Tag: hail

Former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Bola Ajibola and ex-Governor of the old Oyo State Dr. Omololu Olunloyo have hailed Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola for giving preference to capital expenditure in the 2012 and 2013 budgets.

Speaking in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, at the ongoing Southwest Agric Expo organised by Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation, in partnership with CEEDEE Resources, they also hailed Aregbesola on the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) and efforts to make agriculture the biggest industry in the Southwest.

Describing him as a visionary leader, Ajibola gave Aregbesola the title of “Omoluabi of Oodualand”.

He said by allocating 65 per cent of the budget to capital expenditure, Aregbesola has broken away from the tradition of overhead cost overshooting capital projects.

The former Judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said: “This is progress. In some parts of Nigeria, it is the other way round, where we spend so much on administrative costs over capital expenditure.

“It is worthy of note that Osun’s economy is growing and that is the initiative of the Omoluabi of Oodua land.”

He said the engagement of over 20,000 youths and the incorporation of about 81,000 temporary jobs in the 2013 budget are commendable.

Emphasising the importance of agriculture to a nation, Ajibola said an agrarian revolution is going on in Osun.

He said the recent distribution of input and loans to farmers would boost food production in the Southwest.

Ajibola said: “It is important for agriculture to take a prominent position in the development of any government. I am delighted that we have good governance here and the administration is after the people’s welfare. I hope this will not be the end of this agrarian revolution.

“Credit should be given to our forward-looking governor, who has made agriculture the hallmark of development. Agriculture must take a vantage position in any viable government.”

Olunloyo said Aregbesola had a clear picture of what he was coming to do before contesting the election.

He hailed the administration’s efforts to rebuild the education system, adding that Aregbesola was acting like the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Olunloyo said: “It is not by accident that Aregbesola is performing well. He understood what he was coming to do and had eight years tutelage in Lagos. Leaders need to emulate him.”

Residents of Omi-Adio in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, at the weekend hailed the “arrest” of a 29-year-old suspect, Ganiyu Salawu (a.k.a Tombolo Genegene), by members of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC).

They said Salawu had been “terrorising” them, adding that he had charms that made him invisible during operations.

It was learnt that his alleged activities, such as robberies, burglaries and rapes, had left residents sleepless since late last year.

After about two months of trying, the OPC, led by Comrade Muritala Adekola Ifawale (a.k.a E le won), nabbed the suspect during one of his operations and handed him over to the police at the Ibadan Divisional Police Headquarters in Apata.

Residents trooped out in large numbers to see the suspect, who confessed to all the operations he had carried out in Omi-Adio and its environs in the last five months.

OPC leader in Ido Local Government, popularly called Muri Omi, said he received a distress call and mobilised his men to the scene, where the suspect was callegedly operating.

His words: “When I received the call, I was not around here, so I phoned two of my men, Abiodun Oyan and Kelesu Moshood. These boys stormed the scene immediately and I joined them later. On sighting us, the suspect used his metaphysical power to disappear, but I later saw him.

“I told him his end had come and he started chanting incantations. He resisted us, but we overpowered him. He tried to run away, but we apprehended him.”

A resident, Mr. Sayo Adebisi, said: “The suspect has carried out about 50 operations in Omi-Adio. It is a great joy for us that he has been arrested .We are thankful to God for giving the OPC members the grace to capture this man.”

Answering questions from OPC members, Salawu confessed that he was trained in Lagos. He said he left his gang in Lagos after a misunderstanding .

The suspect said he fortified himself spiritually at a place in Abule-Egba to ensure the success of his operations.

Salawu said most of the items stolen during his operations were sold in Lagos.

He said his parents are in Kogi State, adding that he was introduced to robbery 15 years ago when he was just 14.

Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) have described their Chairman, Dakuku Peterside, as an outstanding leader.

The members, in an advertorial in this newspaper to mark Peterside’s 42nd birthday today, said he has distinguished himself in the discharge of his responsibility.

They said: “You are one of the most unique people God created. With some unmatched characteristics, unconventional personality, excellent analytical mind and hard working nature, we pray for God’s guidance and more years of service to your people as you celebrate your birthday.”

Peterside, who represents Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro federal constituency, will be marking his birthday in an orphanage in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

An aide to Peterside, Mr Sylvester Asoya , in a tribute, said:”For most young Nigerians, this representative from Rivers State holds a measure of hope for the future. In less than two decades in public sphere, Peterside has made appreciable impact with his career choices, first as an activist and later as a politician.

“Peterside’s foray into public service actually began in August 1999 when Dr. Peter Odili, the then governor of Rivers State appointed him as his Special Assistant on Student and Youth Affairs. Shortly after, he was invited to serve as Chairman, Opobo-Nkoro local government area in December 2002. At the LGA, he distinguished himself as an administrator per excellence.

“After his tenure as LGA chairman, Peterside was appointed Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Works. Peterside brought novelty, ingenuity and credibility to public infrastructure works. He kept contractors on their toes and gave Rivers people value for their projects.

“In this Seventh Assembly, Peterside, though a first-timer heads a committee and has demonstrated his leadership abilities. He has also proposed a couple of bills. They include: Threat of Annihilation of Riverine Community bill, Construction Industry bill and the bill seeking the attention of the Federal Government on the plight of Oloibiri where oil was first discovered in Nigeria.”

Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) yesterday hailed the 2011 presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, who turns 70 years today.

The forum said Buhari has lived a disciplined and purposeful life.

The Chairman of the forum and Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu described Gen. Buhari as a thoroughbred professional and an astute administrator, whose government set the country on the path of growth and development.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mallam Danladi Ndayebo, the governor said as Head of State, Buhari demonstrated uncommon courage, vision and exemplary leadership.

He said these resulted in the development of critical sectors of the nation’s economy.

The statement added: “There is no gainsaying the fact that Gen. Buhari left legacies in all the sectors of the economy with marked transparency and accountability in the management of resources.

“The former military leader reinforced this commitment when he did excellently well as Chairman of the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund.”

Aliyu said the forum is proud to be associated with Buhari’s achievements. He prayed God to grant the retired soldier excellent health, courage and many more years of selfless service to Nigeria and humanity.

The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) yesterday described the life of the former Chief of Army Staff, General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, as a testimony to the power of good leadership and purposeful living.

Gen. Danjuma celebrated his 75th birthday yesterday.

The Chairman of the forum and Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu sent a congratulatory message to the celebrator on behalf of the forum.

The message was signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Malam Danladi Ndayebo.

The forum said Danjuma impacted positively on his profession and became Nigeria’s most powerful Chief of Army Staff because of his rare vision and virtuous leadership.

Eulogising the man he called the soldiers’ soldier, the forum said: “Were General Danjuma not as visionary and courageous as he is, the Army would not have attained the height it has reached and Nigeria would have been the worse for it.

“It is no longer news that General Danjuma rose through the ranks to reach the highest echelon of the military by sheer dint of hard work, perseverance and honesty and used his office to preserve the oneness of Nigeria.”

The statement noted that in and out of public offices, the former Army Chief has continued to impact positively on Nigeria with his awe-inspiring selflessness, networking, philanthropy and patriotism.

The Archbishop of the Niger Province, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Christian Efobi and the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, Valarian Okeke, yesterday hailed Anambra State Governor Peter Obi for his leadership virtues.

Efobi said he would always talk about Obi because he is a good governor.

The cleric noted that all men of goodwill should love the governor for restoring credibility to governance and for being a man of his word.

Efobi spoke at St. Christopher Seminary, Ekwulobia, when the governor presented a new 18-seater bus, 10 computer sets with accessories and N4million to the school.

The money, it was learnt, is for the school’s laboratory, sports and transformer.

Efobi received the donations for the school.

He thanked Obi and assured that the church would uphold the partnership with the government as well as pray for his administration.

Obi also donated buses and 10 computer sets each to Mercy Secondary School, Umuoji, and Blessed Michael Iwene Tansi Memorial Secondary School, Agulueri. He gave a cheque of N10million to Father Joseph Secondary School, Agulueri.

Obi assured that his administration would continue to fulfil its promises to the residents to restore confidence in governance.

The governor said giving money directly to institutions for projects was working because everybody could see the result.

He gave example with 25 buildings his administration is putting up in missionary hospitals.

At Tansi Secondary School, Okeke said the Obi administration was God’s gift to Anambra State.

He hailed the governor for his “foresight, courage and exhibition of Christian virtues”.

He explained that equipping and empowering the schools would enable the students to acquire the knowledge and skills to make them become productive.

A community leader, Chief Anthony Oguejiofor, noted that the gesture Obi is showering on schools was last done during the military administration of Arthom Kpera.