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Tag: Ijebu Ode

  • Day Ijebu Ode honoured Kuku

    Day Ijebu Ode honoured Kuku

    The mini Ojude Oba’ held recently at the Oba S.K. Adetona Royal Pavillion, in honour of Olor’Ogun Sonny Folorunso Kuku, was a day that will be remembered for long by sons and daughters of the ancient town of Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. Dr. Kuku was installed as the third Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu Ode.

    Many traditional rulers, top government officials, former and serving governors represented by their deputies and the cream of the society converged on the venue of the event as early as 9am.

    Activities at the main markets were almost paralysed as men and women, led by their Baba Oja and Iyaloja, thronged the Awujale Pavillion, in beautiful aso-ebi to celebrate with the respected and humane Olor’Ogun Kuku.

    The stretch of Awujale Street, from Itoro Roundabout down to Talbot Road Roundabout, was cordoned off to vehicular movement, except the august visitors who drove into the town to honour the man of the moment ­— Olor’Ogun Sonny Folorunso Kuku.

    As it was customary during Ojude Oba, dane gun shots boomed across the town as the various Baloguns, the Shotes, the Josis, the Odunugas, the Otubus, the Alausas, the Alatishes, to name a few of them, moved from their respective domains and  joined the Kuku Family at their Olorunsogo House on Itantebo  Street, Ijebu Ode.

    The movement of the Baloguns was accompanied by young boys flying coloured flags of the various horse riding Baloguns amid the booming of local guns and drummers singing their praises. If their movement from Itantebo Street  into Awujale Street was spectacular, their entrance into Oba S.K.Adetona Royal Pavillion, opposite the palace, was triumphant.

    The surge of many flag bearers, drummers, serial deafening gun shots and scores of horse riders announced the arrival of Olor’Ogun Kuku into Oba S.K Adetona Pavillion.

    Olor’Ogun Kuku, in his characteristic manner, during Ojude Oba, rode in his eye-popping white chariot, drawn by two beautiful chocolate-coloured horses, with his wife, Susan and two maidens, on whose thighs sat one big calabash each, to the cheering and admiration of sons and daughters of Ijebu Ode. The heavy-muscled horses have seen and are still enjoying good days in the care of Olor’Ogun Kuku.

    The drummers, the horses dancing on their hind legs and their riders treated the crowd to spectacular performances. No son of Ijebu Ode has ever been honoured by such performances and attendance by well-wishers. It was a day that would not be easily forgotten. Olor’Ogun Kuku’s installation ceremony as Ogbeni Oja coincided with his 80th birthday.

    Olor’Ogun Kuku and wife remained seated in the chariot while all these lasted, until the Awujale, Oba Adetona arrived the pavillion.

    Few minutes after, Kuku was called, and he came down from the chariot with his wife, resplendent in their white aso-oke.

    The Baagbimo of Ijebu Ode, Chief Fassy Yusuf, in a welcome address, prayed to God for peace and the sanctification of the event,   thanking God for journey mercies for all thatfor the event and their return back home.

    The oath of office for the new Ogbeni Oja was administered by a senior lawyer, Chief O. B. Okuboyejo.

    The traditional installation was performed by one of the chiefs of the Awujale known as Gbade,  who also handed the new Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu Ode his new staff of office  and  aso ofi also known as Itagbe for the office.

    The new Ogbeni Oja also swore allegiance to the Awujale and the people of Ijebu Ode.

    Ogbeni Oja is the highest title, next to Awujale, that a free born Ijebu male can aspire to hold.

    The installation made Kuku the third person to be bestowed with the title. He belongs to the Obaleke Age Group (1944 -1946) of Ijebuland. His predecessors were the late Chief Timothy Odutola and the late Chief Bayo Kuku.

    The Awujale expressed his belief that traditional rulers had a right to decide how they should be buried in accordance with their religion and the new law in Ogun State. He said except this was done, it would be difficult for the people to get good and quality people to aspire to be king in Ogun State and other parts of Yoruba Land.

    The monarch recalled that he started struggle for the enforcement of the rights of Obas as a minister during Western Region administration. He said he persisted when Ogun State was carved out of former Western State under the administrations of Chief Segun Osoba, Chief Gbenga Daniel, and Senator Ibikunle Amosun and finally he got the law promulgated under the current governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun’s administration.

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    “Now the totality of traditional rulers in the old Western Region want to follow in the same direction,” Oba Adetona said, adding: “The institution of obaship is not for traditionalists alone, but also for all religions. I’m glad things are changing in Yorubaland.”

     “There is need to accord traditional rulers their rightful place in the scheme of things,” he said.

    He explained why he installed former governor Olusegun Osoba with the title of Aremo about 26 years ago. He said he had known Chief Osoba and that when he came out in1999 and wanted to contest the governorship of Ogun State. he did not mince word by telling him that it position should go to Yewaland.

    “But you know this politicians, they know how to do their things. How he became governor was the hand work of God.

    “When Osoba became governor, he was not hostile to me. He came to visit me. We became friends and prayed for him to stay long on the throne. It became a habit for both of us to speak every day.

    “For his loyalty and appreciation for his friendship, I installed him Aremo Awujale.”

    The Awujale also thanked and appreciated Osoba’s successor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel for his support that led to the acquisition of the land on which ‘Oba S.K. Adetona Pavillion’ is standing today. He also thanked another former of Ogun State, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun for his show of love through his eight-year administration of the state. He also appreciated the incumbent Prince Dapo Abiodun who he said has equally been good to him.

    Awujale explained that Olor’Ogun Kuku did not lobby to be installed as the Ogbeni Oja. He said: “In my own wisdom, I appointed him because I know he merited it. He is suitable for the office, he’s very loyal.”

    Oba Adetona paid glowing tributes to the late Olori Omoba Akile Ijebu, Otunba Subomi Balogun, saying if he was alive, Dr. Kuku would have been his choice for the position of Ogbeni Oja.  He called for support and prayers for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to succeed in office. Oba Adetona thanked sons and daughters of Ijebu Ode and people of Ijebuland for their continued support noting, “they continue to support me despite having stayed 64 years on the throne.

    Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State said the installation of Dr. Kuku was a call to service to uplift the people of Ijebu-Ode.

    The governor, represented by his deputy, Engr.  Noimot Salako-Oyedele, an engineer; described the new Ogbeni Oja as an exemplar of leadership, who would bring his knowledge to bear to uplift the people of Ijebuland.

    The governor said the ceremony for the installation of Olor’Ogun Kuku was a testimony of the tradition that binds the people of Ijebu Ode and Ijebuland together.

    Gov. Abiodun expressed confidence that his tenure as Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu Ode would be marked with more prosperity for the people of Ijebu Ode. Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    Other dignitaries at the event included the Osile of Oke-Ona Egba, Oba (Dr.) Adedapo Tejuosho, Akarigbo of Sagamu and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba (Dr.) Babatunde Ajayi, the Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba (Dr.) Kehinde Olugbenle, the Ojotomoro of Abigi,  traditional rulers of Lagos, who represented the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, Ebumawe of Ago Iwoye, Oba Abdulrazal Adesina Adenugba, Babalaje of Ijebu Ode, Chief S B. Bakare, and former President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata among others.

  • Awujale’s fears over successor

    The annual Ojude-Oba festival which attracts dignitaries to Ijebu-Ode from far and near took place on Tuesday, with guests departing with memories of an issue that is of great concern to the chief host and Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona.

    Not a few people were left wondering whether there was something known to the traditional ruler that was not revealed to his subjects as he pleaded passionately that moneybags should not be allowed to hijack the process that would produce his successor.

    He said: “When I eventually go, please go for a capable successor. Reject any candidate that would put Ijebu land in retrogression.

    Read Also: Abiodun: Ojude Oba, a unifying force worthy of emulation

    “If the next ruling house does not present a viable candidate, please reject him and go for the next ruling house with a capable candidate.

    “Do not go for moneybags that will destroy the achievements Ijebuland has recorded so far.”

    Renowned for his disciplined and forthright disposition, not a few of the people at the gathering nodded their heads in gestures of approval as the monarch made his passionate appeal.

    Ijebuland is known not to be in short supply of wealthy people, many of who are owners of some of the biggest business conglomerates in the country, while the traditional ruler himself is widely seen as a beneficiary of a credible succession process which installed him as the Awujale as a 26-year-old in 1960.

  • Honeywell restates commitment to CSR, donates to orphanages

    As part of its corporate social responsibility programmes, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc has made products and cash donations to some orphanage homes. The foremost producer of wheat based products also restated its commitment to positively impact on humanity by giving back to the society through effective CSR activities.

    Managing Director, Mr. Lanre Jaiyeola, who stated this during a visit to some orphanage homes in Lagos and Ogun States where the company donated its products, noted that Honeywell Flour Mills will continue to support good cause in the society especially those that have direct impact on human development.

    Jaiyeola, represented by Tomi Otudeko, Head Innovation and Sustenance, Honeywell Group noted that Honeywell will continue to seize opportunity to make its impact felt in the society, listing such opportunities to include support provided sporting events, entrepreneurship programs, vulnerable groups, etc. “It is our own way of adding value to the people that we believe should have needs within the society, and our own way to alleviate poverty, suffering in the land,” he said.

    Among beneficiaries of latest gestures are the SOS Village, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, Little Saints Orphanage and Bethesda Home for the Blind, in Lagos.

  • Help! Erosion has almost finished us

    Residents of a community in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State are going through hell. No thanks to erosion, which has almost consumed their land. They are pleading for the attention of the authorities to save them from extinction, writes Bode Monogbe

    The residents of Owokodoro community, Ijebu-Ode, have cried to the state government for assistance over the gully erosion ravaging the community. According to the residents, the erosion has damaged properties and many have lost their lives.

    The erosion, which the residents claimed went out of control in year 2010, is scaring and disturbing. From investigations, the erosion, if not professionally handled, could wipe off the entire community soon.

    In an interview with The Nation, the Community Leader, Alhaji Adesanwo Maseka, said: “This gully you are seeing here was just a low-level erosion 10 years ago; no one thought it could turn to a life-threatening monster; it was shallow and little but today, it has killed more than seven property owners while others died of hypertension when the erosion unexpectedly pulled down their buildings.

    “Some were sleeping in the midnight when their buildings collapsed and died; some fell into the gully while trying to salvage their buildings;. The boy’s quarters of my house and the attached are gone, and as you can see, the one-storey main building is being threatened day-by-day and this is the only house I have left. As you can see, I am old already, my health is not sound, if this house collapses, God forbid but I might collapse,” Maseka said emotionally with tears.

    On steps that have been taken or being taken by the community to call the attention of the relevant authorities over the issue. Pastor Kunle Fajoye, a resident and Proprietor of Varsity Children Academy whose administrative offices have been destroyed by the gully, said there is no relevant authority that the community has not visited or petitioned in the last 10 years, all to no avail.

    “We have visited the Awujale of Ijebu Land, Oba Sikiru Adetona to intimate with our ordeal but nothing happened; we have been protesting to the Governor’s office in Abeokuta since year 2008, no response; many political office holders have visited us in solidarity, nothing was heard from them after winning elections. Three different Ogun State Commissioners for Works and Environment have been here, with no action taken.

    We have been petitioning the Ecological Office in the Presidency in Abuja severally down to this place since eight years ago, when the gully was not as deep and threatening as this. Look at my school, half of the school is gone; we are losing our investments; we didn’t build on waterways, we got government approval for this building.

    “We take this reckless abandonment as a declaration of war against us by government elected to make lives meaningful to us. We are dying, 10 land lords and 18 others have lost their lives in one way or the other to this miserable gully.” He said.

    He appealed to the media to come to their aide, saying very that the people of Owokodoro have lost hope in government. In his words, the educationist said “You people in the media are our last hope, please have mercy on us, help inform the world about our suffering and ordeal. The people of Owokodoro are suffering. We are being killed in a miserable manner, our properties are being destroyed,” Fajoye said.

    As I was leaving Owokodoro for Lagos, I ran into the entourage of the candidate of Social Democratic Party for Ijebu Central Federal Constituency, Adekunle Osibogun, who was visiting the area for consultation.

    The renowned Ijebu born legal practitioner expressed sadness when he saw the gully. He spoke like a valiant soldier: “I met Ijebu at the same level it was when I was leaving, which is pathetic; and this is one of the reasons for my joining the race to run for the House of Representatives. To cut the long story short, what I am seeing here is wickedness of the highest order against the citizenry; let me say very explicitly that if elected I will ensure that the Federal government ecological department is dragged down here to come to the aid of my people,” he said.

  • The only panacea to Nigeria’s quagmire is devolution of power, restructuring — Osibogun

    …Flags Off Campaign for Ijebu Central Federal Constituency House of Reps Seat

    The candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) for Ijebu Central Federal Constituency comprising of Ijebu Ode, Ijebu North East and Odogbolu Local Government Areas of Ogun State in the forthcoming 2019 general elections, Mr. Adekunle Osibogun has said that the only solution to insecurity, unemployment and inequality plaguing the nation of Nigeria is for the country to embrace devolution of power and restructuring without further delay.

    Osibogun, a constitutional Lawyer said this over the weekend during the flag off ceremony of his campaign in Ijebu Ode that “we need to understand that devolution of constitutional powers to the states and local governments is the only way out of this dark abyss and alarming quagmire which i promise to pursue jealously and sanctimoniously if i am granted the insignia of power by my people. Enough of these human-inflicting quagmires and i say with all sense of modesty and responsibility that enough is enough and the time for liberation is now”.

     He said his purpose for contesting was to ameliorate the suffering of his constituents through quality representation. He added that the people of Ijebu Central Federal Constituency are in dare need of quality representation and someone like him embedded with quality exposure and intellectual erudition is needed to attend to their basic needs and to assist them to become financially independent.

     He added that “after finishing my Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from the University of Ibadan, i proceeded to United Kingdom for my Law Degree; when i returned to Nigeria after almost a decade; i met Ijebu Land at the same level it was before i left. It is saddened.

     “Everywhere i have visited so far for consultation, it is complaints of hunger and poverty; no electricity, no water; infrastructure deficiencies, poor education and healthcare services litters the nooks and crannies of Ijebu Land” he said.

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     The campaign flag off which was held at Oyingbo roundabout of the Ancient City was attended by political gladiators, traditional rulers, youth, students and members of SDP from the three Local Government Areas within the Federal Constituency and across the Ogun State including hundreds of members of Young Progressive Nigerians Initiative (YPNI), an organization founded by Osibogun to train Nigerian youths on Entrepreneurship and promote patriotism among Nigerians.

     Party stalwarts who graced the occasion called on the people of Ijebu Central Federal Constituency to vote for Osibogun as their next representative in the Federal House of Representatives come 2019 general elections.

     Among those present at the event was the Governorship Candidate of SDP in Ogun State for 2019 general elections, Otunba Rotimi Paseda,  his Deputy, Prince Niran Odeleye, State Chairman of the party, Chief Kunle Majekodunmi and several House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senatorial Candidates of the party across the state.

     In her remarks, Monisola, the wife of Osibogun said her husband is a strong believer in the Nigerian project; she described the candidate as a good listener, who will attract massive development within the constituency if voted for.  She said her husband is a hardworking person who, if voted for, will be effective on the floor of National Assembly.

  • Siblings convicted for murder get nod for re-trial after 23 years

    Two siblings, Onome Inaye aged 63 and Victor Emenuwe aged 49, who were convicted for the murder of an eight-year child have gotten the nod of the Court of Appeal to face re-trial.

    The court held that the siblings were not properly arraigned and their plea taken.

    They were said to have committed the offense in 1995 when they drown their victim in a stream after a failed ritual attempt.

    Onome and Victor were said to have taken their victim to Ijebu-Ode for the purpose of money ritual but could not raise the N20,000 demanded by the herbalist.

    They reportedly drown the child in a stream to cover their track and were arrested on suspicion that they travelled on the day the child went missing.

    It was during police investigation that they confessed and took the police to the stream where the body of the child was recovered.

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    They were found guilty of conspiracy and murder by an Edo State High Court and subsequently sentenced to death in 2014.

    Delivering judgment on the appeal filed by their Counsel, President Aigbokhan, Justice S. Oseji, declared the whole trial of the lower court a nullity for not complying with provisions of the law.

    In the appeal, the convicts sought the court’s determination whether their were rightly arraigned.

    Justice Oseji stated that there was no where in the ruling of the lower court which showed that the convicts were first arraigned and their plea taken.

    He noted that for there to be a criminal trial, there must be an arraignment and the charges read to the accused persons in the language they understood.

    Justice Oseji declared the whole trial at the High Court null and void and ordered retrial of the case.

    Aigbokhan however said the court should have upturned the judgment of the lower court since the convicts have spent over two decades in incarceration.

    His words, “The court agreed with us and ordered a retrial but what the court has succeeded in doing is to convert convict to awaiting trial after 20 years. That is not justice after 20 years. We are going to appeal this ruling.”

  • Robbers push injured colleague off moving vehicle

    The police in Lagos last week rescued a suspected armed robber Yusuf Nasiru, 34, pushed off a moving vehicle by his colleagues.

    Nasiru, who pushed down after his alleged gang members thought he had died from a bullet injury he sustained.

    It was gathered that the gang had about 2:40 am, burgled a shop at Maya in Ijebu-Ode Road, Ikorodu but were later engaged by policemen who got information about their operation.

    They were said to have driven a Mazda bus KRD783XW to the shop which they fled in when they could not withstand superior fire power from the police team.

    As they fled, the police were said to have chased them but slowed down to rescue one of the bandits pushed off the bus by his colleagues.

    “The wounded suspect collapsed and his colleagues thought he had died. They pushed him off the moving vehicle.

    “He was recovered by the police team, revived and he is currently recuperating at an undisclosed hospital. He was searched and a knife and some charms were recovered from him.

    “Miffed by what his gang members did to him, the suspect is cooperating with the police by giving useful information,” said Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP).

  • Oyo police arrest kidnappers, killers of poultry farmer

    … parade 19 others

     

    Oyo Police Command have arrested five suspected kidnappers for allegedly abducting and killing a poultry farm owner , Sunday Aladeniyi after collecting ransom from the families.

    The deceased lifeless body , according to the police was later recovered in the forest along Ijebu-Ode road where the kidnappers dumped it .

    Mr. Abiodun Odude , the Oyo state Police Commissioner who paraded a total of 24 criminal suspects for various offences at the Eleyele Police Headquarters , Ibadan on Wednesday described the suspected kidnappers as sons of Lucifer .

    He promised to continue to rid the state of criminal elements that often serve as thorns in the flesh of law abiding citizens.

    The five suspects , he said were arrested following a report made at the Idi-Ayunre Police Division , and the Anti-Kidnapping Squad was mandated to arrest and rescue the victim who before then had been killed by the suspected kidnappers.

    The suspects who the police said would soon be charged to court for prosecution are Abdullahi Musa ,37, Isah Tambaya , 20, Yuguda Yusuf ,35, Aminu Ahmadu ,24, and Ojo John , 34.

    Speaking with journalists in an interview, one of the suspected kidnappers , Abdullahi Musa , 37, who confessed to the heinous crime , pleaded for leniency , while others narrated their sundry roles that led to the kidnap and murder of the poultry farm owner.

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    Musa revealed that one of the staff of the victim who was very close to the deceased had invited other members of the gang , mainly fulani herders to kidnap their boss and were given N20,000 each out of the money collected from the family as ransom.

    According to him, they had no plans to kill the poultry farmer until one of them raised the alarm that if allowed to go , he (Aladeniyi) would reveal their identify .

    The state Commissioner of Police who narrated how the suspects carried out their evil deeds further said ” the kidnappers who murdered their victim , Sunday Aladeniyi were arrested on Friday September 7,2018 at about 1830 hours by the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the command . The suspects after collecting ransom , killed the victim because he could identify one of them.

    ” Infact, one of the kidnappers who was very close to the victim caused his death because he thought the victim would expose him . ”

    Among those also paraded were nine students’ cultists of the Polytechnic, Ibadan said to be involved in the killing of a fellow student , Olatunji Hammed a.k.a. Maku in cold blood around Apete area of Ibadan on August 27,2018.

    The self confessed students’ cultists most whom were on their final year in the institution told journalists that the reason for their membership of various cult groups on the campus was to fight against oppression, injustice and intimidation .

    The Commissioner of Police said the students were arrested through diligence investigation carried out by the Anti-Robbery section of the state Criminal Investigation Department (CIID) which led to the arrest of more suspects and recovery of arms , ammunition and other exhibits.

    Apart from the locally made cut to size single barrel gun recovered from the cult members , other exhibits recovered from the cultists include two axes, cutlasses and charms.

  • Ijebu Ode wearing festive look ahead of Eid-el-Kabir festival

    Few hours to the celebration of the Eid-el-Kabir and few days to the celebration of the annual “Ojude-Oba’’ Festival, scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 23, enthusiasm is at a fever-pitch in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

    Socioeconomic activities in Ijebu-Ode where the “Ojude-Oba’’ Festival is celebrated annually have continued to witnesses positive spikes as one enters the ancient town.

     Both the indigenes as well as visitors, tourists and dealers in souvenirs have begun to arrive the state for the annual carnival-like “Ojude-Oba’’ Festival which holds on Aug.23 with the theme: Ojude-Oba: Celebration of Rich Cultural Heritage.

    The “Ojude-Oba’’ Festival is an annual reunion of sons and daughters of Ijebu-Ode, their in-laws, and invited guests usually held two days after the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

    Our reporters observed a beehive of activities by residents who had their rams and other livestock tied within their compounds for the celebrations of both festivals.

     Also, it was observed that hotels in the town and its environs had been fully booked while operators of outdoor bars, tricycles, motorcycles and relaxation spots had begun to count their gains.

    Ijebu-Ode, a town predominantly occupied by Muslims, comes alive every Eid-el-Kabir alongside the age-old “Ojude-Oba’’, which is celebrated to honour the Awujale of Ijebuland.

    Several corporate organisations had displayed their advert billboards as a way of participating in the celebration of the two festivals.

    Ishola Fatungase, a resident of the town and a paint dealer, said that they were looking forward to a memorable celebration of the “Ojude-Oba’’ Festival.

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    He, however, appealed to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), in charge of power distribution in the area, to make the event memorable through uninterrupted power supply.

    “The icing on the cake for us will be full-scale-power supply throughout the period of the sallah to make it lively for us as well as being able to preserve our drinks and consumables. 

    “For me as a Muslim, it is the only time of the year I get to see most of my  family members as they are  located in different parts of the country and outside the country,” he said. 

    Another respondent, Gbenga Otukoya, a civil servant, lamented the high cost of rams this year as compared to the same period last year.

    “I just returned from Imowo Eleran market, where livestock is considerably sold cheaply. Yet, I could not afford the type of ram I wanted due to the high price.

    “A medium-sized ram, sold last year for N60, 000 is now N85, 000 at the market, while cows sell for between N120, 000 and N180, 000 or even higher depending on the quality. 

    “A large ram is going for between N120, 000 and N150, 000.

    “We are in a joyful mood as expected but the only downturn is that most people are not as buoyant financially to celebrate the sallah and Ojude-Oba as expected,” Otukoya said.

    Mr Dare Odusanya, a car dealer based in Chicago, USA, said he arrived in the country two weeks ago to have ample time to savour the holiday mood in the town alongside his other family members.

    “The high point for me apart from the sallah break is the Ojude-Oba festival which is celebrated with so much pomp and pageantry.

     “The festival is colourful and unique as it’s a spectacle to behold given the magnitude of attractions and displays that grace the occasion. 

    “I strategically fix my vacation to correspond with this occasion and also invite my white friends to Nigeria just to grace the grandeur of the “Ojude-Oba’’ Festival,” Odusanya said.

    The Chairman of the Ojude Oba Planning Committee, Otunba Wahab Osinusi had previously assured participants coming to witness it of maximum security and safety.

    “The festival is not only about equestrian display, parade of culture and tradition, merry-making and funfair.

    “It is also to boost commerce and trade in its entirety as commercial and trading activities are at their peak before, during and after the festival.

    “All the facilities; hotels, restaurants, artisans, craftsmen, transporters, professionals, market men and women, among others are fully engaged with several multiplier corporate effects,” Osinusi said.

    He assured intending visitors and guests coming for the event of adequate medical services, security and traffic management saying all security agencies were working assiduously to ensure a hitch free celebration.

    Several hundreds of thousands of people including visitors and guests from diverse cultures and nationalities are expected to grace the 2018 edition of the Ojude-Oba Festival that began over 100 years ago. 

  • Ogun: Two jailed  for assaulting TRACE officials

    A Magistrates’ Court in Ijebu-Ode on Tuesday sentenced two men, Michael Godwin, 24, and Yemi Odutosin, 24, to three months imprisonment each for assaulting officials of the Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE).

    They were said to have committed the offence on April 2 in Ijebu-Ode while the officers were performing their lawful duty.

    At the resumed hearing of the case, Magistrate  S.S. Sotayo sentenced both men to three months imprisonment each on the five-count charge against them.

    Sotayo said the sentences would, however,  run concurrently.

    Amongst the charges were conspiracy and unlawful assault of some TRACE Officers–Adekoya Ope-Oluwa, Oyeyemi Morakinyo, and Adelabu Muinat.

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    Though the convicts initially pleaded not guilty to the charge, they, however,  later admitted guilt and begged for leniency.

    Reacting to the judgement, TRACE Corps Commander in Ogun, Abdul-Fatai Ogunyemi, expressed delight that justice was finally delivered.

    Ogunyemi,  in a statement signed by the TRACE spokesman, Babatunde Akinbiyi, said that the judgment would serve as a deterrent to would-be offenders.

    The TRACE boss further used the opportunity to assure all officers and men of the corps of their safety and lawful protection at all times while on lawful duty.

    Ogunyemi, however, advised officers and men of the corps to be civil, polite and courteous while on duty.