the dissolution of the state executive by the NWC.

    Adeleke assured all members of the PDP in the state of its unwavering commitment to the promotion of justice, peace and fair play.

    He called on all aggrieved members to remain calm and be law-abiding.

    However, with a strong petition sent to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) through the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Eke, the State Police Command had no option than to re-open the shut PDP secretariat after 24 hours. The two secretariats are being used simultaneously; the new by Governor Mimiko’s supporters and the old secretariat by the aggrieved members of the PDP.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Wole Ogodo said the police men were drafted to the old PDP secretariat along Oyemekun Road to provide protection since there was a change of baton. They would be there to maintain peace and orderliness.

    Ogodo, however, maintained that their presence was not to intimidate PDP supporters or residents in the area.

    The crisis in the Ondo State PDP has remained contentious as its State Executive Committee (SEC) headed by Alabi said the purported dissolution of his committee was only on the pages of newspapers.

    He insisted that the committee is in total control of the party and its affairs.

    Alabi faulted the recent meeting hosted by Governor Mimiko at the Government House, Alagbaka with few PDP leaders where they agreed on power sharing between the LP and the PDP.

    He said: “It is a factional meeting where eminent PDP leaders such as its 2012 governorship candidate, Olusola Oke, former Minister of Defence, Tokunbo Kayode and Jimoh Ibrahim were not invited. Whatever agreement they reached at the meeting was not binding on the state executive.”

    The state executive had conducted a successful ward congress.

    Both security operatives, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the PDP team from its National Secretariat, Abuja witnessed the exercise.

  • Expert advises Fed Govt on Ebola

    The Chairman of Records and Information Management Foundation (RIMA) Lagos, Dr. Oyedokun Oyewole has advised the Federal Ministry of Information to continue the aggressive sensitisation of the public on the deadly Ebola virus disease.

    He also urged the Federal Government not to relent on the awareness campaign against the deadly virus until there is remedy for it.

    Oyewole, who spoke at a press conference to mark the 10th anniversary of RIMA Foundation in Lagos, said the Federal Government should not stop sensitising Nigerian on healthy lifestyle so as to avoid contracting the virus.

    He said information is key in fighting such deadly virus, even as he added that he has written many proposals to Federal Ministry of Information on how to sensitise Nigerians about the dreaded disease. Dr Oyewole maintained that information plays key role in ensuring development in the economic, health and other sectors.

    “We need information management in our society. Unfortunately, no institution is offering that course in any of Nigerian universities, but we are ready to partner with the Federal Ministry of Information in order to sensitise the public on the policies of government.

    “We have organised a conference to discuss the impact of information management on the Ebola epidemic in Nigeria as part of our efforts to sensitise the public on the disease. Many people, especially in the rural areas, are still in doubt of the deadly virus. The reality of the disease we can communicate to them in their respective languages.

    Speaking on lack of proper information in the society, Oyewole said many people still believe the Freedom of Information Bill was meant for the press alone, adding that there is a need to make them understand why it is important for every Nigerians.

    “Another area where we want the Federal Ministry of Information to partner with us is the general information management. Some people have still not understood the benefit of the Freedom of Information Bill which is very important for every Nigerians.

    “We must manage our information machinery effectively. We need to understand the implications of lack of information and ensure our people rise against ignorance,” he said.

  • ‘Aregbesola’s model panacea for insecurity’

    ‘Aregbesola’s model panacea for insecurity’

    Will Nigerians ever know peace again in view of the incessant killings in the Northeast? Pastor Ladi Thompson, Special Adviser to the President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Conflict Resolution and Security Matters, proffers answers to the poser. He spoke with DADA ALADELOKUN

    TO quite many that are already counting days to the end of the year, it is time they started counting their blessings-by rolling out the drums. But to some, notably Ladi Thompson, a humanist pastor cum activist, this is no moment for any drum to even “whisper!”

    “Why must we dance –to celebrate the thousands that have been mowed down by the dreaded insurgents … to celebrate the inexplicable abduction of those 219 innocent girls – the future of our beleaguered nation?

    Pastor Thompson’s emotion crumbled pitiably at his Ilupeju, Lagos office, where the encounter with this reporter took place earlier in the week.

    “God, please take control,” Thompson, the Special Adviser to the President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Conflict Resolution and Security Matters, pleaded.

    But we have cause to heave a sigh of relief, pastor. We heard that our soldiers are rising to the task of containing them (the insurgents)” the reporter cut in, apparently to soothe his frayed nerves.

    “We must refuse to be deceived at this point. Our soldiers are getting discouraged. While we were counselling some of them, we found out that Nigerian Air Force men were “shelling” our soldiers. Guns supplied to the Nigerian Army were mysteriously found in the hands of the enemies. And sadly, some of our soldiers shoot into the air instead of shooting at the enemies …where are we heading for?

    “Many of our men don’t live to collect their first pay. It is obvious that there is infiltration in high levels and it is a clear fact that a house divided against itself would not stand. Our government must know that there is no global definition for terrorism. Each country defines and tackles insurgency in its own peculiar way to propagate its own existence,” he said.

    On the way forward, Pastor Thompson said: “There is the need for us to put together experts that will define terrorism from the Nigerian and African perspectives. We must realise that one man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist.

    “President Goodluck Jonathan needs to recognise that we are in a state of war. We must know that the military is not the main solution to the war. We are dealing with moles in high places and they must be fished out. There must be an empowered bi-partisan body of critical thinkers to weed them out. All political activities must be put on hold for now.

    “In the interim, President Jonathan should inaugurate an all-inclusive body for governance, while we sort out the issue of Nigeria’s future and the stability of its territorial integrity.

    “We need, for instance, a platform where somebody such as President Jonathan and the patriotic few such as the Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola would sit on a roundtable to discuss the nation’s future. I mentioned Aregbesola because of the Omoluabi ethos of his government, which is the key thing needed to turn things around in this country.

    “It is about patriotism, integrity, unconditional love, Godliness, fear of God and fellow-feeling. Since it is working wonderfully in Osun State, it can work for the entire country. We must not throw away the golden goose because of tribal sentiments.

    On what Aregbesola’s style of governance has to do with the war against insurgency, Pastor Thompson said: “What is happening requires the kind of rare fundamental re-orientation that is happening in Osun State. It is beyond cosmetics.

    “We can no longer avoid the issues that should have been handled fundamentally, which were not. Many of us thought the recent national conference would engender the desired solution, but unfortunately, the no-go areas are the issues causing problems in the country. So, we are back to square one.

    “Sadly, the constitution of the conference was badly skewed because 95 per cent of those that were out to carve a future for the country belong to the typewriter generation that is still hooked on tribal, ethnic and religious rivalry oiled by corruption.

    “So, their results are predictable and totally useless when it comes to forging a way for a digital generation.”

    Using findings from various researches as premise for his argument, Pastor Thompson advised that “we must waste no further time in putting in place a regional defence mechanism.”

    Continuing, he said: “In the event that we fail to hearken to the voice of wisdom, by refusing to implement all these things because some of us are still blinded by our political ambitions, it is going to be a matter of weeks before we realise that our leaders have slept for too long.”

    Noting that the failure of Nigerian leadership has “made us a bitter disappointment to the rest of Africa,” he added that “it will be very unfair to the younger generation because in the event of a meltdown, African youths are not going to find any cushion anywhere in Africa because there is a lot of resentment against Nigeria.”

    Pastor Thompson warned that it would be too late for the country if, in the next three months, the Jonathan-led administration fails to declare a state of war against all the secret agents in government as the insurgents continue to advance.

    “When history books are written, it will be noted that there were some who belonged to a typewriter generation; people who were so self-centred, greedy and so myopic to the extent that all they planned to do was to steal the tomorrow of the youth to create comfort throughout their own lifetime.

    “However, their names will go down in history as belonging to the worst generation in Africa’s history,” the cleric said.

  • Education summit: NGO to mobilise civil society groups

    Education summit: NGO to mobilise civil society groups

    The Volunteers’ Corps, a non-government organisation, has said it would mobilise civil society groups nation-wide towards implementing the recommendation of its stakeholders’ education summit which holds tomorrow at the Eko Hotel and Suites Victoria Island Lagos.

    The Executive Director of the NGO, Adeola Awogbemi revealed this while briefing reporters on the activities of the group in Surulere, Lagos.

    He lamented that countless education summits had been held in Nigeria, adding that even when recommendations were transmitted to government for implementation, they end up in trashcans.

    She said: “When we mooted the idea of the education forum, people were skeptical about what we intended to do. They even queried why we should organise another education forum when recommendations of previous ones had not been implemented by successive administrations?

    “But we say ours is going to be different this time because we are not just going to be issuing a communiqué; we are going to mobilise civil society groups that will mount pressure on government to implement the communiqué. This is what I think was lacking in the past.”

    The summit whose theme is “Deconstructing the Continuing Crises of Standards and Performance in the Nigerian Secondary School” is against the backdrop of the decline in education, especial at the basic level.

    “The deplorable state of Nigeria’s education sector calls for serious concern. It becomes more so when you consider the place of education in nation-building. No country seeking to progress will relegate to the background this all-important sector.

    “Education is the instrument for effecting national development, which must be taken seriously if a country aims at achieving the goals of national development,” she said.

    Volunteers’ Corps Programme Manager, Ayodeji Awogbenle, said Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau will chair the event, even as he revealed that invitation to the event had also been extended to all state commissioners of education and other stakeholders nation-wide.

    Volunteers’ Corps which was established in 1992, implements projects in health, education, environment and volunteerism. Its key philosophy is anchored on free tutoring of pupils in Mathematics, English and Life skills. At present, it has nine tutoring centres, seven in Lagos and two in Ogun state.

  • FMC Owo: An emerging world-class institution

    FMC Owo: An emerging world-class institution

    Dr. Olufemi Omotoso is the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, Ondo State, which is located on the ever-busy Lagos-Abuja-Port Harcourt highway. In this interview with DAMISI OJO, he speaks about efforts being made to treat cancer  and other deadly diseases in the institution, apart from taking care of victims of road accidents.  Excerpts:

    You assumed duty as the Chief Medical Director of the hospital in 2009. What would you say are some of the achievements of your administration?

    Since 2009 when I assumed duty as the Chief Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owo, we’ve noticed that the number of patients that visit the hospital for medical treatment has been on the increase. There are various aspects to our patient load and different specialties. Since I assumed duty, we have established the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Department. We have expanded the scope of our Ophthalmology Department. There was a lot of old equipment before I came on board.

    When patients started increasing, we found it difficult to cope. But somehow, we have managed to replace almost all the obsolete equipment in the hospital. We have even added what is called CT scan to our equipment.

    That is something that a lot of institutions do not have, even some teaching hospitals don’t have such facility.

    We are doing very well in terms of training because the hospital is one of those that train post-graduate medical doctors. All the teaching hospitals and the Federal Medical Centres send candidates to the hospital for the same examination. Our candidates have been doing very well.

    In fact, everybody has been wondering how the hospital is performing some feats that others are not able to perform. In medicine, we have house officers. FMC Owo is still the only hospital that is training house officers in dentistry. We’ve some new infrastructure such as the administrative building. We are in the process of building some others.

    Since 2009, we’ve completed the intensive care unit. It is one of the best in the country. Soon, we should be able to equip it to world-standard. We are building an accident and emergency unit. Of course that’s something that is very important to us. One of the things we do most here is taking care of accident and emergency victims. We receive accident victims from Lokoja, Kogi, Ekiti and Edo. Because of the efforts by the hospital, the state government had to approve a trauma unit for the institution. We also received a fully-equipped ambulance from the government.

    We also started post-graduate medical training in the Department of Paediatrics and in the Department of Orthopaedics.

    What do you think informed the increase in the number of patients?

    It’s a little bit difficult to account for it. One thing we know is that our charges were low. But at a point, we had to increase them. We make money but we spend so much on maintenance and also procure new equipment. But our internally-generated revenue (IGR) is quite low.

    We could not increase our fees too much because we are conscious of the kind of people that are in this area. Relatively speaking, compared with a lot of hospitals in this country, our services are very good. Our members of staff are committed; our doctors and nurses are committed. Because of that, people come here from Lagos for medical treatment. Something that might cost them N200, 000 in Lagos will cost them N50, 000 in Owo. And they know we render good services.

    We are trying to look into other areas through which we can generate revenue. We have been given permission to do public-private partnership. So, we are looking into how we can partner with some people. People prefer to partner with hospitals in metropolitan areas such as Lagos and Ibadan. Some people find it difficult to come to this semi-rural area to provide such amenities. We are also talking with Owo people abroad to assist us to provide more services for the people.

    What about subventions from the Federal Government?

    Subventions from the Federal Government are just for capital projects. And over the years, the money has been reducing. The Federal Government does not release all the money for capital projects. Last year, they released about 60 per cent of the money.

    As a result of this, we have to generate money internally so that we will continue to render essential services to the people; since the Federal Government is not providing money for us to buy drugs. What they do essentially is to provide money for payment of salaries and they give us overhead which is not even enough to buy diesel.

    Right now, FMC Owo is one of the hospitals that are providing 24-hour electricity.

    You provide referrals to other hospitals. Don’t you think it is one of the reasons for the increase in the patient load?

    If we are to critically appraise it, sometimes it could be a little difficult to quantify. Initially, we were referring a lot of patients to Ife. But because we have expanded the scope of our services, a lot of people are no longer going on referral. We can now carry out so many functions here.

    In fact, the state government sends us so many patients now in spite that they have a specialist hospital. Maybe we are treating people well and people are seeing the result. It is difficult to say this is the reason because it is alarming the way patients visit our hospital. We’ve also procured some machines to do dialysis for patients that have renal problems.

    There are so many diseases that were not so prevalent in the society in the past which are more prevalent now; may be because of lifestyle. One of the things that contribute to kidney failure is the kind of creams that people use nowadays. Some of them are quite toxic. Let me give you an example, we’ve seen cancer of the breast in an 18-year-old patient. To all intents and purposes, these are some of the reasons for more patients visiting our hospital.

    The Ebola virus disease is the most current and deadly health challenge the country has experienced. Is your hospital equipped enough to tackle it?

    We are actually in the process of procuring personal protective equipment that each personnel or whoever that handles an Ebola patient can wear. The Federal Government is trying to build some isolation centres. We are talking with the Federal Government to establish such centre here because we know the kind of people that we serve.

    We’ve procured infrared thermometers which our doctors will be using. We are in the process of procuring personal equipment that each staff who will be handling suspected Ebola cases will wear. We have to suspect first. We don’t have anything that can give us a full confirmatory diagnosis. If we suspected any patient, we will be sending them to centres such as University College Hospital, Ibadan that have such facility.

    How is the institution’s welfare package like?

    The current administration has done well in terms of staff welfare. Generally speaking, our staff cannot complain much about their welfare not being taken seriously. They know that the management is treating them well. We have all manner of packages we’ve been providing for them which they are happy about.

    Could you give an appraisal of the health sector in Nigeria?

    The state of the health sector in Nigeria is something that could be improved upon. If you critically look at it, you ask yourself what are the points of first contact of people? Then you look at how they are taken care of at those points of first contact.

    Ideally, in a setting such as Nigeria, you realise that not everybody will come to the hospital here. When I assumed duty and realised that, we had to open up two places for primary health care. The first one is in Ikare Akoko. Before we opened the primary health care centre there, an average of 26 patients used t visit the place in a month. By the time we started there, we were seeing more than 80 patients per day. That proved to us that people don’t want to go too far to receive medical care.

    We also opened one in Emure Ile. The place is doing well. Finance and personnel are two most challenging factors we experience. We have an FMC annex in the secretariat and it is connected with the FMC annex at Oda

    Road, Akure.

    As I said, not everybody can come to the hospital. Not everybody will want to go far. So, it is vital for us to take health care services closer to the people. If we can have more places like those that are well staffed, well stocked in terms of drugs and equipment, the health sector will be better in Nigeria.

    So, if you look at the health care situation in Nigeria, it could be improved upon. I know the Federal Government has primary health care facilities all over but not all of them are functional. If the Federal Government could do something serious about that, I believe it will help the people so much.

    We have to look at the people, what they need, how they can access what will enhance their well-being. That is very important.

    What is the rate of prevalence of HIV in Ondo State?

    The official figure right now is about 4.5 per cent or thereabout. But unofficial figure is higher than that because there is still a lot of stigmatisation concerning HIV. We have free treatment for them here, we have free drugs for them but they won’t come because they don’t want to be stigmatised. People even fear Ebola more than HIV now.

    It underscores how people look at these diseases. Of course, everybody is afraid to contract HIV although the behaviour of the people do not suggest they are afraid of HIV. People are still more scared of Ebola because of the mortality rate.

    Is it ethical for doctors to go on strike?

    One thing people don’t understand is that doctors are human beings. It was in those days that people used to look at doctors as gods. I am a doctor who is at the managerial level. Of course, I don’t want anybody to go on strike because I know the implication for the general public, some people will die. But it is a two-way thing.

    Doctors will have their demands; government is also there to meet doctors’ demands. The question is whether the government is meeting their demands the way it should be.

    It is the patients’ lives that we are playing with and it is not too good. If you look into what the doctors are asking for, they have a number of genuine reasons to actually go on strike. We thank God that they are back and I pray that they won’t go on strike again. Even overseas, doctors still go on strike. So, it is not something that is peculiar to Nigeria. It is just that when doctors go on strike abroad, the government strives to ensure that it looks into their demands very quickly and see how they can meet them. But as professionals, we must do our work. Be that as it may, I believe that doctors in this country are still a very responsible group of people.

  • Community relishes free medical services

    Not less than 1, 500 residents of the ancient town of Owo in Ondo State have benefited from free medical service courtesy of the family of one-time legislator in Old Western State House of Assembly, the late S. B. Aruwajoye. The free Medicare was provided for the community to mark the 30th anniversary of the late Aruwajoye.

    The beneficiaries will receive free treatment for high blood pressure, diabetes and eye problems.

    Speaking on behalf of the estate while inaugurating the programme, the newly installed Aruwajoye Ogbeni Oja of Owo Kingdom, Chief Akinboro Aruwajoye, said the gesture aimed at continuing the good works of their late father.

    He said the children decided to embark on the mission to further ensure healthy living of the people, even though they had been involved in the development of Owo community in the past.

    According to him, the late Aruwajoye, who was noted for his contributions to the development of Owo town, left a legacy of kindness and service to humanity which the children were trying to sustain.

    He said: “Our father left legacies of kindness and service to us as his children and to the community.

    “We have enjoyed goodwill from people. We therefore reasoned that it is imperative that we should also give back to the society in order to enhance the welfare of the less-privileged and contribute to the development of our community.

    “During the time of our late father, the community lacked water, electricity, telephone services and other amenities. He worked hard towards providing some of these services which helped in developing the community even from the council level.

    “We want to encourage well-meaning sons and daughters of Owo to join hands with others to render services that will impact positively on the lives of the people.”

    He, however, said the medical mission was a way of enhancing the health of members of the community, especially the aged.

    Aruwajoye said: “We considered those amenities and services which our people lack and which are essential for their well-being. That informed our choice of high blood pressure as one of the health issues that have caused death of many people in our community.

    “We also carry out tests on people to ascertain their diabetes status and eye problems. We are not just carrying out tests on them; we are also providing drugs and eye glasses.”

    The Head of the mission, Dr. Tony Olekwu, said the group was impressed with the turnout of people for the medical treatments.

  • FRSC prosecutes traffic offenders

    A total of 23 traffic offenders were arraigned and prosecuted at Ota Magistrates Court 2, Ogun State for contravening various traffic rules and regulations last month. They were tried at the Joint Mobile Court exercise in Ota, Idiroko and Ifo Unit Commands.

    The 22 offenders were convicted with options of fine commensurate with the gravity of their offenses. However, one was cautioned and discharged by the presiding Magistrate A. O. Abimbola.

    The prosecutor, Mr Uzoma Enwereuzo, told the court that the offenders were apprehended for breaking traffic rules and regulations ranging from seat belt violation (SBV), non-possession of driver’s licenses, possessing expired tyres or lack of spare tyres, among other offence.

    While addressing the offenders in his office before they were taken to court, the Ota Unit Commander, Mr Sunday Omafu, said the primary objective of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) is to ensure full enforcement of traffic rules and regulations and to ensure safety on our roads.

    He added that all road users are advised to co-operate with the commission by strictly adhering to its rules and regulations to end the incessant crashes that always occur during and after the ember months.

    He urged motorists to imbibe defensive driving culture, avoid dangerous or wrong overtaking, underage driving and drinking and driving.

    In a related development, the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), has urged the heavy duty trucks and other articulated vehicles within Ogun State to shun hazardous parking and other illegal operations capable of hindering free-flow of traffic within the state.

    The Ota Zone II Commander, Mr Kunle Ajibade, who made the plea at Ojuore, Ado-Odo/Ota, a suburb of Ogun State while on traffic control exercise with his team members, said “illegal parking and trading on highways are some of the causes of traffic jam.

    He said Ado-Odo/Ota is an industrial area which attracts high movements of vehicles and individuals.

    He, therefore, appealed to drivers of heavy duty trucks to shun the attitude of dangerous parking, driving against traffic, even as he warned traders under the Sango under bridge, Ojuore and Dalemo to leave the area.

     

  • Former Tribune NUJ chair joins politics

    The IMMEDIATE Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Tribune chapel, Oyo State, Deacon Tunde Ogunesan has joined politics. He is aspiring for the House of Assembly seat in the 2015 general elections.

    Ogunesan, who hails from Sepeteri, Saki-East Local Government Area,  joined the services of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc in 2007. He later joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Ogunesan, who has also picked the party’s nomination form to contest the primaries of the party, is a graduate of Mass Communication from The Polytechnic, Ibadan,  and is currently pursuing his Master’s degree programme in Communication at the University of Ibadan.

    He had also served as the Welfare Officer, Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Oyo State chapter and secretary Tribune NUJ chapel, among others.

    In a chat with reporters on Monday, Ogunesan said his joining politics was informed by the desire to serve his people.

    “I am the least person my colleagues and friends will ever imagine to join politics, but two things influenced my decision. First, God ordained it and secondly, it is a call to represent the people of Sepeteri, especially Saki-East Local Government Area.

     

  • Over 2, 000 dump LP, PDP for APC in Ondo

    As rumours made the rounds that Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko would defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has been gaining more defectors from the ruling party.

    Over 2, 000 Labour Party (LP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Ore in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state dumped their parties and pitched their tents with the APC.

    The aggrieved defectors said they were worried about their political futures since Mimiko was yet to clarify where he will likely be by 2015 elections.

    A PDP Chieftain, Akin Akinbodunde said his followers have vowed not to stay in the same party with Mimiko, saying that more members of the PDP across the state would soon dump the.

    An LP member, Festus Arakanye said they decided to dump LP because they had vowed not to follow the governor to the PDP.

    Arakanye said after a wide consultation with his followers, they all agreed that APC remains the best platform for them to continue their political journey.

    Receiving the defectors, a Chieftain of APC, Mr Morayo Lebi praised the decamped individual for taking the decision on their political futures.

    Lebi, who is eyeing the APC ticket for the Ondo Southern Senatorial District assured them that APC would give them equal treatment.

    The APC chieftain, who had been touring the six local government areas in his senatorial district, said his intention was to transform the areas if elected in the 2015 general elections.

    Lebi added that he is aware of the suffering of his people, even as he promised to give them quality representation. He also promised that if elected, he would attract Federal Government projects to his constituency.

    He said his focus would be youths’ and women empowerment.

  • APC chieftain submits nomination forms

    A prominent member of  the All Progressives  Congress (APC) and a House of Representatives aspirant, Hon. Morufudeen Adeola Adefolabi, has submitted his Expression of Interest and Nomination forms.

    Hon. Adefolabi, who represented the Ifako/Ijaiye/Ojokoro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011, was accompanied to submit the forms at the party secretariat in Ogba, Lagos by his supporters who all expressed confidence that the ex-lawmaker would be elected as a member of the House in 2015.

    In an interview immediately after the submission, the APC chieftain said: “I am in the race to bring about a change in my constituency. And this change would manifest as the improvement in the living standards of my people, development of my constituency, robust representation, creation  of wealth and existence of other good things of life for all the residents of my constituency.

    “I gave effective representation in many capacities before. I was a councillor, council executive secretary, local government chairman and the House of Representatives member. I performed with excellence in those offices. The records are there, and my constituents are aware of my great accomplishments. With modesty, I can say that I have a reputation for excellent representation.”

    His supporters, namely, Mr. Ayo Alaba-Ogunsanwo, Hon. David Olaniyi, Hon. Musibau Adeniyi and Mrs Mojisola Lawal spoke of Hon. Adefolabi in glowing terms.