The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Makinde

  • JUST IN: Makinde makes fresh appointments

    JUST IN: Makinde makes fresh appointments

    Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde, has announced a fresh round of appointments following his return from a four-week annual leave on Monday, September 9.

    Engr. Akin Akinleye was appointed as the Executive Assistant on Sports Development.

    The governor also approved appointments to three Boards: Oyo State Pacesetter Transport Service, Oyo State Pension, and the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State.

    The appointments were confirmed in a letter signed by the Chief of Staff, Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi.

    Read Also: Police confirm abductions of Makinde’s ally in Ibadan

    The new appointees are as follows: Oyo State Pacesetter Transport Service Board: Mogaji Oladosu Ademola (Vice Chairman, Oyo South); Hon. Akinsola Ismael (Member, Oyo South); Mrs Oluwakemi Roseline Alabi (Member, Oyo North); Alhaji Mojeed Agbaje (Member, Oyo North); Oladipupo Christiana Oluwarinu (Member, Oyo Central); and Mr Oyegbami Oyewale (Member, Oyo Central).

    The new appointees to the Oyo State Pension Board are Hon. Oluwatubosun Babarinde (Member, Oyo Central) and Adeniyi Busola Esther (Member, Oyo South).

    The governor also appointed the trio of Engr. Mudasiru Busari (Member, Oyo North); Ajao Ibrahim Akinsanmi (Member, Oyo Central) and Prince Olumuyiwa Akinbiyi (Member, Oyo South) to the Board of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State.

    All the appointments are with immediate effect.

  • Makinde to build four ultra-mordern motorparks in Ondo

    Makinde to build four ultra-mordern motorparks in Ondo

    A lawmaker representing Ondo East/West federal constituency at the House of Representatives Hon. Abiola Makinde has laid the foundation of four ultra-mordern motor parks in Ondo as part of his effort to boost transportation system in the State.

    The millennium motor parks part of the constituency projects of the lawmaker are sited in Ife garage, Ondo town, Bolorunduro, the administrative headquarters of Ondo East as well as Oka and Akure motor parks in Ondo town.

    Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony of the projects, the lawmaker said construction of the ultra-modern motorparks was part of his move towards enhancements of aesthetic and environmental development of Ondo Kingdom as well as to authenticate status of his constituency.

    He hinted that the projects aside ensuring smooth transportation system after completion and became functional will also create job opportunities and conducive business environment for the people of his constituency.

    The lawmaker explained the project was also part of the continuation of his laudable and far-reaching achievements since he assumed office as the representatives of his people which he mentioned to include provision of instructional materials for students, award of scholarships to students of various higher institutions, employment opportunities for youths, sponsoring graduates to further their studies abroad.

    Read Also: We will challenge you on Ondo motor park project, Ekimogun Roundtable tells Rep member Makinde

    Other achievements mentioned by the lawmaker were business empowerments, free healthcare services to the elderly people, provision of free food and clothes to the needy, provision of palliatives to constituents, facilitation of interest-free loans to market women and artisans.

    The list also include construction of street roads, culverts and bridges to needed streets, communities and settlements across the federal constituency, provision of solar street lights and recently, the construction of  six blocks of classrooms at St. Andrews’ Grammar School Ondo to mention but a few.

    Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Old Field Nigeria Limited and contractor handling the project, Chief Oluseyi Omotoso, promised to deliver standard projects at stipulated time in conformity with the bill of quantity given to him by the agency in charge of supervising the projects.

    The MD, who commended the lawmaker and described him as a God given talent to the people of the constituency urged people to continue supporting him and ensure maintenance of all the projects executed by him.

    Also, the representative of Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute (NIBRRI) Mr Chukwuma, represented by Tosin Akinmade, commended Makinde over his initiatives and his collective efforts in ensuring the smooth kick off of the project.

    He also affirmed the generous support of the Honourable Makinde who he disclosed has donated one thousand and five square metres of interlock and other materials for the speedy take off of the project.

    The Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Ife motor park Ondo town, Com. Abija who spoke on behalf of other driver unions, commended the lawmaker over the project, he equally described him as an experienced politician who promises and works towards fulfilling the promises.

    Chief Johnson Akinlosotu, Hon. Dr. Jibayo Adeyeye,  Esq,  Mr Bada Maruf, Ondo West Local Government Education Secretary and Chief  Mrs Nike Olawoye (Mama Aserere) all testified to the good works of  the legislator in the last couple of years he assumed the position of the representatives of the Ondo East/West Federal Constituency.

    They submitted that they all believed that the construction of the ultra-modern motor parks will not only add to the  aesthetics and economic activities of  Ondo city, but an addition to the profile achievements of  Honourable Makinde in no small measures when completed for the overall development of Ondo kingdom.

  • Makinde, Sanwo-Olu hail Isese adherents

    Makinde, Sanwo-Olu hail Isese adherents

    Oyo State Acting Governor Bayo Lawal has said the administration of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde would continue to promote and support cultural and traditional heritage.

    He said this yesterday at the grand finale of the 2024 Isese Festival with the theme: “Isese Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”, held at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan.

    The acting governor, who hailed the festival as colourful for its rich entertainment content, said Isese Festival was a testament to how the Governor Makinde administration had been promoting religious harmony in the state since he assumed office in 2019.

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    He added that besides the development of agribusiness, an area in which the state had a comparative advantage, the state government had also been working hard to develop culture and tourism, to attract more investors, thereby expanding the economy of the state.

    Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has hailed the people of Southwest, particularly traditional rulers and traditional religious worshippers, for upholding the cultural heritage of the Yoruba.

    He said this yesterday in his statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Gboyega Akosile, to commemorate the ‘Isese’ Day in Lagos.

    Sanwo-Olu, who is also the chairman, Southwest Governors’ Forum, commended his colleagues in the Southwest for declaring public holiday in their states to celebrate the day.

    “The world has become a global village with an attendant result in multiculturalism. The Yoruba have unique culture and tradition that must be preserved for future generations.’’

  • Re: Makinde and the Alaafin stool

    Re: Makinde and the Alaafin stool

    SIR: The piece with the above topic The Nation of August 18, written by Kola Amzat made an interesting reading especially because it addresses an issue that has been of concern for a long time. Alaafin stool needs no introduction unless to a layman including those not conversant with Yoruba nay African history and tradition. Alaafin is a foremost traditional ruler in Yoruba land. Alaafin was and remains the arch custodian of Yoruba history and tradition. The stool is an eye through which Yoruba civilization could be seen.

    There is no doubt that all past monarchs including the iconic late Alayeluwa Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III performed brilliantly well in preserving not only the sanctity of the Alaafin stool but the heritage of the Yoruba both at home and the diaspora.

    With all these, I wonder how the reverend stool could be made vacant for this long. Amzat asserted in the piece that the stool has been vacant for almost 17 months whereas the stool of the Soun in Ogbomoso and those of the Olubadan in spite of controversies that trailed the succession process in those towns have been settled.

    My question is what is delaying the selection of a new Alaafin? Rumour making the round previously was that the Oyo Mesi, the Council of State in Oyo collected bribes from the candidate; that it was as a result of this that some respected kingmakers were dragged to the EECC which should have never been.

    In my own view, I believe Ibadan elite have an agenda to cripple the wings of the Alaafin stool by installing an unpopular person as Alaafin of Oyo who unlike Oba Adeyemi III would be a puppet.  Oba Adeyemi III was nettle on the side of many governors of the state. He was an obstacle to the elevation of the Olubadan stool to be primus inter pares in Oyo State. Senator Rashidi Ladoja began the idea when he was the governor but failed. Chief Adebayo Alao Akala of blessed memory was used in his time to execute the agenda by forcing the state House of Assembly to make a law that made the chairmanship position of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs rotational among Alaafin, Olubadan and Soun.

    Read Also: 30 lawyers to offer free legal services against Ondo Rep Makinde

    Hitherto, the position was the preserve of the Alaafin of Oyo due to his position as the Baba Ogun (the rallying point) of all Obas in Oyo State from whom many descended as children like many Oke Ogun and Ibarapa Obas, through whose influence many got promoted to the Obaship position and being leader of many right from Ile Ife like many classical Obas in Ogbomoso zone. Creation of High Chief Obas in Ibadan is part of the agenda to give Ibadan more say in the council of Obas whenever it is reconstituted to dominate the traditional institution as Ibadan dominated Oyo State for the sake of Ibadan.

    Oyo leaders of opinion and especially the elderly ones in the Alaafin chieftaincy families have their own faults in the failure of Oyo government in appointing an Alaafin all the while. If they are not complicit in the state government ploy, they should have mounted pressure on same to make sure the foremost throne is not desecrated.

    Engineer Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State is a known fighter for just causes even if he is a lone ranger. It is high time he clears air on the reasons why the government is dragging its foot on the installation of a new Alaafin. The position and functions of an Alaafin in Yoruba are strategic to leave throne vacant for this long. Oyo State government has to be proactive in installing an Alaafin and by extension Onikoyi whose stool has also been vacant for a long time.

    •   Adewuyi Adegbite, ayekooto05@gmail.com
  • Makinde’s wife seeks nursing mother’s enhancement, promotion of breastfeeding

    Makinde’s wife seeks nursing mother’s enhancement, promotion of breastfeeding

    The wife of Oyo state governor, Mrs. Tamunominini Makinde on Thursday, August 8, called for policies that will support nursing mothers and promote exclusive breastfeeding across the state.

    She emphasised the importance of supporting breastfeeding, stressing that it contributes to the health and well-being of future generations.

    Speaking in Ibadan at an event to commemorate this year’s World Breastfeeding Day, the governor’s wife urged Nigerians particularly people in the state to invest in the health and well-being of their children for the sake of the future.

    Mrs. Makinde made the remarks in Ibadan during an event marking this year’s World Breastfeeding Day.

    She urged Nigerians, particularly those in the state, to prioritize the health and well-being of their children for the benefit of the future.

    According to her, “Together, we can make a good change in the health and well-being of our future generations.

    Read Also: Makinde and the Alaafin stool

    She said: “Breastfeeding is more than just nourishing your children but also serves as a connection between you and your children, I urge you to support nursing mothers in their breastfeeding journey.”

    Mrs. Makinde, while interacting with new mothers and healthcare providers emphasised said breastfeeding provides essential nutrients and antibodies that protect against infections.

    She also stressed the need for nursing mothers to have access to conducive environments that support breastfeeding.

    At the event, food like rice, beans, gari, and oil were shared with the nursing mothers, while they also went home with cash courtesy of the wife of the governor.

    Mrs. Makinde’s initiative has been hailed as a welcome development by healthcare experts and nursing mothers in the state.

    They praised her commitment to promoting the health and well-being of mothers and children, saying it would have a positive impact on the state’s healthcare indices.

  • LG Autonomy: Don’t let Makinde’s agenda land you in jail, Oyo APC cautions chairmen

    LG Autonomy: Don’t let Makinde’s agenda land you in jail, Oyo APC cautions chairmen

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state has cautioned the executive chairmen and career officers in all 33 local government councils across the state against allowing Governor Seyi Makinde to lead them into potential legal trouble.

    The APC warned that if the council leaders do not distance themselves from Governor Makinde’s efforts to undermine the recent Supreme Court decision granting financial autonomy to local governments, they might face legal consequences.

    The party’s publicity secretary, Olawale Sadare, accused Governor Makinde of a lack of respect for constitutional democracy and the rule of law.

    The statement also accused the governor of having an excessive ambition to make Oyo State a separate republic from Nigeria to position himself as a figure to be worshipped.

    The statement pointed out that Governor Makinde has emerged as the only state governor among the 36 states to criticize the Supreme Court’s verdict, describing it as a distraction.

    Sadare said the governor also inaugurated a special committee to review the judgement and mandated members of the committee to come up with recommendations which would enable him to maintain the status quo as it concerns the joint account arrangement between states and local government councils.

    The statement reads, “The whole world did not realize the magnitude of damage done to the third tier of government in Oyo state in the last 62 months until Gov. Makinde came out openly to castigate both the federal government and the Judiciary on the issue of financial autonomy.

    Read Also: LG autonomy not protests, will address bad governance, NRM tells youths

    “The governor has been fighting tooth and nail to promote an unpopular call for a reversal of the verdict which has been described, by most people, as a victory for the masses. Unfortunately for Gov. Makinde, his recent actions have confirmed the allegations bothering on the embezzlement of council funds being levelled against him by our Party (APC) and others.

    “It is now crystal clear that the PDP governor had mapped out an 8-year plan aimed at looting LGA funds but got his dream truncated by the celebrated verdict of the Supreme Court. For the avoidance of doubt, the decision of the Apex Court remains sacrosanct even if he (Makinde) refused to agree to it.

    “Meanwhile, Oyo state is a fraction of the nation called Nigeria and it is wrong for a governor to claim ‘sovereignty’ even as he depends on the federal government handouts and allocations to pilot the affairs of his state.

    “On the final note, the reported withdrawal of the imposed 33 council chairmen from ALGON is just a smokescreen as we are aware of a script already handed to them by their principal.

    “There is absolutely nothing Gov. Makinde can do to make him the recipient of the allocations due to 33 LGAs again and any chairman or career officer who compromises the provision of the law on account of blind loyalty or unfounded fear would pay for it as efforts are also in top gear to make the governor and other accomplices account for the trillions of naira already mismanaged at the expense of the LGAs.”

  • Makinde signs bill to rename First Technical varsity after Ajimobi

    Makinde signs bill to rename First Technical varsity after Ajimobi

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has signed into law, a bill renaming state-owned First Technical University after Senator Abiola Ajimobi, his predecessor.

    Signing the bill titled: “Bill for the Establishment, Incorporation, Constitutions and Functions of Abiola Ajimobi Technical University, Ibadan and Other Related Matters” into law yesterday, Governor Makinde reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving the education sector, noting that the government had been investing in the required human and materials resources needed in the sector.

    Read Also:Makinde signs bill to rename First Technical University after Ajimobi

    Wife of the late Ajimobi, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, who spoke through her son, Idris, appreciated the honour bestowed on the family and thanked Governor Makinde for remembering the contributions of her husband to the development of Oyo State.

  • Makinde signs bill to rename First Technical University after Ajimobi

    Makinde signs bill to rename First Technical University after Ajimobi

    Governor Seyi Makinde, has signed into law the bill renaming state-owned First Technical University after Senator Abiola Ajimobi, his immediate predecessor. 

    While signing the bill entitled: “Bill for the Establishment, Incorporation, Constitutions and Functions of Abiola Ajimobi Technical University, Ibadan and Other Related Matters” into law on Wednesday, Makinde reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving the education sector, noting the government had been investing in the required human and materials resources needed in the sector.

    He said the Executive Council approved the Executive Bill repealing the First Technical University Law, 2012 to be replaced by a law that will capture the structural changes the university will go through, including a change of name.

    Read Also: We’ll continue to invest in projects that support sustainable development, says Makinde

    He said: “You may recall last year that during the convocation of the institution, I made an announcement for the change of name to honour my predecessor, under whose administration the university was established.

    “So, this new law will codify the change of name, because this administration does not govern by a fiat. We ensure that right governance processes are followed. The new law also means that the University can now appoint a Governing Council to govern its affairs.”

    The Governor informed that a Governing Council would soon be constituted for the university, adding that he had approved the university’s request for N1.4bn to upgrade the infrastructure.

    Speaking on his achievements in the education sector, the Governor noted that his administration had spent between N10 billion and N15 billion to bring educational infrastructure up to speed, adding that it was also renovating 105 primary school buildings through a World Bank grant and 100 secondary schools under the state’s 10 billion yearly intervention for education.

    On tertiary institutions, Makinde equally assured of continuous provision of subventions as well as carrying out of capital projects.

  • We’ll continue to invest in projects that support sustainable development, says Makinde

    We’ll continue to invest in projects that support sustainable development, says Makinde

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde   has reiterated that his administration will continue to invest in projects that are of comparative advantage to the state, to support his vision of sustainable development.

    He said the upgrade of the Ibadan Airport, Alakia, to an international standard is the second comparative advantage his administration is exploring towards expanding the economy.

    The governor said this yesterday while inaugurating an 11-man Ibadan Airport Upgrade Project Committee, headed by a former Commissioner for Finance in Oyo State, Mr. Bimbo Adekanmbi, at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

    He said his administration invested in the development of agribusiness, which was the first comparative advantage of the state, noting that the upgrade of the airport would support agribusiness and contribute to the expansion of the state’s economy.

    The governor said the decision to upgrade Ibadan Airport was taken based on science, logic and data, noting that it was a strategic investment that would endure.

    Read Also: Tinubu inaugurates southern Nigeria traditional rulers

    He added that it had been part of his plans since the inception of his administration.

    The state government built 500,000- litre aviation fuel storage and dispensing facility, built a VIP lounge and donated fire truck and pick-up van to the airport as part of measures to upgrade the facility.

    Makinde said: “Today marks another milestone in the history of Oyo State, as we inaugurate the committee that will work towards the actualisation of the Ibadan Airport upgrade.

    “They will start with the preliminary activities before the groundbreaking ceremony for an international standard airport in Ibadan. We are all excited about this and for good reasons. Our vision for investing in a second comparative advantage of our city to support the comparative advantage in agribusiness is coming together.

    “Historically, Ibadan is a nodal city. It was a meeting point for commercial activities and also a stopover as people went to other parts of the country. That was how Ibadan developed. If you take a look at the map of Nigeria, you will see that Ibadan is a major entry point to the Northern part of Nigeria and even some other states of the Southwest.

    “We have preliminary data to support this move and part of the work this committee will be doing is providing us with the definite numbers through a comprehensive passenger data analysis and ensuring the groundwork is laid to fulfil requirements for building an international airport as stipulated by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).”

  • Makinde mourns Ibadan Airport general manager

    Makinde mourns Ibadan Airport general manager

    …says he contributed to devt of aviation industry

    Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde, has expressed his condolences to the family of the late general manager of Ibadan Airport, Alakia, Ibadan, Otunba Ojo Adedeji.

    The governor lauded the late GM’s contributions to the development of the aviation industry in Oyo state and Nigeria as a whole, saying his death has created a vacuum.

    Governor Makinde said this in a tribute read by his Chief of Staff, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi, at the night of tributes and service of songs held in honour of the late GM, at Ibadan Airport, on Thursday.

    The governor prayed to God to grant repose to the soul of Otunba Ojo while also granting his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

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    He said: “May the soul of our brother rest in perfect peace. The exit was untimely but we will always remember him because he contributed his portion to the development of the aviation industry in Oyo State and Nigeria.

    “I pray for strength for the entire family to bear the irreparable loss. Sleep well, dear brother.”

    Speaking on behalf of the family, the son of the deceased, Afolabi Ojo appreciated the governor for the state government’s support as they bid their father farewell.