The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ogun state

  • Suspected hoodlums rape 16-yr-old girl to death

    The decomposing body of a 16-year-old girl allegedly raped to death by suspected hoodlums in Isale Ijeun area of Idi Ape in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has been found in a bush in the neighbourhood.

    Aishat Shodeinde was allegedly abducted on Friday, August 16th while returning home by some unidentified men who proceeded to  gang-rape  her to death in the  bush.

    Aishat was, until her tragic death, an SS3 student at an unnamed secondary school.

    She was simultaneously undergoing training as an auxiliary nurse   in a hospital in the neighbourhood.

    Sources said she had repeatedly turned down love advances from one of the suspected hoodlums.

    A search party was launched to find her  soon after her relations realized that she had been unusually  away from home for too long.

    Her corpse was found near a rock by members of  the So Safe Corps when they raided a joint operated by hemp smokers near the bush.

    The matter was reported to a police division at Itoku area of Abeokuta but nothing was done to apprehend the culprits.

    Read Also: Residents protest menace of land grabbers in Ogun

    A source said: “We learnt the girl was accosted by the hoodlums while she was returning home and they forcibly took her to the bush and gang-raped her to death. “The  police divisional headquarters at Oke Itoku was duly informed about the incident but their search for Aishat’s whereabouts did not yield fruits.

    “It was the operatives of So Safe Corps who raided a hemp smoking joint that recovered her body after they perceived odour from the bush near the joint.’’

    A source said that four suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident.

    Police spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi did not respond to enquiries sent to his mobile phone at press time.

    He also did not   pick his phone when he was called.

     

  • Ejigun-Agbede-Itele-Ota: Haven for criminals, hemp-smokers

    Fear of the unknown has gripped residents of Ejigun-Agbede in Ado-Odo Local Government Area of Ogun State. They said the area has become replete with gamblers and hemp-puffing youths. DAMOLA KOLA-DARE reports that residents have called on law enforcement agencies to rid the community of these harmful urchins.

    It is six in the evening; the sun has already departed with its russet radiance oozing gentle rays. It will be nightfall in a jiffy. The dusty, untarred road that leads from the bus stop into the nondescript area of Ejigun-Agbede in Ado-Odo Local Government Area of Ogun State buzzes with people and vehicular activities.

    Right from Kolab bus stop, where commercial motorcycle riders (okada riders) are stationed, under makeshift sheds, groups of young men, women, traders, sex-workers are seen nestling in the heart of the area.

    Moving on into the interior, the atmosphere wears a congenial garb that disarms not until the discovery of the den of gamblers and hemp-puffing youths.

    A visitor is ushered in with the acrid smell of Indian hemp and booze. The place comes across as an industrial chimney of sorts. Known as Orita Ibon, it has become a notorious haven for illegal activities and, as such residents live in perpetual torment.

    In a huddle, a coterie of young boys who seem to forget a future lies ahead, and with apparently no worries at all, are seen feasting on cannabis. They puff away as the smoke disappears to form a medley with the outstripping cumulus clouds.

    Apart from smoking heavily, they also vend cannabis among themselves while chattering idly all day long in what has become the norm.

    This reporter learnt that they have become a menace to the community over the years as they display their stuff in broad daylight with the impunity of an iron-clad dictator. And they are lulled into a false sense of security since some of them are known to be children of landlords in the area.

    Most of them are jobless as they act as overlords in the community and people tend to deify them in order not to draw their ire.

    These lots are street urchins who hold the community by the jugular. Akin to men of the underworld, according to residents, they transform into terrorising agents and commit all sorts of atrocities when it is dark; thus, no one stays out very late for fear of being robbed or raped. The fear of those lads is the beginning of wisdom.

    Southwest Report learnt that efforts to get rid of them have been largely futile. It was gathered that repeated calls to those in authority have been fruitless.

    A young lady who preferred anonymity because of fear of the unknown lamented how her mobile phone was snatched along that road. She noted urgent action should be taken to curb the excesses of those lay about.

    She said: “I was coming back from work that fateful night when some boys waylaid me and told me to surrender my phone. I was helpless. I had to give them the phone so that I won’t be injured. It is high time something was done to put an end to this issue.”

    Some landlord in the area who spoke to our correspondent in confidence stated that those boys constituted a nuisance to the community; hence they should be either dealt with or engaged because most of them are idle.

    He added that daily they assemble around the T-junction only to smoke weed from morning till night.

    He said: “We live in fear here. If you close late from work, then you never can predict what awaits you. In fact, you dare not send your children on errands when it is getting late. We want those in power to help us.”

    Another resident who simply identified himself as Rotimi wants the policemen stationed at the junction (MOPOL Junction) to raid the whole area. He further stated that the situation needs to be addressed before it gets worse. According to him, residents should not be living in perpetual fear of being robbed or attacked at any time.

    Also decrying the situation, a shop owner around the place stated what infuriates her very much is the brazenness with which they (the weed-smokers and urchins) act. She noted that such open display of an illegal ware was indecent because that could influence kids growing around that area negatively.

    Her words: “Those boys should not be allowed in the community anymore because they can be a negative influence to our children who are growing up. You see them day and night around that place smoking, selling weed and even gambling. That should not be allowed anymore because they do everything openly and nobody around can even call them to order. It is terrible,” she said.

    A petition which was written in October last year and addressed to the Director of Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) in Obada, Abeokuta the state capital, was made available to this reporter to underscore why there is an urgent need to put an end to the disturbing issue.

    It reads inter alia: “We are appealing to you to come to our rescue in our community which is replete with hoodlums, weed-smokers and miscreants, among others. These miscreants maim, harass and rob unsuspecting people. The situation is beyond our control; hence, we are imploring you to come to our aid before everything degenerates.”

    However, a police source from the IGP Special Tactical Squad Force stated that the area will be under surveillance and seriously combed and the miscreants will be apprehended.

    He said: “We have confirmed that street boys are causing panic and unrest in the said area. An arrest will be made soonest as we will start to monitor those spots closely.”

  • Residents protest menace of land grabbers in Ogun

    Residents of over a dozen communities at Magboro in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, in their hundreds stormed the Ogun State House of Assembly complex Tuesday, appealing to the state legislators and Governor Dapo Abiodun to help them retrieve their properties from land grabbers.

    The protesting landlords lamented that the Ogun State Anti -Land grabbing laws have been of no effect in curbing the menace of land grabbers or protect victims of land grabbers of incessant attacks.

    The distraught landlords and landladies said they purchased the land upon which they built their homes and having lived there for the past 20 years, were surprised to see suspected land grabbers invade the area last week when many of them had gone to work, sealed some homes with “court possession notices” and outrightly “locked others with padlocks and chains.”

    The spokesman of the residents, Mr Jimi Olusanya, who narrated their ordeals to the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Kunle Oluomo, said the suspected land grabbers allegedly engaged thugs and some police officers from the Ibafo Divisional Police Headquarters to harass and intimidate them, injuring many in the process.

    He appealed to the Ogun Assembly and the Governor on behalf of members of 15 Community Development Associations in Magboro, to intervene and help them recover their properties by invoking the anti – land grabbing laws of Ogun State against the irritant land grabbers.

    Read Also: Police arrest three highway ‘robbers’ in Ogun

    Also, while Magboro residents were yet to leave the Ogun Assembly complex, residents of Ikogbo in Ado Odo Ota Local Government stormed the venue, lamenting attacks and harassment by land grabbers and displayed pictures of wounded victims and structures demolished by the attackers.

    The Ikogbo residents led by the duo of Ade Animashaun and Akindele Abiodun, appealed  to the state lawmakers to save them from the land grabbers.

    But responding, Speaker Kunle Oluomo, assured the affected house owners that the Ogun Assembly he leads, “will do the needful” to address their problems.

    Oluomo, however, added that the legislators only make laws but neither interpret nor execute it when flouted.

     

     

  • Match-fixing: The myth, reality and players behind the illicit ring

    What would drive an accomplished coach, player or administrator to fix a match? To answer this question, Taiwo Alimi reports that illicit manipulation of matches is as old as organised sport and that it has eaten deep into football fabric- home and abroad.

    AS team manager of Nigeria Premier League side Gateway Football Club from 2003 -2005, Nigeria international Tajudeen Disu experienced match-fixing face to face.

    The current supervisor of sport, Surulere Local Government was in charge of day to day running of the Ogun State owned team while it was in the Nigeria elite league.

    Disu witnessed dirty manipulation of league matches at home and away grounds at different times.

    Once, he was accosted by an officiating referee on the eve of a home match in Abeokuta, Ogun State, to bribe his team with N200, 000 to secure a penalty the next day. With N400, 000, the referees were ready to award the home team two fraudulent penalties and an assurance that his team walked away with the three points at stake.

    So, when he was asked if match-fixing is real, the former captain of the defunct Abiola Babes and holder of two FA Cup titles did not flinch before answering. “Yes. It is real. It is rampant and existed long before now. It is in our league and it stared at me in the face while I was managing Gateway FC. In my presence a referee has ordered penalty replay three times until a goal was registered.”

    Sometimes the host team is responsible for fixing a match and other times the away team could be the fixer. “As soon as a referee gets to a match venue, host club will whisk him off to an unknown hotel. Referees are given women (prostitutes), cash and freebies to manipulate matches. For a while, there was a fixed rate of N200, 000 for penalty and if you want two penalties as security for maximum points, you have to part with N400, 000. They come to you with confidence. Sometimes I feel like punching them.”

    The U.S trained claimed his team’s relegation in the 2005 NPL season was due to his ‘not playing game’ with referees.

    The Flying Eagles class ’83 defender added that match-fixing is more common now. “That the standard of leagues in Nigeria is low is a pointer that there is corruption, the higher the corruption the lower the standard.”

    In 2013, Nigeria football witnessed match-fixing at a bigger level when four National League (Second division) teams agreed to fix their matches. One Premier League ticket was at stake.

    With Plateau United Feeders and Police Machine looking to move up on last day round of matches, Plateau United were 7-0 up at half time against Akurba FC, and Police machine 6-0 ahead against Babayaro FC, then the games went from the bizarre to the truly ridiculous.

    Plateau United went on to score 72 goals in the second half to claim an unprecedented 79-0 win, which was enough to finish ahead of Police Machine, who could only manage a 67-0 victory, a game in which someone scored 11 goals, three own goals, and saw four strikes within sixty seconds.

    The Nigerian FA banned all four teams for ten years due to the ‘shameful incident.’

    SAMSON SIASIA

    Last week, FIFA (Football world ruling body) handed a life ban to Nigeria famous coach Samson Siasia, following his indictment as a collaborator in fixing a 2011 Nigeria-Argentina friendly match in Abuja.

    FIFA had said in a statement that Siasia was “guilty of having accepted that he would receive bribes in relation to the manipulation of matches in violation of the FIFA Code of Ethics.”

    The statement reads, “The formal ethics proceedings against Mr Siasia were initiated on February 11, 2019, and stem from an extensive investigation into matches that Mr Wilson Raj Perumal attempted to manipulate for betting purposes.

    “This large-scale investigation was conducted by FIFA via its competent departments and in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders and authorities.

    “In its decision, the adjudicatory chamber found that Mr Siasia had breached Act. 11 (Bribery) of the 2009 edition of the FIFA Code of Ethics and banned him for life from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level.

    “In addition, a fine in the amount of CHF50, 000 has been imposed on Mr Siasia. The decision was notified to Mr Siasia today, the date on which the ban comes into force.”

    However, in stout defence of his reputation, Siasia had said that he never got any communication with FIFA before the decision to ban him was reached. In response to the fact that the football world body said it sent him a mail, the coach said he seldom check is email and as such didn’t get to know about it. Observers also think the allegation against him was too weighty for the world body to have just depended on sending an email without making phone calls or sending him surface mail through courier service to his physical address with them.

    INTERNATIONAL

    MATCH-FIXING

    Adegboyega Onigbinde, FIFA and Confederation of African Federation (CAF) instructor experienced match-fixing at international stage.

    The two-time coach of the Nigeria national team (Super Eagles) in 1984 and 2002 got the bitter pill of match-fixing, what he calls; ‘a megabuck industry’ at the Africa Cup of the Nations (AFCON) and the FIFA World Cup. “Match-fixing is real, big and big people play in it,” he said.

    The octogenarian, attested to an international ring fixing matches at global stages. “When my team played Argentina at the Korea/Japan World Cup, I am very sure the match was fixed. Some of my players were paid to destroy my team. They turned my first team against me in dressing room. I smelled a rat and I told the whole world but I was not taken seriously. We could have won the match against Sweden if I had used the boys I fielded against England. I got a draw with England because I weeded out these elements.”

    Onigbinde further claimed there was foul play in the 1984 AFCON final in Cote d’Ivoire. According to him, “In 1984 Nigeria came second under my watch at the finals of AFCON against Cameroon in Cote d’ivoire, I lost that match because the administrators traded the match and I will reveal their names soon.”

    The Eagles lost the finals against the Indomitable Lions 3-1.

    In 2014, Nigeria was again in the eye of match-fixing storm when self- confessed fixer Wilson Raj Pemural, in his published memoir said he “helped” the Super Eagles to get to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

    The then president of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima said the matter would be investigated but nothing came out of it.

    Onigbinde, who willingly bowed out on FIFA assignments after 20 years,   said the Nigeria local league is enmeshed in match-fixing. “I don’t bother myself with what is going on there. You can see what goes on at match venues. Referees are bought and matches are sold to the highest payer.”

    RAMPANT IN AFRICA

    Austin Popo, the General Secretary of Nigeria Players Union strongly believed Nigeria and some African countries are vulnerable to match-fixing due to poor economy and remuneration of players and coaches.

    In January 2019, former Kenya national coach Paul Nkata and his assistant, George Mandela, were sacked by Kenyan club Kakamega Homeboyz over match-fixing allegations.

    Club owner Cleophas Shimanyula said the vice is out of control in the Kenyan Premier League.

    “In so many clubs in the Kenyan Premier League there is match fixing, but in our team, it had roots. Its only that other clubs fear speaking out,” Shimanyula stated.

    “We have all the evidence and I wonder why the federation has not taken action on Nkata and Mandela.”

    He alleged that Nkata was involved in a betting ring and helped pay his players to flunk games. “He used to give players Sh150, 000 or Sh50, 000 and because the players earn less, they will take the money and do as they are instructed since he (the coach) is their boss. I won’t blame players as much. The coach used to substitute Allan Wanga (their top striker) to avoid scoring goals that could have led to him losing bet.”

    Shimanyula claimed an influential criminal betting ring rules Kenya league.

    Tijani Babangida, Nigeria international and current president of Players Union corroborated Shianyula’s declaration.

    He said, “It is a serious problem locally because players are poorly paid and sometimes they are caught in the web of aggressive betting agents and big time investors. It is an entrapment.

    “However, this is only a tip of the iceberg when you look at what happens across Europe, United States, and Asia, not only in football but in boxing, cricket, athletics and the Olympics. Match-fixing is a megabuck business and it is taking away sports’ credibility, the bigger the stake the higher the fix.”

    Tip of the iceberg

    According to the April 30, 2019 edition of LawInSport (a bi-weekly bulletin), nearly all football leagues in Europe, Asia and America has been investigated by a combine force of FIFA, UEFA and INTERPOL for match-fixing related cases. Amongst them are Estonia, where in 2014, a life ban was imposed on three elite division soccer players on suspicion of match-fixing while two players from the first division were suspended until the end of the year and a second-division player given a life ban.

    In 2005, the ‘Whistle Scandal’ involving millionaire investors bribing two referees to fix results rocked Brazilian football.

    In 2011, the Calciopoli scandal led to the arrest of 40 players and collaborators in separate match-fixing cases in Italy.

    Same year, Singapore was named as the centre for a vast network of fixers and 14 people were arrested there in September.  Wilson Raj Perumal, the Singaporean kingpin was fingered as the main fixer in a bribery of 11 players in the Finnish league.

    China elite club Shanghai Shenhua were also stripped of the 2003 title and 33 players and officials banned for match-fixing.

    In 2011, Turkish top club Fenerbahce was involved in a major match-fixing scandal and Aziz Yildrim, its president was convicted for fixing six matches and offering payments to players and club officials. The scandal exposed 17 fixed matches.

    Last October, French authorities began investigating allegations from the Oct 3, Champions League game in Paris, where PSG won 6-1 over Red Star Belgrade. L’Equipe newspaper reported that a Red Star Belgrade official was suspected of betting five million Euros ($5.8 million) on Red Star losing by five goals.

    FIFA have described match-fixing as a ‘disease’ that could kill football.

    The stake is also getting higher as organised football gets bigger.

    INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organisation) estimates the size of illicit match-fixing market to be around $500bn dollars.

    MODUS OPERANDI

    The main player is the fixer backed by big money bags who are the principal investors. Interpol believed that this racket is controlled by mafia-like criminals with loads of cash and influences to lean on.

    There are many fixers on the field and they are the main agents that make contacts. Fixer is like the man next door, a fervent fan or a bookie, an agent, or even another athlete. He starts by getting closer to a player, coach or administrator. Once this is done, he moves in to gain confidence of the party in question. Once he has gained their trust he will direct them to ensure a specific outcome  such as making sure a minimum number of goals are scored in a particular match. The fixer’s main contact on the pitch will deliver a pre-arranged signal, such as getting booked in the opening five minutes, to show the fix is on.

    Several people can act in order to allow for a fix to happen. As in the case of Nigeria Football League, referees, players and coaches are mainly targeted as the ones with the most direct involvement.

    Goalkeepers are mostly vulnerable and bought to allow a goal from a certain player or a pre-defined score line while concealing pretty well their intentions.

    LawInSport report noted that coaches can also be involved in these schemes. “Coaches use different tactics: resting key players, strange substitutions to reduce the performance of their own team.”

    “Match officials are also a common target for fixers. Small decisions, such as changing the side of a throw-in, conceding a corner or allowing an off-side position to be played can bring significant upheaval to a game.”

    This is common in the Nigeria league.

    Greed

    Onigbinde however laid the blame on greed of coaches and players. “I spent 25 years in CAF and 20 years in FIFA and got a plaque from FIFA commending my works. Though they wanted me to continue I willingly quit. For people like us the world feel that we are fools but who is laughing now. Fixers capitalize on the greed of coaches and players but when they are found out it brings shame.”

    For Disu, some policy of the FA encourages match-fixing. “The Nigeria FA leaves indemnity

    Key figures in alleged match-fixing

    DAN TAN

    Allegedly the ringleader of a global match-fixing network, Tan was arrested in Singapore in September along with 13 others. His network was allegedly responsible for rigging hundreds of matches worldwide, although he may not face trial. Interpol described him as “mastermind and leader of the world’s most notorious fixing syndicate.”

    WILSON RAJ PERUMAL

    A convicted match-fixer, Raj Perumal is understood to have rigged a series of fixtures over the past 30 years. He fled to England from Singapore after skipping bail in 2009 on charges of running over a police officer and spent a year in a Finnish prison after being convicted of bribing 11 players in 2011. The fixer at the centre of the recent allegations described him as “the king, my boss”

  • Ogun to demolish houses harbouring kidnappers

    Ogun State governor Dapo Abiodun, again warned that houses harbouring kidnappers or being used by kidnappers to perpetrate acts of kidnapping would be pulled down and their certificates of occupancy revoked.

    Abiodun who issued the warning at the inauguration of reinvigorated Ogun State Security Trust Fund, assured that with the launch of the fund, the full security architecture for internal safety of lives and property has been fully emplaced.

    The Governor added that he has fulfilled yet another promise to provide good governance to the people

    He disclosed that the amended Ogun State Security Trust Fund law is a private sector-driven programme that would support the state government in addressing various security challenges facing the state.

    “It is a demonstration of our government’s unreserved commitment towards ensuring that the people have a good life and pursue their legitimate business in a secured environment.

    “The aim of these security trust fund is to have the private sector support the government in addressing various security challenges facing our dear state, these new and reinvigorated trust fund will be responsible for sourcing and efficiently deploying the resources towards achieving a safe and secured environment,” the Governor said.

    “It is our sincere belief that with this Trust Fund, our security will be further strengthened to provide a more secured environment where our people will live a more prosperous life,” he said.

    He noted that the new security trust fund would be responsible for sourcing and efficiently deploying the resources towards achieving a safe and secured environment,  adding that it would be uncharitable to believe that the state could single handedly provide all the funds that would be needed to ensure the security of lives and property.

    According to him, the inauguration of the security trust fund was another approach towards giving the people, individuals and corporate organizations a window of opportunity to contribute towards the overall development of the state.

    He urged people to have it at the back of their mind that resources given towards actualizing a sound security network would be prudently used by the team set up to manage the states security trust fund.

    The committee has Mr. Bolaji Balogun as Chairman, (Rtd AIG) Olushola Subair,  Kamar, Chief Financial Officer, Access Bank,Seyi Kumapayi, Group Executive, Commercial Banking, First Bank, Seyi Oyefeso, Executive Director, Wema Bank, Wole Akinleye, while Mr. Opeyemi Agbaje would serve as the Executive Secretary.

    Read Also: Five die, 36 injured in Ogun road accident

    The governor tasked the committee to provide money for the acquisition and deployment of security equipments and such human material and financial resources that shall be necessary to prevent crime and preserve public security in the state, promote the efficiency of all the security agencies in the state, to hold for the benefit of all residents of the state, gift, property and money for the purpose of crime prevention and public security in the state.

    He also  tasked them to mobilize funding and resources in cash or kind from the public private, corporate, institutional or all other sources and to manage those resources in a transparent and accountable manner for the purpose of public security in the state, reserve part of the fund for the training and retraining of security personnel in the state and to do all other things and perform all other functions for the purpose of public security as and contained in the Ogun State Security Trust Fund Law of 2011, as amended by the Ogun State Security Trust Fund amendment law of 2019.

    In his response, the chairman of the Ogun State Security Trust Fund, Mr. Bolaji Balogun acknowledged the effort of the state governor, to have a secured state, describing him as a man of history, who came in as governor at the right moment.

    Balogun assurred that the Committee would work hard and not disappoint the state, saying the activities of the states security trust fund would be transparently done.

  • …FCMB pledges more support for festival, hails Awujale

    First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has congratulated the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, chiefs, age groups, all indigenes, friends and well-wishers of Ijebuland on this year’s Ojude Oba festival held in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, on August 13.

    The bank reiterated its commitment to support activities that promote and add value to Nigeria’s culture which is  capable of boosting tourism, trade and the hospitality sector. The lender added that its participation will, as usual, be grand, exciting and rewarding for the thousands of people within and outside the country that would grace the fiesta.

    In a goodwill message to the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba  Adetona, the founder of FCMB Group, who is also the Olori Omo-Oba Akile Ijebu, Otunba (Dr) Olasubomi Balogun, expressed his gratitude to the paramount ruler for his selflessness and exemplary leadership for  59 years he has been the paramount ruler of Ijebuland.

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

    The message delivered on his behalf by the Group Head, Corporate Affairs of the bank, Mr. Diran Olojo, Otunba Balogun, said: “As your children and subjects, the period provides us the platform and opportunity to pay you homage in demonstration of our affection for a very special and exceptional father”.

    He further said: ‘’Being the Olori Ebi (the head of the family) and as your Olori Omo-Oba (the head of princes and princesses), I will continue to lead the way in showing our appreciation to you.  As you attend to people’s different requests, I wish to reiterate that the annual paying of homage should not be the only occasion we should show our appreciation. This is because you have consistently earned our affection and adulation, Kabiyesi’’.

    In the same vein, the Group Chief Executive of FCMB Group Plc, Mr. Ladi Balogun, congratulated the monarch for upholding the values of Ijebuland and raising the status of the event over the years.

    He said: ‘’The Ojude Oba festival is a rallying point to promote the sustainable growth and development of our community. We recognise that celebrating our heritage is an important part of our national identity, a means of educating visitors and future generations about our history and an opportunity to measure our growth, development and sustainability.

    “For us at FCMB, the Ojude Oba festival is not just another event. It is a pride to us being a major platform through which we reaffirm our commitment to the community and promote our nation’s cultural diversity. We will continue to support all activities of the state with focus on the economic and social development. We are committed to the longevity of the Ojude Oba festival and are proud to be associated with its grandeur’’.

  • Lbee out with ‘Santoroni’ video

    Budding artiste Ojelade Olanrewaju Oluwafe who is more known as LBee, has released the video to his new single, ‘Santorini,’ penultimate Wednesday.

    ‘Santorini’ which is available on all digital music stores and streaming services worldwide, comes after the release of his track, ‘Fortune and Fame’ in which he featured 9ice.

    Read Also: DJ Cuppy’s Gelato single tops music charts

    Currently under the management of YOS records, LBee is set to carve a niche for himself in the highly competitive Nigerian music industry.

    LBe who hails from Abeokuta, Ogun State said he was influenced by 2 Baba and Burna Boy.

  • Soldiers kill one, injure others in Ogun

    Armed men suspected to be soldiers allegedly roamed into Isheri, a border community between Ogun and Lagos State, rupturing the peaceful celebration of the indigenes on the third day of the Eid – el – Kabir with shooting, killing one and injuring four others.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Police Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who made this known in a release on Wednesday, stated that the Police Commissioner, Bashir  Makama, has ordered a full scale investigation into the incident, ostensibly to bring the perpetrators to justice.

    Abimbola, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), added the incident occurred on Tuesday  and that the suspected soldiers were believed to have come from Ikeja military Cantonment on posting to Kara market but left the area for Isheri – Olofin, resulting in a clash with the people.

    “Credible Information at the disposal of the Command has it that on the said date,four men of the Nigerian Army believed to be from Ikeja Cantonment and posted to Kara Market, left their beats and went to Isheri Olofin, a border town between Lagos and Ogun State where the indigenes of the town were celebrating their annual “Isheri Day.”

    Read Also: Ogun set to support pig business

    “The Soldiers, on getting there, had a minor disagreement with some youths which made the soldiers to start shooting sporadically into the air. Consequently, one Damilare Adelani was hit by bullets and he died on the spot. The ugly incident infuriated the people at the scene who in turn reacted violently against the soldiers leaving one of the soldiers and three other civilians injured.

    “The Soldiers quickly took their injured colleague to a hospital (name with-held) where they met one of the injured civilians being attended to by a Medical Doctor on duty.

    “The Statement from the officials of the hospital reveals that the Soldiers ordered the Doctor on gun-point, to leave the injured man and attend to their colleague. They then dragged the patient out of the bed and subsequently stabbed him to death with a Bayonet attached to the muzzle of his rifle.

    “The Command has contacted the military authorities in Ogun State and efforts are in place to ensure that the suspected killer(s) are brought to book,” he stated.

     

     

  • Sallah: Gov Abiodun felicitates with Muslims

    Governor Dapo Abiodun has felicitated with the Muslims in Ogun State and Nigeria as they joined the rest of their brothers and sisters all over the world to celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Kabir.

    Abiodun while wishing the Muslim faithful a happy celebration and many more of Eid-el-Kabir in good health and prosperity enjoined them to emulate Prophet Ibrahim’s patience, perseverance, steadfastness, obedience and commitment to good things.

    The Governor who made this known in his goodwill message on Sallah day, said such attributes are also vital ingredients required for the successful implementation of the “Building our Future Together” agenda of his administration.

    He stated: “On behalf of your Government, I wish all our Muslims faithfuls a happy Eid-el-Kabir celebration. I pray that we will celebrate many more of Eid-el-Kabir in good health and prosperity.

    “There are numerous lessons to be learnt from the story that led to Eid- el-Kabir. After very many years wait by Prophet Ibrahim and his wife, Sarat, to have a child, he also heeded God’s directive to sacrifice the only son to God.

    “It was at this point that God replaced the intended sacrificial son with a ram. That was a strong demonstration of patience, perseverance, steadfastness, obedience and commitment. This clear test of faith was what led to the festival we are celebrating today.

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    “As we celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir Festival, it is important that we also take note of the lessons of the festival. We should all emulate Prophet Ibrahim’s patience, perseverance, steadfastness, obedience and commitment as vital ingredients toward the successful implementation of the “Building our Future Together” Agenda.

    “Let me assure all our people that our Administration remains irrevocably committed to providing focused and qualitative governance that will create an enabling environment for Public-Private Sector Partnership (PPP) which is fundamental to creation of an enduring economic development and individual prosperity for the people of Ogun State and all those who have made our dear State their home, wherever they may reside or do business in the State.

    “All we ask is your continued support, cooperation, and prayers. I have no doubt in my mind that our patience, perseverance, steadfastness, obedience and commitment will never go unnoticed before God. Together, we will work hand-in-hand on this path of glory to make our dear State the Ogun State of our dreams.

    “Let me enjoin you all to celebrate with moderation. We must all remember that even this celebration is an act of worship to Allah. And, I pray that God accepts all our worship as Ibadah. May He also grant us good rewards in this life and hereafter.”

  • Ogun elders applaud Abiodun on committees

    MEMBERS of the Ogun State Elders Consultative Forum have applauded the State government for setting up Committees to look into various issues affecting the State.

    The Coordinator of the Forum, Chief Taiwo Alimi, who gave the commendation when the Forum paid a courtesy call on the state Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun in his office at the Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, said the Committees were necessary to know the problems on the ground with a view to finding solutions to them, as “something cannot be built on nothing”.

    He expressed the hope that the Committees would carry out their assignments diligently and be objective in order to give a workable recommendations to the government.

    Speaking on behalf of the Chairman of the Forum, Justice Bola Ajibola,  Olori Yetunde Gbadebo, said the 135-member Forum is made up of prominent Elders who have made their marks in the service of Ogun State and Nigeria as a whole.

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    She said members of the Forum have dedicated themselves to the service of the State and have carried out some works in the past which they believe would help the present administration achieve its set goals.

    Also speaking, a member of the Forum, Prof. Biyi Afonja, urged the Governor to be equitable in the distribution of infrastructure and social amenities to all parts of the State to enable the people feel a sense of belonging.

    Responding, the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun said he would tap from the experience of elder statemen and women in running the affairs of Ogun State.

    Prince Abiodun noted that the State was lucky to have such an array of successful elders who have distinguished themselves and done the State proud in their various fields of human endeavours.

    “It is unwise to do away with the wise counsel and wisdom of the elders. We will tap from our referred elders to reposition our economy, education, education and other sectors to the benefit of our people”, Governor Abiodun said.

    He reteirated that his administration would focus on good governance by being fair, accountable, equitable and trustworthy to earn the confidence of Investors and people to invest and reside in the State.

    While reeling out policies and programmes of his government, the Governor said efforts would be geared towards revamping the economy, education, agriculture, infrastructure and health, adding that the digitisation of the State and youth employment would also receive a boost.

    He pledged to be open to the Forum’s suggestions and contributions that would add value to the well-being of the people, assuring the elders of his support and regards at all times.