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Tag: Ambode

  • Monarch appeals to Ambode for school, hospital

    Monarch appeals to Ambode for school, hospital

    The Oniba of Iba, His Royal Highness (HRH) Oba Goriola Oseni has appealed to Governor Ambode to establish a public secondary school and hospital for residents of the community. The monarch made the appeal during his 40th coronation anniversary.

    Though he said his four decades on the throne were fraught with several challenges, Oba Oseni feels fulfilled.

    He regretted that one of his greatest challenges as a traditional ruler is the numerous litigations in which his throne was enmeshed and which affected the finances of the monarchy.

    Oba Oseni lamented the millions of Naira that lawyers took from him every year as legal fees in order to defend his community.

    This development, the monarch lamented, was due to what he called his predecessor’s lack of education; a situation that made him to enter into certain agreements which later became an albatross to his monarchy.

    “It’s good for people to be educated. If my predecessors were educated, I wouldn’t have been facing these challenges now. For instance, how can our customary tenant claim to be land owners? Do you expect me to fold my arms and watch? It might interest you to know that some of them wanted to install themselves as Oba in Awori land.

    “Many years back when I ascended the throne, lawyers could charge you N50, 000 or thereabout. But you get a case and approach a lawyer today, your bill runs into millions. I have won some of the cases and I believe God would assist me to win others,” he said.

    Looking back, the monarch is grateful to his Creator for helping him to weather the storm.

    “Unease lies the head that wears the crown! I faced a lot of problems but with the help of Almighty Father, I conquered everything. Some people who were installed as kings died after two or four years on the throne; but here we are today. If anybody had said I would still be alive, I would have doubted it,” he said.

    One of the monarch’s greatest achievements is the unprecedented development which the ancient town has experienced. The monarch recalled that Iba Kingdom is diametrically different from the ‘jungle’ it once was when he mounted the throne.

    “I’m happy about the development of Iba. In 1975 when I was called back home, one could not have access to this area. Who are you coming to meet in Iba apart from the indigenes and the isoko palm wine tappers that I met here when I came?

    “I was living in Ajegunle then. You had to enter the bus from Ajegunle, get off at Iyana-Oba and trek down here.

    “During the dry season, we would cut palm leaves and lay them on the ground; during rainy season, it was always terrible. But see the way things are now; various small-scale factories littering everywhere, hotels, private schools, LASU, our LCDA is also here.

    “When I celebrated my 35th year on the throne five years ago, I appealed to the state government to fix certain roads, and I’m grateful that ex-Governor Babatunde Fashola did very well, with the exception of Ijagemo and Ijododo. But I’m sure that by the grace of God, it will be done this time.

    On his regrets in the past 40 years, Oba Oseni said there were none.

    Everything he ever did was based on his conviction as he always consulted God before taking any action.

    He said: “I have nothing to regret since the beginning of my reign. In 1976 a year after I was installed as king, the followers of my fathers and my predecessors instituted a case against me. I was less than six months on the throne then, but some of the good works I did before I returned home, gave me lots of courage.

    “Somebody must be God-fearing and I believe in my God; that is why I still insist I have no regrets,” he said.

    Many of his contemporaries and subject understand Oba Oniba on his principled stance on issues. He is not the one to be easily tantalised with cash.

    On principles, Oba Oseni said: “I have principles. “Once I the Oniba of Iba, says ‘no’, everybody within my domain and beyond knows I will maintain that stance. You cannot convince me with money. I know I’m not rich but I can never be tempted with money to do things against my principle.”

    He noted that the immediate past chairman of the Iba LCDA had already acquired a parcel of land in the community for the proposed school.

    “Unfortunately, the Ojo Military Cantonment has acquired most of our lands. We are also contemplating a general hospital but where do we site it? So, we are appealing to government to cede a part of the land acquired by Fashola before he left office as governor so that we can build a hospital there.

     

  • Eight months after, Lagos APC rates Ambode high

    Eight months after, Lagos APC rates Ambode high

    THE local chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) did an eight-month appraisal of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration in the centre of excellence and said the government was on track.

    According to the party, the performance of the government since inception has so far justified the confidence reposed in the APC by Lagosians.

    “Governor Ambode has shown good reasons why the people of Lagos reposed implicit confidence in him during the election and the period following his swearing in when some people launched a ferocious campaign to distract him,” the APC said in statement signed by its spokesman, Joe Igbokwe.

    The party specifically listed the provision of security, public infrastructure and electrification of major highways, as areas where the government has recorded landmarks.

    It encouraged the governor to continue in the tradition of good governance which had been the landmarks of the progressive party in the Centre of Excellence since 1999.

    The statement reads: “Governor Ambode must continue in giving the best to Lagos so as to deepen the rich credentials of governance in Lagos in the past 16 years.

    “We recall that while he was barely two months in power, there were orchestrated campaigns to distract him from the task he has set for himself to give the best to Lagos and excel in the enviable status he met on ground.

    “We recall that knowing our candidate in the last election and his capacity, we did say that we are confident that the Ambode regime will give superlative services to the state.

    “We are happy that eight months in power, the present regime is giving Lagosians value for their support. We note the fast rate at which state roads are being constructed in all nooks and crannies of the state especially in the rural parts of Lagos in fulfillment of the party’s manifesto and the governor’s electoral promise.

    “We note the frenetic lighting of all parts of Lagos in efforts to realise the governor’s plan to restore the hitherto enviable Lagos nightlife and drive hoodlums and criminals out of Lagos.

    “Lagos APC notes the great priority the government has paid to the security of lives and properties in Lagos. We note that the government has made quite huge investments in security in its resolve to see that every Lagosian is protected.”

    “We note that the present government continues to pursue the enviable environmental upgrade of Lagos, as started by his predecessors in a bid to ensuring a cleaner, healthier and more beautiful Lagos.

    ‘We note also that the governor is targeting rural development in his efforts to open up all parts of Lagos and we believe this is the panacea to a seamless LAGOS where every Lagosian feels comfortable. “

    Expressing confident that Ambode will take Lagos to loftier heights, the APC urged Lagosians to continue to support his administration to make the city more livable for law-abiding citizens.

    The statement further reads: “We also call on Lagosians to be good citizens by paying their taxes as and when due to enable the government to serve Lagosians better.

    “We urge the governor to continue in his present strides as it is quite in tradition with the governance of the Center of Excellence since 1999.”

     

  • ‘Stop disparaging Ambode’

    ‘Stop disparaging Ambode’

    The Yoruba Youth Council (YYC) has lampooned the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) over its condemnation of Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s demolition of Owonifaari market in Oshodi.

    Speaking at a briefing in Lagos on Saturday, YYC described the OYC’s statements as reckless, unacceptable and ridiculous.

    The Convener, Comrade Ekundayo Shoyoye, said the Ohanaeze group chose to take flight from the reality of true scenario in Lagos State.

    According to him, the Lagos State government, in line with structural plan for a more befitting, decent and safe Lagos on its ideal mega-city plan has marked the Owonifari Market to give way since 2007 even from the first tenure of former Governor Babatunde Fashola.

    He said: “This kind of exercise is not new to Lagosians who have identified with the Lagos State government’s infrastructural development plans of an ideal mega environment.

    “No particular group or set of people was targeted and there was no reason to cry foul save for deliberate and heinous motive to stir sectional discord by some Igbo traders who were not the only ethnic group affected by the exercise.

    “In as much as we believe the OYC press statement does not represent our law-abiding Igbo brothers and sisters resident in Lagos, any such careless, rude, senseless and unguided utterances will be met with stiffer measure by the Yoruba Youth Council in future.

    “The government of Akinwunmi Ambode is fair, just and friendly to all Lagosians, irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliations, therefore it is our dream to see a greater Lagos under this people-friendly administration of our amiable governor.”

  • Ambode, Fashola others condole with Mobolaji Johnson

    Ambode, Fashola others condole with Mobolaji Johnson

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday visited the state’s first military governor, Brig-Gen Mobolaji Johnson (rtd) over the death of his wife.

    Mrs. Funmi Johnson (76) passed on after a brief illness on Saturday.

    In a message by his chief press secretary, Habib Aruna, the governor described the late Mrs. Johnson as an epitome of humility, uprightness and one who had passion for teaching.

    “She was a virtuous woman. As wife of the military governor, she still went about her normal duties. She was seen in the market, she related with her colleagues at Yaba College of Technology and the Federal Training Centre as well as her friends as she used to before her husband became governor. That for me is the height of humility.

    Ambode urged the widower to take solace in the fact that his wife has gone to a better place and draw strength from the fruitful years they shared together.

    The governor visited the Lagos residence of the former governor on Monday, February 8 in company of his wife, Bolanle and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem.

    “On behalf of the good people of Lagos, I want to express our heartfelt condolence to the family of Brig-Gen Mobolaji Johnson (rtd) on this great and irreparable loss,” he said.

    Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd) and former governor Lateef Jakande also visited Johnson.

     

  • Ambode swears in two perm secs

    Ambode swears in two perm secs

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday swore in two  permanent secretaries- Olayiwole Onasanya and Olumide Lawal.

    The governor, who spoke at the Executive Council Chambers of the Lagos House, Ikeja, said permanent secretaries are important and as such, his administration would always appoint only the best.

    He described the appointment as a testament of his commitment to continually reinvigorate the machinery of government through elevation of worthy and qualified personnel.

    He said: “Leadership at any level of human organisation, especially at this challenging time, requires innovation, creativity and resource management.

    “Our new appointees are, therefore, enjoined to immediately hit the ground running as our people are eager to see the direct and indirect impact of government policies and programmes.”

  • Ambode swears in two new Perm Secs

    Ambode swears in two new Perm Secs

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Monday swore-in two newly appointed permanent secretaries into the state civil service, charging them to champion his administration’s quest to improve on service delivery to the people.

    The governor, who spoke at the Executive Council Chambers of the Lagos House, Ikeja, said permanent secretaries, as drivers of various government ministries and agencies are important to him and as such, his administration would always appoint only the very best.

    The newly appointed permanent secretaries are – Dr. Olayiwole Shakirudeen Onasanya and Mr. Olumide Abayomi Lawal.

    He described the appointment as a testament of his commitment to continually reinvigorate the machinery of government through elevation of worthy and qualified personnel from the pool of skilled human capital available in the state public service, urging the appointees to hit the ground running and not hesitate to take tough decisions.

    While reminding the appointees of the task that comes with their new portfolio, the governor said a lot is expected from them, adding that they must be ready to show leadership as people are eagerly waiting to see the direct and indirect impact of government policies and programmes, which they must drive.

    He said: “Leadership at any level of human organization, especially at this challenging time, requires innovation, creativity and resource management. Our new appointees are therefore enjoined to immediately hit the ground running as our people are eager to see the direct and indirect impact of government policies and programmes.

    “Let me state that our civil and public servants are agents of change and enablers of government policies. The permanent secretaries are therefore the mirror which reflects the quality of service our civil servants are offering.

    “As I congratulate our newly sworn-in permanent secretaries on your well deserved appointments, I urge you to live up to the dictate of your new status as the appointment was based on your outstanding trajectories which were found to be in line with the skills and competency required to drive Lagos State,” Governor Ambode said.

     

     

  • Ambode for Addis Ababa forum

    Ambode for Addis Ababa forum

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode will join world leaders across the globe for the Corporate Council on Africa’s 10th Biennial U.S.-Africa Business Summit, to be hosted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from February 1- 4.

    The US-Africa Business Forum will bring together 1000 private sector and government officials, including heads of states, entrepreneurs and investors from Africa, United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

    This year’s forum will focus on key opportunities and challenges in agribusiness, energy, health, infrastructure, security, trade facilitation, ICT and finance to increase trade and investment.

    In a statement yesterday by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, the governor said he would “use this opportunity to position Lagos not just as an investment destination, but also as an emerging economic hub in Africa”.

    Ambode will participate in an interactive session during the “Doing Business in Nigeria” forum to discuss investment opportunities in Lagos.

  • Ambode replaces 58-year-old transformer in palmgrove

    Ambode replaces 58-year-old transformer in palmgrove

    Fovernor Akinwunmi Ambode has donated a 500KVA transformer to residents of Palmgrove Estate in Odi-Olowo Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area (LCDA) as part of the ongoing ‘Light Up Lagos’ initiative.

    He also donated transformers to two communities in Alapere and Ijegun to boost electricity supply in those areas.

    Ambode, represented at the presentation by Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources Wale Oluwo, said he read about the residents’ plight in a newspaper in which they appealed to Ikeja Electric to replace their aging transformers.

    The transformer at Palmgrove Estate, according to the residents, was installed in 1958 and became problematic about 10 years ago, making it prone to fault weekly.

    Oluwo said Ambode’s gesture is to alleviate the people’s suffering.

    He said: “This is part of the Light up Lagos Project. The Project is not all about street lights alone. In fact, street light is a small component of the project. It will be interesting to note that the governor read about the residents’ plight yesterday (Friday) in the papers and we are dropping the transformer today (Saturday) here and in two other locations.”

    Responding, President of Palmgrove Estate Residents Association, Captain Jide George said the governor’s response to their plight should be emulated by other leaders, describing it as an eloquent testimony of leadership by example.

    “This is very much unprecedented. I never believed that such a thing could happen where you will just put something in the papers and the governor will respond to it expeditiously. All of us are behind him and we want to say thank you to the governor,” George said.

    Two other senior residents of the Estate, Dr Ladi Awosika and Mr Akintunde Adeyinka said the remarkable way with which the governor responded to their plight was a confirmation of the fact that Lagos State is in safe hands.

  • Ambode lauds WAMCO’s N2b warehouse

    The Governor of Lagos State, Akinwumi Ambode has commended Friesland Campina WAMCO Nigeria’s N2 billion mega warehouse in Lagos, and urged other companies to invest in the state.

    Speaking the commissioning ceremony in Ikeja, Governor Ambode who was represented by Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem said the project would not only create more jobs Lagosians but would enable the reach of WAMCO’s products to more Nigerians, adding that the huge investment is a testimony that Lagos is investment haven and destination for investors.

    He said: “This event is remarkable for Lagos State, because it is another endorsement to our continuous efforts, to tell the world that Lagos is the place to invest. Over the years, WAMCO has proven itself to be a proactive company of integrity, professionalism with internationally acclaimed best practices. This I believe is the reason why the Peak brand has endured for so long and is still the leading and preferred milk brand today.”

    He urged the company to be diligent in tax payment, and always employ best practices in the discharge and management of its industrial waste and effluents. “In Lagos State, we emphasise the importance of paying your tax regularly. Companies and individuals, who evade tax, definitely work against the good of the society. Indeed the benefits of tax are enormous to the growth and sustenance of every progressive society with people oriented initiatives. It goes a long way to facilitate government policies, economic system as well as social infrastructures.

    “I want to assure you that our government is unrelenting and we will not rest in order to ensure that a safe and business friendly environment is guaranteed,” he added.

    The Managing Director of FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc, Mr. Rahul Colaco assured of quality dairy production for Nigerians. He said the company invests an average of N4 billion yearly in Nigeria.

    Colaco said the new warehouse sits on a 3.5 acre of land and a capacity of over 14,000 pallet positions and is executed with LED lights which avail brighter surroundings in alignment with environmental Green Goals.

  • Lagos APC backs Ambode’s war against gangsters, cult members

    Lagos APC backs Ambode’s war against gangsters, cult members

    THROUGH its local chapter in Lagos, the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday threw its weight behind the state government’s crusade against cultism in the Centre of Excellence.

    It urged every peace-loving individual and organization to support Governor Ambode’s resolve to rid the state of anti-social elements, including cult members and criminal gangs.

    In a statement by its spokesman, Joe Igbokwe, the party urged Lagosians to distance themselves from dangerous gangs and cult activities that constitute impediments to peace in the society.

     The statement reads: “The present state government is determined to take drastic actions against cultism and gangsterism in all nooks and crannies of the state. Primitive acts like gang wars and cultism distort the normal lives of law abiding citizens and constitute dangerous nuisance that are not at sync with the new Lagos that has become a modern mega city where citizens and indeed all Nigerians are to engage in lawful, productive activities unhindered and unmolested.

    “The party said the present government is determined to root out gangs and cultists warning their members and intending members  to desist from such dark activities or face the wrath of the law.

    “It is strange that in the present situation where we should all be coordinating efforts to advance the ends of development and progress in the state and the country in general, some people find succour in patronising dangerous gangs and secret cults with a mission to constitute unnecessary risks and impediments to others.

    “We see this as not only strange, but queer and borne out of the most primitive feeling of insecurity borne out of failure. Most confounding is that these gangs and cult groups, serving primordial interests have sworn to target the lives, properties and activities of law abiding citizens for destruction.

    “This is unacceptable to the state as it is unacceptable to the tenets of freedom and equality which modern societies operate on.

    “It is our belief that no group of people has the right to take lives of other citizens or inflict harm on others or damage others’ properties or restrict others’ movement in the name of cultism or gangsterism.

    “It is also our belief that no group can run a parallel government in a bid to promote dark and hideous interests so it is time all manners of cultism and gangsterism are forcefully suppressed before the situation gets of hand.

    “It is our belief that no responsible government will watch unconcerned as gangsters and cultists liberalise lawlessness and unruliness and this is why we laud the Ambode government in this present bid to rid Lagos of cultists.