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Tag: Akiolu

  • Akiolu condemns vandalism, theft of power equipment

    The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, yesterday condemned vandalism and theft of power equipment by those he described as criminal elements within the society.

    Akiolu made the condemnation when the management of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) led by the company’s Managing Director; Mr Adeoye Fadeyibi visited at his Iga-Iduganran Palace in Lagos.

    The General Manager, Corporate Communications Unit of EKEDC, Mr Godwin Idemudia, quoted Akiolu in a statement as saying that the perpetrators of the vandalism were enemies of the society.

    “All well-meaning people should join hands to stop them,’’ the traditional ruler said.

    The monarch remarked that improvement in power supply being experienced would trigger socio-economic development and create more jobs.

    He said protection of power equipment should be the concern of all lovers of development.

    Akiolu told his guests that he had been doing his best to enlighten his subjects, on the need to pay more for electricity since distribution had been privatised and to ensure improved electricity.

    The monarch advised EKEDC to look inward and fish out bad eggs within its fold.

    He noted that some of the officials of the company were in the habit of colluding with people to engage in illegal connection.

    Akiolu suggested the establishment of a special task force, comprising top officials of the company and security operatives, to monitor power supply situation.

    The traditional ruler said that the task force should also coordinate the activities of members of staff of the company and the public to forestall vandalism, energy theft and other sharp practices.

  • Akiolu condemns vandalism, theft of power equipment

    the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, yesterday condemned vandalism and theft of power equipment by those he described as criminal elements within the society.

    Akiolu made the condemnation when the management of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) led by the company’s Managing Director; Mr Adeoye Fadeyibi visited at his Iga-Iduganran Palace in Lagos.

    The General Manager, Corporate Communications Unit of EKEDC, Mr Godwin Idemudia, quoted Akiolu in a statement as saying that the perpetrators of the vandalism were enemies of the society.

    “All well-meaning people should join hands to stop them,’’ the traditional ruler said.

    The monarch remarked that improvement in power supply being experienced would trigger socio-economic development and create more jobs.

    He said protection of power equipment should be the concern of all lovers of development.

    Akiolu told his guests that he had been doing his best to enlighten his subjects, on the need to pay more for electricity since distribution had been privatised and to ensure improved electricity.

    The monarch advised EKEDC to look inward and fish out bad eggs within its fold.

    He noted that some of the officials of the company were in the habit of colluding with people to engage in illegal connection.

    Akiolu suggested the establishment of a special task force, comprising top officials of the company and security operatives, to monitor power supply situation.

    The traditional ruler said that the task force should also coordinate the activities of members of staff of the company and the public to forestall vandalism, energy theft and other sharp practices.

    He said the palace would be willing to mobilise all quarter chiefs and residents of Lagos Island to work with the task force, when constituted.

  • Akiolu urges Fed govt to empower NIS

    Oba of Lagos Riliwan Akiolu has canvassed more funding for the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

    This, the Lagos monarch said, would enable the country to have effective boarder policing and avert security threats.

    He spoke when NIS Lagos State Command Comptroller Ekpedeme King visited his Idugaran palace.

    Akiolu assured NIS team of his continued support, urging them to combat the porosity of the state borders.

    “The current security threats plaguing the country could have been averted if security agencies such as NIS were empowered with adequate funding or logistic support,” he said.

    King said the visit was to seek the cooperation of the monarch in the bid to establish harmonious relations with Lagosians.

    NIS, King said, has partnered with other security agencies to realise its goals, noting that critical security protocols have been installed.

    “I have just assumed duty as Head of Immigration Lagos State Command and I have to bring the goodwill message from my Comptroller-General Mohammad Babandede that we are here to deliver seamless services to people of Lagos. We want to improve generally on what we do on operations and to ensure that the good people of Lagos enjoy the best services as provided by us and also inform his Royal Majesty that we have put certain protocols in place to improve security. We are working more closely with other security agencies in the state to ensure that we keep the state safe. We will handle the aspect that has to do with non-Nigerians and provide the other agencies with the required intelligence for them to function,” he said.

    King added that its contribution to the ease of doing business in the state has been happening through improvement in obtaining facilities as well as registration of ECOWAS citizens in local governments.”

    He said: “We have the database of expatriates resident in Lagos. Part of the discussion we had with the Oba is registering ECOWAS citizens in local governments. I think we have done well in that area and will continue to improve on them.”

  • Akiolu seeks support for Lagos waste management policy’

    The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has advised private  waste managers against sabotaging the government’s Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI).

    Speaking against the backdrop of some Private Sector Participants (PSP) arrested for allegedly dumping waste on major streets across the state, Oba Akiolu said the development was unfortunate and  cautioned them against discrediting the new waste management regime.

    He warned residents against dumping refuse in public places, saying the CLI was for the benefit of all. The Oba called for support for Visionscape to rid the state of refuse.

    Oba Akiolu spoke at a Town Hall meeting at the City Hall on Lagos Island to sensitise market women and others on the CLI project and to ensure a cleaner environment.

    According to him, Lagosians will ensure that the state is not littered with refuse, warning that he will not beg for anybody arrested by the government for dumping refuse at unauthorised places.

    The monarch said the government had put in place a mechanism to deal with waste, saying  this kind of enlightenment would be carried out in other parts of the state.

    He urged Lagosians not to patronise cart pushers as some of them hide arms in their carts to wreck havoc, as well as dump such refuse in inappropriate places.

    “I was in security service for 32 years, most of these miscreants are armed robbers who hide their guns, live ammunition under these carts  but with the initiative of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, things are going to be better. We are going to have a cleaner Lagos provided we have 100 per cent cooperation from the citizens, which is very necessary,” he said, adding that the need for such cooperation of the people made him to hold the  meeting.

    Lagos, he explained, has started to grow better and bigger; hence, the need for market women and men to cooperate.

    Also, the Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Babatunde Durosimi-Etti warned against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in unauthorised places, saying that perpetrators would face sanction.

    The commissioner reassured that the new solid waste management system was well-thought out and positioned to offer solution to the waste management challenge thrown up by population increase and facility deficit that the state has had to contend with over time.

    He said the PSP operators could not cope with the huge refuse in Lagos because the population kept growing, saying that they did not have the equipment to cope, especially with the rise in foreign exchange.

    According to him, this was what informed the Ambode administration to get a new consortium, Visionscape, to handle domestic waste, while the PSP operators would handle commercial waste.

    Durosimi-Etti appealed to Lagosians to bag their waste properly so that refuse would not litter the streets, urging them to report people seen dumping refuse in unauthorised places to the government.

    The Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, said Lagos had always been a role model to other states, urging the market women to contribute their quota to make Lagos cleaner and better than it was.

    He called on Visionscape and the government to provide market women with thicker waste carriers so that they could bag their waste properly, assuring that the market women would cooperate to make Lagos clean and embrace CLI.

    Chairman, Lagos Island Local Government, Prince Adetoyosi Olusi appealed to people on the Island to embrace the culture of bagging their waste and dumping them in designated places where the waste collectors would cart them away.

    He called for the ban of scavenger, saying they normally litter the environment.

    Temidire Folashade Tinubu-Ojo Market Secretary, Ikawoolaso, Oshodi, Odi-Olowo Local Council Development Area, Mr. Mukaila Bolaji, praised the government for the initiative and promised that his members would cooperate with the government.

    He said the gathering had made him and his members to be more informed about the operation.

     

  • Akiolu seeks support for Lagos waste management policy’

    The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has advised private  waste managers against sabotaging the government’s Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI).

    Speaking against the backdrop of some Private Sector Participants (PSP) arrested for allegedly dumping waste on major streets across the state, Oba Akiolu said the development was unfortunate and  cautioned them against discrediting the new waste management regime.

    He warned residents against dumping refuse in public places, saying the CLI was for the benefit of all. The Oba called for support for Visionscape to rid the state of refuse.

    Oba Akiolu spoke at a Town Hall meeting at the City Hall on Lagos Island to sensitise market women and others on the CLI project and to ensure a cleaner environment.

    According to him, Lagosians will ensure that the state is not littered with refuse, warning that he will not beg for anybody arrested by the government for dumping refuse at unauthorised places.

    The monarch said the government had put in place a mechanism to deal with waste, saying that this kind of enlightenment would be carried out in other parts of the state.

    He urged Lagosians not to patronise cart pushers as some of them hide arms in their carts to wreck havoc, as well as dump such refuse in inappropriate places.

    “I was in security service for 32 years, most of these miscreants are armed robbers who hide their guns, live ammunition under these carts  for carting away refuse but with the initiative of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, things are going to be better. We are going to have a cleaner Lagos provided we have 100 percent cooperation from the citizens, which is very necessary,” he said, adding that the need for such cooperation of the people made him to hold the  meeting.

    Lagos, he explained, has started to grow better and bigger; hence, the need for market women and men to cooperate.

    Also, the Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Babatunde Durosimi-Etti warned against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in unauthorised places, saying that perpetrators would face sanctioned.

    The commissioner reassured that the new solid waste management system was well-thought out and positioned to offer a solution to the waste management challenge thrown up by population increase and facility deficit that the state has had to contend with overtime.

    He said the PSP operators could not cope with the huge refuse in Lagos because the population kept growing, saying that they did not have the equipment to cope, especially with the rise in foreign exchange.

    According to him, this was what informed the Ambode administration to get a new consortium, Visionscape, to handle domestic waste, while the PSP operators would handle commercial waste.

    Durosimi-Etti appealed to Lagosians to bag their waste properly so that refuse would not litter the streets, urging them to report people seen dumping refuse in unauthorised places to the government.

    The Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, said Lagos had always been a role model to other states, urging the market women to contribute their quota to make Lagos cleaner and better than it was.

    He called on Visionscape and the government to provide market women with thicker waste carriers so that they could bag their waste properly, assuring that the market women would cooperate to make Lagos clean and embrace CLI.

    Chairman, Lagos Island Local Government, Prince Adetoyosi Olusi appealed to people on the Island to embrace the culture of bagging their waste and dumping them in designated places where the waste collectors would cart them away.

    He called for the ban of scavenger, saying they normally litter the environment.

    Temidire Folashade Tinubu-Ojo Market Secretary, Ikawoolaso, Oshodi, Odi-Olowo Local Council Development Area, Mr. Mukaila Bolaji, praised the government for the initiative and promised that his members would cooperate with the government.

    He said the gathering had made him and his members to be more informed about the operation.

     

  • Tinubu is ‘stubborn’ for the right reasons, says Akiolu

    Tinubu is ‘stubborn’ for the right reasons, says Akiolu

    •Monarch sure of APC’s victory in 2019

    •Oyo gets education fund

    The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, yesterday assured Nigerians that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will still be victorious in the 2019 elections.

    The monarch also hailed the strength and vision of the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, saying his perceived stubbornness is for what is right and what the people want.

    Akiolu spoke yesterday at the fund-raiser for Oyo State Education Trust Fund (Oyo ETF) in Ibadan, the state capital.

    The Lagos monarch, who was a special guest at the event, poured encomiums on Governor Abiola Ajimobi and linked him to Tinubu, who he described as his good subject and who has his backing for his political moves.

    He said Asiwaju Tinubu is a visionary leader who stands for what is right and the interest of the people, adding that it was the reason former President Olusegun Obasanjo described him as “stubborn”.

    According to him, Asiwaju Tinubu is truly stubborn for the right reasons.

    Oba Akiolu said: “Obasanjo always says Tinubu is stubborn. Yes, he is, but that is for the right reasons because he enjoys my support. Tinubu stands with the people. And whether anybody likes it or not, he is a force to reckon with in Nigerian politics today.”

    For those doubting the possibility of APC’s success in the next general elections, Oba Akiolu said: “Let me tell you all: no party will wrest power from the APC. I’m not hiding it. God chose Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and he has our support. But things must be put right at the Federal level. Let everyone do good and stand for honesty.”

    Oyo ETF’s chairperson, Mrs Onikepo Akande, described the initiative as ushering in a new dawn in the Education sector.

    She said it was the first time the organised private sector (OPS) was uniting to support the repositioning of education in a state.

    Mrs Akande hailed Ajimobi for coming up with the idea, adding that it was a unique way to address the challenges confronting education in the state.

    The Oyo ETF chairperson advised participants to donate generously to the fund.

    According to her, the fund will be used to upgrade infrastructural facilities, including classrooms, laboratories and libraries.

    The ETF, she said, would also join in training teachers, awarding scholarships to indigent students and meeting education-related needs.

    Mrs Akande promised to be accountable for the funds generated.

    Ajimobi said the initiative was dear to him, assuring that it would restore the status of the state as the Pace Setter, if well managed.

    The governor said government alone could not fully fund education, adding that the state’s ETF was a product of thinking out of the box.

    Several organisations and individuals donated to the fund.

     

  • Akiolu backs ‘true federalism’

    Akiolu backs ‘true federalism’

    The Olowo Eko of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has said returning the country to true federalism will enable federating units to grow at their pace and place the country on the path of peace and progress.

    The monarch noted that contrary to insinuations that true federalism and devolution of powers will break up the country, he said they would rather reduce tension in the land, give a sense of belonging to federating units and stabilise the country.

    A statement yesterday by the Chief Press Secretary to Bayelsa State Governor, Francis Ottah Agbo, said Oba Akiolu spoke when Governor Seriake Dickson visited him at his palace.

    The monarch congratulated the governor for his administration’s development in Bayelsa State.

    Praying God to further strengthen the governor, the royal father said he supported Dickson’s call for true federalism and devolution of power.

    Oba Akiolu said: “I have always supported the call for true federalism. The Federal Government, as a father-figure, should allow states to have a significant feel of what they produce. That way, Nigeria will be stable and peaceful.

    “Nigeria shall not break up, and no reasonable person wants this country to break up because it is better we remain together as one country than to split.

    “But for all sections of the country to be happy, we should have a major say in what we produce in our communities. Anything coming from a particular state, majority of the benefits should go to that same state.”

  • Rain stops Adebule, Akiolu, Chief Imam from praying at Dodan Barracks

    •’Preach love, tolerance, peaceful co-existence’

    For the first time in many years, top Lagos State Government Officials yesterday could not observe the Eid prayers to mark the end of Ramadan at Dodan Barrack, Ikoyi.

    An early morning downpour stopped Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule, Oba of Lagos, Riliwan Akiolu and the Chief Imam of Lagos, Alhaji Garba Akinola Ibrahim from worshipping there.

    The praying ground has over the years become the official venue for the ceremony.

    Instead, they joined other worshippers at the Lagos Central Mosque for the prayers.

    Those who could not get inside the mosque prayed outside.

    In his sermon, Alhaji Ibrahim urged Muslims to be kind to others and emulate Prophet Muhammed.

    Prophet Muhammed during his time, he said, was able to convert many into Islam because of his exemplary behaviour. He advised the faithful to remember the prophet’s saying that ‘’no one is a Muslim yet, until what he wants for himself is what he wants for his brother’’.

    Urging Muslims to imbibe Ramadan’s tenets he asked them to refrain from sins and vices that could undermine the spread of Islam.

    The deputy governor, who came with her husband, Alhaji Saheed Adebule, an Information Technology expert, called on Lagosians to continue to live together in peace. She urged them to sustain the existing peaceful relationship with people of diverse tribes and religions.

    Dr Adebule asked Muslims to imbibe Ramadan’s tenets, which according to her, include fear of God, love for one another, tolerance, equality, obedience, abstinence from sins, discipline and caring for the welfare of fellow human beings irrespective of religion, colour or tongue.

    She enjoined Muslims not to go back to things they shunned during the fast, noting that one of the exercise of the fasting was for them to be more pious and move closer to God.

    “As we celebrate Ed- El- Fitr, let me congratulate our Muslim brothers and sisters for God’s Mercy that has seen us to the end of the month. Let us unite together and build a very strong nation that our children will be proud of and I pray that the Almighty Allah will not deny us the reward of the fasting,’’ she said.

    Oba Akiolu described Lagos as a cosmopolitan state that accommodates people from diverse tribes and religions.

    The monarch urged the residents to clean up their environment to avoid epidemics outbreak.

  • Ambode, Akiolu back Osinbajo’s reconciliatory moves to quell ethnic agitations

    Ambode, Akiolu back Osinbajo’s reconciliatory moves to quell ethnic agitations

    Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday threw his weight behind the moves taken so far by the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to douse tension generated by agitations from some ethnic nationalities seeking to break away from Nigeria, saying that the unity of the country should be of paramount importance to all.   Ambode, who spoke at Lagos House in Ikeja when he received on courtesy visit members of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs led by the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, said as a state, Lagos would continue to lend support to efforts to keep the unity of the country, especially by maintaining peace and accommodating all.

    Speaking against the backdrop of earlier comments by Akiolu to the effect that the Council of Obas and Chiefs in the state was solidly in support of the peaceful co-existence of people in the country, the governor said the oneness of the country was paramount, hence “it beehoves on all segments of the country to promote the unity of the nation.”     Ambode said: “I also want to join the Chairman of the Council of Obas and Chiefs in Lagos State to reiterate our support for the Federal Government to keep the unity of Nigeria and uphold the tenets of the constitution. We are very happy that all our traditional rulers in Lagos believe in oneness of Nigeria.

    “We are happy also that we are very accommodating. We are also happy that we allow people from other tribes to live with us and we are ready to do everything to support the Acting President and the Federal Government in general that every effort they make, we will ensure that Lagos remains peaceful and then Nigeria remains peaceful.”

    While reiterating the commitment of his administration to address security issues in the state, Governor Ambode thanked the traditional rulers for supporting his efforts to ensure safety of lives and property in the state.

    “I want to thank you for your support in terms of security. You are part of the security architecture of Lagos State because without you, we will not get the information we are using to reach out to the police and I also want to thank you for supporting our Neighborhood Safety Corps initiative.

    “Like I said, it is about neighborhood safety and we have seen the hands of all our monarchs in the operation of the corps. We believe strongly that we need to put more efforts in the Neighborhood Safety Corps to make sure that this issue of kidnapping and other criminal activities become a thing of the past within the shortest possible time,” the governor said.

    Addressing the issue of the children who were kidnapped at Lagos State Model College, Igbonla-Epe, Ambode said at the moment, he would not want to divulge details of efforts being made by the government to end kidnapping and other crimes in the state, but expressed optimism that the efforts would yield positive results.

    “Like I said somewhere yesterday, I don’t like running government on the pages of newspapers because sometimes when we do it, it will jeopardize what we are doing on security which is why we have been very tactical about doing media trial in things like this.

    “But just to let our monarchs know what we are doing, I feel very bad each time I hear about this but again life and safety first thereafter we will deal with other things. But to let you know truly that sometimes, some of these kidnapping issues are actually from enemies within, but I just pray that when the children come  back, we will be able to talk about those things and so I just ask people to give us some time as we gather intelligence,” he said.

    Earlier, Akiolu commended Governor Ambode for his efforts so far, and prayed for him to have a successful tenure of office, saying that the giant strides of the present government were appreciated.

    He said that monarchs in the state were very much in support of the peaceful co-existence of the country, adding that every tribe is welcome in Lagos.

    “The peaceful co-existence of everybody is what we are after in Lagos and I have to say that Lagos is home to all,” Akiolu said.

    He also reiterated the call for Lagos to be granted special status, saying that doing so would be to the overall benefit of the country.

  • I’m bona fide Oba of Lagos, Akiolu tells court

    I’m bona fide Oba of Lagos, Akiolu tells court

    Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos yesterday told Justice A. Candide-Johnson of the Ikeja High Court that he is the bona fide paramount ruler of Lagos.

    Oba Akiolu, accompanied by 10 white cap chiefs, was in court over a case filed by Princes Adedoyin Adebiyi and Rasheed Modile, challenging his ascendancy to the throne.

    He said: “I am here to justify my appointment, you cannot build something on nothing, it will be broken. By native law and customs and by law, I am the bona fide Oba of Lagos.”

    Joined as respondents in the suit are the governor, attorney-general and Commissioner of justice, Prince Babatunde Akitoye and Chief Junaid Eko.

    Adebiyi and Modile are claiming that Akiolu is ineligible to be king because he is not a member of any royal family and a direct descendant of Oba Ado, the first Oba of Lagos.

    According to the claimants, only members of the Ologun Kutere and Akinsemoyin ruling houses are entitled to the throne.

    They alleged that proper customary rules and procedures were not followed when Oba Akiolu was appointed as Oba in May 2003.

    Led in evidence by his lawyer, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, Akiolu narrated the procedure he followed before being installed.

    “After I made my intention known to my family that I wanted to be Oba of Lagos, I applied for the throne. In May 2003, the head of the kingmakers and the then Sole Administrator of Lagos Island Council called at my residence. At that time I was preparing to go to the mosque and I was told that I received a letter from the state government and the State Executive Council.

    “The letter accepted my nomination that I have been approved to be a worthy successor of the late Oba of Lagos. It will be exactly 14 years tomorrow (May 23) that my appointment was approved. By the grace of Almighty Allah, there is nothing like rotation in the succession to the throne of Oba of Lagos,” Akiolu said.

    Before cross-examining Akiolu, the claimants’ counsel, Mr Babatunde Fashanu (SAN), applied that Akiolu should be addressed as the defendant and not the Oba of Lagos for the purpose of the case.

    “I apply that all referrals to the defendant as the Oba of Lagos should be expunged from the records of this honourable court. Within the walls of this courtroom, he is a defendant and when we step out of the courtroom, I will lie down and greet him as ‘Kabiyesi’ because I am like a son to him,” he said. The court did not grant the request.

    Akiolu told the court that he had a relationship with Fashanu’s father when he was working as a lawyer during his early years of legal practice 32 years ago.

    “I know your father, I used to carry files for him when we were working together.”

    Responding to Fashanu’s question whether proper customary procedure was followed when he became King, Akiolu said he was installed according to the customs of Lagos as Oba by kingmakers.

    “Akiolu is a direct descendant of Oba Ologun Kutere, there is no registered declaration for the throne.

    “It is the old customs and the recommendations of the Price Commission which is over 100 years ago that is still valid till today.”

    Akiolu also debunked claims that the Akiolu royal family is not one of the ruling houses because it is non-existent.

    He said: “Despite the letter from the Lagos State Government confirming my appointment as Oba and stating that I am from the Akiolu royal family, I want to make it clear that a royal family and ruling house means the same thing. My appointment as the king is the first time in history that kingmakers will be unanimous in selecting an Oba of Lagos.”

    Justice Candide-Johnson adjourned till June 19.