The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Akeredolu

  • Akeredolu hails plan to upgrade airport

    Ondo State has hailed the inclusion of Akure Airport in the Federal Government’s plan to upgrade four airports.

    It said the decision followed Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s efforts to make the airport the hub of commercial activities.

    Information and Orientation Commissioner Yemi Olowolabi said the inclusion was sequel to approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to inject N6 billion to buy information and landing systems for four airports.

    He said Akure Airport was benefiting from the FEC’s N6 billion approval because of Akeredolu’s efforts to showcase the potential of the state to the global community.

    According to the commissioner, since the inception of the administration, steps have been taken to attract global attention to Akure Airport.

    Olowolabi said: “Akeredolu, through patronage, helped to revived the moribound Lagos-Akure route. He also activated Abuja-Akure route.

    “It will interest you that both routes now operate daily flights to the state.”

    He added that in his first year, the governor’s attention to the airport brought collaboration between the state and Federal Airport Authority.

    The collaboration, Olowolabi said, led to a temporary terminal due to encouraging traffic at the facility.

    He said: “The governor facilitated the coming of Air Peace Airlines to the state, which flies Lagos-Akure route and encouraged Overland Airways on Abuja-Akure route. Both operate daily to and from Akure.

    “The friendly disposition of Governor Akeredolu towards the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari is yielding results in the state.”

    Olowolabi hoped the governor, before end of his first term, will change the state’s fortunes.

    He said: “May I say several things will come our way very soon. I pray our eyes will see the movement of our Sunshine State to a vibrantly-productive state.”

    FEC, at its meeting presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo last week, approved N6 billion contracts for four airports.

    Briefing reporters, Minister of State for Aviation Hadi Sirika said N2.588 billion was approved for aeronautical information system.

    He said the council approved N1.188 billion to upgrade the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to Category III status.

    The minister added that the contract will include provision of Instrument Landing System for operations in harsh weather.

    He said N1.175 billion was approved to upgrade Akure and Benin airports to Category II status.

    The contracts will be completed in 20 weeks.

  • Akeredolu appoints CMD for state teaching hospital

    Ondo State governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, has approved the appointment of Dr.Oluwole Olugbenga Ige as the Interim Chief Medical Director of the state owned University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Ondo.

    A statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr.Yemi Olowolabi, in Akure, said the appointment takes immediate effect.

    Until his appointment, Dr.Ige was the Chief Medical Director, Trauma and Surgical Centre, Ondo.

    According to Olowolabi, the new Chief Medical Director of UNIMED would coordinate the activities of other constituent health facilities for the take-off of the Teaching Hospital, as well as work with all the relevant Committees, Ministry of Health, Hospital’s Management Board and the University of Medical Sciences, for the smooth take-off of the Teaching Hospital.

    The commissioner said the appointment of the new CMD is in furtherance of the commitment of the Governor Akeredolu-led administration to ensure that the good people of the state continue to enjoy excellent service delivery.

  • Akeredolu recruits 50 admin officers

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has approved the appointment of 50 administrative officers to boost the workforce, Civil Service Commission Chairman Dr. Afolabi Adewakun has said.

    He said: “This is part of efforts to improve the workforce and strengthen the civil service, for optimum service delivery.”

    Adewakun said the recruitments were done to add value and vigour to the civil service.

    He said: “The new officers comprise 15 in-service personnel, who are already in the service and were recruited via inter-cadre transfer/conversion into the Administrative Officers’ Cadre and 35 new officers, who had assumed duties and deployed in Ministries, Agencies and Extra Ministerial Departments through Office of the Head of Service.”

    Adewakun added that the officers were those whose recruitment process started in August 2016, but were not issued appointment letters by the last administration.

    He said until the approval by Akeredolu, young administrative officers were last recruited in 2010.

    Information and Orientation Commissioner Yemi Olowolabi said the Akeredolu administration was determined to promote good governance and fulfil its campaign promises.

    He reiterated the commitment of the administration to ensure continuity in the programmes and policies of the last administration, which are aimed at improving the well-being of the people.

    Olowolabi congratulated the officers and enjoined them to be dedicated.

  • Association to Akeredolu: review OSOPADEC activities

    The Ilaje Ese-Ondo Progressive Association has called for a review of activities of Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC).

    The association conveyed its message to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Samuel Ebiesuwa, Mobilisation Officer/Treasurer, Malumi Oluwatosin and Public Relations Officer, Owowa Tosin.

    The statement called for investigation into the Primary Health Centres, which was put in place by the commission for N1 billion, while calling on the government to hold the contractors accountable for the funds.

    It urged the governor to look into the rural electrification project in Idi-Ogba contracted out for N243 million.

    It called for a probe of last and present leaders, stressing that the leadership of the commission be held accountable for their misdeeds.

    The statement said employment into the commission had always been done on the basis of nepotism and favouritism.

    The statement reads: “We have noted since the inception of OSOPADEC in 2001, that employment has only been executed by the Olusegun Agagu administration in a manner that could be termed a semi – compliance to the normal procedure.

    “Thereafter, employment has been likened to ‘man knows man’ with a population of non-indigene of the mandate area as beneficiaries.

    “We therefore demand in respect of the above as follows: That our youth should be massively employed by the commission.

    “As law abiding citizens and the present leaders of the region and not future, we demand that the above demands be quickly looked into by the relevant authorities within the next two weeks failure of which, we shall implore the necessary machineries to put the government on its toes.

    “We shall not hesitate to close down the activities of governance in the state by embarking on hunger strike protest as long as our demands are meant.”

  • Akeredolu: June 6 for hearing

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 6 for hearing in the suit by an aspirant of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last governorship election in Ondo State, Segun Abraham.

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba chose the date yesterday at the resumption of proceedings after the March 23 judgment of the Supreme Court dismissing Akeredolu’s challenge of service of processes on him through APC.

    Before adjourning, the judge granted the plaintiff’s motion for leave to amend his originating summons, a motion not opposed by defendants’ lawyers.

    Abraham is challenging the emergence of Akeredolu as APC’s standard-bearer for the 2016 poll and urging the court to declare him winner of the primary election.

    Proceedings were stalled by Akeredolu’s challenge of service up to the Supreme Court.

    Justice Dimgba at the preliminary stage ordered substituted service of processes on Akeredolu through his party in Abuja, a decision he challenged up to the Supreme Court and lost.

    At the beginning of proceedings yesterday, plaintiff’s lawyer J. O. Amupitan (SAN) told the court that it was heart-warming that the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court upheld the ruling and ordered substituted service on Akeredolu.

    Akeredolu’s lawyer Akin Olujinmi (SAN) and other defence lawyers praised the judge for agreeing to stay proceedings pending the Supreme Court’s decision.

  • How to deepen democracy, by Akeredolu

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has said the only way through which the current democratic experiment can be deepened is through free , fair and credible local government elections.

    He spoke while inaugurating members of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) and the Board of the Ondo State Property Development Corporation (OSPDC) at the Cocoa Conference Hall, Governor’s Office, Akure.

    According to him, having elected servants of the people at local government level would make governance seamless and improve the living conditions of the people.

    Akeredolu urged members of the ODIEC to ensure that the next round of elections to be conducted in the 18 local government Areas of the state is free, fair and credible.

    He said: “It is possible for us to have the leadership of a local Government belong to a different political party from the of the state. Our political experiences make the possibility appear remote in this clime. It is attainable if we are committed and sincere.

    “The local government is guaranteed in section 7 of the 1999 constitution (as amended). It is expected to discharge its mandate to the people in the areas of primary education, health care, recreation and social development…”

     

     

  • APC slams allegation against Akeredolu

    All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State yesterday criticised a statement by the Segun Abraham camp, alleging that Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu was attempting to frustrate a matter pending at an Abuja Federal High Court.

    Abraham challenged the declaration of Akeredolu as winner of the 2016 APC primary through technicalities, particularly on the court’s  jurisdiction to hear the case.

    A statement by APC’s Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, said: “It is pertinent that we draw the attention of Nigerians to the strategy applied by Abraham’s loyalists to hoodwink those following the case.

    “Having gone through their claimed evidence, the reality has dawned on them that it was not sufficient to make the court grant him (Abraham) his prayers.

    “However, they sought to save him from the monumental disgrace that awaits him on the judgment day and the effect of this on his political career.

    “They have resorted to preparing a soft landing for him.”

    The statement added: “As far as we (APC) are concerned, there is nothing wrong with such a strategy. But it is tragic to blackmail the judiciary to achieve this goal.

    “They decided to hit the respondent (Akeredolu), in order to hit the judiciary by raising frivolous allegations that can only come from the pit of hell.

    “It is clear that the veracity of the matter is in Akeredolu’s favour. So why would he want to manipulate the judgment?”

    It noted that the governor is a human rights activist and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who respects and upholds the sanctity and rule of law.

    The statement lamented that “these individuals have resorted to insulting the judiciary by coming up with this frivolous allegation, as if the judiciary is a tomato and pepper market where you buy and sell.”

    It said: “Whether these confusionists believe it or not, our judiciary remains one of the best in the world.

    “Why should these people be crying wolf where there is none? They are jittery because they know the matter they took to court is only awaiting official nullification, because it lacks substance.

    “These individuals went on social media to misinterpret the verdict of the Supreme Court, which gave the lower court the go-ahead to hear the case, thereby giving Akeredolu a right to open his case and set the record straight.”

  • Allegation on Akeredolu’s move to influence Abraham’s suit spurious – APC

    The Ondo state Chapter of the All Progressives Congress( APC ) yesterday criticised the statement credited some members of Segun Abraham’s camp alleging that that Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu was attempting to frustrate the matter filed by their Principal at an Abuja Federal High Court.

    Abraham challenged the declaration of Akeredolu as the winner of the 2016 APC governorship primary through application of technicalities, particularly on the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case.

    A statement by the APC’s Director of Media & Publicity,Steve Otaloro said “It is pertinent that we draw the attention of Nigerians to the strategy being applied by the Abraham’s loyalists to hoodwink those who are following the matter in court.

    “Having gone through their claimed evidence, the reality has dawned on them that it was not sufficient to make the court grant him(Abraham) his prayers.

    “However, they sought to save him from the looming monumental disgrace that awaits him on the judgement day and the grand effects of this on his political career.

    “They have resorted to preparing a soft landing for him”.

    The statement stressed that”As far as we ( APC ) are concerned, there is not anything wrong with such a strategy, but it is tragic to blackmail the judiciary to achieve this goal.

    “They decided to hit the respondent Akeredolu, in order to hit the judiciary by raising frivolous allegations that could only come from the pit of hell.

    “It is crystal clear that the veracity of the matter is in Akeredolu’s favour. So why would he want to manipulate the judgement?

    Besides, the statement noted that the governor is a human rights activist and a senior advocate, who respects and upholds the sanctity and rule of law.

    It lamented that these crop of individuals have resorted to insulting the judiciary by coming up with this frivolous allegation as if the judiciary was a tomato and pepper market where you buy and sell.

    The statement said: “Whether these set of confusionists believe it or not, our judiciary remains one of the best in the world.

    “Why would these people be crying wolf where there is none? They are jittery because they know the matter they took to court is only awaiting official nullification because it lacks substance.”

    “These individuals went on social media to misinterpret the verdict of the Supreme Court which gave the lower court the go ahead to hear the case, thereby giving  Akeredolu the right to open his case and put the record straight”.

     

  • Akeredolu, Abraham trade words over poll

    •Court fixes April 18 for hearing

    hearing in the suit by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Dr. Segun Abraham, against Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) will begin at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday.

    Akeredolu was declared winner at the primary election supervised by Jigawa State Governor Abubakar Babadu.

    Abraham is challenging the emergence of the governor as the APC standard-bearer for the 2016 poll and urging the court to declare him winner of the primaries.

    The notice was served on concerned parties by the court presided over by Justice Nnamidi Dimgba in Abuja.

    The beginning of the suit followed the verdict of the Supreme Court that Akeredolu’s appeal was without merit and could not stop the case from being heard at the High Court.

    Abraham had approached the court to be declared the winner of the APC primary election and sworn in to replace Akeredolu as governor.

    Observers said the 2016 primary election had remained a subject of litigation for almost two years, following the neglect of reconciliation by the party.

    At the weekend, members in the camp of Abraham cried out that plans were underway to either delay or truncate the case by resorting to technicalities.

    They said there was a plot to either challenge the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case or blackmail the judge by requesting that the case be moved to another judge.

    But APC Publicity Secretary Abayomi Adesanya and the Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, described the allegation as a fabrication, saying Akeredolu cannot manipulate any judgment because the case favours him.

    Otaloro said: “They are crying wolf where there is none. They should have confidence in the judiciary. They should not be jittery.”

    He added: “Akeredolu is an activist and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He upholds the rule of law. It is unfortunate that Nigerians are insulting our judiciary by coming up with this frivolous allegation. Whether these people believe it or not, our judiciary remains one of the best in the world.

    “Abraham camp is jittery because it knows the matter it took to court is only awaiting official nullification, because it lacks substance.”

  • Akeredolu calls for better funding of private varsities

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu said at the weekend that proper funding of private universities would enable them to realise the vision for which they were established.

    The governor, who spoke during the 10th year anniversary and 7th convocation of Achievers University, Owo, urged Nigerians to be hopeful.

    He said the economy would improve very soon.

    Akeredolu hailed the Pro-chancellor, who is the lawmaker representing Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, Dr. Bode Ayorinde, for the vision and tenacity he displayed in founding and developing the university.

    He advised the graduating students to put into practice the knowledge acquired at the institution and make it proud.

    Akeredolu made a case for entrepreneur training for the students, to make them self-reliant rather than job seekers.

    Ayorinde said: “For you, the future has started. I implore you to take whatever opportunity made available to you by the university to make a great future for yourselves.”

    He praised the students for projecting the image of the school.

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tunji Ibiyemi, said the institution would partner foreign universities on international training for the benefit of the university

    The institution honoured prominent Nigerians with honorary degrees.

    They included Emeritus Professor David Adedayo Ijalaye, who was conferred with the degree of Doctor of Law (Honoris Causa).

    Others were Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, who was conferred with the degree of Doctor of Law (Honoris Causa), Aishat Jibril Dukku, Doctor of Public Administration (Honoris Causa) and William Babatunde Fowler, Doctor of Business Administration (Honoris Causa).

    Three hundred and thirty-six students graduated with degrees.