The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Governor Akinwunmi Ambode

  • Lagos NAWOJ to FG, states: Pass death penalty for rape

    Lagos NAWOJ to FG, states: Pass death penalty for rape

    … Calls for end to female genital multilation
    The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Lagos State Chapter, has called on the Federal Government and all state governments to pass death penalty for  rape.

    This call was contained in a communiqué signed by the Lagos NAWOJ Chairperson, Hajia Sekinah Lawal at the association’s February Congress which held in Lagos State.

    The group commended the Lagos State House of Assembly and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for passing death penalty for kidnapping in the state noting that rape is also a big problem in the country.

    “The Police and parents should be ready to report and follow cases of rape to the last conclusion. Mothers should also make sure their grown-up girls were well-dressed as a strategy to curb rape while those found guilty should be sentenced to death in order to serve as deterrent to others,” it added.

    Lagos NAWOJ also called on Federal and state governments to urgently do something about the economy with a view to tackling high inflation, saying access to drugs, medical care and food items is becoming more difficult.

    Similarly, members expressed concern over the likelihood of emergence of fake drugs due to unavailability of the originals.

    The group also commended the first lady, Hajia Aisha Buhari for the women empowerment programme through vocational trainings and called for more empowerment programmes for unemployed graduates and women.

    “A place like Lagos State for instance has a lot of riverine communities; with this, we can have more fish farmers so as to meet the deficit of fish farming in Nigeria,” the communiqué suggested.

    The group urged all and sundry to do everything within their capabilities to end female genital mutilation.

  • CodeLagos: Lagos to set up 500 training centres

    CodeLagos: Lagos to set up 500 training centres

    …Partners with private sector

     

    The Lagos State Government on Tuesday revealed plans to set up 500 Coding Centres in public and private schools across the State ahead of the launch of the CodeLagos Initiative in April, 2017.

    The CodeLagos project is an initiative of the State Government targeted at equipping at least one million Lagosians with the skills of computer programming aimed at making the State the technology frontier in Africa.

    Addressing a news conference in Alausa on Tuesday, Special Adviser to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh said the target of government is to set up 500 coding centres in schools, public libraries and community centres across the State in the course of the year.

    He said modalities are already in place to set up 300 centres by April in partnership with private organisations, adding that an agreement has been concluded with one of the leading financial service providers in the country, ARM.

    According to Bank-Olemoh, “ARM will be setting up 15 centres and these centres will be established in Low Income Schools in line with His Excellency, Governor Akinwumi Ambode’s commitment to promoting inclusive governance and qualitative education for all citizens.

    “This, we intend to achieve by providing equal access to knowledge for all Lagosians regardless of their socio-economic status and location.”

    Bank-Olemoh said the partnership with ARM demonstrates the commitment of Governor Ambode’s administration to equip citizens with the necessary skills to create sustainable solutions to the challenges confronting the State.

    In her remarks, Managing Director of ARM, Jumoke Ogundare said the organization was excited about the partnership with Lagos State on the CodeLagos initiative, saying that the project was in line with the commitment of the firm to improve continued access to education for all.

    It will be recalled that the registration and screening of facilitators for CodeLagos started last week and is ongoing.

    At the end of the process, 1,500 facilitators would be selected and deployed to centres across the State.

  • Ambode and yellow buses

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s announced decision to get rid of the notorious yellow buses of Lagos, later this year, would have left not a few with yellow peril (apologies to the novel titled that, by the Chinese Wang Lixiong; and the West racist slur on the people of East Asia).

    Much more too, may be feeling blues — perhaps with heavy sweating!

    To the mourning and those still about to mourn, the angst is simple: daily bread, for good or for ill, is about to vamoose, almost without notice.

    To be sure, these epitomise sheer madness on Lagos roads: the notorious road outlawry of the drivers of Danfo minibuses;  the lunacy of the older generation of molue (a corruption of “maul it”?) buses, now mercifully being driven away by BRT buses, given their “hired killer” attitude towards other road users; and, of course, the Okada, Marwa tricycle and allied road suicidals, who ride as if they have signed a non-death pact with death, no matter how outrageous their road habits!

    But look more closely, and you’d see, behind that madness, the perfect sanity of a breed chasing daily bread, with all the manic zeal, life and energy could bestow.

    Yet, not a few would be happy to get this bedlam off Lagos roads, and justifiably too!  Daily bread or no, no band of citizens should continue to constitute daily hazards, most of them unprovoked, to other road users.

    So, banning these road louts may well be very popular — indeed desirable.  But that is the easy part, even with all the looming economic Armageddon in a recessed economy, resonant with pains and hurting.

    The hard part would be ridding them of their murderous driving habits and devil-may-care road outlawry.  Or, would the yellow buses go with their generation of mad drivers, to be replaced, open sesame, by another breed with immaculate road habits?

    That, is the problem.

    Even with the phase-out of the old molue buses, the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) reportedly formed a cooperative that  co-owned and operated a fleet of the first set of  BRT buses.

    They simply, most of the time, passed their drivers on to the new scheme.  But their molue driving mentality hardly vanished!  Vandalised buses, wilful crashes from some reckless BRT drivers  and loss of lives and limbs were the result.

    So, if the Lagos government indeed gets rid of these Danfo buses and the Marwa tricycles and the irritating Okada shuttle (which it should), how does it guarantee their road outlawry exits with them?

    That is the challenge, aside from the other obvious question of what to do with the new army of unemployed, who can’t transit into the new avant-garde transport system befitting of a modern mega-city.

    This is an area Governor Ambode must give a serious thought, if the new system would not be tantamount to serving old poison in glittering new plates.

    Otherwise, it’s a vision worth exploring.

     

  • Lagos Assembly tasks Ambode on kidnapping, criminal gangs

    Lagos Assembly tasks Ambode on kidnapping, criminal gangs

    Lawmakers at the Lagos State House of Assembly have advised Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of the state to properly secure the state against kidnapping and other criminal activities.

    This was part of the resolution of the House at plenary Monday after a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade and others calling the attention of their colleagues to the activities of kidnappers and criminal gangs in the state.

    It was resolved through the motion that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode should take all necessary steps aimed at involving the Nigeria Air Force, Nigerian Navy and the Nigeria Army to checkmate kidnapping in the state.

    Ambode was directed to arrange with the state Commissioner of Police and heads of other security agents in the state to increase security patrol and to station Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) and other security equipment in Maya, Epe and other strategic areas of the state.

    The Governor was also enjoined to ensure the prosecution of those arrested in connection with gang wars in the state.

    Contributing to the motion, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu said that it is apt and that it has captured the mood of the state.

    He stated that criminals in the state come up with a lot of strategies despite the huge amount of money the state government has spent on security.

    The lawmaker however, advised that the security men should be equipped with gun boats and other devices to fight crime on water.

    Also, Hon. Tobun Abiodun emphasised that the government should do its best to drive the criminals from the state as he said that they have now moved to places such as Epe, Ikorodu and Badagry.

    Tobun further advised the state government to consider aerial surveillance as he said that the criminals now operate in the creeks.

    However, Hon. Tunde Braimoh observed that the security challenge is not peculiar to Lagos State and that it is a common phenomenon in a metropolitan state like Lagos.

    In his comments, Hon. Olumuyiwa Jimoh advised that the state should attach importance to having more marine policemen as he said that the state’s waterways were porous.

  • LFTZ: Lagos tasks investors on community engagement

    The Lagos State Government at the weekend charged investors in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, LFTZ, corridor to step up their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR), to the host communities as that is one of the ways to secure the multi-billion dollars investment in the corridor.

    The Government said the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was passionate about the investment in the corridor as it is the future hub of commerce and industry in Africa.
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    Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Lekki Worldwide Investments Limited, Popson Jaiyesimi who spoke at a 3-day workshop on “Communication and Team Skills in Effective Interfacing on Community Service and Relations” for Stakeholders in the LFZ communities at the La Campagne Beach Resort, Lekki, Lagos, said CSR had become so critical that it could not be neglected by investors willing to secure their investments.

    “We have a strategic plan to move Lekki Worldwide Investments limited forward and one of the things we identified is how to get the investors and the communities talking and we decided that there should be a workshop of information sharing between the investors and the communities. We are just the moderators.

    “The governor is quite keen on this project because Lekki Free Trade Zone is the future of Nigeria businesses and it is a product of research. The fundamental thing is to make sure that there is security and it comes when the communities are walking in tandem with the investors.

    “This is to keep them talking because when you keep the people around the table, they share their fears and sometimes, you find out that it is just miscommunication as there is no issue at all,” he said.

    Jaiyesimi added that the state government had understudied the Niger Delta crisis and what led to the agitation, saying that government would find a way out to address the needs of the people in Lekki in order to ensure the projects in the area were not truncated.

    “We have found out that we need to get it right, because we have multi-billion dollars investments in that corridor and government has spent so much money in compensation and investment in the corridor. We are interested in knowing what the investors are putting down as Corporate Social Responsibilities to the communities,” he said.

    Jaiyesimi stressed that coordinated effort of all stakeholders in matters of CSR was required to ensure that the goal of the Lagos megacity was achieved, thereby guaranteeing prosperity for investors and communities.

    “Numerous research findings have shown that CSR requires communication and teamwork for effective interfacing and relationship with host communities; guaranteeing safety and security for business,” he said.

    He added that community development projects through CSR must meet people’s hierarchy of needs for lasting appreciation and goodwill, saying that impact assessment was a requirement for sustainability of any community project.

    Jaiyesimi stated that government had done a need assessment of the communities and found out that what was paramount among their needs was employment for their children by the investors, but lamented that in some cases their children were not qualified for the jobs.

    According to him, conscious efforts should be made by the investors to educate and train children from the host communities on the skills and competency they needed to be gainfully employed in their establishments.

    Also speaking, Gokil Rajan, Operational Head, Lekki Free Trade Zone said that part of its CSR to the communities was in the area of ensuring health, hygiene and sanitation, saying that the organisation had reduced open defecation in schools through construction of toilets.

    He stated that the lives of about 10,000 students had been touched while 36 schools in the Lekki corridor had been provided with toilets which had helped in curbing open defecation.

    Group General Manager, Corporate Relations, Dangote Oil Refining Company Limited, Yinka Akande, said the importance of community keying into investors’ projects in Lekki could not be over-emphasized as any investor willing to make impact must relate with the host communities in order to secure the project.

    He said failure to cooperate with the host communities could impede the project, with the investors losing large chunks of their investments.

    A community leader in the area, Ayodele Olayinka said the over 200 communities in the Lekki corridor fully supported government’s effort to develop the LFTZ as it would impact positively on the lives of people in the area.

    Olayinka, who is the Chairman, Abomiti Zone in Parcel ‘B’ however, appealed to the state government to give them the land which had been earmarked for them after they were made to relinquish their original land, while describing the LFTZ development as a laudable project.

  • We’ll continue to promote excellence with arts, entertainment- Ambode

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Saturday said his administration would continue to utilise the elements of arts, culture, entertainment, tourism and sports to showcase the potentials that abound in the State.

    The Governor, who spoke when he hosted members and nominees of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) to a cocktail at the Lagos House, Ikeja, said Lagos was fast emerging as the entertainment capital of Africa, saying that the State was honoured to be hosting the 2016 AFRIMA awards.

    ”As you already know, Lagos is a mega city with a vibrant artistic soul. Our aim as the entertainment capital of Africa is to continue to use arts, culture, entertainment, tourism and sports to promote excellence in our state.

    “This of course is the reason why we are hosting the AFRIMA awards this year and why we are always willing to open our doors to great and credible initiatives that align with our vision to be the foremost hub for tourism and entertainment in Africa,” the Governor said.

    Governor Ambode said he was impressed with the quality of performances exhibited by the artistes at the AFRIMA music village on Friday night, saying it was a good prelude to the main awards night.

    “I therefore thank the organizers and the AU delegate for this great initiative and for a job well done. More importantly, my hearty congratulations go to all the nominees. In Lagos, you are all winners and we promise to see you again,” he said.

    The event featured performances by several nominees and music stars from across the continent, including Naomi Mark, while fast rising comedian, Kehinde Peter Otolorin popularly known as Kenny Blaq thrilled the audience with rib cracking jokes.

  • Igbonla Kidnap: We’ll soon rescue victims – Ambode

    Igbonla Kidnap: We’ll soon rescue victims – Ambode

    …Says Govt’ll Review Law To Tackle Kidnapping

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Sunday assured that the State Government in collaboration with security agencies would soon rescue victims kidnapped from Lagos Senior and Junior Model College, Igbonla-Epe, vowing that the government would also commence a review of its laws to curb and effectively punish perpetrators of such act.

    The Governor, who spoke shortly after carrying out an extensive inspection of projects across the State, also issued a 7-day ultimatum for all illegal structures on the State’s waterfront to be demolished.

    Speaking to journalists at the Illubirin Housing Scheme in Lagos Island, the Governor who was visibly worried about the erection of several shanties and structures within the premises and especially on the waterfront, said such would not be allowed in the State anymore.

    He said kidnappers, suspected militants and criminally minded persons often seek refuge in such shanties close to the waterfront, from where they perpetrate their heinous crimes and then make use of the waterways to ferry their victims to another location, in most cases to another state.

    The Governor said, “I also want to use this opportunity to appeal to all those living in the shanties around these schemes especially on the waterfront illegally that they should vacate the areas forthwith.

    “You will see that most of the issues that we have with kidnappings are actually being brought up by those who are illegal settlers by the waterfront. We will commence demolition of all the shanties around the creeks in Lagos State and also around our waterways in the next seven days. I have given directives to that effect to the appropriate agencies.

    “The safety of our children and all Lagosians is paramount in this administration. We will not allow a few set of people who come into Lagos and stay on our waterfront illegally and then use it as opportunity to kidnap our people. I also want to assure our people that government is seriously on the issue of the children and the teachers that were kidnapped in the Igbonla Model College and very soon, we will get the victims back.

    “I believe that the era of kidnapping has come to an end. We are going to review our laws and I can tell you sincerely that we will deal with kidnappers squarely in Lagos from this moment onwards. We will review our laws and make sure that there is no room for kidnappers in this State”.

    Governor Ambode, who also spoke on the plans to continue construction of the Illubirin Housing Scheme, said his administration has taken time to review its mortgage scheme vis-à-vis its financial flow, adding that the Illubirin axis would be designed as live, work and play environment under a private sector initiative.

    “In addition to that, the other housing projects that we are doing are on course and I want to assure Lagosians that in the next few months, we will be seeing a whole lot of housing units being rolled out. We believe strongly that people should be able to pay one month rent and live in our housing schemes.

    “We don’t think in a recession, we should be having a situation where we allow people to come and buy when they don’t have money or to come and pay one year rent. We think the way to move forward is to allow these our younger ones to just pay one month deposit and pay one month rent and move into the houses and then more or less play up our rent-to-own scheme,” Governor Ambode said.

    Also speaking, Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, debunked insinuation that the Illubirin Housing Scheme had been abandoned saying that the project has been remodeled to accommodate 500 housing units.

    He said government, in collaboration with a private investor who is investing about $500 million into the scheme, has perfected plans to make the scheme a live, play and work environment.

    He said about five hectares would be dedicated for leisure, while there would also be commercial activities, as well as flyover which would be constructed.

    Governor Ambode also inspected the Federal Government Guest House in Marina which has been handed over to the State Government and the ongoing ultra modern Bus Terminal in Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) in Lagos Island.

  • Monarchs, Lawmakers, others laud Ambode over completion of roads

    Monarchs, Lawmakers, others laud Ambode over completion of roads

    …Say Governor is a silent achiever

    Some prominent traditional rulers in Lagos State, lawmakers and party chieftains at the weekend heaped praises on the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode over the commissioning of 114 roads newly constructed in all the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the State.

    Governor Ambode had on Saturday flagged off a week-long commissioning of the 114 inner roads, which was an initiative of his administration, with a pledge to commence the construction of second round of another 114 roads across the State soon.

    The Governor, on the same day, also commissioned the Ketu-Alapere modern Lay-by and 700 meters concretized Slip Road which comes with horticulture, artworks, walkways, covered drains and street lights. The concretized road is designed to last for at least 25 years.

    On the other hand, the 114 roads, were selected two per each of the 57 councils, and were designed with walkways, medians, street lights and standard drainage systems. The remaining 113 roads would be commissioned this week.

    Speaking on the newly constructed roads, Ayangburen of Ikorodu Kingdom, Oba Kabiru Shotebi said the delivery of the projects and many other projects embarked upon by Governor Ambode since coming on board, had vindicated the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    The monarch said Governor Ambode deserved to be commended for the massive developmental projects and other initiatives aimed at making life simpler, easy and better for the people.

    Another monarch, Ranodu of Imota, Oba Ajibade Agoro, said the completion of the 114 roads was a great achievement in not just the history of Lagos but Nigeria, adding that Governor Ambode has proven himself to be a miracle worker and a silent achiever who is passionately committed to the development of the State.
    “When Asiwaju Bola Tinubu came, he laid a solid foundation in Lagos State and Governor Babatunde Fashola built on it and made tremendous progress. Now, Governor Ambode is acting as a miracle worker in government and moving the State forward,” Oba Agoro said.

    Also, Majority Leader of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Sanai Agunbiade and a member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Ikorodu, Mr. Babajimi Benson said the 114 roads was a confirmation that the All Progressives Congress (APC) government in Lagos State under the leadership of Governor Ambode was really concerned about the people and infrastructural transformation.

    On his part, a chieftain of APC in the State, Bashorun Tajudeen Jaiyesimi said the completion of the 114 roads, as well as the completion of a Lay-by and Slip Road in Alapere axis of the State confirmed the genuine intention of Governor Ambode to transform the State.

    Jaiyesimi expressed optimism that the Alapere Lay-by and Slip Road would go a long way to reduce the traffic gridlock on the toll gate end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and other adjoining routes.

    Jaiyesimi, who is also the Aare Baba Oba of Ikosi Land, congratulated Tinubu; former Senator representing Lagos West, Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon and other party chieftains for supporting Governor Ambode after the primary election which produced the Governor, saying that the result of the support was the massive people-oriented projects being witnessed across the State.

  • Lagos now cornerstone for driving African arts, culture – Ambode

    Lagos now cornerstone for driving African arts, culture – Ambode

    …Accepts Hosting Right of 2016 AFRIMA

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday said the winning of the hosting right of the 2016 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) by the State has further confirmed the fact that Lagos is now the cornerstone for driving African arts and culture, just as he expressed his administration’s commitment to continue to support the talents in the industry and promote cultural heritage of the continent.

    Governor Ambode, who spoke at the Lagos House, Ikeja, when he received AFRIMA delegation led by Head of Culture of African Union Commission, Ms Angela Martins and AFRIMA President, Mr. Mike Dada, expressed excitement at the development and accepted the hosting right, saying that it was in sync with his passion of using tourism, hospitality, entertainment, arts and sports to promote excellence.

    “I want to thank the African Union and the organizers of the All Africa Music Awards for finding it worthy to once again pick Lagos as the host city. We are very glad that Lagos has become more or less the cornerstone for driving the African arts and culture. I must say that even though this is the third time that Lagos is hosting it, but this is the very first time that the Lagos State Government will be practically involved and that goes to show that there is a convergence of vision between what the African Union stands for and what this particular administration stands for also.

    “We are big promoters of our culture; we believe so much in heritage; we believe also that the creative part of the African identity is yet to be tapped and obviously, we need to intervene in some of the things that are being done individually to be able to put things together so that we can together drive the African identity and that is why it is a no brainier for us as a government to actually say that we are going to participate in this,” Governor Ambode said.

    The Governor said he believes that talents abound in Africa, which, according to him, informed why his administration had been working hard to promote the African artists, adding that talents must be supported and assisted not to die, so that they can use their talents to push Africa to her rightful place.

    He said: “One of our vision is actually to promote our heritage and one of our programmes in the course of the electioneering was “Project THESE. We believe strongly that we can use Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment and Arts and Sports to actually promote excellence. We believe we are the next face of Africa and we think that the hub of entertainment should actually reside in Lagos and so we will do everything to promote our artists, to promote our producers and even those that are upcoming.”

    Besides, the Governor urged those in the creative industry to key into the N25bn Employment Trust Fund set up by his administration.

    Earlier, Martins commended Governor Ambode for his passion in developing and promoting arts and culture in the continent. She recalled that out of the States in Nigeria that received letters from the leadership of the African Union through the Commissioner for Social Affairs, His Excellency Dr Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, Lagos won the rights to once again host the 2016 edition of AFRIMA, adding that the development was a great achievement for both the Union and the State.

    “We want to thank you (Governor Ambode) for always being on the side of artists and on the side of the African continent in the development of the culture and creative industries of the continent,” Martins said.

    In his opening remarks, the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde said the hosting right of AFRIMA further attests to the commitment of Governor Ambode to promote culture, arts and tourism.

    Ayorinde, who reeled out many achievements of the present administration in the sector such as the expansion of the One Lagos Fiesta, the hosting of the International Jazz Festival at the Lagos House, and the upcoming celebration of Lagos at the Toronto International Festival in September, said the Ambode administration has indeed continue to use the sector to achieve excellence.

    Some of the notable names in the creative industry who were part of the delegation include Innocent Idibia, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Seyi Shay, Praise, Simi, Olisa Adibua, Tee Mac, among others.

  • Oniba’s kidnap: Oba Akiolu tasks traditional rulers on security

    Oniba’s kidnap: Oba Akiolu tasks traditional rulers on security

    Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu I, Tuesday tasked his colleagues to wake up to their responsibilities and take the business of security within their various communities seriously.

    Akiolu spoke when he led other traditional rulers under the aegis of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs to the Lagos House, Ikeja, on a “thank you” visit to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    He said the incident which led to the kidnap of the Oniba of Iba, Oba Goriola Oseni, on July 16, was a wake-up call for them, noting that the business of protecting lives and property should not be left to the security agencies alone.

    He said, “Honestly as I told my brother Obas, all of us will have to go back and rearrange our security architecture. All hands must be on deck, everyone must assist the government. That’s why in my palace, people accuse me, but I told them that well, maybe because I was a policeman.

    “It is very necessary. We are happy because the governor did very well and the commissioner of police. Al the security agencies, even the navy, they did all that they could do but we still have to be at alert. Everybody must be prepared like the motto of the Boys Scout says; we are not going to take things for granted now,” Akiolu said.

    He commended the efforts of the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and the security agencies in the State which led to the successful rescue of the Oba Oseni.

    He said the efforts of the security agencies, coupled with the valuable information provided by Nigerians came in handy in the investigation process.

    “First of all we should thank God almighty for sparing our lives to enable us see today and bringing one of us back home, Oba Oniba who was kidnapped.

    “We’ve come to say a big thank you to the Governor of Lagos State, the Commissioner of Police, DOC 81 Division, the SSS and all other security forces and the entire Lagos state and Nigerians in general for the valuable information given to the police, which led to the successful operation which brought our colleague back,” Akiolu said.

    Akiolu also warned vandals and kidnappers to keep away from the State, saying that the security apparatus in the State has been fortified to wage war against every form of criminality anywhere in the State.

    “It is in their interest to desist and look for other legal ventures to make ends meets. The mere fact that the economy appears not to okay does not mean that you resort to criminality. They should stop, not just kidnapping, but any form of criminality, no religion accepts such. Everybody is at alert now, we are on their toes now and with the encouragement given by the Chief of Naval Staff, the NSA and the IGP they will be chased down to anywhere they are”, he said.

    Responding, the governor said that the state government after learning of the incident deployed its security intelligence to unravel the circumstances surrounding the kidnap of Oba Oseni.

    “At the initial stage, when the Oba was kidnapped, it appeared as if government was not doing anything. That was actually not the case. It was not just a sacrilege in Yorubaland, but the traditional institution was indeed desecrated. So, we needed to dig into what really happened to reach a logical conclusion,” he said.

    Ambode while commending Oba Akiolu and other members of the traditional institution in the State for the support and concern during the period, assuring them that such incident would never occur in the State again.

    “We will now pay greater attention collectively to the security of our traditional rulers. We need to increase security especially for those rulers in the riverine areas. Whatever it is that the Council of Obas must do, must be done to strengthen the security in that area, but there must be cohesion and unity amongst us.

    “Anything that will bring about peace and make the State progress is our priority and the security of lives and property has always been the priority of this government,” the governor said.