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Tag: Ambode

  •   Ambode and the Uche household

      Ambode and the Uche household

    Hers seems to be a failure of fertility. Ruth Uche stalked Lagos Government House for help. She has six children and all of them are twins. In a Yoruba household, it means you would have three Taiwos and three Kehindes, a glorious confusion. But Ruth is not celebrating. Her maternal joys often multiply in toils and tears. The father of the kids, one Benjamin Uche, has fled the home to dubious shelter in Ikorodu. In the United States, he will be called a deadbeat dad.

    She cannot fend for the children. A native of Abia State, the woman says her husband delights in the glories of copulation and not the rigours of fatherhood. He loves the biological rush of fathering, but lacks the impulse of fatherhood. Ruth even confessed to abortion. Dazzled by abundance, Ruth has too little. Abundance – of children – took away her pride, gave her pain, hunger and she pines for help. Even her in-laws have not afforded warmth of food or nearness.

    An angel of mercy came in the form of Nigeria’s alpha governor, Akinwunmi Ambode. He swiftly issued a directive to his erudite deputy, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, to give her welfare. It’s a bower of love such as this that chimes in with the spirit of Nicholas Winton.

    But it is a story of a failure of men in the Nigerian society. It is cowardly to leave your kids, no matter how poor you are.  Even if you have nothing, it does not excuse delinquency. In the United States, the husband would be forced to answer to the law.

  • Ambode stresses need for constant review of school curriculum

    Ambode stresses need for constant review of school curriculum

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Saturday, stressed the need for constant review of the educational curriculum in schools to reflect current challenges in the nation.

    He spoke at the official commissioning of Brownsville College in Ikoyi. While giving an assurance that the state government will continue to encourage private sector participation in education, he however added that in achieving this, quality and standard will not be compromised.

    In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, the governor said that while knowledge acquired through education should prepare young people to face present and future challenges with confidence, it must be structured in a way that is effective and align with changing times in the 21st century.

    He said, “Let me however reiterate that for us to achieve our goal of nurturing a new generation of responsible leaders with a broad knowledge base, the educational system needs to undergo a wide range of reforms with a curriculum that is constantly reviewed and updated to reflect current challenges.

    “While we continue to encourage private sector participation in education, quality and standard will not be compromised. The Quality Assurance Department of the Ministry of Education will be strengthened and empowered to ensure that basic minimum standards are maintained.”

    Ambode disclosed that his administration is considering the reintroduction of computer-based test in all its public secondary schools, while expressing optimism that it will aid students to prepare adequately for future post-secondary school examinations, particularly the University Matriculation Examination (UME) which is now computer based.

  • Ambode approves welfare support for mother of six

    Ambode approves welfare support for mother of six

    Help might be coming the way of Mrs. Ruth Uche, the mother of three set of twins whose husband absconded from their home in Agege, Lagos, as State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode Friday directed the deputy Governor, Dr. Mrs. Oluranti Adebule to effect the immediate rehabilitation and provision of welfare assistance for her and her children.

    This was contained in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna.

    Governor Ambode’s directive followed newspaper publications which narrated the ordeal of the woman, who spoke with our reporter during her distress visit to the Government Secretariat, Alausa on Thursday.

    The Governor who was visibly touched after reading the plight of the woman and her children, noted that as a responsible government, the well-being of the people of the State irrespective of their ethnic, religious or political affiliation is paramount to his administration and assured that his government will continue to provide good leadership that will guarantee adequate protection of lives and properties of all Lagosians.

    Her husband, Mr. Benjamin Uche was alleged to have absconded from home as a result of the expected birth of another set of twins from his wife, making it the third in a row.

    While acknowledging the present economic situation in the country, the Governor noted that it is not proper for anyone to abandon his family, especially young children that they willingly brought to life, admonishing that it is only when such children are properly taking care of that they can achieve their full potentials in life and become responsible citizens in the future.

    The publication of Mrs. Uche’s plight also got the attention of other citizens who have indicated interest to assist the embattled mother of six.

    Mrs. Uche and her children have been surviving on the little earnings she makes from the day care centre where she works.

    She thanked all for their interest in her plight assuring to make the best use of the help coming her way.

    Meanwhile, a platform will be created in her name through The Nation to enable all who want to assist her to do so.

  • Assembly to Ambode: dissolve JSC

    Assembly to Ambode: dissolve JSC

    The Lagos State House of Assembly has called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to dissolve the membership of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), following the expiration of their five-year tenure.

    The motion was moved yesterday by Majority Leader, Sanai Agunbiade (Ikorodu 1) and seconded by Abiodun Tobun (Epe 1).

    In the motion titled: “The call for the dissolution of the Lagos State Judicial Service Commission”, Agunbiade said he premised the call on the expiration of the stipulated five-year tenure for members.

    After Speaker Mudasiru Obasa put the matter to voice vote, the motion was adopted as a House resolution .

    In a related development, the House constituted an ad hoc committee to review the Assembly Code of Ethics and make necessary recommendations “to meet with the current realities”.

    This followed a motion by the Chief Whip, Rotimi Abiru (Shomolu 2) and Oluyinka Ogundimu (Agege 2).

    The committee members are Abiru, Deputy Chief Whip Mrs Omotayo Oduntan (Alimosho 2), and Mr Oluyinka  Ogundimu.

    Others are: Mr Segun Olulade (Epe 2), Mrs. Mosunmola Sangodara-Rotimi (Surulere 2) and Mr Hakeem Bello (Amuwo-Odofin).

    Bello was also appointed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the Minority Leader while Sangodara-Rotimi was elected as Minority Whip.

  • Retailers urge Buhari, Ambode, Amosun on infrastructure

    Retailers urge Buhari, Ambode, Amosun on infrastructure

    Some market leaders in the Lagos metropolis have urged Governor  Akinwumi Ambode and his Ogun State counterpart, Ibikunle Amosun, to address their challenges.

    The Nation Shopping met with the leaders of Ibafo Market in Ogun State and Saw Mill market in Lagos, among other markets as well as retailers in shopping malls and super stores across the states.

    Alhaja Fawusatu Ikumapami, the leader of Ibafo market in Ogun State, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to prioritise electricity supply, adding that when there is adequate generation into the national grid, Ogun State government will ensure power supply to the market. “We need steady power supply for our businesses. If electricity supply is steady here, the market will attract investors from far and near and will be more developed than what it is today,” she said, adding that the governor should help reconstruct the bad road leading to the market.

    She said these would help traders spend less on transporting their produce to the market and would make their customers visit again and again.

    “We want our governor to give Ibafo market in Ogun State a face-lift. The market is small, and we want it rebuilt to accommodate all of us. We are facing the challenge of free movement and some of us are left with no choice but to display our wares on the walkway and on the road and outside the market.

    “We have a land that is wasting away; part of it has been turned to trailer park, we beg the new government to help us utilise it and build a bigger market for us. We also need a local government of our own and want close monitoring on those that will be working on this project, some contractors sometimes do not carry out their duties diligently,” she added.

    Like Ikumapami, the leader of Saw-Mill market in Bariga-Lagos, Mrs. Abibatu Amusa  also wants steady power supply,   good road network and pipe-borne water in the market. Most importantly, she wants the electric pole in the market that has fallen erected to avoid any tragegy, saying the pole has been in that position for eight years.

    Mrs Abimbola Adeyemi Sumola representing the Iyaloga of Oyingbo Market, said their hopes were high that soon, the face of the market would change. ‘’We expect that the new government ensures good welfare for us. We always want to be part of ultra modern markets when they are built. We no longer want to be erased from the  picture and forgotten. We beg the government to build low priced shops and stalls that are affordable to the common man,’’ she said.

    Alhaja Mufuliat Abimbola Adebumi the Iyaloja General of Mushin Ojuwoye Market, said much was expected from the new administration as they have promised change for the better. ‘’The issue of security should be looked into and adequate security in our market to be provided. Sometimes, when we leave our goods outside for those who do not have shops, we don’t find them the next day,’’ she said.

    Mr Abdulrasheed Ariji, a representative of Office Everything store at the Silverbird Galleria said he expects that with the new government, exchange rate of the naira would be stabilised to favour  traders who sell imported goods.

    For Mr. George Nwokocha of Mega Plaza, his expectations are numerous. He said: “The main issue here is electricity. For many years,  millions of dollars have been pumped into the power sector but, there is little or nothing to show for it. Most times, we pay electricity bills that we do not use. But, if power is stable businesses will thrive because that is the backbone of businesses in Nigeria.”

    Oluwaseun Lasisi of Spar super store, said: “I think the government should address the issue of foreigners who are here to do business and use young Nigerians to build their brands and later lay them off without benefits. Most of us are suffering in silence.“

    The management of Leisure mall in Surulere agrees no less with the others. To them, the starting point is fixing the power sector. ‘’Electricity should be made available for use because lack of it has led to the closure of some businesses that we know of. Also, there should be a tax review. It should be reduced or better amenities provided,” he added.

  • Ambode to build permanent NYSC camp

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has reiterated the government’s commitment to build a befitting permanent orientation camp for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). He said the dream would soon be realised.

    Ambode spoke at the Iyana-Ipaja NYSC orientation camp during the closing ceremony of the orientation course for Stream II 2015 Batch “A” Corps members.

    Ambode said: “Our government will leave no stone unturned in working assiduously to ensure that the proper platform for youth development is provided and properly utilised.”

    He also urged the youths to accept their posting to the various parts of the state for their primary assignment in good faith, saying their contributions to the socio-economic development of their communities should be paramount to them.

    Earlier, the NYSC coordinator, Mr Cyril Akhanemhe, said the camp could not cope with the large numbers of Corps members it is hosting yearly, urging the governor to step up effort to build a permanent camp.

    He said: “Considering the fact that the youth hostel is quite inadequate and becoming inhabitable because of the large number of Corps members deployed to Lagos every year, I reiterate the need for a permanent camp. I passionately urge all stakeholders to make necessary effort to make this dream a reality.”

    Speaking on the training received by the Corps members, Akhanemhe said the youths were engaged in paramilitary drills by men of the Nigerian Army. He added that the Corps members were also trained in leadership and citizenship by officers of the Man O’ War.

    He said: “The Corps members also participated in social activities, such as cultural dance, drama, beauty pageant, debates and entrepreneurship course. All these were held to prepare the youths for challenges ahead.

    “To develop the Corps members’ leadership qualities, most of them were involved in camp administration and were appointed into various committees for the smooth running of the camp.”

  • Updated: Tribunal affirms Ambode as Lagos governor

    Updated: Tribunal affirms Ambode as Lagos governor

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Jimi Agbaje has lost his bid to unseat the Governor of Lagos state, Akinwunmi Ambode of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The Lagos State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Ikeja, Wednesday dismissed Agbeje’s petition filed against the election of Akinwunmi Ambode of the APC.

    The three man governorship elect‎ion tribunal led by Justice Muhammad Sirajo unanimously held that the petition was incompetent and dismissed it.

    Agbaje had challenged the declaration of Ambode as the winner of the April 11, 2015 governorship election in the state in the petition he filed before the tribunal.

    He had alleged irregularities during the election which he said breached the provisions of the Independent Electoral Commission’s (INEC) approved guidelines for the polls.

    But ruling on the preliminary application filed by Ambode’s lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun, the panel said that the petitioner, Jimi Agbaje did not ask for a fresh election despite asking the court to nullify the election.

    “In the instant petition, apart from seeking an order nullifying the election of the second respondent, the petitioner did not ask for an order of fresh election. So, if for instance, the election is nullified, the people of Lagos State would be left in an anarchy situation as no order can validly be made for the conduct of fresh election, same having not been sought for.

    “A petition that is found on disqualification of a respondent and an order of nullification of the election must of necessity contain a prayer for an order of fresh election. Where such a prayer is lacking, the petition will be incompetent and academic as even the resolution of such a petition in favour of the petitioner will not confer any utilitarian value on the petitioner(s)

    ” Where no relief for fresh election is claimed in a petition, a ground of petition founded on section 138(1)(b) of the Electoral Act and the entire petition itself are incompetent and liable to be struck out,” Justice Sirajo said.

    Striking out the petition Wednesday, Justice Sirajo who read the verdict of the panel said: “It is for this reason that the grounds of the petition that survived up till this point can no longer be countenanced. In the circumstance paragraph 13(b) and 14 of the petition and reliefs 19(5) and 19(8) are hereby struck out in view of the want of the relief seeking for the conduct of fresh election. Having done so, the petition becomes bare and empty

    ” In the final analysis, and in consideration of our foregoing decisions on all the issues raised in this application, we hold that the application has merit and is hereby granted as prayed. This petition is struck out for being incompetent.”

    While moving the preliminary objection to the petition, Olanipekun had argued that the petition should be struck out for being incompetent.

    According to Olanipekun there was no correlation between the reliefs being sought by the petitioner and the particulars of application on one hand and the grounds for questioning the election on the other hand.

    “The grounds and particulars in the petition are at opposites with the facts and reliefs being sought within the purview of Section 285(2) of the 1999 Constitution. I urge my Lordships to dismiss the petition,” Olanipekun said.

    He further submitted that there was no where in the pleadings where the petitioners attacked the victory of the respondents or questioned the conduct of the election.

    Olanipekun said: “I submit that there is no petition before your lordships known to law. There are no grounds challenging the election of my client under Section 138(b)(c) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.”

    According to him, the court cannot act on sentiment and sympathy of parties emphasizing that sympathy does not override clear provisions of the law.

    Counsel to APC, Dr Muiz Banire had aligned with the submissions of Olanipekun and described the petition as having no ground and therefore should be struck out.

    “This is a groundless petition; there is no petition before Your Lordships. I pray that the purported document before Your Lordships be struck out,” Banire said.

    However, counsel to Agbaje, Mr Clement Onwuenwunor, had opposed their submissions and maintained that the petition was competent.

    He had argued that the issues for determination by the tribunal had been carefully spelt out.

    He said; “Paragraph 13(a) and (b) of our petition questioned the election in Lagos State on the grounds of non-compliance with the Electoral Act and irregularities such as in the use of the card readers.

    “We have looked at their preliminary objections in this case and have concluded that they are objections made on mere technicalities.”

    He urged the tribunal to dismiss the notices of preliminary objection with substantial costs in favour of the petitioner.

    However, ruling on the issue, the three man tribunal upheld the preliminary objection raised by Chief Wole Olanipekun and Banire that the petition was incompetent.

    Reacting to the judgment Wednesday, Olanipekun said: “We have come to the end of the proceeding in the respect of challenge with the election of governor Akinwumi Ambode as the governor of Lagos state.

    “The tribunal agreed that the petition is incompetence; the court also agreed that incompetence petition does not meet the requirement of the tribunal.

    “The petition has to be based on the electoral act and the constitution. The tribunal also agreed that the petition having not grounded on the constitution as well as electoral act binding decisions of the court of Appeal and Supreme Court the tribunal is bound to follow, the tribunal has no alternative than to strike out the case.”

     

  • Ambode promises permanent NYSC orientation camp

    Ambode promises permanent NYSC orientation camp

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has expressed commitment towards the construction of a decent and state- of-the- art permanent orientation camp for the Lagos State National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

    He said a plan towards actualising this dream was underway.

    Ambode spoke at the closing ceremony of the orientation course for the 2015 batch A Stream 11 corps members at the NYSC Iyana-Ipaja orientation camp.

    He said: “The Lagos state government will leave no stone unturned in working assiduously to ensure that the proper platform for youth development be in place and properly utilised.”

    He also urged the corps members to accept their posting to the various places of primary assignment in good faith and assume duty in earnest.

    NYSC’s Lagos state coordinator, Cyril Akhanemhe, stressed the needs for a permanent orientation camp.

    The Director General, NYSC, Brigadier General Johnson Olawunmi, explained that the scheme was aware that the Lagos state was making efforts to provide a permanent orientation camp like some other states.

     

  • Lagos begins repair works on 90 roads

    Lagos begins repair works on 90 roads

    The Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) has commenced maintenance and rehabilitation work on 90 roads across the metropolis.

    Chairman of the Corporation, Mr. Ayotunde Shodeinde, said the need to fix the roads became necessary following the devastating state of the road due to heavy down pour witnessed recently in the state.

    He said the roads earmarked for repair are those with high vehicular movement, including commercial vehicles used by large number of commuters.

    Shodeinde, said the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode was concerned about the state of the roads and has directed the corporation to commenced work immediately.

    “We cannot continue to blame weather condition for the hardship being caused our people by potholes”, he said, adding that “the corporation will take advantage of any dry period to quickly move to site and carry out maintenance operations be it during the day or night time”.

    While appealing to Lagosians for more patience on their road maintenance needs, he said the Corporation’s operations will assume a more robust dimension which will enable a greater number of Lagosians to feel its impact, especially when the rains wind up.

    Already, road maintenance work has commenced on some of the roads earmarked for repairs, they include Dopemu Road, Agege, Ojo road, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Old Abeokuta road, Agege, Iyana Ipaja-Egbeda Road, Alimosho, Shasha Road, Alimosho, Old Ojo Road, Kuye Amuwo-Odofin, Mowo-Ikoga Road, Badagry, Osho Road and Olubote Street in Epe, Lagos-Abeokuta Express way (Abule-Toll gate axis), Obafemi Awolowo way, Ikeja and Oyemekun road, Ifako-Ijaye.

    Also, listed for maintenance are Ipaja Road, AP-Alagba, Agege, Kikrikiri Road, Olodi, Apapa, Ikotun-Igando Road, Alimosho, Ikotun-Egbe Road, Alimosho, Liverpool Road, Apapa, Badagry, Ketu-Ejinrin Road, Epe, Ogunnusi Road, Ojodu-Ogba, Ikeja, Alausa roads Network, Ikeja, Allen Avenue/Opebi Road, Ikeja, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway (Cement-Ile Zik Axis) and Owolegbon Street, Atunrase Estate, Gbagada Ph1, Kosofe.

    Others to be fixed include Aradagun-Ajido-Iworo road, Badagry, Ajah-Ado-Badore Road, Eti-Osa, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Ojo-Igbede Road, Ojo, Agege Motor Road, Mushin, Herbert Macaulay Way, Lagos Mainland, Bush/Ajike Faromobi/Thomas Laniyan/Anthony Village Road, Kosofe, Itire-Mushin Road, Surulere, Tokunbo Street, Lagos-Island, Apapa Road, Ebute-Meta, Lagos Mainland, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway (Abule Egba-Toll Gate Axis) and Agege Motor Road, Ladipo-Cappa Axis.

    The maintenance activities, Shodeinde said, will be carried out using either Asphalt premix or paving stones and other palliative measures, all in an attempt to improve the motoring experience of Lagosians.

  • Tribunal to decide on Ambode’s objection today

    Tribunal to decide on Ambode’s objection today

    The Lagos State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Ikeja will today decide whether to hear the preliminary objection filed by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Jimi Agbaje’s petition.

    Agbaje is challenging the declaration of Ambode as  winner of the April 11 election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    At the resumed hearing yesterday, the tribunal Chairman, Justice Mohammed Ibrahim Sirajo, proposed that all preliminary objections should be taken along with the petition.

    Ambode’s counsel Wole Olanipekun and that of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Muiz Banire opposed the proposal.

    Olanipekun argued that paragraphs 18 and 47 (1) of the Electoral Act specified that objections shall be taken before the hearing of the petition.

    He argued that the petitioner had not presented any extreme circumstance before the court to warrant the non-hearing of the preliminary objection before the substantive motion.

    The senior lawyer also insisted that the tribunal did not have the discretion to change the election petition hearing procedure as the Electoral Act left no room for manoeuvring.

    Banire said the tribunal’s suggestion was against the electoral law as it would automatically terminate all preliminary objections in the matter.

    He argued that the position of the law is that whenever an objection is brought through a motion, such objection must be heard immediately.

    But Agbaje’s counsel Clement Onwuenwunor aligned himself with the tribunal’s position.

    He argued that the proposal represents the position of the law as contained in paragraph 12 of the Electoral Act, 2012 as amended.

    Justice Sirajo said the statutory 180 days period for the hearing would begin after the ruling.