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Tag: Abiola Ajimobi

  • Mark, Fayemi, Ajimobi, Amaechi condole with Soyinka

    Mark, Fayemi, Ajimobi, Amaechi condole with Soyinka

    Senate President David Mark; Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) yesterday condoled with Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka and his family on the death of his daughter, Dr. Iyetade Soyinka (48).

    In a statement, Mark said: “I received the news of Dr. Soyinka’s exit with shock. I earnestly share in this pain. Please accept my sincere condolences. I did not meet Dr. Soyinka personally, but her record of professionalism and excellent services during her short but eventful sojourn on earth gives eloquent testimony of a patriotic and committed Nigerian.”

    Mark urged the Soyinka family, the government and people of Ogun State to be consoled by the late Dr. Soyinka’s achievements.

    Fayemi, in a statement, said: “On behalf of the government and people of Ekiti State, I commiserate with the Soyinka family on the death of this precious jewel, who was snatched by the cold hands of death.

    “Although her death is painful, we take solace in the good work she did during her short but eventful life. I pray to God to console the bereaved and heal the wound inflicted on their hearts by the death of our vivacious sister, Iyetade, who was taken away in her prime.”

    Ajimobi, in a statement, said: “It was with shock and disbelief that I received the news of Dr. Soyinka’s death at the unripe age of 48. It is natural that her death at the prime of her life will be very painful to Prof. Soyinka. It is even more painful that she was snatched by the cold hands of death when she was most needed by the country.”

    Amaechi, in a statement, said: “The death of a young person like Dr. Soyinka is a shock. On behalf of my family and the Rivers State government and people, I commiserate with the Soyinka family. I pray they find solace and strength in God as they go through this difficult time.”

  • Ajimobi assures workers of pay rise

    Ajimobi assures workers of pay rise

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday assured civil servants of an upward review of their salary.

    At an interactive session with civil and public servants, the governor directed that a committee be constituted to work out modalities for salary review.

    The committee would be made up of labour leaders and officials of the Ministry of Finance.

    Ajimobi announced the payment of the 13th month salary for the third year running, adding that promotion arrears for 2011 had been approved and those of 2012 would be released before March, 2013.

    Thanking workers for their support, he reiterated his administration’s commitment to their welfare.

    Explaining the state’s financial situation to the workers, Ajimobi said the paucity of funds was caused by inadequate revenue, both internally-generated and Federal Allocation.

    He said the successes recorded in environmental sanitation, urban renewal, infrastructural and human capital development were the product of a unique financial engineering system adopted by his administration.

    Ajimobi said it has also led to an “all-round transformation” and an influx of investors, adding that a vehicle-assembly plant and an ultra-modern industrial park would soon be established in the state.

    He said, henceforth, his administration would be picking the best among ministries, departments and agencies based on performance during the year.

    Ajimobi declared the State Water Corporation the best agency for 2013, based on the rehabilitation of the Asejire Water Works, which had been moribund for 17 years.

    Most of the workers praised the governor on performance and for the opportunity he gave civil servants to express themselves and contribute to the state’s growth.

  • Ajimobi preaches love at ‘Xmas Carol

    Ajimobi preaches love at ‘Xmas Carol

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has urged Christians to reflect on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and show love in their day-to-day dealings with others.

    He spoke at the weekend at the 2013 Christmas carol of Nine Lessons at the Remembrance Arcade of the Government House in Ibadan, the state capital.

    Ajimobi said he would continue to ensure peace, love and harmony in the state, adding: “We must constantly imagine a better Oyo State, where peace and tranquility will reign; where social benefits will be sufficient; where food will be in abundance; where our people will live happily and be the best they can be.”

    The governor urged religious leaders and the people to continue to support his administration’s efforts to improve the state, saying: “I implore you all to challenge today and demand for a better tomorrow. Let us identify what it will take to make this state the pride of all.”

    He urged those in positions of authority to always be courageous and selfless in the discharge of their duties, adding: “Whenever we are in any privileged position, let us have the courage to be selfless in order to serve humanity; let us sacrifice for a better tomorrow because a leader must have the intellect to visualise and the courage to implement.”

    Retired Archbishop of Ibadan Catholic Archdiocese Most Rev. Felix Alaba Job decried the level of corruption in the country, urging leaders to fight it.

    He advised leaders to place high premium on integrity and be more committed to the welfare of the less-privileged.

    The eighth and ninth lessons were read by the Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo and Ajimobi’s wife, Florence.

    Prayers were thereafter offered for peaceful coexistence and God’s protection on the people.

    The carol was attended by religious leaders and prominent personalities, including House of Assembly Speaker Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu; Ambassador Olusola Saanu; Chief Eddy Oyewole and Commissioner of Police Mohammed Ndabawa.

  • Ajimobi pleads for forgiveness as he turns 64

    Ajimobi pleads for forgiveness as he turns 64

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday asked for forgiveness from those he may have wronged in the line of duty.

    He spoke at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex in Adamasingba, Ibadan, the state capital, during his 64th birthday celebration.

    Ajimobi dedicated his life to the service of humanity, pledging to do his best to improve the state.

    The event was preceded by thanksgiving services at the Government House Chapel and Mosque, where special prayers were offered for the governor.

    It was attended by eminent personalities, including the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III; the Olubadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I; the Aare Musulumi of Ibadanland, Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola-Alao; Ambassador Olusola Saanu; Chief Kola Daisi; politicians, religious and community leaders, traders and ordinary folks.

    Ajimobi thanked God for sparing his life and the people for their support, pledging not to let them down.

    He said: “Nobody can become anything except he is allowed by God. I know that my becoming governor was by the grace of God and the support of the people. I, therefore, have no choice than to continue to work for the peace, progress and development of this state.”

    Oba Adeyemi offered special prayers for the governor.

    Oba Odugade said he was proud of Ajimobi as a true son of Ibadanland, adding that the development being witnessed in the state was last witnessed 60 years ago.

    Saanu thanked the governor for not disappointing the people, who gave him their mandate in 2011.

    Oyo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Akin Oke and Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) Yekini Popoola pledged to support the governor for a second term.

    A prominent Islamic scholar and preacher, Sheikh Muideen Ajani Bello, said the goodwill the governor enjoys from religious leaders was due to his “outstanding performance”, adding that the state is witnessing “unprecedented development”.

    Speaking with reporters after the ceremony, Ajimobi said his administration had given N25 million to traders, who were displaced by the clean-up of Ibadan.

    Ajimobi said it was the first tranche for traders displaced at Molete/Challenge. Traders on the road were removed and relocated to the Scout Camp.

  • FG empowers 3,500 youths, women in Oyo

    FG empowers 3,500 youths, women in Oyo

    THE Federal Government has empowered a total of 3,500 unemployed youth and women under the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) project in Oyo State.

    While launching the programme in Ibadan on Saturday, President Goodluck Jonathans who was represented by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, noted that those who benefited from the project comprised 1,982 males and 1,518 females.

    According to Jonathan, all the beneficiaries of the project are currently working in 144 service units spread across all the 33 local government areas of the state.

    He added that the beneficiaries had received a total of N246.8 million as stipends, while a total sum of N29.9million had been remitted to the state as running/management cost between February and September 2013.

    While receiving the minister on Saturday, the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi said, “When you look at a state with about 10 million population and we are saying only 1,000 or 2,000 people have benefited, to me, this is terribly low.”

    The governor advised that such a life-transforming programme should be done without any political consideration.

    Ajimobi said if the Peoples Democratic Party-led federal government discriminates against members of the other political parties in the management of SURE-P, its aims would be defeated.

    He therefore called for the setting up of a committee comprising representatives of both the federal government and state governments in each of the 36 states of the federation that would run the programme.

    When constituted, the committee, Ajimobi noted, would ensure synergy between the federal government and the state governments on the SURE-P scheme and other similar empowerment and poverty alleviation programmes of states government.

  • ‘Oyo now more business-friendly’

    ‘Oyo now more business-friendly’

    Oyo State government has been commended for its efforts in creating an enabling environment for trade and investment.

    Speaking to reporters in Ibadan at the weekend, President of the Mega Trade Fair, Mr. Delight Owoyemi, said Governor Abiola Ajimobi had done so much in his 30 months in the saddle to encourage the private sector.

    He said the 10-day Mega Trade Fair will take off on Friday

    “The state government has done its own job of creating an enabling environment for the private sector and that is what we have taken a cue from,” he said.

    He added: “You need to go round this ancient city and see the kind of transformation that it has witnessed in the last two years. This trade fair is our humble contribution towards rebranding this state,” adding that the Ajimobi Administration had done wonderfully well in this regard.

    He said the Mega Trade Fair, which will take place at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, would attract about 300 exhibitors and over 300,000 visitors.

    According to Owoyemi, the setback which necessitated the postponement of the trade fair from the original August date had turned out to be a blessing, adding that it had made the event to be bigger.

    “This gave us more room to network and bring on board some very important stakeholders,” he said. “And this has resulted in giving us what will turn out to be a bigger, brighter and better trade fair.”

    One example of the goodness in the postponement, he said, was the collaboration with Odu’a Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ODU’ACCIMA), under the leadership of Iyalode Alaba Lawson

    According to him, the Mega Trade Fair 2013 will be second to none in terms of diversity, adding that it would feature a fashion show.

    In addition, he said, such big-time musicians as Abass Akande (Obesere), Taiye Currency and Yinka James, will perform during the exhibition. Two football matches will also come up.

    The fair is a general exhibition incorporating micro, small and medium-scale enterprises; telecommunications; banks, insurance and financial services sector; ICT businesses; oil and gas; manufacturing industries; automobiles and transportation; agro and agro-allied industries; fashion, beauty and cosmetics; arts and craft; health sector, as well as non-governmental.

  • Kola and Bisola Daisi expectant

    Kola and Bisola Daisi expectant

    UPWARDLY mobile dude, Kolapo, and his wife, Bisola, the daughter of the Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, are expecting their second child. The young lady behind the wave-making shoe store, Florence H, has jetted out of the country to make preparations for the delivery. Abisola is married to Kolapo, a banker with Heritage Bank and the youngest son of wealthy businessman, Chief Kola Daisi. Their wedding has remained the talk of town since it was held in 2010.

  • Ex-CPC members back Ajimobi

    Ex-CPC members back Ajimobi

    Members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Oyo State yesterday endorsed Governor Abiola Ajimobi for reelection in 2015.

    The defunct party’s Youth Leader, Hafis Oladejo, and former governorship candidate Deaconess Esther Olubukola Adedokun led their members to the State Secretariat in Ibadan to pledge their support to the governor.

    Contrary to the position of her running mate in the 2011 election, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu, who wants to contest the 2015, governorship election, Deaconess Adedokun said members of the defunct party, who have joined the All Progressive Congress (APC), were in support of Ajimobi’s second term ambition.

    She said: “We are here to adopt Ajimobi as our governorship candidate. We want him to continue in 2015. We have gone round the local government areas, including Oke Ogun where Shittu hails from, to sensitise people on the need to support Ajimobi.”

     

     

    “We know we cannot win governorship election alone as CPC, reason we are supporting the governor for him to succeed. There is no more CPC. We are now part of APC and the only symbol we have in Oyo state now is Governor Abiola Ajimobi”, she said.

     

    Explaining on why she has refused to support her former boss, Shittu, the former deputy governorship candidate said, “Though our relationship still remains cordial, the difference between me and Alhaji Adebayo Shittu is that while he wants to eat rice, I want to eat beans. He wants to become governor, but I am supporting the sitting governor to continue for second term to complete the good work he has been doing. Barrister Shittu wants to be governor of APC, but I face my governor as leader.

     

    The former CPC chieftain also used the occasion to rubbish the proposed national conference mooted by President Goodluck Jonathan, Adedokun said, “PDP had ruled us for 14 years yet there are no improvements. If they were serious about discussing the fate of this country, they ought to have allowed the confab immediately the military left in 1999. Introducing it now is unopportune.

     

    “It is likely to end up as another wasteful exercise. Let the PDP allow another party to administer and they would see the diference. If after eight years, the APC does not change things for better, then they can let us have a confab. But definitely, it is not now.”

     

    ENDS

  • No govt can finance security alone, says Ajimobi

    No govt can finance security alone, says Ajimobi

    Oyo gets Security Trust Fund

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday said no government can finance security alone.

    He called for continued partnership between the government and the private sector in maintaining peace and order.

    Ajimobi spoke yesterday at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, the state capital, while inaugurating the Board of Trustees of the State Security Trust Fund (OYSTF).

    The board Chairman is Mr. Olatunde Ayeni. Members are Col. J. Ogbade, Dr. Ayo Abina, Mr. Femi Odumagbo, Assistant Commissioner of Police Christopher Owolabi, Mr. Olu Ajayi and Mr. Femi Oyedipe.

    Ajimobi said his administration’s vision was to create a safe environment for development.

    He said: “We are all witnesses to another unprecedented transformational strategy aimed at strengthening the state’s security apparatus. Security is the most expensive societal endeavour all over the world. It, therefore, demands the synergy of all stakeholders – private and public sectors.”

    The governor said the trust fund was set up to institutionalise security management.

    He said: “We are doing all these against the back-drop of higher security challenges in neighbouring states. With this, Oyo State is forearmed to deal with any cascading security challenge from its neighbours.

    “OYSTF builds on the existing template of Ajumose (collectivity) in resolving challenges to effective security management. Through public private partnership, Oyo State will have an enabling environment for sustained funding of security services in return for the credible management of security threats.”

    The governor said OYSTF would operate as an intervention agency for the mobilisation and provision of funds for sustained and adequate security services.

    He urged the committee members to mobilise resources from the public and private sectors to make the objective a reality.

    Ajimobi said to tighten security, the government established a crime-fighting outfit, Operation Burst, comprising the police, military and other security forces.

    He said to a large extent, the outfit had ensured peace in the state.

    Ayeni said the establishment of the Fund was right, praising the Ajimobi administration for the initiative.

    He urged individuals and corporate bodies to support the Fund.

  • Ajimobi, Aregbesola, Tinubu, Akande, others pray for Lam Adesina

    Ajimobi, Aregbesola, Tinubu, Akande, others pray for Lam Adesina

    •Ayo Lam Foundation unveiled

    Eminent Nigerians yesterday gathered at the Adamasingba Stadium in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to pray for the late former Governor Lam Adesina, who died a year ago.

    The prayer session was organised by the state government.

    Dignitaries at the event include Governors Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun); All Progressives Congress (APC) Interim National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande; APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; former Oyo State Governor Omololu Olunloyo; Oyo State House of Assembly Speaker Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu and Senator Ayo Adeseun.

    Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) were represented by Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa and Dr. Ganiyu Owolabi.

    Also present were Gen. Adedayo Popoola; former Secretary to the State Government Chief Michael Koleosho; the Iyalode of Ibadanland, Mrs. Aminat Abiodun; former Deputy Governor Hazeem Gbolarunmi; Aare Abdulazeez Arisekola-Alao; Chief Iyiola Oladokun; Elder Wole Oyelese; Justice Adekola Nurudeen; Chief Lateef Oyelade and representative of the Olubadan, Chief Olufemi Olaifa.

    Others are House of Representatives members Kamil Akinlabi and Biodun Awoleye; Chief Aminat Abiodun; Alhaja Sekinat Adekola; Dr. Busari Adebisi; APC’s Interim National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Oyo APC Chairman Chief Akin Oke and the late Adesina’s supporters, known as the Abegi Group, among others.

    Ajimobi described the late Adesina as his teacher, father and political leader.

    He said the late Adesina taught him in school.

    The governor urged APC factions to resolve their differences, saying it was the best way to honour the late Adesina.

    He said: “Some people are calling themselves Lamists to the core; they do not even know that I am one of the core followers of the late Adesina. When I was vying for the governorship seat, Asiwaju Tinubu and other leaders of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) took me to him and he blessed me. We shall continue to honour the memory of the great Lam Adesina and tread his path.”

    Aregbesola said the large turnout of people at the ceremony showed that the late Adesina was loved by many.

    He urged the people to emulate the virtues of the late politician, who he said lived an exemplary life.

    People also gathered at the late Adesina’s home, where the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Suara Haruna, led prayers for the repose of his soul. This was followed by the inauguration of the Ayo Lam Care Foundation.

    The late Adesina’s first son, Ayo, said the foundation was to immortalise his father.

    He said his father was a philanthropist and he (Ayo) was determined to build on his legacies.

    Ayo said the foundation, which was established early this year, has made donations to many charity homes.

    He urged eminent personalities to support the foundation in caring for the less privileged.

    Former Governor Rashidi Ladoja described the late Adesina as a God-fearing man, who lived his life serving Allah.

    He pledged to donate N100,000 monthly to the foundation for life.

    Ladoja said: “Lam was a selfless man, who loved the masses. There is need to donate to this wonderful foundation to help the needy in honour of Lam’s memory.”

    Former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala described the late Adesina as “loving towards everyone”.

    He pledged to send his donation to the foundation before Friday.

    Chairman of the Odu’a Group Sharafadeen Ali; Senator Olufemi Lanlehin and Mr. Femi Babalola were also in attendance.