The Nation Newspaper

Tag: kwara

  • Communal clash: Court remands two Kwara monarchs in prison

    A Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, has remanded in prison custody two traditional rulers of Ganmo, Ifelodun Local Government Area.

    The two monarchs are: Oniganmo of Ganmo and Oluganna, Alhaji Anafi Zubairu and Alhaji Abdullahi Atanda Kolawole.

    The rival traditional rulers, who claim ancestry with Igbomina and Ilorin in Kwara South and Central, also claim rights to the traditional stool of the community.

    The development has over the years thrown the community into crises resulting in loss of lives and property.

    The arraignment of the two monarchs and seven others before the Magistrate’s Court followed last week’s renewed clash between their supporters during which three people died and property worth millions of naira were destroyed.

    The latest clash started last Monday with the alleged killing of two persons from Oniganmo’s compound. A reprisal followed, in which two aged persons belonging to Oluganna side, were killed two days later.

    The traditional chiefs were arraigned on a four-count charge of criminal conspiracy, disturbance of public peace, mischief by fire and culpable homicide.

    Others remanded with them are: AbdulGaniyu AbdulKadir, Kadir Alao and Ganiyu Kolawole of Oluganna’s compound and Yekeen Eleshinla, Nafiu Jubril, Kosamat Yusuf and Salimon Bakare of Oniganmo’s compound.

    The offences contravene Sections 97, 113, 337 and 221 of the Penal Code Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Counsel to Oniganmo, led by Salman Jawondo and his Oluganna counterpart, J. S. Bamigboye, pleaded for their clients to be granted bail.

    They argued that the accused would not jump bail and would provide reliable sureties.

    Magistrate Olawoyin adjourned the matter till July 7 for further mention.

  • NDELA arrests 148 drug suspects in Kwara

    The Kwara State Command of the National Drugs Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested 148 suspected drugs peddler in the last one year.

    During the period, the agency seized 898.715 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) in about 60 operations.

    The State Commander of the NDLEA, Segun Oke, gave the figures when he addressed reporters yesterday in Ilorin, the state capital, to mark this year’s United Nations (UN) Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking.

    The theme of this year is: New Psychoactive Substances.

    Oke explained that the agency convicted 18 persons, counselled 178 and rehabilitated 28 prsons.

    He said: “To mark this year’s event, weeklong activities have been put in place by the NDELA in the state. They include raids of flashpoints, a Juma’at service, a Sunday service, a public rally and the grand finale on June 26 (tomorrow).

    “This theme is for year 2013 and, therefore, will guide our programmes until June 2014,” Oke said.

    The NDLEA commander hailed the state and federal governments for their relentless war against drug trafficking and abuse.

     

  • Kwara NANS gets leaders

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Kwara State axis, has inaugurated its leaders to oversee the affairs of the association for another one year. The ceremony, which held in Stella Obasanjo Hall of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY), was graced by past and present students’ leaders in and outside the state.

    Hon. Hassan Oyeleke, a member of the Kwara State House of Assembly (KWHA), who was present on the occasion, charged the students’ to fight the spread of cultism on their various campuses, saying: “cultism is a menace that only jeopardises the future of students who engage in it.”

    Oyeleke, who is a former Chairman of Offa Local Government Area, urged political leaders in the country to be responsive and responsible to the yearning and aspirations of the populace, stressing that Nigerian leaders had not done enough in ensuring better welfare for the citizens.

    The Special Adviser to Kwara State Governor on Students’ Affairs, Architect Akanbi Lamidi, an architect, who represented Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, said the government would not renege on its promise in support students’ cause for a better Nigeria.

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Zonal Commander for Kwara, Kogi and Ekiti states, Kehinde Adeleye, delivered a lecture on Security challenges in Nigeria and its adverse effects on national development: The role of Nigerian youths. He said the security challenges facing the country could only be overcome if the government could provided functional amenities, employment and ensure the establishment of stable economic policies.

    The Chairman of the occasion, Architect Lola Ashiru, a politician, congratulated the outgoing executive for “a job well done” and also urged the incoming leaders to emulate and surpass the achievement of their predecessors.

    The highpoint of the occasion was the swearing in of the officers. The Chairman of the Convention Committee, Ibrahim Jatto, administered the oath of office on the new chairman, who also repeated the same on the members of the executive.

    The elected officers were AbdulRazaq Ibrahim, chairman, Hommamed Edogi, Vice-Chairman, Ibrahim Sheriff, General Secretary, Abdulmalik Musediq, Treasurer, Abdulganiyu Dikko, Assistant General Secretary, Saheed Ibrahim, Director of Sport, Issa Lukmon, Ex-officio, Kayode Alabede, Ex-officio II, Qudus Audu, Director of Mobilisation, AbdulGaneey AbdulRaheem, Financial Secretary and Ridwan Adekunle, Public Relations Officer.

  • Mogaji was a motivator, says Kwara ACN

    •Ahmed: her death a national loss

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Kwara State has described the death of the Iyaloja of Lagos, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, as a monumental loss.

    It said the death of the businesswoman was not only a loss to the commercial circle, but also to the nation.

    The party said: “The death of Mama will create a gap in the political class. She was a dogged democracy fighter and a pillar of support to our National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    “Her support for him during his political travails when he was in government in Lagos was what any son will desire of a mother.

    “She was an epitome of motivation for the young generation and a philanthropist par excellence. We will remember her when accounts of heroine of democracy are to be taken.

    “We condole with Asiwaju Tinubu, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and all members of ACN in Kwara State in particular and Nigeria as a whole. We share in this moment of soberness with the Tinubu and Mogaji families of Lagos.”

    Kwara State Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed said Alhaja Mogaji’s death was a national loss, given her prominent position in the coordination and mobilisation of market women for national development.

    He said: “Mama symbolised hope for the hopeless, championed development and empowerment for the less privileged and represented inspiration for the younger generation.”

    Ahmed urged Asiwaju Tinubu and all Nigerians to take consolation that Mama lived a fruitful life in the service of her creator and mankind. He prayed Allah to grant her eternal rest and the family the fortitude to bear the huge loss.

  • Kwara takes 300 widows off the street

    The ugly spectacle of women swirling around offices and ministries especially during the work days has not gone down well with the Kwara State government.

    The women, who are also found around Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Ilorin, the state capital, were going about begging for alms.

    Against this background, the state government, under the auspices of its poverty alleviation office, empowered no fewer than 300 women; mostly widows.

    Speaking during the programme, Senior Special Assistant to Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed on Poverty Alleviation, Hajia Sarat Adebayo said the state was expending about N2 million in meeting some of the widows’ needs.

    She added that begging had become an offence in the state as her office and that of governor’s wife had set up a committee to monitor enforcement.

    Hajia Sarat said: “We are here to empower our women to be productive economically. The theme for the scheme is “no gain in begging.’

    “These women will wake up in their different homes and start roaming the ministries and offices soliciting for alms.

    “The Maigida widow empowerment scheme in the state does not condone any act of begging. So my office, Poverty Alleviation collaborates with the wife of the governor’s office Social Well-being of our women, Health Welfarism and Education for all and Empowerment (SHEE). The concept remains Omolewa’s under the Shared Prosperity of our state.

    “The programme is aimed at taking these women off the street. We have held series of meetings with the women to know exactly what each of them require to earn a living. Based on their request government is providing all these to empower them so that they can add value to the system economically, socially and politically and tell them that there is no gain in begging.”

    She said further that “300 women across the 16 local government areas of the state are benefitting today, though a preponderance of them is from Kwara Central. The cost of the programme is about N2million.

    “The beneficiaries are all widows. They claimed they took to begging as their breadwinners are no more. As a result, government shares in their passion. Because of the passion of Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed in empowering women and see to their welfare, the scheme is on.

    “My office and that of the governor’s wife have set up a committee for monitoring. Before the commencement of the programme they have signed an undertaking with government not to resort to visiting offices and ministries begging for alms. Defaulters would be dealt with according to the law.”

    Items distributed are 30 deep freezers, 30 grinding machines, 30 cartons of beverages, cereals, yam flour, grand nut oil and charcoal.

  • Kwara police probe man’s death in Street brawl

    The Kwara State Police Command has begun investigation into the cause of the death of a 25-year-old man in Ilorin, the state capital.

    The deceased, named Kolawole Olanrewaju, was said to have died after a brawl with Bashir Aduragba, a primary school teacher.

    Police spokesperson Olufemi Fabode said the police were awaiting the report of a post-mortem on the deceased to ascertain the cause of his death before the matter is taken to court.

    The police began investigation on how Olanrewaju died “mysteriously” after he fought the teacher in Ilorin, the state capital.

    It was gathered that the deceased and Aduragba engaged each other in a fisticuff following an argument over the dumping of refuse at a site.

    The site is said to be close to the room of the deceased, near the school Aduragba teaches at Oke-Aluko area of the town.

    It was learnt that the deceased, whose wife was recently delivered of a baby, decided to clear the site with the expectation that nobody would again dump refuse there.

    But it was gathered that a pupil dumped refuse at the site, not minding that it had been cleared. The action allegedly infuriated the deceased, who reportedly beat the pupil and warned him not to dump refuse at the site again.

    It was learnt that when the pupil narrated what happened to the teacher, Aduragba reportedly came to Olanrewaju’s house and challenged his action. An argument between them was said to have degenerated into physical combat.

    The teacher’s colleagues reportedly support him and a face-off with the neighbours of the deceased ensued.

  • Kwara CAN commends FG for proscribing Boko Haram

    Rev. Cornelius Fawenu, the Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kwara, has commended the Federal Government for proscribing the Boko Haram sect.

    Fawenu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ilorin that the proscription was long overdue.

    The clergyman said the Boko Haram insurgency was giving the country and its citizens a bad image outside the country.

    The CAN scribe described the proscription of the militant sect as a welcome development that would bring lasting peace to the northern part of the country.

    Fawenu, who urged the Federal Government to also ban other militant groups in the country, appealed to religious leaders to work for peace.

    “We should all support the Federal Government’s efforts in its quest to wipe out terrorism in the country,” he added.

    He advised adherents of Christianity and Islam not to hide under religious cover to commit crime, adding that both religions preach peace.

  • Kwara students swear in leaders

    The National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife chapter, has inaugurated executives for the 2012/2013 academic session.

    The event, which was held at one of the lecture theatres in the Faculty of Law, witnessed a large turnout of students of Kwara State origin, studying in the university. Members of the executive, who are led by Fatai Mohammed, were sworn in by Oluwatobi Garba, chairman of the electoral committee after.

    The event also coincided with the Freshers orientation programme of the association.

    The outgoing president of the association, Mobolaji Abegunde, spoke on the success of his administration and appreciated members of the association for making his administration a success. He also advised the incoming leaders to be good stewards, urging the serve the interest of members fairly.

    The highpoint of the event was a lecture titled: The harmonisation of Kwarans in OAU and Nigeria in generals and delivered by Kayode Alaya, a graduate of Material Science and Engineering and former president of the association.

    Alaya harped on the need for unity among various ethnic groups that make up the country, adding that justice remained panacea to solving the Boko Haram crisis in the North.

    Alaya also admonished the freshers to be humble and learn to share ideas. He urged them to be good ambassadors of the institution and the state. Fatai, in his address, urged members to join him in taking the association to another level.

    Other members of the executive include Modinat Ibrahim, Vice-President, Abiodun Abubakar, General Secretary, Olasunkanmi Kadir, Financial Secretary and Omotola Akegbeyale, Treasurer among others.

  • Campaigns open in Kwara

    Campaigns open in Kwara

    Ahead of this year’s local government election, the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) has notified political parties and other stakeholders on the beginning of electioneering activities.

    The commission has not fixed a date for the poll.

    Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed, penultimate week, inaugurated the chairman and some of the agency’s commissioners. He urged them to conduct free, fair and transparent election in the 16 local governments.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Ilorin, the state capital, KWAISEC Chairman, Dr Uthman A. Ajidagba, noted that though no date had been fixed for the poll, political parties, stakeholders and the public were being notified of the beginning of the electioneering activities.

    He said: “By the power conferred on Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission in Third Schedule, Part 2 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended in 2011, particularly Paragraph 4 of the schedule, Section 20 (1) of Kwara State Local Government Electoral Law, Cap. 32, Law of Kwara State 2006, as amended, political parties, relevant stakeholders and the public are hereby notified of the commencement of 2013 local government electioneering activities.”

  • Kwara students suspend president

    At its eighth sitting, the legislative arm of the National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS) has suspended the president of the association, Aziz Olalekan Bamigboye, a student of University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) and Treasurer, Alamo Jamiu, a student of Kwara State College of Education (Technical), Lafiagi. The suspension is indefinite and took immediate effect.

    Members of the parliament met in Hall Five of Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, last week, to take the decision.

    The Vice President (Administrative) has been ordered to assume the leadership of the association in the interim. The offence of the suspended officers according to a source, who preferred to be anonymous, included gross misconduct, abuse of office, mismanagement of association funds, and disregard for senate resolution.

    Efforts to reach the suspended officials for comment were futile.