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Tag: Amosun

  • My dad, by Fashola

    My dad, by Fashola

    •Dignitaries bid governors dad farewell

    •We lost our best friend, says governor

    •Amosun, Fayemi, Amaechi, others attend funeral

    It was an exciting final farewell that spoke so much about the stature of the man who had passed on.

    Many dignitaries converged on Lagos to see off the late Alhaji Ademola Ibrahim Fashola, father of Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola.

    The late Alhaji Fashola died on Monday. He was 80.

    His final journey began at his 31, Ladipo Labinjo Street, Surulere, Lagos home where personalities gathered for the lying-in-state.

    The body arrived from the mortuary in a black Mercedes Benz Sport Utility Vehicle about 11:55am. The lying-in-state was held at the Surulere Senior Secondary School, opposite the late Fashola’s home.

    At the ceremony were Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Chief Rasak Okoya, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, Alhaji Lateef Okunnu, Otunba Subomi Balogun, Surulere Council boss, Tajudeen Ajide, Kayode Opeifa, Joe Igbokwe, Onigbongbo LCDA boss, Babatunde Oke, representatives of Arewa and Ndigbo, Service Chiefs and members of the State Executive Council, among others.

    Members of the Eko Club described the late Fashola as a jolly good fellow and prayed that Almighty Allah grant him aljannat firdaus.

    The entourage then moved to the Central Mosque in Obalende where prayers were offered.

    A Mercedez Benz M350 4matic car belonging to MIC Funerals with the inscription, “Alhaji Demola Fashola”, conveyed the body to the mosque.

    Governor Fashola was accompanied by his siblings and relations.

    At the Vaults and Garden, Ikoyi, the body was interred in a newly-built marble-carved tomb, near where the late Iyaloja General and mother of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Dr. Abibat Mogaji, was buried.

    Members of the Fashola family wore white lace and orange stripped caps.

    Imams from the Lagos Central Mosque, led by the Chief Imam of Lagos, Alhaji Akinola Garuba, prayed for the repose of the soul of the departed.

    Speaking to reporters after the interment, Governor Fashola thanked Lagosians for the love shown his family.

    He said: “I thank everybody, who has rallied round the family from yesterday morning before I returned from Saudi Arabia. The heart-pouring of love from all Nigerians; from Mr. President, who called persistently until he got through to me. He sent his representative today, the Honourable Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, and my brother governors, the imams, the ordinary men and women and everybody. Thank you very much.

    “This was a painful way for us and for you to show how much you love us, but we really appreciate you. Our gratitude is deep and immense and we can never fully express it.”

    Recalling the virtues of his late father, the governor said he was an all encompassing gentleman who lived a simple life and loved his children.

    He said: “I think that for all of us his children, he was first and foremost our friend, he was our best friend. So, this is what we will really miss. Our father was a very loving friend, who allowed us to be the best that we could; he allowed us to be what we want to be, guiding and nudging, but never discriminated and that’s why he had children that were Christians, Muslims, children who are Europeans, children who are married across all Nigeria.

    “I think these have fully captured his life. I doubt if there was any person who did not have enemies, it must be my father because he just got on with life. He didn’t discriminate in any position he found himself; good, comfortable, painful, he just got on. I learnt so many things from him and most of these things is who I am today and who I try to be and I hope that I can be as rounded in integrity, humble in his attitude to life and fully committed in all situations as he was.”

    To the governor, his father death was significant as “he died in the month of Ramadan”.

    “He died on the night of majesty. We had just finished Lailatu Quadri prayers in Mecca and, for me, God is great because if God gave him the opportunity to choose how he would go, and when, he couldn’t have chosen the day he went. It was such a great time. We thank God.”

    With the governor were his counterparts from Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Ekiti, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Rivers, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi.

    Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Hon Bolaji Abdullahi, represented President Goodluck Jonathan. Former Governor of Cross River, Donald Duke, former Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji and Chief Ayo Akande were there.

    Also in attendance were Mr. Akin Kekere-Ekun, Otunba Alabi Mc-Coy, Alhaji Lateef Salako, Alhaji Moshood Ojikutu, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, Senators Gbenga Ashafa and Femi Ojodu, Chairman of Eleganza Group, Chief Rasak Okoya and renowned lawyer, Alhaji Femi Okunnu. Ogun State Deputy Governor Mr. Segun Adesegun, members of the State Executive Council, members of the House of Assembly, members of the House of Representatives, Nollywood stars, clerics and members of the Diplomatic Corps, among others, were also there.

  • His death a great loss, says Amosun

    Ogun State Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun has mourned the death of Alhaji Ibrahim Ademola Fashola, the father of the Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN).

    He said he was shocked by the news of his death, describing it as a great loss.

    In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs. Funmi Wakama, Amosun described Papa Fashola as a model of industry, discipline and integrity.

    “He was a dedicated family man and a devout Muslim, who trained his children in the way of Allah. It is not surprising that one of his children, Mr. Raji Fashola, later rose to become the governor of Lagos, where he has recorded outstanding successes,” the governor said.

    Amosun commiserated with the government and people of Lagos State, family, relatives and friends of Papa Fashola, “especially my brother governor, on the exit of our beloved father, who led an exemplary life.”

    He prayed to Almighty Allah to grant Papa eternal rest in Aljanah Firdaus.

  • Amosun confirms Adesanya OOU VC

    The Ogun State Governor and Visitor to Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has confirmed the appointment of Prof Saburi Adejimi Adesanya as the Vice-Chancellor of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye in substantive capacity with immediate effect.

    Adesanya, a Professor of Pharmacognosy was appointed the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution on July 27, 2012 by the OOU Governing Council.

    According to a release issued last Friday by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa, the Vice-Chancellor was described as an erudite scholar with a teaching experience spanning almost three decades in the University system.

    Adesanya became a professor in 1996 and was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife from 2009 to 2012. He has over 40 publications in international and local journals to his credit.

     

  • FG committed to tackling unemployment – Aganga

    FG committed to tackling unemployment – Aganga

    The Federal Government has expressed its determination to address the challenges of unemployment through development of a sustainable Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

    The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, stated this in Abeokuta during a validation workshop on the Revised Policy on MSMEs in Ogun.

    A statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the ministry Assistant Chief Information Officer, Ibrahim Mohammed, quoted Aganga as saying that the government created 32 million indirect jobs through the 17.2 million MSMEs in 2012 alone.

    The minister said the government had concluded plans to create five million jobs by 2015 through the expansion of the MSMEs.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that he promised to forward a proposal to the Federal Executive Council on the need to ensure production of school uniforms from made-in-Nigeria fabrics to encourage enterprises development.

    “There is no reason why school uniforms cannot be made even from “adire textiles.”

    Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, acknowledged the support and cooperation the administration had received from SMEDAN.

    He said the government would continue to assist genuine entrepreneurs in the “areas of provision of infrastructural facilities and financial assistance.

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  • ‘I ‘ll contest against Amosun in 2015’

    A  member of the House of Representatives from Ogun State, Abiodun Akinlade, has declared his intention to contest the governorship election in 2015.

    Akinlade, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Science and Technology, said being a democrat, he would not allow himself to be stampeded out of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) because of his political aspirations.

    In a statement yesterday, Akinlade decried his purported sanction by some members of the ACN in Yewa South Local Government, saying his final decision was informed by the wishes of his constituents.

    Said he: “This sounds like a rude joke to me because the constitution of our party is clear on how party disciplines are to be carried out. Needless to emphasise that it is only the party executives that are vested with such powers.

    “This maybe an attempt to stampede me out of the party and frustrate my yet-to-be declared intention, which they feel threatens their political benefactor’s ambition to return to power.

    “I have never read where suspension order on an elected office holder of a political party would be carried out on the pages of a newspaper, because I have not up till this moment been summoned by the party, let alone be served any letter.

    “Ostensibly, it is to curry the favour of the incumbent, without the knowledge of the duly constituted executive members of the party. Definitely, they could not be acting in the best interest of the party.

    Saying he would not have reacted to the suspension but for concerns from his colleagues and associates to clarify the situation, the lawmaker added: “If my considered acknowledgement to heed the call of my people to serve them in any other capacity, including the office of the governor, seems to ruffle certain feathers, then, God willing, I shall contest the office of the governor of Ogun State against Senator Ibikunle Amosun in 2015, as long as this remains part of my constitutional right as a free citizen of Nigeria from Ogun State. It does not infringe on others’ fundamental human rights and franchise.

    “Let me also call on the leadership of our party to call to order individuals acting in their private capacity because of the pecuniary gains of political office and appointments to upturn the peaceful co-existence among our party members and supporters in order to sustain our electoral victories, which were won through hard work and coordinated efforts.

     

  • Ogun West ACN backs Amosun for second term

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ogun West has said it is supporting Governor Ibikunle Amosun for a second term.

    Its Chairman, Mr. Daniel Adejobi, said: “Our attention has been drawn to comments by some opposition sponsored groups and persons within and outside Ogun West insinuating that the Senator Amosun administration has been unfair to our senatorial district in terms of the distribution of government infrastructure.

    “There is no truth in this insinuation. Governor Amosun is a lover of the Ogun West people and this was displayed during the first 24 months of the administration. He has touched people’s lives in a short period.

    “The present administration will go down in the history of the Yewa-Awori zone as the government that has done a lot to cater for the welfare of our people.

    For instance, our area has one of the worse roads in the state. But the governor is determined to reverse the trend.

    The roads, whose contracts have been awarded in Ogun West, are OkeOyinbo-Idagba-Olodo Road, Ilo-Awela Road, Ayetoro-Lafenwa Road, the 107- kilometre Ilara-Ijoun-Eegua-OjaOdan-Ilase Road and Sango-Ijoko-Akute-Ojodu Abiodun Road.

    “Our people are appreciative of the effort to construct the 107-kilometre Ilara-Ijoun-Eegua-OjaOdan-Ilase Road that passes through four of the five local governments in Yewa, namely Imeko-Afon, Yewa-North, Yewa-South and Ipokia.

    “For the benefit of those oblivious of the importance of the road, besides opening up the zone to investors, it will also ensure that farmers do not go through stress before bringing their produce to the markets.

    “Construction work is at an advanced stage at the two model schools in Ilaro and Ado-Odo, and the abandoned Owode International Market is being renovated.

    “Pupils in primary and secondary schools are also enjoying free education. They are given free textbooks and instructional materials. Several of the dilapidated classrooms have been rehabilitated.

    “The dilapidated health facilities have also been rehabilitated and indigenes of Yewa-Awori have secured employment in the civil service and government agencies.

    “The Ogun West people are supporting the governor in his effort to rebuild our state.

    “Well-meaning Yewa-Awori people have given Governor Amosun the green light to run for a second term to complete the good work he has started.”

     

  • Observe injunctions, Amosun, Aregbesola enjoin Muslims

    Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and his Osun counterpart, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola have urged Muslims to observe the injunctions of Ramadan as contained in the Holy Quran.

    Amosun said attributes such as self discipline, compassion, alms giving, study of Quran, prayers, among others, should define the Holy month for all Muslims.

    He urged all adherents of Islam to pray fervently for peace and progress in the country during the fasting period.

    “With sincerity of purpose and supplication to the almighty Allah, we can overcome all our challenges,” the governor said.

    Aregbesola enjoined Muslims to maximise the opportunities of the Holy month to purse the path of glory, progress, growth and sustainable development in the interest of the country.

    As a nation, he said, what the people, leaders and followers, need to do is to come together and forge a harmonious relationship for the betterment of the country.

    He called on the Muslim faithful to rededicate themselves to reproductive activities that are capable of positively affecting the nation’s fortunes.

    He enjoined them to use the month to channel their energies towards rewarding activities.

    “This is a month of sacrifice, perseverance and austere discipline; a period of humility, sober reflection, prayer and shower of blessings. It is a period when we are supposed to close rank with Allah, the Creator.

  • Amosun makes case for regional integration

    Ogun State Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun has made a case for regional integration, describing it as a way of raising the development bar in view of the nation’s current challenges.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony of a three-day Southwest Heads of Service Forum, tagged: ‘Re-engineering the Public Service for Regional Integration’, which began in Abeokuta yesterday, the governor said it would re-awaken the sense of history of the people.

    According to him, “some might not understand the recent agitation for the regional integration agenda. “To all intent and purposes, it is timely, particularly in the face of the current challenges facing the Nigerian nation. It is also a necessary approach to re-awaken the sense of history of our people; recalling the socio-economic development we shared as the Yoruba based in the Southwest, Nigeria.

    “This is with a view to re-inventing the pre-eminence and achievements of our region in the Nigerian Federation, particularly, the greatness we achieved as a people when we shared a regional government before the advent of military rule in our body politic. “If you recall, those laudable feats made us the envy of other regions in the country.”

    The governor, who applauded the strides recorded in the Southwest between 1957 and 1967 under the leadership of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, however, regretted that the creation of states has caused artificial boundaries among the people.

    He said: “The creation of states has created artificial boundaries and division among our people. To further worsen the situation, a vast majority of the elite and political class continue to harp on the artificial geographical boundaries created for their selfish ends.”

    The governor regretted that “the consequence (of the state creation) is that the concept of state’s citizenship begins to take forefront among the people.”

    “They begin to see themselves as people of one state or the other, rather than as sub-units of the entity called the Yoruba nation. This comes with the challenges of intra and inter-state boundary disputes, which often lead to arson, loss of lives, displacement and attendant negative consequences for socio-economic development on the people and region as a whole,” he said.

    Senator Amosun, however, expressed delight that states in the Southwest belong to the same Oodua family, adding: “We have a long history of relationships and we are traditional kinsmen and women. This means that we share the same idiosyncrasy, orientation and strategies of development. We are also geographically contiguous. This makes co-operation very easy and possible. The governments of the six states should therefore come together and create a united front for the development of the people and the entire region.”

  • Amosun inspects first Ijebu-Ode flyover

    Ogun State governor,IbikunleAmosun, yesterday inspected the flyovers under construction in Ijebu Ode and urged the construction firm to redouble its effort to complete the projects in a record time.

    The two flyovers, according to a statement by media aide of the governor, FunmiWakama, are located at Mobalufon junction, along Sagamu-Benin road and Bobasua/Lagos Garage.

    It reads: “When completed, the Mobalufonbridge will end the regular carnage on the expressway as vehicles moving to Ijebu Ode will use it instead of risking head-on collision with those coming from the Benin end of the expressway.

    “The flyover descends into the 6-lane international standard Moblufon-Folagbade-Imepe-Ibadan Road being constructed by the current administration.

    “Commuters along the Ondo-Benin Road will not experience any traffic gridlock at Bobasua/Lagos Garage as another flyover is being constructed at the T-junction.”

  • Man, three -year- old baby killed, 12 others injured in crash

    •Amosun’s wife rescues victims

    Two were persons, including a three- year- old baby, died while twelve others suffered serious injuries yesterday when a commercial bus conveying them tumbled into the bush in Ogun State.

    The 14- seater bus, Mazda marked Lagos XW 274 EPE, which loaded Ijebu – Ode bound passengers had taken off at Kuto garage, Abeokuta, before somersaulting into the bush by 5:30pm at Onipepeye stretch of the Abeokuta – Siun – Sagamu expressway.

    The three- year- old baby girl and a grown- up man died on the spot the injured were rushed to the State Hospital, Ijaiye where doctors are battling to save their lives.

    The First Lady, Mrs. OlufunsoAmosun, who was returning from Lagos, arrived the accident scene few minutes after it occurred.

    She joined her entourage and operative of the state’s traffic management agency (TRACE) to rescue and evacuate the victims to the hospital and ensure they were attended to.

    The Public Relations Officer of TRACE, Mr. AkinbiyiBabatunde, who confirmed the accident to The Nation, blamed it on the “recklessness and over-speeding” on the part of the driver.