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Tag: Ogun state

  • Pastors held for ‘killing’ in-law

    The police in Ogun State have arrested two self-acclaimed pastors of God of Possibilities Church, Ibafo, for allegedly killing their brother-in-law, Peter Chukwuyem.

    The suspects, Chukwuka Stephen, 43, and Ejim Stephen, 39, both brothers, allegedly committed the offence on February 5, but were arrested on February 24.

    It was gathered that the deceased married the suspects’ elder sister and brought them to live with his family from their village in Delta State.

    The suspects were said to have converted the frontage of the man’s home at Papa Ibafo to a church, which the deceased found unpleasant and ejected them.

    Read also: Police: kidnappers on the prowl in Plateau

    As a result, the brothers developed hatred for their sister’s husband and allegedly killed him on his farm on February 5.

    Police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi said the suspects initially denied committing the crime, but when they were confronted by the man’s children, they confessed.

    He said: “”Police Commissioner Ahmed Iliyasu has ordered the transfer of the suspects to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for investigation and prosecution.”

     

  • 56,073 pupils battle for 108 TV quiz slots

    A total of 56,073 secondary school pupils sat for the first stage of the 2019 COWBELLPEDIA Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz Show.

    The number marks a 34 per cent increase over the 41,730 who wrote the examination last year.

    In the last four years, 195,474 pupils have taken the first stage examination of the competition sponsored by Promasidor Nigeria under its Cowbell milk brand.

    The result of State One examination is expected to be announced in June with the best 108 students (54 each for junior and senior categories) proceeding to the Television Quiz Show stage.

    They will progress based on their performance in the preliminary, semi-finals and final rounds which would be aired in 13 episodes by major television stations across the country.

    An Ibadan-based education psychologist, Mr. Agboola Alphonso, praised the Cowbellpedia for stimulating the interest of young students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

    “I move round the state, from Ibadan to Iseyin and even to Abeokuta, Ogun State, in the course of my work, and what I have seen about the Cowbellpedia effects have been wonderful. I salute the efforts and pray for more strength for the company and Cowbell milk,” he said.

    At the start of the competition, the Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria, Anders Einarsson, said the overall best prize was N2 million for the junior and senior secondary categories winners – in addition to an all-expense paid educational excursion outside the country.

    The first runner up will get N1.5million, and the second runner-up to get N1 million in each category.

  • Ogun polls: True reflection of people’s will, says APC

    THE Ogun State All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday appraised the March 9 governorship elections in the state and declared that the outcome was a true reflection of the will of the people.

    The party  said it was “heart-warming, that despite the harassment, intimidation and sponsored violence from known quarters”, Ogun people spoke with their votes on who they preferred to govern them for the next four years.

    In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Tunde Oladunjoye, in Abeokuta,  the party observed that the election recorded over 158,000 voters more than the National Assembly elections.

    He described it as a demonstration that Ogun people were really determined to choose who becomes their governor.

    The statement reads: “It is beyond reasonable doubt that our candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun, won fair and square as confirmed by all other candidates in the governorship election, except the sore loser and his paymaster.

    Read also: APC: why we picked Lawan for Senate President

    “Our people showed more concern in the  governorship election. While the total votes for the Senate were 549, 909, the  House of Representatives were 552, 223, and Presidential elections had 605, 738 voters;  a total of 708, 807 voters participated in the governorship elections.”

    It added: “Furthermore, never in the annals of governorship elections in Ogun State, had the winner received such outpouring of  congratulatory messages, encouragement, promised support and visitations by his co-contestants. Prince Buruji Kashamu, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, Otunba Rotimi Paseda, Chief Tope Tokoya, Mr. Adewale Omoniyi, and about other 10 political parties and candidates have either sent goodwill messages or visited the winner or  placed congratulatory adverts in the newspapers, in a commendable demonstration of good spirit of sportsmanship.

    “Having submitted itself to the authority of Election Petition Tribunal, we urged the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) to stop its campaign of calumny against our candidate, and its seeming patronage of the tribunal with its amateur simulation in the media. We see this as deliberate and desperate campaign after elections. APM should allow the law to take  its course.”

    The party added that over 90 per cent of those arrested on election day by security and anti-corruption agencies for perpetrating election-related crimes on March 9, 2019  in Ogun State were well-known agents of the APM and top government officials in the outgoing regime.

    “We, therefore, call on the relevant agencies to do the needful going forward. The APM is actually crying for being unable to execute its rigging plans.

    “The APM, with a sitting governor as  its chief promoter and  despite the enormous state resources deployed and poured into the process,  which could not muster a convincing win in one-third of the 20 local government areas in Ogun State, should bury its head in shame and stop campaigning after elections.

    “If the governorship election in Ogun State is to be held several times again, the margin for our candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun, can only increase,” the APC said.

  • God’s goodness to my family, immeasurable – Mrs. Osinbajo

    Elated Pastor (Mrs.) Dolapo Osinbajo,  wife of the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Sunday testified of the goodness of God to her family, saying it is immeasurable.

    Dolapo said she was particularly grateful to God for his mercy and compassion upon the family, which she stressed, protected her husband and pulled him out from the jaw of death unscathed when he miraculously survived a helicopter crash in Kabba, Kogi State, last February 2.

    The Vice – President’s wife who rendered her brief testimony in a core Yoruba language during an Interdenominational Service of praise and thanksgiving in Ikenne, Ogun state, also appreciated God for the re – election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The service of praise and thanksgiving was put together by Christian community in the state in conjunction with the Vice – President to express their gratitude to God for the re -election of President Muhammadu  Buhari and Osinbajo.

    The exciting event where the septuagenarian gospel singer, Dr. Ebenezer Obey entertained guests with many soul lifting songs of praise and worship, was attended by Governor Abiola Ajimobi(Oyo) and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos) who reads the bible lesson from Psalm 149.

    They were also  Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Governor – elect in Ogun state, Prince Adedapo Abiodun and ex – Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Sir Kensington Adebutu, the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the state, Prince Gboyega Isiaka, traditional rulers, community leaders and Christian community.

    The governor – elect, Dapo Abiodun, who came in the company of his wife, described Osinbajo as a “worthy son of Remo” and “Omoluabi one of Nigeria.”

    He said the Vice – President is an embodiment of diligence, sincerity intellect, whom he always confidently call a leader.

    Read also: Buhari poorer now than in 2015, says Osinbajo 

    The successful entrepreneur, oil magnate and real estate player, reiterated what had kept him going in the journey of life despite daunting challenges is his absolute and unshakable faith in God.

    She said such faith was anchored on the message of Christ in Mark 11:23, which assured that an unwavering faith could relocate a mountain from one point to another.

    He pledged to run an equitable, just, accountable  and a transparent government which would create a public, private partnership for the benefits of Ogun state, the citizens and residents.

    In his brief sermon, the Archbishop Lagos Ecclesiastical Province, the Anglican Church of Nigeria, Dr. Olusina Fape, said it was the mercy and compassion of God that delivered Osinbajo from death and helped him and his principal, Muhammadu Buhari to emerge victorious in the presidential election.

    Anchoring his message on Romans 9 : 15 – 16, Fape said it is God that elevates one and not necessarily the product of one’s effort, praying that God in his mercy would also protect and keep the Vice – President safe during his second tenure.

  • Ogun: Uneasy calm after the storm

    The ripples from the contentious 2019 general elections in Ogun state have yet to smoothen out as Governor-elect, Prince Dapo Abiodun set about the task of reconciling factions within his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and creating room to accommodate the hordes of defectors now seeking political refuge in the victorious ruling party, writes Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor.

    THE relative peace with which the last general election came and went in Ogun state, contrary to some earlier predictions based on obvious pre-election day developments, is one reason why it may be correct to say the 2019 general election was successful. In the build up to the elections, Ogun state featured prominently on the list of states where the polls were expected to have ended in chaos and confusion.

    The unexpected chaos and mudslingings that characterized President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaign in the state on February 11 during which he was heckled and stoned for publicly endorsing Prince Dapo Abiodun as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the state, created worries that the general elections in Ogun, especially the governorship and House of Assembly polls, will be dogged by violence across the state.

    To further raised the fears, in the run up to the guber election, clashes between supporters of the leading parties and candidates became the order of the day. Campaign trains were attacked and supporters of the various gladiators engaged in uncountable free-for-all fights in various parts of the state leading to the loss of lives and properties while many people were injured.

    So tense was the situation that many observers blamed the low turn out of voters during the presidential and national assembly elections in the state on the fear of violence that preceded the polls. Utterances of the gladiators and their cohorts didn’t help the situation as threats and counter threats laced the statements of many frontline politicians, in the days leading to the governorship election.

    Worried, the police and other security agencies warned of its resolve to deal decisively with trouble makers, before, during and after the elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that it will not hesitate to cancel the results of appalling units where violence and other electoral malpractices are reported. And as the day drew closer, the settings across the state was battle-ready.

    Surprisingly, the March 9 elections, save for isolated cases of fighting, went peacefully across the state. Voting was concluded and there was no need for the police or the electoral body to actually make good their threats. Also, the voters turn-out was better than was it was on February 23. The collation of results across the 20 council areas of the state went hitch free. And at the state level, the final result was peacefully announced to the surprise of many observers worldwide.

    INEC declared Abiodun, the candidate of the APC, winner of the March 9 governorship polls in the State. The state Returning Officer for the governorship poll, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, announced in Abeokuta at about 12. 45 a.m. on Monday, March 11, that Abiodun scored a total of 241, 670 votes to clinch victory. Olayinka explained that Abiodun beat his closest rival, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) who came second with 222, 153 votes.

    He said that the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Gboyega Isiaka, came third with 110, 422 votes while the Peoples Democratic Party Candidate, Sen. Buruji Kashamu, who scored 70,290 votes, was fourth. A breakdown of the results on local government basis as announced by local government collation officers showed that Abiodun won in 11 council areas and scored over 25 per cent of total votes cast in 16 out of 20 local governments in the state.

    The councils won by Abiodun are Ijebu-Ode , Odogbolu, Odeda, Ijebu North-East, Sagamu, Abeokuta  South, Ijebu-East. Others are Remo- North, Ogun Waterside, Obafemi-Owode and Ikenne, Akinlade of the APM won in six council areas which are Abeokuta  North, Egbado- South, Ewekoro, Ipokia, Ifo and Ado Odo- Ota. Isiaka of the ADC won in Imeko- Afon and Egbado-North local governments while Kashamu of the PDP won in the Ijebu-North local government area.

    Uneasy calm

    With the results announced and winner declared, calm returned to Ogun state as the gladiators sheath their swords. The verbal warfare also ceased. The social media platforms, where supporters of the various contenders have been hurling abuses and threats at each other endlessly also went to sleep. Safe for congratulatory messages and a few explanations on how the elections were won and lost, not much is been said again.

    Rather, it appeared as if the moment for stock taking and fence meddling is here after all the storm. Away from the worries that heralded the polls, stakeholders in Ogun state are today battling new fears. While some chieftains and members of the ruling APC are said to be currently concerned about how political positions would be shared in the new government, others are said to be strategising over control of the party machineries across the state.

    In one of such moves, Lotto magnate, Sir Kessington Adebutu, has reconciled Abiodun, and, his son, Hon. Adebutu. According to reports, the meeting, which held at the instance of Sir Adebutu at his residence in Lagos was called to ensure the two illustrious son of the soil embrace peace. Sir Adebutu reportedly called for peaceful and cordial relationship between the two Remo-born politicians, as much work needed to be done to uplift the people of the state.

    A source told The Nation that many chieftains of the APC, especially those who worked closely with Abiodun during the electioneering process, are expressing concern over the rate at which prominent individuals and groups are now flocking into the APC across the state. Another source claimed chieftains and members of the defeated APM are also making moves to return to the APC on the orders of Governor Amosun.

    “The influx of new members into the party at all levels, following the many alliance and collaborations entered into leading to the election, is the new source of worry for both chieftains and members of the ruling party. Not a few are wondering how government and party positions will be shared. Don’t forget that the terms of these deals were not made public. We are now hearing various sharing formulas and many people and groups within the party are threatened by this.

    “Even some close aides and associates of the governor-elect are expressing concern about the happenings around him. We are now seeing people and groups who openly worked against him coming around to felicitate with him and speak of how hard they worked for his victory. Even those who opposed him openly till the elections were over are now being reconciled with him by prominent persons he cannot but listen to,’ another source added.

    On their part, chieftains and members of the APM, alongside some allies and associates of outgoing governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, are faced with an uncertain political future. According to reliable insiders, the political camp of Governor Amosun is in deep confusion over what to do next. The Nation gathered that contrary to the usual, not a single meeting have been held by the group since the result of the March 9 elections were announced.

    A source, who also contested for a seat in the state assembly on the platform of the APC said, aside the governor and a few persons, most of the top notches in the governor’s camp are currently out of the country. “Nothing much has been said or done. It is not true that a directive has been given as regards what we are to do next politically.

    “A s we speak, I can tell you that majority of our leaders are abroad holidaying. The governor has not said anything concerning the future of APM but don’t forget that we have resolved to challenge the outcome of the election at the tribunal. It is therefore not proper for us to abandon the party when we still nurse the hope of getting victory at the tribunal,” he said.

    The dramas before

    The peaceful elections and the eventual results saw Governor Ibikunle Amosun being the major loser, following his inability to install Akinlade of the APM, the man he had vowed ‘must’ take over from him, as his successor. Although he is a Senator -elect on the platform of the ruling APC, Akinlade’s failure to win the governorship means Amosun has lost control of not only the politics of the state, but also the structures of the ruling APC.

    Shortly before the governorship election, the national leadership of the APC announced the suspension of the governor from the party, while recommending him for expulsion. His fate, according to party sources, will be determined at the next NEC meeting of the ruling party. “The recommendation was sent to APC’s national executive committee, the party’s highest decision making organ, for ratification,” the party’s spokesperson, Lanre Isa-Onilu, confirmed.

    Before the guber election, Amosun had described his suspension  said that his suspension from the APC is a distraction. Speaking with reporters in Abuja while paying a courtesy visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, the Governor said, “for now, I will not talk on the suspension issue because I have learnt in life that when you are pursuing a goal, your eyes should be on the ball and not on the spectators. If you take your eyes off the ball, you will miss the goal.”

    Amosun’s suspension was not the only unexpected drama that happened in the build up to the governorship and House of Assembly polls. During the ‘week of long knives’, queer alliances were also formed by people and groups least expected to think of, not to talk about, working together. Many pundits today will argue that the governorship seat was won and lost on the accounts of the alliances formed during this period.

    First to move was a faction of the PDP loyal to a member of the House of Representatives, Oladipo  Adebutu, himself a factional gubernatorial candidate of the party. Adebutu unexpectedly led his campaign organization and supporters to adopt the governorship candidate of the APM, Akinlade, moments after an appellate Court confirmed Kashamu is the authentic candidate of the PDP. Earlier, Adebutu had accused the Vice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo,  of sponsoring Senator Kashamu.

    Adebutu’s faction, after a closed-door meeting with the APM leaders 48 hours to the election, announced the adoption of  Akinlade as its candidate. The factional Chairman of the PDP, Sikirulahi Ogundele, announced Akinlade’s adoption. The meeting, which was attended by the Director-General of the APM, Sarafa Ishola;  Akinlade, Ogundele and Adebutu, was held in a hotel in Abeokuta.

    “Politics is all about responsiveness. Politics is about being upright. So, we found all these qualities in Akinlade, and as I speak  with you,  all the state executive  members, local government executive members and ward executive  members have graciously adopted the candidature of Abdulkabir Akinlade.” Ogundele had claimed while defending his faction’s decision to work for Akinlade of the APM.

    Same day, in a move many analysts are still trying to understand, Director General of the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign organisation and former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, urged members of the PDP in Ogun state to vote for Dapo Abiodun of the APC during the governorship election. Daniel,  before then, was supporting Adebutu, who enjoyed the support of the national leadership of the party.

    “You would have noticed my studied silence in our local politics in recent times. I have busied myself with national politics having served the state for 8 years. I have also been very busy supporting the ambition of the son of our great philanthropist in Remoland to become the next governor of our dear state. You however would have become aware of the court decision yesterday which did not favour him.

    “Going forward, I have directed all our structures statewide to cast all their votes on Saturday for Prince Dapo Abiodun, another bona fide Remo son despite current party differences. I therefore enjoin all to please go and cast your vote on Saturday for Dapo Abiodun in the overall interest of our people. With best regards,” Daniel said while making the historic announcement.

    Eventually, the election came and the APC swept the votes, with the support of its old and new allies. The APM and Amosun were disappointed as Akinlade came second behind Abiodun, the man Amosun had vowed will never come near the government house. Analysts say the voting pattern recorded during the governorship election showed that the people of the state totally disagreed with Amosun’s choice of successor.

    “It is not Amosun the people rejected; it is the man he wanted to succeed him. The governor, from the look of things, is still loved by his people but he made a big mistake in choosing Adekunle Akinlade, a man who commands neither respect nor acceptance anywhere in the state, as his preferred successor. Amosun won an election into the senate. But Akinlade could not even win his senatorial district,” a source claimed.

     

     

     

     

  • Gbenga Daniel for minister!

    AS ‘facts are emerging,’ so are events unfolding on the drama of last week involving former Ogun State governor and director-general of the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

    OGD, as his admirers call him, shocked not a few last week when he renounced his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and quit partisan politics.

    Just as analysts and observers were wondering what could have happened came a report that he would join the All Progressives Congress (APC). His supporters, mostly women, thronged his palatial residence in Shagamu, wailing, rolling on the ground, cursing, vowing not to leave until he rescinded his decision to quit politics and lead them to the APC. Some, we were told, even held his legs, saying they would not let him go unless he agreed to take them to the APC. As a man of the people, he concurred. But less than 24 hours later came another statement saying that he was not APC-bound.

    Sentry immediately went in search of the real gist, the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

    Before his appointment as the DG of the Atiku campaign organisation, Daniel’s political ambition was said to have been hurt when the PDP caved in to pressure from the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, to change the zoning of the national chairmanship position of the party from the South West to the South-South, with Wike-backed Uche Secondus becoming the National Chairman of the party.

    While Daniel was still smarting from the injury inflicted on his plan for a shot at the chairmanship seat of PDP, and perhaps as a way of appeasing his bruised ego, he was offered an appointment as the DG of Atiku’s campaign organisation. On account of his appointment, he toured the length and breadth of the country campaigning vigorously for Atiku. But like a bolt from the blue, Atiku brought in the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, as the de facto director-general of his campaign organisation, sidelining Daniel and re-designing his function. Saraki thus became the big boss and the all in all, so much so that even the disbursement of campaign funds was entirely his game.

    Although Daniel was far from being a happy man, he endured the situation in the hope that Atiku would win the presidential race and he (Daniel) would be compensated or appreciated. But the election came and it was President Muhammadu Buhari, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who emerged victorious. Daniel’s hope was thus dashed and his expectation of serving at the federal level, perhaps as a minister, became a pipe dream.

    It was in the foregoing circumstance that Dapo Abiodun, the governorship candidate of APC in Ogun State (now governor-elect) offered Daniel a window of opportunity. The two are not only kinsmen from Remo land, they have been very close friends. Abiodun was reputed to be very close to Daniel while the latter held sway as Ogun State governor. To those who know how close they had been, it was not a surprise when Daniel publicly endorsed Abiodun and disowned Buruji Kashamu, the candidate of PDP.

    Read also: A paragraph for Daniel

    In the fight between Ladi Adebutu and Kashamu over the governorship ticket of the PDP in Ogun State, Daniel had supported Adebutu who, incidentally, was the candidate recognised by the party at the national level. But because of the crisis over who was the right candidate, Atiku skipped Ogun during his presidential campaign. That again infuriated Daniel who believed that Atiku should have stood by him and the candidate recognised by the party at the national level. What mattered the most at that point was principle, but Atiku was neither here nor there.

    Then came the carrot Abiodun allegedly dangled before Daniel, which became the joker upon which Daniel publicly endorsed him and eventually quit the PDP. Reliable sources told Sentry that the Ogun State governor-elect had promised to nominate Daniel for ministerial appointment. President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to run an all-inclusive government; the implication being that Daniel’s chances of ministerial appointment would be brighter if he is not in PDP.

    But tongues are already wagging in the state over Abiodun’s alleged promise of ministerial appointment to Daniel. Apart from the imbalance in the spread of appointments which such a gesture could cause, many are asking how Chief Olusegun Osoba and other party chieftains who worked hard for the party’s success would react to it.

  • Jealous man ‘hacks’ wife over alleged infidelity

    A woman, Ibukun Adebayo is fighting for her life in a hospital after being allegedly hacked with a cutlass by her estranged husband, Kehinde Adebayo.

    Kehinde, it was gathered, accused his wife of engaging in extra-marital affairs with men.

    The attack has left Ibukun with severe injuries on her face and other parts of her body.

    The incident happened at about 8pm on February 28 in the Saraki area of Adigbe in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

    Kehinde, according to sources tried to escape from Abeokuta after carrying out the attack, but was promptly arrested by the police.

    It was gathered that the duo’s 13-year-old marriage had been rocked by allegations of jealousy, constant beatings and inhuman treatment of Ibukun by Kehinde.

    Read also: Outrage trails killing of corps members in Bayelsa

    The situation allegedly worsened after Kehinde allegedly beat up Ibukun in a house she built forcing her to move out to a rented apartment in the ancient community.

    Kehinde was said to have trailed Ibukun to her new apartment on a motorbike and allegedly struck her with a cutlass and fled on his motorbike.

    Sources said Ibukun, a building materials merchant, had reported her husband to his parents all to no avail.

    The spokesman of Ogun State Police Command, Mr Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed that Kehinde was arrested and had been charged to court.

    ‘’Yes, the story is true. The man attacked his wife with a cutlass and inflicted serious injuries on her. He fled from the scene, but he was apprehended by our operatives.

    ‘’We have since arraigned him before an Isabo Magistrate’s Court in Abeokuta and he has been remanded in prison, pending the determination of the case.’’

  • Crawford varsity offers library development service

    The management of the Crawford University, Igbesa in Ogun State has offered hassistance to develop libraries for the secondary schools in its community.

    This came out during the programmes organised by the management of Crawford University Library to celebrate the World Book Day.

    The World Book Day, marked om March 7 every year, is the annual celebration of all issues around books, learning, authorship, copyrights, and publishing as instituted by the United Nations to attract attention to global literacy.

    Crawford University Library management organised a Speech and Debate programme for pupils of primary and secondary schools in the Igbesa area to mark the day.

    In her welcome address, Mrs. Elizabeth Bukunola Lateef, the Crawford University Librarian, offered a helping hand in the planning and development of school library to any of the participating schools. “We are ready to be of help to any of your schools that would need help in the establishing of your school library. You just need to indicate to us your particular need,” she said.

    She added that Crawford University was ready to share technical training and consultancy needed to establish a physical or e-library in any of the institutions that should approach the institution for such help.

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof Isaac Rotimi Ajayi, said books were means of recording and storing information that can be shared with other people from across time and space.

    He said humanity had been enriched through the writings of great people like Uthman dan Fodio, Ajayi Crowther, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka through the ages.

    He remarked that the University Library had over 20,000 books, reference resources, journals and magazines and more than five million more in e-resources for use by students and lecturers.

    “Our faculty as well as students have available to them a rich repository of knowledge resource for them to be whatever they want to be,” he said.

  • Ogun APC warns banks over Amosun’s alleged loan requests

    THE Ogun State All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned banks and other financial institutions not to yield to threats and pressures from Governor Ibikunle Amosun to obtain last-minute loans, overdrafts and other financial instruments barely two months to the end of his tenure.

    In a statement issued in Abeokuta yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Tunde Oladunjoye, the party warned that any institution that grants such requests “does so at its own risk”.

    The Nation, however, phoned the Special Adviser (SA) on Information and Strategy to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Mr. Rotimi Durojaiye, for his principal’s reaction to the APC’s allegation to no avail.

    There was also evidence that Durojaiye received a WhatApp text and read the message seeking a reaction, but he did not respond to it as at 10pm yesterday.

    The APC statement reads: “It has come to our notice that the outgoing governor has been exerting pressures on banks and financial institutions to grant frivolous loans, overdrafts and other instruments immediately Prince Dapo Abiodun was declared governor-elect.”

    “We are equally aware that files and other sensitive government’s documents are being moved out of government offices on the order of the outgoing Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.”

    “It is, therefore, important to let it be known to the concerned public officers that it is part of their duties to protect public properties, including files, documents and information at their disposal.

    “As anything contrary to this will be running foul of the laws and their oath of office. The allegiance of the civil servants is to Ogun State and not to any individual, no matter who.

    “As for the banks, we want to state categorically that the incoming administration believes so much in the rule of law and due process. Therefore, the administration will not honour any obligation that did not follow due process or any loans that did not receive the prior approval of the State House of Assembly.

    “According to the Federal Bureau of Statistics, Ogun State’s Internally Generated Revenue has increased by 590 per cent in eight years, totaling N74,835,979,000.51.

    “Why the outgoing administration still wants “injury-time” loans despite those already incurred, beats one’s imagination and leaves much to be desired. The incoming administration will not honour such shady loans.”

  • Daniel, supporters in thousands finally leave PDP for APC

    Former Governor Gbenga Daniel and thousands of supporters on Sunday formally declared to jettison the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State.

    The declaration touched – off a spontaneous and thunderous chanting of the APC slogans “change” and “Next level” at Daniel’s “Asoludero Hall” within his private residence in Sagamu GRA, Ogun State.

    This followed intense pressure mounted Daniel to lead them to APC and not abandoned them midstream.

    The loyalists who took turn to speak, hinged their demands on the fact that their efforts contributed to the emergence of Prince Dapo Abiodun, as the governor-elect of Ogun state on the platform of APC.

    The former governor who governed Ogun state on the ticket of PDP for eight years, had convened a stakeholders’ meeting of his loyalists under the aegis of OGD Political Family at his Sagamu home where he  formally announced his withdrawal from partisan politics.

    He disclosed that his foray into politics was accidental and necessitated by the need to “awaken the sleeping giant” – Ogun state from slumber and having met that need, it was important that he leaves the stage when the “ovation is loudest.”

    Daniel also lamented that he has been “bartered, “bruised”  and “called names because of politics” hence his resolve to quit even and a time there is much outcries against “sit tight leaders.”

    He also narrated how he failed at getting Hon. Ladi Adebutu as well as the governorship candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC) to work together after the court had validated  Senator Buruji Kashamu as the PDP gubernatorial candidate, and further lamenting that members of his political family failed to listen to him on a number of occasions.

    But his supporters, said they would take none of such excuses from him, protesting that why could he even let the resignation from politics to the media without first consulting them.

    One of them, Ifekayode Akinbode led other members of the OGD Political Family to prostrate for Daniel with the women holding  his legs, pleading passionately that he should lead them to APC.

    And arriving at a final resolution, the PDP Senatorial candidate for Ogun Central during the just concluded 2019 general elections, put the matter to  a voice vote where to choose between remaining in PDP or joining APC but in unison, the all resolved to collectively join APC.