The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ernest Nwokolo

  • ‘I have no grudges against Amosun’

    ‘I have no grudges against Amosun’

    A front line 2019 governorship aspirant in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Adeola, on Thursday revealed that he has no grudges against Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

    Adeola who is popularly called Yayi said what exists between him and Amosun are just differences in “political ideology and political belief,” explaining that what he found disagreeable about the Governor is his mindset that someone coming from Lagos should not govern Ogun State.

    The Senator who hailed from Agosaga Pahayi in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, but currently representing Lagos West at the National Assembly, added that it was this Amosun’s attitude of “how can he come from Lagos to rule us” remained the source of contention between the duo.

    Adeola made the clarification while fielding questions during an interactive session with members of the Ogun West Consultative Forum at Ilaro, the Headquarters of Yewa South Local Government Area.

    He recalled that each of the first civilian Governor of Ogun State, Bisi Onabanjo, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Amosun himself had all worked or done business in Lagos for years before returning home to vie for and won the position of a Governor in Ogun State.

    The Senator wondered why a strange and different yardstick should now be introduced into the political field of the state by the incumbent Governor because the Ogun West people have become more determined to produce a Governor in 2019?

    Adeola noted that he “wants to be Governor of Ogun State but not desperate” about it, stressing, however, that he remained unflinching in his resolve to pursue the ambition to a successful end.

    He also noted that there were many rumours flying about to the effect that he was stalling the efforts of the Governor to obtain the $350m loan facility which requires clearance by the Senate, and said there was no truth to it.

    Adeola said he would not stand in the way of what would bring development or progress to the state, adding that the loan facility even came up on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday.

    He explained that nobody was working to frustrate the Governor from seeking the $350m facility, saying he recognises the rights of states to source for a financial package but it shouldn’t be a routine thing.

    He said he would resuscitate the Ogun State Road Maintenance Agency(OGROMA) to address the constant road problems in the state, revisit the abandoned Olokola Liquefied Natural Gas(OKLNG) located in Ode – Omi in Ogun Waterside, leverage on the proximity of Ogun to Lagos to boost the socio-economic fortunes of the state.

  • Glad Police bullets didn’t kill me, says robbery suspect

    Glad Police bullets didn’t kill me, says robbery suspect

    A member of a robbery gang, Wasiu Ganiu, that shot the Divisional Police Officer of Ogbere Division has expressed joy that he was not cut down in a  gale of bullets during a gun duel between his gang and Operatives of the Federal Special Anti – Robbery Squad (FSARS), Ogun State.

    The DPO of  Ogbere Division was shot at close range last September 13 when members of Wasiu’s robbery gang ambushed him and his team. They also stole the DPO’s AK 47 rifle.

    Following the shooting, the FSARS Operatives were instructed to go fish out the gang and when their hideout was located, gun battle ensued between them and the FSARS which resulted in the death of the gang leader nicknamed  Mungo Park, the arrest of two including Wasiu  while one of the escaped into the bush with bullets wounds in Itele – Ijebu area of Ogun State.

    Items recovered from them were two AK47 rifles, one pump action gun, seven magazines loaded with 30 rounds of live ammunition each, one Toyota Sienna Car, One motorcycle, one jackknife and five live cartridges.

    Wasiu Ganiyu who was paraded on Wednesday before journalists at Eleweran, the Police Command Headquarters, by the Police Commissioner, Ahmed Iliyasu, said he took to robbery to survive but added that it was a thing of joy that the bullets from Police didn’t kill him like it happened to his colleague.

    The suspect who had earlier served three years jail sentence disclosed further to journalists that he joined the gang when his commercial motorcycle, a source of livelihood,  was taken away.

    Wasiu who begged the government to give him a second chance to repent said the highest share he ever got after a successful robbery and kidnapping business was N80,000.

    “I have never killed anybody in my life. It is Mongo pack (gang leader) that shot the DPO.  I ventured into robbery to survive after my okada was stolen.

    “The highest money I got since three years ago is N80,000. The government should have mercy on me. I thank God I did not die in the gun battle and I am happy I was caught by the police,” he said.

    Also paraded along with Wasiu Ganiu by the Police Commissioner, are 69 other suspects who were arrested in different locations in Ogun after a special operation called  “Operation Criminal Mop Up.”

    Two of the suspected ritualists – Jimoh Olanrewaju and Seun Babatunde,  were arrested by men of FSARS on September 10 after one of them, a cemetery attendant whose trade is to remove the corpse, dismembered it and sell the parts to interested buyers.

    Items recovered are assorted charms suspected to be prepared with human parts.

    Three fake soldiers were also paraded. Illiyasu said the Onipanu division of the police received information on September 14 about three men disguised as soldiers to snatch vehicles from people around Sango-Ota axis and they were arrested.

    They are Abiona Ipaye, Afolabi Olawale and Moses Ayodeji. One toy Barreta pistol, one jackknife and Nigerian Army uniform were recovered from them.

  • Flood imminent in parts of Ogun – Govt

    Flood imminent in parts of Ogun – Govt

    Ogun State Government on Wednesday warned that some parts of the state are prone to flooding this year and advised residents to adopt safety measures by desisting from indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

    The State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Bolaji Oyeleye who raised the alarm at a press briefing in Abeokuta, the State capital, said the 2017 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) indicates that Ogun State would experience “above normal rain fall”.

    Other states predicted to be affected by flooding these years, Oyeleye added,  are Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger, Kwara, Oyo and Adamawa.

    Relying on data from NiMet, he listed Ogun major cities to experience heavy rain fall this year to include Abeokuta with 242 days of 1,295mm rain fall, Ewekoro, 229 days of 2075mm and Ijebu-Ode, 245 days of 1,526mm.

    Other cities are, Ikenne with 240 days of 1,742mm, Ipokia, 247 days of 1872 days, Otta, 243 days of 1810 days and Sagamu with 240 days of 1753mm rain fall.

    According to him, NiMet prediction also revealed that extended rain fall between three to eight days is expected in the cited States.

    The Commissioner advised residents especially those living close to canals,  drainages and other flood planes to desist from obstructing water pathways with refuse.

    Oyeleye explained that there could also be a heavy release of water from the two dams –  Oyan and Ikere Gorge dams, in the State and further aggravate flooding situation.

    He disclosed that the NiMet has also predicted that many Nigerians would likely experience “above danger heat stress this year due to the combination of heat and humidity.”

    “The impact is that exposure to excessive heat for too long could cause heat stress which may, in turn, lead to several illnesses collectively called hyperthermia,” he said.

    Also, the Coordinator of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr Aremu Adebakin said the agency had started sensitising residents on likely occurrence of flooding and the need to adopt safety measures.

    Adebakin also urged people living in dilapidated buildings to renovate them or evacuate as soon as possible while others living close to river banks were asked to leave home for the period of the rainy season to avoid loss of lives and property.

    “People living in dilapidated buildings or near river banks should move and not wait for disasters to strike and expect the government to come to their aid,” he said.

  • Concrete railing crushes woman to death in Ogun

    Concrete railing crushes woman to death in Ogun

    Faulty concrete railings from a storey building that gave way, on Monday, struck a 51-year-old woman, Mrs Modupe Bankole, dead in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

    Mrs Modupe, a mother of three, was relaxing on a mat she spread outside the room to take cool evening breeze when the concrete railings suddenly lost balance and collapsed on her.

    The Nation learnt that the unfortunate incident occurred last Saturday, and left other residents of the building worrying about their safety.

    A witness told The Nation that he sighted tenants packing their properties out of the building on Monday morning.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning, Yetunde Dina, visited the scene to assess the situation.

    Mrs Dina said the state government would investigate the incident, adding that the ministry would also dispatch engineers to the scene and ascertain the health of the surviving part of the structure.

    Modupe’s husband, Mr Samuel Bankole, told journalists that they have been living in the affected building in the last 12 years.

    Grieving Bankole, a teacher at a private school in Lafenwa area of Abeokuta, added that he was preparing his lesson note when the incident happened.

    “My wife told me in the house that she was going to prepare food. After finishing the preparation, she came to me and took a small mat and a pillow and spread it out to take breeze. She spread it even very far away from the collapsed decking.

    “I was preparing my own note of lesson that time. I told her that when I finished writing, I will join her there. When I finished, I came out. Few children were moving up and down there until suddenly a neighbour called them and sent them on an errand.

    “My last born came back from his place of apprenticeship and even slept beside the mother. He later left to see a friend. Shortly after, I just heard the sound of the collapsed decking over my head.

    “I believed that since my wife was not directly under that thing, she was safe and I just ran outside and started shouting ‘thank you Jesus,” he said.

    According to him, his wife might have been hit by broken blocks from the fallen structure.

    Bankole said his wife died shortly after she was taken to the hospital.

  • Ogun: Soldiers, Police repel attack on Customs headquarters

    Ogun: Soldiers, Police repel attack on Customs headquarters

    • One killed, four injured

    There were pandemonium and tension in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital as dozens of soldiers and anti – riot Policemen battled to repel a mob of drivers who were rushing to the Headquarters of Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Quarry road, Abeokuta, to raze it.

    The armed mob were protesting the killing of a colleague, Mr Saubanna ‘Onila,’ and injuring of four others by the Operatives of NCS who opened fire on them at the Kobape stretch of the Abeokuta – Sagamu road on Wednesday.

    And as the mob marched and chanted war songs carrying the corpse of Saubanna along quarry road to dump it at the Headquarters of the NCS, but they were promptly stopped by the soldiers and Police called in to help control the situation when the enraged mob approached the facility.

    For over an hour, business activities came to an abrupt end and residents of Quarry road area and visitors scampered to different directions for safety as the security men made effort to disperse the mob.

    The Nation learnt that drivers of five vehicles, each bearing bags of rice, had taken off at the popular Kuto market, Abeokuta, and were going to Sagamu when they ran into the NCS patrol team who chased them when they refused to stop for a search.

    It was gathered that in bids to arrest the suspected smugglers, the Customs patrol team aimed at the tyres and fired them but the bullets missed a target and struck Saubanna, lost control when he slumped on behind the steering and the vehicle tumbled to a side of the road.

    It was further gathered that his colleagues rescued him and rushed him to the hospital but he died on the way and in anger, they mobilised and staged a protest march to NCS Headquarters.

    A member of the mob who declined to mention his name, said: “We load from Kuto to Sagamu. We book N5,000 on each vehicle of rice. They shot at his tyre. Mazda 626. The car somersaulted and the guy was shot at point blank.

    “We are five each loaded 25 bags in each car. They accosted us at Sowo Village along Kobape road. The man Father of four children. Out of the five cars, three escaped, while one was fully loaded.”

    Reacting, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Usman Abubakar who with The Nation on phone, denied any shooting by the NCS Operatives.

    “One of our patrol teams went on routine patrol along Kobape, Sagamu interchange based on credible information that some smugglers were around that area so they went after the smugglers.

    “On sighting the Customs vehicle, the occupants of one of the vehicles started driving at high speed and in the process, ran into a ditch and the occupant of the vehicle got out ran away. Our men decided to tow the vehicle down to Abeokuta station.

    “There was no shoot-out with anybody, our men have no cause to shoot anybody, they are well trained and they operate according to international best practice.

    The police have been invited and the matter is under investigation by the customs and the police,” he said.

  • Why my husband became President – Aisha

    Why my husband became President – Aisha

    Wife of Nigerian President, Mrs Aisha Buhari on Tuesday urged Nigerians to emulate her husband’s doggedness by never giving up on their cherished aspirations.

    Mrs Buhari said after several failed attempts, her husband became the nation’s president following his persistence and compassion for the masses.

    The First Lady spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, during the launch of a book titled, “Buhari vs Yar’Adua: Facing the future,” written by Mr Opeyemi Soyombo, a Special Assistant on Media to Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State.

    Mrs Buhari who was represented by Amosun’s wife, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, lauded the author for documenting the legal struggles of Muhammadu Buhari regarding his election petition challenging the victory of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2007.

    She said record keeping or documentation is vital to the life a people or nation, adding that without it history stands the risk being be distorted.

    The President’s wife noted that there are lots of lessons to learn from the life of her husband who contested presidential election for four consecutive times before he eventually won in 2015.

    Aisha said, “there are lots of lessons to learn from the life of President Muhammadu Buhari, most especially his doggedness and compassion for the masses. President Buhari contested presidential election consecutively four times before he eventually won in 2015.

    “His victory has paid off considering his passion to helping the masses and most importantly, the successes recorded in the anti-corruption war of his government.

    “I commend the efforts of the writer for documenting the  Presidential Election suit between the candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and President Umaru Yar’Adua of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007.

    “This shows that the author has been following with keen interest elections held in the country and the petitions arising from them. In most recent shared views and writings on human and societal development, the investment made on other people gives tremendous yields; thus the facts and authenticity of the book are invaluable.”

    Also speaking at the book launch,  a retired judge of the state high court, Justice Ademola Bakre, expressed worry over Nigeria’s future.

    Bakre lamented the rot in the Nigerian judiciary and warned against interference and undue pressure in the affairs of judges in the country.

    He said the citizens should work out a better Nigeria of their dream, stressing that they must change and desist from demanding a bribe.

    Also, the author who spoke with reporters later said he was motivated to write the 179-page book to cast light on the issues of election rigging with a view to pricking the nation’s conscience to forestall rigging in the future.

    According to Soyombo, Buhari was short-changed in the 2007 presidential election and that the book canvassed measures “ensure that we have credible, free and fair elections and to ensure that the judiciary, either by design or default, would endorse electoral robbery.”

    The book was earlier reviewed by Mr Kayode Oyede of the Department of Public Private Law, Faculty of Law, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos.

  • Obasanjo to Jonathan: We have a lot of experience to share

    Obasanjo to Jonathan: We have a lot of experience to share

    …As GEJ pays him secret visit in Ibogun

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan was on Friday in Ibogun village, Ogun State, home of ex – President Olusegun Obasanjo for  a surprise visit to him.
    Jonathan who arrived Obasanjo’s home around 12 noon, was accompanied by his former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki and three other close aides and entered a closed door meeting with his host.
    The visit lasted about an hour, The Nation learnt and Jonathan declined to disclose to journalists why he was in Ibogun, but merely said the visit was a “private one.”
    Jonathan who stole into Ibogun village in Ifo Local Government Area of the state, later told Obasanjo that he and General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) had initially planned to pay him a visit during the yuletide but they could not make it because of some unforeseen events that prevented them.
    The former president who explained his mission to Obasanjo’s home through Kabiru Turaki, added that he had decided to come in fulfilment of the earlier planned Christmas visit but rued that it was now without IBB.
    He lauded Obasanjo who has since quit partisan politics to become an elder statesman for the warm reception accorded him and entourage.
    Obasanjo who commended Jonathan for having the time to visit him since leaving office, said that both of them now have residual responsibilities in the country as past leaders that bowed out of power gracefully.
    The former Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also tactically told his chief guest he went into the office of the President with “have little or no experience” but has now amassed more wisdom and experience about leadership after leaving office.
    Obasanjo said:”the first point I want to make is to thank you very sincerely and most sincerely for taking it upon yourself to pay us a visit at this point in time and at this location.  Secondly, since you left office, you hardly have time to sit down and relax like you have been able to do today and I hope, I sincerely hope and pray for more such relaxed situation where we can reminiscence situations of the past that we have been through in this country and we can also look at what the future portends.
    “When leaders come, they have little or no experience. When they have to go is when they have really amassed a lot of experience, where they have wisdom, their  experience will be in high demand.  Those like you and me who have the grace of God to bow out gracefully if there is now what I call constitutional office we have residual responsibilities for Nigeria.
    “I believe that not only Nigeria, West Africa and Africa and indeed the world will continue to tap into our experiences,   our wisdom and I hope and pray that when the call is made to you will be more than ready to put your experience, the lessons you have learnt into the service of this country, for African and indeed for humanity in general.
    ” I have said to you before and I will say again that there are plenty of opportunities out there, within the country, within West Africa, within African and indeed in the larger world where people will want you to make contributions.
    ” I believe that you are resting now and when you have fully rested and you will be hearing from me because I have this opportunity to be around the world and if I mention your name in dispatch…. I thank you sincerely that you have received us as we are in this village to prove to you that we are in a typical village, I was telling you that your village is better than mine.
    “I want to say that we have it, Nigeria is a good country and we must never be tired of lifting the country up to the height that God has created it to be and God did not make a mistake when he put all of us together and if He doesn’t want us to be together no power in the world will have made us come together.
    “My regards to everybody at home, especially your wife, please tell her that my wife sends her regards and I hope sooner or later we will be on your part of the world to enjoy the atmosphere together.  I want to thank you on behalf of everyone here on this village.”

  • We’re tracking abductors Turkish school pupils, others – Police

    We’re tracking abductors Turkish school pupils, others – Police

    The Ogun State Police Command on Monday said it is still working to track the abductors of some pupils and staff of the Nigeria Turkish International Colleges (NTIC), Isheri, Ogun State in order to rescue the victims.

    The Command’s Police Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, told The Nation that the Police is conducting a thorough investigation into the incident and would make public, the finding known when there is a breakthrough.

    Abimbola expressed the optimism that the victims would be rescued safe and alive.

    Five students and three staff of the NTIC located in Isheri community were abducted last Friday night by suspected gunmen and taken to a yet – to – be determined location.

    The Nation gathered that among those abducted are three regular students and two others who were preparing for the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board exams, and three members of staff while a cook was also taken away from the kitchen.

    Earlier, Abimbola told The Nation that security chiefs from the Nigerian army, Navy, Police and Department of State Security Service(DSS) in Ogun State had moved to Isheri, on Saturday to coordinate efforts towards search and rescue of the victims.

    The security chiefs, he added, include the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the mechanised army, Director of DSS, Police Commissioner, Ahmed Iliyasu and the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, Lagos and other senior security officers.

    According to Abimbola, the details of the strategies adopted towards search and rescue of the captives won’t be disclosed until success is achieved.

  • Amosun urges aides to support ongoing projects

    Amosun urges aides to support ongoing projects

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun on Monday charged political appointees to be committed to his administration’s determination to complete all ongoing projects before May 29, 2019.

    The Governor said that the resolve to complete the ongoing projects does not affect his commitment to initiate new ones that would be beneficial to the people.

    Amosun gave the charge in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, during the swearing-in of the trio of Mr Abayomi Sobande, Chief Tolu Odebiyi and Mrs Adepeju Adebajo as the new Head of Service, Chief of Staff and Commissioner for Agriculture respectively.

    According to him, the new appointees were chosen on the basis of their qualifications and the need to further meet the five cardinal programmes of his administration.

    Amosun, therefore, urged them to see their appointments as means of uniting the people and justify the huge trust reposed in them to build a lasting legacy for the state.

    He said, “you are all coming to join the state executive council at a time when your vast knowledge will be needed to add value and bring dividends of democracy to the good people of Ogun state.

    “No doubt, our administration is made up of people who have distinguished themselves in their various fields. Your coming will be an addition to such a high calibre of people.

    “On this note, it is important that all appointees recognise that their new appointment is a product of the painstaking process of sifting through a crop of many eminently qualified candidates. This should not be taken for granted. Your appointment demands that you display a higher level of responsibility and dedication to duty.”

    Amosun, however, appealed to civil servants and other political office holders to cooperate with the new appointees, saying “all distractions that will make them deviate from the arduous task should be avoided.

  • Ogun PDP crisis: Party expels Daniel, Adebutu, others

    Ogun PDP crisis: Party expels Daniel, Adebutu, others

    Crisis rocking the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) worsened on Saturday as the party expelled former Governor Gbenga Daniel, House of Representatives member, Hon. Ladi Adebutu and factional chairman, Sikirullai Ogundele, from its fold.

    Also expelled is the factional state Secretary, Tolu Bankole.

    The party said the decision to expel Daniel, Adebutu, Ogundele and other was predicated on the need to rescue the state chapter from total collapse, following the alleged anti – party activities of the trio to “continually undermine and destroy” it.

    Addressing reporters at the State Secretariat of PDP on IBB Boulevard, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, the Chairman, Engr. Bayo Dayo, said they couldn’t continue  to fold their hands and allow the quartet to pull down the house before relocating to another political party.

    Dayo declared that the expulsion is “subject to no appeal or consideration as the four people are incurably cancerous to the PDP” and that they “are better off without them.”

    “The State Executive Committee have examined their actions and concluded that it is continually inimical to the sustenance and progress of the PDP in Ogun state.

    “We shall not allow them to destroy our party before migrating to another one.

    “Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, Sikirulai Ogundele and Tolu Bankole are guilty of acts of insubordination, the willful undermining of the party and antiparty activities.

    “They are hereby EXPELLED from the party and cease to be members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun state and the entire Federation,” Dayo said.

    According to him, the Executives shall continue to instil discipline in the party while working to also reposition it for future electoral success.

    It should be recalled that the faction of the party where Sikirullai Ogundele is the Chairman, had last Friday  suspended Engr. Bayo Dayo, Senator Buruji Kashamu, Zonal Secretary, Chief Pegba Otemolu and others from Ogun PDP, alleging anti – party activities of the trio as the reason for the suspension.