The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • Day thousands of Muslims stormed iconic square to pray for country

    Day thousands of Muslims stormed iconic square to pray for country

    Muslims from no fewer than 100 Islamic organisations, under the aegis of the Joint Muslims Forum (JMF), converged on the main bowl of the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Onikan, Lagos Island to pray for the nation. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO reports

    The adjoining roads leading to the iconic Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) venue of Nigeria’s independence from Britain back on October 1, 1960 were busy with all kinds of vehicles, heading towards the square.

    From passenger buses to private cars, many streamed in to attend an event some believe was a ‘once in a life time opportunity.’

    Tagged ‘Prayer for the Nation,’ it was first of its kind to attract well over 100 Islamic organisations coming together for a common cause – Prayer for the nation.

    The nearest to this kind of event was the special Jumat service held at the Freedom Park, Ojota during the protest against removal of fuel subsidy in January 2012.

    Penultimate Saturday, event was big in all ramifications.

    Muslims from all nooks and crannies of the Centre of Excellence came out to be counted. There were others from outside Lagos. It was indeed a field day for petty traders and commercial tricycle drivers. Many who came for the event were surprised with the state of the art stage and the settings of the main bowl of TBS. The surging crowd nearly stretched the square to its limit.

    Different organisations came in their colourful association’s attires. They include Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria (ADS); The Muslim Congress (TMC); Al-Mu’minaat; The Companion; The Criterion; Nasrul-lahi-li Faith Society of Nigeria (NASFAT); Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN); Movement for Islamic Culture and Awareness (MICA); Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN); Council of Alasalatu; Imams and Alfas in Lagos.

    Many of the leading clerics shone in Arabian attire – Jalabia, turban and Alukinba. Some wore their Alukinba on flowing traditional agbada.

    The event was anchored by the Coordinator of Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO) Lagos Chapter, Imam Abdullahi Shuaib and Missioner of Fatiu-Quareeb Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Sulayman Adangba. The duo’s fluency in Arabic, Yoruba, Hausa and English languages went a long way in keeping thousands of the audience glued to their seats.

    However, the absence of veteran broadcaster cum presenter of Eji sari programme on NTA Channel 10, Alhaji Rasak Aremu Gawat was felt.

    Alhaji Gawat’s versatility and emotional attachment to his waka (songs) by the Muslim ummah were missing on that great day.

    The event began with opening prayer before a mass Asalat was conducted. The coordinator of the programme and ADS Chief Missioner, Sheikh Abdurrahman Ahmad, said the situation in the country requires prayers.

    “We gather to pray to Allah to guide our leaders to govern well and be just to the people. We are on the verge of extinction in this country. There are lots of acrimony, open letters and close letters, oppression, injustice, therefore we need God’s assistance,” he said.

    The revered cleric lamented the marginalisation of Muslims in the country: “We want our rights. Nobody can usurp the rights of others in the state. We are for peace. No country can move forward without justice to every segment. We gathered because we feel a sense of duty to work together to make our country great. Allah should guide our leaders to be just. In spite of our anger, we bear no grudge against anyone.”

    Sheikh Ahmad cautioned political leaders to stop polarising and causing confusion in the polity.

    “We pray Allah to let them (politicians) bury their inordinate ambitions and to let us choose right. Unless our politicians stop their divisive ways, they will have no country to govern. We want peace but we are also demanding for our rights. The country with its diverse nature needs peaceful co-existence among the people. We pray to Allah for peace to reign in this country,” he said.

    In his welcome address, Senator HAB Fasinro, an elder statesman, said the prayer was part of the Muslims’ contribution and duty to their country “regardless of the fact that we being are discriminated against.”

    “We, therefore, urge our leaders to stop marginalising the Muslims,” he added.

    Fasinro called on Muslims to unite against oppressions but shun violence.

    Secretary- General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Prof Ishaq Oloyede while speaking on the theme, “Leadership and prayer in nation building”, submitted that Nigeria leaders have failed to live up to masses’ expectations.

    “Our country”, Oloyede said, “needs visionary, purposeful and resourceful leaders to chart a good way and proffer solutions to the problems facing this nation. This country has Muslims who can provide quality leadership to chart a new course. This is known through the history of Muslims in all ages. Leaders should see their positions as a trust and not a personal property. Leadership without consultation with people is zero. We need Allah to save our country. Our people are sacrificing honour at the altar of wealth. There are political oppression, rigging, corruptions which have to be stopped for the nation to move forward.”

    While enjoining Muslims to fight for their rights, Oloyede said:  ”We frown at the continued marginalisation of the Muslims across the country and in Lagos; Muslims’ voice in Lagos has to be heard. There are issues of Hijab, Hijrah public holiday, Coroner law which have to be resolved in the interest of the people. Shariah issue has to be resolved too. Lagos is full of non-Islamic symbols all over the streets, why can’t we have Islamic symbols too in all places? I urge the religious leaders not to sell their conscience. They must speak out against injustice being meted out to the Muslims.”

    In her goodwill message, Prof. Fatimah AbdulKareem urges Muslim women to fight for their rights.

    Prof. AbdulKareem, the Head of Morbid Anatomy and Molecular Biology Department at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos/Lagos University Teaching Hospital (CMUL-LUTH) rejected widespread notion that Muslim women are oppressed.

    “We are not oppressed. Hijab is our choice. Modesty is our pride. As Muslim women, let us do our duties to our society. Let us speak with one voice,” she told the gathering.

    Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) Director and Head of Arabic and Islamic Department, Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ishaq Akintola in his contribution said: “History is being made in Lagos as Muslims gather to demand what has been eluding them for years. Hijab issue is not political; we are not fighting Governor Babatunde Fashola but just to get what is our due. Hijab is the right of female Muslims, the present school uniform was designed by the Colonial masters and it is a Christian uniform. We want our female students to dress to school with their Hijab. It is their right”.

    The chairman of Oyo State Muslims Council, Alhaji Kunle Sanni wants the Muslims from the Southwest to stand up for their rights.

    He said: “Muslims are not violent. We are not antagonists to the government, but to get what is due to the Muslims. This prayer for the nation is welcome not only in Lagos but in Oyo State too. We have a lot of challenges facing the Muslims in Oyo State; with our coming together we will be able to surmount the problems facing us.”

    In his closing remark, the former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Musiliu Smith called for more of such prayer in all Southwest states.

    ”We need prayers for the challenges facing the nation. Let people be encouraged to join politics to right the wrongs in the country,” he said.

    He urged Muslim lecturers to be exemplary and instil right attitude in the mind of students.

    Aside speeches, revered clerics one after another made special prayers for unity, progress and peace in the country.

    Among the clerics were Mufti of Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO), Sheikh Dhikrullahi Shafi’I; Missioner of Nawair-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh AbdulMajeed Ayinla; Skeikh Muhammad Olatunji; Ustadh Zikrullahi Hassan; Sheikh Sulaiman Faruq Onikijipa and Sheikh Moshood Jubreel Ramadan.

     

  • Good times getting back on Lagos roads

    Before 2010, Lagos residents had different stories to tell on the condition of roads in the state. But the experience of Mr. Oloruntoba Adeola was indeed harrowing, though interesting.

    Every other month, Michael had to visit his mechanic to complain about either worn-out shafts or leaked absorbers. For him, driving on Lagos roads was a nightmare which he wouldn’t want to experience if he could avoid it.

    But that was then, the music today has changed and Adeola is now singing a different, refreshing tune. Just last week in Lagos, he said the nightmares of those years “have ended and the new era has come.”

    He, also, acknowledged that he now “drives with less time and less pains, at least on the key roads in the metropolis. I no longer visit mechanic workshops as often as I did in 2009 and even 2010.” According to him, this means I spend less on car maintenance. For instance, I changed my absorbers in 2012, and they are still in good shape.

    It must be noted however, that in the daunting task of ensuring effective road maintenance, the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) recently completed an asphalt production plant which has capacity to produce 160 tons per hour while another plant in Badagry is already at the 30 percent stage of completion.

    Another resident Modupe Isiaka also told The Nation a similar tale of bad and good time on Lagos roads. Even though several roads are yet to be reconstructed, Isiaka, a legal practitioner, said almost all the state roads “are now well-maintained.” He said the state of roads in the state now has reduced his travel time and traffic congestion. “Things have really improved, though there is still a lot to do.”

    But this improvement could not have been possible without the reform of the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC), an agency statutorily saddled with the critical responsibilities of road maintenance and rehabilitation in the state. In 2010, for instance, the corporation unveiled a five-year roadmap, which it said, had been implemented, at least up to 80 percent just after four years it was developed.

    As a result, about 705 roads were maintained across the local councils in 2012 alone; no fewer than 988 roads rehabilitated in 2013; and a minimum of 1,400 roads already projected for maintenance under the 2014 fiscal year. For many certified civil engineers, this projection, might be difficult fulfill due to the amount of resources and materials required to put the roads in good shape all through the year, especially during the rainy season.

    But the corporation’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Gbenga Akintola told The Nation that there was nothing to fear. Better than in the previous years, Akintola said the Lagos State Government “has honed its approach to road maintenance and rehabilitation in order to make impact on almost all parts of the state be it in the urban centres or the suburbs.” He said the state government had built the required capacity for road maintenance.

    Akintola said the state government did not just come out with a plan to maintain and rehabilitate, that number of roads this year, but did so because of the completion of a new asphalt production plant in Imota, which he said, started operation December 2013. Enumerating the advantages of having the plant at Imota, he said it has already regenerated the area economically and socially. He acknowledged that as it is now, we have witnessed the influx of people to the area. People are now making inquiry to buy land in the area. A lot of indigenes have been employed in the area.

    “Also, 404 roads will be effectively maintained due to the siting of the plant. Six local councils in Ikorodu, Epe, Ibeju-Lekki and Eti-Osa will benefit from the plant,” he pointed out.

    He also spoke extensively on how the plant had benefited the local population, especially in Imota and other areas in Ikorodu noting that since the plant “have started production in December, all the people that were engaged at the site are from Imota and axis.

    “More than 30 persons have been engaged among the locals when the project was going on. We are still going to employ more people for security, monitoring and other areas,” he explained. But to make bad roads, Akintola said the state had a plan “to site asphalt production plants in each senatorial district in Lagos State. We now have in Badagry to serve Lagos West,” which he said, was already at the 30 percent stage of completion.

    Beyond what the state government has been able to do, Jaiyesimi, a fellow of Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE), said road maintenance “is wide and requires a lot of issues,” which he said, could only be resolved through what he described as the robust culture of road maintenance. He said the country had not really imbibed the culture of road maintenance.

    However, Jaiyesimi acknowledged that Lagos State “takes road maintenance very serious.” He added that the state’s road maintenance agency under its current leadership “is really trying. The agency has really improved on its performance in the last four years. We see what it is doing across the local councils, making trips from one part of the state to the other much easier for the motorists and other road users.”

  • ‘What did they forget in Government House?’

    ‘What did they forget in Government House?’

    •Residents ask as Ladoja’s, Akala’s posters flood Ibadan

    Ahead of the 2015 gubernatorial election in Oyo State, the likely gladiators are beginning to test their strengths with posters and messages flooding strategic locations in Ibadan, the state capital.

    Former governors Rashidi Ladoja and Adebayo Alao-Akala were the first to hit the streets with their posters which have been generating mixed reactions from the general public since they first appeared around last Christmas and New Year festive period.

    Ladoja, whose tenure was marked by infighting with his deputy Alao Akala on one hand and his godfather, late Chief Lamidi Adedibu on the other hand was elected the governor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before he fell out with Adedibu who reportedly masterminded his removal to pave way for Akala to become governor. He is now a member and leader of Accord Party (AP) in Oyo State while Akala remains in the PDP.

    Akala’s posters which did not indicate the office he is eyeing in the next general election were prominently displayed along Sabo, Mokola roundabout, Elizabeth road, UI/Ojoo road, Sango, Secretariat road and PDP party secretariat on Queen Elizabeth road. The poster was tagged: “2015: Alao-Akala mbo, Baba mbo” meaning, Alao-Akala is coming, father is coming, as slogan strategically placed under the PDP logo.

    While Ladoja’s own which flooded Sango via Eleyele area was tagged “Emancipation 2015, you are welcome to Oyo State Government House”.

    The sudden emergence of the posters of the two former governors has been generating reactions from the general public with some questioning the wisdom behind it, while others sees it as a welcome development.

    Alhaji Bello Nasiru, a Bureau de Change operator at Sabo area of Ibadan mused: ”I wonder what they forgot at the Government House that they are coming to pick. Both of them contributed in no small ways to our problem before Ajimobi came on board to rectify it. Even, if we are dissatisfied with the status quo, we don’t want old men in that seat again. They should either support a younger candidate or fizzle out”.

    Mr Abass Akande, a businessman who resides in Yemetu area of the state said there was nothing bad if Ladoja and Akala expressed their interests through posters.

    His words: “The duo may not contest but eventually support a neutral person that could take over from Ajimobi in 2015, Ladoja supported Ajimobi in 2011 but he betrayed him,” he said.

    In the opinion of a PDP chieftain, Alhaji Rasheed Adebisi Olopoenia, the two former governors are only advertising themselves ahead of 2015.

    “If they have pointed out that they are vying for the governorship position I would have said that it is too early” he said, “I see their posters as an advertisement of their interest in contesting for a specific position. Anyone can paste poster all around the state and that doesn’t mean he will win, to me it is not a threat”.

    Even though the development has unconsciously put the incumbent governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and his All Progressives Congress (APC) on the alert, a chieftain of the party in the state, Mr Niyi Adeagbo agrees with Olopoenia that the posters were no threat. According to him, the actions of the former governors were not out of place.

    “It is only normal for everyone irrespective of what platform, intention or ambition to contest any of the elective posts to start showing interest publicly from now,” he said.

    Adeagbo also stated that: “The electorates are wiser now and no amount of propaganda or promises can change the mind of the people against APC and Ajimobi because it is continuity all the way till 2019”.

    But Adeagbo believes that no matter the level of perceived goodwill Ladoja enjoys, Ajimobi and the APC have nothing to fear.

    His words: “We in the APC in Oyo State are ready for 2015 election since we were sworn in 2011. It is only obvious with the high level of development and uplifting we have brought to the good people of our great state. What we have witnessed in Oyo State is real transformation.

    “The government of Senator Abiola Ajimobi has brought excellent governance to the door step of people of Oyo State and the only thing I am sure you can expect in 12 months time is a total vote of appreciation from the good people of the state, by using their votes to say thank you to Governor Ajimobi for him to do more till 2019”.

    But on the contrary, a chieftain of the Accord Party in the state, Dr Nureni Adeniran stated that the posters are a threat to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, stressing that although none of the former governors have indicated the position they are vying for in 2015, but the appearance of the posters indicate that Ajimobi will lose to any of the aspirants the way Otunba Akala did to him in 2011.

    “Anybody has the right to contest for any position in Nigeria, and what happens in the political terrain of this country now is that anybody brings out posters even when they have not been picked by their party. This is just to tell you the number of aspirants that will be contesting, and these posters are not for the electorate but their immediate party members to know that they will be contesting.  Senator Ladoja defeated an incumbent late Alhaji Lam Adesina, while Akala was also defeated by Governor Ajimobi and in 2015 someone will defeat Ajimobi too,” he said.

    However, a graphic designer Adisa Damilare, believes “it is up to the electorate to decide what they want for themselves and shun all these irresponsible politicians”.

    Damilare also dismissed Akala’s chances based on the fragmentation within the PDP.

    The Nation investigation revealed that Akala has been having series of meetings in Ibadan and his home town, Ogbomoso, in order to bring together aggrieved PDP members. At a town hall meeting held at Plaza de Aruna in Oyo in December 2013, he met with some of the members from Oyo Federal Constituency, comprising Afijio, Atiba, Oyo-East and Oyo-West.

    A teacher, who spoke in confidence, believes Akala’s step could yield fruits even though there was no decision yet as to the position he would be vying for. He, however, expressed concern that though the former governor was working according to his love for Oyo people, but “to be truthful all what people want from him is the money he doles out anyhow, bearing in mind that Akala is only spending the money he took from tax payers”.

    As for Ladoja, he said: “There is nothing bad in Senator Ladoja coming back to office, because I believe he did not complete his term in office and his mandate was stolen by the late Ibadan political gladiator, Chief Adedibu and Akala. The workers admire his style of leadership and the masses need him at this critical time when the so called progressive are mortgaging the Southwest states”.

    Another resident who wants to remain unanimous said: “What we are about witnessing in Oyo State politically is what can be referred to as Political Comedy Season 2.

    “Both Akala and Ladoja are expired and tired legs. May Oyo State never witness the setback which the duo stands for,” he added.

    Taking a different stance, the President of Federation of Oyo State Student Union (FOSSU), Ahmad Olansile described perceived interest of Ladoja and Akala in the gubernatorial contest next year as a welcome development and a challenge to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, stressing that the two are political gladiators with support that could win them election again.

    “It is normal and expected of anybody to do that at a time like this, because everybody will want to advertise his own product. The two of them are strong stakeholders in Oyo Sate politics if not Southwest as a whole. However, so much is in the hand of the electorate; so long as the two of them have been tested in the past including the presiding governor, so if any one of them is worth coming back, it will be decided by the good people of the state”.

    Another trader at Sango market, Mrs Juliana Amope, where one of Ladoja’s posters was pasted on the wall behind her, wondered what the two former governors are looking for, she noted that they have ruled the people in the past and if they think the present administration is not performing they should bring in another candidate instead of contesting.

    According to Amope, the people of the state are tired of past governors and godfathers who intend to contest and strongly believe that they should give the younger ones the opportunity to rule the state.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Orphan, 10, in menial jobs to feed blind grandmother

    Orphan, 10, in menial jobs to feed blind grandmother

    At a tender age of 10, little Sehinde Bakare has become the breadwinner of a family of two; his grandmother and himself.

    The boy is battling with the harsh realities of life following the death of his parents and the subsequent loss of sight by his 72-year-old grandmother.

    He does menial jobs to put food on the table for his granny and fend for himself.

    The Primary Two pupil of Saint Benedict Primary School, Akure, the Ondo State capital, lost  both parents when he was just nine months old and his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Margaret Ajayi, immediately  took up the responsibility of taking care of the orphan.

    But another tragedy soon came when he was four years. Mrs. Ajayi lost her sight due to lack of proper medical attention.

    It was learnt that the relations and friends of Sehinde’s parents tried at the initial stage to assist the young lad, but after some years they abandoned him for the old blind septuagenarian. The condition of the grandmother made life more miserable for the orphan.

    The little boy, who narrated how he and his grandmother survive, said when it was obvious that assistance was not coming from their relations and friends, while hunger and starvation were ravaging them, “Mama advised me to go out and look for menial jobs at food canteens so that the little money they give me will be used to feed both of us, but she advised me strongly not to steal anybody’s money.

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    “She weeps anytime I come back from school and tell her that I am going out again to look for what we will eat. She is always complaining that I am too young to be passing through this trauma.

    “But I always reply her that I don’t have any option since my parents’ relations and families have abandoned me to my fate and I must survive and I don’t want to steal, so I do tell mama to leave me and be praying for me.

    “If I don’t go home with money, Mama will not eat. In fact, I have to go out and look for money so that Mama and I can eat. Mama is blind and she cannot do anything. Sometimes, some people in our house pity us and give us food but not always.

    “When there is no money and food, I find a restaurant and help them to wash plates; they pay me and give me food”.

    Sehinde said sometimes, he would beg people for money but he doesn’t always go far because Mama would be hungry at home and he would strive to get anything for her to eat even if it is garri.

    When asked how he manages to go to school, he said one Akure-based human rights activist and lawyer, Mr. Morakinyo Ogele, is sponsoring his education.

    His words: “Daddy lawyer is the one that is helping me; he buys books and school uniform for me and gives me money. Most of the times, he is the one that gives me money that I take home to buy food for mama and myself.

    “There are times that Daddy lawyer will not be in office and we will be hungry at home. Times like that I just stay with Mama because there is nowhere to go and get money”.

    Bakare has known what suffering and agony mean. To him, life is another picture, which not all can see.

    Ogele, an indigene of Ikere-Ekiti, confirmed that he had been helping the little boy for about a year and said if not for the poor, aged and blind grandmother, he would have sought police permission to take custody of the boy for proper care.

    The activist said he picked interest in the boy when he saw him where he was washing plates in a restaurant.

    Moved by this development, he decided to help the little boy by giving him money every day.

    He also saddled himself with the responsibility of caring for Sehinde’s academic needs.

    Narrating her ordeal, the blind grandmother said she lost Bakare’s mother when he was still young. The old woman, who said she could not remember the actual age of Bakare, disclosed that the little boy’s late mother was a twin and her Taiye is still alive.

    The old woman said the twin sister of Bakare’s late mum stays in Orita-Obele in Akure with her husband and kids.

    Besides, she said the younger and elder brothers of Bakare’s father stay in Odo- Ijoka in Akure in their family house, but she could not remember the addresses.

    The septuagenarian said the family members were not assisting them in any way, adding that their non-chalant attitude towards Bakare’s plight is giving her serious concern.

  • NGO, others donate to babies, charity homes

    NGO, others donate to babies, charity homes

    As part of its annual activities towards people’s well-being, Citinet Group a non-governmental organisation (NGO) recently visited some general hospitals and charity homes in Lagos State to donate some items to new born babies and the less-privileged.

    This gesture, which the NGO said was part of its commitments to ensuring that the welfare of the under-privileged people in the society is catered for was in collaboration with the member representing Ajeromi/Ifelodun II State Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdul Baq Ladi Balogun and Chairman, Surulere Local Government Area Hon. Tajudeen Ajide.

    A statement by the co-ordinator of the group, Mr. Ola Akintonwa said the gesture was not only to give thanks to Almighty God, but also to mark the beginning of the New Year.

    Some of the hospitals and homes visited included Island Maternity, Lagos Island, Heart of Gold Huspices, Surulere and Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital, Lagos.

    Making the donation, Hon. Abdul Baq Ladi Balogun noted that he decided to find time out of his busy schedules to spend some quality time with the widows, saying that their pitiable situation demands that they be taken care of since their husbands who used to take care of them and their children were no more.

    He expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for the opportunity to touch lives, even as he said: “We are elected to serve the people and make life better for them people. I will not shirk away from that responsibility, especially to members of my constituency. By the grace of Allah, I promise to be of great assistance to the less-privileged ones in our midst”.

    He added that the gesture was part of the ways he extends the dividends of democracy to members of his constituency in accordance to their changing needs.

    “The purpose of this initiative is to drum up recognition and support for the widows and orphans in our society. It is part of my social responsibilities to my people. The prime feature of today’s event was the distribution of welfare packages to widows and other less-privileged individuals in our society,” Hon. Balogun said.

    Noting that the issue of social security which is a programme that provides social protection or protection against socially recognised conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment and others is alien to this part of the world, Hon. Balogun said, “it was time our society began taking care of the less-privileged.

    “We decided to provide this little assistance to some of these poor because some of them are no longer able to meet their basic needs such as food, clothing, access to free healthcare and other needs, due to poverty or lack of income because of unemployment, sickness, disability, or lack of energy to engage in one form of income generating venture or the other,” he stated.

    The chairman of Surulere Local Government Area, Comrade Tajudeen Ajide was grateful to God for making Nigerians see another year, even as he urged the people to imbibe the spirit of oneness. He prayed for peaceful co-existence among the people of Surulere and wisdom for the leaders.

    Receiving the donations on behalf of Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital and Lagos Island Maternity, Mrs Mojisola and Chief Matron K. O. Akinyemi respectively thanked Citinet Group, Hon. Balogun and Hon. Ajide for the gesture. They prayed that Almighty God would strengthen and give them long and healthy life to continue in their charity works.

    Several infant formulae, packs of pamper and rolls of children’s lotions were among the items donated to the babies.

  • Oranmiyan Tower that secures lives, property

    Oranmiyan Tower that secures lives, property

    Since the construction and commissioning of the Oranmiyan Security Tower in the commercial district of  Ile-Ife, Osun State on December 9, last year, there has been no incident of bank robbery in the ancient town which incessantly plagued the financial institutions in the area and its environs in the past.

    The visionary initiative of the executive secretary of Ife Central Local Government, Dr. Taiwo Olaiya, no doubt, has enhanced the security of lives and property in the entire Ile-Ife town.

    Also, constructed behind the Security Tower is a modern Shopping Complex to support business in the area. The facility has offices and a canteen. Specifically, the canteen is to serve traditional dishes for the tourists likely to visit the place.

    A visibly elated Olaiya, no doubt, was impressed with the facility. He betrayed his joy at the commissioning when he revealed that the construction took after a similar facility in Washington DC in the United States of America.

    According to him, the edifice, which is about 140 feet high and occupying 15 feet square meters, is fortified with modern electronic multimedia equ-ipment, the best that could be found anywhere in Nigeria.

    With security officers, including regular and mobile police, men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, operating on different floors of the six-story tower, it is easy to monitor the heinous activities of the armed bandits. The security men are at their duty post on a 24-hour basis operating four shifts of six hours each.

    One of the floors is equipped with CCTV and communication gadgets that receive data from and monitor the infra-red four, three, two and uni-dimensional cameras placed on the rooftops and other strategic areas of the town like Ori-Olokun Roundabout, Ooni’s Palace Square, Sabo Junction, Fajuyi/More Junction, Ilesa Road, Obafemi Awolowo University frontage, Ibadan Road Axis, and Parakin Obalufe Scheme.

    Three giant LED TV screens are installed on the tower’s frontal three walls for promotions of the rich Ife/Yoruba cultural heritage and advertisements.

    The state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who was proud of the project at the commissioning, reiterated his adminis-tration’s commitment to effective security. He maintained that any good government must be committed to protection of the life of its people and property.

    Aregbesola said the project was another testimony of the unprecedented governance his administration has been superintending in Osun in the last three years. He said: “This is one of the greatest innovations by the local government to protect the lives and properties of our people in the source that is why it is irritating when they are comparing our government with Peoples Democratic Party’s government. They cannot match us in all ramifications. They were there for seven and half years and nothing to show for their stay in government. Some people are even insinuating that we cannot come to Ife comfortably they cannot match our popularity in Ife at all. They can never be popular than us because Ife as the source of Yoruba race is the source of the virtuous and every other good things therefore a killer, political bandit can never come from great Ife.”

    Just like many people have believed the Oranmiyan Security Tower and the Shopping Complex too will have direct, positive impact on the lives of the people of this city, the governor said that it would greatly enhance security of life and property, the shopping complex will further facilitate the flourishing of trade and business.

     

  • Alleged forgery: Lawyer docked in Ondo

    A lawyer, Mr Olukayode Enitan, is facing trial at the Akure Chief Magistrate’s Court  for alleged forgery and irregular dealing with the records of Owena Oil and Gas Company Limited owned by the Ondo State government.

    Enitan was investigated by the police for the alleged offence with four others still at large, among whom are Samuel Kolajo and Kole Oluwajana,

    The charges filed against the accused states the irregular dealing with records of Owena Oil and Gas Limited with regards to allotting shares of Ondo State government to some individuals.

    Enitan was the only one among the five accused persons present in court at the commencement of the trial.

    He was arraigned on eight count charge including false declaration, falsification, forgery and altering official statements of Owena Oil and Gas Limited at the Corporate Affairs Commission.

    In the charges read against him, the accused was alleged to have deprived Owena Oil and Gas Company of proceeds, profits or dividends that should accrue to it from the company, offences punishable under section 516 of the criminal code cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.

    The accused objected to the charges against him through his counsel, Mr Kemi Phinero (SAN) urging the court to grant him bail on self recognition.

    He pleaded that he had provided a responsible surety to guarantee his presence in court at further hearing.

    The prosecuting police counsel, Barrister Ajiboye, however, objected to the bail application arguing that the accused may not show up for his trial because of the gravity of  his alleged offence.

    He said the accused person had previously been granted police bail at the Force Headquarters, Abuja which he jumped.

    According to him, given the fact that he was arrested by a bench warrant after several attempts to get him to turn himself in, there is the likelihood that he would not show up for trial especially when other accused persons are still at large.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr Johnson Adelegan adjourned the case last Thursday for ruling on the bail application.

    Enitan was later granted bail by the court on Friday with the sum of N20m and two sureties who must be legal practitioners and must demonstrate records of impeccable character.

    Besides, he must “produce the certificate of ownership of landed properties and be residing within Ondo State,” the Judge ruled.

  • Police detain stepmother over death of husband’s son

    Men of the Ondo State Police Command are batt-ling hard to unravel the sudden death of 13 year-old, Awal Osisi, who was alleged by his stepmother, Mrs. Rukayat to have committed suicide.

    The incident which occurred Wednesday last week at Omi-Eja Street, Alamoye Road, off Akure High school in Akure, the Ondo State capital remains a mystery to residents who are asking the deceased neighbours what could have prompted the little boy, who was in Primary Five to kill himself?

    Some of the residents are suspecting a foul play in the death of the boy whom they said had always been subjected to the beating of his life by his stepmother while alive.

    Already, Rukayat has been detained by the police following the statement she made on the death of the little Awal.

    One of their neighbours, Mr. Andrew Emeka who spoke with The Nation alleged that Rukayat raised alarm that attracted residents of the area that his stepson had committed suicide by hanging himself in their one room apartment.

    Though, the sad event was said to have happened when his husband, Mr.  Osisi, who is ironically a police officer had gone to his base in Ikare-Akoko.

    Osisi, an indigine of Kogi State, was said to have separated from Awal biological mother before he got married to Rukayat and they started living together in a one room apartment.

    A brother to Osisi’s landlord, Mr. Taiwo Adegoke debunked the allegation that young Awal committed suicide by hanging himself as claimed by Rukayat.

    According to him, “Rukayat ran out and raised an alarm at about 10:30am that her stepson had hanged himself to the door handle of their one room apartment. When I told her to go and show me where she claimed the boy hung himself I realised that the boy’s height is higher than the door.

    “When I saw the purported rope that she said the boy used in hanging himself, I realised that it was just a bag strap which cannot even go round the boy’s neck.

    Adegoke revealed that Rukayat had earlier sent Awal on an errand which the boy refused to go an action that provoked his stepmother to beat him.

    He alleged “maybe while beating the boy he probably gave up the ghost and she tried to cover up her crime with the allegation that the boy hung himself.

    “When she brought the body of the boy, the boy was already foaming and bleeding from his nose and mouth and the blood stains were still visible around the house.

    “When we rushed the boy to the State Specialist Hospital, Akure the medical personnel requested for police report when she told them the same story of suicide.

    “It was then we accompanied her to ‘A’ Divisional Police Station in Akure to report the case, where she was detained after relaying the story and the police suspected foul play.

    “If she can speak the truth, I am sure the issue will be better but because she cannot tell the truth that is why she is been detained. But the boy did not hang himself in our house.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Wole Ogodo confirmed the incident, saying the case was already under investigation due to suspected foul play and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

    Ogodo said, “A suicide case was reported on January 8, 2014 at about 2:35pm, one Rukayat Osisi of High School Area, Akure, came to ‘A’ Divisional Police Station, Akure to report that at about 10.00am  she discovered that one Awal Osisi now deceased, 13 years, allegedly died inside the room after committing suicide.

    “The complainant further stated that the victim allegedly hanged himself with belt tied to the door handle of the room.

    “She further stated that she removed the corpse of the deceased to Ondo State Specialist Hospital, Akure before coming to “A” Division, Akure to report officially”. On the receipt of her report Ogodo said that policemen visited the scene of the incident and suspected a foul play.

    He further noted that, “the complainant is a stepmother to the deceased and his mother has already divorced the father.

    “The story of the complainant is also difficult to believe, she is presently undergoing interrogation and DCB is presently investigating the case and it would be transferred to State CID for discreet investigation,” the PPRO said.

  • Ondo records forty five rape cases

    Amidst fear of increasing cases of rape across the country, the police in Ondo State have said no fewer than 45 cases of rape were recorded in the state in 2013 and the suspects charged to court.

    The State Police Commissioner, Mr. Patrick Dokumor who disclosed this in Akure while briefing reporters on the activities of the command in the year just ended, said all the suspects apprehended are presently facing prosecution in court.

    Dokumor disclosed that residents in the state witnessed a relatively peaceful year in 2013, in spite of the fact that no fewer than 105 suspected armed robbers were arrested by his officers in the same period.

    While acknowledging some cases of kidnapping in the state within the period under review, the police boss said the perpetrators are presently being prosecuted at the law court.

    The Police Commissioner attributed his command’s success in fighting crime in the state to policing strategies he had initiated since he was posted to the state.

    These strategies he said include; “visibility policing, intensive patrol, prompt response to distress calls, intelligence networking, integrated synergy with sister security agencies most especially in the area of intelligence sharing and a robust symbiotic relationship with members of public, corporate bodies and organisations”.

    Asked whether the police have arrested the armed bandits who killed a Divisional Crime Officer, (DCO), Iheme Wilfred in Ijare-Ifedore local governmentof the state, Dokumor said the police are still on the trail of the suspects.

    “The late officer had only three year left before retirement from the police before he was intercepted by group of robbers who robbed a bank in Ikere-Ekiti. We are still working on them; let me tell you nobody kills a police officer and goes freely. We are working on the available information at our disposal and we believe very soon we will track them,” the commissioner said.

     

  • Hope rising for Oyo civil servants as Ajimobi promises housing scheme

    Hope rising for Oyo civil servants as Ajimobi promises housing scheme

    •Focus shifts to water supply, education, health and agriculture

    Though it was the usual inter-faith prayer heralding a new working year and all was set to do so, but civil servants in the employ of the Oyo State government got more than they expected last Monday.

    They went jubilating as Governor Abiola Ajimobi reeled out his plans for them in 2014 even as he doled out cash to reward good performance in the previous year.

    With spontaneous rousing greeting, the Governor’s Office Car Park, venue of the prayer meeting, became a rally ground of a sort for the three hours that the programme lasted.

    The Muslim and Christian clerics had opened the meeting with prayers. Traditional worshippers were also on ground to add colour to the event.

    The governor, who spoke last, acknowledged that the civil servants have shown a good level of change for the better within the two and a half years that he took over the mantle of leadership of the state. He lauded their tenacity and encouraged them to keep changing for the better.

    Ajimobi said they were capable of performing any task no matter how difficult it looks, pointing out that they have risen to the occasion in the various ways his administration has challenged them. He cited several examples, starting with the production of the beautiful programme for the event.

    The governor called out an official of the state printing press who produced it, Mrs Margaret Olatoun Oluwafemi, lauded her and rewarded her with a cash gift of N250,000. All the workers jumped up in ecstasy and went into a frenzy of terrific clapping. He also gave the entire team another N250,000 for doing a good job.

    So was the case for Mr. Oyelola Okunlola of the Office of the Surveyor-General that was singled out for dressing well. He was rewarded with N100,000 cash gift.

    For beating his deadline to revamp the Asejire Waterworks in order to provide water for Ibadan residents within three months, the state’s water corporation got a gift of N5 million while all participants at the prayer meeting got a cash gift of N10 million.

    Reeling out his plans, Ajimobi disclosed that a car assembly plant would be opened in Ibadan this year to help more civil servants buy brand new cars. He said, civil servants deserve the best, stressing that it was part of the reasons his administration went for the car assembly plant that would be delivering brand new cars at affordable prices to the masses. He further disclosed that he has taken delivery of a sample of the car which would be assembled by a Chinese firm.

    He also promised to build more low cost houses for civil servants to enable them enjoy decent accommodation. The governor said once the first phase of the project is completed, they would enjoy the opportunity to come and see what is on offer and decide whether they want to participate or not.

    He said he had ordered redevelopment of many governor’s guest houses located in many Government Reserved Areas (GRA) into luxury apartments for purchase and use by residents including civil servants.

    The governor, who said all the cash gifts he gave to the workers were from his personal purse, emphasised his knack for quality, stressing the need for civil servants to always settle for the best.

    “I am a man of quality. So I urge you never to settle for less but to always have positive mental attitude towards service. Not only that, you must also inculcate it into your children,’’ he said.

    He also announced salary review which he said would be done by the end of the first quarter of the year and implemented without delay. Governor Ajimobi disclosed that a committee would be constituted this month to fashion out a wage that would be acceptable to the generality of the workers.

    The governor, however, stressed the need for the workers to redouble their efforts towards improving on the internally-generated revenue of the state.

    Earlier the Head of Service (HOS), Alhaji Tajudeen Aremu in his welcome address, highlighted the several ways the Governor Ajimobi administration has raised the quality of life and work environment of an average civil servant in the state, including training and retraining in Nigeria and overseas, free transportation, upward review of housing and car loans and regular promotion.

    He urged the workers to redouble their efforts to consolidate on the gains of the past. He also urged them to shun crave for ill-gotten wealth and concentrate on how to leave good legacies. Aremu encouraged them to emulate great forebears such as the late Simeon Adebo and Tejumade Alakija as well as Chiefs Theophilus Akinyele and M. S. Adigun.

    He described Ajimobi as a “rescue agent ordained by God to save the state from the holocaust and reign of terror.

    He said: “To the generality of well-meaning people in this gathering, I like us to see Governor Abiola Ajimobi as a rescue agent ordained by God to save the state from holocaust and reign of terror.

    According to Mike Murdock, you don’t know the value of a thing until you lose it. I want to admonish us to do away with sentiments and embrace a vessel that is sold out for peace, progress and prosperity that we are all witnessing in the state. Walter Benjamin said: ‘If the enemy wins, even the dead will not be safe.’ This is our state. We don’t have any other place to go that can be like Oyo State. Therefore, we must watch out for sustainability of the ongoing good works in the state. A word is sufficient for the wise”.

    He also pointed out that “the current year is highly promising as government was poised to focus on total transformation in water supply, education, health and agriculture, having made remarkable success in the areas of environmental beautification and urban renewal and physical development in the previous year”.

    He advised the workers to work harder to ensure the fulfillment of the goal.

    In their sermons, Dr. Segun Olatunji, a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and Sheikh Ahmad Rufai, the Chief Imam of Government House Mosque, commended the commitment and dedication of the civil servants, urging them to continue to reciprocate government’s gesture by renewing their cooperation and support to the government.

    Taking his text from Quran 2: 102-104, Rufai called for more cooperation between workers and the government, stressing that nothing will be impossible for parties that cooperate in discharging their duties. He illustrated with a fable of a hawk, rat, cow and tortoise who worked together for the benefit of all members of the group.

    Rufai emphasised that workers must work excellently well to be able to thank God, adding that workers must also appreciate what the employer is doing well.

    The Muslim cleric advised leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to keep advising the governor well and keep supporting the government. “Cooperation is the best. It brings benefits to all stakeholders.” He said.

    Pastor Olatunji also spoke along the same line, calling on the government to continue to discharge its duties with the fear of God and civil servants working with diligence and honesty.

    They also called for unity among members of the political class to ensure the success of the Ajimobi administration and for the state to continue to move forward.