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Tag: Ajimobi

  • Open letter to Ajimobi

    Open letter to Ajimobi

    SIR: Ibadan is known to be one of the dirtiest cities in Nigeria. But since you became governor, you have been committed to erasing that ugly impression. I wish to use this avenue to laud your efforts and to also plead with you that the ongoing demolition of illegal structures should be done with leniency as many people have been rendered shopless. This has really affected many people not only the citizens of the state but also the visitors.

    We all know the state of the roads in Ibadan before you came into power. Mokola roundabout used to be very clumsy for both motorists and pedestrians but that is expected to be enhanced with the construction of the new Fly-over.

    Sir, I will like to call your attention to some unreasonable and bad attitudes of some motorists and private car owners. I learnt that it has been said that nobody should park his/her car at the junction to enable free movement of vehicles on the roads but some people are still paying deaf ear to that. Most often, cars coming out from the street of Mokola to head to the major roads often clash with motorcycles or passerby due to the way some cars are parked.

    Also, in some streets of Mokola, some shop owners have been ordered to remove the extensions they constructed in the shops not those shops near the major roads but those in the streets where vehicles seldom pass. Even though my mother’s shop is not affected, I still have to write on behalf of affected people to implore the governor to look at the situation of things and ask them to reconstruct their cubicles to avoid rain flooding their shops incessantly.

     

    • Waziri Mohammed

    Mokola, Ibadan.

     

  • Chime, Ajimobi mourn Jason

    Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime has described the late ace columnist and social critic, Pini Jason, as a true patriot who devoted his career to the pursuit of national development and protection of the rights of ordinary citizens.

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi condoled with the management of Vanguard Newspapers and the family of Pini Jason.

    Chime, in a message by his Chief Press Secretary, Chukwudi Achife, said the late Jason was an exemplary journalist who contributed to the nation’s socio-political and economic advancement.

    He called on journalists to emulate the professional practice of the deceased left behind.

    Ajimobi, in a statement in Ibadan by his Special Adviser on Media, Festus Adedayo, described the late columnist as one of the few consciences of the nation.

    “Jason was a fearless writer who never for once hesitated to present issues as they were. He was always on the side of the truth and he never wavered in defending the course of the ordinary Nigerian,” he said.

     

  • Ajimobi says Oyo Technical Varsity’ll be best in Africa

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has said the newly-established Technical University in Ibadan, the state capital, would be the best in Africa.

    He spoke in his office in Ibadan while receiving a delegation from the Texas Technical University, United States (US), at the weekend.

    Oyo State and Texas Technical University are in a partnership to develop the new university.

    Students of the new institution are to spend the last two years of their programmes at the Texas Technical University.

    Ajimobi said the concept of the new university was developed by some of the best brains in Africa, with inputs from experts at the Texas Technical University.

    He said the government has employed the services of one of the best architects in the world for the institution’s architectural design.

    Ajimobi said the visit, which is coming less than three weeks after he visited Texas, shows that the American university is committed to the establishment of the institution.

    The Associate Vice-Provost of Texas Technical University, Dr. Gary Elbow, said he was impressed by the government’s commitment to the project.

    Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI) Prof. Olufemi Bamiro, who is handling the new university’s academics, said the school would produce technical experts that would develop the nation’s infrastructure.

    Speaking with reporters at the university’s temporary site, the Technical Implementation Committee Chairman, Prof. Oladapo Afolabi, said the institution would focus on engineering courses.

    Afolabi said: “The university will be the first of its kind in Africa. It will exemplify the highest level of public-private partnership.”

  • Ajimobi, Ladoja: Old friends, now foes

    Ajimobi, Ladoja: Old friends, now foes

    The crisis between Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi and the Accord Party (AP) leader, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, has deepened, following the sack of the latters’ followers from the State Executive Council. BISI OLADELE traces the genesis of the frosty relationship and its implications for the next general elections.

     

    There is no permanent friend or enemy in politics.

    Political alliances emerge and collapse as the situation dictates. Ego war, flexing of muscles and mudsliging often shape political relations among waring politicians. In a minute, they collaborate. In another twinkle of an eye, they quarrel and part ways.

    In Oyo State, many saw the acrimony between Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Senator Rashidi Ladoja coming. The two of them are cousins. They belong to different parties. But necessity made a pact between the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), led by Ajimobi, and Ladoja’s Accord Party (AP) more compelling in 2011, when they were threatened by a common foe, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    For almost two years, it has been an a turbulent marriage. Last week, the accord finally collapsed. The sack of Ladoja’s followers in the Ajimobi Administration was the last straw that broke the carmel’s back. The move has also altered the political calculations in the state, ahead of the 2015 polls.

    In a letter written by Ajimobi to Ladoja, he said he felt “constrained to take this painful, but inevitable decision”, in view of their personal relationship.Two commissioners, two special advisers, some chairmen and members of boards of parastatals and agencies, caretaker chairmen of a local government and others who were nominees of the former governor lost their jobs in the Ajimobi government.

    Observers contend that, mutual trust, the platform upon which they built their alliance in June 2011, had broken down. Ladoja has been critical of the administratin in recent times. Also, the AP has been firing salvos at the ACN. The agreement between the duo has come under serious strains. Some people have observed that the AP’s participation in the ACN administration has exposed the governor as a political neophyte. However, the sack also generated more heat.

    Ladoja and his party have not spared Ajomobi, particularly on his urban renewal project aimed at giving Ibadan, the state capital, a lift. He has chided the governor for the demolition of illegal structures, stressing that a government that means well for the people should not destroy their means of livelihood by not providing an alternative before the demolition.

    Ajomobi had exoplained that he embarked on the city project to return Ibadan to its original urban plan and prepare for future rains. In the metropolis, many buildings are erected on water channels and refuse often pose environmental challenges to the residential areas. Therefore, the governor issued a quit notice to many traders whose shops either obstruct water flow or disturb the urban planning. The government also had to relocate many street traders to new locations where neighbourhood markets are being constructed with modern facilities.

    But Ladoja and his party disagreed with the policy, saying that it inflicts pains on the traders who had their shops demolished without an alternative market. They rejected the neighbourhood market, arguing that they should have been provided before the demolition took place.

    Government officials have said that the urban renewal project was non-negotiable, stressing that it would make the city to attract investors. But the former governor maintained that that fruit sellers are found at train stations and other public places in the United Kingdom, wondering why Ajimobi was bent on turning Ibadan to a truly urban centre. He pointed out that Ibadan cannot be turned to London in a day.

    Frowning at these criticisms, Ajimobi said that Ladoja was distracting him. He deliberately doubled his effort on the urban renewal agenda with impressive gusto.

    But is the urban renewal project the main bone of contention between the governor and former governor? Sources disclosed that the preparations for the 2015 elections have pitched the two politicians against one another.

    Analysts point out that the alliance had broken down much earlier, but that the criticisms and propaganda by Ladoja and AP have only confirmed the parting of ways.

    By this development, the battle line is clearly drawn between the ACN and AP. It is expected that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may see the new crack as an opportunity to sharpen its teeth to bite in 2015.

    The PDP governorship aspirants; Jumoke Akinjide, Teslim Folarin, Seyi Makinde and Soji Adejumo; may renew their hope of regaining many party supporters that have joined either of the two parties. Thus, the 2015 election may still go in the way of the 2011 where the three parties had a good showing, but in which the most popular party produced the governor.

    At a critical hour of need, AP had come to the aid of the ACN. The collaboration produced the numerical strength that reduced PDP to a minority party in the House of Assembly. With the breakdown of the accord, can ACN Administration survive in the state?

    According to analysts, Ajimobi Administration now needs a united ACN to survive and forge ahead. The administrtion has recorded some landmark achievements. These include the peace and tranquility that have replaced criminality, the road and bridge construction, beautification and environmental sanitation, unparalleled welfare package for the civil servants, rebuilding of education through infrastructural facilities, training and retraining of teachers, free transport for state government workers, provision of loans, provision of hospitals and free health. These may make it difficult for another party dislodge the ACN from power in the next election.

    The result of the last election showed thatLadoja was more popular in some local governments in Ibadan. He also commanded a large following among the civil servants. But the loyalty of the civil servants may be divided by the memory of how the former governor paid their salaries promptly when he was in the saddle from 2003 to 2007.

    Many Ibadan indigenes have applauded the beautification of Ibadan and the restoration of sanity to the intra-city roads. Thus, Ajimobi’s support base is expanding among the ordinary people who are the fans of Ladoja.

    However, Ladoja has started mobilisation for the 2015 electoral contest. On daily basis, many peoople are defecting to the AP from the PDP.

    Ajimobi is not relenting too. He is mobilising by working for the people. In Oyo State, what will determine the fate of the governorship candidates is their track record of performance.

    Since he was endorsed for a second term by his party, he has been firing salvos at the opposition. A witty Ajimobi had jokingly told Akinjide at a social function last month there will be no vacancy in the State House. “My dear sister, if I am four years older than you, it means you can succeed me after my first four years. But if I am eight years older than you, it means you will wait till I spend eight years”, he said.

    The governor cracked the joke to achieve two purposes. He used it to douse the tension between his supporters and Akinjide’s. The governor told his supporters to stop whatever could bring back the politics of brickbats. He also used it to wittingly tell Akinjide that the ACN would not allow another party to defeat it in the 2015 election.

    If AP and PDP resolve to come together to battle the ACN, there may be tension in the state. But Ladoja appears to have ignoring that option, owing to the inability of the PDP leaders to assure him that they would not betray him again.

    Ladoja is now perceived as a veteran governorship candidate. There are forces in his party urging him to allow the younger elementss to fly the party ticket. His fear is that the masses may turn their eyes from the AP, if he abdicates. But, if he runs again in 2015, how far can he go?

  • Ajimobi, Lanlehin visit Ibadan fire victims

    Ajimobi, Lanlehin visit Ibadan fire victims

    •Reps to empower NEMA

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday visited victims of Monday’s fire in Inalende, Ibadan, the state capital.

    A fuel-laden tanker spilled its content in the area on Monday evening and it resulted in a fire.

    Senator Olufemi Lanlehin (Oyo South District), Ibadan North West Local Government Caretaker Chairman Alhaji Wasiu Olatunbosun, social workers and community leaders also visited the victims.

    Ajimobi assured the victims of the government’s assistance. Moved by the extent of the injury sustained by one of the landlords in the area, Alhaji Yinusa Ajibade, the governor directed the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, to arrange for his treatment at the government’s expense.

    Inspecting the affected houses and shops, many of which were completely burnt, Ajimobi described the incident as “most unfortunate”.

    He said he felt the pains of the victims because he had a similar experience in 1992, when his newly-built home in Lagos was reduced to rubbles by fire.

    The governor urged the victims to thank God that no life was lost.

    He said: “My coming here is not to exploit the incident to campaign, but to sincerely sympathise with you. I know how painful it is to lose one’s means of livelihood in a fire, because I once experienced it, but we should take solace in the fact that no life was lost. You should also have faith that God can replenish your lost property in multiple folds.”

    Ajimobi said he had told some government officials to compile the names of the victims and indicate the property lost.

    One of the leaders of the community, Mr. Joel Adewumi, thanked the governor for his concern and assured him that residents would maintain a clean environment.

    Lanlehin urged the Federal Government, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assist the victims.

    Pledging to help the victims, he said: “Something urgent needs to be done to ameliorate the pain of the loss. I hope this does not happen again. I see sadness on the faces of the people because they have lost their life-long investments and houses, but let us thank God that no life was lost.

    “Of course, some people were injured, and I am sure they will be taken care of. The state government will obviously assist the victims. I will also do whatever I can to get the Federal Government to help through the appropriate agency.”

    The House of Representatives also sympathised with the victims. It considered making a law that would make NEMA more responsive to emergency situations.

    This followed the adoption of a matter of urgent national importance raised by Mr. Abiodun Awoleye (Ibadan North Federal Constituency), who regretted that NEMA did not respond to the fire until the following morning.

    He said: “The fire consumed over 50 houses, 35 shops, two mosques, vehicles and motorcycles. It is disturbing that only the State Fire Service responded to curtail the fire. NEMA did not respond until Tuesday morning.

    “In view of this, it would serve the nation better, if the House could mandate the Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness to come up with a legislation that will make NEMA more proactive to disaster management.”

    Awoleye said though those critically injured had been taken to hospitals, the casualty figure could have been lower, if assistance came on time.

    He also urged the House to mandate the committee to visit the scene of the fire and commiserate with the victims.

    The prayers were adopted after the motion was put to voice vote by the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal.

     

  • I’ll leave concrete legacies behind, says Ajimobi

    I’ll leave concrete legacies behind, says Ajimobi

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has said his administration will leave behind landmark legacies will stand the test of time.

    He spoke yesterday shortly after inspecting some projects in Ibadan, the state capital.

    They include the flyover at Mokola Roundabout and the dualisation of the Onireke-Jericho-Dugbe-Eleiyele road.

    Ajimobi said: “We are not working haphazardly. We have a blueprint and by when we leave, we will leave legacies that no one before us will surpass.” Expressing satisfaction with the work done on some of the projects, he said his administration would continue to execute projects that would directly improve the life of the people.

    The governor said: “Those who do not understand development economics will argue with our approach, but there is a pyramid of development anywhere in the world and that is what we are following.

    He said the projects being executed were of international standards and assured the people that his administration would not leave any project uncompleted.

    Lashing out at his critics, Ajimobi said no past administration has surpassed his achievements in less than two years.

    He said: “We are not doing construction by propaganda. Let those condemning us tell us what they did. The good thing is that many of them had been there in the past, what did they do?

    “We thought of some of these projects and we executed them in two years, but some people thought of them and were here for four years but they never did anything.”

    The Mokola Flyover is expected to be handed over to the government by the end of the month.

  • Ajimobi embarks on N850m renovation of state hospital

    Ajimobi embarks on N850m renovation of state hospital

    The Oyo State Government has commenced the renovation of the State Hospital, Ibadan (popularly known as Adeoyo Hospital) at the cost of N850 million.

    The hospital, which is located off Ring Road in Ibadan, the state capital, is the largest state-owned hospital.

    It has been abandoned for several years with visible decays in virtually all sections of the hospital.

    But after visiting the hospital last year, Ajimobi promised to rebuild it to enable it play its strategic roles in healthcare adelivery, which is a central part of his transformation agenda.

    The restructuring, which commenced about one month ago, is due to be completed in June.

    The Commissioner for Health, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, who disclosed this while addressing reporters in Ibadan yesterday emphasised the renovation exercise is more of restructuring as most of the units were being redesigned or relocated to different parts with state-of-the-heart medical equipment being supplied.

    The Commissioner disclosed that equipment worth N634 million were already being supplied, pointing out that they include theatre, OPD, ENT, Ophthalmology, gynecology and maxilofacial equipment as well as beds.

     

  • Ajimobi, Oyo exco felicitate with Olubadan at 99

    Ajimobi, Oyo exco felicitate with Olubadan at 99

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi and members of the Executive Council yesterday visited the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I, to felicitate with him on his 99th birthday.

    Speaking at the palace of the monarch, the governor described the Olubadan as “a highly respected and principled personality, whose reign has brought peace to the state”.

    The governor, who was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Aare Atunluto of Ibadanland, pledged his administration’s support to the Olubadan-in-Council.

    He prayed for the long life and sound health of the royal father.

    The monarch praised the urban renewal programme of the Ajimobi administration, saying it has improved the state aesthetically.

    He said the Ajimobi administration has recorded enviable achievements, especially in environmental sanitation and beautification, a feat he said distinguished it from other administrations.

    The royal father said this was why the Olubadan-in-Council decided to honour Ajimobi with the chieftaincy title.

  • Federal laws limit states’ performance, says Ajimobi

    Federal laws limit states’ performance, says Ajimobi

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday said the contemporary federal practice in Nigeria has hampered, rather than advance development in states.

    He highlighted areas in which the federal practice had constituted a clog in the wheel of progress of states to include the “lopsided revenue allocation formula, the constitutional delineation of power between the federal and state governments and the issue of security”.

    Ajimobi spoke on The Challenge of State Development in Federal Nigeria at a business session organised by the Island Club, Lagos.

    On the revenue sharing formula, he said while the Federal Government takes 52.8 per cent of all federally-collected revenue, the 36 states and the 774 local councils share 26.72 per cent and 20 per cent respectively.

    Ajimobi said: “The implication of this is that the Federal Government is surfeit with resources while state governments face serious financial challenges.

    “This is in spite of the fact that the states are responsible for the basic needs that impact on the social well-being of the citizens and the development of the states.

    “For instance, the federal government caters for about 50 secondary schools and 40 universities. Oyo State alone caters for over 2,000 primary schools, over 700 secondary schools, one college of education, one college of agriculture, one polytechnic and one university.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • Ajimobi, Aregbesola, Mimiko visit Fayemi over deputy’s death

    Ajimobi, Aregbesola, Mimiko visit Fayemi over deputy’s death

    •Imoke, Afe Babalola, Ita-Giwa, Oshun extol Olayinka’s virtues

     

    Governors Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) and Dr. Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) yesterday visited their Ekiti State counterpart, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to condole with him on the death of his deputy, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka.

    Mrs. Olayinka died of cancer on Saturday at the St. Nicholas Hospital in Lagos. She was 52.

    Ajimobi, who was accompanied by his wife, Florence, described the late Mrs. Olayinka as “a lady of substance, who lived an exemplary life and achieved much for her age”.

    Mimiko, who was accompanied by his wife, Olukemi, and some top officials of the Ondo State Government, described the deceased as “a strong pillar in the Fayemi administration”, adding that her death was a great loss to the state and the nation.

    He said the late Mrs. Olayinka was active in the struggle that led to the enthronement of the Fayemi administration.

    Mimiko said death is inevitable and will come at God’s time. He urged women to check their breasts regularly to detect any abnormality early.

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola also visited Fayemi on Sunday evening.

    He said Mrs. Olayinka had gone to rest with the Lord and urged Ekiti people to support the governor and the deceased’s family.

    Aregbesola said only God can fill the gap her death has created.

    Signing the condolence register at the Government House in Ado-Ekiti, he said it was “such a pain to lose a polished, smart and diligent person like Mrs. Olayinka”.

    Aregbesola said: “Conscious of the transience of life, we are consoled by the fact that her short life was very eventful and successful. We pray for eternal bliss in the bosom of God and the grace of God for her family.”

    Aregbesola and Fayemi visited the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, around 10pm on Sunday night to condole with him.

    Legal icon and founder of the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) said the late Mrs. Olayinka served Ekiti people with all she had.

    Babalola said ABUAD is working in partnership with a foreign university to establish a Department of Pharmaceutical Science and carry out researches on a possible cure for cancer.

    Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke, in his condolence message, said: “Although words seem inadequate to express the sorrow felt by her loss, we must focus on the memories of her good works and life-long achievements.”

    Senator Florence Ita-Giwa described the late Mrs. Olayinka as “a down-to-earth, dedicated and people’s politician, who was humble and knowledgeable”.

    In a statement, she said: “Mrs. Olayinka was one of the few women that ventured into politics at a time when Nigeria needs independent and strong-willed women to help in nation-building. On the few occasions that I met her, I saw a very humble and totally committed woman, who worked very well and cooperatively with her principal.

    “I commiserate with Fayemi, who lost a partner in the development of the state, and the good people of Ekiti, who bestowed a traditional title on me. I pray that God gives them a good replacement for her. I call for more opportunities for women in politics, not only as deputy governors, but as governors.”

    Chairman of the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) Adewale Oshun urged the government to provide effective and efficient health care services for the masses.

    Oshun described the late Mrs. Olayinka as a courageous woman, who preferred to be treated in a Nigerian hospital although she had other choices.

    He said: “We are all in God’s hands, but those in government should ensure that our medical services are of international standard.

    “Funmi believed strongly in Nigeria and that must have informed her decision to be treated in the country. With her death, you can see that sometimes we pay heavily for what we believe in.

    “Funmi was the first ARG chairman in Ekiti State. She was a principled fighter and a very loyal person. All we can do is pray for her family as well as the good people of Ekiti State.”

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Lagos State said the party has lost “a priceless jewel and a courageous woman of class and beauty”.

    In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, ACN said: “The death of our beloved Deputy Governor of Ekiti State is like a dagger in our hearts. The pain is deep and our wounds will take years to heal.”

    The management of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, also commiserated with the governor.

    In a statement, the institution’s spokesman, Mr. Ade Adeyemi-Adejolu, described the late Mrs. Olayinka as “a warm, humble and brilliant woman, who displayed an astute sense of purpose”.

    In her honour, flags in the institution were flown at half-mast, programmes were rescheduled and the monthly staff prayer meeting on Monday was held with soberness.

    The Rector, Mrs. Taiwo Akande prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul.