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Tag: Ajimobi

  • ‘Why Ajimobi is giving utmost consideration to women development’

    ‘Why Ajimobi is giving utmost consideration to women development’

    Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu, has said women, besides their numerical strength have great potentials necessary to evolve a new economic order, accelerate social and political development as well as transform the society into a better one.

     She stated this yesterday at a colourful ceremony organized by women from the five local governments in Ogbomoso land, held at Ojagbo recently.

    According to her, statistics from the last national population census estimated that of the over 31million rural women in the country, about 16million live below the nationally defined poverty line, lacking access to basic education, decent nutrition, adequate health, and social security.

     ‘’Also, the UNDP Human Development Report attested to the fact the galloping increase in rural poverty is hitting women hard, as 60 percent of the rural women are poor. Most women have no collaterals to offer to financial  institutions, in order to receive credits and other vital resources. In fact, the report added that in Nigeria , about 30 percent of the women receive less than one percent of the total credit given out annually.’’

     Expressing delight that women have continued to display great dynamism throughout the difficult period in the state, Sunmonu stated that they have displayed ingenuity and creativity in finding alternative to any situation, individually at the household level, and collectively at the social level, thereby creating conducive atmosphere for democracy and democratic governance to thrive.

     “ You constitute a dynamic breeding ground within the framework of any perspective for change.  The issue of women empowerment has become a matter of concern in the world, and particularly for the present administration in Oyo State . Considering their indispensable role in the society as mothers, custodians, and shapers of the society, the Ajimobi –led administration is of the conviction that empowering women is empowering the nation.”

     The Speaker however assured the women that any activity that can improve their economic power would not only be encouraged, government would also encourage them to develop high-esteem and more confidence in themselves, through exhibiting their God given potentials for good.

    Responding on behalf of the women who were elated to receive the Speaker amid pomp and pageantry, Mrs. Aiyedun Ade-Oba appreciated various commitments of Alhaja Sunmonu towards improving well-being of the people.

  • Ajimobi tours, presents score card in Ibadan

    Ajimobi tours, presents score card in Ibadan

    For four days last week, Governor Abiola Ajimobi toured the 11 local government areas that make up Ibadan where he presented his score card to the people in the past three-and-a-half years. BISI OLADELE, who covered the tours, writes that Ajimobi’s achievements will silence critics of his policies and programmes.

    For residents and visitors to Oyo State, particularly from January, 2012, the state has been galvanised into a society where orderliness, civility and modernity reign.

    The achievements of Ajimobi-led administration were perceptible in all parts of Ibadan, the state capital and in other major towns such as Iseyin, Ogbomoso and Oyo.

    Interestingly, Ibadan, which has the highest population in the state, is where the governor has stiff opposition. This is despite the state capital being the highest beneficiary of significant projects by the administration.

    As modern cities emerge amid peace and security, critics of the projects and Ajimobi’s leadership style increased, even as the government explains to the people why the projects were undertaken.

    Last week, the governor and his team took their enlightenment campaign to all communities in Ibadan to address residents on the reason for the policies and projects.

    The four-day tour followed the success of those to Oke-Ogun, Oyo and Ogbomoso the previous week where the governor did the same.

    Ajimobi began with a programme for commercial drivers at an event centre along Ibadan-Lagos Expressway, Soka Ibadan on Tuesday.

    At the meeting, the governor, whose arrival threw the huge crowd of drivers into jubilation, hailed them for conducting themselves within the ambit of the law and totally shunning violence since the inception of his administration.

    Governor Ajimobi told the cheering crowd that when he inherited a society some of whose features included violence, thuggery and brigandage, his pledge was to enthrone peace and harmony as well as create an atmosphere where business and other lawful activities will thrive.

    Deploring the situation where commercial drivers had constituted themselves as a menace to the society, the governor commended the drivers for support his administration by stopping violent activities within the state’s branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

    He specifically praised them for being calm even when he deplored modern buses to major routes which commuters board at subsidised prices.

    The governor pledged to gradually do away with rickety buses by assisting drivers to purchase new buses.

    “As you co-operate with us, we plan to reward you with assistance. Whenever you look back and compare our administration, you will always say that ours is better. But please, don’t give in to deceit,” Ajimobi said.

    The governor urged them to continue to support his administration as he makes efforts to ensure that the state regains its glorious position.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the union, Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde (aka Fele), expressed joy for the governor’s presence at the event, saying it showed the respect the governor accords commercial drivers in the state.

    “We are happy to have the governor here. This is unprecedented in the history of our union.

    “Peace has returned to the state under Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration.

    Ajimobi has brought the change we want-peace and security. Ibadan was one of the dirtiest; roads were bad and narrow but the Ajimobi administration has improved all of that. We urge you not to rest on your oars, sir. And we also promise to do our business peacefully,” he said.

    At Sasa in Akinyele Local Government, the governor had a meeting with traditional rulers, market traders, artisans, politicians, commercial drivers, religious and community leaders during which he explained his policies and programmes as well as the reasons behind them.

    The leader of Orogun community, Mr. A. Ogunsola praised the governor for fulfilling his electoral promises. He, however, urged the governor to improve water supply to the area and renovate the Orogun Link Road.

    Other community leaders who spoke also praised Governor Ajimobi for his achievements, stressing that his accomplishment would speak for him.

    The Oniroko of Iroko, Chief Abioye Olasunkanmi, who spoke on behalf of traditional rulers in the local government, requested inclusion of more chiefs in the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, citing historical reasons.

    Chief Olasunkanmi praised Ajimobi for his monumental achievements, saying as a retired teacher, he had not witnessed recruitment of 5,300 teachers on one occasion, with new recruits sourced from their localities.

    Devoid of any campaign colouration, the traditional ruler said Ajimobi’s achievements were already speaking for him for the 2015 elections.

    He said the current administration has particularly made the welfare of teachers a priority, adding that Ajimobi’s infrastructural development as well as the urban renewal policy is unparalleled. He urged him not to relent.

    Chief Olasunkanmi also pledged the support of traditional rulers and their subjects in the local government for Ajimobi as he lifts the fortunes of the state.

    Responding, the governor said he had succeeded in sustaining the rich history of the “firsts” established by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo by undertaking projects that are first of their kind in the history of the state.

    According to him, his administration adopted the principle underlining the Abraham Maslow’s human needs pyramid which stipulates that physiological needs are the very basic that should be met first.

    Accordingly, Ajimobi said the principle informed his administration priority attention given to issues such as peace and security without which nothing meaningful could be achieved.

    Governor Ajimobi said meeting the basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter requires earning an income which explains why his administration employed 20,000 youths into the Youths Empowerment Scheme of Oyo State (YES-O).

    He reminded his audiences at the councils that his administration had employed several others into the state civil service, attracted no fewer than 13 investors who had employed residents in their various factories and establishments while capping it with recruitment of 5,300 teachers at once.

    Ajimobi emphasised that stomach infrastructure means teaching people how to fish instead of giving them fish. By employing and creating job opportunities for residents, the governor said the act is already having positive multiplier effects on the economy of the state.

    At Ibadan North East Local Government Area, the governor told traditional rulers that the amount of capital flow into the state has increased by 697 per cent approximating $3.49 million, up from $500,000 between the first and second quarter of the year.

    According to him, the figure has proved wrong allegations from the opposition parties in the state that the state was witnessing capital flight since the inception of the Ajimobi administration.

    Governor Ajimobi said he was not quoting from a statistics manufactured by him but a report released recently by the National Bureau of Statistics, a Federal Government institution.

    “As revealed in the report, total capital imported into the country stood at $5.8 billion as at the end of the second quarter of 2014, relative to the $3.9 billion recorded in the preceding quarter. Of these, Southwest Nigeria was at the top destination for capital importation in the first half of 2014, with about 98 per cent of total capital imported in the Region.

    “This impressive performance located capital importation into Oyo State as having increased by 697 per cent, approximating $3.49 million, up from $500,000 between the first and second quarters of the year.

    “Happily, our uninformed and mischievous cynics have again been proved wrong in their assertions that there is capital flight in Oyo State,” the governor said.

    Governor Ajimobi said his mission in governance was to redeem the state from the shackle of under-development, even as he urged the people not to be deceived by the antics of deceitful and selfish politicians who are out to discredit the present administration.

    He pointed out that his administration has continued to play the politics of development, truth and honesty to establish a veritable platform for performance and good governance.

    “I am not a desperate politician who is out to canvass for votes by all means. My mission is to redeem the state from under-development and deceitful politicians,” he said.

    In Ona-Ara, Iddo, Oluyole, Lagelu and other councils in the city, the governor explained that driving traders away from the road was for their ultimate benefit as vehicles crushed them during accidents.

    He also pointed out that the city could no longer continue with the habit of cholera-prone practices at roadside shops by some traders which is responsible for outbreak of communicable diseases.

    As a solution, Ajimobi emphasised that his administration built neighbourhood markets to accommodate those driven away from the road, saying no previous administration did that even though they also drove away traders from the road. Additionally, he said that his administration gave out the shops to the traders at no cost, pointing out that Chief Bola Ige’s administration which built markets did not give out the shops free.

    Furthermore, Ajimobi said his administration gave out N20 million to the traders as incentive. This, he said, was aimed at improving the lot of traders.

    In the same manner, Ajimobi said his administration embarked on cleanliness of the cities, infrastructural development and the urban renewal project to change the position of the state from the second dirtiest to one of the cleanest. These, he said, aimed at enhancing people’s good health and make the state attractive to investors.

    Ajimobi also explained that his administration chose to make the welfare of teachers a top priority because his dream to overhaul the education sector would be a mirage without first making teachers happy. The same, he said, applied to civil servants who have also been enjoying 13th month salary, regular local and foreign training as well as free transportation to and from state secretariat from Mondays to Fridays.

    Why would a governor sack those trading on the streets? Why would a governor build neighbourhood markets, give out the shops free and give interest-free loans to traders? Why would a governor convert major roads in four cities to dual carriage ways at the same time? Why did Ajimobi channel resources to urban renewal project, and why would he engage 5,300 teachers at once in the face of dwindling allocation from the Federation Account?

    All these and many more were some of the issues the governor explained to the people as he toured Ibadan last week.

    Governor Ajimobi was warmly received by teachers, politicians, artisans, women groups and other categories of residents at all the local government areas with pomp and ceremony.

    On the governor’ steam were his deputy, Chief Moses Alake-Adeyemo; Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Olalekan Ali; commissioners; members of the National Assembly; Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Chief Akin Oke and political appointees.

     

     

  • Ajimobi attributes Accord Party’s criticisms to naivety

    Ajimobi attributes Accord Party’s criticisms to naivety

    OYO State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has described the criticism of his tour of the 33 local governments in the state by former governor Rashidi Ladoja’s Accord Party as a total naivety of the way governments all over the world works .

    The Accord Party had described the tour during which the governor met with the people and distributed letters of appointments to the 5,300 teachers employed by his administration as ‘executive joblessness’.

    Ajimobi, while speaking with elders and traditional chiefs in Iddo Local Government on Friday, said that it was the unique way of the opposition in the state to disparage any good government policy that did not come from them.

    “I was told that they said it was joblessness that I am going round the state meeting my people and distributing letters of appointment to 5,300 teachers. Isn’t that ridiculous? How can you have a Commander -in- Chief who is going round to inspect his troops and you still accuse him of looking after the welfare of his people? What job did the people elect me to do if not going round to look after my people’s welfare? No doubt, it is the usual idle talk of the opposition,” Ajimobi said.

    He told the mammoth crowd that had come to receive him that in the history of governance in the state, no administration had employed as much people as his government had done in the last three and half years.

  • Communities’ rousing welcome for Ajimobi

    Communities’ rousing welcome for Ajimobi

    There were erroneous beliefs by some that the support which the All Progressives Congress (APC) enjoys in Oyo State has nose-dived. However, BISI OLADELE writes that last week’s tours by Governor Abiola Ajimobi to Oke-Ogun, Ogbomoso and Oyo areas of the state showed strong signs that the governor’s profile as well as that of the party is on the rise.

    Though Ibadan does not occupy more than a quarter of the total land mass of Oyo State, hosting the state capital and the headquarters of 11 of the 33 local government areas, 65 per cent of both government and commercial activities in the state take place in Ibadan.

    With a huge population and central location, Ibadan has been the major focus for decades, thus taking the shine off other communities.

    Nevertheless, last week will remain a special one in the lives of many residents of Oyo, Ogbomoso, Ibarapa and other major towns in Oke-Ogun areas of the state.

    It was a week traditional rulers, community leaders, politicians, professionals, artisans, students and others had a face-to-face interaction with their governor, Abiola Ajimobi.

    From Iseyin, Saki, Tede to Igbeti, Igboho, Ogbomoso and Oyo, the governor and members of his cabinet were received by surging crowds that acknowledged his impressive projects and peaceful tenure.

    The governor had undertaken the tours to the areas to see things for himself and have discussion with his subjects. Governor Ajimobi went on the tour with members of the State Executive Council, other political appointees and leaders of the party.

    He also used the opportunity to distribute appointment letters to newly recruited teachers in each of the local government areas. The teachers numbering 5,300 were recruited to fill the existing vacancies in the state’s school system.

    Though he had severally visited most of the towns on official assignments in the past, Governor Ajimobi literally relocated seat of government to other parts of the state. The tours, which started in Oke-Ogun, were rounded off in Oyo on Thursday.

    The tours began on Monday, November 3 with a visit to the 10 local government areas in Oke-Ogun. The visit lasted till Wednesday when he moved to Ogbomoso.

    Received by huge crowds at towns such as Saki, Iseyin, Tede, Igboho, Kishi and Igbeti, the governor met with traditional rulers, community and religious leaders, party stalwarts, professional bodies, artisans and ordinary folks in the zone.

    He distributed letters of appointment to the teachers just employed from Oke Ogun zone.

    While distributing the letters to the newly employed 2,500 primary school teachers from the area, Ajimobi pledged to continue to use the available resources to ensure even distribution of benefits of democracy across the five zones of the state.

    The programme, which was held at the Oja-Oba Market, witnessed the presence of party faithful, professional bodies and members of the public, even as the governor promised that his administration would continue to enhance the education sector in order to ensure standard.

    Governor Ajimobi said the previous administrations did not recruit any teacher during its tenure while its predecessor recruited only from Ibadan land and posted them to Oke-Ogun, pointing out that the teachers later moved to Ibadan through transfers, leaving schools in the area without teachers.

    He said the decision of his administration to recruit from Oke-Ogun and other local government areas was to prevent mass exodus of teachers from rural to urban areas.

    He, however, urged the newly recruited teachers to be dedicated to duty and work for the progress and development of Oyo State.

    Governor Ajimobi also used the opportunity of the event to accept new defectors to the APC.

    In their separate remarks, the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Busari Adebisi and his counterpart from the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Alhaji Abu Gbadamosi, said the teachers recruited in the Oke-Ogun zone would be retained in the area.

    While receiving Governor Ajimobi in his palace earlier, the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdul Ganiyu Adekunle, Ajinase 1, praised him for his high level of political maturity and security initiatives.

    He said the people of Iseyin were grateful to the state government for transforming the Iseyin Road into a dual carriage way despite the scanty resources available to the state.

    The monarch praised the efforts of the governor towards bringing development to all the areas of the state, stressing that the employment of teachers and other unemployed youths were indications of good governance.

    “We had never witnessed these unprecedented achievements in the history of Oyo State. I want to advise you to disregard the antics of the detractors and continue with your good works in Oyo State,’’ he said.

    In other towns in the zone, residents trooped out in large number to receive the governor.

    Traditional rulers in the zone pledged their unflinching support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the administration of Governor Ajimobi in order to achieve success in the 2015 general elections.

    The monarchs included the Iba of Kishi, Oba Moshood Aweda Lawal; the Alamodu of Ago Amodu, Oba Adebowale Lawal; the Alago of Ago Are, Oba Olagoke Jubril; the Onitede of Tede, Oba Abdulrauf Oladoyin; the Onjo of Okeho, Oba Rafiu Osuolale; the Onigbeti of Igbeti, Oba Emmanuel Oyebisi and Oba Rasheed Adekunle, the Onibode of Ona-Onibode.

    They described as unparalleled Governor Ajimobi’s achievements in the past three-and-a-half years.

    Indeed, the Alamodu of Ago Amodu was ecstatic as he sang several songs in his local dialect in praise of Governor Ajimobi for transforming the state.

    “We have seen the difference in your style of administration. Your commitment towards providing good governance and making life worth living for the people of Oyo State is unprecedented. Violence and brigandage which used to envelope the state before your coming on board has stopped. We are now sleeping with our two eyes closed.

    “We are solidly behind you. No government has done what your administration has done in Oyo State. No governor has shown love to the people of Oke-Ogun more than you have done,’’ they said, adding that the dual carriage way of Iseyin township road, the ongoing dual carriage way of Saki Township-Ilesha Ibariba Road and other road rehabilitation projects in the Oke-Ogun zone are evidence of the love the governor has for the zone.

    Responding, Governor Ajimobi assured the traditional rulers that his administration will continue to enhance the welfare of royal fathers, adding that they would be accorded due respect and honour.

    While urging the monarchs to continued their support for his administration, the governor stressed the need for them, especially those in Igboho land to be more united to ensure peaceful co-existence among themselves.

    In Ibarapa zone, the governor visited Eruwa, Igboora, Idere, Ayete, Tapa and Igangan and also visited the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola and the Asigangan of Igangan and Oba of Igboora.

    He also distributed letters of appointment to the teachers recruited from the zone.

    The Eleruwa praised the governor for his efforts towards developing the state.

    The monarch particularly acknowledged the governor’s restoration of peace and tranquillity in Oyo State as against the violence and thuggery that used to reign before he became the governor.

    He pledged his support and those of other traditional rulers in Ibarapa zone for the second term ambition of the governor.

    Governor Ajimobi promised to ensure equitable distribution of the benefits of democracy to all the five zones of the state.

    While at Ogbomoso on Wednesday, Ajimobi visited all the five local government areas.

    He also visited the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi  Ajagungbade III

    The monarch praised the governor’s passion for the development of Oyo State and pledged his continued support to his administration.

    Governor Ajimobi also had fruitful discussions with party faithful, community leaders, party leaders and other stakeholders in the zone.

    The governor and his team were treated to a rousing welcome by surging crowd in Oyo on Thursday.

    While at the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, he was received by the Oyomesi, the baales, members of the Oyo royal family and community leaders.

    Oba Adeyemi debunked rumours that his relationship with the governor had been strained. He said he was solidly behind the second term aspiration of the governor.

    The monarch noted that the governor had been doing well to govern the state.

    “The governor has not offended me in any way. He has not done anything for us to part ways. We are still together. May God Almighty continue to guide him. If he offends me, I will tell him. If there is need for us to part ways, I would have told him, but there is no reason to warrant this,’’ the Alaafin said.

    Governor Ajimobi thanked the monarch for his rewarding pieces of advice to him the past three-and-a-half years of his tenure.

    He also corroborated the Aalafin’s assertion that the relationship between them is still cordial, even as he likened it to that of a father and son.

  • Ajimobi to inaugurate 10 projects

    Ajimobi to inaugurate 10 projects

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi would soon inaugurate 10 capital projects executed at wards in Oluyole Local Government, the Caretaker Chairman of the council, Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, said at the weekend.

    He spoke when he launched capital projects to be executed with the excess crude oil funds released to the council by the governor at Olomi-Olojuoro Road.

    The projects to be inaugurated include: the building of Ifelajulo Community Primary School at Mosfala in Ibadan, the construction of a block of three classrooms with headmaster’s office and toilet at Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School, Onigambari, the building of a block of classrooms with headmaster’s office and toilet at Oluyole Local Government Community Primary School, Lamolo, the construction of a block of classrooms with headmaster’s office and toilet at Kolajo Primary School, Olomi, the building of 24 open stores at Toll Gate Market, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.

  • Ajimobi commissions biggest oil refinery

    Ajimobi commissions biggest oil refinery

    GOVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Friday inaugurated the biggest automated edible oil refinery and margarine company in Sub-Saharan Africa in Ibadan, with a pledge that his administration would continue to do all within its powers to ensure that the state continued to be the preferred destination of investors in Nigeria.

    The firm, Rom Oil Mills Limited, a subsidiary company of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, is expected to refine crude palm kernel oil, crude palm oil and crude soyabean oil into refined oil and distilled fatty acids.

    Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Ajimobi said that the effect of the employment generation that the company would give the people of the state, was his own idea of stomach infrastructure.

    “This, indeed, is our idea of the so-called stomach infrastructure. We thank the management of the company for their implicit trust and confidence in our state. You have indeed vindicated our stance,’’ he said. The governor added that the cumulative effects of his administration’s developmental drive and consequent influx of investors into our state would result in employment generation and empowerment of the people which, he said, would positively impact millions of our people, as “it is the best and most dignifying stomach infrastructure ever’’.

    Ajimobi said the establishment of the firm, a-400 metric tonnes per day universal refinery, was another testimony to his administration’s leadership and “investors- baiting” policies.

    He described the development as the dividends of the peaceful atmosphere which his administration brought back to the state at its inception, as well as the enabling environment which had been attracting foreign investment. He also stressed that the management of the company would never have invested their billions of naira in a violent-prone and dirty Oyo State of the past. The governor, while stating that thousands of the sons and daughters of the state would be employed by the company, added that this would have multiplier effects on over a million of their dependants.

    Governor Ajimobi expressed satisfaction with the rate at which investors had been trooping to the state, stating that “Oyo State boasts of the presence of a leading soya milk manufacturing company in Nigeria, the largest bread-making factory West Africa, the Number One day-old chicks agricultural company in Nigeria, the biggest support service provider for the telecoms industry in Nigeria, among others.

    “If you add the largest Shoprite outlet in West Africa that has been recently sited in our state, you will understand how a secured and peaceful atmosphere, as well as an environmentallyconducive state, is essential for employment-generation and indeed, the economic development of the people. “Add all these to the rebirth of night life in the capital city, as manifested in the many hospitality industries that have sprung up in the nooks and crannies of Oyo State, you will realize why development experts say that peace and security are the foundation of any society,’’ he said..

    The governor said that his vision was based on removing the state from the unpleasant profile of a backward, violent state that drove away investors. Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina commended the agricultural agenda of the Ajimobi administration, stressing that the governor had done a lot to assist farmers in the state, especially in the provision of tractors and other farm implements. He also said that the federal government had distributed 351,000 high quality palm seedlings to farmers in the state. He thanked the governor for ensuring that the seedlings got to the end users.

  • Monarchs support Ajimobi

    Monarchs support Ajimobi

    Traditional rulers in Oke-Ogun, Oyo State, have pledged their support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    They gave the pledge when the governor visited the Oke-Ogun axis to distribute letters of appointment to new teachers  in the state’s teaching service.

    The traditional rulers include Iba of Kishi Oba Moshood Aweda Lawal; Alamodu of Ago Amodu Oba Adebowale Lawal; Alago of Ago Are Oba Olagoke Jubril; Onitede of Tede Oba Abdulrauf Oladoyin; Onjo of Okeho Oba Rafiu Osuolale, Onigbeti of Igbeti Oba Emmanuel Oyebisi and  Onibode of Ona-Onibode Oba Rasheed Adekunle.

    They described the governor’s achievements in the last three and a half years as unparalleled.

    Oba Lawal sang several songs in his local dialect, praising Ajimobi for turning the state around.

    “We have seen the difference in your style of administration. Your commitment towards providing good governance and making life worth living for the people is unprecedented.

    They said: “Violence and brigandage, which used to envelope the state before your coming on board, has stopped. We are now sleeping with our eyes closed.

    “We are solidly behind you. No government has done what your administration has done in Oyo State. No governor has shown love to the people of Oke-Ogun more than you have done.’’

    Ajimobi assured the traditional rulers that his administration would continue to ensure the welfare of monarchs , adding that they would be given due respect and honour.

  • Ajimobi best performing governor, says lawmaker

    Ajimobi best performing governor, says lawmaker

    The member representing Ibadan North II in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Olusegun Olaleye, has said Governor Abiola Ajimobi remains the best performing governor in the state.

    The lawmaker said this yesterday when he distributed refrigerators and gas cookers to All Progressives Congress (APC) members at Ward 12.

    Ajimobi believes in the infrastructural economic and spiritual development of the state.

    He said neither the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nor Accord Party could develop the state.

    “I want you all to support the governor because of the achievements he has recorded in this state. He believes in massive infrastructural development and now education is taking another shape.”

  • Ajimobi’s wife empowers 1000 widows

    Ajimobi’s wife empowers 1000 widows

    It was a happy and joyous Sallah for widows in Oyo State as the wife of the governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, hosted to a party and donated cash and other items to them. TAYO JOHNSON was there.

    in her bid to alleviate the sufferings of widows in our society, the wife of the Oyo State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi has empowered no fewer than 1000 widows in the state under her Ajumose Widowhood Initiative programme.

    At the empowerment programme held at the Tennis court, government house during the recent Sallah celebration, the widows were selected from four different groups in the state and were given cash price, foods and other materials.

    The widows’ home includes; Christian Care for Widows, Channels for Widow Health Centre, Widows Care Centre and Dream Alive Concept.

    According to Mrs Ajimobi, the programme was  thoughtfully designed to coincide with this year’s Sallah celebration.

    “We thought it necessary that we should always put smiles on the faces of a very important group of vulnerable people in the society- the widows. This is not the first time that this government will be extending its hand of love to the widows in the State.

    “You will recall that in the year 2011, at the inception of this administration led by His Excellency Senator Abiola Ajimobi, two of the earliest activities embarked upon by my office were the opening of mini-clinics for the aged and widows in all the 33 local government areas of the State as well as the flag-off of the widowhood support programme, also in all the local governments areas.

    “Also in May 2013, in commemoration of the second year anniversary of this administration, there was also an empowerment programme which was specially organised for the aged and widows. This goes to show how dear widows are to the heart of this administration and how germane it is to us to see that they are well catered for. Widows are the embodiment of the struggles and travails of womanhood and I would like our widows to know that this administration does not undermine your importance” She stated

    The governor’s wife said the present administration in the state recognises the peculiarity of the situations of the widows, and is more than committed to continue to give them (widows) the necessary support in order to ensure that they are saved from the stigma that is usually associated with widowhood in the country.

    She lamented that:”Traditionally, widowhood is seen as a curse and a burden and the death of the breadwinner usually translates into the ‘death’ of his family.  The plight of widows is thus indeed very pitiful. Many widows and their children are kicked out of their homes, forced to live in abject poverty on the fringes of society, and are prey to abuse, violence and sexual exploitation.”

    Mrs Ajimobi urged all Nigerians to rise to support and empower the widows in their midst, stressing that they must be given the opportunity to live again.

    She enjoined all sundry in the state to keep supporting the government of Governor Ajimobi “as you always have and let us work together to make our dearly beloved Oyo State great again”, urging the people of the state to ensure continuity of the administration.

    In her appreciation message on behalf of the widows, Dr Joan Agunloye thanked Mrs Ajimobi for her kind gesture towards them, praying God to grant Governor Ajimobi second term in office for continued transformation of the state.

  • Our projects impact on people, says Ajimobi

    Our projects impact on people, says Ajimobi

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has said his administration has been executing projects that impact on the people.

    He said this when the Country Director and executive members of African Development Bank (ADB) visited him at the weekend.

    The governor said his administration would partner the bank in the provision of  infrastructure to enhance living standards.

    Ajimobi said his administration had rehabilitated the Asejire Water Plant, which had been moribund for 17 years.

    With the inauguration of the rehabilitated water plant, Ajimobi said water supply to Ibadan and its environs had improved drastically.

    “Since we have rehabilitated the Asejire Plant, which is now working at 80 per cent capacity, so many areas that had not had water for the past 17 years, now have water.

    “It is our belief that the purpose of governance is to provide the atmosphere for the people and businesses to thrive,’’ he said.

    The governor said his administration had repositioned the state to meet the challenges of the modern world through its urban renewal programme.

    ADB’s Country Director Ousmane Dore pledged the bank’s readiness to continue to partner with the government in the provision of social infrastructure through a public-private partnership arrangement.