The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ladipo

  • Ladipo Lauds Dapo-Lam Undying Love For 3SC

    Ladipo Lauds Dapo-Lam Undying Love For 3SC

    The Former  Commissioner for Youth & Sports in Oyo State and now House of Rep. member representing Ibadan North East South East Federal Constituency, Hon. Dapo Lam-Adesina (https://www.facebook.com/dapo.lamadesinaii) has been described as a good example of a sports’ administrator by joining the supporters club of the Ibadan team, 3SC to support the club.

    The President General of Nigeria Supporters Club, Dr. Rafiu Oladipo made this remark in Ibadan when he visited Lekan Salami Sports Complex to watch the Oluyole Warriors in one of their home match at the on-going Nigerian Football Professional League (NPFL).

    “I was told the former Commissioner for Youths and Sports Dapo Lam-Adesina is always at the stadium if not in Abuja for House duties to give support to our darling team 3SC.

    “This is a commendable gesture, coming and seating with the official Supporter’s Club of the team to sing and cheers Shooting.

    “I want to thank and eulogize him for his support. Most of his predecessors don’t do that and would not identify openly like that. He’s such a hard working and down-to-heart young man who is destined to go places with such attitude”, Oladipo told journalists.

    Dr. Ladipo advised other administrators to emulate the good gesture of Lam-Adesina, urging other well meaning soccer lovers in the state to rally round the team financially at this trying time of the club.

    He, however, urged the State Government under the leadership of Governor Abiola Ajimobi to help the team by releasing fund for them in order to sustain the recent good results posted by the team that had not received salary this year according to his investigations.

  • Ladipo traders: ‘we’re at landlords’ mercy’

    Ladipo traders: ‘we’re at landlords’ mercy’

    Some Ladipo auto parts dealers have alleged that they are at the mercy of multiple landlords, who “are making life difficult for us.”

    The traders in the Odo Aladura Spare Parts section also complained of the menace of ‘area’ boys and the lack of toilets in their shops.

    The unit’s outgoing Chairman, Jude Nwankwo, said his team did all it could to correct their anomalies.

    Nwankwo enjoined the incoming executive to request a space from the landlords to build toilets for the traders.

    Maxwell Uroko Chukwuma polled 235 votes to defeat Ebenobo Michael and others to emerge as chairman.

    Sunday Onyekwe was elected treasurer with 174 votes to Maxwell Okafor’s 115 votes.

    Elected unopposed are Ndubuisi Okonkwo – Assistant Provost, Iloka Ifeanyi – Chief Provost, Chinedu Okoro, Public Relations Officer (PRO) and Ikechukwu Onyema Financial Secretary.

    Nwankwo was appointed Deputy President of Ladipo Central Executive.

    He described the chairman-elect, Chukwuma, as a detribalised man who would work hard to protect the traders.

    Chukwuma waved the olive branch to those who contested against him.

  • Ladipo youths reopen N4b suit against Police over alleged killing of four

    Ladipo youths reopen N4b suit against Police over alleged killing of four

    Youths of Ladipo Market, Mushin, a Lagos suburb, under the aegis of Ekwulobia Imeobi Youths Association, have re-opened their 13-year-old suit against the police over alleged extra judicial killings of four of their members.

    They are asking the court for N4billion as compensation and other damages for the families of the deceased.

    The youths alleged that policemen attached to Aguda Surulere Police Station killed the deceased persons.

    The deceased include Anthony Ezenwafor, Chukwuemika Ezeofor, Izuchukwu Ezeama and Alloysius Osigwe.

    The suit was brought in a notice of application for an order to enforce fundamental rights, “Order 2 Rule 1, Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) rules, 2009, Right to Life, Liberty and Dignity as guaranteed by Section 333,34 and 35 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as Amended, Articles 2,5,14,15, and 19 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap A9, Laws of Federation Republic of Nigeria 2004 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court “

    It was filed at Justice Oyindamola Ogala’s court, Lagos High Court, Igbosere.

    The plaintiff in the suit are Akaraka Ezeonara, Chris Okpara,Remigus Ezenwanne and Ifeanyi Okoye.

    The defendants are Attorney–General of the Federation and Inspector-General of Police.

    Other defendants include the Attorney-General of Lagos State, the then Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Chief Marvelous Akpoyibo,  Area ‘C’ Police Command, Surulere and Divisional Police Officer, Aguda Station.

    The plaintiffs are seeking among others, an order of the court declaring that the killing of the deceased by the police officers serving under the Divisional Police Officer (D.P.O) of Aguda Police Station attached to Area C Police Command, Surulere, Lagos on Sunday July 21 was unconstitutional, extra judicial, illegal and an infringement on the right to life, liberty and dignity.

    They asked for an order for payment of the sum of N4 billion as damages and compensations to the families of the said four victims for their alleged unlawful killing.

    They asked for an order  directing the first and fourth defendants or any other persons or body of persons to conduct full and unbiased investigation into the incident and punitive measures taken against those found to have hands in the dastardly act.

    In a 21-paragraph affidavit deposed to in support of the motion, Akaraka averred that the deceased persons were allegedly killed in their apartment at 48, Olaitan Street, Surulere, Lagos on July 21, 2001.

    He claimed that they were apprentice traders under Jude Okoli, a businessman at Ladipo International Market.

    According to him, they  were living in a two-bedroom flat, in the boys quarters at 48 Olaitan Odularu Street, Killo bus stop.

    Akaraka deposed further: “The information I got was that robbers went to the house of the deceased on  July 1, 2001 and began shouting “Alloy, Alloy”,  the name of one of the deceased persons used for the payment of the rent for the apartment.

    “The deceased realising that the people shouting were robbers removed their window glass and escaped out of the building through the window. After the robbers had gone, the deceased went back to their house and not long after the police arrived and immediately shot three (Ezenwafor, Ezeofor and Ezeama) without any effort at arresting them or telling them whatever offences they were alleged to have committed.”

    He said: ”The police later said they shot the deceased on mere suspicion without proof that they were armed robbers.”

    At the resume hearing last Wednesday,  counsel to the defendants, Jonathan Ogunsanya informed the court that they are yet to regularise their position and therefore, sought for an adjournment.

    But counsel to the plaintiffs, Abiola Akerele, told the court that he has served the Attorney–General of the Federation and the Inspector-General of Police.

    He added that since 2001, Aguda Police Station has not replied their request. He urged the court to grant a short adjournment to make them regularise their position.

    Justice  Ogala adjourned the matter till  October 23, for hearing.

  • Ladipo motor spare parts market goes online

    The Ladipo international motor spare parts market has opened an online portal where clients who are too busy to come to the market can purchase their genuine motor spare parts online and have it shipped to them.

    This development was disclosed by the Chairman, Aguiyi Ironsi International Trade Center, Mr. Ajibade Olajoku who said the activities of fraudulent middle men necessitated the new move. He revealed the website as : www.youseeam.com.

    According to Olajoku, there is a network of partners who will supply customers with brand new products which would eliminate the need for middle men. He said the association operates from warehouse B, in the Aguiyi Ironsi International Market where trained artisans are on hand to deliver quality service to their online customers.

    Olajoku: “ We have an internal mechanism to ascertain the products, the new ones have warrantee of one year, while the tokunbo gave guarantee of 30 days. It eliminates the rigour of coming down physically to an organized market.”

    He said the Association is determined to eliminate the middle men who specialize in frustrating the customers. “With www.youseeam.com, we are online for 24 hours. We have engine parts and other car accessories. Though we operate within Ladipo market, we have enough delivery vehicles to satisfy our customers.”

  • Ladipo slams Eagles

    Ladipo slams Eagles

    President-General of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC), Rafiu Ladipo, has slammed the Super Eagles for losing a “winnable match” against France in the last-16 of the 2014 World Cup.

    Ladipo stated that prior to the tournament, he was confident that Nigeria would surpass their previous performances in the competition, but he was left disappointed by their defeat to Les Bleus.

    “I was one of those who came here confident that we will surpass our previous World Cup record. Crashing out in the second round was to me not good enough,” Ladipo fumed.

    “We were there before 16 years ago and attaining that same feat here is really no big deal. Keshi and his boys had the opportunity to make history but they blew it.”

    Ladipo was also critical of the players who staged protests over bonuses prior to the game, accusing them of putting their personal interests ahead of the nation’s.

    “The match against France was winnable if only the team had remained focused before the game. But rather than look at the bigger picture and putting national interest first, the boys were more interested in money, which they got before the game. And with money in their pocket they felt whatever result they get in the game against France won’t be a big deal.”

    Ladipo insists Nigeria’s cause was not helped by what he described as coach Stephen Keshi’s poor selection of players for the mundial.

    “Keshi did not help himself by coming to Brazil with a good number of players who had no business being in the Eagles squad and leaving out players like Ike Uche and Haruna Lukman,” he added.

  • Oyo Government mourns Joseph Ladipo

    Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Mr Adedapo Lam Adesina has expressed sadness at the death of former Super Falcons coach and immediate past Chairman of Shooting Stars Board Late Joseph Ladipo who passed on yesterday (Thursday) after a protracted illness.

    The Commissioner who was shocked upon receiving the news described it as a big loss to the State and Nigeria noting that the late Ladipo was a father who contributed in no small way to football development in Ibadan, Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole and could better be called a legend.

    Mr. Lam-Adesina recalled efforts of Oyo State Government and other well meaning Nigerians at assisting the late Ladipo which saw him ensuring he was taken to University College Hospital (UCH) for proper Medical care and visiting him severally but was sad that death eventually came calling at the time his health was improving.

    He said not even death can erase landmark achievements of Ladipo which saw him becoming the first player to lift club Continental trophy for Nigeria as WNDC captain in 1976, coaching Shooting Stars and Managing Shooting Stars as the Board Chairman among many achievements he recorded during his life time.

    He reiterated the State Government’s resolve to continue to take care of ex-players who have done the State proud during their active days noting that Late Ladipo was also instrumental to convening the first ever Ex-Shooting Stars forum initiated by Oyo State Ministry of Youth and Sports to care for Former Shooting Stars players.

    The Commissioner urged the family to take solace in the good deeds of their father, while promising that government will not leave them at this time they needed support.

  • WAY FORWARD FOR NPFL: Ladipo goes spiritual

    WAY FORWARD FOR NPFL: Ladipo goes spiritual

    President General Nigeria Football Supporters club Rafiu Ladipo, Tuesday in Lagos revealed his prayer skills in the hope that embattled Nigeria Professional Football League can find its feet and begin to live up to expectation.

    Ladipo, who took half of the time alloted him at the media round table held over the league to pray for the success of Nduka Irabor led League Management Company, called on all stakeholders to close ranks as that is the only way success can be achieved.

    “This is not a job for one person or just a section of people, it is one in which all hands must be on deck to move the league forward. We must criticise constructively so as to build not to destroy. The LMC needs everybody just like we need them to chart the way forward,” he said

    Ladipo whose daughter is bidding goodbye to spinster-hood Saturday in Lagos described football as an important part of an average Nigerian which must be given all the support it deserves.

    Some have however queried the contribution of the supporters club to the development of the local league. A cross section of fans who spoke with SportingLife Tuesday, opined that the Ladipo led supporters club only concern itself with the Super Eagles and national teams on international assignment, noting that they ought to put up appearace once in a while at local match venues to further attract fans and add glamour to the league.

  • I was chased out of Ladipo Market, says council chief

    I was chased out of Ladipo Market, says council chief

    Chairman, Mushin Local Government Area, Hon. Babatunde Adepitan has said that he was chased out of the Ladipo Market on various occasions in his bid to ensure peace at the market.

    He further said that the Aguiyi Ironsi Market had to meet certain conditions for it to be re-opened because it was very problematic.

    “Out of the 36 units in Ladipo Market, others are law-abiding and very coordinated except for environmental nuisance. But Aguiyi Ironsi had issues we had to address before it was re-opened. The leadership of the market had some issues that bothered on power tussle which; if not properly addressed, could lead to perpetual chaos which could also degenerate to a serious problem. So, that was why it was shut down.

    On allegations that he was using his powers to intimidate the traders, Adepitan said such claims were unfounded, adding that he was even helpless in handling the situation, just as he alleged that the embattled market leader, Jonathan Okolie was the cause of the problems,” he said.

    The council chief also disclosed that there were instances of breakdown of law and order because the chairman of the traders’ association was alleged to be hell-bent on being in power forever.

    He said: “A market where there is no peace; where we have ‘Bakassi Boys’; where a leader imposes himself on the people as he allegedly refused to conduct elections or handover power after his tenure had elapsed in 2009; where people are allegedly killed and maimed is very uncomplimentary. The market being within my local government, do you expect me to go to sleep? I think that gentleman’s intention was to make himself a life president. That was why he was ready to go after anyone who opposes his ambition.

    “The way he was going, Okolie wanted to take Aguiyi Ironsi Market from the local government. Imagine an individual having the intention of taking over government’s property by force? And the worst part of it all was that he allegedly went about dishing out false propaganda that the market belongs to the Igbo and that the Yoruba wanted to take it away.

    “The issue remains that Okolie had allegedly chased a lot of the traders out of their shops with the help of his ‘Bakassi Boys,’ who he stationed in the market. There are so many aggrieved parties there. And anyone who says I use my office or powers to intimidate him must be a joker. This is because, as the chairman, there were instances I went to the market and I was almost chased out by the hoodlums Okolie stationed there.

    “During one of my visits to the market, he mobilised people to be singing ‘we don’t want you; you want to steal our market.’

    The question here is who owns the market if the local government that is the real owner is now labelled the thief? All documents to show that Aguiyi Ironsi is owned by Mushin Local Government are available.

    “Another problem is that the ‘Bakassi Boys’ that Okolie brought in to foment trouble allegedly slept inside the market, which is against the law. A market place is not a residential place. But he believes that once those boys are there, nobody can overthrow him because they are fully armed. It was also alleged that he has a shrine in that market. If it is true, that indicates that he was using every power to remain as the traders’ leader.

    “If you cast your mind back, you will recall that it took the courage of the chairman of the Special Taskforce to enter into that market before those boys were arrested. The ‘Bakassi Boys’ were alleged to have threatened even the police. They were always dressed on red T-shirts with red caps and were always armed.”

    He said the local government was not able to handle the situation because the situation needed the deployment of massive security apparatus, which no local government can afford.

    “The local government is a third tier government which does not have the machinery to enforce certain level of order. We only have power in the paper and I can show you copies of letters I have written to the law enforcement agencies, including the Inspector-General of Police (IGP). The security apparatus the state government deployed the day the market was shut could not be mustered by any local government.

    On the actual cause of the crisis at Aguiyi Ironsi, Adepitan said the crisis that rocked the market started before his tenure, “even though it became worse following some clandestine ploys by some unscrupulous individuals to hijack Aguiyi Ironsi Market, which is the sole property of Mushin Local Government Area.

    “That land was allocated to Mushin Local Government Area by the former governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Since markets are under the pueview of the local government areas, the state handed over the land to Mushin Local Government Area. The local government at that time was said to have entered into a 25-year lease agreement with a developer, the late Alhaji Hassan Olajoku, who represented Paramo Company, to develop and manage the place. It was agreed that he must remit a certain percentage of the revenue to the local government on monthly basis.

    “Along the line, Paramo allegedly could not develop the place and he was said to have invited some traders in the market to participate in the development of the area. Paramo had a separate agreement with them which was to build and manage for 12 years. We were not party to the agreement but from my understanding, it appears both parties agreed that the traders will build, manage and pay a certain monthly percentage to Paramo for 12 years. Paramo will, in turn, remit some money to the local government on monthly basis.

    “The trouble there has been affecting our internally-generated revenue (IGR). It was alleged that Okolie did not allow Paramo to operate in order to pay us our money. In such situation, you do not expect us to fold our arms when our interest is affected. All we were interested in was that elections should be conducted so that peace will reign and everyone will be happy.”

    On how he intends to ensure peace and security, Adepitan said all the stakeholders have signed an agreement, adding that he was consulting with stakeholders at the Aguiyi Ironsi on the way forward.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Shoppers speak as Ladipo market reopens

    Shoppers speak as Ladipo market reopens

    Ladipo International auto spares market, which was closed for two weeks, has reopened for business. It is the second time the market would be shut for poor environmental conditions, road side trading and illegal businesses. Traders have now resolved to always keep the environment clean to avoid recurrence of such closures.

    The Lagos State Government has set up a task force to oversee the market’s sanitation exercise, remove illegal businesses and road side traders from the market.

    According to the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Service, Mr Muyideen Akinsanya, the market is likely to be relocated from the present location if traders fail to adhere to the stipulated conditions and agreement of the Lagos State government who have sworn to sanitise Lagos as a whole.

    This was contained in an agreement jointly signed by Akinsanya, President Ladipo Central Executive Committee (LACEC), Mr Ikechukwu Animalu, Secretary of Ladipo Central Executive Auto Dealers’ Association; Pastor Steve Paul and Chairman, Mushin Local Government, Hon. Babatunde Adepitan.

    However, some traders and shoppers spoke with The Nation Shopping narrating their ordeal while the market was shut.

    A shopper, Mr Taiwo Adekoya said: “I am happy now that the market is open, because we don’t have to go very far to buy goods. Since this market has been closed, business has been very slow for the traders but now customers will be able to patronise them again.”

    Another shopper, Mr Uchenna Okolie said: “I am happy now that this market is open. For the past two weeks I have not been able to buy spare parts to work in my work shop. But now, I can buy my spare parts the way I used to.”

    Mr Shedrack Bayowa said he feels very happy because he does not have to go far to buy spare parts. “I used to go to Owode Onirin to buy; now that the market is reopened I can save transport fare for something else.”

    Mr Godey Osaghei is not happy because most of the sellers have increased the prices of their goods. “I am here to buy brake pad for my car. The brake pad was sold for N1,200 or N 1,500, but now it is sold for N2,000, N2,500 and this is not encouraging at all.”

    Mr Okey Maduka said: “We are happy now that the shops are open. Since the market was closed, we’ve been going to other markets only to find that their goods are more expensive and also you don’t have the opportunity of choosing exactly what you want. But now, we can buy goods at cheaper rate and also make different choices. Most of us who live around are used to this market” he said.

    Mr Bolaji Ogunade said: “I am happy now that the market is open. But the problem is that the shop owners are not allowed to display their wares outside thereby making it difficult for us to access the goods properly.”

    A truck pusher also expressed joy. He said: “I am happy because I am working again. Since they closed this market, I have been unable to fend for myself; it is my only source of income. But now, I can help shoppers carry their goods and make my money through that.

    A food seller, Mrs Basirat Usman is also happy at the opening of the market. She said: ”Since they closed the market, there has been nobody to sell food to because most of my customers are the shop owners and the shoppers. But now that the market is open, I can sell food and make sales.”

    As the shoppers are happy, some of the road side sellers and shop owners are aggrieved.

    Mrs. Makinde Ololade , a road side seller said: “Now that the shops are open, customers won’t come and buy goods from us again because the owners of the shops have come to take their space. It is going to affect business because I have no other place to go; it is my major source of income.”

    Mrs. Rachael Okoro is a road side plantain seller who told The Nation Shopping that a shop owner only showed mercy and allowed her to stay by his shop for this week, after this week he is going to send her packing.

    Another road side seller said that when the government has time, they’ll come and send us away, but as for now, some of us are still lucky because they don’t have our time yet.

    Mr Solomon Agbator, a shop owner, expressed sadness as he complained that the government officials are not being fair. He complained that most of their goods are being seized. He complained that their shops are too small and that the government should permit them to display their wares outside.