The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • Cash crunch hampers Christmas shopping in Ekiti

    Cash crunch hampers Christmas shopping in Ekiti

    From changing pattern of sales to changing looks across sections of Ado-Ekiti, capital of the state, Christmas seems to announce its coming, although amid worries of shortage of spendable cash, writes Sulaiman Salawudeen

    In Lagos, Christmas is not just December 25, it is the entire month of December and spills over into the celebration of the new year in January.

    The booming of banger fire crackers from the very first day of the month reminds one immediately of the month of the birth of Jesus Christ

    As the days go by the intensity of the sound of banger especially at night increases until it reaches its peak on Christmas eve and on December 25. It slows down again from Boxing day and gradually rises until it peaks on New Year eve, i.e. December 31.This has been the observed trend in the past couple of years and the picture so for this year has not changed.

    Another major feature of the yuletide noticeable quite early in the month is the Christmas decorations by corporate organisations like banks, big departmental stores, fast food restaurants etc. They adorn their premises both inside and outside with different decorations and light reminding you in case you may have forgotten that Christmas is here.

    Even government offices are not left out in this decoration frenzy. A visit to the Lagos State secretariat and the state House of Assembly, all at Alausa, Ikeja will not leave you guessing about what season we are in with screaming Christmas messages like ‘Merry Christmas’ displayed in front of offices.

    The state government takes decorations beyond the offices as trees and electric poles along some major highways are dressed in bright colours and lightings of different colours. Even major junctions and roundabouts are also similarly decorated.

    Christmas gift or hampers well packed in handy baskets begin to adorn the front of major shops along major streets and highways.

    From about the December 15, the ever chaotic traffic situation in the city gets worse with heavy traffic and gridlock in practically every major road in the metropolis.

    According to Dotun Animashaun, a resident at Egbeda, the heavy traffic experienced from this period until Christmas Eve is as a result of people from outside Lagos coming to do their end-of-year shopping in the mega city. Ironically at about this same time there is also mass movement of people leaving Lagos for different destinations to celebrate with their folks back home in their towns and villages thus adding to the traffic jam.

    Other activities to mark the yuletide begins in earnest from about 18th with Father Christmas show for children in various locations across the city, children’s Christmas party organised by the Lagos State government, the House of Assembly and other corporate organisations where gifts are given out to children and they are entertained with sumptuous meals . Other features include ‘Carol Night’ and candle processions by ubiquitous churches.

    For instance, the Lagos State Children’s Christmas party held on Friday, 20th with Governor Fashola and his wife Dame Abimbola playing host to the children, while the state House of Assembly had its own two days earlier.

    Early in the month, major markets in Lagos Island, Oshodi, Yaba, Ajegunle, Agege, Oyingbo, Iyana Ipaja, Mushin also begin to experience an unusual volume of people making different purchases either as wholesalers or retailers for the yuletide

    However, from 20th you can begin to be sure that residents especially the Igbos are on the yearly movement back home especially the East for the Christmas celebration as various motor parks and luxury bus stations get jam packed with passengers    Transport fares as should be expected more than double for intending travelers, the fares continues to increase as from the middle of the month and becomes more exorbitant on 24th, Christmas eve.

    On Christmas day, Lagos is like a ghost town. And the day is usually very dull. As a visitor you find it difficult to make a comparison between the Lagos of the few weeks or days before 25th and the Lagos you see on Christmas day. Because large number of people and a huge volume of vehicles have moved out of the city for the yuletide celebration in other states.

    The roads are virtually deserted, devoid of any traffic. It is the only time you can time your movement and be sure to meet up because of the absence of traffic on the roads.

  • Ibadan wears new look for Christmas as sales draw more shoppers

    Ibadan wears new look for Christmas as sales draw more shoppers

    As the Christmas day approaches, residents of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital are gearing up to celebrate the season despite glaring challenges.

    Every December, the Oyo State Government embarks on an extensive decoration of different parts of the metropolis in preparation for the Yuletide.

    Most residents of the state capital look forward to this annual practice that does not only light up the city at such time of the year but adds colour and glamour to the season.

    As usual the area around the seat of power in Agodi is beautiful and aglow with brilliant colours at night, especially the roundabout in front of the state secretariat and the government house arcade.

    Even the new sprawling Cocoa Mall is not left out, as Shoprite supermarket inside it is distinctly decorated with bright lights.

    In other parts of the city, especially, Akobo, Challenge, Bashorun, Mokola, Ring Road, the decorations are eye-catching. One cannot help falling in love with the colourful lights of the roundabout opposite Town Planning, Rind-Road, which hosts a big talking drum that symbolizes the culture of the people.

    A few years ago, when the state government embarked on the urban renewal project to transform the state capital, many people probably did not think it was necessary. Now government’s effort has started yielding positive results. The city’s landscape has been enriched by lush floral gardens.

    Some corporate organisations, commercial banks and eateries have decided to follow the example of the government by decorating their premises for the season. For example, exquisite Christmas lighting at Ajeigbe road leading to Orita Challenge, which hosts the Oyo State headquarters of Globacom has transformed it into a wonderland of sort. The visual effect is remarkable.

    Also, in keeping with the spirit of Yuletide, various youth organisations are already decorating their streets with colourful banners and festoons as well as gearing up to host loud carnivals. At this period of the year, it is common to find groups of youths soliciting funds for the events on the streets.

    However, few days to Christmas, many Ibadan indigenes are complaining about the high cost of food items, but in spite of this. there appears to be no significant drop in patronage. Some traders told The Nation that business was booming and more people were coming to the markets to shop for Christmas.

    At the popular Bodija Market, it was business as usual. The market peaked with activities. But a trader who sells rice in the market, Madam Aishatu Omolara, noted that her normal sales figure has not changed. Noting that she still sell the same quantity of rice as “I have been selling before,” Omolara hoped that it will change in the next few days as the yuletide celebration draws closer.

    In addendum to her explanation, a tomato seller, Mallam Bello Nasiru, also attest to the fact that it is business as usual, in spite of the season. Nasiru said:” There are increases in our patronage during weekends, but since Christmas is around the corner, we had expected sales to improve, but now it is still business as usual.”

    The story is almost the same at the popular Oje Market. Most of the traders say the cost of food items has increased because of the festive season.

    A dealer in rice, Emeka Daniel explained that the prices of food items are now on the high side and people have not been coming to buy as they used to.

    He went on that a bag of Umbrella rice that used to cost N10, 000 now sells for N15000, while also a Bag of Derico that use to sell for N8,000 before now sells for N11,500.

    Daniel said:” The difference is really big. Things are tight this festive season and it is getting worse every day.

    He blames the hike in the cost of food items on the security situation in the North, lack of money and increase in the import duty on rice.

    A trader in pepper and tomato also complained bitterly about the high cost of food items.

    She said the cost of a bag of pepper had increased from N4, 000, to N8, 500. Similarly, a basket of tomato costs N7,500, while a basket of tatashe pepper is N 7,000.

    Attributing the increase in the cost of food to the economy, the Secretary of Bodija Foodstuff Traders, Mr Sola Faribido said, “The demand of foodstuffs is low, so there is no way we can inflate the prices during this period. We are still selling as usual and sales has not improved, there is no money in town and people are complaining bitterly”

    But a customer at the market, Mrs Ajoke Bamiro said”:” I wonder how we will survive because food items like Garri Ijebu is now N10, 000 per bag. A bag of beans sells for N25, 000, depending on the type you want and a bag of rice is now between N10,00 and N15,000 depending on the type. We just hope on God for the best this Christmas and we shall cut our coat to our size.

    “When Christmas approaches, there is always an increase in the cost of food items and this year is not an exemption”

    The price of a carton of croaker fish has increased from N12,000 to N16, 000, while a carton of stockfish costs N8, 000 as against N6, 500 three months ago. Also, a carton of chicken sells for N6, 000 and the price of turkey remains at N7,500 per carton.

    A frozen foods dealer, Joy Nkechi explained that: “We did not just increase the prices of food items on our own. We cannot ignore the fact that this is Christmas season and as expected, the prices of such food items will increase. As the situation of things is hard now,”

    Similarly, Bukola Omonigbeyin, who sells oil at the Bodija market says the price of oil has not increased.

    She said:”Five litres of groundnut oil has always been N1,700 and that is still what it is as at this moment. The price hasn’t changed at all.”

    Also, Kehinde Babalola who deals in shoes and bags at Iwo-Road, agrees that business is brisk and the traders are trying hard to cope with the pressure from their customers. “This is the time we have good sales. Everybody wants to buy Christmas shoes and bags. We didn’t need to inflate the prices of these items. The prices vary depending on the design you want to buy. We don’t need to increase any price because of Christmas,” she says.

    At Shoprite supermarket in new Cocoa Mall Dugbe, it was business as usual, as over 1000 shoppers trooped out in large numbers to shop for the Yuletide.

    Many of them were seen at different sections such as, wine, ingredients, beverages, cakes, Christmas decorations, and drinks.

  • People prepare for Christmas without money in Osun

    People prepare for Christmas without money in Osun

    Many residents of Osun State otherwise known as the state of the virtuous, particularly Christians are excited about the joy associated with Christmas festival. As it was in the past the people are particularly concerned about preparation for hosting their loved one, well wishers and their kinsmen resident abroad and other parts of the country, who are likely to come to the state to celebrate the festival with them.

    Few days to Christmas, major roads, especially ones linking Osogbo, the state capital city have been adorned with flowers, Christmas lights and other decorations by the state government to etch the happy feelings on the minds of the people. Coming into Osogbo via major roads there are bill boards sending greeting messages of the Christmas and the end-of-the-year sponsored by the state government and corporate organisations.

    Also, many churches, public and private corporate buildings as well as some streets off the major roads are decorated in bright colour drape materials. No doubting both the government and the people are excited about the festival. What made the preparation more participatory was the fact that the Christmas festival is being celebrated annually close to the end of the Western calendar year.

    As the festival drew very close, prices of goods went up, reducing the spending power of an average citizen of across the state. It is very clear that it was a national matter because the inflation cut across the country and it affects mostly more patronised goods during the Christmas season. Prices of textile materials, food stuffs, assorted drinks and others have astronomically gone up.

    In the view of a provision seller at Olaiya Junction in Osogbo, Miss Saida Folasade Bello: “It is not strange that prices of goods go up at this period. For many past years, the pattern has been like that. It is predictable that it will be like that next year.” Miss Bello said many traders try as much as possible to secure cooperative and soft loans at least a month before end of the year to stock goods in order to buy relatively cheap and sell higher prices to maximise profit. However, she lamented that people’s spending power this year had been drastically reduced because of lack of money.

    According to an aluminum profile and accessories trader, Alhaja Bola Salam, apart from the prices of materials going up people are indulged in buying goods on credit from them. Also, a boutique owner, Mr. Saheed Ajiboye, who attributed hike in prices of his textile materials to current high exchange rate of dollar, complained that buyers patronised more those who take goods to their homes and offices to buy on credit.

    A motor dealer, Mr. Kunle Adeniyi, said rather than buy new cars people bring their used vehicles to them for sale because they want to use the proceed to complete their house projects and pack there this December in order to avoid paying new rent to their landlords. He said: “It is a lot more difficult selling used cars than new ones because many of these cars are in bad shape and more so, the profit margin on selling them was very minimal.”

    Despite all odds, the state government and some notable organisations in the state like churches, banks, and telecommunication companies among others have tried to push some fund into the economy of the state with special decorations of major roads, some roundabout and their premises in major cities like Ilesa, Ile-Ife, Osogbo, Ikire, Ila, Ifon, Ilobu, Ejigbo, Ede and Ikirun.

    Apart from the Mayfair roundabout housing Ori-Olokun statue in Ile-Ife, the Owa roundabout, accommodating the statue of Ogedengbe, the Ijesha war generalissimo in Ilesa, the Old Garage, housing Osun goddess statue and Ayetoro and Okefia roundabouts in Osogbo, the state capital, the state secretariat along Gbongan road and the roundabout leading into the office of the governor were heavily decorated.

    The Osun State Commissioner for Finance, Economic Planning and Budget, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro, said the state government had not only cut out a beautiful landscape but had provided money to go to those whose jobs are associated with the decorations.

    He said: “There is a significant multiplier effect on the economy through the decoration. It is a way largely of injecting money into the local economy. For instance, the materials for the decoration were sourced from within the state, those who got the contract for the decoration, no doubt, run their operation fully here. And we expect that the money they make will be used to buy things they need for personal use like foods, petrol into their cars and many other things from people in the state.”

    His counterpart in Information and Strategy, Mr. Sunday Akere, said those criticising the decoration of roads and public places are only doing so out of sheer ignorance or mischief. “It is a fad all over the world to see public places draped in bright colours at this time of the year. It goes a long way to set peoples mood right and suggests to people that we are in a season promoting love to one another and sharing of what you have with the less privileged in the society. Before the Rauf Aregbesola administration assumption of power less importance were paid to beautification of the environment. The state government since assumption of office has always show interest in making our environment healthy to live in and attractive to visitors.”

    An interior decorator and event planner, Miss Ibukun Ojo, confessed that she had been favoured by the season. According to her, many churches and few branch offices of some banks have awarded her decoration contract.

    Also, a bricklayer, Mr Rasak said, he had more than enough construction work to handle this season. However, he revealed that prices of building materials have skyrocketed, saying some have resorted to selling their property to speed up the completion of their house projects.

    Meanwhile, to make the people enjoy the season, the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, about three days ago directed the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Empowerment to give free train ride to travellers from Lagos to the state during Christmas and New Year period. Since his assumption of office three years ago, Governor Aregbesola has been offering free train ride on all religious public holidays to those coming into the state. The Commissioner for Commerce Industry Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr. Ismail Jayeoba-Alagbada, said the free train is to facilitate smooth and hitch-free transportation for people coming to the state during the yuletide. He said the gesture by the government to people willing to come home during Christmas and New Year, is aimed at easing their travelling during this hectic period.

    A Christmas party for the children is being planned by the wife of the governor, Mrs. Serifat Aregbesola, to make the season enjoyable, while a Christmas carol to be hosted inside the Government House in Okefia is also on the card.

    While many parents are concerned about raising money to finance the celebration of the season, children talk more about fireworks and use of bangers to excite themselves. An eight-year old Araoluwa Odesola, said she had been looking forward to enjoy the season when she and her family would exchange visits with other families.

    But the General Overseer of the Kingdom Gate Missionary Church, Pastor Femi Oyeyemi, admonished the people to pay more importance to the message which the birth of Jesus is preaching rather than the commercial aspect and the celebration of the Christmas season.

  • Bleak Christmas likely in Ondo

    Bleak Christmas likely in Ondo

    As Christmas festivities in Akure, the Ondo State capital, gather pace, traders are expressing mixed feelings over the turnout of customers. Residents are lamenting over scarcity of funds. LEKE AKEREDOLU, who went round the town, observed that people may celebrate bleak Christmas and New Year due to economic recession.

    As Nigerians prepare for Christmas and New Year celebrations, the people of Akure, the Ondo State capital are not left out as residents make a last minute rush to shop for the event.

    Already, some sections of the Sunshine State capital are wearing new look as they have been decorated with Christmas lights.

    These areas include Governor’s House and Government House Garden, Alagbaka where residents of Akure and neigbouring communities normally visit during the Christmas period.

    This Garden, which serves as relaxation centre was constructed by Governor Olusegun Mimiko for people in Akure to have fun during the Christmas.

    Others areas include the Adekunle Ajasin Road and some parts of Alagbaka areas. The most popular road in Akure, Oyemekun-Oba-Adesida road was yet to be decorated. This will be the first time in the history of the present administration when this road will not be given a Christmas outlook.

    Reason for this is yet unknown as at the time of this report. When “The Nation” visited the popular Oja-Oba Market along  Adesida road to monitor the shopping trend people were seen at the market buying goods of their choice in a last minute rush hoping to get good bargain. From one stalls to the other, people moved around to buy fowls, frozen chickens and turkeys. Some patronised boutiques to purchase shoes, bags and other accessories. Some traders are enjoying the season with impressive turnouts of buyers.

    But for some traders, it has not been easy most especially those at the Erekesan market whose shops were closed in line with Akure tradition following the death of the Deji, Oba Adebiyi Adesida. While the closure lasted, many of them had to look for make shift shops to ensure that they sell the goods they have in stock for Christmas.

    They lamented bitterly about the low patronage, stressing that people are complaining of little or no money in circulation.

    Mrs. Iyabode Akinmorola, a trader at NEPA Markets said only few of her customers have patronised her so far this Christmas period, stressing that majority of them who are civil servants are demanding that the goods should be sold to them on credit till New Year.

    This was not unexpected as the bulk of workers in the state are civil servants employed by the government and most have not been paid their Christmas bonus.

    It would be recalled that during the first term of Mimiko’s government, workers always enjoyed their Christmas and New Year with 50 percent bonus which was normally paid around middle of December in order for them to have enough time to buy goods for the celebration.

    But in 2012, the government slashed the workers Christmas bonus to 25 percents and no excuse was given for the reduction.   A government source said the situation is not likely to improve this Christmas as the government is contemplating paying each worker N15,000 flat instead of the normal bonus.

    It was gathered that the rice and vegetable oil usually distributed to workers and Labour Party (LP) members by the government during the Christmas may be put on hold this year as there was no sign that such items and hampers had been purchased.  In fact, a circular has been issued to all ministries that they should not expect rice and vegetable oil this year.

    A teacher at Aponmu Grammar School in Akure, Mrs. Eniola Akinyemi lamented over what she described as dearth of funds, saying they are still hopeful that the governor will pay them before Christmas.

    Akinyemi said: “With the look of things, we are not sure if our Christmas bonus will be paid before the Christmas Day because up till now the information is not favourable to the workers. Last year, it was 25 percent, we don’t know if this year will be 15 or five per cent.

    “We don’t even care the percentage, what we are after is money that will allow us feed our family during this yuletide period. I have a mother who counts on me during this Christmas and I don’t know what to do now.

    “We are appealing to our caring governor to look at our side. After last year governorship election things have changed but we hope by next year governance will improve again in the state.”

    A civil servant, Mr. Akinbobola Samuel said, he had informed his three children that he would not be able to buy Christmas and New Year clothes for them due to lack of fund.

    Akinbobola said: “We are still waiting for the government response but with the look of things we are not sure if the government will pay our Christmas bonus. I have told my children that they should bear with me this time around and that I will make up with them. I know how they will feel because seeing their colleagues wearing new cloths and they are putting on old ones. But I promised to make it up with them”

    When contacted on if the governor will still pay the workers their bonus before Christmas Day, his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Eni Akinsola did not reply the text message sent to his mobile phone.

  • Tokyo: A unionist with indomitable spirit

    Tokyo: A unionist with indomitable spirit

    Throughout the crisis that rocked the Oyo State Council of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Lateef Akinsola (aka Tokyo) name stood out as one to reckon with for good or for bad. Love him or hate him, he was a unionist who knew his onions and played his card so well that today he remain one of a few actors of that era to still be alive to tell the story.

    A commercial driver turned unionist Tokyo was an active participant in the politics of the union including all the crises that not only almost ruined the NURTW in Oyo state but to some extent the larger politics in the state, albeit discreetly, since the commencement of this political dispensation.

    A one-time deputy Chairman to Mr Ojewumi, Alhaji Akinsola took over as Chairman in 1999 as Nigerians were heralding the return of democracy. His reign was however replete with violence and witnessed a lot of internal turmoil.

    It is generally believed that Tokyo ruled with a totalitarian grip on members of the union, sometimes leading to internal dissent. His reign also witnessed a lot of crises triggered by political lineage.

    For instance, his leadership had problem with the Senator Rashidi Ladoja administration in the state between 2003 and 2007 during which he was incarcerated for alleged violent activities.

    It is also believed that Tokyo coordinated a major support for the emergence of former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala in the 2007 election. But the relationship broke down in 2009 when Akala’s administration tried to remove him from the chairmanship position to pave way for the emergence of Alhaji. Lateef Salako (aka Eleweomo). It was learnt that Akala made the move after allegedly discovering that Tokyo was starting a pact with another candidate for the 2011 election, a poll in which the former was interested.

    But the effort led to large-scale violent activities that claimed many lives and property, as rival groups within the union clashed, following the factionalisation into pro Tokyo and pro Eleweomo camps..

    With an alleged trumped up charges, Tokyo was removed from office while Eleweomo was installed. But the former headed to the court, challenging the development. Tokyo won, but the Akala government would have none of this and it promptly banned the activities of the union, while encouraging Eleweomo continue underneath.

    This expectedly did not go down well with Tokyo and his foot soldiers. They fought back, forming their own faction which inevitably led to regular violent clashes at motor parks during which many people were killed.

    Tokyo fought on until 2011 when Governor Ajimobi was elected. But the last straw that broke the camel’s back for the union and the various factions was the killing of several passengers at the Iwo Road interchange on June 5, 2011, one week after Ajimobi was inaugurated as governor.

    The new governor banned the activities of the union again and facilitated the setting up of a Caretaker Committee that later transformed to the current Executive of the union. Since then, the NURTW in Oyo State has returned to the path of peace.

    However, Tokyo still insists on the subsisting court judgment that ordered his return to his former position. But counter cases against the judgment are still pending in court.

    With an indomitable spirit, Tokyo is a dogged fighter who still has a good following within the union.

  • Commuters seek end to traffic snarl

    Commuters seek end to traffic snarl

    Those who reside at Jakande Estate, Ejigbo, Cele-Egbe, Ikotun, Ijegun, Abaranja, Okerube, Ijagemo, Ijeododo, Idimu, Igando and their environs, seem to have a unified prayer point daily. They pray that the rehabilitation work being carried out at Iyana-Ejigbo be completed in good time. The terrifically hard times they experience on daily basis while going or returning from their various places of work or businesses seem to necessitate this yearning as the stress they go through is quite excruciating.

    Anyone who passes this road to work or business outside of any of these towns ensures that he or she wakes up as early as 4:00 in the morning if he or she wishes to get to his or her working place early enough. This is so in order to beat the perennial gridlock that usually keeps both motorists and commuters unnecessarily anxious; more so this time there is serious road reconstruction between Jakande Gate and Ejigbo by the Ejigbo Local Council Development Area with assistance from the Lagos State Government.

    The rehabilitation work started early last year from Jakande Estate Gate. It took some time before the stretch between that point and NNPC Junction was completed. During that period, commuters and motorists went through piercingly agonising moment in time. There was some respite when that short stretch was completed. Then there was a lull.

    There was not full rehabilitation work between NNPC Junction and Iyana-Ejigbo as reconstruction work began in earnest from Iyana-Ejigbo Junction which usually has the semblance of a massive ocean any time there was down pour; whether heavy or mild. The road was and still so bad that cars get stuck. Pedestrians have no option than to walk through the dirty water with the risk of being contaminated. Before commercial motorcycle operators were banned, some and their passengers usually fall into this murky and malodorous stagnant water and they pull out smelling like pigs. Most times they would sustain various degrees of injuries. The nauseating situation could have informed the council’s decision to work on that spot before other areas.

    Though of good intention, the condition of that road seems to worsen motorist’ and pedestrians’ plight. Apart from traffic jam at some points of the Ikotun-Ejigbo-Mushin Road, that of the intersection at Iyana-Ejigbo is grave. The reconstruction work is so slow so much so that it rendered the already bad road impenetrable as there is terrible gridlock at that point on a daily basis.

    The construction of drainage system seems to be the encumbrance because of the breadth. It is so wide and so deep that it encroached into the already tapered road making it narrower. Imagine how wide a drainage system is that the caterpillar would has to go inside it to hollow-out sand.

    The dangerous nature of Ikotun-Ejigbo axis of the road has become a source of unpleasant health hazards. For instance, a situation in which passengers are trapped in terrifically boring gridlock for more than four hours is grim. People get to their respective homes at 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning. They sleep for two hours then wake up at 4:00 a.m. to get set for another day’s work. The stress associated with this experience is nerve-racking. Majority of the people have developed either high blood pressure or some other stress-related ailments.

    Some of the people who spoke with our correspondent said that people who live at Ikotun and its environs go through grave stress on daily basis either while leaving or entering Ikotun because of the terrible gridlock; especially at Iyana-Ejigbo.

    For instance, Mr Sampson Ihuoma who lives at Igando and works on the Island disclosed said that on a very bad day, he spends between three and four hours from Ikotun to Cele Express from where he will board a bus to CMS. This, he said, is despite that he usually wakes up at 3:30 in the morning to prepare for work and hits the road at 4:15 in the morning.

    Mr Ihuoma is one among the millions of residents of Ikotun and its surrounding neighbourhoods whose route to their working places is the only road that leads to Ikotun and other towns that are contiguous to it.

    Mr Monday Akpan who has his shop at Mushin told our correspondent that he makes sure that his alarm clock is set at 3:00 a.m. to enable him to get to his shop in good time. He also said that any day he leaves his home at 5:30 or 6:00 in the morning; he would get to Mushin very late in the day.

    These residents experience this hardship due to what they termed lack of alternative route into or out of Ikotun, resulting in a situation where people have dubbed it “One Way to Ikotun.” This translates to the fact that millions who reside at Ikotun and other adjoining towns have no option than to pass through this only road.

    Residents of these areas contend that if there are alternative link roads out of or into Ikotun, the limitless stress and danger they experience daily would have been mitigated.

    In order to beat the traffic jam if one should get to one’s place of work or business on time, most commuters have resorted to boarding commercial motorcycles popularly known as okada even though the ban on them. They have to pay exorbitant prices in order to get the services of those who still operate. Most times, they risk not getting to their destinations on time as law enforcement agents arrest the operators and seize the motorcycles.

    The road to Ikotun is a narrow one, though with some points somewhat wide. It is a road whose greater part is riddled with pot holes. This, in the main, is the cause of this crazy logjam which commuters experience every morning and evening on daily basis.

    A critical study of the distinctive nature of Ikotun Road reveals that there are specific days of the week that commuters experience appalling situations. Mondays, Tuesdays (Aswani Market days) and Fridays are dreadful days for commuters.

    Again, there are some stretches on this road that Ikotun-bound commuters look out for to know how many hours they are to spend on traffic. Those returning from Mushin to Ikotun do experience peace of mind if, on getting to Daleko where the overhead bridge across Apapa-Oshodi Expressway starts, there is less traffic jam. After thanking God for a stress-free passage at Daleko, their prayers would be that they should experience the same situation at Limca Junction which is the beginning of the Isolo stretch of the road. Another dreadful area on this road is the Osolo Way Junction.

    Once the gridlock begins from the Osolo Way Junction, commuters would start giving their respective families what the traffic situation is like, even as one may hear “traffic is too much,” “I may come in late, don’t lock the gate,” or “I don’t know the time I will reach home because of the terrible traffic situation. We are still at Isolo and this is getting to eight even though I left office at 6:00 in the evening.”

    The unpalatable traffic situation from Osolo Way Junction stretches up to Iyana-Ejigbo. This is when the road starts getting a bit free, that is after passing the traffic hurdle at Kpako round-about where vehicles from both Mushin and Cele-Express get trapped in a senseless gridlock due to lack of patience and discipline in obeying traffic rules. Jakande Estate gate is another point where commuters dread because of the intersection. This is because those going into the estate find it difficult to negotiate into it as a result of motorists coming from Iyana-Ejigbo axis that do not obey traffic rules. This happens mostly when road traffic managers have closed for the day.

    Currently, the route between Jakande Estate Gate and NNPC Junction is a smooth ride. Then, on getting to NEPA after this junction, traffic builds to its peak. motorists prepare their minds to spend some hours on a stand-still form of traffic jam.

    At Iyana-Ejigbo intersection, the main quandary begins. Motorists spend another couple of hours before they would get across. This is as a result of the worsening state of the junction. The road to Ejigbo is quite impassable as there is what could pass as a mighty river has taken over the road.

    After what seems a two-lane road which intersects at Ori-Oke bus stop before the minuscule bridge at Cele-Egbe, commuters prepare their minds for a horridly hellish experience. Here, the logjam can last up to two hours just to cross the bridge that is less than 30 meters long.

    But should there be an accident on that bridge, then, some commuters would get home at 3:00 in the morning.

    Then, at the Ikotun end, the logjam extends from the bridge to after Cele-Egbe.

    In an ordinary day, when commuters get across the narrow bridge, their prayers would be that the Synagogue Church axis of the road should be free because the area has the notoriety of being another point where traffic can last over two hours. But if that spot is free, it is certain that passengers would spend between 30 and 40 minutes between the Synagogue Church and Ikotun Roundabout, an area one could describe as intolerably messy. People and vehicles compete for space like an exasperated multitude. It should be noted that Ikotun is the last bus stop that the passengers would disembark before heading towards their respective locations; that is to Ijegun, Abaranja, Okerube, Ijagemo, Ijeododo, Idimu, Igando and others towns that are contiguous to Ikotun.

    Residents of these areas have cried to the Chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area and Lagos State government to quicken the rehabilitation work in order to help residents of these areas. They also pleaded with Governor Fashola to hasten the construction of Jakande-Bucknor-Ijegun Road which they believe would decongest the traffic on the notorious and stressful Ikotun Road.

    Mr Sunday Etuk, another resident of the area, told Southwest Report that “gone are the days when Ikotun is regarded as an obscure area. Now, Ikotun is developed as people enter Ikotun and other neighbouring areas in droves to reside in. Residents of Ikotun and its environs should be alleviated of the enormous suffering they experience daily.

    Another resident, Mr Okwuchukwu Okere, who works on the Island, would want the Ejigbo council and Lagos State government “to expedite action on the rehabilitation work on the Ejigbo axis of Ikotun-Mushin Road, even as he pleaded that the construction of Ijegun-Jakande Estate Road should be completed as an urgent alternative route for those going to either Mushin or Cele-Express en route to the Island. This, when completed, he said, would drastically reduce the frustrating traffic jam on the Ikotun Road.

  • I want my throne back

    I want my throne back

    As the race for succession to the throne of Deji of Akure hots up, Damisi Ojo reports on the attempt by the deposed monarch of the ancient city, Oluwadare Adepoju Adesina, to regain the throne

    Three and half years after he was removed from the throne and nineteen days after the demise of his successor, deposed Deji of Akure, Oluwadare Adepoju Adesina has formally written the Ondo State government seeking reinstatement to the throne of his forefathers.

    Adesina, through his lawyer Olusola Oke Esq. not only asked to be returned to the palace as the paramount ruler of Akure land, but also explained his own side of the events that led to his deposition and banishment by the state government on June 10, 2010.

    In the letter to the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, and his executive council titled: Appeal for vacation of orders of deposition and banishments Oluwadare Adepoju Adesina from the throne of the Deji of Akure and reinstatement to the throne, dated December 19, 2013, the deposed monarch while commiserating with the government and people of Ondo State, Akure in particular over the passing of Oba Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida Afunbiowo II said he was moving quickly to seek a return to the palace because of information he had that some people are already jostling for the throne even before the dust settles on the traditional rites of passage for the late Deji.

    Adesina, while blaming communication gap between the palace and the mass media for the public not hearing his own side of the story of his alleged assault on his late Olori denied all the allegations leveled against him leading to his removal.

    “I have, time and again, considered the tragic events that led to my exit from the throne and I have come to one conclusion: that Goebbels, not Hitler, was the reason Germany thought she was strong enough to conquer the World. Sir, I now know how important the press is. Communication and information management are issues I will never toy with again.

    Why did I say communication and information management? Because none of the things I was alleged to have done ever happened!

    For the avoidance of doubt, I do not lay any blame at the door of any journalist but I admit that avoidable communication gap was the reason why the press could not even report a single account of the version of the palace at that material time. Again, I admit that this communication gap was avoidable.”

    Explaining what happened between himself and his late wife, Adesina raised some posers to buttress his innocence:

    •Did I go to Hospital Road? Yes I did, because it was a house I had rented before I mounted the throne. I kept the house and still paid for same while on the throne because some members of my family still lived there. Where then, for example did the press get information that the house I went to belonged to my in–laws?

    •I also read in the newspapers that I poured acid on my wife: To begin with, how could someone I allegedly poured acid on in the evening of May 30, 2010 now go out just a few days thereafter to plead with different Obas, Chiefs and leaders that her husband should be reinstated? It may interest you to note that she went about asking that I be reinstated whilst fully dressed as an Olori i.e. without buba on top of her Iro. There were no bruises on her.

    Sir, it may further interest you to know that when my late wife, who was allegedly bathed with acid got to the palace of the Jegun of Ile – Oluji, the Jegun said he had read about all that happened in the print media and said he hoped the Olori had fully recovered. It was at this stage that the Jegun was told that the beautiful lady dressed in Iro, with beads round her neck but without the buba top and who accompanied the emissary to his palace was indeed the Olori  that was allegedly bathed in acid! The Jegun quickly drew the Olori to his side and searched for the spots where she was allegedly bathed with acid but did not find any!

    The other Obas who saw her soon after she was allegedly bathed with acid were the Olugbo of Ugbo land and the Olukare of Ikare. The mother to Your Excellency also saw her at Ondo town when she came to beg her to plead with Your Excellency.

    Above all, the families concerned have since reconciled their differences.

    •Moreover, I also read from the dailies that I fell into the gutter and had to be rescued. This was outright falsehood. Firstly, up to this point, three years after the incident, even with modern technology, phone, camera and other means of communication, is it not strange that there has not been one single documented account of this fact? Why is it that none of the media houses in this country ever showed or got this printed out! I came downstairs from the building and stayed in my car at the time my late wife was allegedly bathed with acid.

    •I also read it in the papers that I poured hot ashes which I brought in nylon bag on her. Sir, is it not strange that hot ashes was brought in a nylon bag? Why did the nylon not melt? Besides, is it not elementary traditional science that if you pour ashes, it will undoubtedly be blown towards you (the pourer). That is why it is said in Yoruba land that “eni deeru ni eeru n to”. Why was I not affected by the ashes myself since I was the one that allegedly poured it? Why was any other person not affected since, by the media accounts, the environment was rowdy and full of people?

    For the avoidance of doubt, I married my late Olori Bola Adepoju Adesina traditionally. I also needed to divorce her for reasons due largely to some serious and irreconcilable family differences. Even though it is good for the married to stay together for better or for worse, it is however my belief that where certain acts of one of the spouses is consistently dangerous to the life of the other, it is better to divorce and stay alive than to pretend to be married but die in it.

    Sir, you are a good man. You will kindly pardon me to respect and honour the memory of the late Olori by refusing to disclose, in details, through this medium, all that my late wife did that necessitated the divorce. Besides, because of the future of my children from the late Olori, I most humbly plead that you will further pardon me from going further than this through this medium. At any rate, some of the reasons for the divorce are not unknown to Your, Excellency.

    •On the issue of engaging in shady land deals: I wish to place it on record that I never instructed anyone to collect “royalty” on my behalf from any land owner. No one ever came to inform me that he wanted to check if it was true that I actually sent anyone to collect “owo omo onile” from him. It is worthy of note that the only known account/record of the use of my name to collect “owo omo onile” is at the ‘A’ Division in Akure where the culprit, one Mr. Gbenle Kikiowo made an undertaking not to use my name again for such fraudulent activities when, upon a tip – off, I got him arrested and took him to ‘A’ Division, Akure. Why the police never prosecuted him up till now, I do not know because I personally reported him to the police when I got information that he used my name to collect “owo omo onile.”

    •On the issue of engaging in a public fight with Chief Jossy Abegunde, I deny firmly that I fought with him. Conversely, the issue between Chief Jossy Abegunde and I had to do with the ownership of a large parcel of land belonging to Akure community which was turned to a plank market by the Police Authorities. Sir, you will agree with me that the Police Authorities do not have any constitutional or statutory responsibility to operate plank markets. The Police Plank Market beside St. Luke Anglican Church, Idi-Agba, Akure is indeed the first of its kind.

    Your Excellency, it is also my belief that an important function of Obaship is the protection of the common heritage of the Oba’s domain. Thus, I believe I did the right thing by instituting an action against the Police Authorities in respect of the disputed parcel of land. That was all I did. It is worthy of note that in the suit I instituted against the Police Authorities on the disputed land, it was done with the active consent and participation of Akure Council of Chiefs. The Chiefs were also co-plaintiffs in the said suit against the Police. The Chiefs even agreed to contribute money for the payment of our lawyer’s professional charges.

    Moreover, even the late Oba Adegboye Adesida was reputed to have continued with the litigation on the disputed land.

    At any rate, it is important to inform Your Excellency that Chief Jossy Abegunde and I have since reconciled our differences. We both later understood that both of us wanted what was in the best interest of Akure on the disputed land but our approaches were different.

    •On the disagreement between the Chiefs and the Palace: To begin with, I never had any disagreement with either the Akure Council of Chiefs as a whole or the Kingmakers alone. The seeming disagreement I had with the Chiefs was on the payment of “Igbanujo”.

    Your Excellency, “Igbanujo” is the money I was obliged to give the Chiefs as a whole for their entertainment upon my emergence as an Oba elect. Sir, due to obvious financial constraints, as a result of the various expenses I incurred at the time of contesting the throne and thereafter, I could not immediately raise the sum of N5million meant for the “Igbanujo”. However, I later paid the “Igbanujo” money after I ascended the throne.

    Thus, it is important to state categorically that the “Igbanujo” money was not money collected or paid for any illegal or fraudulent purpose. All the Chiefs of Akure can attest to this fact. The payment is just a traditional way by which any Oba-elect fetes all the Chiefs. This is a tradition in Akure that I am sure that even the late Oba Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida honoured. Sir, I dare say that all the Chiefs of Akure can attest to these facts.

    •On the Lisa of Akure: My disagreement with High Chief Folorunso David, the then Lisa of Akure started when, after I had become the Deji of Akure,  the Lisa wrote a letter to the Ondo State government on his own letter head paper requesting that the Olu of Ala be made an Oba. The then Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Otunba Omolade Oluwateru sent a copy of the letter to me after which I invited Akure Council of Chiefs and the Lisa himself to the palace on the issue.

    On the advice of the Council of Chiefs, I set up a committee which investigated the circumstances warranting the letter by the Lisa to state government. Even though I was not opposed to the upgrading of any person to the status of an Oba where deserving, the Council of Chiefs, and the committee set up found the Lisa’s conduct to be capable of undermining the throne of the Deji of Akure and capable of causing disunity and disaffecting amongst Akure indigenes. Thus, the committee recommended that the Lisa be suspended for six months. The Lisa was thus suspended on the recommendation of the committee. However, after considering his plea and the significance of his chieftaincy title amongst the Chiefs, his suspension was subsequently lifted.

    The second cause of the disagreement I had with the then Lisa also occurred when the Lisa, wrote a petition against me to our respected Akure and Yoruba leader, Chief Fashoranti. The Lisa wrongly alleged that I supported members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), who were pro–Labour Party against those who were pro – PDP. He further alleged that I went to Erekesan Market with your Excellency when your Excellency came to inspect the market for possible reconstruction. There were about twenty other false allegations in the said petition to Chief Fashoranti. I also got a copy of the petition written to Chief Fashoranti.

    Upon receipt of this petition, I also called a meeting of Akure Council of Chiefs where I showed the petition which was written on the letter head paper of Akure Council of Chiefs. The Chiefs denied knowledge of this letter but the Lisa said the then Elemo High Chief (Barr.) Bolanle Adedipe and the Ojomu of Akure High Chief Ayo Oluyide were privies to the petition.

    The Chiefs with the exception of the Lisa, Elemo and Ojomu collectively denied being parties to and/or being aware of the petition written on their behalf.

    Consequently, the Council of Chief decided that they were fed up with the high handedness of the Lisa more so since the Lisa had taken such a grave decision in their names without actually informing them of his actions.

    Thus, the chiefs recommended that High Chiefs Elemo and Ojomu should be queried. The two High Chiefs were duly queried by me but I also applied wisdom by refusing to take any further step in the matter with or without their responses to the queries. As a matter of fact, even though the two Chiefs did not respond to the queries I never raised the issue again since, by their actions and oral explanations, they were not parties to any attempt to spite the throne of the Deji or smear my name/image.

    On the Lisa however, since there was no sense of remorse, the Chiefs  went to my secretary’s office, typed a letter of removal of the Lisa and brought it to me for signing, saying that was their decision. I obliged by signing the letter of removal of Folorunso Davids as the Lisa of Akure.

    Thus, even though High Chief Folorunso Davids was removed by a letter signed by me his removal was however the majority decision of the members of Akure Council of Chiefs.

    Sir, my seeming refusal to reinstate High Chief Folorunso Davids was by no means an act of disrespect but I feared the serious consequences of reneging on the oath made with the Chiefs on the issue. The breach of oaths in traditional institutions attracts dire consequences even if the “oath” is a mere oral agreement.

    Your Excellency may wish to ask: Why was it that even after my deposition and banishments, the late Oba Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida, Afunbiowo II refused to reinstate the said Folorunso Davids but chose to appoint another illustrious son of Akure in the person of High Chief (Engineer) James Raymond Olusoga as the new Lisa of Akure? The reasons that prevailed at that time were also why the late Oba Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida could not reinstate the Lisa.

    Sir, suffice it to say that notwithstanding the difference in our actions, approaches and believes, my respect and admiration for the person of the Lisa never waned. Rather, I always respected him. He was always very bold, daring, courageous and dogged. These were the unassailable good qualities I liked in him – evidence of his distinguished career in the Nigerian Army. It was the extreme application of these virtues however that caused a misunderstanding between us.

    Sir, even though he also partook in the process of my removal by signing petitions against me in his capacity as the Lisa (despite his removal without a challenge in the law court) I have also completely forgiven him. I hold no grudges against him whatsoever.”

    Plea for reinstatement

    After stating his case, Adesina pleaded with the state governor Dr Olusegun Mimiko and the state executive council to recall him to the throne: “I do honestly plead with your good self and the other members of your Executive Council to kindly rescind your decision on my deposition and banishments and to reinstate me back to my position as the Deji of Akure.

    Sir, I knew but I have also been further educated by my team of lawyers that legally and lawfully your esteemed executive council can still reinstate me.

    Sir, from the bottom of my heart, I hold no grudges against my Chiefs. I forgive them. As a matter of fact throughout my travails, I appreciate all the support I got from them. I also have to be realistic that with my deposition, Akure needed to move on. In moving on however, justice and truth are all I ask for. Again, I forgive all of them from the depth of my heart because without them, there cannot be a Me.

    Your Excellency, even though I never had the opportunity of expressing my own side of the story to the media by virtue of my position as an Oba and further because of the prevailing circumstances at the time and, admittedly, my mishandling of the Communication and Information Bureau, I honestly owe the executive council and the entire people of Akure the duty to make them understand that I never fought with my wife, never poured acid or any other substance on her and did not at any time fight in public.

    Sir, I wish to find favour in your eyes and in the eyes of all the other members of your council. I promise to work for the collective ideals of the entire people of Akure and to actively mobilise my people towards the maximum participation in your regime’s laudable programmes.

    For the avoidance of doubt, in the likely event that you and your honoured council do graciously vacate and/or rescind the orders of my deposition and banishment, I do promise you and the good people of Akure: That I will not witch-hunt or persecute anyone (particularly my Chiefs) for their actions or inactions at the time of my deposition and banishments; to withdraw all suits and litigations against your esteemed self and government; not to institute any further action against either your good self or any of my Chiefs in respect of any matter connected or relating to the circumstances of my deposition and banishment;to exhibit improved, matured and better approach in the discharge of my duties as the Oba of Akure; to relate more harmoniously with all Chiefs, Community leaders, indigenes and non–indigenes of Akure; to institute a foundation in honour of my late wife, Olori Bolanle Adesina Adepoju; to exhibit total loyalty to your regime and all other regimes that may come upon the successful completion of your well – deserved second term; to govern my people with godliness and with total respect for the rights of all; and above all, I forgive all.

    Efforts to get either the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs or the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to confirm receipt of the letter were not successful as both failed to pick their calls.

     

  • Not just about climbimg hills

    Not just about climbimg hills

    •Funs and thrills of ‘Mare’festival

    For two days, the hilly town of Idanre roared in frenzy of joy as the fifth edition of Mare festival was held by the Ondo State Government.

    This year’s edition was organized in honour of the late Commissioner of Culture and Tourism, Deji Falae who died in the ill-fated air plane crash last October in Lagos while conveying the corpse of former Ondo State Governor,Late(Dr) Olusegun Agagu to Akure.

    It has become a yearly ritual of sorts for the Ondo State Government to organise the Mare Festival, a mountain climbing event.

    The purpose of the Festival is to promote the assets of Idanre town and its charming hills, as a tourism destination with the target of attracting thousands of people to the town annually for both social and economic development.

    The festival again drew the convergence of tourists, observers, actors and actresses, government officials, traditional rulers and curious spectators across the world.

    The 2013 edition tagged: “Endless Possibilities” began with stage performance by different artistes and cultural groups including the awarding winning Ondo State Cultural troupe and staff of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

    They all paid glowing tributes to the late Commissioner with their songs. Popular magician, Zakurajah took the shine of the day with his captivating magical prowess.

    Director General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Cooperation, Mrs. Sally Nwechuwe-Mbanefo who was marveled at the sight of the natural endowment in

    Idanre promised to work with the state government to boost the state tourism potentials.

    She said all efforts must be geared towards making tourists centres in the country attractive to potential tourists. ”For me, Idanre hills should be called Abeokuta, the town is blessed with hills which must be showcased to the whole world”. She said

    And for government officials and some Nollywood stars which include Yomi Fash-Lanso, Funsho Adeolu  the festival has come to stay.

    Some of the late Falae colleagues particularly paid glowing tributes to him and stressed the need to make the festival a world class event.

    The Commissioner for Information,kayode Akinmade said this year’s edition of the festival was designed to incorporate people of  the Idanre Community.

    He said government was perfecting every strategy to immortalise the late Falae by ensuring that the Idanre Hills, which are the focal point of the annual fiesta, were listed by the United Nations Educational and Scientific and  Cultural Organisation, UNESCO as one of the World’s Heritage sites.

    According to him, government was celebrating the Mare festival annually in order to showcase the Idanre hills  to international tourists with the  ultimate aim of attracting direct investments into the economy of the state.

    He said the world body had already approved the Idanre Hills nomination dossier and had dispatched independent inspectors to carry out comprehensive assessment of the facilities at the site as contained in the dossier.

    The festival was rounded off with a deluge of musical entertainment by crowd pulling artistes which include NICE and Obsere, giving the crowd more than they bargained for.

    Governor Mimiko in his speech said the event is not all about mountain climbing but to promote the rich cultural heritage of the people of the state.

    He promised not to leave any stone unturned to make Idanre the best tourist centre in the country in order to attract foreign and local investors to the state.

    The Governor said the current investment by the government to organize the annual festival was necessary in view of the fact that the event had already drawn global attention to Idanre.

    Mimiko vowed not to leave any stone unturned to make Idanre the best tourist destination in the country in order to attract foreign and local investors who will invest in hospitality industry, to the state.

    His words, “There is no other hills anywhere in the world that could be comparable to what we have in Idanre. The lovely rock formations were special gift to Ondo State and Nigeria in general.”

    Mare which literally means don’t fall is an annual festival that started in 2009 with a primary objective to showcase the lofty hills of Idanre to international tourists with the aim of attracting foreign direct investments to the economy of the state.

  • Ajimobi, Lanlehin provide healthcare for the poor

    Ajimobi, Lanlehin provide healthcare for the poor

    Nigerians living in the rural areas have suffered neglect due to lack of access to basic primary healthcare services. OSEHEYE OKWUOFU reports that efforts by governments and public-spirited individuals in Oyo State is changing the ugly trend

    Millions of people dwelling in rural communities in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital who, before now lacked access to basic primary healthcare services now heave a sigh of relief. This is because of the intervention of Oyo State government.

    Primary healthcare defined as “essential healthcare based on practical, scientifically-sound and socially-acceptable methods,” is practically not possible in most communities.

    As a result of non-availability of functional healthcare centres, rural dwellers have employed traditional healthcare methods to address critical healthcare needs.

    However, basic primary healthcare goes beyond the traditional healthcare method that focuses on health, equity-producing social policy.

    Basic primary health includes all areas that play a role in health such as access to health services, environment and lifestyle. In this, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, right from the inception of his administration, has shown commitment to the provision of various facets of basic healthcare for the people across the 33 local government areas of the state.

    A clean people are a healthy people. Today, the city of Ibadan and the entire state are a reflection of a real model state.

    Sensitisation campaign on the need for clean environment and massive urban renewal and beautification programme of the state government underscore the principle for basic primary healthcare.

    Supported by his wife, Chief Mrs. Florence Ajimobi whose pet programme, Access to Basic Health Care Foundation (ABC), the governor’s effort at promoting basic healthcare for the people received a boost by Senator Olufemi Lanlehin’s free medical services across Oyo South Senatorial District.

    A mammoth crowd of rural and urban dwellers were offered free medical services.

    At local government levels, healthcare clinics have been rejuvenated and are offering free basic healthcare services to the poor.

    This ideal model of healthcare delivery was adopted in the declaration of the International Conference on Primary Healthcare held in Alma Ata, Kazakhstan in 1978 known as the “Alma Ata Declaration”, and became a core concept of the World Health Organisation’s goal of health for all.

    Most places visited in Ibadan and its environs, hundreds of people have been benefiting from the free healthcare services made available in different parts of Ibadan and extended into isolated rural areas through construction of health posts and centres that offer basic maternal-child health, immunisation nutrition, first aid, and referral services.

    At Omi-Adio, in Ido Local Government in Ibadan less city, a health post constructed by the governor’s wife, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi has provided people unfettered access to free basic primary healthcare services.

    The health post, according the Nurse in charge, Mrs. Bukola Aderibigbe serves more than 15 rural communities.

    She said: “This health post is a huge relief to hundreds of people who live nearby communities but do not have health centres. As you can see, every day we record over 50 patients who visit this centre and were free drugs and treatment courtesy of the Access Basic Health Care Foundation of governor’s wife.”

    Senator Lanlehin, in his effort to bring basic healthcare services to the rural poor, partnered with a United States-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), LABAKCARE which offered free healthcare services to over 6,000 people in nine local governments of the state.

    Speaking on the five-day health programme, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin expressed joy that many could now access free medical services in the state, but noted that there is still much to be done to assist the people .

    The leader of the United States medical team and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LABAKCARE Organisation Inc., Dr. Omolabake Fadeyibi said the programme has really assisted the poor people who could not afford cost of medical treatment in no small measure.

    While describing the turn-out as highly impressive, Dr Fadeyibi said her team of medical practitioners have been able to diagnose, treat and provide drugs freely to people.

    “Labakcare organisation uses preventive medicine technique to take care of the people who will not be able to afford healthcare. That is, to take care of poor people. We do this mission here in Nigeria. We were here last year, and this year, Senator Lanlehin invited us to come.

    “We bring in some donated medicines by the American government and some we purchased with our money. On the other hand, Senator Lanlehin provided accommodation, transportation and feeding.

    “It was my dream to give back to my country; a reason I founded Labakcare. But I can’t give everybody because I don’t have much to give everybody. At least, I can help people to better understand how to take care of themselves. So, when we come, we screen for chronic health problems and educate people. We screen for high blood pressure, we screen for diabetes, screen for infection in women, we do blood glucose, we have done HIV test in the past, and healthcare education so that people can take good care of themselves, letting them know the medication we are giving them will not last long.

    “So, it is their responsibility to seek needed care that is also cheap from any local doctor because they don’t have money and healthcare is least on their agenda. So, that is what we have been doing since we started. We took care of pregnant women, we gave them prenatal vitamins that were donated by some companies in the US,” she said.

    The Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin expressed delight on the turnout, saying it was a true reflection of the healthcare needs of the people.

    Lanlehin, who was represented by his Senior Legislative Aide, Mr. Kayode Aremu said: ”If you look at the situation of our people; especially at the rural areas, you will see that there are some things that should be provided by the government. Quality healthcare is one of them. This is lacking. Because of this poverty situation, a lot of people could not afford quality healthcare. It is not all deaths that are natural. In most cases, it is due to lack of resources to care for their health. But when we have people in government, they can provide things like free medical care for the people because of the love for their people.

     

  • A union of many tales

    Members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Oyo State seem to have an axe to grind with law enforcement agents and owners of their vehicles as discovered by Oseheye Okwoufu in this report

    Commercial vehicle drivers in Oyo state who are mostly members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), seem to be caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.

    On one hand is the owner of their vehicles who expects to be paid the agreed daily ‘delivery’ money and law enforcement agents whose palms they must grease on a daily basis to have a trouble free journey.

    In between, there is the union and its officials who must be taken care of, the conductor who must be paid and once in a while the tout who also wants to be ‘settled’.

    All these have to be borne by the driver who also has his family at home to feed and may be one or two concubines at the park or the nearby beer parlour.

    These naturally are taking their toll on the driver but in the absence of little or no alternative, he has to ‘drive’ so to speak.

    In Ibadan, the state capital, members of the NURTW, it was gathered have not defaulted in their obligation to give unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar. Someone, who spoke with The Nation laid claim the members have shown their loyalty to the union by paying all dues accordingly. Apart from been loyal members of the union, they were expected to deliver certain amount of money to owners of vehicles on a daily basis as a pre-condition for all drivers who  are yet to have a personal commercial vehicle.

    For instance, a daily delivery to a bus owner is between N3,500 and N4,000 depending on the condition of the vehicle.

    Alhaji Nasiru Adeyemo, a commercial bus driver plying Oojo-UI-Mokola-Dugbe route explained that the payment of the agreed amount to the owner of the bus was mandatory if the driver still wants to keep the bus.

    “You must deliver the N3,500 to the owner because that was exactly what you agreed that you would be paying him. He doesn’t want to know if you had problem on the way or not with the bus and at times you may encounter problem with police who will say why did you park here, or even with the Road Safety or Vehicle Inspection officers (VIO) .

    “So, this amount is mandatory, it starts from the time you took the bus out of the compound of the owner. That is when you know that you need to work very hard and pray to be able to deliver the money at the end of the day. And besides, you need to hire a bus conductor out of your own pocket so that your work will be easier. At the end of the day, the money which you suppose to take home as the driver is shared between you and the conductor.

    “At times, I, who is the driver will take N1,500 or even N1,000 while the conductor will have N900 depending on how well the work is.  So, that is how we do it,” Alhaji Adeyemo said.

    The Chairman, Omi-Adio NURTW unit in Ido Local Government , Alhaji Musiliu Oladepo described the operation of the union as very peaceful, but was elusive when asked to comment on daily collection of dues from members.

    Oladepo who has been in union for over two decades said” we all know that things are very difficult in the country, for a worker to survive it is not easy .With the little we are left with, let us accept it with thanks giving. There is nothing we can do to the police, Road Safety or others but we are coping with life”.

    A member of the union who plies Ibadan-Abeokuta road, Mr Musilu Abiade explained that there was little or nothing anyone can do about the situation than to continue asking God for a better place where things would be much easier.

    “ As I am here I don’t have any vehicle presently to drive. So, if I see one now I will thank my God. We are managing and we will continue to manage with what is available. I cannot change the situation, what can I do than to hope in God”, he said.

    A visit to some units of the union in Ibadan metropolis showed that members are suffering in silence.

    The commercial drivers, most of who live below poverty line have a lot of difficulties to cope with especially with the meagre daily income. One of such is the increasing alleged intimidation, harassment, coersion and extortion by law enforcement agents on the roads.

    Investigation revealed that the allegation against the law enforcement agents is forcing many commercial drivers to abandon the trade as many could no longer manage their families with the dwindling income.

    Apart from the daily delivery, the commercial drivers said the activities of the police and Road Safety men have become too worrisome to an extent that many commercial drivers are no longer finding the job lucrative.

    Speaking with The Nation, a commercial bus driver at Agugu area of Ibadan who would not want his name on print said “it is difficult for a driver to make N6,000 per day, out of this you’ll pay the owner, purchase union ticket which is now N100, paid N50 at every garage as dues daily and yet the Road Safety must collect N200 and the police will also collect N200 , and others. So, at the end tell me what is left for a family man, with a wife, four or more children at home to care for.”

    “The common approach by leaders of the union in recent times is to tackle the problem by setting aside a particular sum of money to settle the police, VIO and Road Safety every month so that members will not be disturbed on the road. But this approach has not worked because the officers on the road will always ask for their own share”, a driver at Iwo road area of Ibadan said.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Olabisi Illobanafor however denied the alleged extortion, describing it as a concocted lie to smear the image of the police.

    The PPRO referred to the order of the Inspector General of Police, removing all road check points with the purpose of reducing corruption and making it impossible for police men to disturb motorists on the road, which according to her has greatly reduced corruption in the police force.

    She challenged the motor union members to produced receipts of payment to the police, while refuting the alleged extortion by the police.

    “ I also want them to report any police officer who demands for bribe. We have been saying this for a long time, yet no one has brought such a report. So, it is a lie,” the state police spokesperson retorted.