The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • We are being marginalised, Akure indigenes cry out

    the Lisa of Akureland, High Chief James Olusoga has urged Akure indigenes to downplay partisanship and search for credible candidates to represent the community in various public offices.

    Chief Olusoga, who is the second-in-command to Deji of Akure spoke at a programme tagged “Akure Development talk” held at Royal Bird Hotel &Towers, Alagbaka-Akure.

    The programme was hosted by a World Bank Consultant and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr Sola Ojo to create political awareness in Akureland.

    The Community leader decried what he termed “political marginalisation” of the ancient town by successive administrations in Ondo State despite its status as the state capital.

    He noted that the development started at the tail end of military administration in Nigeria whereby Akure with its size and population was retained as only one Local Government while Abeokuta, Osogbo, Ilorin and other state capitals of comparable size and population were divided into two or more local government areas.

    Delivering his lecture at the forum, a University don, Prof. Olu Aboluwoye said Akure and its people have never been fairly treated in the scheme of things despite the prime of place it occupies in the State.

    He noted that Akure people are friendly, peace loving, accommodative and politically conscious.

    Prof. Aboluwoye urged Akure community leaders to start paying special attention to the political development of the town and urged them to put a stop to the divide and rule tactics that Ondo State politicians have often employed to retard the progress of Akure.

    His words:”Sadly, Akure politicians have often allowed themselves to be used to frustrate the appointments and elections of fellow Akure politicians in all the major political parties since the beginning of this third republic in 1999.

    “Only Akure division has never produced a democratically elected governor of Ondo State, and Akure is also the only division that has not produced a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in this democratic dispensation.

    “It is therefore the turn of Akure division to produce the minister and the governor of Ondo State and Akure town as the doyen of this division is eminently placed to seize this golden opportunity.”

    The academic however said the only solution to the persistent marginalisation of Akure was for a consensus candidate of Akure origin to become the governor of Ondo State

    Also speaking, another prominent Akure son and former Provost, College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, Prof.Olu Aderounmu advised Akure community leaders to create  a clearing house that would screen all prospective aspirants to any elective post with a view to pick the best that would give robust representation to Akure kingdom.

    Prof Aderounmu lamented that Akure has not been so lucky to have good representatives to lift up Akure Kingom.

    He however urged the citizenry to shun partisanship and put their heads together to select credible people that would serve Akure kingdom diligently.

    The host, Sola Ojo promised to work assiduously for his people if he finally gets the ticket to represent them at the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

    He passionately appealed to people in Akure North/South federal constituency to support his mission and ensure his endorsement to enable him offer the best to his constituency.

  • Ajimobi’s wife empowers 1000 widows

    Ajimobi’s wife empowers 1000 widows

    It was a happy and joyous Sallah for widows in Oyo State as the wife of the governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, hosted to a party and donated cash and other items to them. TAYO JOHNSON was there.

    in her bid to alleviate the sufferings of widows in our society, the wife of the Oyo State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi has empowered no fewer than 1000 widows in the state under her Ajumose Widowhood Initiative programme.

    At the empowerment programme held at the Tennis court, government house during the recent Sallah celebration, the widows were selected from four different groups in the state and were given cash price, foods and other materials.

    The widows’ home includes; Christian Care for Widows, Channels for Widow Health Centre, Widows Care Centre and Dream Alive Concept.

    According to Mrs Ajimobi, the programme was  thoughtfully designed to coincide with this year’s Sallah celebration.

    “We thought it necessary that we should always put smiles on the faces of a very important group of vulnerable people in the society- the widows. This is not the first time that this government will be extending its hand of love to the widows in the State.

    “You will recall that in the year 2011, at the inception of this administration led by His Excellency Senator Abiola Ajimobi, two of the earliest activities embarked upon by my office were the opening of mini-clinics for the aged and widows in all the 33 local government areas of the State as well as the flag-off of the widowhood support programme, also in all the local governments areas.

    “Also in May 2013, in commemoration of the second year anniversary of this administration, there was also an empowerment programme which was specially organised for the aged and widows. This goes to show how dear widows are to the heart of this administration and how germane it is to us to see that they are well catered for. Widows are the embodiment of the struggles and travails of womanhood and I would like our widows to know that this administration does not undermine your importance” She stated

    The governor’s wife said the present administration in the state recognises the peculiarity of the situations of the widows, and is more than committed to continue to give them (widows) the necessary support in order to ensure that they are saved from the stigma that is usually associated with widowhood in the country.

    She lamented that:”Traditionally, widowhood is seen as a curse and a burden and the death of the breadwinner usually translates into the ‘death’ of his family.  The plight of widows is thus indeed very pitiful. Many widows and their children are kicked out of their homes, forced to live in abject poverty on the fringes of society, and are prey to abuse, violence and sexual exploitation.”

    Mrs Ajimobi urged all Nigerians to rise to support and empower the widows in their midst, stressing that they must be given the opportunity to live again.

    She enjoined all sundry in the state to keep supporting the government of Governor Ajimobi “as you always have and let us work together to make our dearly beloved Oyo State great again”, urging the people of the state to ensure continuity of the administration.

    In her appreciation message on behalf of the widows, Dr Joan Agunloye thanked Mrs Ajimobi for her kind gesture towards them, praying God to grant Governor Ajimobi second term in office for continued transformation of the state.

  • Sagamu to Amosun: we’re grateful but give us more

    The people of Sagamu in Remo division of Ogun State have expressed gratitude to the state government for the facelift given to their community, but they are asking Governor Ibikunle Amosun for more developmental projects in their area. ERNEST NWOKOLO reports

    Sagamu, the royal home of the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Adeniyi Sonarinwo, and a melting pot of the nation’s major tribes has witnessed an unprecedented level of development in recent time courtesy of the Ogun State government and the residents are forever grateful.

    Strategically located mid-point between Lagos and Ibadan on the ever busy Lagos-Benin Expressway, the town is highly accessible to almost all tribes because of its central location and this has given it a sort of mini-Nigeria image.

    Also, after the industrial towns of Agbara and Ota, it is about the third industrial haven in Ogun State, hosting a plethora of big companies including Lafarge Cement, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mosinmi depot, International Cement Company that is just berthing there among others.

    But the residents have their worries. In spite of the ongoing infrastructural development of the area by the state government, they said this is not catching up with the speed of urbanisation and population upsurge in the ancient town that is equally fast assuming the status of a megacity.

    They are expressing the fear that Sagamu may soon slipped into the path of the seamy side of Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State, notorious for filthiness, disorderliness, broken down roads and chaotic striving if federal, state and local governments do not embark upon strategic development there to reverse the creeping decadence.

    The chiefs and monarchs – Chief Olumuyiwa Sonuga, Oba Omobola Oduwaye, Oba Solomon Oyenuga among others who gathered recently in the town to deliberate on its 30th festival day, said accessibility within Sagamu township is poor, laborious and often takes the Israelis – like journey before one could connect point B or C from A following the deplorable state of roads.

    Citing Oba Awolesi Erinwole road, a major artery to the town which has remained deplorable in the last decade, they urged the federal and state governments to fix it because of its strategic importance to movement of goods and persons.

    The road connect to the Lagos – Benin Expressway and leads to such places as the Asoludero home of ex – Governor Gbenga Daniel, Lafarge Cement factory, NNPC (Mosinmi depot), Odongunyan Military barrack and Ikorodu town in Lagos state among others.

    Sonuga, a civil engineer and President of the Sagamu Development Association (SDA), said the Sagamu people aren’t “crying wolves” over Oba Awolesi road “ as poor construction and maintenance” have ensured its steady sorry state.

    Describing Oba Awolesi road as impassable, he rued that gullies and craters have ruined it, and urged the federal government to reconstruct it while calling on the state government to, as matter of urgent intervention, build a fly – over bridge across it at the junction where the road connects with the Lagos – Benin Expressway as was done in Ijebu – Ode at  Mabolufon junction.

    Sonuga who lauded Governor Ibikunle Amosun for the dualisation of Akarigbo Road and the fly- over bridge at the Sabo area of the town, said another fly – over when constructed  at Lagos – Benin Expressway end of Oba Awolesi road, would not only make entry and exit easy at that busy junction, but also safe for motorists, pedestrians, commuters and Sagamu residents.

    According to him, accidents are frequent occurrences at that spot, recalling a fatal one that happened there three weeks ago as case in point.

    Also, Oba Oduwaye, who is the Onifojege of Fojege, appreciated the state governments for the “developmental projects being executed in the town and environs,” however also called on the Governor to build a fly – over bridge at the expressway junction of Oba Awolesi road for the safety of the people.

    But Amosun who visited Sagamu last week while on tour of the Local government pledged to build more access and safe roads in Sagamu.

    Also, the Secretary to the Sagamu Local government Council,(SSLG), Mr Isiaka Salami, who promised palliative measures would be carried out on the town’s roads when the rainy season subsides, blamed residents for their deplorable condition.

    “We are the problems behind the condition of the roads. Residents keep dumping refuse on the drainages and block them. When it rains, the water forces itself onto the roads and wash them away.

    “That is why you see gullies and craters here and there. Although, there has been shortfalls in money accruing to the local government from the federation account but we will do some palliative measures when the rains subside.”

  • Day of sorrow in Ibadan

    Day of sorrow in Ibadan

    Many families were thrown into mourning in Ibadan at the weekend when a big fire engulfed Molete in the Oyo State capital, killing many people and destroying millions of naira worth of properties. OSEHEYE OKWUOFU reports.

    Saturday October 11, 2014 was a day not a few in Ibadan, particularly residents and traders around the Molete area of the Oyo State capital would want to remember again. It was a day of sorrow, tears and blood.

    Though the day opened for many with much hope and progressed peacefully, it ended tragically at Molete about 9.15 pm when the driver of a tanker loaded with 33,000 litres of petrol lost control of the truck, when the brake failed and crashed into some other vehicles on its way before eventually failing on its side.

    The petrol gushed out of the tanker, flowing like a river into the channels and gutters until it was eventually ignited by fire from a woman frying beans cake (Akara) by the road side. And in a jiffy, the fire, according to an eyewitness account, covered the entire area with flames and thick smoke like a wide blanket.

    Mr Lekan Fowowe, a trader in the area was full of thanks to God that his one-storey building inherited from his late father was not destroyed by the Saturday night inferno. But that was not the case with scores of others who were seriously affected by the fire.  And for the relatives of the victims, it was sorrow, agony and pains of losing their loved ones.

    The victims who were mostly traders did not have any premonition that such a tragedy that would lead to their untimely death would happen that fateful night.  They were busy selling and buying on the ever busy Molete area, beside the road when the ill fated petrol tanker fell and discharged its content on the road.

    A source said no fewer than 17 people were roasted to death while scores of others sustained varying degree of severe burns. Two commercial buses picking passengers at a nearby bus stop were caught in the web, killing the occupants, while about 20 vehicles and 15 motor cycles (okada)  were burnt to ashes. Several shops and makeshift stalls were also affected.

    Tajudeen Adeogun , a relation of one of the dead, Mosunmola Akeem, was full of grief and sadness over the sudden death of a dear sister.

    The deceased was a hawker of household items on the road when she met her untimely death. A source added that Mosunmola was burnt beyond recognition and that she was among the bodies evacuated by government ambulances to the mortuary.

    When asked about his relationship with the deceased, Adeogun said” I am a son to the deceased elder brother who lived at Idi-Arere area of Ibadan. Mosun hawked items like matches, Ball pen, cigarette, and mirrors. That’s what she was selling, the proceeds of which she used to manage her home and cared for her two children. The father of the two little children is a commercial driver… (he then burst into tears)”.

    At the other side of the road where a mechanic workshop was situated, was the burnt body of a middle aged man that was burnt beyond recognition. The body was lying covered with a black nylon when The Nation visited the scene of horror on Sunday morning.

    Investigation revealed that the deceased was found faced down the next day with nothing on him that could be used to identify him.

    Many people thronged the area to catch a glimpse of the body until policemen began to chase them away and condoned off the whole area. Still, the people found the top of Molete flyover as another safe place to watch the scene of the fire outbreak. Scores of onlookers lined the flyover to have an aerial view.

    A resident of the area, Mr Saheed Amidu, a technician who spoke with The Nation narrated how many people were helped to escape unhurt from the inferno by some elders in the area who used force to drive away some people who attempted to scoop fuel from the tanker.

    “The number of deaths would have been over 200 or more if we did not drive people especially these Area Boys who came with Jerry cans to fetch fuel from the gutters here. Everywhere was like a river when the fuel poured out from the tanker. I don’t know what is wrong with our people. They saw what happened in other places to people who fetched petrol from burst pipeline and how they were roasted yet our people will not learn. We thank God that we used force on them if not they would have been dead by now.  Some of us were shouting on them to leave the place, leave this place there could be fire, and not up to 15 minutes after everywhere was covered by thick smoke and flames. In spite of what happened, we still have opportunity to thank God that many were saved. “

    He stated that most of the people who died from the fire came from far distance to trade there because they know that Molete Roundabout is a busy place and was formerly a big market before the governor asked them to move to the newly built Scout Camp market.

    “But our people are very stubborn, some moved but some refused to move from here. Majority of those that died were road side traders “, he added.

    The state governor, Abiola Ajimobi paid an emergency visit to the scene of the fire incident the next morning to commiserate with the families of those who were burnt to death, praying that God will grant the repose of their souls.

    Governor Ajimobi, who arrived the venue at about 8 in the morning, was visibly shaken by the gory sight.  Accompanied by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kola Sodipo, he was conducted round the scene of the inferno.

    Immediately the governor ordered that a crane should be brought to take away the carcass of the tanker which had crossed the road and obstructing traffic flow.

    While speaking with journalists, Ajimobi commiserated with the families of the dead and enjoined them to take solace in the fact that death will come when it will.

    He said that many who sought to take political advantage out of his administration’s genuine love for the people of the state, especially traders who traded on the streets, must have seen the danger of politicizing genuine government policies.

    “As I came here this morning, gentlemen of the press, you yourselves could hear statements from the crowd that gathered here. They kept shouting ‘And Ajimobi had warned us off street trading o!’ The problem we have is that politicians seek to profit from the lives of the people. Our administration has genuine love at heart for our people. This is manifesting itself gradually and our people themselves can see that love,” he said.

    The governor was told that the bulk of those who lost their lives were traders who refused to move to the nearby Scout Camp market which had over a thousand stalls with modern conveniences constructed by the state government and given to the traders free.

    “I sympathize with the dead and their families. This will show our love for the people of the state in our desire to stop street trading. I learnt that a few days ago, another trailer veered off the road at Mobil area and hit the MTN building. If it had been before now when street traders gathered at the Mobil area, I imagine the number of casualties we would have been talking about,” he said.

    According to him, government had seen through the hazards posed by street trading, stating that it was why the state government made it a kernel of its urban renewal exercise.

    “Apart from vehicles that skid off the road killing our people, high tension wires also get cut and kill our people selling their wares by the road sides. Our people should not listen to evil politicians who mislead them. They should support us to fight the menace of street trading. We love our people genuinely by asking them to leave the road and we will not allow evil politicians to profit from this genuine love by misleading our people,” he said.

     

  • In Ibadan, beautification is serious business

    Beautiful sceneries are emerging daily in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital to replace old, filthy sites that formerly characterized the city as one of the dirtiest in the country, writes BISI OLADELE

    Beautified roundabouts, walkways, mini parks, modern water fountains and street lights, among others are fast becoming the yardsticks redefining the once rustic city of Ibadan.

    The city surrounded by seven hills, according to the renowned poet, John Pepper Clark, is the largest in sub-Saharan Africa. It boasts of over five million people, foremost institutions, research institutes and media organizations. The key organizations, some of which have acquired the status of national monuments and the city’s central location have always marked Ibadan out in the entire country.

    But filthy environment characterized by dumb sites along main roads and dirty drainages had made the same city infamous for decades.

    However, the filthy sites have since given way to beautiful sceneries due to the efforts of the Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration to change the view and rewrite the city’s profile.

    Today, a move around Ibadan would offer insights to the efforts of the state government since January, 2012. Beautification has become a core aspect of the government’s urban renewal project which is attracting more people to the city for business and other purposes. While green sites add to the allure of the environment at daytime, well-illuminated roundabouts and sites glitter in the night to beautify the city.

    The major firm handling the beautification project, Ershaw Limited, has been busier than any other firm working for the Ajimobi administration since January, 2012.

    It has worked on sites including the Agodi Government House Park, Parliament Road to Mokola Roundabout, Gate, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (old) Toll Gate where a mural design on the rock-fence embankment and the inscription, “welcome to Ibadan” as well as the uplifted approach and green ambience seemed to tell those entering the historical city of the “new development and complete renewal” of Ibadan.

    The company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Arc. Olumide Eso, described the project as laudable as it elevates Ibadan from the abyss to a true city.

    The permeable blocks on the State High Court embankment at Ring Road remind one of how grass used to overgrow the place few years ago while the Gangan drum icons at the some of the roundabouts along the axis speak of the state’s rich cultural heritage. Another highlight at Ring Road, which Eso said highlighted the wholesomeness of the beautification package, is the customized branded container, which he said would be allocated to former roadside traders.

    One of the affected traders who said she used to sell her wares opposite the Mobil Filling Station around Oluyole Area of the city, Mrs Ajoke Lawal, commended the government’s effort on the branded containers, saying they would ease the pressure off the displaced traders; some of who she said had nowhere to go.

    At different areas of the city such as Ojoo, Yemetu, Challenge and Bodija, among others, the construction and branding of bus stop sheds have given beauty to the city’s landscape as well as provide succour for motorists and pedestrians.

    Apart from the branded bus stops, the drastic change at Gate, where the median that used to be home to sellers of different items has given way to a beautiful green area, is a mark of the good effort. Not only are the median and sidewalks wearing a new look, many residents expressed disbelief at the success of the beautification.

    Eso disclosed that Oyo State was voted the “Most Improved State in Nigeria at the 2013 Environmental Summit” for its urban renewal programme.

    He said this was made possible because of the government’s commitment to the programme and “the ingenuity of Ershaw’s holistic approach and design strategies of incorporating the beautification and greening of roads, interchanges and medians.”

    Relating the company’s experience on the field, Eso said his company met resistance from the former occupants of most of the beautification sites, pointing out that it took a little while for them to overcome the resistance.

    ”Though the Ministry of Environment handled the demolition of the sites we wanted to beautify, there was stiff resistance from the occupants when we moved to sites in some of the places. At a point, the ministry provided us with YES-O cadets who provided security.

    “But soon after the beautification efforts were completed, there was a change of attitude from most of the former occupants. Some of them commended the transformation, especially with the building of Customised Branded Containers at Ring Road, to house traders who were once by the roadside. The advantage of the containers is that they are movable, so the government can take them to anywhere it wants.”

    On whether the project was well-funded, he said: “In terms of funding, the state government’s commitment to the project was 100 per cent as it funded the project in order for us to achieve the desired goal of renewing and transforming the landscape of Ibadan.”

    A few of the residents who spoke to The Nation on beautification of the city commended government for the project. They said the sites give Ibadan a much better look and enhance the beauty of the environment.

  • Lagos plans to boost public transportation by 2015

    A plan is underway by the Lagos State government to address traffic congestion in the metropolis by boosting public transportation to discourage private vehicle owners from being on the road in compliance with the UN-Habitat recommendation that traffic headaches in cities can be further addressed through reduction of vehicular movement. ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA reports.

    Most owners of private cars and other vehicles in Lagos State may have no need to put their automobiles on the road towards the end of next year when the state government plans to introduce a system that would encourage more public transportation to further address traffic hiccups especially in urban areas.

    The twilight of 2015, will see the government boosting public transportation system by reducing the number of vehicles heading to the Lagos island axis in line with the 2013 UN Habitat recommendation that private driving needs be further discouraged to address numerous traffic challenges particularly in mega cities.

    Lagos State Commissioner of Transport Kayode Opeifa, said structures are already in place to kick-start the initiative.

    Opeifa spoke in Lagos recently at the launch of the 2013 Global Report on Human Settlement tagged:  ‘Planning and design for sustainable urban mobility; by the United Nations-Habitat UN Habitat.

    The planned move, he explained, is not to discourage operators of commercial Danfo buses plying the route but to encourage them to key into the new initiative which aside facilitating easier movement to various work places, will equally makes business transaction a lot more convenient.

    Said Opeifa: “We are bringing on a system toward the end of 2015 that will discourage driving and encourage public transport system which will automatically reduce traffic that we find on Third Mainland Bridge.  We are going to introduce small buses on that road. And people will not need to drive to Victoria Island. Also towards that end, you see that we are now doing the rail, which is now spurring towards Marina, and it will reduce the congestion as people move into that area.

    “We need to reduce the number of vehicles on the road, and to achieve that you have to do what will make other people not drive and leave the whole of the driving to public transport thereby improving on its capacity.

    Opeifa explained further that the ministry has observed a new trend in the metropolis where companies and other organisations are now seeing the need to acquire big buses to ferry their workers to work in order to discourage them from expending their energy in long-hour drive.

    “Interestingly, you will observe there are more Coasta buses on Lagos roads, ditto for Lagbus buses,” Opeifa noted.  “A lot of companies are now buying buses so as to reduce the need for their workers to drive because companies observe that their workers get to work looking very tired having been trapped in traffic for hours.

    “Government is also increasing the number of LAGBuses to Lagos Island by encouraging more private partnership.

    “You will notice that you don’t see Danfo and Molue and on Third Mainland Bridge, you see more of modern vehicles. It is the same people who own those Danfo and Molue that are still buying into the new initiative, so we are not getting rid of them. We have granted some of them licences and we are encouraging them to migrate by applying for loans and if the funding is right and they able to secure the loans, you will see them changing completely.  We will see more of Danfo plying Agege and other long distance routes and not that will they be off the road.

    “You must also note that those buying into this are private sector-driven. And they are now working to increase their capacity and when they do that they create more jobs. The cost of transportation will come down, and people will be ready not to drive,” Opeifa stressed.

    Addressing the avalanche of complaints by users of the almost completed (Lagos)-Ikorodu expressway, ranging from narrowness of road resulting in attendant traffic snarl, as well as what some considered as its needleess beautification, Opeifa  said the current challenges being faced by motorist  on the road, would soon become a thing of the past when the expressway become fully operational.

    “Let me say no amount of road can solve any traffic problem, “Opeifa said while addressing the Ikorodu traffic problem.

    “I remember when we were doing the BRT lane (on Ikorodu road), many accused us of taking a lane out of three, but we told them we were doubling the lane because that one we did would move more people than the remaining two.

    “I agree the road is narrow, but the way it was constructed is not by the number of lanes but how efficient we want to make them to be.  It is not the number of lanes that determines the ease of traffic but how efficient the lanes are.   So, that road is developed to be extremely efficient.

    (When completed) “We are not putting less that 100 BRT on that road; and they are moving on the dedicated lane, so people will find it unnecessary to drive.”

    Opeifa continued: “Instead of you now driving from Ikorodu to Alausa, you only need to board BRT from Ikorodu to Ojota which will only spend 15 minutes and from there you pick another vehicle to Alausa. So it is better to move that way than when you have a big road and all of you are crammed in traffic.  In Chicago for example, they are now turning their three lanes into two; and guess what, they are putting on the third lane-parking.  So if you can drive to a place, park and do business, it is more convenient that way than when you are now stuck on the same road with nowhere to park.

    “People say they want Okada (commercial motorcycle). Okada from where to where? The focus is on non-motorised-that is your legs. So when you trek 100 or 200 metres from the bus stop, you pick a bus, you have exercised yourself. People take Okada from Agege to VI when they are supposed to trek few kilometers from their houses, take a bus, and you know Okada is more expensive to travel in than a bus.

  • Pro-life advocates march against abortion

    Pro-life advocates march against abortion

    A pro-life group within the Catholic Church has organised a programme in Lagos to speak out against the evils of abortion. CHINAKA OKORO was there.

    Peeved by the increasing support which abortion has received from various individuals and organisations the world over, a pro-life group under the aegis of Family and Human Life Unit (FHLU) of Saints Joachim and Anne Catholic Church, Ijegun Ikotun in Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, recently held a crusade to sensitise the public on the evil and dangers of abortion.

    The group defied the downpour and marched from the church premises to Ikotun, headquarters of Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area, singing, dancing and distributing handbills to people.

    Tagged “Anti-abortion Crusade”, the group led by Brothers Chika Nwaenyi, Andy Odogwu and others, said the incidence of abortion is becoming more alarming, even as it decried the roles parents, families, society and governments play in the perpetuation of this iniquity against the unborn under the excuse that they are not yet human beings.

    They carried placards some of which read: “Use Billings Ovulation Method,” “Use of Contraception is Inhuman,” “Say no to Abortion,” “Say no to use of Condom” and “Say no to Mercy Killing,” among others.

    In his sermon, Rev. Fr Victor Nwabueze said “life is becoming cheap. We are losing view of the sacredness of life. We don’t have the right to do everything with our lives as they belong to God. The Catholic Church teaches that life begins at conception and not at death.”

    While saying the term abortion was too trivial a word to describe the killing of the feotus, Nwabueze said: “We have to celebrate life by allowing the feotus to live. Pro-life is about appreciating life. If you cannot appreciate life, you cannot protect it.”

    He said: “The evil of abortion is not only committed by the girl who kills the baby in her womb but also by those who proffered the idea to kill and those who provided money for the girl to see a doctor. Those who kill the baby in the womb need our prayers as they are depraved.”

    Speaking on “Catholic Church’s Position on Abortion”, the former Parish Priest of the church, Rev. Fr Gasper Olanrewaju said the Catholic Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Headship of the Pope has stood firmly against any act that takes human life in any form whatsoever.

    The cleric said as the world seems to celebrate the “culture of death” as opposed to the “culture of life”, the Church emphasises that “human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognised as having the right of a person-among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.”

    He added that since the first Century, the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion; a teaching that has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion or abortion willed either as an end or a means, he said, is gravely contrary to the moral law. Abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes, even as he sad that the inalienable right to life of every innocent human is a constitutive element of a civil society and its legislation.

    Describing as lame arguments that the embryo is not yet a human being, Fr Olanrewaju posited that “since it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be defended in its integrity; cared for and healed as far as possible, like any other human being.

    “In Jeremiah chapter 1 verse 5 and 6, God said when Jeremiah was a microscopic spec in his mother’s womb, God knew him and consecrated him to be a prophet and so it is with every human being.”

    He enjoined the Chairman of the council and all Councilors to do all in their power to uphold and defend the innocent whose lives are snuffed off without any offence.

    In his speech, the Vice-Chairman of the church’s Parish Pastoral Council (PPC), Mr. Martin Nwabuwa also condemned the culture of death which he described as “whatever is opposed to life itself such as any type of murder, capital punishment, genocide, abortion and euthanasia or willful self-destruction… These are infamies indeed. They poison human society and do more harm to those who practice them than to those who suffer from the injury. Moreover, they are a supreme dishonor to the Creator.”

    Citing the late Catholic Pontiff John Paul 11 encyclical, he said: “We are facing an enormous and dramatic clash between good and evil, death and life, the culture of death and the culture of life. We find ourselves not only face with but also necessarily in the midst of this conflict. We are all involved and we all share in it, with the inescapable responsibility of choosing to be unconditionally pro-life.”

    Continuing, he listed four causes of the “culture of death” to include a misunderstanding of the person, a false idea of freedom which has become separated from truth, the loss of the sense of God and a misunderstanding of conscience, even as he noted that “a culture of life acknowledges that true freedom is grounded in truth.”

    Mr. Nwabuwa said all Catholics and other persons have a duty and responsibility to advance a culture of life and strive to transform society to one that deeply respects and cherishes human life from the moment of conception to natural death.

    He urged well-meaning individuals to recognize that opposition to intrinsic evils such as abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem-cell research and same sex unions is always necessary.

    The PPC Vice-Chairman encouraged all to “pray for our country at this time that it is experiencing the scourge of insurgency and terrorism, even as he urges prayers for the conversion of the hearts and minds of those who support intrinsic evils that they may acknowledge the dignity of the human person and promote a culture of life. Pray for the conversion of the hearts and minds of those who support a culture of death in the public arena, especially those who have opted against life and the Gospel.”

  • ‘Ayoba Villa is a beacon of enlightenment’

    ‘Ayoba Villa is a beacon of enlightenment’

    Kayode Jegede, the Special Assistant to Governor Kayode Fayemi on Infrastructure, speaks on the new government house.

     What was the idea behind the building of this house at this height?

    This hill has been here forever in Ado Ekiti, there was nothing on it, we heard from history that the Anglican Church tried to build on it, we don’t know what controversies came up with some traditional worshippers saying they have something there and they (Church) shouldn’t do anything there. You know the name Ekiti was derived from hill, when we were conceptualizing the government house; we thought putting it on top of a hill is symbolic of the name of the state. So putting a government house up there where it is visible to the whole citizenry is a beacon of enlightenment. People know they have something special in Ekiti. When we chose it, that opposition came again, the Ifa worshippers sent a message to us saying all the Ifa worshippers in Yoruba land worship on this hill.

    What was the god they are serving on this hill?

    Ifa. Even the day we wanted to break ground on this hill, the workers turned and ran away because some traditionalists had come to put juju on the ground. So we went back to the governor and through his intervention we were able to start the work.

    How difficult was the initial work, what challenges did you meet?

    The foundation was a great challenge, but we thank God that we had a contractor that knew his onions. Every foundation here was on rock, everything we did here was done by machine, nothing by hand. We used compressor to dig the foundation. Before we started we thought the hill was just soil, but just beneath the soil is rock. Even when you are driving up you will notice the rocks by the side. So that makes it extra difficult. It is like building on the rock literarily.

     We are sitting at the basement, was it part of the initial design or it was borne out of necessity?

    This basement came as a result of the constitution of the rock which was sloppy, so we had to cut it and create a basement to meet the other levels. What happens in construction (is) you might design something and on getting to site you find that the reality on the ground does not support your design so you adapt as you are constructing. We had to adapt to the terrain and add a basement.

    What was the initial design for this building; was it significantly different from what we have now?

    No, it was not significantly different. Maybe this basement was added to it. We wanted a floor to receive people, which is the first floor; the second is the working floor for the governor and the third floor is the residence. That was the simple idea and we added this basement and other extensions to it.

    There are so many meeting rooms…..

    Yes, if you have ever worked in government, you will know government is run on meetings. So it is good in a government house to have where meetings can hold. The governor might be meeting a group and one commissioner is meeting another group, that is the reason. As you can

    see, we had a very good function here today, there is another one like this size in which you can have an exco meeting.

    The governor has an office, is it wise to bring another office to the house?

    The office of the governor is a very stressful job. Governor Fayemi is an extremely hardworking man who works till 2: am almost every day. The governor must have a conducive environment to work in office or at home. For any governor in the state, you don’t need to stay up late in the office, you might just come home and continue to work in a conducive environment and when he finishes he goes upstairs and sleep. That makes the governor more productive and that is what we want.

    There is a helipad out there and a tennis court with a swimming pool which is small..

    No it is not small, it is very deep maybe not Olympic size but it is for the governor and his family. The tennis court is also for relaxation, we want every governor here to have time to relax.  The helipad is to make it easy for the governor and his guest to come in and out of Ekiti. The governor would have so many meetings in Abuja that a lot of time they come by helicopter as Governor Fashola did today, so it is helpful.

    How long did the construction take from start to the finish and were the materials sourced locally?

    Let us say about 20 months. There are some like the fittings that were imported but the materials for the construction were sourced locally. There are about 200 workers at every stage of the construction.

    What is the distinguishing factor of this building, what is the attraction?

    It is beautiful, everybody says it. The location is also unique; when they put on the lights at night everybody sees it. It is much more spacious when you go to the former house we were using there is no hall that can hold events. So here, the spaces that you need for government events are accommodated here so government can continue at an easier pace. It could also be a tourist attraction when it is opened. When we were building, many people came around. There is also the view, where you can see the whole of Ado Ekiti. If you are a serious person, this is a place where you can be very productive.

  • Day of rage in Ifon-Osun

    Day of rage in Ifon-Osun

    The people of Ifon-Osun in Orolu Local Government area of Osun State will not forget in a hurry, October 5th, 2014, as the agrarian community was thrown into confusion when political thugs numbering about 20 descended on the campaign train of an aspirant to the House of Representatives for Osogbo/Olorunda/Irepodun/Orolu Federal Constituency, Dr. Oluwole Yekeen Alabi, while embarking on a procession round the two local government areas of the state.

    The Nation gathered that crisis erupted shortly after more than 20 socio-political groups including both Oranmiyan Foundation worldwide and the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS endorsed the political aspiration of the Chairman of Republic of Ireland chapter of Oranmiyan Foundation, Dr. Oluwole Yekeen Alabi, who is seeking to represent Osogbo, Olorunda, Irepodun and Orolu Federal Constituency in the National Assembly under the ticket of the All Progressives Congress, (APC).

    The event, which was preceded by procession round the three major communities of Ilobu, Ifon, and Erin-Osun, was rounded off at Saint Michael Elementary School, in Ilobu, the headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area, where Alabi was received by party faithful including leaders of APC across the four local government areas that formed the federal constituency.

    The attack according to an eye witness, took place at Oye compound in Ward 5 area of Orolu Local Government Area and was led by two young men popularly called Laredo and Esu Gongo, who were armed with various dangerous weapons including bottles, machetes, bows and arrows, threatening that the procession should stop; otherwise blood would flow in the community.

    The Nation gathered the crisis which lasted about an hour, left more than six persons injured including Mrs. Silifat Alabi, Engr. Waheed Olateju, Mojeed Alabi and a member of the vigilance group who had joined his colleagues to provide security for the event.

    The intervention of the security agents from the Ifon police station and State Security Service, Osogbo, the State capital was said to have doused the tension as they rushed to the scene to maintain peace and later visited the injured people at designated hospitals, particularly Mercy Private Hospital, Ilobu.

    Meanwhile at the occasion, Alabi a gynaecologist based in Dublin, Ireland was presented to the members of the APC by the head of Alabi family and former Chairman of Irepodun Local Government Area chapter of the defunct Social Democratic Party, SDP, and a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Ademola Alabi.

    Also giving testimonies in support of Alabi’s candidacy at the event were representatives of Awoleye Alabi Memorial Foundation, AWAMEF; Oluwole Alabi Youth Vanguard; Nigerian Medical Association, Association of Market Men and Women, Elite Club, among several others.

    Speaking on behalf of the Republic of Ireland chapter of the Oranmiyan Foundation, the Treasurer of the group who is currently the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Health, Dr. Rafiu Olasunkanmi Isamotu, said the group was impressed by the sound and qualitative leadership qualities of the governor, but was at the same time irked by the poor performance of certain representatives, hence the need to put forward individuals who could assist the governor in delivering more dividends of democracy to the people of the community in particular and the state in general.

  • Ayoba Villa: Inside Ekiti’s new Government House

    Ayoba Villa: Inside Ekiti’s new Government House

    Even though it took 200 workmen 20 months to build, the new Ekiti State Government House sitting on the vintage and historical Ayoba Hill has become a beacon and pride for Ekiti indigenes. SEUN AKIOYE, who went on tour of the building, reports that it is a masterpiece

    The first official function to hold at the new and imposing Ekiti State government house located on the historical and fascinating Ayoba hill took place on Thursday 9th October 2014 and it paraded big names in Nigeria’s political landscape.

    It was one of the several events marking the fourth anniversary of the administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi and it was the presentation of the Ekiti State Administration of Criminal Justice Law (2014) and the State Magistrate Courts Law (2014).

    Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos who was the special guest had arrived earlier in a helicopter which landed on the specially built helipad located within the compound. His Kano State counterpart, Rabiu Kwankwaso came by road. The hall where the event was held was situated in the basement of the three-storey mansion and it can seat at least 100 guests. Originally designated as a banquet hall, it can also serve as meeting room for large events.

    Fashola spoke about the importance of laws and how it governs our existence from birth till death. He spoke about laws that regulate our conduct on earth and how even in death we are still governed by laws that determine if a corpse is to be buried or cremated; the governor called this circle “everything from our arrival to departure.” The audience comprising mainly of lawyers, members of the state executive council and the media nodded their approval of this insight.

    After the ceremony, the invited guests were conducted round the building by Governor Fayemi.

    The new government house is not just another government building but a multi functional modern architectural construction built with functionality and luxury in mind. It is a building that allows for the smooth running of the organs of government even when the governor is not present in his official office.

    There are other fascinations about the government house; the hill on which it was built had fantastic tales of the supernatural. It was a hill replete with amazing stories of demons and spirit where humans worship the domineering spirits to wade off impending doom on the town. The Ayoba hill was a hill where demons spoke with the voice of men.

     

    Oke Ayoba: The myth and the reality

    Throughout the history of the Ekiti, Oke Ayoba has always held a supernatural fascination for its people. For many years, it served as a dreaded shrine used by Ifa worshippers to appease various gods. Oke Ayoba gods must be worshipped and appeased at different times in the year, failure of which terrible vengeance would be visited on the people by the offended deities.

    There were many myths that gave strength to the supernatural powers of the hill. It is one of the highest elevations among the many hills that surround Ado Ekiti the state capital. There were claims that only the initiated can successfully climb the hill and the uninitiated cannot survive there due to the presence of its thousand demons.

    The hill is surrounded by a densely thick forest with weird trees and dangerous animals. On the hill, shrines had been constructed to the many unknown spirits. Passing through the forest is a frightening and often terrifying prospect which yielded only to the strong and spiritually fortified.

    The coming of civilization did very little to change this perception and role of one of the iconic hills in Ado Ekiti. The consequences of growth and modernization like road and housing infrastructure also seemed to have accorded the hill its due respect. The governor’s office was built at its foot and that was the closest building to it. Many Ekiti indigenes still viewed the hill as sacred and with trepidation. And there are strong adherents of the Ifa oracle who would protect the sanctity of the hill with their powers, some with their lives and they were determined to prevent the new government house from being built on the hill they regard as ‘sacred’.

    The workers who came to clear the ground had ample testimonies of the powers of the secret cult. According to Kayode Jegede, the Special Assistant to the governor on Infrastructure who helped supervise the building, Ifa worshippers almost prevented work on the hill.

    “When we came here to do the ground breaking, many of the workers ran away because the traditionalists had put some (fetish) sacrifice and juju on the hill to prevent the work,” he said.

    But that was not the only last desperate act to stop the construction.

    When it was announced that the administration of Governor Fayemi would commence the building of a befitting government house on the hill, the governor got a shocker. The Ifa worshippers in the state mounted a fierce opposition to the project, warning the governor of dire consequences if the project was actualized. When that failed, they offered him veiled threats and when that also failed they enlisted the support of the National Association of Ifa Worshippers in Nigeria who forwarded a strong memo to Fayemi demanding the cancellation of the project. Their last desperate act was to physically prevent work on the hill through supernatural means.

     

    Inside the house for the future

    The journey to the new government house begins at ground zero by the governor’s office. It is a daunting two kilometers trip to the zenith.  The house itself is sitting at 557 meters above sea level-where the air is cleaner and noise level lower. Towards the foot of the hill, about half the original forest had been carefully preserved to retain some of the original feel of the hill.

    Halfway through the climb are the seven guest chalets to the right, each one built in ascending order but a steady climb of about 1,000 meters still awaits.  The building itself which has been dubbed “Ayoba Villa” is a three-story edifice with two wings. When one stands in front of the building, one can see the whole of Ado Ekiti with its rusty zincs and interlocking hills.

    The first floor serves as the reception. It was designed with luxury in mind yet radiates the greatest simplicity. The room was well lit with a chandelier hanging in the center. There are two pillars which seemed to hold the entire building and behind them are two staircases which led to the other floors. There are two sitting areas facing each other with two large screen televisions. It was designed so that if you sat at the right you watch the television on the left and vice versa.  Behind the column is a door which leads to a large meeting room fitted with projectors.

    The first floor also has the kitchen and the main dining room which can seat at least 40 guests. Next to it is the kitchen which is small but fitted with modern cooking equipments and extremely clean; one wonders if any cooking is ever done there.

    On the second floor is where the governor has his office with office facilities for his immediate staff. The governor’s office is spacious and has a waiting room; on the left wing are other waiting rooms which the governor can link from his office. On October 9th, Governor Fayemi was already at his ‘home office’ as early as 8: am putting finishing touches to preparations for what would turn out to be a very busy day.

    “The idea for this office is to allow the governor to continue working at home with the same facilities as he has in the office. This will ensure that the organ of government continues to function whether the governor is at home or in the office.  As you can see today that he is already in his office very early,” Olayinka Oyebode, the Chief Press Secretary, (CPS) to the governor said as he conducted The Nation around the building.

    The last floor is the living quarters for the governor and his immediate aides. The right wing is the governor’s private quarters. It has a large sitting area and a small dinning at the extreme end. On the day of the visit, the table was set for about ten guests who will have breakfast with Governor Fayemi. A kitchen staff stood near the table waiting for his guests. The kitchen was next to the dinning, it is a small place and no cooking is done there. The Nation learnt that when dignitaries visit the Villa, this is where they meet with the governor.

    A door led to another large sitting room where the governor can yet meet with select group of visitors, and then there is the governor’s private room. The first sitting room led to the terrace where small cocktail meetings can be held. It has a small bar and an amazing view of the city. Standing on the terrace, one can see most part of Ado Ekiti, the streets become distinct and the various landscapes are very visible.

    “This is a vintage point for the governor to view the city, if there is any trouble, the security chiefs can also gather here to monitor the events and coordinate response,” Oyebode said.

    There is no shortage of meeting rooms in Ayoba Villa. Oyebode explained that this is necessary so that the governor can meet with different categories of people at different times in different rooms.

    The basement is an example of this, even though not part of the building plan originally, the reality of the sloppy nature of the hill forced the contractors to cut through hard rock to create the basement. There is one big dining room which can also serve as meeting room in the basement. This was where the first official event in Ayoba Hill took place. Next to it is a small meeting room where the governor can entertain his guests before the commencement of the event. There are two other smaller meeting rooms and a theater which can sit at least an audience of15. The basement can also be accessed from the back of the building with a stunning view of the capital.

     

    The Construction

    Building Ayoba Villa was not a mean task, from conception to the finished work; it was a grueling and intellectually tasking project. The building also cost the Ekiti state taxpayers a whopping N2.7billion. According to Olusola Oyelade, the Principal at Casa Consult and the architect who designed the building, the fact that the building was tucked on a hill presented its peculiar challenges. Oyelade is by no means a rookie when it comes to designs and architecture. An indigene of Ilokuno Ekiti in Ijero local government area of the state, he attended Christ School Ado Ekiti before getting a Degree in Architecture from the University of Lagos and AMDP at the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

    Against the allegations that local contractors were not given priorities by the government, Oyelade also designed and redeveloped the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort which has received international acclaim.  Currently he is managing the construction of the Civic Center in Ado Ekiti.

    Working together with Jegede and Kouris Construction ltd, the contractors faced the daunting task of gaining access to the top of the hill.  The place was surrounded by thick forests which had to be cleared to create a pathway for workers. Then another problem surfaced; the steep nature of the hill meant not all vehicles would be able to climb. “We had cases of vehicles actually rolling backwards when they tried to climb the hill,” Jegede said.

    There was also the problem of the soil, Ayoba hill is predominantly rock but this was not visible until the digging began. “Every foundation here was on rock, everything we did here was done by machine nothing by hand. We used compressor to dig the foundation. Before we started we thought the hill was soil, but just beneath the soil is rock.

    “Even when you are driving up you will notice the rocks by the side. So that makes it extra difficult. It is like building on the rock literarily,” he said.

    It was a gruesome task which consumed the whole of 20 months of hard labour and over 200 skilled and unskilled men working tirelessly on the hill. The task of hurling the materials up the whole of the 2000 meters to the hill was daunting while the nature of the hill also was a major challenge; a basement which was not part of the initial design was quickly incorporated due to the sloppy nature of the hill.

    Materials for the construction were sourced mainly in Ekiti while some fittings were imported, the workers too were sourced mainly from the state and the Bureau of Infrastructure supervised the construction.

    The concept of the building is a gateway into Governor Fayemi’s thinking. According to Oyelade, it was the vision of the governor for a befitting government lodge that birthed the “live, work and relax edifice.” The governor was also involved at every stage of the construction and even chose the colors. “The concept of this place is open and formal spaces that take advantage of the beautiful views of the city and the building answers both question of function and luxury,” he said.

    But despite the enormous challenges posed by the construction, the local contractors and supervisors were able to surmount and present to the Ekiti people, a modern piece of architecture that is a source of pride. “Every design and construction has its own peculiar challenges, but God has given us the ability to surmount them,” Oyelade said.

     

    The old versus the new

    But the Ayoba Villa has not been without its controversies, some parties in the state have criticized the building saying it was not what Ekiti needed. Some of the criticism rang from the impossible to the downright ridiculous. Governor-elect, Ayo Fayose described the

    building as a waste.

    But Oyebode said there was no basis for the criticism of Ayoba Villa. “The truth is that Ekiti state never had a government house, where the governor was using is a presidential guest house which was converted to a governor’s lodge. It has only one meeting room. Every visitor to the house stays in one waiting room irrespective of who you are or your position in the society. It is really not befitting for a state and it does not allow for the smooth running of government.”

    Earlier Fayemi in an interview had defended his decision to build a “befitting” government house for Ekiti sate saying that the building is for posterity.

    “I could imagine what some people in the Western Region said in 1959 when Chief Obafemi Awolowo launched WNTV, first in Africa. Is it television we are going to eat? Likewise when he built Cocoa House and Liberty stadium; imagine the foresight. This government house will be there in100 years. Fayemi is not going to take it to his village. It is going to become a tourist monument for the state. I am not aware of any government house in Ekiti in 18 years of being a state. I am living in a presidential chalet for visiting presidents or guests of the governor.

    “What we are building is not just a government house; it is a government house complex. It is a massive office for the governor, a banquet hall for events, a meeting place for dignitaries, and also a gallery for the state. If people do not understand, they should ask questions. In any case, is Ekiti a second class state? We are not a second class people. We are a proud people who want to be treated as decent people.

    “No other governor will have to come here and build. With heavy rain this morning, the whole of this place (Old government house) was flooded. And this is government house. The government house leaks. It cannot even comfortably accommodate a family of five. All that I am doing is for the future of this state.”

     

    The Facilities

    Ayoba Villa was designed as a live, work and relax edifice. Accordingly, the Villa has a tennis and badminton court towards the eastern fringe. There is also the swimming pool which is small but an official said it was meant for the governor and his family. Also the basement has a gymnasium which also leads directly to the swimming pool. The building has a central cooling system and all the function halls have a central microphone. All the meeting rooms have a projector which is manned by competent hands while the furnishings are of the highest qualities.

    But residents of the state capital had watched the construction and the launch of the building with increased fascination. One of them Aioli Ogundeji who spoke with The Nation said he became converted after the construction ended.

    “I am one of the people who criticized this building, I watched everyday as the building began to rise and now that it is completed I agree that we need a befitting structure like this,” he said.