The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • Joy as council chief inaugurates projects

    Residents of Ifelodun Local Council Development Area of Lagos State penultimate Saturday received a fresh breath of air when the chairman of the council area, Hon. Fatai Ajidagba inaugurated 10 newly-built roads and block of classrooms among other projects.

    The event was witnessed by chieftains of All Progressives Congress (APC) including its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, former Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire, Deputy Speaker Lagos House of Assembly, Hon. Kolawole Taiwo and Ojora of Ijora, Oba Fatai Aromire.

    Speaking during the occasion, Hon. Ajidagba said that his administration had touched the lives of residents in all spheres of life. “We have brought governance closer to our people and this is most evident in what we are celebrating today with the commissioning of people-oriented projects. Our administration has impacted tremendously in all spheres of social and infrastructural development such as security, health, environment, education and commerce. Patrol vehicles and special duty trucks for surveillance have been given to law enforcement agencies to aid their operations. Besides, our council area has witnessed massive development of roads since our assumption of office. Some of the roads that we are commissioning today include Odofin, Michael Ebahor, Rasaki, Animashaun, Apollo, Oyedeji, Akinsipe, Abikoye, Aiyepe, all of which were constructed with drainages and sidewalks in line with the Lagos State government specification on road construction.

    “Among others, our health sector is fast developing at good pace; this is a result of our commitment to uplift the sector to an enviable height. We have rehabilitated and equipped primary health centres at Oridilu, Amukoko and Layeni, while we shall continue to provide the necessary working tools and enabling environment for our personnel to ensure quality service delivery.”

    In his words, Oba Aromire said: “Hon. Ajidagba has not disappointed the people of this council area since his emergence as council chairman. I have reasons to testify to his good works because I have personally inspected the projects without him knowing and I am quite satisfied with what I saw. His zeal and dedication to work in order to uplift the lives of the people is quite commendable.”

    Commending Hon. Ajidagba for a job-well-done, Alhaji Moham-med said:” Today’s ceremony is a testimony to the fact that our great party, APC have people of impeccable characters who knows what the people want and provide for their needs without being prompted. I want to urge you (Ajidagba) to keep up the good works that you have done, so that the people of this community can have the dividends of democracy in abundance.”

    The event also witnessed distribution of free eye glasses to people with bad sight and poverty alleviation items to artisans and traders. Beneficiaries smiled home with sundry items such as grinding machines, deep freezers, hair dryers, generators, sewing machines among others.

    The climax of the ceremony was the commissioning of a block of 18 classrooms at Sari-Iganmu Primary School, E-Library and skills acquisition centre by Alhaji Mohammed.

     

  • Lawmaker trains unemployed youths

    Lawmaker trains unemployed youths

    A member of House of Representatives, Hon Bamidele Faparusi, has warned that the Nigerian youths may pioneer revolution that would shake the foundation of the country if the unemployment rate in the country is not arrested.

    Faparusi, who is representing Ekiti South Federal Constituency 2, however, charged Nigerian youths to take their destiny in their hands by stop relying on white-collar jobs.

    He said the mere fact that the country has lost over 10 trillion of naira to oil theft since its Independence, is enough to teach a lesson that the youth must be empowered and gainfully employed.

    The lawmaker gave the advice in Ode Ekiti during a specialised entrepreneurship training organised for some select graduates in Gbonyin/Ekiti East/Emure Local Government Areas of Ekiti State.

    Faparusi said it would be foolhardy for the government at all levels to allow the situation to fester without fashioning out ways to better the lives of the future generations and leaders.

    He pointed out that the scourge of militancy, youth restiveness, terrorism, political thuggery, robbery and other vices were not associated with youths in the 60s and 70s, noting that it crept into the country’s national life when unemployment became pronounced.

    Faparusi, who pointed out that the scourge might be the straw that would spell doom for the nation unless something urgent was done, said: “Many productive Nigerians have been killed by terrorists in the North and militants in the South. Now, Nigeria is losing 30 percent of its oil proceeds to theft being perpetrated by some willing and unemployed youths. I have come to restore confidence and hope in all of you. I have walked the path you are walking today. I know what it is to be to be looking for jobs where they don’t exist. I know what it means to be poor. But I have come to tell you that in spite of the bad situation, tomorrow will be better.

    “This training is an attempt to construct a compass which everyone should get hold of.  Rather than looking for job that doesn’t exist, why not create one and bring in people to work for you. I have tried it and it worked and it is still working for me. So, if it works for me, it can work for you also. But this cannot happen by miracle or by attending vigil, but through commitment and dedication to a cause you believe so much in.”

    He said entrepreneurial training has assumed a global dimension and present a reality that nobody can run away from.

    Faparusi said there is the need to expose Nigerian youths, who are groaning in hard-biting joblessness to skill acquisition programmes that would make them cope with the 21st century economic reality.

    During the lecture series, Faparusi advised the youth: “Break away from the poverty bracket; there is need to for you to conceive ideas, give birth to the idea and begin to run with the idea. Inculcate into yourselves the values that are transformational and not one that are transactional. Be productive at all times because an idle hand is a veritable workshop for the devil.”

    He charged the youth to divert attentions away from criminality to self employment for Nigeria to be a pride for all and sundry.

     

  • A day in the life of a commercial driver

    An early riser, a typical commercial driver hits the road as from 5:00 am to latch on the early morning rush of passengers going to their offices, shops, pupils going to school as well as those traveling from one city to another.

    Tope Oladele, a commercial bus driver at Sango, Ibadan, who has been in the business for over 15 years, shares his own experience: ”I always wake up by 5am and sleep around 12pm. As a father of three and husband of one wife, I don’t mess around with other women unlike most of my colleagues. I love my wife and she loves me too. She is very submissive. But by the time I am leaving in the morning, my children are still sleeping and they are also already sleeping when I return from work in the evening because I return late. But my wife takes care of them while I work hard to keep the family going.”

    According to the 38-year old transporter, most of his colleagues have at least two to four wives, while majority of them are also keeping mistresses outside simply because they don’t have time to spend with their wives.

    “One of the reasons for marrying many wives by commercial drivers is because they earn daily income. Women love money and after impregnating them, most of these drivers do not take responsibility for the child. Instead, they will tell the mother to take care of the child while they look around to flirt and impregnate another woman,” Oladele said.

    He explained that 90 percent of the bus drivers do not own the vehicle.  Using his case as an example, Oladele said:” I am not the owner of this bus even though it is giving me mechanical problems daily. I still deliver at least N1,500 to the owner daily while the bus conductor will take N500 and most times I will have at least N1500 to myself also.”

    On how the union leaders administer the levies, Oladele said they give part of it to the police to prevent them from harassing them, adding that they also give a portion to the park cleaners while another percentage goes to the purse of the union and the leaders.

  • ‘My desire is to have a house of my own’

    ‘My desire is to have a house of my own’

    Gbenga Babalola is very popular at the popular Adegbola Newspapers Distribution Centre in Akure. He hails from Akure, the Ondo State capital and was deformed from birth. He is popularly known as “Orobo” among his friends.

    On daily basis, Gbenga hawks newspapers of different outfits to make ends meet. As early as 6:00 a.m. he is always at the Adegbola Junction to collect newspapers for sale.

    He has been doing this job for over 17 years and is always excited about it. He has good hope for a better future.

    Ordinarily, Gbenga wanted to specialise in the repair of electrical appliances like television and radio sets. Unfortunately, his dream was cut short by the death of his father in 1984.

    After he had finished his secondary education at Saint Thomas’ Secondary School, Akure, his father took him to a man who repairs electrical appliances in Akure metropolis.

    He had spent just three years as an apprentice when his father died. Orobo said: “After leaving secondary school, my father took me to a place where I would learn how to repair electrical appliances.

    “I was there as an apprentice for three years when my father died. His death brought my dream to an end.

    “I had to leave the apprenticeship because I could not pay the money in the agreement. It was highly painful to me that I had to leave the job because I had already gone far.”

    Despite his father’s death, Orobo, as fondly called by his friends, ventured into selling of newspapers and magazines in 1987. He started selling Nigerian dailies when the cover price was 30 kobo.

    His words: “I remember vividly that a copy of newspaper was sold at the rate of 30 kobo when I joined the business.  As low as the price was then, only few people were buying newspapers. You cannot compare the sales of newspapers in 1987 with the present time.”

    However, in spite of his hard work, Gbenga has not been able to make any headway in meeting up most of the challenges of life. As much as he struggles, the effort to live like he desires is still a tall dream. Fortune has not smiled on him.

    His aspiration is to have his own house and do whatever his other colleagues are doing legitimately.

    Though he is living an average life, Orobo believes that one day, he would become a landlord through sheer hard work.

    According to him, one of his desires in life is to build a house of his own as he currently lives in one room apartment.

    “My desire is to have a house of my own. I know I will get there one day. But my dream can only be achieved if I get money to establish another business aside from selling newspapers. Not that I want to quit newspaper business, I need to diversify my business,” Orobo said.

    He passionately appealed to well-meaning individuals and government at local and state levels to assist him; especially as a physically challenged person who is determined to live a normal life.

    Orobo believes that deformity should not be hindrance to one’s determination in life, even as he pledged to remain resolute in pursuing his goals.

     

  • 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

    Parties for children

    Mrs. Folasade Awoyode had emerged in company of her two kids, Angel and David, at the Christmas celebrations organised by a media establishment in Ado-Ekiti, capital of the state. According to her, the kids had pestered her continuously for three days before she eventually succumbed to taking them out on a festive picnic.

    She explained that her reluctance was because her husband, a journalist, who would have preferred to lead the way at such an occasion, was not in town and would not be returning for some time.

    Mrs Lucia Adejumo had also brought her twin children to the picnic as the husband was equally not around to superintend the outing. A quick survey of the whole environment of the picnic where there was a minimum of sixty families however revealed that all the children were brought by their mothers. Is it not useful therefore to pose the question: Are all the father/husbands actually away on business or because of the often reported vanishing culture of responsible fatherhood?

    But there are few encounters which would not make the preceding observation apply generally.  It does not. One of such is the yuletide fun parties tagged ‘2013 Children’s end-of-the-year party’ hosted by the wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, drawing children across the sixteen local government areas of the state.

    The event held at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti, attracted well over four thousand children who engaged in the brief period in dance and other competitions and also went home with various gift items.

    The performance of two popular Nollywood artistes including Funke Akindele and Saheed Balogun added colour to an event which was the third in a row by the wife of the Governor, leaving the children giggling and applauding during the duo’s performance.

    Addressing the children, Erelu Fayemi said education should be their first love, adding, “it is education which can make you become a governor, lawyer, medical doctor, engineer, accountant and many others. If you want to be the President of Nigeria tomorrow, you must have education. So education should be your first love.

    She noted that it is when they (the children) faced their studies that they could make their parents happy, adding, “Nigeria will be better with children that are serious with their education.

    Erelu Fayemi explained that the current administration in the state has invested a huge amount of fund into revamping the education sector so as to offer school children all necessary supports for them to excel academically and morally.

    She explained that 2013 party was held at the stadium to accommodate more children, instead of the traditional Government House grounds.

    The governor’s wife used the opportunity to educate parents on the need to take proper care of their children by ensuring that they enroll them in school to make them productive citizens in future.

    She reminded parents of the existing Child Rights Law, which makes it an offence for any child to hawk commodities during school hours.

    Other highpoints of the event were dance and quiz competitions; as well as children’s special dance with the First Lady. Those adjudged by the children themselves as having outshone others were given prizes.

    But all of the children went away with gifts from Father Christmas placed at the four grottos mounted at the four entrances into the stadium.

    Other fun centres including the popular and not so popular eateries in the town have so far organised parties for children where they equally went home with various gift items after having frolicked with amusement items.

    Businesses for the period

    The fun of the period has not been for the children alone, however, as the fever of the yuletide season has spread across the state capital. From Okesa passing through Ojumoshe to Okeyinmi down to Old Garrage facing Ejigbo junction, businesses seem to have caught the bug of the festivities.

    Various articles of ostentation reminding of the yuletide in various shapes and sizes were mounted at entrances to shops, kiosks and on wooden platforms where the interested public admire and buy or just admire and move on.

    Also, here and there at major junctions are booming businesses which revolved round brisk sales of such articles as Christmas caps, toys, music instruments, tree, lights and others, some of which sing the familiar ‘jingle bell, jingle bell jingle all the way’ tunes.

    Entrances to banks and corporate outfits, eateries and relaxation centres now wear patterns of red striped in white. In the night, they reveal clear patterns of moving cars, trees, a family in sitting posture, all such amusing patterns which arouse curiosity and awe.

    The prices of the items have however either remained same or very tolerable. Chief (Mrs.) Tolu Ogunleye of Green Light Ventures, Okesa, admitting this, hinged the situation on the shrinking disposable income available to the people

    But Livingstone Eze, a cosmetics seller at the new Fayemi Market behind Textile, in the capital who has been on the street, selling Christmas gift items, would not admit the situation has been bad. According to him, if money has not been available for people to spend, he would not have risked putting his money into selling the gift items.

    Eze said: “As you can see, cars stop for us here and they make their buys. Would they be buying if money was not in their pockets? The situation has been like that for and among the people. While some complain of lack of money, others would not say they have but you know they have. That is life.”

    Somewhat confirming Eze’s opinion, Mr. Emanuel Akinwande, a teacher, had been busy in the last two weeks, trying to fix some conveniences in his newly completed personal house. His intention, just like scores of others, had been to celebrate the Christmas in the new home.

    “I have come to buy a door for the entrance. We spent the whole of yesterday fixing the windows. By the end of tomorrow, most of what we want to put in place would have been done.

    Meanwhile, in response to the change in the selling patterns across the shops and kiosks, Mrs. Kudirat Olorunoje, warned that sellers must be cautious not to overstock with the now selling items.

    She said: “We are in the festive period which will not last more than a week or two. It is good to join others to make quick sales but it won’t be proper to stock more than could be sold. For those who have shops, they just keep for another year, but those who don’t have shops, it may be a mistake as they may not have where to keep them.

    Foodstuffs and transport fares

    Prices of foodstuffs have however remained the same from rice, beans, tubers of yam, local edible red and refined cooking oil and various other foodstuff varieties.  Mrs. Sola Taiwo, a foodstuff seller at the Erekesan Market, Old Garrage noted that prices of foodstuffs have remained the same because of the general shortage of finances.

    Taiwo said: “Who will buy if we increase the prices. The truth is that there is no money and everyone knows that. Even now, sales are low. Those who sell other things may have better market but those of us selling foodstuffs are not having much improvement.

    Findings across local markets confirmed this with rice, beans, edible oil (ororo), tubers of yam reportedly maintaining their old prices of N450, N350, N250, and N500 respectively.

    However, while transportation fares within the towns and cities have remained the same, the fares at the parks for those traveling outside the state have however gone up. While some have simply doubled, some have gone up the worse.

    When queried on the development, the only excuse the drivers gave was that people already know that prices would go up during the period. In his explanation,  regardless of the availability of petrol at fuel stations and the fact that prices of fuel have remained the same, fares must go up for drivers to enjoy themselves better.

    Said one of the drivers who plies Ado-Ibadan route: “On a normal day, Ibadan is just N1,200 but now, it is N2,500 while Lagos is now N3,000 from N1,500. People will pay the amount because they know it must happen. There is nothing anybody can do about it”.

     

  • After years of violence: Peace, orderliness return to Oyo NURTW

    After years of violence: Peace, orderliness return to Oyo NURTW

    A wind of change has blown through the commercial drivers union in Oyo State, bringing a once theatre of violence to an empire of peace and orderliness, writes BISI OLADELE

    To Ibadan residents, the mention of Iwo Road interchange and Olomi areas of the city triggers natural fear. It also does to travelers that are used to the volatile areas and perhaps those who have fallen victim of violence by thugs suspected to be members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    The two areas were notorious for lawlessness and violence and the scars will remain visible for years to come.

    While Olomi hosts the headquarters of the state’s chapter of the commercial drivers’ union, Iwo Road interchange is the hub of commercial drivers’ activities. It is the gateway to many parts of the country.

    Visitors to the Olomi headquarters, which is located near the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, were greeted with Indian hemp smokers, rowdy activities and other horrible-looking hoodlums who largely protected the union leaders from external attacks as well as attacks from factional members. They were also used to attack other factional leaders and their members to cow them into the “norm” within the circle.

    It was the seat of power for any reigning NURTW Chairman and his lieutenants and the entire community trembled day and night at the roaring of the drivers’ warlords.

    So was Iwo Road interchange. Internal fracas broke out regularly, leading to killing and maiming of members as well as innocent commuters, the height of which was the killing of several commuters on the night of Saturday June 4, 2011. Other motor parks including Gate, Molete, New Garage and Ojoo were also sometimes racked with violence by members of the union.

    But all these have given way to a new life of peace and orderliness since Governor Abiola Ajimobi intervened by banning the activities of the union in the aftermath of the June 5, 2011 killing. He later insisted on a peaceful transition to a new regime.

    The regime change produced Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde (aka Fele) as the new Chairman. Other members of the Executive are Comrade Akin James (State Secretary); Elder Lekan Aleshinloye (Assistant Secretary); Alhaji Kamorudeen Beyioku (Deputy Chairman); Alhaji Abideen Olajide (Vice Chairman); Alhaji Ademola Adeoye (State Treasurer); Elder Joseph Odeyemi (Assistant Treasurer); Alhaji Musa Adeleke (Financial Secretary); Alhaji Abass Adigun (State Auditor) and Alhaji Kasali Lawal (Assistant Auditor).

    Construction of modern motor parks

    As part of the new lease of life, the Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration constructed modern motor parks for commercial vehicles to enable them operate in a conducive atmosphere. The parks also moved them away from the road where they used to obstruct traffic unhindered. Such newly built parks are the Temidire Motor Park located at WEMA Bank area of New Ife Road and the new park along Podo Road.

    With the parks, it became difficult for hoodlums to operate as there was no longer a hiding place for them. It also enabled government to collect taxes from commercial vehicle operators by appointing Park Managers who supervise smooth operation of the parks, while staff and officers of the NURTW also find it easier to operate as an officer is attached to a unit for collection of dues.

    Banning of hoodlums functioning as Agbero

    With a new regime operating with a strict instruction from the government to maintain peace and orderliness, hoodlums helping drivers to solicit passengers (popularly known as agbero) no longer have a role as drivers usher in passengers by themselves. With the parks and other approved loading points, passengers freely make their choice and walk straight to the units where they board the right vehicle.

    Agberos were known to foment trouble in the past. They own no vehicle, drive no vehicle but earn income by fetching passengers for vehicles at approved and unapproved parks. They foist their services on drivers and take a good percentage of the fare. The multiple times they earn income in a day sometimes make them richer than an average driver.

    Agberos were the available tools for trouble makers among union leaders and they are also useful tools for politicians wanting to unleash violence on their perceived enemies or opponents.

    But their stars have since dropped in motor parks in the Oyo State of today.

    Banning of alcohol sellers at motor parks

    Commercial drivers and Agberos are known to drink alcohol at all times of the day. From 5:00 am when drivers resume for work at motor parks, alcohol traders are open for business. They drink intermittently “to keep themselves strong and alive” according to a driver. But it sometimes fuel violence and lawlessness, and sometimes fuel tendencies for accident for inter-state drivers.

    But with the new regime of zero tolerance for violence, alcohol sellers have been sent packing. The sanity is strengthened by the removal of shanties housing those alcohol sellers and traders of other substances capable of fueling violence around the interchange.

    The presence of members of the Oyo State Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES-O) at the parks helps maintain law and order. They ensure the drivers park and pick passengers only at approved locations while offenders are punished.

    Today, only people who have business at the parks around the interchange are found there. They are drivers, NURTW staff, government agents and commuters.

    Iwo road as the main hub of NURTW activities in Oyo State

    The interchange is thick for various reasons. It connects the Lagos-Ibadan-Oyo-Ilorin expressway. It also connects Ibadan-Ile-Ife-Ondo-Akure expressway. The interchange also connects the main road to Iwo from where travelers link Osogbo and Ogbomoso just as it connects a major road into the inner parts of the city.

    Aside being the gateway to many parts of the country, there are more than 35 NURTW units around the interchange under three branches (local governments).

    While the units along Ife Road fall under Egbeda Local Government, those around Iwo Road and Ojoo axis are under Lagelu Local Government. Those units where travelers going to Lagos, Ikorodu and Ijebu-Ode axis board buses fall under Ibadan North East Local Government.

    The multiple loading of passengers going to various parts of the Southwest and other parts of the country including the North as well as several private vehicles navigating through the interchange make it one huge flash point for NURTW activities.

    It took over from the Gate motor park which reigned supreme until 1980s as the main hub of commercial drivers’ activities. The relocation of the defunct Dugbe market to the Bola Ige International Market located along New Ife Road, extension of the city towards Ile-Ife axis and construction of the Lagos -Ibadan expressway, among others, made Iwo Road to overtake Gate motor-park in terms of importance.

    For this reason, state chairmen of the drivers’ union always establish their control on the interchange as the hub and the most plum location for revenue. It, therefore, plays host to hoodlums who are strategically placed to maintain the grip of the helmsman on all members of the union.

    For instance, factional members of the union always show strength at Iwo Road as whoever is able to establish control of NURTW activities at the interchange is viewed as the reigning power bloc in the union.

    This has led to several skirmishes at different times, particularly during the factionalization of the union between 2003 and 2011.

    Gladiators of the crisis are Alhaji Lateef Akinsola (aka Tokyo), Alhaji Lateef Salako (aka Eleweomo), Mukaila Lamidi (aka Auxilliary) and Alhaji Tawa. Throughout the time of the crisis, Iwo Road interchange was the centre of muscle flexing.

    Administrative structure

    Largely seen, perhaps unfairly, as a union for touts and hoodlums, the NURTW has its own administrative structure for ease of administration. From the local unit to the branch, state, zone and national level, the union has elected/selected officers to run its affairs.

    A unit is made up of vehicles plying the same route. This may be intra or inter-state. For instance, the interstate units at the Iwo Road Interchange include the Ibadan-Ilesa-ife; Ibadan-Osogbo-Ilorin; Ibadan-Akure-Ondo; Ibadan-Ikorodu; Ibadan-Oshodi; Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode; Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin; Ibadan-Iwo a units and Ibadan-Warri-Portharcourt units.

    The units at the interchange are over 30 with a chairman each.

    All units in a local government domain belong to the local government branch. Every branch is also headed by a chairman. But in some cases, a local government can have more than one branch, depending on the volume of activities.

    A branch made up of interstate taxi, minibus, mini truck and heavy truck including quarry loaders tricycle and commercial motorcycles (Okada), consists of at least 12 units.

    The Nation investigation showed that there are 110 branches across the 33 Local Government Areas of Oyo State.

    Dues

    To finance its operations the union usually relies on dues from its members. And due to its large membership and the tough way it enforces compliance with payment of dues(often daily) the NURTW is reputed to be one of the richest unions in Nigeria and this is often reflected in the ostentatious life style of its leaders.

    Drivers pay two levies. Interstate vehicles pay N300 to the government through Park Managers while the NURTW takes N200 per day. Inter-state car drivers deliver N1,500 while inter-state buses deliver N2500 depending on the distance which determines the fare.

    For intra-city buses, drivers pay N250 union due per day. It was learnt that the union takes the due and share appropriately.

    The state headquarters, Olomi

    Fondly called State Office, the one-story building located at Olomi area of Ibadan is the seat of power for union leaders. Painted in national colors (green and white), the once dreaded building is now a peaceful place. It is now accessible to anyone having business to do with the union. Even the once fearful neighbours now freely visit the building to fetch borehole water provided as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) by the union.

    A resident around the building relived her experience in an interview with our reporter: “We lost a lot of tenants during the hot period as they ran away because of the violent activities of the NURTW members. They could not cope. We would have run away too if we were tenants. It was because we did not have anywhere to go and we could not abandon our property. That was the reason we stayed back. We just resigned to fate and prayed for survival. ”But they never attacked residents. But any resident who misbehaved by supporting factions would be warned and once they desisted, they never touched them.”The resident, who did not want her name in print, further explained that many of the hoodlums freely smoked marijuana around the place. They used to take traders stocks freely without paying.

    Today, however, the story has changed.  “We have more tenants now. We even go there to fetch water.” She said.

  • Row over Appeal Court Judge’s property

    Row over Appeal Court Judge’s property

    The property left behind by the late Appeal Court Judge, Justice S. A. Olagunju has become object of controversy as his widow; Mrs. Christianah is fighting hard to enforce her fundamental human rights over the property of her late husband.

    The Sharia Court of Appeal, Ilorin is alleged to have discriminated against her and her daughter on the administration of her husband’s estate.

    Mrs. Olagunju, 74, has already petitioned the President, Court of Appeal (PCA) for quick intervention into the matter.

    Her grievances were contained in a letter written by her Counsel and Akure Lawyer, Charles Titiloye to the President of Court of Appeal.

    The Sharia Court of Appeal, Ilorin reportedly deprived her and the daughter, Omoladun Olagunju of their rights to have a share in the late Justice’s estate on the grounds that she and her daughter were Christians, while the late husband was a Muslim.

    She had earlier petitioned the Grand Khadi of Sharia Court of Appeal, Ilorin to withdraw from the estate on the grounds that the Court lacks jurisdiction to administer the estate.

    This was based on section 277(2)(e) of the Constitution which precludes the court from entertaining a proceeding that involves  non-Muslims; especially when the court took judicial notice that she, as the next of kin of Justice Olagunju, is a Christian.

    However, in a newspaper report, the Sharia Court, Ilorin claimed to have exercised jurisdiction based on section 277(2) (c) of the Constitution which allowed the court to determine dispute on Islamic personal law of the deceased.

    It also stressed that N3 million “gift” has been given to the widow.

    Titiloye described the position of the Sharia Court of Appeal as a misapplication of the constitution. He noted that Nigeria is a secular state and Sharia law cannot be applied to non-Muslims under any guise.

    The lawyer maintained that the PCA which initiated the administration of the estate by the court did not refer dispute on Islamic law to Sharia Court of Appeal, but administration of the estate by a reliable judge for the benefit of wife and children of the late jurist.

    Titiloye further said the religious dimension introduced by the court was aimed at discriminating against the widow and her daughter who are Christians.

    This, according to him, was in total disregard of their fundamental human rights to be free from religious discrimination guaranteed under Section 42 of the Constitution.

    The rights activist noted that the widow has not been given N3 million as alleged by the court in the publication and that her daughter Omoladun was totally excluded by the court on the list of beneficiaries of the estate.

    Titiloye condemned the threat by some relatives of the deceased to use the Sharia Court of Appeal to forcefully eject the widow from her matrimonial home.

    He warned that such a step would be an affront on rule of law and violation of the widow’s fundamental human rights.

    The lawyer urged the President of Court of Appeal to intervene in this matter and re-assign the administration of the estate to the High Court which has unlimited jurisdiction to issue letters of administration to the beneficiaries of the estate irrespective of their religion.

  • Deji of Akure: Battle for succession begins

    Deji of Akure: Battle for succession begins

    With the end of the seven-day mourning period that marked the rite of passage of Oba Adebiyi Adesida (Afunbiowo II), the late Deji of Akure who joined his ancestors 18 days ago, businesses in the ancient city have picked up even as the princes of the Osupa Ruling House gear up for a succession battle.

    While the mourning period lasted, all business activities including markets were shut down in the city in accordance with tradition to the discomfort of most traders who had stock their shops in preparation for an anticipated huge Christmas sales.

    The 63 year-old monarch died on Sunday, December 1, after reigning for three years.

    During the mourning period, dirge and various other distressful songs as well as funeral processions and rites that would lead to the installation of a regent for the city who would sit on the throne pending the installation of a new Deji were performed by the chiefs and traditional priests.

    Even though, it is customary to mourn a late Oba in Yoruba land with the closure of shops and markets for a period of time, some market men and women in Akure expressed their resentments over the closure of their businesses as many of them had previously spent millions of Naira to stock their stores for the yuletide season. Some had perishable goods in their store.

    During the closure, many markets in the metropolis such as Isinkan, Adedeji, Afunbiowo, Sukute Omi Amu and NEPA markets were shut.

    This brought discomfort to the people and naturally gave rise to dissenting voices one of which was that of the regent of Isolo, a district community within Akure, Princess Busola Oluwatuyi.

    Oluwatuyi was said to have personally hit the streets to mobilise men and women to open their shops on the pretext that Isolo people are not part of Akure residents, and as such nobody could force them to close markets and shops This led to a bloody clash in which no fewer than 20 persons were reportedly hospitalised.

    Historically, Isolo and Isinkan communities have been on war path with the Deji over claims of autonomy by the two communities. But according to the Akure’s monarch, both Isolo and Isinkan are quarters within the Akure Kingdom.

    The late Oba Adebiyi Adesida, it was learnt had early this year issued the monarchs in the two communities suspension letters following a court judgment.

    Succession battle begins

    With the demise of Oba Adebiyi Adesida, the community and the Council of Chiefs will commence fresh process to choose and install a new Deji.

    According to records, within the last 10 years, installation processes to fill the vacant stool have been held on four consecutive times either due to death of the incumbent or crisis over the choice of his successor or even dethronement. Since 2003, there has been one crisis or the other over the stool of the Akure monarch.

    Although, none of the chiefs was willing for now to speak on succession to the throne, a competent source said the Council of Chiefs is waiting for Princess (Dr) Adetutu-Ojei the daughter of the late monarch to mount the throne vacated by her father, late Oba Adebiyi Adesida first before any action could be taken on succession. Princess Adetutu-Ojei lives in the United Kingdom (UK).

    As the first daughter she automatically becomes the regent on the death of her father, the Deji. She was crowned same day Oba Adesida mounted the throne and a source among the chiefs and kingmakers said she is expected to come home and occupy the throne pending the time a new Deji would emerge.

    When that would be is not set in stone as one of her predecessors Princess Adeyinka Adesida, daughter of late Oba Adebobajo Adesida (IV), was installed as Regent of Akure in 2002 following the death of her father two years earlier. She ruled for five years as it became extremely difficult to find a replacement to her father due to protracted Obaship tussle among the Princes.

    There was a long selection process of the Deji in 2000 following protests that greeted the emergence of Prince Adegbola Adelabu as Deji-elect. It also led to litigations.

    Prince Adelabu popularly called Ileri was selected by the kingmakers before crisis erupted.

    Following the crisis and protests from the people, the kingmakers wrote two separate letters to then Governor Adebayo Adefarati withdrawing their earlier selection of Adelabu as the Deji of Akure

    The grievances of the people against his selection was the allegation that he had no royal blood flowing in his veins while his paternal ancestors were said not to be from any of the communities that make up Akure kingdom

    Besides, they said the considerable damage his businesses had generated in Akure community could cause instability if he was coronated as Deji of Akureland.

    But, ironically, the court case over Prince Adelabu’s selection was dismissed by an Akure High Court and consequently, the kingmakers had no choice but to begin the installation rites for him to be crowned the new Deji, since the case was not appealed.

    However, before the seven days installation rites could be concluded, violence erupted in the city leading to the suspension of all the remaining rites thus preventing Prince Adelabu from entering the palace and becoming the kingdom’s monarch.

    The late Governor Olusegun Agagu’s administration later set up the Justice Ojuolape panel to look into the Obaship tussle and resolve it.

    At the end of its sitting, the panel recommended a fresh selection process for the new Deji of Akure which stalled Prince Adelabu journey to the throne. The Deji of Akure Chieftaincy Declaration (1991) stipulates two ruling houses in Akure: Osupa Ruling House and the Ojijigogun Ruling House. Osupa Ruling House has Odundun and all other royal families as members, while Ojijigogun has the Adesida, Faturoti and Arosoye Royal families as members.

    The two ruling houses according to the declaration are expected to produce the Deji on rotational basis

    Oba Adepoju Adesina

    In 2004, when a new selection process was to begin, it favoured the Osupa Ruling House leading to the emergence of Oba Adepoju Adesina, who became the 45th Deji of Akure in 2005. His reign was however cut short on June 10, 2010, following alleged assault on one of his wives, late Olori Bolanle Adesina which led to his deposition.

    Return to the throne?

    Observers then were of the opinion that the allegations leveled against the deposed monarch were not such that should have warranted his removal. They said Oba Adesina Adepoju was given an unfair treatment. He was removed from the throne, detained by the police without being allowed to even to take anything out of his property.

    That same day, he was taken into confinement in Owo, which is the hometown of his embattled wife, now late, where he spent about nine months.

    His deposition even came despite pleas by Olori Bolanle that the incident between her and the monarch was exaggerated stressing that the deposed Deji did not touch her as alleged.

    Since his banishment from Akure, Adesina returned to the United Kingdom in early 2011 and has not returned to Akure since.

    It was learnt that he was dropped somewhere in Ore to find his way out of the state.

    The Ojijigogun ruling House was later invited by the kingmakers to present candidates for the stool of Deji of Akure and Prince (later) Oba Adebiyi Adesida and Prince Ademola Adegoroye vied for the throne.

    Sixteen of the kingmakers were said to have voted for Adegoroye to become the next Deji but a combination of factors including alleged unfavourable security reports and frosty relationship with the state government prevented his choice from being announced by the kingmakers.

    Consequently, the late Adesida was announced as the Deji-elect by the state government and three years later, he joined his ancestors

    But from the look of things, the dethroned Oba Adesina may have his way back to the palace as the Deji of Akure going by growing public sympathy towards him and favourable comments of the people. He appears to enjoy the support of the people most of who believe that he was just unfortunate to have been dethroned.

    The Osupa Ruling House where he belongs is to produce the next Deji, and with the regular meetings and disposition of its leaders/elders they may insist on Adesina returning to the throne thereby evading the fresh and rigorous selection and coronation for a new monarch.

    Though, the Council of Chiefs is awaiting the home-coming of the Regent-to-be, for now, the Deji stool remains vacant.

     

  • Isale-Eko agog as council hands over 90-year-old school to community

    Isale-Eko agog as council hands over 90-year-old school to community

    For residents of Ebute-Ero, Oke Arin, Iga Iduganran, in Isale-Eko, penultimate Friday offered an opportunity to re-connect with history, as one of the earliest missionary schools on Lagos Island, the Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School, Alakoro, rebuilt by the Lagos Island Local Government, was handed over to the community and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) by the Senator representing Lagos Central, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu. ADEYINKA ADERIBIGBE was there

    It was one moment even the Oba of Lagos, more popularly called the Olowo Eko, Oba Riliwan Akiolu could not resist. Despite his very busy schedule, he came, mingled and danced with the people of Alakoro, congratulating them as they bore witness to history.

    His visit to Alakoro last Friday, was a return to the cradle. Here at the Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School, Alakoro, founded by Ansar-Ud-Deen Movement on December 21, 1923, was where the journey of his life all began over 60 years ago. Moved with emotion at what now stand on the same spot where his former school used to be, the monarch embraced the council chairman Hon. Wasiu Esinlokun Sanni, and invoking his ancestors, heaped on him solemn prayers. He soon left, but left behind some white cap chiefs as representatives.

    It was not only Oba Akiolu that was moved to shed tears of joy as they beheld their transformed alma mater. Former Federal Commissioner for Works and President of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Movement, Alhaji Femi Okunnu, is another old boy of the school. When he spoke, it was a journey on time track, as he recalled with nostalgia, his school days.

    Okunnu who enrolled in the school in 1943 was arguably one of the old boys still living. He spoke glowingly of his days, and the seasoned teachers who laboured to lay the foundation of what he made of his life.

    “From this school have risen men and women who have become distinguished in their chosen professions. It has produced judges, ministers, an inspector general of police and indeed a king,” Okunnu, an eminent Nigerian who is respected for his forthrightness said.

    “We were trained by teachers who were dedicated to their work. They gave us sound training on morals, industry and good citizenship. I remembered that this place was not as choked and as developed as this then. The market was some distance away and it was only the meat market that was close by, near the Iga Olusi. As an Islamic school, we were given sound Islamic and Quaranic training and every Friday we would be taken to the mosque for prayers,” he said.

    Okunnu remembered the pranks they played as school children. He remembered those places they went to catch fun. He remembered his former colleagues and some of the elders who left a lasting impression on his young mind.

    For him, his return to the same soil that nurtured him transcends happiness to pure ecstasy. “I am very ecstatic to be back on the same soil where everything all began some 70 years ago, and I am very grateful to Allah that I am still alive to witness this new phase in the life of my alma mater. When I saw those school boys and girls that came out to commemorate the day with cultural dance, I was transported back to those days when we used to do same thing and I went and prayed for them, that just as we made a success of our lives and we are proud to return to this school, they too would become successful men and women in life.”

    Attending the Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School according to Okunnu, who is now the President of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Movement of Nigeria, was a privilege as it was one of the earliest, in fact, the second primary school to be founded on Lagos Island (Anwar-ul-Isam Primary School, Elegbata, in Olowogbowo, being the first).

    Two of his juniors, former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Musiliu Smith and Lagos Central Senatorial District Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Tajudeen Olusi who attended the ceremony also spoke of their days at the school.

    Smith recalled that the present Alafin of Oyo, His Majesty Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, was a product of the school. According to him, the Oba, who had followed his deposed father, Oba Adeniran Adeyemi II, to Ofin, in Isale Eko, where he had lived the rest of his life after being deposed by the defunct Action Group (AG) government for his support for the National Council of Nigeria Citizens (NCNC), was his classmates with whom he used to play football and run the streets of Alakoro and its neighbourhood.

    Smith, who praised the Ansar-Ud-Deen movement for thinking of setting up such a school, said like the motto of the school, education has brought light to so many homes that would have hitherto been wallowing in poverty and swimming in ignorance. He said the school in his days competed favourably with other missionary schools in and outside the state.

    Smith, who said he was proud to be an Ansar-Ud-Deen product have gone to primary and secondary school owned by the movement. He said the seed planted 90 years ago at Alakoro has germinated and brought forth great seeds as its products have grown to become successful sons and daughters of the state who have gone to make the country proud.

    He commended the Chairman of the Lagos Island Local Government Area, Hon. Wasiu Esinlokun Sanni for deeming it fit to reconstruct the school which he described as one of the memorable landmarks of the old Lagos.

    Olusi recalled all the fun he had going to the school. “Those of us living at Iga Olusi maximised the multi doors of the school in those days to avoid classes, “he said. “I recall that when we hear the school bell and ran inside from the Iga (palace) which is just across here, we would run out through another door to Oko-Awo which used to be a playground to play football. We would be there till closing time when we would run back to the school pick our bags and head for the palace. My best subject then was Islamic Religious Knowledge.”

    He recalled that Isale Eko had not been overtaken then by commercial activities and people still knew each other’s children intimately unlike nowadays.  He said the Ansar-Ud-Deen has been able to level the gulf between the children of the rich and the poor by providing quality education which has provided the needed bridge for children of the poor to aspire to become successful in life.

    Beholding the edifice which now replaced his former alma mater, Olusi praised the achievements of the council chairman, whom he described as a worthy younger brother and one that hadn’t disappointed the confidence reposed in him by the party leadership by adding value to the party before the electorate.

    Summing everything up with the trail blazing achievements of former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Olusi in a rare show of candour revealed that it was indeed the party that demanded that the Asiwaju as the captain picks anyone he deemed fit, as his successor rather than allowing the party to do the picking.

    “I recall that Asiwaju had brought to us four names and asked us to pick his successor from any of them. I was the only one who opposed the move then, and my argument was that we as outsiders wouldn’t know these people as much as he would, having worked with all of them. So, I urged him to pick his successor and we thanked God that the man he picked, Babatunde Raji Fashola was a God-sent not only for Lagos State, but to our party because the successes we have recorded as a state and as a party was as a result of the achievements of this great son of ours.

    Wasiu, our younger brother couldn’t have performed less because he, like all his other colleagues are always challenged to replicate Fashola’s achievements in their different domains. He added that the council chairman who was almost frustrated out of the party has done so well in the last two terms he had used in the council and his people-centred policies have become a landmark in the state.

    The council chairman, Esinlokun Sanni in his speech said the school has become the fulfillment of a dream. Sanni who singled out Architect Agbaje, who carried out the engineering design and architectural drawings of the edifice said for those conversant with the old structure “on this same piece of land, they couldn’t but be imagining the sharp contrast between what used to be here and what they are now witnessing.”

    He said when he took over the council chairman in 2008, he was at a cross road what to do with the school as the preliminary assessment carried out on all the 11 primary schools within the council area showed that outright reconstruction and not palliative measure was the surest way out to get the place functional.

    “Two such schools were adjudged unfit for educational purpose they are Anwar-ul-Islam Primary School, Elegbata, in Olowogbowo and Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School, Alakoro. We decided to rebuild the two schools. Consequent upon completing the Anwar-ur-Islam, it was converted to Elegbata Junior Secondary School and taken over by the state government to serve the Olowogbowo area who hitherto never had a secondary school.

    “The Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School, Alakoro as at 2008 was a dingy place with structures that are visibly falling apart. The classrooms posed serious dangers to pupils and indeed everyone in the area was afraid it could collapse any moment. This was why we thought of pulling it down and rebuilding it.”

    He said in rebuilding the structure, his administration took cognisance of the swampy nature of the land, which had contributed to its dilapidation and had ensured that the new structure that was built can sustain and withstand the muddy and swampy terrain.

    “This point must be stressed,” he said, “not only to appreciate the resources committed to the construction of the school, but to assure all pupils, parents and the entire residents of the area that the school is structurally safe and sound for educational purposes.”

    Sanni, who enunciated his administration’s commitment to continue with the ‘my complete student project’ said the council would continue to kit every public primary school pupil in its domain. “This project is to relieve parents of the heavy expenses of kitting their children, leaving them with no excuse to give their children this fundamental head start in life,” he added.

    The council chairman said it gave him great pleasure to have brought great joy to the hearts of eminent sons and daughters of the state who were alumni of the school recalled that he took the entrance examination into the Ansar-Ud-Deen Secondary School, Offa in Kwara State at the school.

    He said the new school which boasts of facilities such as air-conditioned classrooms with tables and chairs as well as computers, among other learning aides, could soon become the model for public schools in the state.

    Describing the school as the latest pride of his administration, Sanni said the council would be proposing a renaming of the school from Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School, to Ansar-Ud-Deen/ Local Government Model Primary School, Alakoro.

    Also speaking, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ademorin Kuye described Sanni as one of the prides of the party and one whose strings of achievements have added value to the state.

    He said from the ashes of the past, a new modern school has evolved for the people of the Alakoro community and the Ansar-Ud-Deen movement.

    He said he is proud of his association with the chairman who has always left him awed by his capacity to embark on landmark and historic monuments and turn them round for the greater advantage of the state and the party.

    In his own speech, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Wale Ahmed with whom the chairman had once been in the State House of Assembly praised Sanni for making the APC marketable before the people with his strings of achievements.

    He said contributions of people like Wasiu Esinlokun Sanni would continue to make the opposition jittery because what gets celebrated by a state Governors in other states across the country, is what a council chairman is doing without much fanfare in Lagos State. “That a council chairman would be building a primary school with full air-conditioned classrooms and multi-media instructional aids, etc is worth celebrating because this is what other state governors would take pages of newspapers to advertise as their achievements,” Ahmed said.

    Senator Mrs Oluremi Tinubu who praised Sanni for yet another achievement said she has lost count of the number of times the c hairman had called her and requested her to commission projects aimed at uplifting the lives of residents.

    “It is no exaggeration to say that I have lost count of the number of occasions I have been invited by Hon. Wasiu Esinlokun Sanni, the Chairman of Lagos Island Local Government to grace one event or the other, all landmarks and historic and I must admit that I have left wondering what next this chairman will do.

    “I have always been left with wonderful feelings that truly the dividends of democracy is being delivered in Lagos Island Local Government by a chairman who has accepted the responsibility to change things for the better and have performed creditably well enough to be truly called a man of the people,” she said.

    Senator Tinubu said she is proud of the giant strides of the council especially to have remodeled the Ansar-ur-Deen Primary School, a school she said had produced several eminent Lagosians, even as she prayed that God should continue to guide the chairman aright in giving back to the society that has nurtured him.

    She charged the community and especially the Ansar-ur-Deen Movement, to take possession of the school and maintain the facilities provided by the council as the school has become their pride.

    Sanator Tinubu was to later lead other dignitaries among them the President of the Ansar-ur-Deen Movement, Alhaji Okunnu, the Ansar-ur-Deen’s State Missioner, Commissioners for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Mr. Ademorin Kuye, his Special Duties colleague Dr Ahmed, former Speaker of the House of Assembly Hon. Jokotola Pelumi, Prince Olusi, Alhaji Smith, Alhaji Adekunle Ali, (also an old student), Hon Alawiye King, the Lagos white cap chiefs and other dignitaries to cut the tape to open the structure, and the commemorative plaque, and a tour of the facilities inside the school.

    One beautiful thing observed at the school was that apart from a handful of pupils, both boys and girls selected to entertain guests with cultural dances at the event, other pupils were busy with their studies as teachers where seen teaching in all the classrooms with no one loitering about the expansive premises.

     

  • Why we want Ibadan State, by CCII President

    Why we want Ibadan State, by CCII President

    Chief Bayo Oyero, National President, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), the body championing the clamour for the creation of Ibadan State spoke with BISI OLADELE, on the motivation for the agitation as well as the appetite for beaded crown by some Baales of less cities in Ibadan land.

    Many Ibadan indigenes have been clamouring for the creation of Ibadan State in recent years. Now that a national conference is being planned, what is likely going to be agitation of the Ibadan people at the conference?

    Our number one demand should be the creation of Ibadan state. Of course, we thought that we were really robbed of our right to have a state. Our demand is not a frivolous one. It is just that we have not been having the political support to examine the population of Ibadan land.

    Towards 2006 census, they said there were a million houses in Ibadan. They said one quarter of that was unoccupied. So, even if we accept that figure, that means that over 750, 000 houses were occupied. And they ended up with a population of 2.5 million for Ibadan.

    In actual fact, when you get to some houses, you will find out that they have more than four people in a room. They are now saying that the average occupancy rate is three.  The population of Ibadan cannot be less than 10 million.

    Even with the current population of 2.5 million, it is still bigger than that of eight states. The population of Kwara, Bayelsa, Taraba etc combined are not up to ours. We are comparable to another three or four existing states.

    In terms of our population, it is a productive population in terms of per capita income. As at today, 80 per cent of the Oyo State internally generated revenue comes from Ibadan.  We are economically viable and we have an administrative structure that will be useful for us in our first year of being a state. It is not like in other places where they will start by renting apartments for administrative purposes. We have been the capital of western Region, Western State, old Oyo State and the present Oyo State. I make bold to say that Ibadan State should be first if states are to be created based on viability.

    Do you mean state creation in the Southwest?

    Not only in the Southwest but in Nigeria.

    Following our meeting with the senate committee on the amendment of the constitution, we submitted about five requests from the South West. And if things should go the normal way, we are sure that Ibadan State will be created. Whenever the National Assembly is ready, we are ready. We are still on it.

    It is going to be one of our demands at the conference. Don’t forget it is not just the question of demands, requests and so on the conference is about gathering opinions, issues that are going to be used in advising the president. It is more of agenda setting, what should they discuss, their focus, how the committee should be constituted etc. That is what the Okurounmu committee did. We submitted our own little opinion on how the conference should be constituted; things that will strengthen the existence of Nigeria as a country.  We have been running away from confederal system. We have to go back to proper federal system for Nigeria to know peace. Even in a family, every child will not grow as the same pace. You cannot run a country like a personal business.

    Ethnically and linguistically, we are homogenous in the Southwest but even when you come to the units there are still variations.  So, what Oyo state is doing may not necessarily interest Osun but Osun should be free to do what it feels will benefits its people.  We are copying the American style. We have big states like Texas and small ones that are as ten times smaller in number to the bigger ones. Each one will go at its pace. Each has its own laws. In some states, gambling is prohibited while it is legalized in others. So, that is the beauty of federalism; let everyone grow at its own pace.

    They also talk of fiscal federalism. A situation where the Federal Government takes over 50 per cent of the federally collected revenue is not right. Given the amount of responsibility the Federal Government carries, that percentage is justified. But the question is; should the Federal Government carry such responsibility? In the First Republic, states established universities but the Federal Government under the military took over all the state universities. States are now re establishing universities. Before the Federal Government took over universities, they were catered for by their owner states. Now we have many universities, students and all sorts and we are still agitating for more. The Federal Government now has a university in each state. Primary education is in serious problem and that affects the equality. The products of these primary schools now proceed to the secondary school half-baked. These products of secondary school also enter university semi-baked.  What is the quality of the products universities are also churning out? That is why we should sit down and discuss ways by which we can have proper federal structure which, of course means redistributing the functions being carried out by the three tiers of government.

    A few years ago, some Ibadan chiefs aspired to wear beaded crown but this was kicked against. Considering the size and population of Ibadan that you spoke about, should the people not have more than one representative in the state Council of Obas and Chiefs?

    Ibadan has more than one. We have the Olubadan, the Otun Olubadan, Balogun and few other High Chiefs in the state Council.

    Why will Ibadan not allow some community chiefs to wear beaded crown?

    It is because of the history of Ibadan. Our chieftaincy hierarchy is different from any other one in Yoruba land. We have the Olubadan at the apex. Under it, we have the High Chiefs. Under it we have senior chiefs and chiefs. The last down the line is the Mogaji and the lowest of the rung is the Baale.

    In our system, it is the Mogaji that is the head of the family in the city. And Mogaji is a qualified title. Until recently, we did not call a Mogaji a chief. He’s just the head of his household, his extended family but he is qualified to contest for the city chieftaincy (title) which is the two lines of the Olubadan and Balogun. So it is the Mogaji who is the head of the family in the city that nominates the Baale to head their village. So Baale is junior to Mogaji. Mogaji is junior to Jagun and other chiefs. It is the Olubadan-in-Council that appoints the rest of them. Apart from the Olubadan, all the High Chiefs don’t wear crown.

    So, that is our own tradition but we can move with the time. About 35 years ago, Moniya was less than one quarter of its size now. It has assumed a city status, metropolitan status and so many of our towns and villages. The elders, the elites in Ibadanland feel concerned but what we were saying during the last regime was that, the government cannot bastardise our system. You as a governor or government, you don’t have the authority to change our tradition without us. If we are going to reform, the reform should be initiated by us; it’s not for you. And even in the Chiefs’ law, to wear a beaded crown or a coronet, you have to apply to the paramount ruler in the area. So, anybody within Ibadanland has to apply to Olubadan-in-Council. When it is approved, the approval will be communicated to state council of Obas after which it goes to the governor for final approval before the chief can wear a coronet or a beaded crown. So even if the governor, with impunity, gives the crown to those people without the approval of the Olubadan-in-Council, it would be a nullity. All these things are dynamic. A change is possible but it has to evolve from the people.

    The process has started already. It will require sensitisation. Like I said, we are going to give crown to the lowest rung in the chieftaincy hierarchy. Those in between, what do you do with them? It requires sensitization. So there’s a lot of underground work to do.

    So, in the future, people should not be surprised if it happens?

    They should not.