The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Amosun

  • Amosun: She was a model of distinction

    Amosun: She was a model of distinction

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has poured encomiums on Chief Mrs. Hannah Awolowo, widow of the first Premier of Western Region of Nigeria, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    In a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Barr Taiwo Adeoluwa, the governor described the death of the matriarch of the Awolowo family as a great loss.

    According to him: “Nigeria has lost a role model of distinction, a highly disciplined and principled woman, a trustworthy ally and dependable politician who equally made her mark in the business world.”

    The governor urged the younger generation of women to follow in the footsteps of Mama HID.

     

  • Amosun off to France

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has left for France as part of a Federal Government delegation, led by President Muhamadu Buhari.

    The governor will meet some foreign investors and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Lafarge Africa on the redevelopment of Aworo Forest Reserves and Imeko Games Reserves in Yewa North and Imeko-Afon local government areas.

    He will on Thursday, depart for Saudi Arabia to perform the hajj.

    Amosun has, however, in a letter to the House of Assembly, authorised Deputy Governor Yetunde Onanuga to act in his absence.

  • Amosun, El-Rufai extol Adelabu’s virtues

    Ogun and Kaduna State governors Ibikunle Amosun and Nasir El-Rufai have extolled the virtues of the late Ibadan politician, Adegoke Adelabu.

    They spoke on the occasion of his centenary  birthday.

    Felicitating with the Adelabu family of Ibadan and the Yoruba, the governors, in letters to the ceremonial committee, described the late politician as a gift to the nation.

    In a letter to the Chairman of the Adelabu Centenary Birthday Planning Committee, Oloye ‘Lekan Alabi, by the Chief of Staff to Governor El-Rufai, Mrs. Hadiza Usman, she expressed the governor’s “inability to attend this remarkable celebration due to pressing official engagements, but wishes a fruitful celebration.”

    In his letter, Amosun said: “The fact that ‘Penkelemesi,’ as Adelabu was fondly called, died over 57 years ago has not erased his memory from the minds of the people.

    “This is not unconnected with his positive influence and contributions to the socio-political development of the old Western Region and Nigeria.”

    He added that there was no other period to celebrate one of the titans and architects of nationalism than now when the Southwest was in collaboration, cooperation and political alliance with other geopolitical zones.

    Chief Uzo Okpara (Omekannaya), son of the late premier of the defunct Eastern Region, Dr. Michael Okpara, in his congratulatory message on behalf of the Okpara family, said the late Adelabu was a political associate of his father.  He described him as a detrabalised and a forthright politician, who struggled for the independence of the country.

    Okpara prayed God to bless and keep the deceased’s family.

    Adelabu was the first African manager of the United Africa Company (UAC) in 1936 at the age of 21 and the country’s first federal minister of Social Services and Natural Resources in 1954 at the age of 39. He was a prodigy, whose academic record at the Government College, Ibadan remains unbeaten 80 years after he graduated from the college in 1935.

    Adelabu was the leader of the opposition in the defunct Western Region House of Assembly and the first chairman of the defunct Ibadan District Council.

    He died on March 25, 1958 in an accident at Ogere Remo in the present Ogun State, at 43.

  • Tribunal rejects Amosun’s, APC’s prayers to quash Isiaka’s petition

    The Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, for the second time struck out Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s application, asking it to dismiss the petition of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) governorship candidate, Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka.

    It also struck out a similar petition brought before it by Amosun’s party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), seeking dismissal of Isiaka’s petition.

    The applications were anchored on Section 6 and Section 36 (6) of the constitution and paragraphs 18 (1) – (4), 47 (1) and 53 (5) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended.

    The applicants had in the motion on notice, asked the court to set aside the whole proceedings and report of the pre-trial session of the petition that was closed on July 13 or dismiss it for reason of irregularities, incompetence and lack of jurisdiction of the tribunal to determine the petition as constituted.

    The two applications were brought separately by Amosun and APC yesterday, but none succeeded, as the tribunal Chairman, Justice Henry Olusiyi, said the applications were not only an abuse of court processes, but also an unnecessary waste of the tribunal’s time.

    In countering the applications, Isiaka’s counsel, Adetunji Oyeyipo (SAN), argued that the issues raised in the applications were not true and that they had also been treated by the tribunal in similar separate applications earlier by the applicants.

    Justice Olusiyi held that the applications were attempts to re-litigate on matters long settled  earlier by the same tribunal.

    He said: “By these applications, the first and second respondents are asking us to sit on an appeal over our ruling of July 7 and July 30. The two issues raised in the two applications have been decided upon one way or the other.

    “The normal and proper thing for the first and second respondents to have done was to appeal and not to bug us down with these applications. This is no doubt an abuse of court process. These applications are an attempt to re-litigate matters that this tribunal has long settled.

    “It is an abuse of judicial processes and unnecessary waste of tribunal’s precious time. The application are bereft of merit and substance. These applications failed and are dismissed.”

    Ealier, counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Oluwajare Ogunnaike, opened and  closed his defence without calling his witness.

    He told the court that he was still not able to reach his witness since he was moved out of Ogun State and appealed that the case be adjourned till Thursday when the witness might be available, but his plea was turned down by the court.

    The case was, however, adjourned till September 29 for the adoption of final written addresses by the parties.

     

     

     

     

  • 100 days: Amosun preaches hope

    100 days: Amosun preaches hope

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has urged indigenes and residents to be hopeful, noting that the challenges are a passing phase.

    He supported the policies and programmes of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying: “They will bring within our reach and attainment, the dreams of our people for a happy and a prosperous nation.”

    In a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, the governor thanked the people for their faith in his administration.

    He said: “Challenges are human phenomena. Great countries had at one time or the other been confronted with challenges, which they surmounted. Your support saw us through the first term. I have no doubt that your solidarity will make us to even surpass expectations in our second tenure.”

    Amosun went on: “We have spent the last 100 days restructuring our finances, following the sudden economic downturn in the country. We participated in the Federal Government’s bailout programme with the support of our House of Assembly. The Treasury Single Account (TSA), which we introduced in 2011 and has now got a nationwide acceptance, has enabled us to block leakages. We look into the future with confidence.

    “As we reform our governance in line with the present realities, we have paid attention to our environment. We are engaging local and foreign investors with tangible results in the number of companies berthing in Ogun. We are taking stock, looking into new initiatives to raise our Internally-Generated Revenue and consolidate our achievements through the completion of projects. We are laying a strong economic base for the future. We have hopes of a better tomorrow.

    “We will remain focused and continue to work harder to make Ogun State better than we met it.”

  • Assembly okays Amosun’s N18b loan request

    Assembly okays Amosun’s N18b loan request

    The Ogun State House of Assembly yesterday approved Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s request to obtain N18.9billion loan facility to offset outstanding deductions and subventions owed civil servants.

    The loan, which is expected to be sourced from the Guaranty Trust Bank, under the Federal Government bailout programme, was broken down into N9.779billion for outstanding deductions and subventions and N9.139billion for the local governments.

    The approval followed the governor’s letter to the Assembly, read by Speaker Suraj Adekunbi during plenary.

    The House in a Resolution 008/2015 authorised the restructuring of the commercial bank loans into Federal Government bonds.

    Mrs. Yetunde Sogbein, representing Odeda Constituency, who spoke in support of the motion for the N18.9billion loan, as moved by Yinka Mafe (Sagamu), said it would serve as a relief to the government in paying the backlog of debt owed public servants.

    Mrs. Sogbein said the payment would also give sucour to the workers and boost their morale, as they are partners in Amosun’s mission to rebuild the state.

  • Amosun, others call for summit

    Amosun, others call for summit

    Ogun state Governor Senator Ibikune Amosun and public relations practitioners have called for a national reputation summit.

    They spoke during a colloquium and awards by the Ogun State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) at the Olusegun Obasanjo Library, Abeokuta, the state capital.

    The keynote speaker, Mr. Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, who is also the chief executive, CMC Connect Group, noted the political history of Nigeria, analysing the primordial factors that have affected its image and goodwill since independence. He said the nation had suffered serious image problem as a result of the decay in the system, adding that it has denied the country of her pivotal place in the comity of progressive nations.

    Badejo-Okusanya, who is also the Secretary-General, African Public Relations Association (APPRA), identified impunity as the bane of Nigeria’s socio-political and economic development. Nigeria, he said, “has suffered moral bankruptcy as a result of corruption that permeates every facet of our lives.”

    He praised President Muham-madu Buhari for making genuine efforts at eradicating graft and corruption in government.

    He also supported the summit, saying it would create a forum for stakeholders and communications to find solutions to the already battered image of the country.

    The chairman of the colloquium, Prof Lai Osho of the Department of Mass Communications, Lagos State University (LASU), said: “The nation is going through a rebirth in the way we think, the way we do things, and in our attitude.’

    He added that Buhari has brought sanity back to governance.

    Amosun, represented by the Deputy Governor, Mrs Yetunde  Onanuga, praised the Chairman of the state chapter of NIPR, Mr. Tope Adaramola and his executives for creating a platform for cross fertilisation of ideas on how to make Nigeria better.

    He emphasised that the Change mantra of the ruling political party, All Progressives Congress (APC), has been the driver of the successes recorded in two months of the Buhari government.

    He called for attitudinal change among Nigerians to make the Nigerian project work.

  • Amosun promises to pay workers’ deductions

    Amosun promises to pay workers’ deductions

    Ogun State Governor,  Ibikunle Amosun, on Tuesday said he will pay backlog of deductions owed the state’s workers soon.

    Amosun said this while receiving the President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Bala Kaigama, in his office in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    The governor noted that he was not unmindful of the fact that the success or otherwise of any government largely depends on its relationship with its workers, saying he would continue to create enabling environment that would foster harmonious relationship between the government and its workforce.

    He said: “We are determined to continue to do the needful, provide better condition of service and pay up all the monies owed the workers soon in other to motivate them to get the best from them.

    “The totality of the deductions owed the workers is equal to one month salary for the workers. But we cannot afford to let other sectors suffer.

    “Should we concentrate on paying salaries alone, we won’t be owing any money but we can’t afford to render other sectors comatose.

    “And I know the workers would not like that because they are also beneficiaries of the social services we render.”

    Kaigama lauded the governor for being workers’ friendly and appealed to him to expedite action on the payment of the deductions, saying it was the only proceed from the worker’s salary which they depend on to fund their individual projects or meet personal needs.

    He said: “The monthly reports from across the state councils show you are a workers’ friendly governor and we have no reason to antagonize your government.”

  • Amosun to religious leaders: pray for Nigeria

    Amosun to religious leaders: pray for Nigeria

    OGUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has assured that the nation’s dream towards attaining the much-desired height will be fulfilled.

    He urged religious leaders to continue praying for positive change at all levels of government.

    Amosun said this in a message at the grand finale of the 2015 Tabiorah programme of the Church of the Lord World-Wide, Aladura Ground at Ogere Remo, Ogun State.

    The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Yetunde Onanuga, noted that the ongoing change by the Federal Government and All Progressive Congress(APC) state governments were taking a positive shape.

    He added that only prayers from religious leaders/stakeholders could help political leaders achieve the required breakthrough.

    A statement by Press Officer in the Deputy Governor’s Office, Miss Damilola Koleade, said the governor acknowledged the support given to his administration since inception.

    He reiterated his government’s commitment to the provision of more infrastructural development and other people-oriented programmes that would improve the well-being of the people.

    Amosun congratulated the Primate of the Church of the Lord Worldwide, the most Rev. Rufus Ositelu, and church members on this year’s anniversary, which also coincided with its 79th evangelism.

    He urged the primate not to relent in praying for peace, tranquility and development of the country and state.

    He added that the theme of this year’s anniversary, “Divine prosperity”, was in tandem with the ongoing transformation agenda embarked upon by the President Muhammad Buhari-led administration to take the country to the promise land.

    In his exhortation, Ositelu decried the insecurity, corruption and unemployment among others  challenges facing the country.

    He called on Nigerians to join the Federal Government in tackling the menace that has become the order of the day.

     

     

  • Amosun, others call for national reputation summit

    Amosun, others call for national reputation summit

    Ogun state Governor Senator Ibikune Amosun and public relations practitioners have called for a national reputation summit.

    They spoke during a colloquium and awards by the Ogun State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) at the Olusegun Obasanjo Library, Abeokuta, the state capital.

    The keynote speaker, Mr. Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, who is also the chief executive, CMC Connect Group, noted the political history of Nigeria, analysing the primordial factors that have affected its image and goodwill since independence. He said the nation had suffered serious image problem as a result of the decay in the system, adding that it has denied the country of her pivotal place in the comity of progressive nations.

    Badejo-Okusanya, who is also the Secretary-General, African Public Relations Association (APPRA), identified impunity as the bane of Nigeria’s socio-political and economic development. Nigeria, he said, “has suffered moral bankruptcy as a result of corruption that permeates every facet of our lives.”

    He praised President Muham-madu Buhari for making genuine efforts at eradicating graft and corruption in government.

    He also supported the summit, saying it would create a forum for stakeholders and communications to find solutions to the already battered image of the country.

    The chairman of the colloquium, Prof Lai Osho of the Department of Mass Communications, Lagos State University (LASU), said: “The nation is going through a rebirth in the way we think, the way we do things, and in our attitude.’

    He added that Buhari has brought sanity back to governance.

    Amosun, represented by the Deputy Governor, Mrs Yetunde  Onanuga, praised the Chairman of the state chapter of NIPR, Mr. Tope Adaramola and his executives for creating a platform for cross fertilisation of ideas on how to make Nigeria better.

    He emphasised that the Change mantra of the ruling political party, All Progressives Congress (APC), has been the driver of the successes recorded in two months of the Buhari government.

    He called for attitudinal change among Nigerians to make the Nigerian project work.