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  • Killings: Protests, prayers in Lagos, Benue, Ibadan

    Anger in Akure

    March on Ekiti Govt House

    Pope prays for harmony, peace

    It was a day of prayers and protests yesterday over the killings in some parts of the country.

    Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President Supo Ayokunle called for the protests as a wake-up call to the Federal Government that the bloodletting must stop.

    However, there were no protests in the Southeast. The protests in Lagos, Ibadan, Ado-Ekiti, Akure, Kaduna, Port Harcourt, Makurdi, among others, were largely restricted to the Baptist Church. Rev Ayokunle is of the Nigerian Baptist Convention.

    Pentecostal churches, which are mostly affiliated to the Pentocostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), did not join the protest.

    In Kano, the state chapter of CAN chose prayers instead of a protest.

    It declared that the killings were the handiwork of mercenaries and urged the Federal Government to treat the killers as terrorists.

    State CAN Chairman Rev. Adeolu Samuel Adeyemo said the prayer was to seek divine intervention to end the killings of innocent Nigerians “after due consultation”

    He said:  ”The alleged herdsmen killers are mercenaries. We demand the Federal Government to declare and treat them as terrorists.

    “The military should confront them as thus to stop the dastardly act of theirs and, as well, demand that Federal Government should look out for their sponsors and bring them to justice.”

    The association praised Governor Aabdullahi Umar Ganduje and the Emir of Kano,  Muhammad Sanusi II, for the peace among residents.

    Rev. Adeyemo said CAN in Kano decided not to protest the killings so as not to give hoodlums the opportunity to hijack it, adding that through prayers, “God in His infinite mercy will intervene and restore peace in those trouble areas”.

    “We demand the need to go the extra mile to free the Chibok girls, Leah Sharibu and all those abducted by the terrorists irrespective of tribe and religion,” he said.

    Christian leaders in Kano gathered at Believers Baptist Church, 6, Zungeru Road where they prayed to God to save Nigerians from killers.

    Rev. Ayokunle led the protest in Ibadan where church members converged on the Oritamefa Baptist Church in the Oyo State capital. The protest was restricted to the church premises.

    Youth groups and women estimated to be about 2,000, walked round the church premises and vicinity. They called on the government to stem the killings.

    The service in the church was also to offer thanksgiving for the success of the just- concluded Annual Baptist Convention, which held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    Inscriptions on some of the placards read, “CAN says No to Violent Killings”; “FG, stop this wicked act”; “CAN says No to Religious Killings”; “FG, release Leah Sharibu from Captivity”; “Enough of Bloodshed in Nigeria, CAN rejects FGN poor handling of insecurity”; “Human beings are more valuable than cattle, protect human beings”; “FG be sensitive to families that are mourning”; “No more excuses for mass murder”; and “Enough of unlawful killings in the country”, among others.

    There was also a protest at the Gospel Faith Mission International International (GOFAMINT) Church, Akanran Road in the Ona Ara Local Government Area.

    The protesters sang and condemned the  killings.

    In Lagos, protests were held at the Shepherded Hill Baptist Church, Obanikoro where congregants protested at the Obanikoro Bus Stop, chanting “no more bloodshed”. They carried placards, with inscriptions such as, “CAN rejects poor handling of insecurity”, “Arrest and prosecute wicked killers in Nigeria”, “Federal Government of Nigeria, take full responsibility for security in Nigeria”, “Enough of bloodshed in Nigeria” and “Federal Government ensure immediate release of Leah Sharibu from captivity”.

    Senior Pastor Israel Kristilere said the protest was to make Nigerians realise that the church was no longer find the killings palatable.

    “We want the whole world to know that we are against bloodshed in this country and we are not part of them.”

    He said the government must stand up and ensure security of Nigerians.

    “Government must be responsive and responsible. It is their responsibility to ensure the security of lives and properties and whatever it takes to do this can never be too much. If there is need for more gadgets, they should get it,” Kristilere said.

    He noted that many of those troubling the country were no ghosts, adding that if the government spends billions of dollars to tackle insecurity, it is not too much.

    “We are also demanding the release of Leah Sharibu from the custody of Boko Haram,” he said.

    Kristilere urged the government to be serious with insecurity.

    He prayed for the exposure of all those sponsoring bloodshed, adding that God will destroy all the plans of the wicked ones.

    In Ekiti, the protesters took to the streets from about 2.00 pm. Policemen and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) members watching over them.

    This was aside the protest in the early hours by various individual churches, such as Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT) and the Baptist Church among others.

    Led by the CAN Chairman Rev. Joshua Orikogbe, the protesting Christians marched from the CAN House at Ori Apata on Adebayo Road in Ado-Ekiti to the Adekunle Fajuyi Memorial Park. They ended the protest at the Government House where they sent a letter to President Buhari through Governor Ayo Fayose.

    The CAN chairman said: “We are for peace in Nigeria but it is like we are being pushed to the wall by these wanton killings of Christians and clerics.

    “To us in Ekiti CAN, the only way to sustain peace is for  the government of the day at the federal level to abandon politics for sometime and focus the needed attention on security and safety of lives,” he said.

    Fayose, whose Special Adviser on Religious Matters, Pastor Seyi Olusola, received the protesters, praised them for being peaceful.

    The Ekiti State Baptist Conference President Rev. Yinka Aribasoye has called on the Federal Government to stop the killings.

    He called for the resignation of the Service Chiefs if they could not guarantee the security of ordinary Nigerians.

     

    The presiding pastor of the First Baptist Church, Okeyinmi, Ado-Ekiti, Reverend Kayode Ayinde, enjoined Christians to pray for Shaibu’s safe return.

    Christian faithful in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, wore black and white dresses as a mark of mourning for the murdered Catholic priests and parishioners of St Ignatius Church, Mbalom, Gwer East Local Government Area.

    Two Catholic priests  Rev.  Father Joseph Gor and Rev. Father  Felix Tyolaha, as well as  16 worshippers were killed at  mass  on April 24.

    A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who went round some churches in Makurdi,  reports that most worshippers, regardless of denomination, wore black and white dresses.

    NAN also reports that the worshippers held peaceful protests within their churches to denounce “the acts of barbarism” on innocent citizens.

    They held placards with inscriptions such as  “Enough of the killings”, “We want peace in our state”, “No more bloodshed”, “Lord, what have we done to deserve this?’’  among  others.

    At the NKST church in Iyortyer, Makurdi, the worshippers carried placards, marching peacefully within  the premises.

    Pastor Frederick Ikyaan of   NKST  Church at High Level area of the metropolis said the Christian community was mourning

    “ We are saddened by these killings and we want the world to know our displeasure over these acts,’’ he said.

    Ikyaan said that the dress code was reminiscent of the  tradition of the church in  wearing sack clothes when faced with such calamities.

    “ In the olden days, Christians wore sack clothes when confronted with calamities of monstrous nature but since we no longer have such clothes, we wear black and white to show our grief and anguish.

    “Our concern is to express our displeasure and feelings to the immediate society, our leaders in Nigeria and President Buhari,  without mincing words that we are offended by the ongoing killings in the state and the  country,’’ he said.

    He said that with the killing  of the priests and worshippers,  it was very clear that the invaders were not after the green vegetation but the soul of the state.

    The cleric  said that the killing of the priests had further deepened their faith, adding that no amount of intimidation would stop them from practicing their faith.

    He said that the priests and faithful  killed had become martyrs of the herdsmen invasion in Benue,  adding that they were the seeds  sown by the church.

    Security operatives were patrolling the state capital while the church services were ongoing

    Members of the First Baptist Church in Rivers State staged a peaceful protest within the church’s headquarters.

    A church leader, who declined to be named, said: “It is unfortunate that President Muhammadu Buhari has not said much since the advent of the herdsmen killing of Christians in Southern Kaduna, parts of the Northeast and recently Benue State.

    ”We are demanding the immediate release of Leah. They want to turn this into a religious war. If the Federal Government does not act now and end this madness, Christians will rise up and defend themselves and Nigeria will be worse than Afghanistan, Mali and  Rwanda,” he said.

     

  • Restructuring: Ajimobi, Akintola, others harp on

    Stakeholders including students, scholars, members of the academic community, socio-cultural groups, traditional leaders, policymakers, government functionaries, community leaders, trade groups and artisans among others from the southwest states on Friday scaled up their agitations and clamour for the restructuring of the country in the interest of development.

    The event christened the first edition of the Biennial Dipo Famakinwa Colloquium, organised by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, Yoruba Academy and Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) held at the House of Chiefs, Parliamentary Building, Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

    The biennial event which seeks to immortalise Famakinwa’s vision and ideas on the development and adoption of a common regional agenda is with the theme, “Restructuring: Ending the talk and starting the walk.”

    Famakinwa was the pioneer director- general of the Western Nigeria regional governmental policy think tank, christened DAWN Commission, died April 21, 2017, after serving the commission for four years.

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state in his short remarks at the event described late Famakinwa’s contribution to the strategic and tactical rethink of western Nigeria as instructive and pivotal, noting that paying tribute to and sustaining the memory and good work of such an individual is fundamentally apt.

    According to Governor Ajimobi, restructuring within the context of a united federation of Nigeria, democratic processes should be built around such fundamental values as sovereignty of the people; respect for human rights, equal political, social and economic opportunities for all citizens, equity, justice and fair play as ethical values of politics and national unity as well as transparency and accountability as the basis of governance.

    He said, “These values are non-negotiable and form the bedrock of nation-building. For these values to be given expression in the Nigerian nation, the structural defects and deficiencies of the construct of the nation must be addressed as expressed by popular consensus of the people through:

    “Renegotiation of Nigerian Federal nation; organizing for regional actions; mobilization of regional endowments and assets; optimizing the space for development through the regions to achieving sustainable growth in Nigeria; fiscal federalism and decentralization of Nigeria.

    “Most Yoruba people want a Nigeria that operates as a properly managed modern country, a land of order, law, freedom, justice, progress, science, technology, opportunity, competitiveness, productivity and prosperity- the kind of country that all Yoruba people desire and want.”

    A legal luminary, Niyi Akintola in his remarks noted that restructuring is the mantra of an average Southwesterner, expressing certainty that the present federal structure cannot sustain the county for another 25years.

    He said, “For those that still believe so much in the corporate existence of Nigeria,  we should know that the present structure cannot sustain this country for another 25 years. It is totally impossible. The world is already becoming a neighbourhood and its no more a global village.

    “Nigeria is the only federation in the world with unitary police, even the State of Britain that is unitary in form has many formations and organisations. In the United States, as at the last count, they have more than 78,000 police formations, including universities. Each higher institution in the United States has police formation, recognised by the state.

    “Restructuring is the mantra of an average south westerner. I know that the present structure cannot sustain the county for another 25years.  We need to give the DAWN commission every support. When late Bola Ige was advocating for integration, we never knew the country would ever be in this state. He who wants peace must be ready for war. We will not take another neo-colonialism from anybody. This country will not move forward unless we restructure.

    “The Nigerian governance structure is oppressive. The only language understood by the oppressor is confrontation. Therefore, to achieve restructuring, we must be ready for appropriate confrontation. A structured way to achieve restructuring agenda is by strengthening regional integration. Southwest state governors should give greater support to DAWN Commission.”

    Other speakers at the event noted that the region has been unfairly shortchanged with a structure that allows other regions to hold it back in terms of the speed of development and progress before the military interregnum.

    Earlier in his welcome address, the Director General, DAWN Commission, Mr. Seye Oyeleye noted that the event was to celebrate the late Famakinwa’s devoted energy in the last 7-8 years to what is today known as DAWN commission.

    He said the effort, which he described as an all-inclusive was to take the subject of restructuring from mere talks to acting in a way that all the stakeholders will be able to express their views and understand what it meant.

    Widow of late DG, Mrs. Ibironke Famakinwa appreciated the DAWN Commission for honouring the husband by holding on to the effort he committed so much energy and time in the interest of the region. She urged the organisers to sustain the fight until the integration and unity of the region is achieved in the interest of the present and future generation.

    Some of the dignitaries at the event include, Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN, General Secretary, Afenifere Renewal Group, Ayo Afolabi, Dr. Bolaji Ogunseye, Rtd Major Gen Sam Odunsi, Dr. Charles Akindiji Akinola, Alh. Lai Oyeduntan, Mr Tokunbo Ajasin and Dupe Ajayi Gbadebo.

    Others are, Mrs. Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, Mrs Yemi Alabi, Mrs. Adeyinka Bello, Baale of Makoko, Barr. Adekunle Olaiya.

     

  • Ajimobi wants Ibadan butchers relocated to multi-billion naira abattoir

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has directed butchers in the 11 Local Government Areas of Ibadanland to relocate to the multi-billion naira central abattoir by the end of April.

    The governor gave the directive during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the House of Chiefs, at the Secretariat in Ibadan.

    Our reporter says that the multi-billion naira central abattoir is located in Amosun Village in the Akinyele Local Government Area in Ibadan.

    The butchers were led to the meeting by the South-West Coordinator of the Butchers Association, Alhaji Biliaminu Elesinmeta, and the association’s state Chairman, Alhaji Azeez Alagunfon.

    Ajimobi said that the meeting was called to find a lasting solution to issues surrounding the relocation of butchers in Ibadan to the central abattoir and to dispel their misgivings about the project.

    “Apart from its state-of-the-art facilities that would promote the hygiene of meat consumers, it is also capable of ending the incessant clashes between herders and farmers,’’ he said.

    The governor explained that the abattoir was a joint venture among a private establishment, C & E Consulting Ltd, the state government, the butchers association, and the 11 LGs and 14 Local Council Development Areas in Ibadanland.

    He stressed that the private partners would have 50 per cent share, the LGs and the LCDAs 36 per cent, the state government 10 per cent, while the butchers have 4 per cent in the ownership structure.

    According to him, “We plan to develop your business through the central abattoir. I told those in charge of the arrangement that the butchers, the state government, the LGs and the LCDAs and our private partners should co-own the facility.

    “We are sure that the lingering crisis between the farmers and herdsmen will not arise again, because cows will now be transported here directly, instead of our towns and villages where grazing on farmlands have been generating tension.

    “I’m also happy that this arrangement will bring about a change in the way butchers handle meat and it will improve the hygiene of the business.

    “The facility is going to have health and sanitary officers that will ensure strict compliance with the basic hygiene of meat handling.”

    Ajimobi said that effective from May, the project must be actualised, saying that a committee comprising all stakeholders would start meeting immediately and arrive at a conclusion before the end of April.

    The governor told the butchers that each cow butchered at the central abattoir would attract a fee of N3, 500.00, adding that the fee would cover the use of the facility.

    He said that the state had entered into an agreement with the private investors to use the facility for 30 years, after which its total ownership would be transferred to the butchers.

    Ajimobi appealed for the support and understanding of the butchers to comply with the relocation order, saying that the facility had suffered neglect for too long due to unresolved issues among stakeholders.

    The butchers expressed gratitude to the governor for allaying their fears about the project, commending his support to them through financial empowerment and donation of a new bus.

    They said that the earlier misunderstanding between the association and the government was due to lack of adequate information from the immediate-past administration in the state.

    The butchers stated that they were not briefed on the benefits accruable to them from the central abattoir.

    Elesinmeta, however, appealed to the state government to reduce the N3,500 costs attached to each butchered cow in the facility.

    He also solicited logistics support for members of the association located in different parts of Ibadan metropolis.

     

    NAN

  • Court dissolves 5-year-old marriage over wife’s suicide attempt

    An Idi-Ogungun Customary Court, Agodi in Ibadan, Oyo on Wednesday dissolved  the five-year-old  marriage between Selim Osuntade and his wife, Mutiat, over her attempt to commit suicide.

    The Court President, Chief Mukaila Balogun held that Selim proved his case beyond reasonable doubt.

    Balogun said the court could not entertain the plea of Mutiat for reconciliation as the evidence given by both parties had revealed the truth.

    He said the court would not fold its arms and wait until the respondent killed herself because her husband had made up his mind not to love her again.

    ”The marriage is hereby dissolved and the custody of the two children from the union is given to the respondent.

    ”The petitioner should pay N8, 000 monthly for the upkeep of the children.

    ”In addition, he should pay N12, 000 for the respondent’s house rent and N5, 000 for her to move her luggage,” he said.

    Earlier, Selim had approached the court for the dissolution of his marriage, alleging that his wife of five years was too troublesome to live with.

    The petitioner told the court that he had denied his wife sex to see if she would change her bad character instead she became suicidal.

    ”My lord, I decided to starve her sexually so that she can change from her bad behaviour.

    ”Though she pleaded with me and told me that she would change, but i insisted that she should turn a new leaf first, instead, she attempted to hang herself in my room.

    ”I see the suicide attempt as another way to put me into trouble, therefore, the court should end this marriage to save me from her troubles,” he said.

    The respondent, Mutiat, denied the allegation that she attempted to kill herself and urged the court to save her marriage.

    “I confirmed that my husband denied me sex for several months and I begged him to forgive me for any wrong thing I have done to him but he refused to accept my apology.

    ”I am not ready to leave my matrimonial home with our two kids, the court should help us reconcile,’’ she said.

    NAN

  • 730 Niger Delta youths to be trained in 2018, says minister

    No fewer than 730 youths from the Niger Delta region would be trained in various skill acquisition programme of the Federal Government in 2018.

    The effort is said to be in the government bid to increase the human capital development in the country as well as check agitations and unrest in the country.

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Usani Uguru Usani made the disclosure in Ibadan at the weekend during the graduation of 25 youths from Niger Delta under the empowerment training of the ministry by Siegener Sabithos Nigeria Limited, held at the Chief M.A Adesiyan conference hall, Alumni Centre, University of Ibadan.

    The 25 youths were trained on fish production, information communication technology, business development and entrepreneurial skill within few weeks in Ibadan.

    Represented by the Director of Economic Empowerment, Ministry of Niger Delta, Alhaji Ibrahim Akanya, the minister said the empowerment is not only a means to fast track development but also to actualise the Presidents human capital development programmes.

    His words, “This empowerment programme is not only means of fast tracking development of the entire region, but one of the ways to actualise Mr President’s human capital development programme.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari believes that in addition to infrastructure, human capital development is quite vital and essential for a nation. Most of the crises we have in Nigeria today is as a result of neglect of human capital development.

    “This, President Buhari said cannot continue. So, he has directed all the ministries as a matter of urgency to put in their annual capital budget the issue of human capital development and that is why we came up with this programme of economic empowerment at the Ministry of Niger Delta programme.

    “We have it before the present administration but it was energised when President Buhari came in. He put a lot of impetus-fund into it, actually organise it. As I am telling you this year alone, the Ministry of Niger Delta alone will be training about 730 youths under the 2017 budget, not to talk of 2018 budget that is yet to be passed.

    “About 180 are graduating today in Calabar; by next Wednesday another 90 youths will be graduating from Calabar axis again, then by Monday about 205 women and youths will be commencing another training here in Ibadan, Oyo state, specifically at The Polytechnic, Ibadan. In Imo, about 105 graduated from the same programme last week. That is to tell you how the present administration is committed to human capital development.

    “The essence of the programme is that the restiveness we have in the Niger Delta and recently, in the North East is nothing other than neglect of human capital. If we have to arrest this situation, we have to develop human being along that line,” Uguru stated.

    In his short remarks, the state Commissioner for Information, Culture, Mr Toye Arulogun urged the participants to make judicious use of the knowledge and opportunity availed them by the programme.

    Arulogun commended the Federal Government for the initiative, noting that it shows that the government is concerned about the future of the youths of the state, the country.

    Earlier, the Chief Consultant, Siegener Sabithos Nigeria Limited, Dr Tunde Kelani, who lauded the initiative of the Federal Government charged the graduating youths to replicate whatever they might have benefited in their communities and promote the scheme.

  • Livestock fair holds in Ibadan

    The Nigeria International Poultry and Livestock (NIPOLI) Expo is to hold its second exhibition next month.

    With the theme: “Sustainable livestock management for food security in West Africa,” the event is scheduled to commence from Wednesday, April 4 to 6, 2018 at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.

    Attendance for the event is free for poultry, fishery, dairy, sheep, and  livestock farmers and agripreneur.

    The first edition of the exhibition was held in Lagos and it attracted 76 exhibiting companies from more than 9 countries and regions.

    Speaking on the event, NIPOLI’s Operations Manager, Yekeen Kazeem said: “Having experienced successful first edition in 2017, NIPOLI EXPO has become largest Poultry and Livestock exhibition in West Africa and approved event by relevant Government departments, association and NGOs. This is an event where there will be a collaboration between the Nigerian livestock and poultry industry and foreign poultry and livestock Companies from eight countries.

  • Food, Drinks Festival holds in Ibadan

    Ibadan, Oyo State capital, will host the maiden edition of International Food and Drinks Festival this weekend, the organisers said yesterday.

    The event will hold at Ibadan Recreation Club, Adamasingba.

    The Project Coordinator, Clemence Eki, said credible and strong brands in the food and drink sectors were on board to delight everyone with their products.

    He said: “We are excited that respected brands, such as Unilever, makers of Knoor and Royco; Grandoak, manufacturers of Lord’s Gin and other exotic drinks are partners to the festival.

    “Brands, such as Indomie, Coca Cola, Lucozade Boost, Guinness and Union Bank from the financial sector, among others, have confirmed their participation to make this a fun-filled experience.”

  • UCH Ibadan as death centre

    Sir: I write this from a place of inconsolable grief, sheer anguish, unimaginable pain, and the very zenith of fury having lost a dear one so cheaply and unjustifiably in a place that is erroneously believed to be safe but apparently needs saving itself. An institution riddled with egomaniacal doctors with God complexes, nurses like witches, patients attendants who will not attend to you until you have called them a billion times; morticians who will milk you out of your very life savings just to get the remains ready for burial without caring that you were just bereaved. Almost everyone there just seemed inappropriate for their respective jobs – such a shambolic and toxic environment!

    We had rushed to the emergency department calling for help at about 12am with our dear Oluwaseun diagnosed with cardiac failure, but it took 15 minutes to have a not-so-friendly looking doctor amble to the car we brought her in just to see whether or not the case was an emergency. Soon we were asked to pay for so many written things including an oxygen tube so that she could breathe, but getting to the cashier, he told us in no uncertain terms that he would not attend to us until he has devoured his bowl of amala!

    Only when a senior nurse came and spoke some sense into the fellow did he reluctantly attended to us after he heard that the patient was dying.

    Eventually, Oluwaseun was checked into the resuscitation unit and trust me, that place reeked of death. A resuscitation centre that had only one functional ECG monitor to serve four dying patients; not even a single defibrillator, stuffy as hell. Two malfunctioning air conditioning systems while every last office there had working ones. It was generally a place prepared to make patients sweat their very weak pulses out. It should rather be called a euthanasia ward. How patients were objectified was absolutely distressing. One had a euphoric shimmer of hope when a team of smug doctors strolled in like demigods only to realise that they came to learn with the patients rather than care for them. What is the point of acquiring redundant knowledge?

    We screamed for help but they were rather concerned with quietening us than reviving Oluwaseun. They managed to get to her, gave her a few chest compressions in a futile CPR charade, chatting and laughing while at it, and then pronounced her dead JUST LIKE THAT. We had waited and waited for the cardiologist who neither showed up nor called for her to be relocated to the cardiology unit until she gave up at 7:20 pm on March 17. This is a brilliant Unilag graduate due for NYSC in a few weeks. Someone’s beloved daughter, beautiful sister and wonderful friend; someone’s decades of physical, psychological and financial investment left for dead in a Nigerian foremost health centre.

    Oluwaseun Ezekiel we love you. Even though you were a victim of inept doctors and failed health policies, you forever will be in our hearts. I write this hoping to find some closure by laying it all bare, peradventure it would get to relevant authorities who will amend and enforce the standard operating procedures of this terrible health facility.

     

    • Enoch B. Godson, Ibadan.

  • Nigerian judges burdened with too many cases – Ajimobi

    Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has attributed the slow dispensation of justice to the high number of cases that judges across the country are being burdened with.

    The governor, stated this while inaugurating the Oyo State Multi-door Court House located within the premises of the State High Court, Ibadan, on Tuesday.

    He therefore appealed to litigants to embrace the newly-introduced multi-court door initiative as an alternative route to seeking redress and liberalizing access to justice.

    Ajimobi explained that the multi-court door system was in the furtherance of alternative dispute resolution system which he described as the country’s native jurisprudence before the contemporary court system came into being.

    He said: “The official commissioning of the multi-door court house today is a clear signal that we are returning to our root where issues are resolved amicably without the much experienced delays, complex legalese and drain on the resources of the state and disputants.

    Read Also: Why we are reforming education sector, by Ajimobi

    “This is not meant to minimize the role of our courts, especially the courts of records which play a pivotal role in the maintenance of civil and social order in our society.

    “But our vision is to ensure that we provide a credible alternative, yet constitutional route, towards dispute resolution and attainment of justice.’’

    In further justifying the introduction of the multi-door court system in the state, the governor frowned on what he called the astronomical addition to the court docket quarterly, saying the development might hamper speedy dispensation of justice.

    Ajimobi said that the multi-door court process would enable disputants to access the various other dispute resolution options such as mediation, arbitration, conciliation, early neutral evaluation and hybrid processes.

    He said: “I understand from the information available to me that each one of our judges in the High Court currently carry a case load of between 300 and 400 cases per court, which number increases monthly.

    “So far, within this first quarter of 2018 only, I am informed that 306 new civil cases have been filed by disputants before the Oyo State High Court and 173 criminal cases filed by the Ministry of Justice and the police.

    “With such astronomical addition to the court docket quarterly, our administration of justice system may never be able to achieve speedy dispensation of justice, without an initiative like the multi-door court.

    “It is clear that without this alternative route and a liberalization of our access to justice structures, speedy dispensation of justice will continue to elude our people.’’

    Also speaking at the occasion, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Oluseun Abimbola, said the landmark performances of the present administration, which culminated in the transformation of the State into the 4th Most Desirable Destination of Choice for Foreign Investment had been replicated in the legal system

    He described the multi-door court process as part of the Ajimobi-led administration’s legacy of restoration, transformation, and repositioning the state, for which the legal profession in the state would remain grateful.

    Abimbola urged all stakeholders and the organized private sector to embrace and harness the benefits of the new initiative in the state’s justice system for their own benefit.

    The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Munta Abimbola expressed appreciation to the governor for the initiative and promised that the state’s legal administration would do all within its power to enhance justice delivery in the State.

  • Oyo begins One House, One Refuse Drum policy

    Oyo State Government has commenced House to House public health and hygiene sensitization to ensure the compliance of one house, one refuse drum policy of the state, saying that dumping of refuse into the rivers and streams channels as well as road median remain prohibited.

    The State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Chief Isaac Ishola said this in Ibadan on Thursday, disclosing that the Ministry had dredged 50 streams and rivers in the state between 2014 to 2017.

    Chief Ishola said that efforts are already being taken to expand some rivers in the state for free flow of water through the construction of about 14 priority sites to expand river hydraulic and bridges.

    The Commissioner reiterated that it is a legal and moral offence for anybody to drop refuse inside rivers, streams and road median, urging that people should stay away from flood plains once the rain persists for more than half hour.

    Read Also: Oyo shuts eight facilities for ‘quackery’

    He said, “The beginning of failure, is the failure to plan, as a responsible State Government we have identified some rivers and streams that are due to be dredged in order to have a flood free raining season. We are also calling on our people to desist from activities that can cause flooding in the state. Furthermore, we have started the House to House campaign of the government’s policy of One House, One Drum to ensure that people are aware of their responsibilities.”

    Chief Ishola stressed that each house as a matter of civic responsibility is expected to patronise private refuse collectors as assigned by the management of Oyo State Waste Management Authority (OYOWMA), revealing that the government is planning to establish Oyo State Enforcement Agency to complement the various enforcement strategies of the Ministry.

    He called on the people of the state, who have their houses built on the flood prone areas, to vacate such houses to prevent the loss of lives and properties.