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Tag: Ibikunle Amosun

  • Amosun, Akande preach violence – free polls

    Amosun, Akande preach violence – free polls

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun yesterday urged Nigerians, particularly politicians and their supporters in Ogun State to shun acts capable of throwing the state into violence before, during and after the forthcoming 2015 general elections.

    Amosun, who addressed over 3,000 Muslim faithful, including governorship aspirant on the platform of the Labour Party(LP), Alh. Tunji Sarafa, and State Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Alh. Semiu Sodipo, among others, that converged at the Lantoro – Abeokuta Yidi ground for the Sallah prayer, said “violence profits nobody and even hinders genuine development.”

    According to him, it is only in an atmosphere of peace and harmony can a people prosper in their legitimate businesses.

    Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mulikat Adeola- Akande, urged women in Ogun and other Southwest states to restrain their children and wards from being used by unscrupulous politicians to perpetrate violence in the region.

    Adeola- Akande said nobody profits in an atmosphere of violence and chaos, warning that whenever violence erupts, it leads to needless loss of lives and destruction of property.

    The federal lawmaker representing Ogbomoso North, South and Orire, Oyo State spoke in Abeokuta last week during the empowerment of 100 women members of the PDP Ogun State chapter.

    According to her, since women are the mothers of the youths, they would be doing themselves and Southwest region a whole lot of good if they could prevail on them to shun been used for political violence.

     

  • Amosun urges women to address nation’s woes

    Amosun urges women to address nation’s woes

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has challenged women to be proactive and address the negative situation in the country.

    He gave the advice yesterday at the opening of the Women Conference organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials(COWLSO) at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island.

    He said the theme of the conference: “Embracing and Managing Change”, was very apt considering the challenges facing the country.

    The governor said: “The three key questions that we political office holders and members of the wider family should ask are as follows: Is what I am doing still working? Is it relevant? Am I expanding my post and sphere of influence? If one can answer positively to these questions, then he has passed life’s most important examination”.

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola called for more policies protecting women and children to be institutionalised.

    Fashola said the government would not relent in promoting policies that protect the rights of women and children.

    He reiterated his administration’s commitment to providing an enabling environment for women to thrive in all endeavours.

    COWLSO Chairperson and wife of Lagos State Governor Mrs. Abimbola Fashola said the organisation would continue to sustain its live changing projects for the youths, the less privileged and the elderly

  • Monarchs hail Amosun’s ‘rebuilding mission’

    Monarchs hail Amosun’s ‘rebuilding mission’

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun said yesterday that his administration has laid a solid foundation for the “aggressive urbanisation” of rural areas.

    Amosun spoke in Imeko, Imeko-Afon Local Government Area, at the start of his official assessment tour to the 20 local governments yesterday.

    Traditional rulers and opinion leaders from the area  called for the continuity of his “rebuilding mission”.

    The monarchs and leaders of thoughts, including the renowned historian, Prof. Anthony Asiwaju, lauded Amosun for turning their hitherto over 100 rural communities and villages into towns; making them accessible and interlinked through building roads networks.

    The traditional rulers, who included the Onimeko of Imeko, Oba Benjamin Oyekan; the Ooye of Iwoye – Ketu, Oba Joel Alaye; Onidofa of Idofa, Oba David Adeyanju; Oloola of Ilaraland, Oba Samuel Adeluyi; Obaladi of Afonland, Oba Busari Adetona; the 40 Baales and Prof. Asiwaju, said the governor and his administration would continue to enjoy their support.

    Oyekan said: “Although, Imeko- Afon is known to be a virgin land but for how long would a maiden remain a virgin?

    “Imeko – Afon wants your administration to marry her. Our land is ready for a manly administration like yours to come.”

    Addressing the people who had converged on the Ansar-ud-Deen Primary School to receive him, Amosun said he was at the council to know how his administration’s programmes and policies have fared.

    He appealed to all parties contesting next year’s elections to ensure that they and their supporters do not engage in violence.

    The Council Chairman, Tajudeen Ayelara, thanked the governor for “paying genuine attention to the plight of Imeko people”.

    Ayelara pledged that he and the Imeko people would continue to support the Amosun-led administration because for its people-oriented projects and achievements.

  • Amosun’s aide quits APC for PDP

    Amosun’s aide quits APC for PDP

    The Special Adviser to Governor Ibikunle Amosun on Environment, Abimbola Lanre-Balogun, has  resigned her appointment, citing dissatisfaction with Amosun’s style of governance.

    Mrs Lanre-Balogun also said she was leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

    The governor’s former aide said she resigned her appointment and joined the PDP  because it has dawned on her that Amosun runs a government of what she termed: “me, myself, and my family.”

    Speaking at the PDP stakeholders’ meeting at the Goodluck Jonathan Political Centre in Ijebu-Igbo, the former Special Adviser also hinted that many top members of Amosun’s government would soon join PDP.

    She said:  “I have been in this government (Amosun’s) since inception. I was sworn in as Special Adviser on Environment precisely on the 21st of July, 2011 and we swung into action. Like I always say, I have passion for hard work. I set out to do so and began to do what God sent me to do for the good people of Ogun State.

    “I began to work day and night when I was in the Ministry of Environment. It got to a stage that the governor himself called me to the Exco to take a bow, saying, I was up to the task.”

    She noted that she was later made redundant as no more work was sent to her desk despite complaining to the governor.

    She said the governor told her that: “The position is just for me to occupy and that the people doing the work were there.” “And who were the people doing the work? Just five people – himself, his brother, his cousins and members of his family.

    “We were not given anything to do. I am a proper Ogun woman, born in Abeokuta. Both of my parents are indigenes of Abeokuta.”

    Commissioner for Information and Strategy Yusuph Olaniyonu said the government would make its position on the issue known later.

  • Facebook: Amosun faults Okada man’s arraignment

    Facebook: Amosun faults Okada man’s arraignment

    Governor  Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State  has dissociated himself from the arraignment of an Okada rider, Wasiu Ogunnoiki,  at the Sagamu Magistrate Court 1 and his subsequent remanding  in a prison custody for alleged publications on facebook.

    A Magistrate court 1 sitting in Sagamu, had on Tuesday, heard the case of Mr Wasiu Ogunnoiki (31) who was arraigned before it for engaging in an acts capable of denting the image of the governor on the facebook.

    He was accused of engaging in acts that contravened Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Code, volume II Laws of Ogun state 2006 by publishing on his facebook account that Governor Amosun demolished houses in the state without compensating affected property owners and in manners that could incite the citizens against the Governor.

    But on Wednesday, Amosun said he could not find a single correlation between the offence for which Ogunnoiki was charged and what he was  alleged to have done.

    He directed the state’s Ministry of Justice to look into matter and ensure that the man’s fundamental human rights are not further infringed upon.

    In a statement issued by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mrs Abimbola Akeredolu, Amosun noted that while his administration does not want to encourage indiscipline and abuse of rights, it will also not tolerate the infringement of rights of any citizen.

    The statement reads in part: “the attention of Ogun State Government has been drawn to a report in the newspapers stating that an Okada rider in Sagamu has been charged to court and consequently remanded in prison custody for denting Governor ibikunle Amosun’s image on Facebook.

    “I state categorically that the State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun knows absolutely nothing about the allegations levelled against the Okada rider and the court case. The governor knew about the case only after reading the report in the newspapers.

    “The governor consequently dissociate himself entirely from the any such action taken against the said Okada rider or indeed against any other person in that regard.
    Senator Amosun, being a true democrat believes that all citizens are entitled to freedom of expression as enshrined in the Constitution of Nigeria.

    “As the Chief Law Officer of the state, upon becoming aware of the report, I have examined the provisions of the law under which the Okada rider was allegedly charged to court and cannot find a single correlation between the offence for which he was charged and what he is alleged to have done.

    “Nevertheless, the Governor has immediately directed the Ministry of Justice to urgently look into the matter to prevent the infringement of the Okada rider’s fundamental rights and bring an end to his continued remand in custody.

    “While the present administration in Ogun State does not want to encourage indiscipline and abuse of rights, it will also not tolerate the infringement of rights of any citizen.”

  • Man remanded in prison for attacking Amosun on Facebook

    Man remanded in prison for attacking Amosun on Facebook

    Magistrate’s Court 1 sitting in Sagamu yesterday heard the case of Mr. Wasiu Ogunnoiki (31), who was arraigned for engaging in acts capable of denting the image of Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun on the Facebook.

    Ogunnoiki was accused of engaging in acts that contravened Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Code, Volume II Laws of Ogun State 2006 by publishing on his Facebook account that Amosun demolished houses without compensating the affected property owners and in manners that could incite the citizens against the governor.

    He was also accused of publishing photographs of All Progressives Chairman (APC) in Sagamu Local Government on his social media, claiming that the man, in conjunction with members of the Labour Party (LP), have concluded plans to sack Amosun from office before and in 2015 general elections.

    Ogunnoiki, who is believed to be a commercial motorcycle rider, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge brought against him.

    Chief Magistrate O.O Ojo granted the accused bail bond of N400, 000 with two sureties in like sum and who must also reside within the court’s jurisdiction in addition to holding a landed property in the state.

    The matter was adjourned till December 5th.

    But he was remanded in prison custody pending when he meets the bail conditions attached to his application.

     

  • Amosun advises ICPC on ‘dubious politicians’

    Amosun advises ICPC on ‘dubious politicians’

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has advised the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to be wary of “dubious and unpatriotic politicians,” who are desperate for elective positions.

    He noted that such politicians would want to seek mischievous means to entrap their opponents through false financial reports and allegations to achieve their selfish ends.

    The governor gave the advice when a delegation of the ICPC visited him in his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

    Amosun said as the electioneering period approaches, the commission would be inundated with dubious and ill-founded financial reports from desperate politicians targetted at dissuading the commission and even mislead the people.

    “Though I am a politician, I would rather prefer to be remembered as a reputable elder statesman with indelible footprints,” he said, adding that he would not subscribe to the “politics of fallacy.”

    The governor praised the commission for its planned construction of its first office in the state before the end of the year and promised that his administration would “always continue to be in tune with the rules and regulation of ICPC.”

    He acknowledged the collaboration and cordial relationship that exists between the commission and the state.

    Leader of the ICPC delegation and member (South West), Prof. Olu Aina, who represented the ICPC Chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta, described the visit as an attempt to refocus the mission of the commission and also meet with the governor to facilitate the location of an office before the end of the year as Ogun, like Ondo and Ekiti states don’t have ICPC offices.

    Aina also praised the state government for its achievements, noting that it was providing “quality service.”

     

     

  • I’m not competing with Osoba – Amosun

    I’m not competing with Osoba – Amosun

    Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, on Friday said he would do everything within his power to settle the rift between him and the state former governor, Chief Segun Osoba.

    He also appealed to the elders and people of Ogun State to help him beg the ex – governor for forgiveness if he has done anything wrong.

    Amosun said he is neither in “competition with Osoba” whom he called his “leader” or anybody, adding that he would continue to accord him utmost respect.

    The Governor, who spoke during a live programme of the Abeokuta – based Rock-City 101.9 FM radio station and monitored by The Nation, said the office of governor is temporary, adding that he has come to develop the state and then leave a legacy that would outlive him.

    According to Amosun, he is not ignorant of the fact that no politician would want to go into the general election with a divided house or in atmosphere of division and acrimony as such rarely profit anybody.

    He said the state’s  debt profile which stood at about N40 billion last month has crashed to N36 billion, saying Ogun is not owing N300 billion as reported by “mischievous persons”  who are out to put wool over the eyes of residents and friends of the state.

    He said: “The opposition said we have borrowed over N300 billion to finance our projects, they are just liars, no bank in Nigeria can lend any government more than N25 billion. What they don’t know is we have increased our Internally Generated Revenue to more than N5 billion monthly from the N730 million we met.”

     

     

  • Amosun advises corps members

    Amosun advises corps members

    OGUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has urged corps members to embark on community development projects to impact positively on the lives of residents of their places of assignments.

    He gave the advice yesterday at the closing ceremony and terminal parade of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) 2014 Batch B Orientation Course at Sagamu.

    The governor urged them to shun and discourage any act of violence that could put them in disrepute as leaders of tomorrow.

    He added that they should strive to be partners in progress in their communities.

    Amosun said the corps members should “keep the scheme’s flag flying in their quest for new grounds without attempting to drop the ball.”

    He urged the corps members to move and relate freely with their host communities and share the hopes as well as the aspirations of the people.

    “I want to congratulate you on the successful completion of the rigorous and captivating three-week orientation course. This one year of compulsory national service is a time your God-given talents and energy would be fully stretched from time-to-time.

    “Make sure you contribute your quota through selfless service to your host communities. I charge you to keep the flag flying and possibly, strive to break new grounds. Come up with ground-breaking community development projects that will impact positively on their lives.

    “As good ambassadors of the country to your various locations where you will spend the next one year, apply caution in your activities. Shun violence and discourage any act that can truncate the peace being enjoyed in the state,” Amosun added.

    The governor reiterated that the state’s board of the NYSC, which has been inaugurated, would see to the welfare of the corps members and strengthen the existing structure.

    He promised openness in partnering any willing individuals or organisations in the efforts to maintain the security of lives and property.

  • Amosun, others for Egba awards

    Amosun, others for Egba awards

    OGUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and four other eminent personalities will be honoured this year by the Egba National Association Inc. United States (U.S.) and Canada.

    The event, to be hosted by the Egba Descendants Association, Dallas, will hold on August 31 in Texas, U.S., at the 5th biennial convention of the association.

    The theme of the event is “Celebrating our Heritage.”

    Amosun will be honoured with the “Award of Excellence” for his “performance, leadership qualities, visionary guidance and dedicated services to the people of Ogun State.”

    Other Egba high chiefs to receive awards are: Jaguna, Chief ‘Yinka Kufile; Agba Akin, Chief Rasheed Raji – former administrator of Bauchi and Sokoto states; Asoju Oba Chief Lamidi Sofenwa and Otunbade Aje, Chief Tunji Sunmonu.

    The event is part of the three-day activities lined up to mark the association’s convention, comprising Egba and Yewa indigenes of Ogun State, who are living in the U.S. and Canada.

    The association’s National Publicity Secretary, Mrs. Adesola Abeke Ayoola, who is also the Social Secretary of Olumo Progressive Association Canada Inc, stated that the event begins on Friday, August 29.

    The award will be attended by the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, CFR, Okukenu IV and other Egba high chiefs.

    Delegates from the 17 chapters of the association are expected to attend the convention, which will include lecture and symposium, Egba-Yewa Evergreen Night, feeding the homeless, donation to Salvation Army, and award/youth night.