The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abeokuta

  • We want our husbands to return home- soldiers wives

    We want our husbands to return home- soldiers wives

    The Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA), 81 Division, on Friday, pleaded with Brigade Commander to consider redeploying their husbands who have away to fight Boko-Haram sect for the past two years.

    The wives who spoke during the visit of NAOWA executives in commemoration of this year’s Nigerian Army’s Day to 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala Barracks, Abeokuta groused that the duration of absence has become tiring as families keep longing for them.

    They said: “It is not as if we don’t call them or they don’t call us but we want to see them physically. We miss them especially in this rainy season.”

    They also pleaded with the president to see to the unavailability of drugs at their local hospitals as the NHIS arm has not been receiving necessary fund.

    NAOWA president, Mrs Emohbon Malia Edet said the charitable activities outlined for the celebration of the Army Day was in remembrance of fallen officer and their role in the defence of the country. She urged them not to lag in their supportive role to their families, adding that upkeep fees shouldn’t be converted in pursuit of frivolous things like Aso-Ebi.

    She said: “We are remembering the sacrifices of your husbands who have fought to keep Nigeria one and are still fighting. Some of them have died in the process and many are in the north. As part of the celebration, we have come here to see you and encourage you not to stay idle. You should use this place as an opportunity to acquire new entrepreneurial skills like fish farming, poultry and other agricultural activities. Please engage in them so that you can be financially independent and support your husbands and make them happy where ever they are. Please don’t join the clubs of Aso-Ebi and leave your children wandering.”

    She added that the association had on Tuesday, visited widows of fallen officers to honour and identify with them.

    The association also extended its health outreach on personal and environmental hygiene to the women of Itoku market, Abeokuta in commemoration of this year’s Nigerian Army Day.

    NAOWA offered free medical check ups, tests, drugs and medication to the traders with the aid of the 35 Artillery Brigade Medical team, Alamala Barracks, Abeokuta.

    The outreach focused on ‘Sudden Death’ as a menace in the society and addressed contributing factors, preventive measures and cure.

    Captain (Dr) Oluremi Alabi who enlightened the traders in indigenous language said ignorance, carelessness and self-prescription are poor habits that lead to health damage. She said diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, Malaria, HIV/AIDS are preventable and curable if discovered and managed well.

    She said: “you must ensure you eat well, exercise your body daily and ensure you adhere to doctors instructions especially in managing illness.”

    Harping on the need to maintain wholesome habit in their course of trading, NAOWA president advised the market women to make maximum utilisation of the free health services offered, noting that health wealth.

    NAOWA further supported the Green Environment campaign of the first Lady, Ogun State, with planting of trees at the Palace of Alake of Egba Land and the 35 Artillery Brigade, Barracks.

    Expressing gratitude, the Iyaloja of Kenta Itoku Market, Shadia Akamo commended the gesture saying: “It is a goo arrangement and we are glad because it brought us a lot of benefits. We will practice what they preached as we are aware of the importance of cleanliness.”

    NAOWA rounded off its visit with a tour round the Olumo rock.

  • Bus crushes two pupils, injures others in Ogun

    Two pupils from the same parents were crushed to death at Ita-Oshin area of Abeokuta,  Ogun State, on their way to school by a commercial bus yesterday
    ‎ The driver of a Toyota Picnic commercisl bus marked LAGOS KTU 175 DZ, was said to have  lost control of the wheels and ran over the kids, killing them on the spot.
    The victims are said to be twins and aged 8 years old, but their elder brother who survived the accident, was critically injured.
    A Witness told reporters  that the remains of the pupils were evacuated to the Neuro-Pyschiatric Hospital, Aro while their brother also receiving treatment at the same hospital.
    The Witness said: “we heard a sound and we quickly rushed down before we realised that a vehicle had knocked down some pupils in school uniform.
    “We immediately stopped a taxi and took the children to the hospital and the nurses tried their best.
    ” But they later confirmed that the girls were dead while their brother is responding to treatment.”
    The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogun State Command, Adegoke Adetunji, who confirmed this, blame the driver for reckless driving.
    Adetunji said the driver lost control and ran over the children, urging motorists to always avoid dangerous driving and put into consideration, the safety of other road users.
    “We got the report of the accident, which happened around 8 a.m., at Ita Oshin area of Abeokuta.
    “We gathered that the Toyota Picnic bus with registration number KTU 175 DZ was coming from Sango,” he said.
  • State Governors have bastardized our LGA system-  Obasanjo

    State Governors have bastardized our LGA system-  Obasanjo

    … rues LGAs’ impotency

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday rued that the 774 Local Government Areas(LGAs) across the country have been rendered “impotent”and almost “bastardized,” following the massive encroachment into their affairs by the state governors.

    Obasanjo said the glaring injustices and overbearing influence of the governors which they hand down routinely to the LGAs are such that they cannot tolerate it should the Federal Government elect to treat them the same way.

    The ex – President made this known when a 60 – member delegation of the National Union of Local Government Employees(NULGE) visited him at his residence on Presidential Hilltop Estate, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

    The delegation led by the NULGE National President, Ibhraheem Khaleel, were in Obasanjo’s home on Wednesday to solicit support towards freeing the LGAs from the alleged asphyxiating grip of the nation’s 36 state governors.

    The NULGE had through Khaleel, complained to the ex – Predident that the governors without exception, ” have completely rendered the Local Governments impotent and battered it through massive encroachment, diversion of funds and non implementation of rules establishing them(LGAs).”

    But Obasanjo who listened to them, said he is helpless about their plights, noting that when the LGA was reformed in 1976, by the then military government which he was a part, it gave LGAs  “functions, responsibilities and duties” to peform.

    He said it is saddening now to observe that state governors’ interferance has completely eroded the “sanctity and constitutionality” of the establishing LGAs.

    Obasanjo, however, said Nigerians should keep talking to the members of the National and states Assemblies as well as other stakeholders towards finding a way to  make the LGAs trully functional and democratic as envisioned by founding fathers.

    He said: “coming to me or me saying something is not the answer. I’m like a cripple. I have no executive power. I have no legislative power,  but you are not crippled and you can show them that you are on ground. Local Government should be allowed to carry out its function.

    “But I wonder, if the states can allow what they are doing to the Local Governments  to be done to them by the Federal Government.

    “Sadly, very very sadly, the autonomy of the Local Governments almost without any exception, havr been bastardized and encroached by the States.

    ” Both are suppose to be  tiers of government with each having its roles and functions. But, that is not the case.

    We shall continue to talk until those who reasonable among change this attitude.”

    Earlier, the NULGE President said the union had come to Obasanjo join in the rescue mission of the LGA system, noting that, as founding member of the administration in 1976,  they had autonomy of the Local Governments in mind.

    “We are aware that the mission was to make the council independent in running the affairs, but, the situation has changed and the states have rendered the local governments impotent.

    “As it is now, the governors cannot not do anything. Only yesterday, Abia state governor said he can not afford to raise N800m to conduct council election. That is why we decided to come to you to use your experience and not to allow local government system go into extinction.”

    “Also, we want to crave your indulgence to as the father of local government administration in Nigeria, we want to have a special role to play when you mark you 80th birthday next year, March, 2017.

    “We want to have a lecture programme, which you will be present to talk on local government administration in order to remember our people what the local government stands for. We pray for God’ s protection over you and your family,” Khaleel said.

  • NSCDC trains 106 officers on arms’ bearing

    NSCDC trains 106 officers on arms’ bearing

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oyo State Command, has trained 106 of its officers in arms’ bearing

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Oluwole Olusegun, on Monday in Ibadan.

    The statement disclosed that this was part of its efforts to combat vandalism and criminality in the state.

    It added that the officers had undergone a 12-week intensive training in physical fitness, intelligence gathering, drills, arms’ bearing and ethics.

    The level of discipline exhibited by the personnel during the training was quite commendable, it said.

    It quoted the State Commandant, Mr John Adewoye, as saying that arms’ bearing had improved the efficiency of the corps in its mandate and general duties.

    The commandant enjoined them to continue to remain as good ambassadors of the organisation and at the same time, carry out their duties with the fear of God, it said.

    The commandant in the statement also urged them to be more committed to the protection of lives and property.

    It said that Adewoye also lauded the NSCDC Commandant General, Mahammadu Gana, for organising the training for the personnel.

    NAN reports that the training involved live ammunition firing at the military shooting range of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Nigeria Army, Alamala Barracks, Abeokuta.

  • I take responsibility for collapsed market complex – Amosun

    I take responsibility for collapsed market complex – Amosun

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun on Friday said he has taken responsibility for the collapse of an Ultra – Modern Market complex being constructed at the Old Oyo road by the popular Itoku market, Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.

    A wing of the dual four – storey market complex caved – in around 9am, killing one person – Mrs Noimat Sikiru (a nursing mother), and injuring seven others out of about 18 workers who resumed work there in the morning.

    Amosun who was sighted coordinating the rescue efforts at the scene of the collapsed structure, said he would not leave the location until the excavators and rescue team had gotten to ground zero to ascertain that nobody is still trapped in the rubbles.

    Speaking with reporters on ground, he said the state government would investigate the incident to establish what caused the structure to crumble down.

    Amosun said: “I take full responsibility of what happened here, not even the Commissioner for works can take the responsibility because when the glory comes we share it together but if anything goes wrong, I take the blame so I take full responsibility but we are going to get to the root of the matter”.

    “As early as 9 o’clock in the morning, the workers were here as always, 16 all together as we have told and a little minute after 9am we have this partial collapse of this building.

    “Out of those 16, eight came out immediately the building collapsed and the remaining 8 they were hurriedly taken to the hospital, one unfortunately died on the way to the hospital, two were discharged immediately because they sustained minor injuries. The remaining five are still at the hospital, they also sustained minor injuries”.

    “We can’t leave this place the way it is, because it is better for us to act under caution we are not that comfortable with the way this place is and that is why we have to get to what we called ground zero and we will get there before we leave here today because we want to be sure that nobody is still trapped under the collapse.

    “The most important thing to us is to ensure that no further lives are lost. We will leave here until we are sure that nobody is still trapped in there.

    “We are going to find out the cause of the collapse. When you look at this building particularly you will discover that the topography of this side of the building is lower and that is why we have the basement here and sure the engineers and everybody else will get to the root of the matter”.

    “We didn’t pray for this but we are going to double check other buildings of the State projects to determine their structural viability. We are very saddened about the fact that we lost a live, we have gotten across to the members of his family.”

  • Varsity don advocates review of Nigeria criminal justice system

    Dr Abiodun Amusan of the Health Services Department, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, has advocated the need to review and reform Nigerian criminal justice system to meet present realities.

    Amusan made this call at the occasion of a one day sensitisation/inauguration Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), in Benin on Thursday.

    Speaking on the topic, “Fumigating Corruption In The Health Sector”, Amusan noted that the present justice system have rendered the fight against corruption ineffective.

    While calling for the enactment of effective laws and policies by government, he urged that corruption should be “criminalized” and should no longer be referred to as “practice” so ICPC should become ICCC.

    He also stressed the need for the immediate review of laws and power enshrined in the constitution of anti graft agencies to empower them for better performance.

    The speaker who noted that corruption in the health sector is infectious, appealed for prompt prosecution of indicted officials.

    He said corruption hinders patients access to health care, adding that corruption adversely affects expected outcome of all health intervention efforts.

    Amusan regretted that corruption trend in Nigeria is on the increase, further said corruption is detrimental to the safety of patients.

    The university don listed corruption in the health sector to include corruption among doctors, nurses, laboratories and corruption among patients.

    He listed the categories of corruption in these departments to include, doctors using official hours to attend to private patients, manufacturing of fake and sub-standard drugs and medical report falsification for a fee or favour.

     

    Others are, collection of illegal fee and medical consumables from patients, preferential searching of case files of favorites and falsification of results for tests not done.

    Speaking earlier, the Commissioner in board of  ICPC in Edo/Delta, Mr Olukile Olusesan bemoaned that most Nigerians who do not engage in corrupt practices directly accommodate it.

    “Our level of tolerance for corruption is amazing.

    “The truth about it is that a sizable number of Nigerians have driven us to a remorseful bus stop where the only way out is to change and support the government lofty programmes for a better Nigeria,” he said.

    The  event was concluded with the inauguration of the UBTH unit of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit, under the chairmanship of Dr Emmanuel Egwaihide.

     

     

  • Workers strike paralyse govt’s business in Ogun

    Indefinite strike  by civil servants paralysed government business in Ogun State on Monday as the state workers stayed at home in obedience to the directive by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNC).

    The state secretariat at Oke – Mosan looked forlorn and deserted  as the civil servants failed to resume, while school children who also returned home early as there were no  teachers to attend to them.

    At the two entrance leading to the Secretariat, representatives of the JNC were seen with public address system  asking visitors and some workers to go back home and also  ensured that compliance to the strike was total.

    The workers commenced the strike  following an alleged failure of the state government to honour the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) it signed with tripartite labour unions last January.

    The reneged terms of the MOU by the state government ‎include the suspension of the dysfunctional Contributory Pension Scheme, payment of at least two months deductions out of nine and resumption of payment of gratuity that was stopped in October 2012.

    But reacting, Ogun state government said it is committed to the Workers’ Welfare and urged the  striking civil servants and doctors to return to work.

    It expressed surprise and regret at the decision of a few workers in the state civil service to embark on a strike action.

  • Rock crushes mother, three children to death in Abeokuta

    Rock crushes mother, three children to death in Abeokuta

    • Father, two others critically injured

    One of the many rocks for which Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, is famous  and named after, came crashing down on Friday night, crushing a family of four to death.

    Killed were a mother (Silifat Lawal); two of her children (Raaheedat,15, Semia,4); and a grandchild  (Mariam).

    The heavy rock rolled off the height it had sat for hundreds of years at Iberekodo in Abeokuta North, smashing into the bedroom of the deceased who were fast asleep soon after having dinner.

    However, the head of the family Ismail Lawal and two other children – Sukurat and Rofiat- survived the assault on the modest home by the deadly rock.

    They were just a few steps away – relaxing in the sitting room – when the tragedy struck.

    They were injured, but that is not without injuring them seriously.

    Locals blamed Friday’s downpour for the incident.

    They said the rain appeared to have softened the base of the rock which gave way and made the rock to lose its balance.

  • ‘Obasanjo influenced Abeokuta as Ogun State capital’

    The Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, has said Abeokuta was not among the cities considered as the Ogun State capital by the late Gen. Murtala Muhammed, when it was created in 1976.

    He said it was Gen. Muhammed’s deputy, the then Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Lt.-Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, an Egba man, who used his position to bring the Ogun State capital to the town.

    The monarch spoke at the weekend at the turbaning of Princess Khadijat Adebisi Edionsere (popularly called Cash Madam), as the first iya suna of Ogun State by the Muslim Council.

    Adetona, a former chairman of the Ogun State Council of Obas, however, noted that he saw nothing wrong in ex-President Obasanjo’s action, saying he only proved “to be a true son of Abeokuta.”

    The royal father, who is the president of the Ogun State Muslim Council, hailed Governor Ibikunle Amosun for his developmental projects, urging the people to support him.

    His words: “It is good to use your position to positively affect your people. When Ogun State was to be created, Abeokuta was not the city recommended as the capital. But because Obasanjo was the second-in- command, he took the capital to Abeokuta. I don’t condemn his action, I am only saying our people should learn from that.”

  • ‘Ritualists’ throw woman’s body from vehicle

    [dropcap]F[/dropcap]leeing “ritualists” at the weekend threw the remains of a 23-year-old woman off a moving vehicle onto a refuse dump at the  Olomo-Ore Junction in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, and sped off.

    The victim, who was  identified as Sitira at Lafenwa Divisional Police headquarters, Abeokuta, where her body was taken to after it was pulled out from the refuse dump, was said to be  a trainee-stylist.

    Females’ items such as pants, “leggings”, brassieres, camisole, make-up kits and a  pack of cotton wool littered where the suspected ritualists hurriedly threw Sitira’s remains.

    Esther Adewuyi, who identified herself as a relative of Sitira, told reporters that the late stylist lived with her mother in Iberekodo village in Abeokuta North Local Government Area.

    Esther said she was last seen in their house on Saturday evening planning her graduation from apprenticeship.

    Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi told The Nation that the girl was killed at the spot where she was dumped by the assailants, adding that besides the injury on her right hand, there was no suggestion she was killed for for rituals.

    Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), added that no one knew those who carried out the killing.

    The police, he said, have started investigation into the incident.