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Tag: Ibikunle Amosun

  • Two judges take oath in Ogun

    Two judges take oath in Ogun

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun yesterday swore-in two judges – Justices Durojaye Omolaja and Babatunde Bakre -, urging them to discharge their duties fearless.

    Amosun said: “I urge you to justify the confidence reposed in you in your new assignment, which is a call to service. I am sure you will not let us down.”

    Justice Omolaja graduated from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, and was a private legal practitioner before his appointment.

    Justice Bakre, a graduate of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, was an Abuja lawyer.

  • Things are getting better in Ogun, says Obasanjo

    Things are getting better in Ogun, says Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said “things are getting better” in Ogun State under the Governor Ibikunle Amosun administration.

    Obasanjo spoke at the weekend during the state’s Christmas Carol held at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Kuto, Abeokuta, the state capital.

    He said the administration’s massive road projects and the ongoing construction of model schools had brought landmark improvements to all local government areas.

    Obasanjo said: “Things are getting better everyday in Ogun. When I was talking of roads in Abeokuta, they said I had not been to Ijebu-Ode and Sagamu. On getting to Ijebu-Ode, I saw better bridges than those in Abeokuta. What about the ones in Ilara and Ayetoro?

    “If we have good infrastructure, business will thrive; the economy will improve and that is what you are doing across the state.”

    He expressed satisfaction with the quality of ongoing work on the model schools, saying: “When I passed through the Sango-Abeokuta road, I asked who was building a factory there and was told it was a school that was being built by the government.”

    Obasanjo cited another success of the Amosun administration as the restoration of security in the state, noting that sanity has returned to the M.K.O. Abiola Stadium in Kuto, Abeokuta.

    He said: “I remember those days here in the stadium, which is not far from my house, when all manner of lawlessness thrived, with human casualties recorded on a daily basis. We do not have that challenge anymore because the security of life and property has been given a priority.”

    Former Head of the Interim National Government Chief Ernest Shonekan also hailed the Amosun administration for ensuring peace across the state, saying: “I am happy to be around to witness the manifestation of these changes.”

    Shonekan said Ogun had always been at the forefront of providing leadership direction and bridge-building for the nation’s continued existence, urging everyone to embrace love as a virtue beyond the Christmas season.

    Amosun said all his administration achieved would have been impossible without the people’s support, adding: “We will not rest on our oars in our quest for a better Ogun”.

  • APC is on course, says Obasanjo

    APC is on course, says Obasanjo

    •Meets Buhari, Akande, Tinubu, APC governors

    •Proclaims self political father of all

    •We’re not wooing him, Tinubu explains mission to ex-president

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) got a rare endorsement yesterday from former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    He hailed the party as being on course in enhancing democracy in the country.

    He said, “As an opposition you are enhancing democracy, you are at home, you are welcome to being at home,” Chief Obasanjo told a high power delegation of the APC at a meeting at his Abeokuta residence, last night.

    On the APC train were the party’s national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, former military leader, General Muhammadu Buhari, APC national leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) as well as the interim national publicity secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Senator Bukola Saraki, former Governor of Borno State, Alimodu Sheriff and Chief Bob Effiong.

    However, Obasanjo advised his guests to play “politics without rancour, without bitterness, with decency, that has Nigeria at heart.”

    He described himself as an ‘incurable optimist about Nigeria.’

    “I am totally committed to Nigeria and nothing will divert me from that commitment,” he said.

    He said he was honoured by the visit to “come and present your party and tell me the objectives. But let me start somewhere. I am a card carrying member of the PDP but the politics I play traverses Nigeria, Africa and world in that order. I am a democrat and one of the essential ingredients of democracy is opposition, a democracy that has no opposition built into it is not a democracy.

    “In whichever party for whatever office that a person contested or aspired in Nigeria since 1999 such a person young or old man or woman can claim to be my political child and I can claim to be by virtue of political office I have held I can also claim to be political father.”

    Chief Akande who led the visiting team said they were in Abeokuta to introduce APC, its leaders and governors among others to Obasanjo.

    Akande also said the party was in support of the 18 – page open letter the former president recently wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan, adding that he (Obasanjo) acted in the best interest of the country.

    Also speaking, Tinubu told their host: “You have come out of tribulation and held the highest position in this country. We are here because of your courage .Nobody can claim that he has information more than you. You have surmounted a number of crises.

    “Nigeria is divided (now), more than before, to realise a stable Nigeria we want to encourage you to continue to speak the truth. We’re resolved and determined to rescue Nigeria, we want you as navigator.”

    Governor Okorocha who spoke for the Progressives Governors said many of them passed through him politically and that the task to rescue Nigeria from its challenges is not only for the benefit of upcoming generations but also a task that must be accomplished.

    The APC delegation started arriving Obasanjo’s mansion on Segun Osoba Hill – Top at about 5.23pm when a convoy of three jeeps carrying Chief Femi Fani – Kayode and former anti – graft Czar, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, came in.

    They were followed at 5:50pm by a convoy of over a dozen vehicles including buses. In the convoy were most of the governors, Chief Akande and Asiwaju Tinubu.

    General Mohammadu Buhari, followed six minutes later.

    Governor Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) drove in at 5.59 with ex-FCT minister, Mallam Nasir El – Rufai on the passenger seat with Governors Ajimobi and Amosun trailing them

    The APC leaders had arrived Abeokuta at around noon and met with Governor Amosun, at the Government House, Isale – Igbein, Abeokuta, strategising before proceeding to see Chief Obasanjo who had earlier in the day flown to Akure to commiserate with the chiefs and people of the town on the recent passing away of the Deji of Akure, Oba Adeniyi Adesida.

    Chief Obasanjo and the APC delegation emerged from their meeting at 7pm for a photo session with newsmen.

    The meeting ended at about 8pm with Asiwaju Tinubu telling reporters that the APC visit was not to woo Obasanjo but one borne out of “patriotism, dedication and commitment to Nigeria.”

    Tinubu said: “It is to be able to set Nigeria on the right path and for all men of goodwill to come together to rescue Nigeria. It is not a matter of wooing (him), an elder statesman.

    “Yes, he is a very unique person in his own way based upon the experience of life, tribulations one way or the other, he saw power, tribulations and then back to power. If you want to grasp the life of this man from zero to grace, zero again and then to grace. And then you will see what you get in such a person.

    “And you will need that wisdom not necessarily to join our partisan politics, but just to draw from the experience of an elder statesman.”

  • Iyalode Alaba Lawson now full of smiles

    Iyalode Alaba Lawson now full of smiles

    THE proprietress of Lawson Group of Schools, Iyalode Alaba Lawson, has bounced back. For those who remember the ebullient woman’s scores with the former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, OGD, the running battle with him is not unconnected with her alliance with the current governor, Ibikunle Amosun.

    Lawson who went on self-exile while the rancour lasted is now full of smiles and most times takes front-row seat during government functions.

  • Amosun to inaugurate homeowners’ charter

    Amosun to inaugurate homeowners’ charter

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun will next Monday inaugurate the Homeowners’ Charter in Abeokuta, the state capital.

    The Homeowners’ Charter is an intervention to ease the acquisition of building approvals from the state’s planning authority by landlords.

    Homeowners can obtain Certificates-of-Occupancy (C of O) within nine months and at discounted rates, if they apply within six weeks.

    In a statement, Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning Gbenga Otenuga said the discounts are up to 75 per cent.

    He said the Homeowners’ Charter is one of the Amosun administration’s initiatives to engender urban renewal.

    For homeowners, who may not be able to pay the required fees within six weeks, the government is collaborating with selected banks to give them loans, which would be repaid within two years.

  • ‘Sango-Ojodu road on course’

    ‘Sango-Ojodu road on course’

    Barely a month after work began on the Sango-Ijoko-Agbado-Ojodu road, Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far.

    Speaking during an inspection of the project, Amosun said: “We are on course. We are ahead of schedule on the 32km-road and by January, next year, everything would have started taking shape. With the way we are going, we will reach an appreciable level by December, next year.”

    He debunked media reports that all road projects embarked upon by his administration would be ready by next May, saying: “For example, this road, which started a month ago, is a three-year project. I know that by the time we spend 12 to 18 months, we should be done. We pray we have the wherewithal to continue to fund the project. We have made some payments and will continue to give them more as they work.”

    Amosun said majority of projects in major towns, including Abeokuta, Ota, Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode and Ayetoro, would be ready next year.

    He said: “All our flyovers would be completed by the time we celebrate the third anniversary of our administration.”

    Thanking the people for their co-operation, the governor said: “We have demolished some houses because there is no other way to do it. If we want good roads, we have to create the right of way for those roads. I am happy that a significant percentage of our people, whose houses were demolished, have collected their compensation.

    “We are concerned about building shopping malls for displaced shop owners and houses for affected house owners at heavily subsidised rates.”

  • Amosun hails HID Awolowo

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has congratulated the matriarch of the Awolowo family, Yeye Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, who clocked 98 on Monday.

    In a statement, Amosun said: “Mama Awolowo remains a source of inspiration to all, as generations upon generations continue to draw from her wealth of experience. She remains the quintessence of honesty, discipline, integrity, modesty and compassion.”

    He said despite her age, the nonagenarian has continued to harp on an egalitarian society, a nation of equity, justice and fairness.

    Amosun wished her good health and many more years.

  • Ogun monarch hails road expansion

    Ogun monarch hails road expansion

    A traditional ruler in Ogun State, Oba Adedayo Shyllon Sogbulu, has said the ongoing expansion of the link road from Sango to Berger by the government will boost economic activities.

    He pleaded with residents to support the initiative, adding that it was part of Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s plan to fast-track development in the area.

    Speaking to reporters in his palace at the weekend, Oba Sogbulu said residents would only experience a short-term pain, adding that the long-term gain to communities in Ifo Local Government Area (LGA) will be unquantifiable.

    He said: “I am always in support of good programmes of the state government, such as the ongoing road expansion, to connect Sango to Berger. I believe this will bring development to our area because that road is the major gateway linking Ogun to Lagos.”

    Some houses have been demolished for the project in which the government has already invested billion of naira.

    Oba Shyllon, who hailed the governor for the initiative, said it was the second time an elected governor would bring development to the community.

    “After Chief Olusegun Osoba commissioned road projects in 2001, the governor after him neglected Agbado people until Amosun came to rescue us.

    “We thank Almighty God for giving us this messiah called Ibikunle Amosun, who is integrating our community in the developmental plan of the state through various initiatives in this area. We are enjoying dividends of his democratic government. If the road is completed, it would boost the commerce and residents of more than 500 communities associated with Agbado would get to their houses without hindrance. This is why I am urging people in this area to support the action of government; it is for general good,” he said.

    On security, the royal father said robbery and night crimes had reduced following the provision of Amoured Personnel Carrier (APC) to the police in Agbado.

    He said criminals had retreated to inner communities because of constant patrol of the area by security operatives, adding that there was need for more police stations in the area.

  • Amosun presents N210.2b budget

    Amosun presents N210.2b budget

    •Education gets lion’s share

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun yesterday presented a N210.2 billion 2014 budget to the House of Assembly.

    The “Budget of Consolidation”, earmarks N117.51 billion (55.90 per cent) for capital expenditure and N92.70 billion (44 per cent) for recurrent expenditure.

    It is slightly lower than this year’s N211.79 billion budget.

    Amosun said: “The slight increase in capital allocation reflects our determination to sustain the growth of infrastructure.”

    He said the leaner 2014 budget was as a result of dwindling revenue from the Federation Account, adding: “We encountered some challenges in the implementation of this year’s budget. We are not insulated from wider national economic challenges. Funds from the Federation Account and Value Added Taxes have been significantly lower than expected.”

    The governor said despite the drop in revenue from the Federation Account and the tough economic environment, the performance of the 2013 budget as at September 30 was 64.2 per cent.

    He said: “Despite these challenges, we have remained focused. We meet our obligations promptly, particularly the payment of staff salary and allowances, funding of capital projects and loan repayment.”

    Amosun said the government planned to fund the budget through Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) of N84.12 billion (40.02 per cent) and N70.25 billion (33.42 per cent) is expected from the Federation Account. There will be capital receipts of N55.83 billion (26.56 per cent).

    In the proposed budget, Education has the lion’s share of N43.99 billion (20.93 per cent); Health, 21.11 billion (10.04 per cent); Agriculture, N10.52 billion (five per cent); Housing, N26.74 billion (12.72 per cent); Rural and Infrastructural Development, N34.66 billion (16.49 per cent).

    Amosun said his administration planned to inject 100 mini-buses and 250 taxis into the transport sector.

    He said: “On roads, our focus will be on the completion of the ongoing 14 Ogun Standard road projects across the state. We plan to commence new road projects, which include: Papalanto-Ilaro Road; Ijebu-Igbo Township Road; Adatan-Enugada Road; and Cable Bridge at Lafenwa-Ayetoro Road.

    “We will also commence the construction of, at least, two roads in each of the 20 local government areas, which will be handled by engineers from the Ministry of Works through direct labour.”

    On security, the governor said: “Our approach will be proactive and strategic. We plan to purchase additional security equipment, including 200 fully-fitted Hilux vehicles to support the police and other security agencies.”

    The governor said his administration would renovate and equip five state hospitals and general hospitals; upgrade equipment and facilities at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) at Sagamu; recruit doctors, midwives, nurses, dentists and pharmacists; and provide drugs in hospitals.

    It will also build Model Primary Health Centres in each of the nine federal constituencies; establish a state-of-the-art diagnostic centre in Abeokuta; begin the construction of three General Hospitals across the state and establish a Cancer Centre at OOUTH.

  • Monarch hails Ogun on road expanstion

    A Traditional ruler in Ogun State, Oba Adedayo Shyllon Sogbulu, has said the ongoing expansion on the link road from Sango to Berger will boost economic activities.

    He pleaded with residents to support the initiative, adding that it is part of Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s plan to fast-track development in the area.

    Speaking to reporters in his palace at the weekend, Oba Sogbulu said residents would experience a short-term pain, adding that the long-term gain to communities in Ifo Local Government Area (LGA) will be unquantifiable.

    He said: “I am always in support of good programmes of the state government such as the ongoing road expansion to connect Sango to Berger. I believe this will bring development to our area because that road is the major gateway linking Ogun to Lagos.”

    Some houses have been demolished for the road expansion, which the government has invested billion of naira.

    Oba Shyllon who praised Amosun for the initiative, said it was the second time an elected governor in the state would bring development to the community.