The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ilaje Local Government

  • UPDATED: Fire guts five oil wells in Ondo riverine community

    A fire explosion on Thursday consumed five oil wells were in Ajegunle-Ikorigho in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    The oil wells affected by the fire incident include Isan West field, Parable field, Malu field, Ororo field and Opokaba field.

    Sources said the fire incident, which lasted for about two hours destroyed many facilities.

    The fire, it was learnt broke out in Ajegunle community and spread to Ojumole a community located within Ikorigho land where the oil wells are sited.

    It also affected Otumara, Iluayo, Ayeren and Kendo communities all of which fall within Ikorigho land.

    However, the cause of the explosion could not be ascertained as at press time.

    It was not certain whether or not there was any casualty.

    Read Also: Ondo varsity shut over students’ rampage

    Men of the Ondo State Fire Services were reportedly drafted to the scene of the fire incident.

    Two community leaders in Ikhorigo,Chief William Ayerin and Rev Judah Akinyomi lamented that the inferno had been raging for almost one week.

    They urged the federal, state and National Emergency Management Board (NEMA) to rescue residents of the community.

    The community leaders also pleaded with the federal government to impress it on Chevron to provide safety measures for its operation in the community

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Ondo state Command, Femi Joseph, a Superintendent of Police (SP) could not be reached for comment.

  • Akeredolu urged to intervene on Ilaje chieftaincy tussle

    Ondo state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has been urged to intervene in the royal tussle prevailing in Mahin community, Ilaje local government area of Ondo state.

    There is tension in the oil rich Mahinin Ilaje over alleged plan to install new Amapetu to succeed Oba Lawrence Omowole who joined his ancestors last year.

    The feud was said to have been caused by the exclusion of Osuma royal lineage from presenting a contestant to the throne of the first class monarch by the Ilaje Local Government.

    It was learnt  that an interlocutory order has been filed before a law court to prevent the installation of any of the princes as a successor to the late Omowole.

    Besides, the aggrieved ruling house was said to have written a letter to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to stop any installation process.

    In the suit filed by the Osuma Royal Linage through their Counsel,  Olusola Oke, the family sought “a declaration that the exclusion of the Claimants’ family from the list of family entitled to present candidates to the kingmakers from the Alagwe Ruling House if unfair, unlawful, discriminatory without any justification.”

    The suit has Chief Thompson Adepiti, Yemi Saanumi, Chief Omolebi Adepiti and Folorunso Obebe as claimants

    The defendants are Chief Godwin Balogun, Prince Omomowo Adesola, Chiefs Roju Malumi, Arowojolu Dele, Felix Okunnuwa, Governor of the state, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice .

    The royal lineage also sought for “a declaration that the Claimant, being descendants of Alagwe Ruling House cannot be excluded and or prevented by the defendants from presenting candidates to the kingmakers of Amapetu of Mahin Chieftaincy stool.

    It further prayed “for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants either by themselves or by their agents, assigns, members, officers, officials and or any other person acting for or through them from further excluding the claimants Family from presenting candidates to the throne of Amapetu of Mahin Kingdom.”

    The ruling house in a letter to the governor, said the kingmakers was going ahead with the installation processes despite the pendency of the suit

    The family said an authority purportedly given to the authorities of the Ilaje Local Government and the Dr Roju Malumi’s family by the governor  depicts a gross affront to the age-long and respected judicial process and obviously, an attack on the rule of law.

    The aggrieved family urged  the governor to quickly intervene in the matter and stop all processes already put in place in order to prevent breakdown of law and order in the volatile riverine community.

  • Akeredolu donates 10 Navy speed boats

    The Ondo State Governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has appealed to repentant militants who submitted their arms and ammunition during the ongoing amnesty programme to be patient with the state government.

    Akeredolu, who was speaking during the presentation of 10 speed boats to the Naval Operational Base in Igbokoda Ilaje Local Government Area of the state, restated the commitment of his administration to ensure that the repentant armed bandits are incorporated into the federal government amnesty programme.

    He said the new speed boats, purchased by the state was part of the efforts to enable the security agents to properly man the waterways.

    The governor, who noted that the speed boats that would complement the naval officers’ gun boats and will enable them to maneuver their ways into the shallow creeks when chasing criminals, promised that his administration would continue to give necessary support to the security operatives in order for him to achieve his aim of making the state investors-friendly.

    It will be recalled that on November 9, 2017, Akeredolu proclaimed amnesty for militants, who are willing to drop their arms and ammunition and also promised them that they would be incorporated into the federal government amnesty programme.

    The State Amnesty Committee, headed by the Deputy Governor, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, worked tirelessly to ensure that the armed bandits dropped their weapons within the 21 days stipulated for collection and documentation of arms and ammunition.

    Since then, the ex-militants have been nursing the fear of being short-changed.

    While addressing them, Akeredolu said he was aware of their worries, assuring them that the state government would fulfill its own part of the bargain.

    His words, “I know they have been crying because of their own perspective that we have not delivered on our words. The amnesty programme does not begin with the state and it will not end with the state government.

    “Ours is to ensure the baby is delivered and we have delivered you (baby) to the federal government.

    Read Also: Akeredolu urges Senate to confirm Magu as EFCC chair

    “We won’t relent on our efforts to ensure that you are all incorporated into the programme. The whole issue is now in the hands of the Federal Government because we have done our own part.

    “For those who submitted their guns, we won’t deceive you. We want our people to understand and our leaders must talk to them.

    “We are committed to see that you are part of the Federal Government amnesty programme. We are appealing to you to be patient.”

    Speaking earlier, the deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi, lauded Akeredolu for making the state safe for investors, adding that the amnesty programme has not only brought peace into the state, but has also reduced the rate of crime in Ogun and Lagos states.

  • Ilaje communities at war over oil revenue

    OIL-producing communities in Ugbo-land, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have kicked against the composition of the recently constituted committee for oil-producing areas in the state by the state government.

    The Ilaje-Ugbo Coastal Communities Development Committee was recently constituted by Mr. Sola Orisamoluwa, Director of Finance, Ondo State Oil Producing and Development Commission (OSOPADEC).

    However, a group, Confederation of IlajeUgbo-land, described the committee as illegal, stressing that it was done without any consultation with the host communities and stakeholders known to the oil producing communities.

    A protest letter by the group to Chevron Nigeria Limited flayed the composition of the group, particularly nominations made by Oba Obateru Akinruntan and other influential individuals, warn the oil-producing giant not to deal with members of the committee.

    Signatories to the protest letter, comprising members of the seven ruling houses, Ugbo-Nla, Aiyetoro and Iluabo Zion and Ikorigho Zion communities said, “HRM Obateru Akinruntan nominated his cousins and relatives. On his part, Dr. Alli Mann, Permanent Secretary, OSOPADEC, nominated his younger brother, Mr. Kunle Alli, as the secretary of the body.

    “Moreover, Mr. Sola Orisamoluwa nominated his brother, Mr. Tope Olowofoyekun. HRH Femi Ogbaro, a traditional ruler of his kingdom, put up himself as the chairman of the body.

    “All these were done without any consultation with the host communities and stakeholders who have been known from time immemorial as confederation of IlajeUgbo-land representatives,” the document, a copy of which was made available to The Nation, stated.

    While expressing its dissatisfaction with the turn of event, the group remarked that Obateru protested the composition of a similar committee that was set up by his deposed predecessor in 2002.