The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ogun state

  • Ogun 2019: ‘Multiple guber aspirants from Yewa room for best person to emerge’

    Former aide of ex – Deputy Governor Salmot Badru, Mr. Omoniyi Adewale, on Monday declared that the phenomenon of many governorship aspirants from Ogun West jostling to succeed Governor Ibikunle Amosun in 2019 should be seen as an advantage and not a setback to the zone’s governorship aspiration.

    Adewale who is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), said the zone wants its “best and acceptable” person to emerge as governorship candidate in 2019, adding that the only way to make that happen is to allow every Yewa son or daughter to exercise the right to aspire.

    The statistician and Data scientist who hailed from Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of the state, made this known in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, during interactions with reporters.

    He said it is not enough to say that the Ogun West people deserve to produce the next governor, the quest, he added, should also be matched with commitment to present the right candidate that would be acceptable by every section of the state.

    Read Also: Ogun Assembly commiserates with flood victims

    He said he elected to join the race to overhaul the governance system in Ogun State, pledging to run a data – based government if given the mandate to lead.

    Adewale admitted that Governor Ibikunle Amosun has done his best to move Ogun State forward but said the Governor’s “best was not good enough for the people and the state.”

    He expressed the fear that true growth and development may continue to elude the state unless conscious efforts are made to build governance, policy planning and execution on accurate knowledge of the people.

    He lamented that the challenges facing the state resulted from the fact that the state is yet to be “built on solid foundation” where governance system is driven by accurate and valid data about the people.

    He said he would change all that, build Ogun State Registration System Database everybody and companies, adding that such information would help in jobs creation for the youths through internships, apprenticeship and entrepreneurship.

    “How much do we know Ogun state, it is not about knowing, we are just talking of 7. 2 million people. Somebody cannot just sit down in an office and determines the fate of people without knowing them individually?

    “How do you know people individually? It is by having their information. Where are they located? What do they do? That is why we keep talking about data.

    “Data is very important. On that basis, that is where we are going to build our government on. There should be a system that should be to take care these things,” he said.

  • Road accidents kill four, injure four in Ogun

    Two separate road accidents in different locations in Ogun State have left four persons dead and four others injured on Wednesday.

    The first accident which occurred at the President Paint – Onibukun stretch of the Iju-Atan road, involved a truck marked JJJ 197 XU and a motorcycle with registration number QT 76 9EKY, resulted in the death of the motorcyclist.

    It was learnt that the truck knocked down the motorcyclist when he rider attempted to overtake it.

    The remains of dead have been taken at the morgue of the State General hospital,Ota while the truck has also been evacuated to the Atan Police Division.

    The second accident which claimed the lives of three persons – a male and two females, happened at Baagbon area of Odeda in Odeda Local Government Area of the state and involved a taxi car marked GBE 481 XA and Toyota Corolla.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, who confirmed the separate accidents, identified inappropriate overtaking as the cause of both.

    Akinbiyi added that in respect of the second accident, the injured were rescued and taken to the State General Hospital, Ijaiye, while remains of the dead were deposited at the morgue of the General Hospital, Odeda.

  • Russia 2018: Time for Africans to be champions – Odegbami

    Ex-Nigeria international and sports administrator, Segun Odegbami, on Monday urged an African country to bring the World Cup to the continent.

    Odegbami told our reporters in Ota, Ogun State, that instead of mere participation in the tournament, it was time an African country to return home with the cup which had eluded the continent since the championship started in 1930.

    The sports administrator was reacting to the outcome of the just concluded Russia 2018 World Cup which France won by defeating Croatia 4-2 in the final in Moscow.

    France won the World Cup for the second time in a spectacular style in one of the most entertaining and action-packed games of the tournament.

    Read Also: Odegbami sends Goodwill Message

    The ex-international stressed the need for an African country to work hard so as to join the list of World Cup winners.

    Odegbami, however, commended France for their brilliant efforts to win the 2018 World Cup.

    According to him, the trophy went to the team that deserved it, adding that the French team used the final match to stamp their foot in the competition.

    “I salute France and all our African brothers in the victorious team for doing the black man proud,” he said.

    NAN

  • Ekiti Poll : We’ll win, no intimidation can subvert people’s will – Uche Secondus

    … Warns PDP’ll probe Buhari, APC over handling Abacha’s loot

    The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, on Friday boasted that the party and its governorship candidate, Prof. Kolapo  Olusola Eleka, would win the Saturday governorship election in Ekiti State.

    Secondus alleged that there were plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) controlled “Federal government to take Ekiti State by force but said no amount of intimidation can subvert the will of the people.”

    The PDP national chairman made this known in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, when he and

    the PDP Board of trustee Chairman, Senator Walid Jubrin, Chief Bode George, former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara among others national leaders stormed Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, ahead of Saturday meeting with former Olusegun Obasanjo, whom he described as a “warrior, hero and winner.”

    Secondus berated the anti- corruption fight of President Muhammadu Buhari – led government, saying it claimed to be fighting corruption “whereas it is committing mother of corruption” with Abacha’s loot.

    “How on earth will a government engage in mother of corruption? Abacha’s loot money has been withdrawn from the banks and being given to cronies.

    Read Also: Ekiti election: Motor parks busy as passengers travel

    “We want assure President Muhammad Buhari and APC that they will be held accountable.That is mother of corruption.

    “No government will put money in baskets and starts sharing. When PDP takes over in 2019, we will ask them to refund every kobo of Abacha’s loot,

    “The Abacha’s loot the Federal government said they are going to share without budgettibg for it is a wrong way to appropriate money. It is never done anywhere. That is recipe for corruption. Who are they giving it to?

    “I believe that the money is meant for the APC government for election in 2019 and they have started using it. If they do, when we take over, we will probe it. They will be held responsible and accountable and they will refund because they must appropriate for it,” he said.

    While speaking on plans to unhorse APC at the National and in Ogun State, Secondus hinted that there would shaking and shifting in the weeks ahead within the ruling party.

    “You will see signs and wonders. In a matter of weeks, there will be shaking and shifting. The APC government has nothing to offer, they are afraid. What they are doing today is not knew, it has happened before. We can’t be intimidated,” Secondus told his cheering party faithful.

  • 3 killed in Ogun lightening strike

    Three unidentified men, suspected to be in their early twenties, died on Thursday after being struck by lightning following a downpour in  Ijebu-Ode, Ogun.

    According to eye-witness accounts, the incident occurred on  the Otunba Dipo Dina International Stadium road in Ijebu-Ode at about  3 pm during the  downpour.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the victims, and a  fourth person, had disembarked from the motorcycles they were riding on and ran toward  a makeshift shelter for the rains to subside when tragedy struck.

    The  three victims were said to have been hit while  the fourth person  took to his heels unharmed.

    The three corpses were still lying at the spot as at the time of filling this report.

    Investigations revealed that many bystanders  refrained from going  near the corpses for fear that the occurrence was related to perceived retribution from Sango, believed among the Yoruba to be  the god of thunder.

    An eye witness, who claimed anonymity, told NAN that the people believe  that anyone who died as a result of  lightening  was linked to punishment for wrong doing.

    “No one can touch or remove their bodies until after some traditional rites to appease Sango are  done,” the witness said.

    NAN reports that police personnel who  visited the scene also refrained from moving near   the corpses as they mounted  a perimeter fence at  the scene.

    All efforts by NAN to speak with the Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun, Abimbola Oyeyemi, on the incident proved futile as he did not respond to calls made to his mobile phone line. (NAN)

  • Thunderstorm kills motorcyclist, two others in Ogun

    Three persons, including a motorcyclist, were struck dead in Ijebu -Ode, Ogun State, by a thunderstorm on Thursday followings hours – long torrential rain that pounded the ancient town.

    The victims who were in their twenties had been ridding on a motorcycle  and elected to take cover  in a solitary building along the former Gateway hotel annex  situating few  metres away from the residence of an ex –  Governor of the state,  pending when the rain subsides but the  accompanying thunderstorm,  struck three of them dead.

    It was learnt that the heavy thunderstorm  hit the three simultaneously but a fourth person was lucky, and having been unaffected by the lethal impact, he fled the scene.

    A sympathizer, Ridwan, identified one of the deceased as Ayo  and hailed from Imomo-Ijebu in ijebu North East Local Government Area of the state.

    Read Also:  Ogun assures deceased Okada operator’s family of justice

     

    The Ayo is said to be  a motorcyclist and also repair fans.

    The Nation gathered that a crowd of sympathizers and curiouser gathered at the scene to have a glimpse of the tragic incident, but nobody was willing to help evacuate the victims because of the superstitious belief attached to death by thunderstorm.

    Even members of the Nigerian Police who visited the scene, could neither remove  the remains of the victims nor touch a bag said to belong to them.

  • ‘Micro grid option of power generation best’

    WATT Renewable Corporation Chief Operating Officer, Oluwole Eweje, has urged communities across the country to explore the option of micro grids as a way of tackling power deficit from the national grid.

    Eweje, who spoke in Lagos at the weekend, said the success recorded Loburo, a community in Mowe, Ogun State, is a clear indication that micro grids deployment is capable of addressing the captive energy needs of homes, commercial businesses, schools, and clinics.

    He said Luburo, a busy community under-served with power from the national grid, now gets 24/7 electricity through the 10kW solar micro grid owned by WATT Renewable Corporation, a Canadian hybrid energy provider, and managed by First WATT Renewable Limited its Nigerian subsidiary. It supplies more than 10 homes and businesses, including a clinic, two schools, and a variety of small commercial shops.

    “These renewable micro grids are cropping up all around the world as developing and developed countries alike turn to them for their increased resilience and flexibility. The speed with which they can bring electricity makes them decisive for countries with lower electrification rates such as Nigeria. Micro grids offer an opportunity for communities to move up the energy ladder quicker and with greener energy than expansion of a central grid,” he said.

    Read Also: Fashola to DisCos: Deliver power or quit

    In order to make them affordable, he said, the micro grid needs to be the right size to fit the usage. “Too big a system will lead to under-utilization and higher per unit costs; too small a system will forego revenue and scale effects, again leading to higher per unit costs. In order to properly size the micro grid, WATT engages in intensive community engagement session with community leaders and members of the community to better understand community needs and community affordability,” he added.

    Eweje said: “Electricity from roof systems can improve quality of life, but only micro grids can lift people out of poverty. By allowing people to build businesses and another source of income, they improve the resilience of communities against drought or climate change.

    “WATT raises funds through Foreign Direct Investment (FID), which reduces the tariffs community members have to pay.”

    WATT, he noted, has reached an agreement to provide a Proof of Concept (PoC) to a telecoms technology provider with a view of deploying WATT hybrid energy solution to over 300 of the telecoms base stations.

    The organization, according to him, is providing capacity building training within communities where it works to ensure the sustainability of the micro-grid.

     

  • Nigerian-German Association, mine workers partner on FDI

    The executive board members of the Nigerian Union of Mine Workers, Ogun State chapter, have entered into a trade relations partnership with the Nigerian-German Business Association.

    The chairman of the union, Comrade Abiola Fasiu, who led other executives and members of the union to the corporate headquarters of the Chamber in Lagos, recently, while speaking at a press briefing, said the whole idea was to provide more opportunities for his teeming members as well as contribute their quota to the clamour for foreign direct investment by all tiers of government.

    The union, according to the chairman, which was set up about seven months ago, has expressed its readiness to raise the bar as far as mineral exploration is concerned and therefore seeks effective collaboration with willing partners to help drive the vision.

    The union’s vice chairman, in a short remark who recalled that many German businesses used be involved in the exploration of mineral resources across the country, regretted that such businesses have since exited even as he impressed on the Association the need to galvanise action that would ensure that such businesses return to the country in the earliest possible time.

    Echoing similar sentiments, Comrade Tunde Soneye, the union’s spokesman assured that the state is endowed with enormous mineral deposits which can guarantee good returns on investments; hence, the union is willing to give every form of support to prospective investors willing to invest in the state.

    Responding, the Director-General of the Association, Gbenga Adebija hoped that the ongoing partnership between the two bodies was going to be sustainable.

    According to him, the Association, which belongs to a network of 130 business chambers in 90 countries spread across five continents, has what it takes to help the union achieve their utmost objective.

    As part of efforts aimed at facilitating the trade relations between the mine workers’ union and the Association, Adebija said he has since met with the relevant stakeholders. Specifically, he said, plans are in top gear to lead an official business delegation to Germany. “Already, we have contacted the Nigerian Ambassador in Germany to meet with prospective Investors and the embassy is working on that already. So this is a roadmap which we are going to implement. This assembly is not just a formality, we are actually doing something.”

    On the quest for foreign direct investment, the NGBA boss said the prospects are indeed very promising.

    “There is a region in Germany called Bavaria. And it’s one of the 16 regions in Germany and it is richer than 27 out of 29 countries in the entire Europe and they are very interested in investing in Nigeria.

    “The only thing is that they need credibility validation and they are ready to listen to you better. All these things are set, it’s just for you to show seriousness in this area, once you are ready to make this happen, they are also ready,” he assured.

     

  • Achudume lifts two widows with car gifts

    General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church Abeokuta, Ogun State, Apostle Lawrence Achudume, last Sunday presented a car gift to two widows in the church.

    He also offered personal cash support to Widows Support Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Gideon Orphanage Home and a First Class graduate, Olufemi Dada.

    Achudume, who cut short his sermon for the presentation, said the gesture was to make living bearable to the widows, Mrs. Sobowale and Mrs. Abbey.

    He car gift, according to him, was a decision he took without consulting anyone, aside from his wife, stating it is the least he can do to encourage the widows.

    “They didn’t have an idea until now. I didn’t tell anyone aside from my wife.

    “All I am interested in is there comfort in life. They have been consistent members and the gesture is nothing compared to what God has in stock for them,” he stressed.

    The cash gifts to the two NGOs, he explained, are to enable them empower more vulnerable Nigerians.

    As for the First Class graduate, he stated it is a tradition he started years ago in the church to encourage academic excellence.

    Speaking on his passion for the downtrodden, Achudume said: “I think it is just how I am wired. I can’t bear to see people suffer.

    “I realise that we don’t need much to live. At the end of the day, we would not go with anything. Whatever we have acquired will remain when we are gone.

    “So, the least we can do is to put smiles on others, especially considering where I am coming from.”

    On what could make his stop helping people, the cleric said: “I think I have reached a point where nothing is strong enough to stop it.

    “I have been blackmailed for helping people but it won’t stop me. There is nothing that can make me stop again. I am just sold out to this kind of life.”

    Achudume said he helps without expecting anything. “The Bible teaches us to just look away. I don’t need any acknowledgment or gratitude. I just do it and move on because it is the right thing to do.”

     

  • Power supply: TCN to build 1,320KVA stations in Ogun

    Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Thursday said it would boost the power supply in Ogun State with construction of four substations of 330KVA capacity each across the state.

    The sub – stations which are sited in Ogijo (Sagamu), Agbara, Mountain of Fire Ministry area by the Lagos – Ibadan expressway  and Arigbajo(Ifo) would be completed soon.

    The TCN’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Gur Mohammed, disclosed this at the Official inauguration of the new 60MVA, 132/33KV transformer by  Governor Ibikunle Amosun,  at the TCN Transmission substation, Ijebu – Ode, Ogun State.

    The Governor was represented at the occasion  by his Chief of Staff, Chief Tolu Odebiyi.

    Read Also: TCN urges DisCos to recapitalize

    Mohammed explained that the need to build the four substations was predicated on the increasing energy requirements of the state following its industrialising status and the socioeconomic life of the people.

    On the newly installed 60MVA 132/33 KV transformer, he said the project increased the existing 48MW – power substation in Ijebu – Ode to 96 MW and reduced the load shedding being experienced within Ijebuland and its environs.

    According to him the civil and installation works on the new facility were carried out by TCN staff of Osogbo transmission region when the Indian firm  contracted to do the job, failed to deliver the after the contract was awarded since 2012 under the  World Bank sponsored project at the cost of nine million US dollars (N166m)