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Tag: Ajimobi

  • Ajimobi, Afe Babalola for book launch

    A book “Imaging the Nigeria Police: A Public Perception” written in honour of an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Sybil Olufunmilayo Akinfenwa, will be presented tomorrow.

    The event, which will take place at Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, will be chaired by Aare Afe Babalola. Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase is the chief host.

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi is the special guest of honour.

    Chief Kola Daisi and Alhaja Sarat Adeola Adesina are father and mother of the day.

    Chief Adejare Adegoke is the Chief Launcher while Prof. Oyesoji Aremu of the Guardian and Counselling Department will review the book.

  • Ajimobi, Ladoja return to tribunal today

    Former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja and Governor Abiola Ajimobi will return to the governorship election tribunal today to finalise their arguments on the petition filed by Ladoja.

    The tribunal, in August, fixed today for adoption of final addresses after the parties presented evidences and witnesses to prove their claims.

    The three-man panel is headed by Justice Muhammad Aliu Maiyaki, with justices Muhammad Karaye and J.E.Ikede as members.

    Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Yusuf Alli concluded the hearing. In closing his argument, he told the tribunal that there was no need for his client to call any witness because the original INEC documents were enough evidence to the fact that elections were held contrary to the petition brought by Ladoja and his party, Accord.

    Alli added that all the original documents admitted as exhibits before the panel were testimonies that that results garnered by parties and their candidates were recorded accurately and not falsified as claimed by the petitioners.

    He maintained that “since nobody has tendered any other result aside the one announced by INEC, it shows there was no falsification of the result of the election as included in the petition of Senator Ladoja”.

    Ladoja, the Accord governorship candidate in the April 11 election in Oyo State, is challenging Ajimobi’s victory.

    The petitioner also joined APC, INEC and its Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Rufus Akeju.

    Richard Ogunwole is representing the petitioners; Wole Olanipekun and Olumuyiwa Aduroja are Ajimobi’s counsel; Oluwarotimi Akeredolu represents the APC.

    Justice Mayaki said respondents had 10 days to write and file their final written addresses while the petitioners had seven days within which to file the same.

    He added that all the parties had five days to reply on point of law.

    “The parties also have additional 10 pages aside from the 40 pages meant for the final addresses for their objections to the admissible of documents tendered during the hearing session,” Justice Mayaki said

     

  • I won’t disappoint Oyo, says Ajimobi

    I won’t disappoint Oyo, says Ajimobi

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi reiterates his commitment to good governance and urges the people to support his plan to reposition the state for excellence.

    Of all the humbling moments I have had in life, the most outstanding one was earlier this year upon being re-elected Governor by the good people of Oyo State.

    It was all the validation I needed, as the people of Oyo are known for their political watchfulness. If I wasn’t doing something right – whether it was or wasn’t so in the eyes of political rabble-rousers – I would not be entrusted, for the second time, with the task of leading our state to further glory.

    I have always been one to admit that Oyo State has a long way to go. It was one of the reasons I opted to serve the state in the first place. However, four years alone would’ve been an unrealistic timeline for the actualisation of all the policies and roadmaps we created and which we have been implementing.

    Governing a state and turning it around has not and will never be a magic show. It takes patience, research, hard work, insight, and surrounding oneself with the right people. Most of all, it takes an element out of the control of man – time. During the first four years of serving the people of Oyo, my administration decided to pursue the tripod approach of restoration, transformation and repositioning of all sectors of the economy.

    With great intensity, we focused on the education sector, because we know that the foundation that children get determines if they will be productive members of the society in decades to come. It is only quality education that can bring about the kind of manpower that will eventually contribute to the progress that we started in 2011 in Oyo State.

    I have always taken to heart the words of the great Awolowo, when he said: “In order to attain to the goals of economic freedom and prosperity, Nigeria must do certain things as a matter of urgency and priority. It must provide free education.” That is why education at basic and secondary school levels was pronounced free; we wanted to encourage more people to educate themselves and their children. It is also why we reduced fees in tertiary institutions and established more of such institutions to cater for the increasing number of secondary school leavers who had, hitherto, been spending years waiting to fill the meagre admission slots available. And when they graduate from these institutions, our youth are being equipped with soft loans and entrepreneurial skills through our youth empowerment scheme (YES-O).

    Truth be told, we had our test run by implementing these facets whilst using the old governing structures that were already in place. And despite our tentative steps towards curing the rot that plague our educational system, the saying: “you can’t put old wine in new skin”, rings true.

    While some complain that the public school classes are overpopulated and the teachers are few, others remember that government has a limit to its resources, regardless of its good intentions and policies. I thank the Parents Teachers Associaions (PTAs) in Oyo for the constant support that is being extended to our public schools.

    Only last week, we broke ground for the construction of two hundred new classrooms, as part of our efforts to improve the conditions under which our children learn. These new classrooms are being built in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

    It is easy to forget that governance, especially a democratic one, is not the sole responsibility of the government in power, but also the people it governs. ‘Ajumose’ should be the order of the day. We are already doing a lot; we intend to do a lot more. I ask that more Oyo residents recognise this and extend their hands of collaboration.

    As policies are being implemented by the government, adjustments must constantly be made by the workforce and general citizenry and belts tightened. We have tried hard to plug the areas where there was excess spending of government funds by reducing the number of ministries, because it is the Oyo people’s money and it is in their best interest that we make necessary cuts and be fiscally responsible.

    Nevertheless, we are mindful of the need to put in place an environment that ensures our policies do not hurt the people we seek to protect – the people of Oyo. We are mindful of the contribution of Civil Servants to the State over the decades and their continued efforts, and so we are working to make their lives better.

  • Ajimobi: arrears’ll be paid

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has said all outstanding workers’ salaries will be paid this week.

    Ajimobi spoke when he made an unscheduled visit to some ministries and departments at the Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

    He said banks had confirmed receiving the bail out fund from the Central Bank, adding that the payment would be effected this week.

    The governor told civil servants that his administration would not reduce workers but would effect a re-alignment and reposting of workers for effective performances.

    At the Ministry of Education where the directors and deputy directors were holding the weekly management meetings, Ajimobi urged them to improve on the standard of education.

    The governor was conducted round the offices by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Aderonke Makanjuola, who assured him of the ministry’s readiness to do everything possible to improve on the standard of education.

    The governor also inspected the Office of the Surveyor General where he told the workers to redouble their effort on their productivity and improve on the internally generated revenue.

    At the Ministry of Lands and Survey Governor Ajimobi urged the officials on duty to define their roles and responsibility and suggest ways to improve revenue.

     

  • Pay us, Oyo workers beg Ajimobi

    Pay us, Oyo workers beg Ajimobi

    Oyo State workers have appealed to Governor Abiola Ajimobi to pay them their salaries.

    The state Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Waheed Oloyede, appealed to the state and the Federal Government to hasten the release of the bailout loan to the state.

    The government has paid April salary to workers in the mainstream of the public service, including teachers in secondary schools.

     At the local government level and primary school section, government has paid up till July.

    Oloyede said the government must strive to ensure that the arrears are cleared before the Sallah celebration.

    The NLC chairman urged the governor not to renege on the earlier agreement reached with the NLC leadership, where he promised that all arrears and pensions would be paid soon.

    “The governor promised that he would begin payment as soon as the fund was accessed.  In fact, that statement lifted workers’ hope and expectation was very high.

    “Now schools have resumed, nothing has come. The Sallah celebration is very close. Workers are agitated and are expecting money for the celebration.

    “We are appealing to the government that if there is any impediment delaying the release of this fund, it should please clear such.

    “We are also appealing to the Federal Government to quickly bail us out as it has promised.”

  • Expert drums up support for Buhari, Ajimobi

    The Managing Director of Mainsail Micro-finance Bank, Taofeek Gbolagade Rahman, has assured the people of Oyo State of better days ahead in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Rahman spoke in Ibadan while featuring on a radio programme anchored by a private station in the state capital.

    He advised South westerners not to panic as more appointments would soon be made that will favour them, saying that what Buhari needs now is our unflinching support and love in order to make our country great and vibrant again. On the issue of workers’ salaries in Oyo State, the financial expert said the workers should be calm, assuring that the salary problem is not peculiar to the state alone.

    “Governor Abiola Ajimobi is well tested, trusted and humane. With his experience in the oil and gas sector, I am sure he would lift the state out of the present crisis,” Rahman said.

    He praised the governor for running an all-inclusive government, adding that he knows and values democracy.

     

  • Alaafin praises Ajimobi

    Alaafin praises Ajimobi

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has described Governor Abiola Ajimobi as a man committed to the wellbeing of the people.

    The monarch spoke at the grand finale of the Oranyan festival in Oyo town.

    He said the governor’s devotion made the free medical services possible.

    The monarch said his desire to ensure that the annual festival was not a cultural jamboree led to the  free medicare mission, which was sponsored by two indigenes living in the US, Bode and Aanu Esuola.

    Oba Adeyemi said their company, Community Dentistry on Wheels, donated a $300,000 mobile hospital and organised three-day free medical services.

    He said: “After a visit to the USA to assess the facilities, I met with the governor to discuss the matter and solicited his support.

    ‘’What amazed me was his sincerity of purpose in providing all the needed logistics, including accommodation, feeding, mobility and security.

    “The governor was so excited that gave N4million to support the Oranyan festival.’’

  • Ajimobi, others for unveiling of Western Post

    Ajimobi, others for unveiling of Western Post

    Oyo state governor Abiola Ajimobi will chair the public unveiling of Western Post newspaper, the regional weekly covering the old Western region. The unveiling ceremony holds on Tuesday at Bashorun Hall, Ibadan Civic Centre, Agodi GRA, Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    As part of the programme, there will be a national conversation with the theme: “The Dwindling oil revenue: A case for regional integration”.

    The Director-General of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Dipo Famakinwa, will present the lead paper while Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Dr. Tunji Olaopa, and Director, Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS), Prof. Anthony Kila, are among the Discussants.

    The Aare Alaasa Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oloye Lekan Alabi; Olaopa and the first female Computer Scientist in Nigeria, Prof. (Mrs.) Adenike Osofisan will also receive awards for outstanding contributions to the region at the event.

     

     

     

     

  • No pay cut for Oyo workers

    No pay cut for Oyo workers

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State yesterday described as a misrepresentation, reports quoting him as having reached an agreement with the labour to cut workers’ salaries as a way out of the cash crunch.

    The party, in a statement by its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, said the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Comrade Waheed Olojede, must have either misconstrued the submission of Governor Abiola Ajimobi on the subject matter while the latter was featuring in an interview programme broadcast by an Ibadan-based radio station last weekend, or got briefed by the fifth columnists.

    APC said: “Like many other members of the public who monitored the Saturday morning interview, we were taken aback when we read again that the NLC chairman quoted Mr. Governor to have mentioned an agreement with labour to bring about a downward review of workers’ pay in view of the present economic downturn. The truth of the matter is that the governor never said that.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, it is on record that Senator Ajimobi, while reacting to a poser on salary payment palaver, said the government was meeting with relevant stakeholders, including the labour unions, on how to save the state from its economic problems and part of options being considered was salary review.

    “The governor did submit that workers’ pay was a constitutional issue, which no government could decide without the input of relevant authorities. He hinged his position on the need to prevent a situation whereby workers would be owed arrears of salaries in future as it is being witnessed at the moment and for anyone to mislead the public over this will be most unfair.

    “As a matter of fact, the APC administration will not do anything capable of undermining the efficiency of workers as we assure of continued friendly relationship between the government and its workforce, regardless of the numerous challenges. In a matter of days, the outstanding salaries and allowances owed public servants will be paid and the bones shall rise again.”

     

  • Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade best for Nigeria – Ajimobi

    Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade best for Nigeria – Ajimobi

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has expressed full support for the anti-corruption crusade of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying it is the best for the country.

    Ajimobi, at a radio programme monitored in Ibadan on Saturday, said that Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade would take Nigeria to greater heights.

    “I fully support Buhari. I thank God now that we have him in power. He is a man that is determined to wage relentless war against the malady of corruption.

    “If we do not fight corruption as a nation, then we cannot grow,” the governor said.
    Ajimobi attributed the non-constitution of his cabinet to the economic situation of the state, adding that he had decided to settle down for three months before appointing his cabinet members.

    `We will appoint 10 Special Advisers and Commissioners this month, by God’s grace. We have reduced our ministries to 13,” he disclosed.

    Speaking on the bailout fund for states, the governor said that the state governments would pay the money back at about nine per cent interest.

    “The money we are getting is strictly to pay salaries. It is illegal to use it for any other thing.

    “Even with that, about N17 billion is to be paid to the state government workers.

    “We are supposed to pay local government workers N9 billion. As at today, we owe workers N21.3 billion.

    “This means that after using the bailout fund to pay salaries, we will still be owing and we will continue to owe until our allocation or internal generated revenue increases.”

    Ajimobi said that the allocation to the state from the Federal Government on assumption of office in 2011 was N5 billion.

    According to him, however, the state hardly gets N3 billion now.

    He said that the financial situation of the state was the reason he met with representatives of workers to consider the next line of action.

    According to him, the next line of action of the state government will be to reduce workers’ salaries, retrench or restructure.

    “We will block all loopholes from where government loses revenue. Civil servants found guilty will be dealt with after following the due process,” he said.

    The governor said that the people of the state had started complaining that the streets were now dirty again.

    “Our people complained that we were too harsh on street traders, so we calmed down.

    “Now, the same people have been coming to us to loudly register their embarrassment over the condition of our environment.

    “We have decided that from Oct. 1, it will be fire for fire with street traders. There will be no turning back this time around.

    “We will clean everywhere. We will use Oyo Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) personnel to achieve that,” he said.

    Speaking on the petition instituted against him by the ACCORD Party at the tribunal, he expressed optimism that he would win at the tribunal.

    “Even though I should not be talking about the tribunal issue, but I can say it here that there is no case.

    “I am confident that we will win. I am not afraid. We won that election,” he said.