The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ibikunle Amosun

  • Understanding Ogun APC crisis

    SIR: I have lived in Ogun State since 1977 even though I am from Imo State. I can claim to know about the politics of the region as much as that of the South-east. Besides, I am a student of politics and history.

    At the heart of the crisis in the Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is the fear of election. I do not think the problem is strictly between the incumbent governor, Ibikunle Amosun and former governor, Olusegun Osoba. This is because, at every public forum that I’m aware of, the governor has always acknowledged Osoba as leader of the party, although by virtue of the APC constitution, the governor should be the leader. Equally, the former governor has spoken of the unprecedented achievements of the current governor. So the re-election of Amosun is not under any threat just as the position of Osoba as the party leader is not challenged.

    All over the world, there are tendencies within political parties and members usually gravitate towards one party chieftain or the other. But the current problem in Ogun is that current members of the National Assembly from the state want to retain their position in 2015. They gravitate towards Osoba and, from all indications, have his support. However, there are other aspirants who believe the NASS members have performed below expectation and therefore must be replaced. These aspirants claim they have the sympathies of Amosun.

    But from what I gathered authoritatively, Amosun has not supported anyone for any slot. What he wants is a level-playing field where the current elected office holders, including himself can contest against other aspirants within the party. This is the crux of the matter. The incumbent office holders don’t want election but selection.

    All the talk about parallel ward congress on April 5 is a lie because a few days before the election, Osoba and Amosun worked together and also they jointly monitored the election. It was an open contest, free and fair. But since the loyalists of the NASS members did not have the upper hand, the talk of division and parallel congress began to rent the airwaves. Till date, nobody has been able to tell us the exact location of any parallel ward congress in Ogun on April 5.

    The current talk of non-forgiveness, non-harmonisation, and non-reconciliation is unhelpful to the cause of democracy and internal democracy within political parties, except, of course, this people all along had “hidden agenda”. Unforgiveness is neither in the Bible nor Koran.

    Then people should stop name-dropping. The real Awoists are those who do what Awo did or stood for. If you love with your heart the masses, declare free education, revive agriculture, including farm settlements, construct durable roads and bridges, declare free health, provide security of lives and property, etc. then you are the true Awoist, and the majority of Yoruba will always support such a person, come rain come sunshine. It does not matter whether you ate with Awo, slept on the same bed with him during his life-time or not.

    All lovers of democracy should accept elections, go for primaries. The losers should congratulate the winners and vice versa, because in a contest between members of the same family – as Amosun was quoted to have said recently – ‘there are no victors, no vanquished.”

    • James Ikechukwu

    Owerri

     

  • Ogun school pupils pray for abducted girls

    Ogun school pupils pray for abducted girls

    Thousands of school pupils from the 20 local government areas of Ogun State prayed fervently yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital, for the release of the over 200 abducted Chibok school girls.

    The girls were seized in their hostels and taken away by their captors on April 15. They have not been found.

    But yesterday, in a special inter-denominational service tagged, “Prayerful Children’s Day,” observed at the MKO Abiola Stadium, pupils from primary and secondary schools interceded for the Chibok girls, asking God to touch the hearts of their abductors. Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s wife, Olufunso encouraged the children to do more intercessory prayers for the Chibok girls, adding that saying the solemn prayer was a way of identifying with them.

    The pupils pleaded with God to intervene in the plight of the Chibok girls and for  protection from the growing acts of terrorism in the country. Some of their prayer-points, which were inscribed on placards, read: “Save us from terrorism in Nigeria”;  “Save us from insecurity in Nigeria so that we can be good children to our parents and country.”

    Also, Christian and Muslim clerics prayed God to soften the hearts of the insurgents and release the girls. In his address, Amosun appealed to the insurgents to release the girls.

    He noted that the activities of Boko Haram sect were at variance with the doctrines of any religion, saying violence will not bring anything good.

    Amosun said: “Nothing can ever be resolved with killing innocent souls. Hence we have set aside today to pray for the over 200 girls that were abducted 43 days ago. We have decided that today will not be for fanfare. We thank God that we are here today to offer our prayers. We cannot be celebrating knowing those girls are away from their parents; only God knows what is happening to them.”

    The governor, who assured students of their safety and welfare in the state, advised them not to indulge in acts that could dent their image.

  • Industrialising Ogun State

    As Ogun State prepares to host its second Investors Forum between 21st and 22nd May, 2014, I believe so strongly that there is need to give the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration a pat on the back for the manner it is going about fulfilling its avowed electoral promise of industrialisation and employment generation for residents.

    The watchword of the state government is a picture of the fact that, ‘if you keep doing things the same way, you will keep getting the same result.’

    Hence, its approach to governance in the last three years has brought about several laurels and awards both locally and internationally, including the fastest growing economy in Nigeria, the architect of the new Ogun as well as consecutively adjudged the most secured state in the country.

    The provision of security of lives and properties, which is a duty of government, is paramount in changing the economic face of a state or nation.

    Even President Goodluck Jonathan last year referred to Governor Ibikunle Amosun as ‘a hardworing governor’ at the inauguration of a mega company. He also once said Ogun is the only place he had visited most, not for fun fare, but for inauguration of multi-national companies.

    Speaking at the opening of the United States’ largest investment in Nigeria, Procter and Gamble, located at Agbara, Ogun State, which is expected to provide 2,000 direct and indirect jobs, President Jonathan affirmed that ‘Ogun is the most industrialised state in Nigeria.’

    It is pleasant to note that this was the 43rd mega company to arrive the Gateway State in less than three years. So, I’m not surprised that the up and doing Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Abimbola Ashiru, also pointed out that nineteen more companies had concluded arrangements to start business in the state this year.

    It is no news that the current administration at inception held an investors’ forum to attract investors as well as breakfast meeting with investors with the governor in attendance and captains of industry while a routine visit to various companies across the state as a way of sustaining the good rapports is on-going.

    This year’s edition, as stated by the government, would be an avenue to showcase the comparative advantage the Gateway State has over others in Agriculture.

    It is no news that Ogun is the highest producer of cassava in the country aside the fact that its soil is one of the best for cocoa, cotton, rubber and several other cash crops.

    Investors from several parts of the country and beyond would converge on Abeokuta, the state capital, see the opportunities that abound in doing agricultural business in the Gateway State.

    As a way of encouraging corporate organisations and individuals to keep up the tempo, a few days ago, the state government honoured faithful tax payers at both corporate and individual levels and assured that it will not relent in using taxes judiciously on laudable projects.

    Apart from creating a secure, enabling environment for business to thrive, “the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration has aggressively transformed the ancient Gateway State from the 19th Century to 21st Century.’’ These were the words of Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo during the opening of the state’s first flyover on 24th January, 2014.

    Today, flyover is no longer strange to us in Ogun. It has now berthed in Sagamu, Ijebu Ode Expressway, Ijebu-Ode town, Sapon and Itoku areas of Abeokuta while three are also being constructed on the 32km Sango-Akute-Ojodu road under construction. Road construction projects are also on-going in Ayetoro town, 107km Ilara-Ijoun-Oja/Odan-Tombolo, as well as Ilisan/Ago-Iwoye Road, Mowe-Ofada road, Magboro Road, Channels Television Road, among others.

    These, no doubt, are strange feats to the state which used to be at the centre of uproar and crisis. However, unemployment is one of the major problems bedevilling the Nigerian nation. And one lasting dividend of democracy that could be given to the man on the street is job opportunity.

    Unfortunately, our practice in Nigeria is more of giving the masses fish to eat rather than teach them fishing. An idle man, they say, is the devil’s workshop.

    The Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, in The Report Nigeria 2013, Page 43, a publication of Oxford Business Group, pointed out that, ‘unemployment is at 23.9% with youth unemployment at around 37%. In the north-east of the country, where Boko Haram thrives, unemployment is worse, reaching 35% in Yobe and Adamawa.’

    If concerted efforts are in place at all levels of government to engage people in productive service, our country would in no distant time become a ‘Mecca’ for all to visit.

     

    Femi Onasanya

    Abeokuta, Ogun State

  • Fathers of the Bride

    Fathers of the Bride

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has in recent months had the pleasurable duty of giving out a succession of his children’s hands in marriage. Perhaps the assignment is beginning to take it toll-requiring him to seek a little assistance. Here he is joined by the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (left), to lead Obasanjo’s daughter, Oludamilola to the altar during her wedding held at Chapel of Christ the Glorious King, Abeokuta yesterday.

  • Amosun inaugurates health insurance scheme

    Amosun inaugurates health insurance scheme

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun inaugurated yesterday the state’s Community-Based Health Insurance Scheme (CBHIS), Araya, and the second phase of the conditional cash transfer, Gbomoro, to increase access to affordable and sustainable health care.

    Amosun said since the inception of his administration 35 months ago, he had wanted to rebuild the health care system, adding that a five-cardinal programme was drawn to facilitate an efficient health care delivery system.

    He said health care delivery, especially Primary Health Care (PHC), had been weakened by many factors over the years, adding that it lacked skilled workers, equipment, drugs and good structures.

    Amosun said expectant mothers, children under five years and people aged 70 years and above belong to the vulnerable group and will not pay any money to be on the scheme, adding that the government’s subsidy would cover each enrollee’s N5,000 registration fee.

    He said people between five and 69 years will pay N4,000 out of the N7,000 needed to be on the scheme and the government will pay the balance.

    The governor said the objective of Gbomoro was to increase access to basic health care by expectant mothers.

    Under the initiative, he said cash would be given to vulnerable expectant mothers to access health services at selected facilities, adding: “Expectant mothers who are qualified to benefit from this special project within the Araya Scheme will be given a mobile telephone to enable them keep in touch with health workers in case of emergencies.”

    Amosun said beneficiaries would get stipends for transportation on every ante-natal visit to the facilities.

    They will get “Mama kits” and money for their babies’ upkeep and post-natal visits will be rewarded whenever they bring the babies for the first four immunisations.

    The governor said CBHIS was designed to provide financial protection against illness and improve access to quality health services for those excluded from the formal insurance.

    He said the state was concentrating more on preventive health care and renovating primary health care facilities.

    Amosun said: “New ones are being built and equipped with necessary drugs, equipment and relevant staff. The personnel undergo training and retraining on a regular basis to keep abreast with modern medical development. This is because we believe our PHC facilities are closer to the grassroots and we need to enhance our referral system from primary to tertiary levels of care.”

    He said model medium hospitals would be built in the nine federal constituencies and the first one had been completed in Abeokuta.

    Amosun said medical equipment worth about N320 million had been imported and distributed to secondary health care facilities.

  • Ogun APC : No victors, no vanquished, says Amosun

    Ogun APC : No victors, no vanquished, says Amosun

    •Lauds Osoba’s  support

    Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has called on members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to unite to overcome the challenges ahead.

    He noting that its month-long congresses have produced “no victors, no vanquished.”

    Amosun said those who won should be magnanimous in victory while those that lost should take it in their strides.

    He spoke yesterday at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta at the end of the State congress of the party, which was monitored by 12 officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from the state and federal levels.

    He said the congresses in Ogun APC had proved “free and fair elections are possible in Nigeria if we all abide by the rules”.

    The governor added: “One thing we should all take away from the conduct of our congresses is that there was no overt or covert attempt to impose candidates or disenfranchise anyone.

    “The exercises were conducted in a peaceful atmosphere and all electors exercised their right of franchise without let or hindrance”.

    He explained that the National Secretariat of the party had provided in the Congress Guidelines opportunities for petitions and redress and that “some members of our party actually utilised the avenues.”

    Commenting on the protests that nearly marred the sitting of the Appeal Panel last Wednesday, Amosun said such was not totally unacceptable in politics. “Once people don’t take laws into their own hands, then all is well and good.”

    He stated further that with the overwhelming endorsement of the April 5 and 12 Ward and Local Government Congresses by the APC Appeal Panel and the success recorded in the State Congress, members should now sink their differences and come together as one family.

    “Yes, tendencies are common to party politics all over the world. But once the process has run its full course, party faithful should come together in the interest of the party,” Amosun argued.

    “I spoke with our party leader, Olusegun Osoba, this morning and we shall continue to work together so that we can face the next elections as a united body,” he added.

    The state’s helmsman lauded the leadership of the party at the national and state levels on the credible polls and urged party faithful to sustain the positive momentum so that APC can win a landslide in the general elections.

    Amosun thanked the people of Ogun for their unflinching support and abiding faith in the party and his administration, adding that his government would continue to justify the confidence reposed in it.

    Chairman of the State Congress Committee, Hon Ope Salami, commended the efforts of the rank and file of the party towards successful congresses.

     

     

    He acknowledged a few hitches in the exercises but said they were not enough to invalidate them.

    The National Secretariat of the party, he said, scored the congresses very highly.

  • Please, tar Ilogbo Road

    Please, tar Ilogbo Road

    I MUST first commend the Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, for his efforts to give the state a new lease of life.

    He has been constructing and reconstructing roads in the state. The state is certainly on the path to greatness through the efforts of this great governor.

    But as I praise him for hard work, I am also begging him to tar Ilogbo Road, which is less than 10 kilometres.

    Please, my good governor, do this for us to banish hardships from the lives of the residents of the area.

    Major Ajayi (rtd),

    Ilogbo Road,

    Abudu, Ogun State.

  • ‘Be religious tolerant’

    ‘Be religious tolerant’

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and the Awujale of Ijebu, Oba Sikiru Adetona, have advised Nigerians to be religious tolerant.

    They described religious tolerance as the solution to several challenges facing Nigeria.

    The duo spoke at the installation of the Chief Imam of Ijebu, Imam Abdur-Rasaq Ishola Salaudeen.

    Amosun said the people have been enjoying peace and that was why Christians were present at the ceremony.

    He urged Salaudeen to use his office to harmonise the people, regardless of religion or ethnic affiliation.

    The governor added that his administration will continue to support religious and traditional rulers.

     

  • Senate seeks Ogun’s support on power reform

    Senate seeks Ogun’s support on power reform

    The Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation has solicited the support and cooperation of the Ogun State government to stop revenue leakages at the Federal Government-owned Olorunsogo Power plant located in the state.

    Chairman of the Committee Senator Gbenga Obadara made the appeal when the committee members visited Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

    Obadara, who represents Ogun Central, said revenue leakages and corruption were the major factors responsible for the failure in the power sector, adding that it would take the commitment of all stakeholders to reverse the trend.

    He said the committee was visiting federal parastatals across the country to block revenue leakages and ensure maximum productivity and efficiency.

    Obadara expressed optimism that if effectively reformed, the unbundling of the power sector would be worthwhile and successful, adding: “This visit gives us the opportunity to meet with you and the management of the Olorunsogo Power Plant. Yesterday, we visited the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) to charge them to increase revenue drive at the ports because we know they are capable of raking in more revenue for the nation than they are doing.

    “The aim of the committee is to tackle the generation of peanuts by government parastatals, despite their potentials to do more. If only the nation can generate 50 per cent of the power needed, the country would be better for it. We believe we can count on you as to achieve good result.”

    Amosun said it was worrisome that after many years of independence, Nigeria is still struggling to have uninterrupted power supply while other less-endowed countries have stable supply.

    He said constant power supply was key to the survival of the country’s manufacturing sector and the revamping of moribund companies.

    Describing the privatisation of the power sector as “a step in the right direction”, Amosun said the initiative must be pursued tenaciously to achieve the desired result.

  • Ogun APC Ward Congress: Beacon of hope

    Ogun APC Ward Congress: Beacon of hope

    SIR: Permit me to use this medium to congratulate the Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for holding a successful Ward Congress on Saturday, April 5. That exercise, by all accounts, ranks among the best in the annals of party politics in Nigeria. It was not only peaceful but inclusive and the turn-out impressive.

    Both the leader of the party, Chief Olusegun Osoba and the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, jointly monitored the exercise, thus giving the lie to the rumour of division within the state APC. Of course, no one expected a 100 per cent success in any election – without one or two hitches. And I believe the governor underscored the essence of sincerity after last Saturday’s Local Government Congress in explaining this human phenomenon.

    Amosun was reported in the papers to have said thus: “Whatever minor hitches witnessed in the conduct of the poll could only be “because we are human, not angels. The good thing is that there was no deliberate action on the part of the officials to disenfranchise anyone. All tendencies in the party were fully represented. Either as winners or losers in the Congress of today, we are all one in APC.  Our goal is one, so is our aspiration in Ogun APC.”

    It is however sad to read of deliberate distortion of  the Ward Congress in one or two papers. It is one thing to understate or exaggerate an event that happened but when some writers manufacture an event that never took place, then they act against public interest. Such amounts to gross misconduct and the public should be wary of accepting hook, line and sinker reports they themselves know could be improbable or fly in the face of realities and accounts of other sources.

    Just like the governor, I was shocked to read in two papers “that parallel congresses were held in all the 236 wards in Ogun State.” This is comprehensive falsehood. It never happened. Not one parallel ward congress was held throughout Ogun on that fateful day.

    Let me quote the reaction of Amosun to this lie:  “How can this be true? We are all witnesses to what happened last Saturday. Except in a few wards where unavoidable change of venue led to some justifiable complaints, which were immediately redressed by our party leader, Chief Osoba, after which the exercise went on smoothly, where on earth did we witness parallel congresses, as reported in some papers?” the governor had asked rhetorically.

    I declare that the APC Ward Congress held on Saturday, April 5, remains a landmark in the annals of Nigeria and is therefore a beacon of hope for all lovers of democracy. The ward congress is the foundation of all other congresses. It is like the foundation of a house. Once the foundation is strong, the house will be strong.

    Congratulations to Ogun APC, its leaders at the state and national levels and all lovers of democracy in Nigeria.

    • Soyombo Opeyemi

    Abeokuta