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Tag: Akeredolu

  • Land use charge: We’re not here to put burden on our people, says Akeredolu

    Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has explained that his administration is not in place to put burden on the people of the state.

    Governor Akeredolu made the clarification at the launch of Land Use payment at the office of the Board of Internal Revenue (BIR), Oyemekun road, Akure.

    The Governor, after making his own payment, clarified that his government inherited the land use charge law, which he explained has been in place since 2014.

    He said: “It is important that we make this very clear to our people.  What we are implementing is the land use charge law 2014. It is not a law that came about when we came into office, we are executing a law that has been existing before we came into office.

    “The law is so specific that everybody needs to pay arrears from 2014. The day the law was promulgated, it became binding on us  to pay from 2014. But, we look at it and felt that payment of the arrears might cause issues, hence a waiver for 2014, 2015 and 2016

    “We are not here to put burden on our people. But when a law is there, as a government, we must implement it. And it’s going to have a very great impact. We are looking at revenue generation, we are looking at building infrastructure and proper planning.

    “My house, that of the deputy governor and those of the exco members have been captured. I want to appeal to our people and also thank them for their cooperation. I call on our people to pay the liitlle amount that are charged on their properties.  It’s going to be annually.”

  • Akeredolu delivers 45km roads in 18 months

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) has delivered 45 kilometres of roads in the last 18 months in the three senatorial districts of the state, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Land, Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Raimi Olayiwola Aminu, has said.

    This is besides a number of many other road projects that are still undergoing construction.

    Aminu said Akeredolu achieved the feat despite the lean purse he inherited from his predecessor.

    The governor’s aide gave a breakdown of the road projects during a special media briefing after the State Executive Council (Excvo) meeting presided over by Acting Governor Agboola Ajayi.

    He assured the people that Akeredolu was committed to building infrastructure that will connect all the 18 local government areas in the state.

    In Ondo North Senatorial District, the special adviser said the completed projects include the 2.5km Jubilee Ugbe road, 1.5km Supare (Oke Afaa) road and 27.5km Iwaro road.

    This is apart from the reconstruction of the collapsed three major culverts in Ikare-Akoko.

    Others are: 2.5km Hewlet, Ogbo Omo, Igbadara and Ayegunle road in Ifon.

    Also completed, according to Aminu, are the 2.5km internal roads in GRA, Owo.

    He added that the dualisation of adjoining roads in Owo was almost completed.

    On the planned dualisation of 4.3-kilometre Ikare township road, 7.1-kilometre road in Owo and the 7.8-kilometre Akure-Ijoka-A Divison road, the governor’s aide said valuation of the property on the roads had reached advanced stage.

    Aminu said a number of roads had also been completed in Ondo Central Senatorial District.

    The special adviser said many others were ongoing in the same district.

    He named the completed projects as the 1.5-kilometre Abusoro road in Akure; two-kilometre Iwalewa-Alafiatayo-Hospital-Oshinle road in Akure.

    Also completed, he added, is the three-kilometre Okelisa and Bajare roads in Idanre.

    He listed the ongoing road projects as: Oke-Ogba road in Akure, Alagbaka-High Court-SIB road also in Akure; Gaga road in Aluke; Igbaraoke-Ibuji road; Isharun township roads and Bolodunro-Fagbo road in Ondo town.

    He added that the Fiwasaye-Airport street light project was ongoing.

    Aminu said the contractor handling Bridgadier Ademulegun Road in Ondo town had mobilized to site.

    The special adviser said Ondo South Senatorial District was not left out in the governor’s quest to link every part of the state with infrastructure.

    He said Sabomi-Ajagba road was 95% completed, while work in ongoing on Police Station road in Ore.

    Work has also reached 97 per cent completion on Okitipupa-Ayeka-Irele road, according to the special adviser.

    He said contractor would resume next week for a major construction at the Okitipupa Bypass next week.

    The state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Taofiq Abdulsalam, dismissed the already gaining-ground pessimism over the seriousness of the governor’s determination to construct the Ore flyover.

    Abdulsalam said despite the Federal Government’s earlier statement that it would not reimburse any state government, Governor Akeredolu would commence the construction of Ore flyover in fulfilment of his earlier promise.

    The commissioner added the construction would begin as soon as valuation of adjoining properties was completed.

     

  • Akeredolu for Idoani Anglican Synod

    The 2018 Synod of the Diocese of Idoani, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) comes up from July 19 – 22 at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Ido-ani, Ose local government area of Ondo state.

    The third session of the third Synod will be presided over by the Diocesan, Rt.Revd Ezekiel Dahunsi, with the formal opening and presentation of the presidential address and fundraising on July 30.

    Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu; his deputy, Agboola Ajayi and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) are some of the prominent guests expected at the synod with the theme “Lord the Word abideth”.

    It ends on July 22 with a thanksgiving service hosted by Brother and Sister Femi Bayode.

  • Herdsmen/farmers clash: Akeredolu preaches peaceful coexistence

    Ondo State governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), on Thursday urged herdsmen and farmers to always respect the sanctity of life and stop killing one another as a way to resolve their differences.

    He asked them to cultivate the culture of reporting their grievances to the security agencies for appropriate actions, rather than taking laws into their hands.

    The governor spoke during a meeting with representatives of Hausa/Fulani and traditional rulers from Akokoland at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office in Akure, the state capital.

    The meeting was summoned by the governor following reported cases of  clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the Akokoland of the state.

    While stressing that no life or tribe is superior to the other, Akeredolu recalled that Yoruba and Fulani had been living peacefully as one in Ondo State for over 200 years.

    He therefore condemned recurring attacks on farmers and kidnapping linked with suspected Fulani herdsmen in Ondo State.

    Akeredolu said: “Yoruba, Hausa/Fulani and the Igbo are one and not superior to one another. So, let us respect the sanctity of life. Report to the police if you are aggrieved and let the security agencies arrest suspects for interrogation and prosecution.”

    Akeredolu, however, assured Fulani herdsmen and farmers that, with the involvment of the police, adequate compensation would be paid by anyone who destroyed another man’s property be it cattle or farms.

    The governor also asked the Fulani herdsmen to cooperate with the police to fish out the kidnappers among them.

    This was just as some traditional rulers at the meeting, especially the Alauga of Auga Akoko, Oba Samuel Kehinde Agunloye, and the Oluyani of Iyani, Oba Joel Sunday Daudu, shared what they described as their harrowing experience in the hands of Fulani herdsmen kidnappers.

    The monarchs urged the state government and the security agencies to do more in the area of security in the Akokoland.

    Other traditional rulers from Akokoland at the meeting were the Ondo State Chairman of Council of Obas and Olukare of Ikare, Oba Akadiri Momoh; Olubaka of Oka, Oba Y. A Adeleye; Onikun of Ikun, Oba Michael Olokunbola Adedoyin; Gbiri of Epimin, Oba Oyekan George; Akala of Ikaram, Oba A.O Momodu and Olubaramu of Ibaramu, Oba R.O Atibioke.

    On their part, the Hausa/Fulani, led by Sarkin Hausa Ikare, Alhaji Halidu Muhammed, and Alhaji Taufiyo  Fulani, urged robust and peaceful understanding among their host communities.

    They said they were born in Akokoland, adding they had no where to call their home except Ondo State.

    They, however, promised to abide by the rules and culture of their host communities.

  • We’ll make affordable housing available to Ondo residents, says Akeredolu

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) has said his administration will make housing affordable to the residents.

    The governor said the decision arose from his electioneering promise to make living more comfortable for the people through functional education, food for the teeming population through agribusiness and decent accommodation through affordable housing, among others.

    Akeredolu spoke yesterday at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Sunprime Estate at Abo Asakin community, opposite Akure Airport Junction, Oba-Ile, Akure.

    The governor noted that the project, like many others waiting for inauguration, was the end-product of painstaking planning and the investment-friendly plans his administration had put in place.

    Quoting the World Bank report that Nigeria was having an estimated deficit of 18 million housing units on an average family size of six persons, Akeredolu pledged that his administration would pursue its housing programmes to a logical conclusion.

    He said: “Not less than 108 million Nigerians are homeless or not properly sheltered. This, by extension, means that about 60 per cent of our more than 180 million population is literally without accommodation.

    “The implications of this are unplanned environment, littered dump sites, epidemics, uncompleted buildings, sub-standard buildings, unplanned towns and cities along with crimes, to mention just a few.”

    Akeredolu pledged that his administration would address the housing challenges through institutionalised structures, mortgage financing and private sector funding.

    He said: “With an ever-growing population of over three million people per annum, comprising largely of youths, the housing need is no doubt on the rise, hence the need to put on our thinking caps to surmount the challenge.

    “Though the challenges have been enormous, our government has not been folding its arms helplessly to tackle this social menace. Shelter is very central to human existence, hence it is our administration’s commitment to do everything humanly practicable to continue to intervene in this critical sector.

    “In Ondo State, we have adopted creative ways to tackle the housing deficits in view of the ever-increasing needs vis-à-vis the decreasing public funds to finance them, hence our decision to employ the time-tested option of Public Private Partnership (PPP).”

    The Managing Director of Premium and Nelson Limited, Mr. Raph Alabi, a partner in the project, said the major aim of the Sunprime Estate was to meet the housing needs of the current and future generations.

    According to him, Sunprime Estate is a proposed residential and commercial estate of 881 plots out of which 755 are for residential purpose.

    Alabi said: “The proposed layout plan gives necessary specifications of how the estate should be developed, including the infrastructural facilities to create an environment with a degree of economy, beauty and convenience.”

  • How we share Ondo revenue, by Akeredolu

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu yesterday met with government workers through the leadership of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) to discuss workers’ welfare.

    The workers, led by the JNC Chairman, Opeyemi Oloniyo, hailed the governor for his commitment to regular payment of salary, timely promotions, appointment of qualified permanent secretaries and the infrastructural development across the state.

    Akeredolu assured the workers that his administration would pay their leave bonus as soon as the fortune of the state improved.

    The governor gave a breakdown of how the revenue accruable to the state was shared between the local government areas and the state government and how it was being spent.

    He sought the understanding of the workers, saying the allocations were used to offset workers’ salary at the expense of infrastructural development.

    According to him, this will not benefit the large number of the residents who are not public servants.

    Akeredolu said the state’s public servants constituted only 35 per cent of the population, adding that using all the state’s resources to cater for them was unfair to the rest of the population.

    Oloniyo expressed appreciation to the governor for his commitment to workers’ welfare.

    He said: “On your first day of resumption when you addressed public servants, you promised not to owe us salary. We thank you for keeping to your promise.

    “We appreciate you also for the payment of salary arrears. You inherited seven months’ salary arrears and you have paid four out of them. We thank you, sir.

    “We also want to thank you, despite the precarious financial situation we find ourselves. You made our promotion possible last year.

    “Let us also appreciate you for the appointment of permanent secretaries, even those who do not know anybody in government. We must also thank you for the various infrastructural development in our state.”

  • Akeredolu intervenes as soldier shoots pupil dead in Ondo

    A 13-year-old schoolboy of Community Primary School at Ajowa in Akoko Northwest Local Government Area of Ondo State, Usman Saliu, has reportedly been shot dead “in error” by a soldier.

    The incident happened while some Fulani were displaying acrobatics with sticks and cutlasses.

    The scene, eyewitnesses said, became rowdy, leading to disorderliness.

    The soldiers were reportedly attracted from a nearby checkpoint.

    It was learnt that the schoolboy was mistakenly shot dead.

    Another Fulani, Badejo Abudulahi, was also hit by bullets; he is receiving treatment at Ikare Specialist Hospital.

    It was learnt that residents of Ajowa-Akoko remained indoor yesterday as tension mounted on the unusual appearance of soldiers in their community.

    They were also said to be afraid of possible revenge by Fulani herdsmen.

    Policemen from Oke-Agbe Division reportedly took the body to a mortuary while the injured was also admitted for treatment.

    It was learnt that on hearing about the incident, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu mandated his Special Adviser on Security Matter, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo, and Special Assistant on Hausa/Fulani Matters, Bala Umaru, to resolve the matter.

    At Ajowa, the father of the deceased, Usman Saliu, 46, said his son was returning from school when the incident occurred.

    The distraught father described his late son as an asset.

    On behalf of the governor, Dojumo urged the parents to take the incident as an act of God because it was not deliberate.

    He added that the situation was incidental and regrettable.

    Akeredolu urged the residents to embrace peace, saying only peaceful co-existence would attract development to the state.

    The Akoko Area Commander of the police, Razak Rauf, hailed the Fulani for embracing peace and shunning confrontation.

    He assured them of peaceful resolution of the matter.

    A Senior Army Officer from the 32 Artillery Brigade in Akure, Lt.-Col. Ejiga said the soldier who fired the shot had no intention to kill anyone.

    He called for more understanding on the roles of military to maintain law and order.

    Ejiga apologised on behalf of the Army.

    The Chairman of Akoko Northwest Local Government Area, Morakinyo Ajayi said security agents had settled the matter.

    He also hailed the governor for his concern about the welfare of the residents.

    The team visited the injured at the State Specialist Hospital at Ikare, while the body of the schoolboy was released to his parents for burial.

  • Ambode, Akeredolu, Aregbesola, Ganduje, others preach peace, tolerance at Sallah

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State yesterday charged Muslims across the state to keep up acts of charity with a view to fostering mutual understanding and unity in the country.

    Ambode spoke through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tunji Bello, at an Eid-el-Fitr celebration held at Evan Square, Ebute Metta, Lagos.

    Muslims, he said, should not forget the lessons of the holy month which is the fear of God and care for the needy as they celebrate the successful conclusion of this year’s Ramadan fast.

    He noted that a year ago, this same occasion was celebrated in 20 locations across Lagos State in furtherance of the commitment of the State Government to promote all inclusive governance and ensure that Lagosians feel the pulse of good governance irrespective of their location within the state.

    He added that apart from the festivities and the promotion of the social bonding, the occasion is also a way of showing gratitude to God for his love which made it possible for Lagosians to experience an atmosphere of peaceful co-existence and religious harmony which has contributed significantly to the progress and prosperity that has been achieved in the state.

    He explained that the Government has made giant strides in the march towards the Smart City of everyone’s collective dream, adding that Lagosians should keep supporting the Government through their commitment to the discharge of their civic obligations.

    Funsho Raji and other dignitaries including the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, Mrs Taiwo Oyemade, Chairmen of Lagos Mainland Local Government and Yaba Local Council Development Area, Hon Omolola Essien and Hon Kayode Omiyale and several Muslim faithful.

     

    Akeredolu hails Muslim faithful

    Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State rejoiced with Muslims across the country on the successful celebration of this year’s Ramadan.

    Akeredolu said yesterday that the successful celebration of this year’s Sallah is a proof that Islam is a religion of peace.

    He urged the Muslim faithful to continue to sustain the lessons learnt during the Ramadan by contributing to the selfless service of humanity and offering assistance to the less-privileged.

     

    Akeredolu expressed optimism that Nigerians, irrespective of their religious, ethnic or political belief, will continue to promote unity, love, oneness and peaceful co-existence, which Islam as a way of life is promoting.

    The governor, however, urged Muslims across the country to imbibe all the lessons learnt from the one-month Ramadan.

     

    Aregbesola tasks Nigerians on disciplined, focused life

    The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, urged Nigerians to re-dedicate themselves by living disciplined, focused and pious life that will translate to prosperity for the country and her people.

    He called on Nigerians to work in unity, love, peace and harmony and form a formidable force that will help to stimulate the commonwealth of the nation for the benefit of all.

    Aregbesola made the statement while addressing the Muslim faithful during the 2018 Eid-el-Fitri prayers at Osogbo ýCentral Eid Praying Ground.

    He named productivity as the panacea to nation’s challenges, saying Nigerians must begin to champion hard work in the quest to reposition Nigeria on the path of greatness.

    Governor said the time has come for Nigerians to keep hope alive and engage in things that will enhance productivity.

    Aregbesola admonished Nigerians to jettison any act capable of promoting and aggravating resentment, anger and bitters in the course of their national daily lives.

    The Governor implored those at the helm of affairs to justify the essence of their positions by being sensitive to the needs of the electorate in the implementation of their policies and programmes.

    He called on Nigerian leaders to see leadership as service to humanity and not to amass undue gratification, adding that the interest of the people must be at heart of every leader for the nation to be great again.

    While speaking on the significance of Ramadan and Eid-el-fitri, Governor Aregbesola admonished Muslim Ummah to maintain the virtues they have inculcated during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

    He charged Muslims on love, peace, patience and perseverance, saying it has become incumbent on every Muslim to love others as he or she loves himself or herself.

     Bayelsa charges Nigerians on perseverance

    In a statement signed by the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the state government congratulated the Muslim faithful in the state and across the country on the successful completion of the Ramadan.

    The statement enjoined Muslims to live in peace with one another irrespective of their differences. He said as they celebrate Eid-el-Fitri, they should uphold the vital lessons of love, peace and perseverance which the holy month teaches. He also called for more prayers for Nigeria.

    It urged Muslims to pray for the nation’s leaders to remain focused in the discharge of their duties for the overall interest of Nigerians.

    The Commissioner stressed the need for religious tolerance which he noted would engender peaceful co-existence, unity and a prosperous Nigeria even as the 2019 general elections draw near.

     Amosun preaches religious tolerance 

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State yesterday advised residents of the state to continue to live peacefully with one another to sustain the pace of progress and development recorded in the last six years.

    Amosun said the state is one, regardless of differences in people’s faith, saying everybody should live in love, harmony and unity with one another.

    The Governor made the appeal in his Sallah message shortly after observing the Eid-el-Fitr prayer with Muslims in Abeokuta.

    He charged Muslims to practice the good virtues they have acquired during the Ramadan and not go back to the vices they jettisoned.

    He said: “It is all about Ogun State. Whether Muslims or Christians, we are one and the same. There is no difference.

    “As we celebrate the Sallah to today, we shall celebrate more in good health.

    “All the things we did not do during the Ramadan, we should not go back to them. We should not go back to life of vices because Allah is against it.

    “We should tolerate one another, share in love with one another and continue to live the good attitude we have imbibed during this period.”

    Adopt Ramadan lessons as lifetime habit —Masari

    Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State urged Muslims to make the lessons learnt during the just concluded Ramadan “their lifetime habit’’.

    Masari made the appeal in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Audu Labaran, in Katsina.

    “Having gone through the fasting period in devotion, obedience, charity, perseverance and respect for others, these traits should be a lifetime habit that should outlive the limited period which the Ramadan fasting was observed,’’ the governor said.

    Masari also urged Nigerians to continue to live in peace with one another and pray for the nation and its leaders.

    The governor praised non-Muslims who became their brother’s keeper by joining in feeding less privileged Muslims in many parts of the country.

    Gaidam lauds sustained peace, security

    In his Sallah message to the people, Yobe State governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, praised the sustained security in the state, attributing it to the prayers of the people and the resilience of security operatives in the state and the region.

    Gaidam noted that sustained prayers of good people is what has defeated insurgency in the state.

    He called on the people to use the lessons of Ramadan which instils discipline, truthfulness, patience, humility, devotion and obedience to the Almighty Allah, and move those virtues beyond the Ramadan period.

    The governor noted that through prayers, the kidnapped Dapchi schoolgirls were safely returned except for a few that died in the process, calling on the people not to relent in their prayers for the total return of peace in the region.

    He praised the gallantry of the security forces whom he said fought very hard and made sacrifices to secure the state and the region from the hands of Boko terrorists.

    Gaidam also thanked international Non-Governmental Organisations and other NGOs while calling on them to assist in the recovery and rehabilitation programme of the state as peace has returned.

    Ganduje urges Muslims to imbibe Ramadan lessons

    Kano State governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, urged Muslims to continue to cherish the teachings of Ramadan and imbibe its lessons on self-discipline, piety, love, unity, peace and support for the weak and less privileged in order to attain spiritual upliftment and peaceful coexistence.

    Congratulating Muslims on the occasion of Eid-el-Fitr marking the completion of Ramadan fasting, Governor Ganduje also called on Nigerians, irrespective of religious, ethnic or political inclination, to love one another, live peacefully and selflessly contribute to the development of Nigeria.

    “As we approach the 2019 general elections, politicians must learn to be tolerant, accommodating, decent in their utterances and avoid hate speeches so as to sustain the peaceful atmosphere in the state.”

    A statement signed by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Youth and Culture, Mallam Muhammad Garba, said Governor Ganduje also expressed appreciation and gratitude to the people of Kano for their support and goodwill to the administration.

    He also reiterated his commitment to the completion of all major projects and implementation of youth skills acquisition and empowerment programmes for the improvement of the wellbeing of the people and general development of the state.

    Tambuwal counsels youths against violence

    Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State called on youths to resist any move by politicians to use them as political thugs to foment violence.

    Tambuwal, who made the call in a special broadcast yesterday, said the 2019 election campaign has commenced and many politicians are devising means to secure political gains.

    “Use your intelligence on productive means capable of contributing to the country’s development and shun the antics of using you (youths) on disturbing peaceful coexistence.

    “You (youths) along with all categories of politicians should strive towards ensuring the nation’s peace and progress and  refrain from all forms of fomenting trouble which deter the nation’s growth,’’ Tambuwal said.

    Tambuwal also challenged all Nigerians to work for the unity and peaceful coexistence in achieving a successful 2019 general elections.

    “We must focus on ensuring the progress of Nigeria and her budding democracy by ensuring that only those who have our collective interests are given the privilege of leadership, ’’ he said.

    The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to enhancing the socio-economic conditions of the people in the state through viable projects on health, education, agriculture and infrastructural development.

     Dankwambo sues for peace

    Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State called for peaceful co-existence amongst Nigerians as Muslims celebrated the Eid-el-Fitri.

    He said that meaningful development for the wellbeing of all Nigerians could only be achieved with peace.

    He asked everyone to “live in peace with one another as no meaningful development can be achieved without peace.

    “We must embrace the tenets of peaceful co-existence as the catalyst for the socio-economic development of the state and the nation.

    “Islam preaches peace, tolerance and mutual respect amongst members of every community, irrespective of ethnic or religious differences.

    “So I admonish us, in the spirit of the season, to imbibe the good lessons of Ramadan, which connotes selflessness, endurance, sacrifice, piety, generosity and total obedience to Allah (SWT), “ he said.

  • Ondo set to revolutionise cocoa production, says Akeredolu

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) has reiterated the promise of his administration to make the state the hub for the production of cocoa in the West African sub-region.

    Akeredolu, who sought to partner the African Development Bank (AfDB) to accelerate the development of cocoa production across the state, addressed the management of the bank in his office in Akure, the state capital.

    The governor said the state needed interventions in some critical sectors to enable it make direct impact in the lives and well-being of the citizenry.

    Akeredolu, who highlighted the agricultural potentials of the state, said its cocoa production capacity informed the planned visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Ondo State in July to kick-start the Cocoa Revolution Project.

    He said: “The President will be here in July for the Cocoa Revolution Project, during which seedlings will be distributed to cocoa farmers. He has insisted the revolution starts with Ondo State.

    “We already have a lot of seedlings for which we have cleared several hectares of land. As we speak, we have about 24,000 hectares of land ready for this.”

    The governor regretted that Nigeria had fallen short of its cocoa production capacity, thereby allowing countries, like Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, overtake the country in the production of cocoa.

  • Akeredolu wades in herdsman’s death in Ondo

    The Ondo State government yesterday intervened in the death of a 26-year-old Fulani herdsman who was reportedly killed at the weekend by a farmer on an Imo-Arigidi Akoko farm.

    The Special Assistant (SA) to the Governor on Hausa-Fulani Matters, Alhaji Bala Umar, was said to have spearheaded the meetings to douse tension over the killing to avert reprisal attacks.

    At Isua Akoko, headquarters of Akoko Southeast Local Government Area, Umar reportedly told the gathering of Hausa-Fulani community on the need to make peace with their host communities and channel their grievances to appropriate quarters in order not to violate the law of the land.

    The governor’s aide noted that leadership of the Hausa-Fulani, particularly Metti Allah Cattle Association, was looking after their welfare.

    At Ikare and Arigidi Akoko, where the incident occurred, he urged the bereaved family to see the sudden death as an act of God, reassuring them that justice would be done as police high command had waded into the matter.

    The Seriki Hausawa-Fulani in Akoko, Alhaji Halidu Angulu, hailed Akeredolu for appointing an SA for the Hausa-Fulani community to be a liaison officer between them and the state government.

    He hailed Umar for ensuring peaceful co-existence between Hausa-Fulani and their hosts.

    Also, tragedy struck at Ogbagi-Akoko community in Akoko North West Local Government Area, four days after the farmer killed the Fulani herdsman at Imo-Arigidi Akoko.

    Sources said the man was attacked with a machete during the annual Egungun festival at Egikun in Ogbagi-Akoko.

    He was reportedly confirmed dead at the hospital he was taken to for treatment.

    The victim, the son of a blacksmith, was identified simply as Emmanjolo.