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  • Victims, residents recall day of horror in Ibadan

    Victims, residents recall day of horror in Ibadan

    Penultimate week, some parts of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital boiled. Hoodlums descended on some areas, killing and maiming people, even as they destroyed properties. BISI OLADELE and TAYO JOHNSON captured the moods of some of the survivors who pleaded with government and public-spirited individuals to come to their aid.

    There were hustle and bustle of commercial activities in a bubbly densely populated community. There were brisk movements of pedestrians. Awkward movement of commercial motorcycles and other activities have returned to Born Photo-Iyana Asuni-Idi-Arere, an Ibadan neighbourhood troubled by a violent attack last week.

    The community was attacked by hoodlums in a battle of supremacy last week during which over 15 shops were burnt, some looted and many vehicles vandalised. The attack lasted about two hours as residents ran for safety from the scene of the attack.

    But while normal activities have returned, victims of the attack have commenced efforts to rebuild their shops while calling for help from the government and philanthropic Nigerians and organisations.

    They also recalled the day of horror in a chat with our correspondents.

    Mrs Falilat Rasheed, 38, is a tailor whose shop was burnt in the attack. The shop was reduced to rubbles after the attack.

    She recalled that the area had been attacked on Friday with minor impact but that the Sunday attack left sore memories for shop owners and residents in the area.

    Her words: “I have two sewing machines, a freezer with which I sell soft drinks and few other items. They were all burnt down with the shop. I could not salvage any of the items.

    “They actually started on Friday around 4:00 p.m. They stole my stocks – drinks and other items. We thought it was all over.

    “That day, I was cutting a piece of cloth when I suddenly noticed people running helter-skelter.  They said the hoodlums were on rampage.

    “As if that was not enough, at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, they re-surfaced in large number and were armed with dangerous weapons.  I ran for my dear life, just as many others did.

    They threw fire on our line of shops. It started burning. We couldn’t rescue anything. As the shops were burning, fire fighters arrived but the hoodlums turned them back.

    “Later, the police came, threw tear gas on them and they fled. Then, sympathisers came to help us quench the fire, even though the shops had been fully burnt.”

    She put her lost at N100,000.

    Another victim, Mr Dauda Ajani is a welder. His shop was also razed down by the hoodlums.

    He said: “I have been here for over 10 years. This violence sometimes happens but they never destroyed properties as they did this time. They could fight and threaten but they never destroyed our shops like this.

    “I was not in the shop on that sad day. They said the hoodlums came at 9:00 a.m. I just heard that they were fighting. By the time I got here at 9:45 a.m, my shop had been burnt completely.

    “We reached out for water to quench the fire but did not succeed. They burnt my welding generator, my hammer, uniform and photos of previous works.

    I didn’t even meet them. They had gone. I only met some sympathisers. They said the boys threw broken bottles to them while making efforts to quench the fire.

    “On sighting the burning shop, I broke down in tears. I was sad, distraught, disheartened. This is my only source of income. I never leant any other type of vocation in my life. He said he lost some money which he said he borrowed from a co-operative society.

    “I actually borrowed the money for the generator from a co-operative society. I lost about N400, 000.”

    On how he has been surviving, Mr Ajani said only God has been taking care of him through friends and relations.

    He appealed to the government and Nigerians to come to his aid.

    On what he requires as assistance, he said: “All we want is to have our shops repaired. We need instruments to work.”

    Funke Olaniyan. 50, is another victim. In her shop, grinding machine and two freezers were in her shop. They all went in flames when her shop was torched.

    She put her loss at N350, 000.

    “I burst into tears when I came here that morning. I don’t know where to start from again. I just need help now,” she said.

    Others include Mrs Fausat Amusat, 40, a retailer; Mrs Ishau Aminat, 29, a hairdresser; Mrs Toyin Hammed, 25 who sells eggs and Hafeez Oyeniyi, 32, who had his commercial motorcycle burnt.

    Mobile policemen are still stationed in the neighbourhood with two armoured personnel carriers (APC) at different locations.

    Meanwhile, major political parties in the state have been trading blames over the violence. While the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) accused the state’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Accord and Labour Party of sponsoring hoodlums to cause mayhem in affected areas with a view to discredit Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration. The washed their hands of the violence.

    The Chairman of the party, Chief Akin Oke, made the allegation while briefing reporters on the state of the crisis in Ibadan.

    Oke, who condemned the pockets of violence and described them as “totally unacceptable and appalling,” recalled that the governor had traversed 32 local government areas across the state in an official visit with a plan to round it off in Ibadan South West Local Government when opposition parties attempted to discredit the exercise by sponsoring the mayhem to score political points.

    He said the warm reception and tumultuous crowds that welcomed Ajimobi in all the local government areas he visited, the councils jolted the opposition, which made them embark on sponsoring the violence.

    “The Friday, November 21, violent and unprovoked attacks on our people at Oke-Ado area of Ibadan and the ones recorded at Born Photo, Popo Yemoja, Idi-Arere and environs on Sunday November 23, as well as the mayhem which ravaged Idi-Ikan, Opoyiosa and environs on Tuesday, November 25 are a clear manifestation of the script which the opposition elements in the state had prepared for implementation with a view to creating a tense atmosphere ahead of the 2015 general elections and discrediting the ruling party which has received global applause for stamping out lawlessness, brigandage and indecent practices from the state since we came into power in May, 2011,” Oke said.

    The APC specifically alleged that the hoodlums working for the PDP and led by one Ekugbemi caused a breach of peace on Friday while the gang also later engaged another political gang led by one “Omo Alhaja” in a supremacy battle which led to the destruction of property and harassment of innocent residents.

    The party alleged further: “In all of this, we wonder how the opposition elements in the Peoples Democratic Party, Accord Party and the Labour Party have been able to unite and organise themselves towards forming a formidable team of alarmists who dish out details of these ugly events even shortly before the attackers would commence their nefarious activities.

    “If not that they are the sponsors, how would street urchins and political thugs be carrying out attacks on the one hand and the opposition parties would be reporting it live in such a way to implicate some identified members of the APC even without any concrete evidence to prove their alleged involvement.”

    But the opposition parties denied the allegation. They urged the APC government to look inward for the sponsors of the violence.

    In a statement by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Kehinde Salawu, the party distanced itself from the claim by the APC, asking how it could be indicted of causing violence perpetrated by the ruling party, which aspirants continued to demonstrate desperation, leading to violent clashes across the state capital.

    “It is sad that rather than take responsibility for the destruction of property and waste of innocent lives being witnessed in Ibadan in the last few days as a result of APC’s desperation ahead of the 2015 general elections, the party has chosen to shift blames.

    “How and where did the PDP perpetrate the vioence in Ibadan? Can the APC, a Janjaweed party that is living on borrowed times, authenticate this demonic and baseless claim? Much as we will not like to dignify a party that has already been rejected by the people of Oyo State by reacting to its tissue of lies, which it is known for across the country, we state unequivocally that the PDP is committed to the peace and well-being of the people of Oyo State. And we warn the APC to desist from tarnishing our party’s image and focus on how to salvage its crumbling house,” the PDP said.

    Also in a reaction, the Labour Party, in a statement by its Director, Media and Strategy, Taiwo Ibrahim, said: “The APC should look inward concerning the latest rounds of violence and disturbances in the city of Ibadan. Two of their lawmakers recently engaged in bloodletting and fought dirty.  Are we the ones behind it? Reports at Oke-Ado showed that one of their thugs engaged an okada man and this snowballed into further attack on police. Anyway, police is in the know of all that transpired and we need not say more.”

     

  • Ibadan mayhem

    Ibadan mayhem

    Nigeria’s largest city must avoid its First Republic violence that earned it the description of Wild, Wild West.

    WE bemoan reports that Ibadan, capital of former Western Region, now Oyo state, was recently embroiled in avoidable bedlam. This is a bad foretaste of the new election cycle that is upon us. Violence has always served as a bitter, tragic staple of any election period, and the bloody theatre we are witnessing from Nigeria’s biggest city sears the heart and bothers the conscience of those who wish an improved berth for our troubled democracy.

    Oyo State that has witnessed a reasonable level of civic tolerance and quiet in three and a half years has regressed into a  witness and perpetrator of bloodbath and bringandage. In the past few days, the orgy of violence has been unleashed on lives and property in some areas of the state by perceived political thugs.

    According to reports, the unscrupulous elements from Born Photo area sneaked into Popoyemoja around in the wee hour of last Sunday around 1am when residents were deeply asleep and left behind dripping blood and wanton destruction after three hours of grueling operation. They reportedly shot sporadically before forcing their way into houses, robbing inhabitants of their valuables and looting shops before setting others on fire.

    Over 200 shops, several vehicles parked on the street and houses, including the family house of former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, were reportedly destroyed during the mayhem in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area.  At least three persons, among residents of the area, reportedly died in the mayhem. Other areas affected by the callousness of these thugs include Isale Osi, Idi Arere and Born Photo.

    On the Friday preceding that Sunday mishap, we learnt that a police officer was gunned down and another injured around Oke-Ado, about four kilometres to Born Photo, where the last attack began.

    In our view, any link with the two scenes of slaughter might be remote. What is plausible is that some yet-to-be-identified elements are trying to take advantage of that abominable mayhem to make the state ungovernable and this is unacceptable to us.

    We ask; how can a presumed fight between two youth gags known as ‘area boys’ turn into violence of that magnitude? The opposition parties have been fingered for blame, but only thorough investigations will prove this. We only hope that this is not an orchestrated plan to minimise the gains of peace the state recently recorded to rebrand the state as a danger zone as the 2015 general elections approach.

    Olabisi Ilobanefor, Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, during his recent media briefing, announced that three persons suspected to be political thugs at Kosodo/Beyerunka area of Ibadan have been arrested. She also said more than 20 arrests have been made over the killing of the police officer by suspected political thugs. Though he did not state whether the arrested thugs were the culprits behind the mayhem in Popoyemoja, we expect the perpetrators to be brought to book.

    In terms of maintaining peace and security as a catalyst for the protection of lives and property in the state, the Ajoimobi government has recorded a measure of success, especially reining in the road transport workers who heady addiction to violence has roiled the state in the past

    We are aware that the government has increased capacity of the Emergency and Swift Response Security Outfit (Operation Burst), through the provision of reportedly over 185 Patrol Security Vehicles; it has also established Emergency Response Centres across the state while a Security Trust Fund was set-up to boost security agencies’ productivity and efficiency within its jurisdiction. Clearly all these did not stop the recent chaos.

    The area boys’ syndrome that has always been there is rearing its ugly head. But the Ajimobi administration is not expected to go back to the drawing board. It is expected to treat the proliferation of these notorious boys as a more serious issue. The government must not allow these street gangsters known as area boys and known for being adept at criminally terrorising the people of the state, to gain upper hand as we move closer to the 2015 elections. The Ajimobi government should develop a drastic approach in the mould of modus operandi with it curbed the barbarities of NURTW.

    We deprecate the upsurge in pre-election violence in any part of the country. The only way to send the right signal is to institute a public inquiry into the Ibadan violence to forestall recurrence and to also bring those involved to face the full wrath of the law. We will not subscribe to the revival of the ‘Wild, Wild West’ scenario that tore Ibadan into sanguinary shreds in the First Republic. Our message to the people is to eschew violence in whatever form. Only those that are alive can enjoy the political booty at the dawn of 2015.

  • Vodacom expands to Ibadan, Kano

    Leading provider of enterprise-class communication solutions, Vodacom Business Nigeria, said it has opened new offices in Ibadan and Kano. It said the new offices are part of Vodacom Nigeria’s expansion plans which will strengthen services to customers in these regions and the surrounding areas.

    In a statement, the firm said it will leverage its extensive national communications network to provide secure and agile communication solutions to customers in these regions. These services include enterprise voice, cloud and hosting solutions as well as machine–to–machine solutions.

    Its Managing Director, Guy Clarke said: “We expanded into Ibadan and Kano in response to the demand for converged communications. These are thriving markets where companies are investing in cutting-edge telecommunication solutions to increase customer engagement and loyalty.”

    The new offices will provide services and support to large-scale enterprise, small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) as well as public enterprises in Ibadan, Kano and surrounding areas in both cities. “Our solutions will provide businesses in these regions with a single point of contact for their enterprise telephony and data services, all on a single secure network,” Clarke added.

    Vodacom offers connectivity, voice, cloud and hosting services from Nigeria’s only certified Tier 3 data center and now business in Ibadan and Kano can enjoy reliable, secure and scalable communication services regardless of their size or location.

  • Ajimobi tours, presents score card in Ibadan

    Ajimobi tours, presents score card in Ibadan

    For four days last week, Governor Abiola Ajimobi toured the 11 local government areas that make up Ibadan where he presented his score card to the people in the past three-and-a-half years. BISI OLADELE, who covered the tours, writes that Ajimobi’s achievements will silence critics of his policies and programmes.

    For residents and visitors to Oyo State, particularly from January, 2012, the state has been galvanised into a society where orderliness, civility and modernity reign.

    The achievements of Ajimobi-led administration were perceptible in all parts of Ibadan, the state capital and in other major towns such as Iseyin, Ogbomoso and Oyo.

    Interestingly, Ibadan, which has the highest population in the state, is where the governor has stiff opposition. This is despite the state capital being the highest beneficiary of significant projects by the administration.

    As modern cities emerge amid peace and security, critics of the projects and Ajimobi’s leadership style increased, even as the government explains to the people why the projects were undertaken.

    Last week, the governor and his team took their enlightenment campaign to all communities in Ibadan to address residents on the reason for the policies and projects.

    The four-day tour followed the success of those to Oke-Ogun, Oyo and Ogbomoso the previous week where the governor did the same.

    Ajimobi began with a programme for commercial drivers at an event centre along Ibadan-Lagos Expressway, Soka Ibadan on Tuesday.

    At the meeting, the governor, whose arrival threw the huge crowd of drivers into jubilation, hailed them for conducting themselves within the ambit of the law and totally shunning violence since the inception of his administration.

    Governor Ajimobi told the cheering crowd that when he inherited a society some of whose features included violence, thuggery and brigandage, his pledge was to enthrone peace and harmony as well as create an atmosphere where business and other lawful activities will thrive.

    Deploring the situation where commercial drivers had constituted themselves as a menace to the society, the governor commended the drivers for support his administration by stopping violent activities within the state’s branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

    He specifically praised them for being calm even when he deplored modern buses to major routes which commuters board at subsidised prices.

    The governor pledged to gradually do away with rickety buses by assisting drivers to purchase new buses.

    “As you co-operate with us, we plan to reward you with assistance. Whenever you look back and compare our administration, you will always say that ours is better. But please, don’t give in to deceit,” Ajimobi said.

    The governor urged them to continue to support his administration as he makes efforts to ensure that the state regains its glorious position.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the union, Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde (aka Fele), expressed joy for the governor’s presence at the event, saying it showed the respect the governor accords commercial drivers in the state.

    “We are happy to have the governor here. This is unprecedented in the history of our union.

    “Peace has returned to the state under Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration.

    Ajimobi has brought the change we want-peace and security. Ibadan was one of the dirtiest; roads were bad and narrow but the Ajimobi administration has improved all of that. We urge you not to rest on your oars, sir. And we also promise to do our business peacefully,” he said.

    At Sasa in Akinyele Local Government, the governor had a meeting with traditional rulers, market traders, artisans, politicians, commercial drivers, religious and community leaders during which he explained his policies and programmes as well as the reasons behind them.

    The leader of Orogun community, Mr. A. Ogunsola praised the governor for fulfilling his electoral promises. He, however, urged the governor to improve water supply to the area and renovate the Orogun Link Road.

    Other community leaders who spoke also praised Governor Ajimobi for his achievements, stressing that his accomplishment would speak for him.

    The Oniroko of Iroko, Chief Abioye Olasunkanmi, who spoke on behalf of traditional rulers in the local government, requested inclusion of more chiefs in the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, citing historical reasons.

    Chief Olasunkanmi praised Ajimobi for his monumental achievements, saying as a retired teacher, he had not witnessed recruitment of 5,300 teachers on one occasion, with new recruits sourced from their localities.

    Devoid of any campaign colouration, the traditional ruler said Ajimobi’s achievements were already speaking for him for the 2015 elections.

    He said the current administration has particularly made the welfare of teachers a priority, adding that Ajimobi’s infrastructural development as well as the urban renewal policy is unparalleled. He urged him not to relent.

    Chief Olasunkanmi also pledged the support of traditional rulers and their subjects in the local government for Ajimobi as he lifts the fortunes of the state.

    Responding, the governor said he had succeeded in sustaining the rich history of the “firsts” established by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo by undertaking projects that are first of their kind in the history of the state.

    According to him, his administration adopted the principle underlining the Abraham Maslow’s human needs pyramid which stipulates that physiological needs are the very basic that should be met first.

    Accordingly, Ajimobi said the principle informed his administration priority attention given to issues such as peace and security without which nothing meaningful could be achieved.

    Governor Ajimobi said meeting the basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter requires earning an income which explains why his administration employed 20,000 youths into the Youths Empowerment Scheme of Oyo State (YES-O).

    He reminded his audiences at the councils that his administration had employed several others into the state civil service, attracted no fewer than 13 investors who had employed residents in their various factories and establishments while capping it with recruitment of 5,300 teachers at once.

    Ajimobi emphasised that stomach infrastructure means teaching people how to fish instead of giving them fish. By employing and creating job opportunities for residents, the governor said the act is already having positive multiplier effects on the economy of the state.

    At Ibadan North East Local Government Area, the governor told traditional rulers that the amount of capital flow into the state has increased by 697 per cent approximating $3.49 million, up from $500,000 between the first and second quarter of the year.

    According to him, the figure has proved wrong allegations from the opposition parties in the state that the state was witnessing capital flight since the inception of the Ajimobi administration.

    Governor Ajimobi said he was not quoting from a statistics manufactured by him but a report released recently by the National Bureau of Statistics, a Federal Government institution.

    “As revealed in the report, total capital imported into the country stood at $5.8 billion as at the end of the second quarter of 2014, relative to the $3.9 billion recorded in the preceding quarter. Of these, Southwest Nigeria was at the top destination for capital importation in the first half of 2014, with about 98 per cent of total capital imported in the Region.

    “This impressive performance located capital importation into Oyo State as having increased by 697 per cent, approximating $3.49 million, up from $500,000 between the first and second quarters of the year.

    “Happily, our uninformed and mischievous cynics have again been proved wrong in their assertions that there is capital flight in Oyo State,” the governor said.

    Governor Ajimobi said his mission in governance was to redeem the state from the shackle of under-development, even as he urged the people not to be deceived by the antics of deceitful and selfish politicians who are out to discredit the present administration.

    He pointed out that his administration has continued to play the politics of development, truth and honesty to establish a veritable platform for performance and good governance.

    “I am not a desperate politician who is out to canvass for votes by all means. My mission is to redeem the state from under-development and deceitful politicians,” he said.

    In Ona-Ara, Iddo, Oluyole, Lagelu and other councils in the city, the governor explained that driving traders away from the road was for their ultimate benefit as vehicles crushed them during accidents.

    He also pointed out that the city could no longer continue with the habit of cholera-prone practices at roadside shops by some traders which is responsible for outbreak of communicable diseases.

    As a solution, Ajimobi emphasised that his administration built neighbourhood markets to accommodate those driven away from the road, saying no previous administration did that even though they also drove away traders from the road. Additionally, he said that his administration gave out the shops to the traders at no cost, pointing out that Chief Bola Ige’s administration which built markets did not give out the shops free.

    Furthermore, Ajimobi said his administration gave out N20 million to the traders as incentive. This, he said, was aimed at improving the lot of traders.

    In the same manner, Ajimobi said his administration embarked on cleanliness of the cities, infrastructural development and the urban renewal project to change the position of the state from the second dirtiest to one of the cleanest. These, he said, aimed at enhancing people’s good health and make the state attractive to investors.

    Ajimobi also explained that his administration chose to make the welfare of teachers a top priority because his dream to overhaul the education sector would be a mirage without first making teachers happy. The same, he said, applied to civil servants who have also been enjoying 13th month salary, regular local and foreign training as well as free transportation to and from state secretariat from Mondays to Fridays.

    Why would a governor sack those trading on the streets? Why would a governor build neighbourhood markets, give out the shops free and give interest-free loans to traders? Why would a governor convert major roads in four cities to dual carriage ways at the same time? Why did Ajimobi channel resources to urban renewal project, and why would he engage 5,300 teachers at once in the face of dwindling allocation from the Federation Account?

    All these and many more were some of the issues the governor explained to the people as he toured Ibadan last week.

    Governor Ajimobi was warmly received by teachers, politicians, artisans, women groups and other categories of residents at all the local government areas with pomp and ceremony.

    On the governor’ steam were his deputy, Chief Moses Alake-Adeyemo; Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Olalekan Ali; commissioners; members of the National Assembly; Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Chief Akin Oke and political appointees.

     

     

  • Fire destroys 125-room house in Ibadan

    Fire destroys 125-room house in Ibadan

    A 125-room house has been razed and property worth millions of naira destroyed at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Estate, Apata.

    Residents packed the little they could  from their property.

    It was gathered that the fire started from a kerosene stove.

    Some of the residents said the house, which is usually crowded, was a disaster in- waiting because it had no kitchen for its 500 tenants.

    The Principal Fire Superintendent, State Fire Service, Isiaka Adeleke and Caretaker Chairman of Ido Local Government Area, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela, advised residents to be careful.

    He promised government’s assistance to victims.

    The family, which owns the building, alleged sabotage.

    The spokesperson, Mrs. Olufunke Oriyomi, called on the government to intervene in the matter.

  • Lawmaker’s scorecard thrills Ibadan, Ibarapa people

    Lawmaker’s scorecard thrills Ibadan, Ibarapa people

    Three and half years after his election into the House of Representatives by the people of Ibarapa/Ido Federal Constituency, Honourable Sunday Adeyemi Adepoju of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has given account of his stewardship in the National Assembly to his constituents and they are happy with him. OSEHEYE OKWUOFU was there.

    There is a time appointed for everything under the sun. For the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker representing Ibadan/Ido federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Sunday Adeyemi Adepoju , it was time recently,  to report to his constituency and showcase all his achievements to the people who elected him to the National Assembly in 2011.

    At the venue of the event, May-Joy Event Centre, Ologun Eru, Eleyele, Ibadan were the aged, artisans, market men and women, members of the various professional bodies, politicians from APC , Accord and Labour parties, students and some members of the business community amongst others.

    Many of them were there to listen to their representative on how he has fared in the past three and half years in the lower chamber of the National Assembly, while others came to drum more support for the second term bid of lawmaker who is hoping to re-contest his seat in the 2015 general election.

    The expansive hall was filled to the brim, with many more staying outside, while supporters of the lawmaker dressed in Ankara uniform with traditional drummers in their tow, relished in entertaining the people who in turn reciprocated by doling out some naira notes to appreciate their unsolicited services.

    Of course, the event was not without the presence of area boys (social miscreants) who boldly held out wraps of Indian hemp and bottles of dry gin, even with the heavy presence of armed policemen and other security operatives.

    Just before the programme proper commenced, the lawmaker provided slides of his various empowerment programmes, ranging from poverty eradication schemes to provision of solar powered street lights, solar powered bore holes, construction of blocks of classrooms, road construction and provisions of 500KVA transformers to the people of his constituency.

    The people who rented the air with songs intermittently, expressed satisfaction on his achievements and commended him for making it possible for them to enjoy some of the dividends of democracy.

    They were moved to rate the lawmaker higher in terms of achievements than the previous people who have occupied the seat in the history of the constituency.

    “I am here today to register my warm appreciation to the lawmaker, our son. I can see that he is not one of those people who will start to mess up after they have been elected into office. You can see what he did within less than four years, whereas we had somebody there before him who did not even care to remember the people who elected him into that office. I will continue to pray that more leaders like him come on board so that we can move from where we are”, Mr Akintade Oluyemisi , a resident of Ido said.

    The Ibarapa /Ido federal constituency of Oyo state comprises mainly locals whose predominant occupation is farming, with little or no presence of major industries in the area.

    Hon. Sunday Adepoju , before mounting the podium  to present his stewardship to the people, gave recognition to the role played by the former governor of Lagos state and APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in assisting him to join politics, adding that without that singular opportunity in his life, he would not have been able to stand before the audience to render to the people what he has been able to accomplish in the National Assembly.

    He similarly thanked the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi for believing in his ability, and later used the occasion to drum support for a second term for the governor.

    Some leaders of the APC led by the  Senatorial party Chairman, Prince Adefisoye Adekanye, and the

    Special Adviser to Governor Ajimobi on Political Matters, Dr. Gbade Ojo described the lawmaker as a man with the love of his people.

    Hon. Adepoju who signified his intention to re-contest the seat he presently occupies, highlighted the achievements of Governor Ajimobi   and asked for the people’s endorsement of the governor to continue his work beyond 2015 and it was greeted with approval and applause.

    In his address Adepoju said he decided to organise the event in fulfillment of his promise to the people of his constituency to present his stewardship.

    The lawmaker who said that his tenure in the House of Representatives has been fulfilling, added that his achievement was devoted to the service of the people his constituency.

    While stating that the dividends of democracy were evenly and fairly distributed among the Ibarapa and Ido areas, he noted that due to his commitment and dedication to the service of the people over 200 MTN double-seater chairs were facilitated for Obaseeku High School, Eruwa and 100 laptop computers donated to The Polytechnic, Eruwa.

    In addition, he listed provision of solar powered street lights, classroom blocks and motorised boreholes for the people of his constituency.

    The Special Adviser on Political Matters to Governor Ajimobi , Dr Ojo who urged the people to ensure that the governor was re-elected in 2015 said:”  We are happy that APC presented competent people for position of authority and not half baked politicians as was witnessed in the past PDP administration in the state.

    “The achievement of Hon.Adepoju has never been known to the people of this area until now. When the PDP was there the people testified that they never witnessed such tremendous projects in the history of the area.”

    He added that despite the short fall in the federal allocation to Oyo State, which he put at over 40 percent, the government of Ajimobi has not borrowed any kobo from the bank.

    “But that was not the case with other state governors who have gone ahead to borrow substantial amount from financial institutions. That is why it is not surprising that people are clamouring for a second term for him,” he said.

    He called for unity and cohesion among party members to ensure progress and peaceful development of the state.

    “ Because of the sterling qualities and performance of Governor Ajimobi the entire state has been transformed and the people indeed appreciated him, and that is why we are saying that he must complete his good works”, he said.

    Other party leaders who spoke at the gathering commended the lawmaker for his true representation in House of Representatives.

    They used the opportunity to urge members of the party to collect their permanent voters registration cards to enable them exercise their civic duty during the forthcoming general election.

     

  • ‘Ibadan, Jos now gemstones centres’

    THE Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has designated Ibadan and Jos as gemstone centres to harness the country’s raw gemstones.

    Its Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Olusegun Awolowo, said this yesterday at a workshop for Gemstone Miners and investors with the theme “Prospects and Investment Opportunities in the Export Development and Marketing of Gemstones in Nigeria” in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    Awolowo said gemstones earn more foreign exchange than agricultural products.

    Represented by the Director, Product Development Department of NEPC, Williams Ezeagu, Awolowo said the establishment of the two centres would boost trading in Nigerian gemstones and gemstones export value and volume; attract foreign buyers and enhance the branding of Nigeria for an international ethical trade fair certification for Nigerian gemstones.

    “For example, it was projected in 2010 that Nigeria will have to export one million tonnes of coal to earn $3million while it needs to export less than five tonnes within the same period of top quality gemstone to earn about $200million, if properly developed. Therefore, Nigeria’s gemstones are capable of earning more foreign exchange than agricultural products.”

     

  • Controversial union election at IBADAN POLY

    Students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan (IBADAN POLY) have elected officers into the Students’ Union Government (SUG). The election, held penultimate Thursday, lasted for four hours. Polling centres were opened at each faculty to enable students participated fully.

    The exercise was preceded by a rowdy manifesto on Wednesday. The election was almost marred by violence when a presidential candidate learnt there was massive thumb-printing at the north campus.

    The candidate, it was gathered, led a group of students to the campus, allegedly carrying objects such as cutlasses to disrupt the exercise. Invitation of riot policemen saved the day.

    Some complained that the development disenfranchised a lot of students from taking part in the exercise as people on queue ran for safety.

    The counting of votes went into the midnight but Sanyaolu Raji, an engineering student, was pronounced winner as the president-elect after the electoral committee released the results. Students rejected the results, saying the management purposely installed Sanyaolu to pacify engineering students, who threatened to block to foment chaos in the school should their candidate lose.

    A school security officer, who did not give his name, said management had already gauged the situation and knew there would be disagreement, which was why the policemen were invited to prevent possible disturbance that may arise from the election.

    A student of Office Technology Management, Morenike Ajayi, said: “Engineering students did not allow many of us to vote. We saw a group of furious students marching towards the polling centre and everybody ran for dear lives.”

    Three students, CAMPUSLIFE gathered, were injured in the stampede resulting from invasion of the polling centre by the cutlass-bearing students.

     

  • Day of sorrow in Ibadan

    Day of sorrow in Ibadan

    Many families were thrown into mourning in Ibadan at the weekend when a big fire engulfed Molete in the Oyo State capital, killing many people and destroying millions of naira worth of properties. OSEHEYE OKWUOFU reports.

    Saturday October 11, 2014 was a day not a few in Ibadan, particularly residents and traders around the Molete area of the Oyo State capital would want to remember again. It was a day of sorrow, tears and blood.

    Though the day opened for many with much hope and progressed peacefully, it ended tragically at Molete about 9.15 pm when the driver of a tanker loaded with 33,000 litres of petrol lost control of the truck, when the brake failed and crashed into some other vehicles on its way before eventually failing on its side.

    The petrol gushed out of the tanker, flowing like a river into the channels and gutters until it was eventually ignited by fire from a woman frying beans cake (Akara) by the road side. And in a jiffy, the fire, according to an eyewitness account, covered the entire area with flames and thick smoke like a wide blanket.

    Mr Lekan Fowowe, a trader in the area was full of thanks to God that his one-storey building inherited from his late father was not destroyed by the Saturday night inferno. But that was not the case with scores of others who were seriously affected by the fire.  And for the relatives of the victims, it was sorrow, agony and pains of losing their loved ones.

    The victims who were mostly traders did not have any premonition that such a tragedy that would lead to their untimely death would happen that fateful night.  They were busy selling and buying on the ever busy Molete area, beside the road when the ill fated petrol tanker fell and discharged its content on the road.

    A source said no fewer than 17 people were roasted to death while scores of others sustained varying degree of severe burns. Two commercial buses picking passengers at a nearby bus stop were caught in the web, killing the occupants, while about 20 vehicles and 15 motor cycles (okada)  were burnt to ashes. Several shops and makeshift stalls were also affected.

    Tajudeen Adeogun , a relation of one of the dead, Mosunmola Akeem, was full of grief and sadness over the sudden death of a dear sister.

    The deceased was a hawker of household items on the road when she met her untimely death. A source added that Mosunmola was burnt beyond recognition and that she was among the bodies evacuated by government ambulances to the mortuary.

    When asked about his relationship with the deceased, Adeogun said” I am a son to the deceased elder brother who lived at Idi-Arere area of Ibadan. Mosun hawked items like matches, Ball pen, cigarette, and mirrors. That’s what she was selling, the proceeds of which she used to manage her home and cared for her two children. The father of the two little children is a commercial driver… (he then burst into tears)”.

    At the other side of the road where a mechanic workshop was situated, was the burnt body of a middle aged man that was burnt beyond recognition. The body was lying covered with a black nylon when The Nation visited the scene of horror on Sunday morning.

    Investigation revealed that the deceased was found faced down the next day with nothing on him that could be used to identify him.

    Many people thronged the area to catch a glimpse of the body until policemen began to chase them away and condoned off the whole area. Still, the people found the top of Molete flyover as another safe place to watch the scene of the fire outbreak. Scores of onlookers lined the flyover to have an aerial view.

    A resident of the area, Mr Saheed Amidu, a technician who spoke with The Nation narrated how many people were helped to escape unhurt from the inferno by some elders in the area who used force to drive away some people who attempted to scoop fuel from the tanker.

    “The number of deaths would have been over 200 or more if we did not drive people especially these Area Boys who came with Jerry cans to fetch fuel from the gutters here. Everywhere was like a river when the fuel poured out from the tanker. I don’t know what is wrong with our people. They saw what happened in other places to people who fetched petrol from burst pipeline and how they were roasted yet our people will not learn. We thank God that we used force on them if not they would have been dead by now.  Some of us were shouting on them to leave the place, leave this place there could be fire, and not up to 15 minutes after everywhere was covered by thick smoke and flames. In spite of what happened, we still have opportunity to thank God that many were saved. “

    He stated that most of the people who died from the fire came from far distance to trade there because they know that Molete Roundabout is a busy place and was formerly a big market before the governor asked them to move to the newly built Scout Camp market.

    “But our people are very stubborn, some moved but some refused to move from here. Majority of those that died were road side traders “, he added.

    The state governor, Abiola Ajimobi paid an emergency visit to the scene of the fire incident the next morning to commiserate with the families of those who were burnt to death, praying that God will grant the repose of their souls.

    Governor Ajimobi, who arrived the venue at about 8 in the morning, was visibly shaken by the gory sight.  Accompanied by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kola Sodipo, he was conducted round the scene of the inferno.

    Immediately the governor ordered that a crane should be brought to take away the carcass of the tanker which had crossed the road and obstructing traffic flow.

    While speaking with journalists, Ajimobi commiserated with the families of the dead and enjoined them to take solace in the fact that death will come when it will.

    He said that many who sought to take political advantage out of his administration’s genuine love for the people of the state, especially traders who traded on the streets, must have seen the danger of politicizing genuine government policies.

    “As I came here this morning, gentlemen of the press, you yourselves could hear statements from the crowd that gathered here. They kept shouting ‘And Ajimobi had warned us off street trading o!’ The problem we have is that politicians seek to profit from the lives of the people. Our administration has genuine love at heart for our people. This is manifesting itself gradually and our people themselves can see that love,” he said.

    The governor was told that the bulk of those who lost their lives were traders who refused to move to the nearby Scout Camp market which had over a thousand stalls with modern conveniences constructed by the state government and given to the traders free.

    “I sympathize with the dead and their families. This will show our love for the people of the state in our desire to stop street trading. I learnt that a few days ago, another trailer veered off the road at Mobil area and hit the MTN building. If it had been before now when street traders gathered at the Mobil area, I imagine the number of casualties we would have been talking about,” he said.

    According to him, government had seen through the hazards posed by street trading, stating that it was why the state government made it a kernel of its urban renewal exercise.

    “Apart from vehicles that skid off the road killing our people, high tension wires also get cut and kill our people selling their wares by the road sides. Our people should not listen to evil politicians who mislead them. They should support us to fight the menace of street trading. We love our people genuinely by asking them to leave the road and we will not allow evil politicians to profit from this genuine love by misleading our people,” he said.

     

  • In Ibadan, beautification is serious business

    Beautiful sceneries are emerging daily in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital to replace old, filthy sites that formerly characterized the city as one of the dirtiest in the country, writes BISI OLADELE

    Beautified roundabouts, walkways, mini parks, modern water fountains and street lights, among others are fast becoming the yardsticks redefining the once rustic city of Ibadan.

    The city surrounded by seven hills, according to the renowned poet, John Pepper Clark, is the largest in sub-Saharan Africa. It boasts of over five million people, foremost institutions, research institutes and media organizations. The key organizations, some of which have acquired the status of national monuments and the city’s central location have always marked Ibadan out in the entire country.

    But filthy environment characterized by dumb sites along main roads and dirty drainages had made the same city infamous for decades.

    However, the filthy sites have since given way to beautiful sceneries due to the efforts of the Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration to change the view and rewrite the city’s profile.

    Today, a move around Ibadan would offer insights to the efforts of the state government since January, 2012. Beautification has become a core aspect of the government’s urban renewal project which is attracting more people to the city for business and other purposes. While green sites add to the allure of the environment at daytime, well-illuminated roundabouts and sites glitter in the night to beautify the city.

    The major firm handling the beautification project, Ershaw Limited, has been busier than any other firm working for the Ajimobi administration since January, 2012.

    It has worked on sites including the Agodi Government House Park, Parliament Road to Mokola Roundabout, Gate, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (old) Toll Gate where a mural design on the rock-fence embankment and the inscription, “welcome to Ibadan” as well as the uplifted approach and green ambience seemed to tell those entering the historical city of the “new development and complete renewal” of Ibadan.

    The company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Arc. Olumide Eso, described the project as laudable as it elevates Ibadan from the abyss to a true city.

    The permeable blocks on the State High Court embankment at Ring Road remind one of how grass used to overgrow the place few years ago while the Gangan drum icons at the some of the roundabouts along the axis speak of the state’s rich cultural heritage. Another highlight at Ring Road, which Eso said highlighted the wholesomeness of the beautification package, is the customized branded container, which he said would be allocated to former roadside traders.

    One of the affected traders who said she used to sell her wares opposite the Mobil Filling Station around Oluyole Area of the city, Mrs Ajoke Lawal, commended the government’s effort on the branded containers, saying they would ease the pressure off the displaced traders; some of who she said had nowhere to go.

    At different areas of the city such as Ojoo, Yemetu, Challenge and Bodija, among others, the construction and branding of bus stop sheds have given beauty to the city’s landscape as well as provide succour for motorists and pedestrians.

    Apart from the branded bus stops, the drastic change at Gate, where the median that used to be home to sellers of different items has given way to a beautiful green area, is a mark of the good effort. Not only are the median and sidewalks wearing a new look, many residents expressed disbelief at the success of the beautification.

    Eso disclosed that Oyo State was voted the “Most Improved State in Nigeria at the 2013 Environmental Summit” for its urban renewal programme.

    He said this was made possible because of the government’s commitment to the programme and “the ingenuity of Ershaw’s holistic approach and design strategies of incorporating the beautification and greening of roads, interchanges and medians.”

    Relating the company’s experience on the field, Eso said his company met resistance from the former occupants of most of the beautification sites, pointing out that it took a little while for them to overcome the resistance.

    ”Though the Ministry of Environment handled the demolition of the sites we wanted to beautify, there was stiff resistance from the occupants when we moved to sites in some of the places. At a point, the ministry provided us with YES-O cadets who provided security.

    “But soon after the beautification efforts were completed, there was a change of attitude from most of the former occupants. Some of them commended the transformation, especially with the building of Customised Branded Containers at Ring Road, to house traders who were once by the roadside. The advantage of the containers is that they are movable, so the government can take them to anywhere it wants.”

    On whether the project was well-funded, he said: “In terms of funding, the state government’s commitment to the project was 100 per cent as it funded the project in order for us to achieve the desired goal of renewing and transforming the landscape of Ibadan.”

    A few of the residents who spoke to The Nation on beautification of the city commended government for the project. They said the sites give Ibadan a much better look and enhance the beauty of the environment.