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Tag: Architect

  • Rivers collapsed building: Architect, others to be arraigned

    There are indications that the victims of the collapsed 7-storey building in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, will soon get justice.

    This followed the directive at the weekend, by the state government to the Attorney General of the state to begin a process to arrest and prosecute the owner of the building, Sir Francis Allagoa, apparently for the failure to comply with the building approval he got for the project in 2014.

    It would be recalled that the proposed 7-storey building (with an underground layer) under construction in the Woji road axis of the Government Reserved Area(GRA) of Port- Harcourt collapsed shortly after the casting of the sixth floor in November 2018, killing many people mainly workers at the site and leaving many others severely injured.

    Governor Nyesom Wike, in the bid to unravel the cause of the collapse, set up a commission of inquiry led by a State High Court Judge to investigate the incident. The committee sat between December 23, 2018 and January 7, 2019.

    The Justice Adolphus Enebeli-led 7-man Judicial Commission of Inquiry’s report indicted Alagoa, the site engineer and the architect of the building for the tragedy.

    Also found wanting in the mass murder by the commission are some principal staff of the state ministry, including the Commissioner, Dr. Reason Onya, who voluntarily stepped aside from his position to allow for smooth and uncompromised investigation into the immediate and remote cause of the callapse.

    The government after the state Executive meeting presided over by Wike on Friday, directed the state Attorney-General, Zacchus Adango, to prosecute Alagoa and any other person whose actions constituted criminality as established by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry that investigated the collapsed 7-storey building.

    The government spoke through the Commissioner of Information and Communications, Emma Okah,  who said: “The Rivers State Government accepts that the owner of the building,  Sir Francis J. Allagoa should bear all liability regarding compensation to families of the deceased persons and individual expenses of those injured.

    “Sir Francis J. Allagoa is also to bear the cost and make good the damage done to the adjoining property owned by Mrs. Edna Ezekiel Hart”.

    The Rivers State Government declared that in line with the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry it will comprehensively reform the procedures and processes relating to building approvals and actual construction of buildings to eliminate failure of buildings in the future.

    The government added that the collapsed 7-Storey building was not covered by any approval and that the one obtained in July 2014 was for a four-five floor building.

    It then directed the State Civil Service Commission to take disciplinary action against Edmund Obinna, Director of Buildings and Plan Approvals because his actions fell short of expectations and against Rev Dr. Mina Aprioku, Director of Development Control for professional deficiency.

    The Attorney General of the State was directed to prosecute Engr. Adeniyi Ibiyeye and the architect, Timiebi Reuben, for professional misconduct.

    The Council resolved to report Engr. Ibiyeye to the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria for necessary disciplinary action,” they said.

  • Rivers building collapse: Architect alleges explosion before structure came down

    The architect who designed the seven-storey building which collapsed in the Government Reservation Area (GRA) of Port Harcourt last month, Binafiagaa Timiabi Reuben has alleged that explosive sound rocked the structure before it came down.

    He disclosed this yesterday when he appeared before a seven-man judicial panel of inquiry set up by Governor Nyesom Wike to investigate and ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the collapsed structure.

    The supposed five-star  hotel structure under construction collapsed November 23, evening shortly after the casting of the sixth floor was completed, killing 17 workers with many still suspected to be trapped.

    However, a total of 31 of the workers were rescued alive while 17 dead bodies were recovered.

    The architect who is one of the survivors, while answering questions from the members of the panel chaired by a State High Court Judge, Justice Adolphus Enebeli suspected that the loud explosion which followed the collapse could be the major cause of the building fall.

    He said, “I was on site that fateful day. Work just closed for the day and almost immediately my client, Sir Joseph Alagoa’s motorcade drove into the site. We heard a loud explosion, before the building came down.

    “The explosion we heard on site that day could have possibly razed down the entire building. I informed the Police about the loud bang we heard that day on the 25th of November, 2018 and they sent a team to the area to investigate.”

    Reuben in his response to questions posed to him was of the impression that the building collapse was not caused by the design stressing that he was often at the site to give clarification of the drawing to the builders whenever he was called upon.

    He explained that though he designed the building’s architectural drawing, he was supervised by a chartered architect, who sealed the design.

    “I did the design of the building plan but was superintended by a chartered architect, Joseph Yoasou, who sealed the design, because a design cannot be sealed except by a chartered architect,” he said.

    Also interrogated was the Director, Architectural Services in Bayelsa State who is a Chartered Architect, Joseph Yoasou and actual designer of the collapsed building. He confirmed the drawing but denied any further involvement with the contraction proper.

    According to him, “I prepared the architectural drawing of the collapsed building but neither me nor my representative or agent participated in the construction. My involvement in the entire construction of the building was only for architectural design, any modifications made on the drawing, I don’t know about them.”

     

  • Aregbesola is the architect of modern Osun – Oluwo

    THe Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, has described the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as the architect of modern Osun with the level of development he has brought to the state. The monarch said Aregbesola has taken the lead among his peers in the area of infrastructure as manifested in the spate of developments the state has recorded as no governor has matched Aregbesola’s achievements in history as evident in the giant strides recorded in the state.?

    Oluwo stated this on Friday in his palace in Iwo while playing host to the Governor and his entourage who were on a goodwill visit to Iwo Federal Constituency as part of activities marking the All Progressives Congress (APC) visitation tours to the nine Federal Constituencies in the state. Oba Akanbi stressed that he is particularly pleased with the bridges constructed by the government just as he noted that the beautiful school structures put up by the Aregbesola administration are noteworthy.

    “I am not a politician and I am not being sentimental with what I am about to say, among all the governors and leaders in Nigeria, Aregbesola has redefined governance, he has brought a paradigm shift to governance in the country and he has brought a change to leadership in our land. He has shown us the way it should be done and I strongly think others should take a cue from this; I so much love Aregbesola and the All Progressives Congress because they hate what I hate and they love what I love,” he said.

    In his remarks, Governor Aregbesola described the visit as a necessity. He urged the people of the town to support the APC. “We are here to inform you on the need to buckle up and sit tight by forming a formidable frontier that will help to take our party to victory in all elections, particularly in forthcoming governorship polls. We must also see this visit as a warning signal not to allow the PDP to come back to government as we all know that PDP has nothing good to offer Nigerians”, Aregbesola added.

  • Dankwambo…Architect of transformed Gombe at 56

    An adage says that having had the privilege of a noble birth is not  as important as giving oneself a nobler rebirth. This proverb aptly captures the lifetime efforts and determination of Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, the Executive Governor of Gombe state. He has strived to convince every nay sayer that pressure could  actually squeeze whining out of losers and winning out of achievers. He has likewise demonstrated that anyone that optimises God given talents very well, could pick money from people’s pockets and nobody will ever get the guts to label the person a thief.

    Faithfulness of Almighty Allah is another key factor in the life of Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo. He is unusually gifted and this can only be attributed to the faithfulness of Allah. The miracle worker of Gombe in his 56 years of existence has not found himself in a wrong place at a wrong time. This for sure,  could have only been guaranteed by Allah’s faithfulness. Dankwambo has thus far enjoyed steady career and political progression. He has also never been left at the mercy of his enemies. These and many more are manifold evidence of faithfulness in the life of Ibrahim Dankwambo.

    Ibrahim Dankwambo is now serving his second term as the Governor of Gombe state having won his first mandate in 2011 and survived the political tsunami of 2015 to get reelected. He is undoubtedly the best thing to have happened to Gombe state in terms of good governance.  The fact of Dr. Ibrahim Dankwambo noble birth and aristocrat background are indisputable. He has proven himself as a special gift to Gombe state and Nigeria when he breathed the first air of this earth planet on the 4th day April, 1962 at Gombe Local Government Area in Gombe state.

    Dankwambo had his primary and secondary schools education in his native Gombe state before he proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he studied and obtained bachelor’s degree in Accounting.  He has also bagged M.Sc in Economics from University of Lagos. He has also displayed his academic genius by obtaining

    Ph.D in Accounting from Igbinedion University,  Okada, Edo State. Dankwambo has likewise armed himself with a Post Graduate Diploma in Computer science from Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State. In addition to these intimidating academic qualifications, he is a fellow of front line professional bodies in Nigeria that includes Fellow Chartered Institute of Accountant, Fellow Chartered Institute of Bankers, Fellow Chartered Institute of Taxation, Fellow Chartered institute of Management, Fellow Chartered institute of Marketing and Fellow Nigerian Economic Society.

    Alhaji Dankwambo began his glowing career at the Coopers and Lybrand International, now PriceWaterHouseCoopers as a Chartered Accountant from 1985 to 1988. It is on record that he became a Chartered accountant at a record time of one year after his graduation from the university.  He later joined the Central Bank of Nigeria in 1988 and worked with the apex bank till 1999. He was subsequently appointed the Accountant-General of Gombe state in view of his evidently unique qualities.

    The unprecedented achievements of Dankwambo as the Accountant General of Gombe state was noticed by the then Nigerian president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who appointed him as the Accountant General of the Federation on 20th April, 2005 to succeed Mr J.K Naiyeju. Meanwhile, before this appointment, Dankwambo had served at various committees of the Federation Account where his brilliance, innovativeness and resourcefulness became too evident to go unnoticed by all and sundry.

    Dankwambo has had numerous global exposure to cutting edge trainings that have ultimately distinguished him as a well grounded and seasoned Accountant, Economist and Administrator. He nonetheless achieved monumental successes that have outlived him and already etched his name in the sands of time while he served as the Accountant General of the federation. He resigned this appointment in 2011 to contest the governorship of his home state, Gombe in which he recorded landslide victory.

     

     

  • Celebrating Tinubu, architect of new Lagos

    Celebrating Tinubu, architect of new Lagos

    In this piece, Prince Kunle Oyewunmi, a lawyer, reflects on the giant strides of the All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in the transformation of Lagos State.

    During the historic regime of Asiwaju as Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is fondly referred to, as the Governor of Lagos State, many people who were familiar with the managerial acumen and political sagacity of the renowned guru of inestimable value were not surprised with the relentless efforts and visionary leadership he put to play in laying and building a solid foundation for the modern Lagos State.

    Against all odds, including the seizure of the Federal Government allocation and other intervention funds due to the State, the Jagaban Borgu did not give up on his dream and vision as he looked inwards to raise the bar of Internally Generated Revenue to implement his lofty and extraordinary development ideas. Today, Lagosians and non-Lagosians alike can bear me witness that Tinubu is the brain behind today’s modern  Lagos.

    The impressive achievements of the Jagaban Borgu are obvious when you look at the state of infrastructure in Lagos today among others. The ex-governor built roads, constructed and equipped schools and hospitals in all nooks and crannies of Lagos State, ensured timely payment of salaries and pensions to civil servants, serving and retired, attracted private investments and provided an enabling business environment for private businesses to thrive, established many governmental agencies – LASTMA, LAGBUS, KAI – and absorbed people from the streets into these agencies as a way of curbing social vices among other initiatives.

    To cap it all, after his indelible footprints as Governor, Asiwaju Tinubu been a good manager of people and other resources. It was he who gave Barrister Babatunde Fashola the opportunity of serving as his Chief of Staff, saw the need to ensure a succession plan so as to sustain the trend of development in the State. Based on this premise and having discovered Fashola’s talents, the political titan anointed and ensured victory for him at the 2007 governorship poll.

    Being a key member of the State Executive Council during Asiwaju’s regime, Barrister Fashola knew the roadmap his erstwhile boss had set and he did follow suit. The trend continued during Fashola’s regime (2007-2015) as he sustained the feat of his predecessor by completing ongoing projects while executing new ones.

    During Fashola’s regime, he never shied away from going back to the master strategist – Asiwaju Tinubu – for guidance, counsel and support. The healthy relationship between Tinubu and Fashola helped the state in many folds as there was no political tension whatsoever. In short, Fashola’s regime was also a huge success like that of his predecessor.

    In the build up to the 2015 general elections, the alleged differences between Tinubu and Fashola, occasioned by the choice of the party’s flag bearer for the governorship poll, became pronounced as Asiwaju Tinubu anointed Akinwunmi  Ambode, while Fashola was rooting for his preferred choice. Eventually, Asiwaju Tinubu’s choice won the party’s ticket and ultimately became the Governor of Lagos State.  After the polls and against all political bickering among the gladiators, trust Lagosians, no dull moment, the power brokers displayed a high level of maturity in their relationships and as such maintained self respect for each other. This action soon proved rumour mongers wrong that all was not well between Asiwaju Tinubu, Minister Fashola and Governor Ambode.

    I must say that the current administration of Ambode has not deviated from the ideals of Asiwaju Tinubu as the Governor continues to implement policies and execute projects with positive impacts on the society.

    The truth must be told that Asiwaju Tinubu is not just a leader because he enjoys a cult-like political followership, but also for finding the right men to run the affairs of Lagos State after his stint as Governor of Lagos State (1999-2007). Big daddy (as one of my friends- Kabiru fondly calls him), being an advocate of sustainable development, knew the imperative of handing over the State to like-minds that share the same ideology with him  and hence the rationale behind passing the barton of leadership to Barrister Fashola and ultimately to Governor Ambode.

    One lesson other Nigerian leaders should learn from Asiwaju Tinubu is searching for the best brains regardless of political, religious and tribal sentiments to lead the people. If Asiwaju had reasoned like most other Nigerian politicians, he would have handed over power to an empty brain for selfish reasons – not wanting others to shine or in the name of overbearing loyalty. Asiwaju Tinubu, a well-known dogged fighter of democracy, has demonstrated his love for the masses by throwing his weight behind individuals who will not betray the thrust of the people, while applying their intellectual expertise in leadership positions.

    It is a known fact that if you are opportune to pass through Asiwaju’s political school, you will be armed with these qualities: selflessness, political maturity, doggedness, generosity and loyalty. The above tenets underscore the maturity displayed by two members (Minister Fashola and Governor Ambode) of Asiwjau Tinubu’s political family during the former’s visit to the latter in Lagos a few days ago. Shortly before the Minister’s visit, there were celebrated and hyped media reports that all was not well between the duo of Fashola and Ambode, especially due to the outcry of Ambode on the alleged frustration of his efforts on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway by Fashola.

    During the visit, the Minister commended the new Lagos State Chief Executive for his outstanding performance thus far. This patriotism displayed by these notable politicians is remarkable and as such this again has proved rumour mongers wrong that all is not well among the trio of Asiwaju Tinubu, Fashola and Ambode. I must also state that the action of these notable figures will be beneficial to Lagosians and non-Lagosians alike who are the ultimate beneficiaries government projects as both parties – the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government – will work hand in hand to improve the lots of the people through infrastructural regeneration – construction and re-construction of federal roads in Lagos metropolis and environs.

    I decided to write  this piece in commemoration of Asiwaju’s Tinubu’s 65th birthday because the former Governor of Lagos State is not only an astute politician but also a Human Resource consultant as evidenced in his handing over the mantle of leadership to ex-Governor Fashola and ultimately Governor Ambode. The list is endless for Asiwaju’s expertise in human deployment, including the new Federal Inland Revenue Service boss, Babatunde Fowler – who has been implementing aggressive policies to boost federal revenue. Take it or leave it, the Jagaban Borgu remains a shining light in politics beyond the shores of Nigeria.

    While wishing the Chancellor of my state-owned tertiary institution – Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, many more fulfilling years ahead in the service of mankind, I would like other leaders to emulate the impeccable qualities of Asiwaju Tinubu in their pursuits in life.

    • Oyewumi lives in Lagos.

     

  • Uyo church collapse: my original design was altered, says architect

    Uyo church collapse: my original design was altered, says architect

    The architect who designed the collapsed Reigners’ Bible Church building, Mr. Abimbola Oke, has told the commission of enquiry sitting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, that he stands by his original design for the church.
    Oke, who was cross-examined by the commission’s lawyer, Mr. Friday Oke, recalled that when he visited the site to check on the church’s founder and General Overseer, Apostle Akan Weeks, the design had been altered.
    According to him, during his visit, he told Weeks that what was implemented was at variance with the original design.
    Oke said he advised the cleric on the importance of adhering to the original design.
    The architect, who is also a lecturer at the University of Uyo, said when he checked the building, he also noticed that not all the structural elements had been put in place. including the gallery floor.
    The lecturer said he did not supervise the building project, as speculated, adding that if he did, the church would have paid for it, having given the church the design, valued at N11.5 million without charging a dime.
    Asked why he rendered the service free, Oke said: “That was not the first time I was doing that kind of a thing. It is my belief that God can bless me. It is my act of service to God, and it has been proven over and over again.”
    Asked if he designed the roof and the trusses, the architect said he was not the designer.
    He said: “Apostle Weeks asked me to design a round or diagonal 5,000 sitting capacity auditorium plan for him. After the design, I took it to him and he said it was all right. As regards altering the design, I did not redesign any part of the building. I stand by my original design, which included the basement floor.
    “The apostle later asked me if I could supervise the building, but the church’s building committee chairman said they were going to build their church by themselves.
    “Afterwards, I visited Weeks at a certain point in time and told him that what was in the design was not implemented. I also informed him of the importance of adhering to the original design.”
    Oke added that he understood that the site was slopy and that it was the reason he introduced the basement floor to suit the site.

  • Tinubu: Architect of modern democracy

    Tinubu: Architect of modern democracy

    In present day modern society, an enroute to greater political emancipation is always tough and tough. Most especially, in the African political context.

    So, such victory must have been proved beyond any reasonable doubts likewise the All Progressive Congress that unseat the incumbent administration of the Peoples Democratic Party led-Federal Government of Nigeria convincingly.

    According to the pillar of opposition party in Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he posited that “The battling opposition parties were too weak to dislodge the PDP from power unless they come together to form a formidable opposition party in the country”. Hence, Asiwaju and other progressive initiated the merger of the first opposition party in the Nigeria history to put an end to President Goodluck Jonathan’s weak governance and reposition the country for rapid socio-economic advancement.

    Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been known for his propensity in the annals of our political development. In his early political career, he was elected into the senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria to represent Lagos West Senatorial District, and he gained good recognition when he distinguished himself as the chairman, senate committee on banking, finances, appropriation and currency.

    After the June 12th 1993 presidential election was annulled by the then military junta Asiwaju became an active financial and founding member of the pro-democracy National Coalition NADECO that agitated for the restoration of democratic governance and true federalism.

    He was elected as the Executive Governor of Lagos State in 1998 alongside other Alliance for Democracy (AD) Progressive Governor in the south western Nigeria.

    In 2003 when the PDP took over the south west except Lagos State, Asiwaju remain the last man standing and the only opposition voice in the geo-political zone to liberate the poor masses from the grip of PDP.

    In 2007, his party Action Congress AC was able to retained the Governorship seat for his successor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), the government of Asiwaju bequeathed a blue print christened “The New Lagos Plan” to the Fashola Administration in which the master-plan was programmed to address the alleviation of poverty, unemployment, Independent Power Projects (island and Mainland); The Lagos Railway Project and Ferry Services;  Millennium School Projects with equipped Laboratories and state –of-the-art libraries; improved waste disposal system in tune with the world standard; including the rebuilding Lagos into a modern metropolis as seen in the upgrading of our major roads.

    In 2011, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed has succeeded in making the progressive board a rallying-point across the country through his track records, perseverance and dogged determination. Hence, All Progressive Congress win more states one after the other.

    In fact, the achievement made by Asiwaju’s administration not only offered a new lease of administrative life to the government of Mr. Fashola, but it also set a standard blue print that is good for a soft-landing in the commercial capital of Nigeria and the epic center of Yoruba solidarity and economic power.

  • Architect gets NAPS award

    Architect gets NAPS award

    The National Association of Polytechnic Students has given the Principal Partner of AD Consulting, A Olajumoke Adenowo an ‘Iconic Excellent Leadership’ award.

    The award qualifies the awardee as the NAPS Personality of the Year.

    Adenowo is the first non-politician cum entrepreneur to receive the award.

    Past recipients of the award include: Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and the immediate past minister of Education Prof Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai.

    The award, according to NAPS’ association’s Director of Action and Mobilisation, Oluwatosin Taiwo, was ratified a decade ago, for those who have distinguished themselves in their various fields. To them, the recipient of such awards must be an inspiration to the youths and students.

    On why NAPS chose Adenowo, its Director of Action & Mobilisation Oluwatosin Ayobami said the honoree’s youth empowerment initiative- Awesome Treasures Foundation, which he said gives succour to the less-privileged is commendable, in addition to her exceptional architectural designs.

    “In line with the Vision 20:20:20, these are the things the association believes in and longs for from role models in the society as leaders of today and tomorrow,” Ayobami said.

    Ayobami said NAPS gives less consideration to whether a would-be honouree is a polytechnic or university graduate, but takes into cognisance the personality profile of highly resourceful and unassuming personalities.

    “So, we honoured someone that is working in line with the polytechnic ideology that technology is the bedrock of the nation. Adenowo’s exceptional skill in architecture and interior decoration is an inspiration,” Ayobami added.

    Adenowo said her passion for youths has informed her initiative-Awesome Summits, which according to her, is the youth outreach of ATF with tentacles in some university campuses. Her radio show, ‘Voice of Change’, is also youth-centred,’ she added.

     

  • Architect of new Ogun

    Quality is never ubiquitous. It is always for the discerning. The event was not particularly grandiose. Even the organiser doesn’t pretend it was meant to be. They however made their point in a manner very succinct and unambiguous.

    Members of Freelance and Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (FIBAN), in the South West conferred on Governor Ibikunle Amosun the award of the ‘Architect of New Ogun State’’ .The award wasn’t their design. It was the product of a survey conducted across the South-Western part of the country. Nigerians residents in Ogun, Osun, Oyo and Ekiti states were asked to vote for a first term governor they found most impressive and impactful. At the end of three months of voting, Senator Amosun emerged the most preferred.

    Interestingly, 24 hours before the FIBAN award, the South West Zone of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) had similarly named the Ogun governor as ‘the best first term governor in the zone’. The zonal leadership of the NUJ, said that going by several developmental projects, the government of Senator Amosun remains the most impactful in the zone.

    Shortly, before the two awards, the BusinessDay Newspaper, a highly influential and authoritative business news tabloid, had adjudged Ogun State as “the fastest growing economy and the destination choice for industrialists and entrepreneurs in Nigeria”. Indeed, the deluge of awards and commendations is the fallout of the deliberate effort by the state government to strategically reposition the state and prepare it to take advantage of its proximity to the already congested Lagos. Governor Amosun, has never left no one in doubt of his intentions to make Ogun state what New Jersey is to New York in USA.

    He actually set out to accomplish the goal by erecting the requisite structures. Security became an immediately priority as robbers, on assumption of office, practically rode rod-shod over the state. The government responded gamely investing heavily in that once-neglected sector.

    In one fell swoop, the state government purchased 14 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC’s), bought 400 patrol vans fitted with communication gadgets,500 bullet proof vests,500 bullet proof helmets, 1000 AK-47 rifles as well as two million rounds of ammunitions for the use of policemen operating in the state to equip them to face hoodlums.

    The government also established the ‘Quick Response Squad’, Operation MESA (Police/Military joint Patrol) as well as raised the Ogun State Vigilante service to complement the effort of the conventional security outfits.

    Crime statistics crashed in the state with Ogun state becoming one of the most secured states in the country. The investors suddenly found the state a good place to sow while Ogun has become the hosting venue of conferences and seminars for local and international associations.

    The administration also broke all known records in rural electrification with the purchase of a whooping 500 electricity transformers for the use of communities in the state. Remarkably, this was first since the inception of the Gateway State as any administration close to that was the purchase of 160 transformers by the administration of the late Bisi Onabanjo.

    The governor also put his experience as an accountant into bear as he enthroned a financial re-engineering model that has been grossly beneficial. He put in place measures to increase the Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state from the paltry N730 million to over N4 billion under 30 months in office. Part of that effort is the activation of the Residency Rule law which promises to revolutionize the IGR of the state.

    The governor introduced prudence into public financing and blocked leakages in the financial system of the state. He also slashed salaries and allowances of political office holders and blocked leakages to free funds for developmental projects.

    To tackle the problem of derelict classrooms in its secondary schools, the government immediately renovated 200 blocks of classrooms. It also ensured that the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) paid its counterpart funding which opened the door for thousands of classrooms to be constructed and renovated across the state.

    The government also laid the foundation for the 14 of the 26 model secondary schools in a determined move to permanently resolve the face-off occasioned by the return of some secondary schools to missionaries by the last administration.

    Besides, the government also gave true expression to free education as it supplied free textbooks and instructional materials to its students in secondary and primary schools. The move was a re-enactment of Pa Obafemi Awolowo’s free education policy as executed by the late Bisi Onabanjo. The top-up was the distribution of school bags for students to keep the books safe.

    Urban Renewal programme is perhaps the sector where the government of Senator Amosun has drawn the most applause. With 16 major road construction projects going on simultaneously across the state and other reconstruction works on some other smaller roads, Ogun State, is actually undergoing a road revolution.

    The government commenced this urban renewal programme with the reconstruction of the 2.4 kilometre Ibara-Sokori-Totoro road which was used as a model for what is now known as ‘Ogun Standard’ roads. The already completed road came with road furniture including walkways, drainage, median with street lights and flower beds, bus stop, flyover at the Ibara junction and pedestrian bridge.

    Presently, construction work is on-going on the 7-kilometre Sagamu-Benin Express Junction/Oba Erinwole Junction road, the 4.8 km Ilo-Awela road in Ota, 8.7 km OGTV-Brewery junction road, 6 km Moshood Abiola Way, 34 km Ayetoro- Lafenwa road, 9 km Ojere-Asero road, 5.6 km Somorin – Ajebo road, 2.2 km Madojutimi — Muda Lawal Stadium, 850 metre Moriamo–Olorombo road, all in the state capital, are under construction.

    Other roads being reconstructed by the government are the 107 km Ilara-Ijohun-Eegua-Oja Odan-Ilase road, the 25 km Ilishan-Ago Iwoye road, 29 km Mowe-Ofada-Ibafo road, 9km Ejinrin-Oluwalogbon junction in Ijebu Ode, 12 km Magboro-Underpass road, Isheri road and the key 32 km Sango-Ijoko-Agbado-Ojodu Road.

    Most of these roads are at different stages of completion ranging from 5 to 60 percent. All the roads, except the Sango-Ijoko-Agbado-Ojodu road whose reconstruction commenced just this October, are to be completed before December 2014. The reconstruction of the derelict Sango-Ijoko-Agbado-Ojodu Road was flagged off in October and it was aimed at bringing to an end the years of suffering and problem of neglect of residents of the border towns with Lagos.

    With the road construction effort, the problem of unemployment plaguing a continuously growing state like Ogun is equally being tackled. The construction firms are encouraged to employ thousands of skilled and unskilled workers like carpenters, iron benders and bricklayers while several food sheds are also springing up around the various construction sites. And now with the road revolution has come the boom in sales of moulded bricks, sand and gravel supply as well as car-washing business in Abeokuta and other cities where construction work is on-going.

    • Balogun writes from Abeokuta

  • Architect of her emotional misfortune

    FOLARIN and Ndidi have been dating for about three years. Each time one of their friends sends an invitation card to their wedding or bachelor’s or spinster’s eve, Ndidi’s heart skips. This time around it was Biodun’s bachelor’s eve and Folarin kept the details from her but fortunately for her, she got the news from Biodun’s girlfriend because they were close. She found her way to the venue and found him with another companion.

    Cheated? Well, if there was another word that could take care of her feelings, this wasn’t quite appropriate. She moved nearer and gave the gal a beating of a life time. The whole party and attention shifted to her and on the spot, Biodun told her it was really over. “Now that you know that it isn’t you that I love, then I can have some peace.”

    What could she really do now? Perhaps it was better to go back to the drawing board and bury the love hatchet. If she got another opportunity to talk with him, they would try to figure out what went wrong and what they could do to get their love back on track again.

    Wait a minute! Haven’t they been talking about this same matter before? As a matter of fact, the talks actually made her upset and even angry at times because his arguments were always unrealistic. But then she persisted because she felt if they could talk things through and make him realise how much she still cared for and loved him, then he may just change this terrible attitude.

    That was not all. Even your friends and family had intervened at different times and it all turned out that you were doing the right things and that if he wasn’t listening, opening up, and “getting it”… then he was the one to blame. That he was the one being selfish and immature.

    Naturally, some of these other reasons made her feel a little bit better but it was only for a moment. It still didn’t explain why, despite everything she was doing to improve herself and their relationship, he was still getting more and more distant, difficult and just wanted to end things with her.

    Sometimes, it is possible to make a miscalculation based on your intuition. This way you are likely to ruin a great relationship because you did the right thing at the wrong time. Of course, there is nothing wrong with following your instinct, the only difference is to understand where and how to apply it.

    For a number of ladies, therefore, you discover that instead of using this intuition to their benefit such people actually end up shooting themselves in the foot and destroying what would have been a marvelous relationship.

    But there are times, when what you have is not worth expending precious energy on. The heart that you have fallen helplessly in love with is actually a counterfeit, an adulterated version of what you dreamed of. It may also be that you are not totally ignorant of the antics but you just want to hold on thinking that things would sort themselves out with time.

    Sadly, some women get so caught up in the mindset that “he will change” once they are married and he would fit into the arrangement with time. But most times, it doesn’t really turn out this way.

    For Bimpe who has found 60 per cent of her requirement in her man, it still can be a hell of a time. “The same laid back demeanour and quiet disposition that my sweetheart possessed and the reason I fell helplessly for him is the same laid back demeanour and quiet disposition that sometimes works my last nerves at times,” she recollects.

    In every relationship, it is important to spell out the terms and understand the personality you are dealing with from the outset. This would let you know whether it is better to continue or make a U-turn if it is only going to end in tears.

    If you do not get off a stressful emotional train then you may crash with the train. Many get caught up in trying to mold and perfect things even when it is obvious that they are never going to go far together.

    It is better to let your woman or man be who they are….flaws and all. The one thing you need to know is that you love unconditionally with not only all the person’s good sides but with all the bad as well.

    We also need to remember that men think differently from women especially when it comes to why they do the things they do in a relationship (s).

    “I am going on my sixth relationship and have been with this current boyfriend for seven months. At the beginning, I liked what I saw and it looked like a dream come true.” But gradually, she began to discover another side of this emotional story and at the moment she is at a crossroads. “He stammers but I didn’t see it as a problem because he was always smiling and happy. But when I got closer and we got used to one another, I realised that he always got angry if I didn’t quickly understand what he was saying while stammering. At such moments, he could be really difficult and I wondered how I was going to cope with such moods in future.”

    Well, she needs to make up her mind on time. This may actually make or mar their relationship and she needs to be sure that it is something that she can cope with in future.