The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ogun state

  • Buhari, other APC candidates lead in Ogun

    Buhari, other APC candidates lead in Ogun

    EARLY results emerging from the presidential and national assembly  elections conducted in Ogun State yesterday showed that the All Progressives Congress(APC) candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of the party were leading, particularly Ogun Central and Ogun West.

    They were closely being followed by the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Part y(PDP) and others on the tickets of PDP. Tagging from behind are candidates of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) where former governor Olusegun Osoba is the state party leader.

    The Peoples Democratic Party lost Obasanjo’s ward 11 polling unit 22 at Oke – Sokori near his Ita – Eko home in Abeokuta North Local Government to the APC candidates.

    But, open bribe of voters were prevalent in Ogun East as voters were reportedly bribed with money ranging from N2000 and above. Except for few reported cases of malfunctioning of the Card Reader, the presidential and national assembly elections were peaceful and recorded high turnout of voters in most parts of Ogun State.

    Officials and ad hoc workers of the Independent National Electoral Commisssion (INEC) came out early and voters’ accreditations started on time.

    In most of the polling units visited in Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Odeda, Obafemi Owode, Imeko Afon, Egbado South and Ipokia local government areas, voters waited patiently for accreditations despite slow functioning of the Card Readers in some places.

    In most of the units visited, bags of “pure water” and soap were provided for voters to watch their hands to ease authentication of fingerprints. Those whose fingerprints could not be authenticated after several trials were given incident forms to fill in place of accreditation.

    Though while the volume of those accredited in most polling units visited were low towards the end of accreditation, voting started early in others. But, despite long queues, voting started at most of the wards in Abeokuta South and others.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Valentine Ntomchukwu, praised the conduct of voters and security operatives posted for the election. The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Chief Timothy Ibitoye, said: “There is peace everywhere as a result of adequate preparation by INEC.”

    Soldiers were restricted to entry points of the state capital while men of police, immigratios, civil dence and customs manned polling areas.

    But, Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka yesterday expressed concern over alleged “shoddy preparation of the INEC for the elections.

    Isiaka was particularly dissatisfied with the failure of the card readers in some polling units that forced the INEC staffs to employ manual accreditation.

    He noted that he had initially raised his concerns about the effectiveness of the card readers which later proved him and other Nigerians right.

    He, however, urged the INEC to perfect all the anomalies before the governorship election which is usually more contentious.

    But state INEC had face serious challenge over supply and distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). Few hours to the presidential and national assembly elections, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ogun State struggled till evening on Friday to distribute thousands of new consignment of PVCs received from the commission’s Abuja headquarters to the state’s voters.

    The Nation learnt that the PVCs were received for nine local government areas on Wednesday. While the total figure could not be verified as at the time of going to the press, Abeokuta North Local Government Area had the highest PVCs with five cartoons and one packet, followed by Odeda with two cartoons and one packet. Egbado South had 11 packets; Egbado North got two packets, while Abeokuta South, Ewekoro, Ijebu North, Odogbolu and Ogun Waterside received one packet each.

  • TRACE holds retreat for senior staff

    TRACE holds retreat for senior staff

    The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) has held a retreat for its senior officers with the aim of reviewing road safety strategies to improve on their performances.

    The one-day event, tagged, “The journey so far” was organised by the Corps to mark its 10th anniversary and to rebuild officers on ways of tackling road lawlessness, leading to crashes within the state.

    The Retreat Anniversary Committee Chairman, Commander Omonayajo Elias Adedayo, quoting the United Nation (UN), said 1.24 million people die yearly from road crashes while 50 millions are injured . He said 90 per cent of road deaths occur in low and middle income countries, adding that road  injuries are among the leading causes of deaths in the world.

    According to him, TRACE, which was established by the State House of Assembly on March 9, 2005 and amended Law of September 25, 2007, has the responsibility to provide solutions to the incessant crashes with the three levels of road safety management to the citizens of the state.

    The Corps Commander/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Ayo Sangofadeji, said the retreat was aimed at building a reliable framework for the Corps’ on public education and communication management. He noted that it was also a capacity building exercise for the senior officers to ensure the effective control and management of the public.

    The event, according to Sangofadeji, as a training opportunity for the officers, adding that TRACE is not about enforcement alone, but also to take stock of qualitative advocacy to prevent tragic occurrences on our roads.

    He urged the officers to improve on public enlightenment, rescue activities, staff training/performances and operations. He said this would enhance the Corps’ achievement in its strategic goals.

    Sangofadeji appealed to senior officers to lead well and create good working relationship among their subordinates. He said every officer must ensure they work harder with high level of discipline, passion driven, integrity and maintain both internal and external  espirit-de-corps.

  • School where pupils pay teachers’ salary

    School where pupils pay teachers’ salary

    Have you ever imagined a scenario where pupils of primary schools pay teachers’ salary? That is the situation in a yet-to-be-approved Government Primary School in Ijoko, Ogun State. It is usually interesting to hear government officials say that education is free in Nigeria, especially at the primary level and the most important section as it is. How true is this saying?

    For several reasons ranging from Community Development Association’s (CDA) inability to further maintain facilities (rented building and provision of Chairs and textbooks in some cases) and to manage both teachers’ and pupils’ needs, to their inability to erect a structure suitable for government approval, the school has changed locations for about 4 times.

    What now poses as St. Saviour Primary School Olayemi Annex, Oluke Tuntun, Ijoko, Ogun State, used to be United Community Primary School, established in 2005 by the collective effort of the members of Olorundusin (Fadunsin) CDA, area of Ijoko.

    However, the farther the school goes the more or less accessible it became for some pupils, and some hopes to attend primary school were dashed. At Basic (Primary) 6, the pupils are merged with an approved school for placement into Basic 7 (Junior Secondary School 1) at the nearest Government Secondary School.

    Government at all levels calls it Free Education but Pupils of St. Saviour Primary School, Olayemi pay N600 while their colleagues in the yet-to-be-approved annexe pay N1600. This is because, at the yet-to-be-approved annexe, pupils pay N500 for teachers’ salary and N500 for the school building. The other N600 supposedly paid to the government, is N300 for maintenance and N300 for insurance from the government. What then is free? This is obviously not peculiar to St Saviour; it seems to be the culture in Ogun State.

    For new intakes in an unapproved school like St. Saviour Annex, the story is slightly different. They pay N2200. This is the regular levy of N1600 plus N100 for a chair and N500 for government approval of the school. Only God knows how long this payment for approval will last before nature smiles on them.

    The said N600 supposedly paid to the government is per session since its introduction until early 2014 when pupils now pay every term, which now amounts to N1800 per academic session in an approved school and N4800 for the yet-to-be-approved school pupils. Maybe the cost of insuring and maintaining these pupils has increased.

    Meanwhile, the curriculum at primary school level is expected to provide a permanent literacy for children from ages 3 and 5, including pre-primary. It also extends to the laying of a sound basis for scientific, critical and reflective thinking, inclusive of equipping children with the core life skills to function effectively in the society. It could not have been otherwise, that is what makes it a primary education to human existence anyway.

    St. Saviour Oluke annexe has tried to do just that for about 9 solid years now. This poor to-be-public primary school, in its unapproved form, has continued to produce primary school graduates, laying a questionable foundation.

    After going through hell, the school now has a structure of four classrooms, which is one of government’s requirements to approve a school as fit to offer public primary education. Just as the Basic 6 pupils occupy a classroom that also doubles as office due to the inadequacy of classrooms, the pupils of Basic 1 also occupy a classroom out of the four classrooms available. On the contrary, Basic 2 and 3 share one classroom, while pupils of Basic 4 and 5 also share a classroom. All these are efforts of the children of the masses to acquire education by all means.

    It is, therefore, logical to best describe this kind of education as cheap and not free education. If the government does not know what it is doing, the citizens know.

    It is pertinent for government to want to revive public primary education in Nigeria. If it would remain free as claimed, it does not have to be with bad structures and ill administrative systems. Students of public schools also deserve some dignity and sense of satisfaction for attending government schools. It is expected that whatever government does should be at its best. However, many Nigerians, home and abroad have lost hope in the governmentet, there are few who believe that government can and would attend to the very needs of the citizenry, giving rise to out of school children in the country.

    See infographics below:

     

    Thus, schools should be often rehabilitated and equipped with up-to-date facilities including white boards, markers and library, as well as qualified manpower to mention but few. In the light of that, fresh graduates could be employed in classrooms to both reduce unemployment and rescue government schools. Most of these graduates after National Youth Service often end up teaching in private schools with a stipend in the name of salary. These, undoubtedly will help reposition primary education again in Nigeria.

    As vital as it is to equip and manage schools, it is even more important for government to build enough schools across every settlement to overcome the risk of overpopulated few available schools and or the risks of pupils travelling more than 3 kilometers to school. More so, one of the supposed reasons why private schools seem to do much better is because teachers do not attend to too many students which may bring about a hostile teachers-students relationship. One teacher to 20-25 students is not bad. Also important is the need for re-orientation of teachers about their relationships with students.

    On the whole, rewards and certificates of recognitions or of honours often boost worker’s will-power to do more at work. Teachers should not be left out of such appropriate motivations and reward for extra efforts to improve the learning of pupils. Education is light as knowledge is power. In the voices of the children of Nigerian masses, government should do the needful to boost the ego and will-power of teachers to improve education.

    No sooner than these and many other reforms are effected, education will be revived in the country again and the future can be promising.

  • Amosun: Enigma in Ogun State

    SIR: Now that the dust has cleared and the contestants for the Ogun State governorship elections are known, it is time for comments and opinions on the contestants. Let me declare, without equivocation that incumbent Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun comes head and shoulders above the opposition. With him at the helm, Ogun State can now boast of having gotten out of its perennial political quagmires.

    Amosun deserves a second chance for a number of reasons. First, in four short years, he has stabilized the rather volatile political environment of the state. Let the people of Ogun State be reminded that, before Amosun, there was an administration that permanently grounded the state’s affairs in crisis. Governor Daniel and his House of Assembly were at loggerheads and the House of Assembly carried out its statutory functions everywhere but the House of Assembly. The mace was transported around the state as members looked for a “hideout” in various public places to meet. Lawmakers were made to swear “oaths of office” in their birthday suits carrying ritual sacrifices in place of the Bible or Quran. It was a maddening political theatre that made anybody from the state vomit. And people laughed at the state throughout the world. All that stopped when Amosun assumed office.

    Once peace and tranquility was brought back into the executive and legislative arms of government, the governor proceeded to make unbelievable advancements in the state. He spearheaded a remarkable and fantastic road infrastructure revolution which has now become the flagship of his administration with implication for job creation in the state, foreign and local investments and rapid industrialization. Where there was a foundation, he built on it and where there was none, he laid one.

    In addition, he has brought his experiences as a chartered accountant along with whatever “financial engineering” wizardry he could muster to the assignment. Because of these, other sectors have benefitted under his administration; affordable qualitative education, improved and efficient healthcare services and delivery, agricultural production, industrial development and affordable housing and urban renewal to name a few.

    One feels very proud reading of Governor Amosun opening new factories on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, in Sagamu and other places in between and beyond.

    He has been able to accomplish all these against all odds, especially, the on-again-off-again posture of the federal government denying and mismanaging much of the federal contributions due to the state. His critics, in good conscience, cannot but give him credit for what has been a five-star performance.

    It is for all these reasons, plus, that the governor deserves consideration for a second term. He must be appreciated and assured. It is my personal conviction that his opponents in this race are political neophytes; very light on the ground and wet behind the ears on the Ogun State political terrain. It is a terrain that angels fear to tread; slippery when dry.

    In Governor Amosun, Ogun State has finally found that elusive enigma in its puzzle. There is, simply, no one better! He is the definite and right choice come February.

    • Angelicus-M. B. Onasanya,

    Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

  • Ogun: Farming is our specialty

    Ogun: Farming is our specialty

    There is a popular refrain  from a popular Yoruba song which is taught in schools. Ise agbe n’ise ile wa. The full lines of the song state that “Western education without basic knowledge of farming and other food production methods is inadequate because ours is an agrarian population. Those who refuse to work hard will resort to stealing”.

    The lines of the above stated song apply more to Ogun State than most other states in our country in several ways. The state has 16,432 square kilometers of land, 80 percent of which is arable. As part of the state’s profile, it is noted that it has” evergreen forest vegetation and soil suitable for the cultivation of cash and food crops like cassava, rice, oil palm, cocoa, rubber, kolanut, pineapple, vegetables, cotton, cocoyam, citrus and banana”. What this translates to, is that the state is traditionally agrarian in nature and population.

    Also, the third item on the five cardinal programme of the current administration in the state is increased agricultural production leading to industrialisation. In a more symbolic manner which demonstrates that Western education must go hand in hand with the knowledge and promotion of agriculture, the Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun appointed an urbane corporate lawyer, Mrs. Ronke Sokefun as commissioner in charge of the ministry with the responsibility to execute the plan to use agriculture as a means of creating wealth, generating employment among the teeming youths, increasing food production thereby eliminating hunger among the people.

    As a good model, Sokefun has actually taken up the challenge by leading a team which is pursuing initiatives aimed at positioning the state as a food basket of the nation, dependable source of raw materials for agro-based industries and exporter ready to earn more foreign exchange.

    The team has been discharging its roles by using investment in equipment, provision of technical, financial, material and advisory support to farmers, revival of inherited farm estates, creation of large  state-owned demonstration farms through which they create employment, spread knowledge about new farming techniques and encourage partnership between government and farmers (both small and big). Other means through which the Amosun government is executing its increased agricultural production agenda are creation of a corps of graduate farmers who will serve as model employers for others to emulate and embrace farming, liberalisation of access to land by potential investors and partnership with the Federal Government to enhance agricultural production.

    For instance, the state has embarked on an all-year round pullet rearing for sale to farmers aimed at replacing culled layers during all festivals. Thus, 75,000 pullets were reared. It is intended that the pullets would produce over 100 million eggs in a year. The pullet production programme will end up helping to achieve self sufficiency in poultry meat and egg production.

    Also, the government has rehabilitated the Central Livestock Feeds Depot which had been moribund for 15 years. The feed mill has not only helped in achieving the pullet rearing plan, it is now the major supplier of feed to the 8000 layers owned by the 40 graduate farmers resident in the Owowo Farm Settlement.

    There is also the Balekan Poultry Project which has been given a face-lift with increased capacity to produce a total of 3,866,383 eggs while the Oke Eri Poultry also owned by the government produces 1,175,051 eggs.

    There is also an on-going beef multiplication project at Odeda which has successfully upgraded indigenous breed of cattle by crossing the Ndama and the White Fulani. This is aimed at helping local farmers to increase the population of their herd.

    In the area of fish production, the Amosun administration has rehabilitated the three government fish farms located at Odeda, Ilaro and Ikenne, all of which have been in serious state of disuse in the past years. The pond reservoirs were then supplied fish seeds. Today, the three farms produce an average of 29 tons of table-size fish per annum. To increase the capacity of these fish farms, the government also constructed three new hatcheries with ability to produce an average of 500,000 fish seeds per year for sale to farmers at subsidised rate.

    The government also installed modern smoking kilns for fish processing for the three fish farms. These have provided better opportunity for value addition in fish production. Again, the Amosun administration has provided basic implements for local farmers at subsidized rates. These include 13 outboard engines, 226 bundles of fishing nets, 1,111 rolls of twine and 4,444 floats. The facilities have helped to rejuvenate fish production and energise the local economy in riverine areas of the state.

    Realising that during the golden era of the Western region when agriculture provided 67 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product, cocoa, rubber and other tree crops were sources of the wealth, the department of tree crops and rural development was mandated to provide high quality seedlings and extension services to farmers. Thus, the department provided one million cocoa seedlings for farmers at no cost.

    The ministry has established two hectares of cocoa seed garden at Alagbagba in Odeda local government while it has engaged in the cultivation of 50 hectares of cocoa in the same neighbourhood.

    In the area of cassava production, the Ministry has a unit under its Agricultural Services Department called Cassava Revolution Programme which has helped to mobilize relevant stakeholders for the adoption of improved, high yielding, early maturing and disease resistant cassava varieties. The unit has since distributed 43,000 bundles of improved varieties of cassava cuttings to farmers under the GES. The government is set to install a high quality cassava flour plant in the state while it has also cultivated thousands of hectares of land for cassava so as to help in meeting the raw material needs of the proposed plant and other industries which are daily setting up shop in the state.

    Apart from cassava, other farm produce which the state government has focused on, both in direct involvement and helping local farmers to increase their production capacity are rice, cotton, cashew and tomato. In fact, the government has invested heavily in establishing Green Technology farms for the production of tomato and pepper. The farms located in Kotopo provide employment opportunity for about 50 youths who are managing them. It also served as a centre for transfer of technology as there are now 30 others which sprang up across the state after learning from the government project.

    The state government is also encouraging farmers through the purchase of land clearing equipment worth N600m which is hired to farmers at subsidized rate. This has made the job of ploughing, harrowing, slashing, planting, spraying and shelling very easy and affordable for farmers. Access to fertiliser has equally been made easy and cheaper. Also, farmers now get soft loans from the N1 billion facility from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) being administered by the state.

    Other major projects embarked upon by the government for the benefit of the people are the cultivation of 50-hectare cashew farm located in Afon, 50-hectare rice plantation in Onidundu, another 50-hectare oil palm plantation in Ipokia and the partnership it entered into with the Malaysian Ministry of Agriculture for the development of 250 hectares of paddy paddy rice. These are projects that will change the face of food production in the state judging by the benefit that will accrue to the people.

    It is also worthy of mentioning that the Ministry of Agricuture in Ogun State has created what it calls Oja Irorun, an outlet where public servants can shop for Agricultural produce at farm gate prices. A more elaborate version of this market is the beautiful edifice in Asero area of the state capital which is open to all members of the public. It is called Agric Mart or Oja Agbe.

    More importantly, the government has consistently liberalized the process of obtaining land by investors in agriculture and agro-based industries. That is why the longest road being constructed by the government, the 107 Kilometre Ilara-Ijoun-Egua road, is aimed at opening up the many square kilometres of arable land in four local government areas of Ogun West senatorial district.

    It is, however, necessary to mention the establishment of the Owowo Model Farm Estate in which 40 graduates were selected after a rigorous process and provided comfortable accommodation. The graduate farmers engage in various aspects of agricultural production including arable crop production, poultry and fish farming. They are demonstration agents to other educated youths that farming is not only for the unlearned rural people.

    It is believed that with all these efforts and more that cannot be captured in this piece because of space constraint, Ogun is set to reclaim its lost glory as the nation’s most viable farming region.

     

    • Olaniyonu is Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Ogun State.

  • ‘LP ‘ll rule Ogun State in 2015’

    Ogun State Labour Party (LP) senatorial aspirant Otunba Olumide Osunsin in this interview with Musa Odoshimokhe speaks on his ambition and the chance of the party in next year’s election.

    What is your assessment of the political situation in Ogun State?

    Ogun State political situation is very fluid. It is flowing here and there, and it is neither here nor there. But, I can say to you that there are three forces playing out right now in Ogun State. We have the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP) and of course, the unregistered Action Group of Nigeria (AGN) led by Chief Segun Osoba. What I can say to you now is that  the PDP is a discredited party in so many ways. You heard what Chief Olusegun Obasanjo said, but I am not going to quote him. So, the parties that I would say are in contention for power in Ogun State for the next election are the LP, the APC and of course, the AGN led by Akogun Osoba. We believe that Osoba has been a progressive all his life. We are very sure and looking at his antecedents. He will never go to the PDP. Otherwise, all that he had laboured for and represents in his political life will go down the drain. We believe he is a progressive, we believe he wants to work for the people of Ogun State. We believe he represents the aspirations of workers, students, market women and the downtrodden people of Ogun State. He is a respected person in the state. we are sure that the party that Osoba represents is the LP. We have no doubt in our mind that he will come and take over the leadership of the party and organise it to win the next election in Ogun State. We have no doubt in our minds, that the LP will form the next government in Ogun State for obvious reasons. And of course, like I said, all that needs to be done now is for the party that represents the aspirations of civil servants, students, workers and market women to take charge, which is the LP. It does not matter how old the party is, all we are looking for is a leader that will lead us to our destination and we believe that Akogun Osoba will do that for us.

    Are you saying that the party in power has not been doing what you have highlighted?

    I can say it to you without mincing words that Governor Ibikunle Amosun is doing his best. I can say without mincing words because I am speaking as a citizen of Ogun State. Like I said, I represent the aspirations of the other people. He has done fairly well, but I can say that he has not met the mark. Development and governance is about taking care of all the wishes and aspirations of the majority. I don’t think that has been the case. They have not carried more people along. He is a man I respect, but like I said, I will not to criticise him outrightly, but to comment on some of the things he has done. He tried very well to do so many things very quickly, but the political setting tends not to follow the pattern. Politics is about spending the commonwealth for the majority of the people. If we all have a common amount of money, our needs are obviously different, but  our basic needs ought to be taken care of. And if you are spending money on the people’s need you have to balance it. If you spend all the money building houses, others whose needs are different from housing will grumble because they have been neglected. That is the scenario and analogy of what is happening in Ogun State. Governor Amosun has concentrated on certain areas, which does not represent what everybody wants.

    What is your ambition in next year’s election?

    My first ambition is to run a government that represents the aspirations of the people. Stakeholders in the state believe that things should be done in certain ways. I want to try to put myself in certain position to be able to make that happen. My second aspiration is that, if it possible, I am aspiring to become a senator in Ogun Central in next election. But, my priority is to put in place a government in Ogun State that represents the generality of what the people of Ogun State want. A government that represents what the workers want, what the civil servants want, what the students want and what the market women want. There so much poverty in the state, despite our closeness to Lagos State. It should not be so. There is still so much poverty, the level of investment is still extremely low. These are the issues there right now.

    How solid is the structure of the LP in Ogun State?

    I have been asked that question lots of time. The structure of a party is a function of what many parts represent. Structure can emerge as quickly as you want it to emerge. There are many people in the strata of our society, who are ready to lead, if given the opportunity. What has happened in the past was that leadership has not been allowed to thrive. If you go to any of the old parties, the PDP and the APC people who served at the wards or council level to the state level are the same set of people still leading. They have been leading in the last 30 or 40 years. What we want now is a young and vibrant new set of people right from the wards level to state level. We are creating a completely brand new structures. We don’t have shortage of people who can lead. There are thousands of people who want to lead. What we want and we are sure of is that God in His infinite mercy will give us is that opportunity, to set up a brand new structure. The old structure is corrupted and we don’t like the way they are doing things. Right from the ward level through the state level, young vibrant people will be given the opportunity to express themselves. The LP structure is a very strong. Traditionally, the doctrine of LP is to represent the ordinary people. So, we do not have shortage of people who can serve.

    Don’t you see the defection of Governor Mimiko, Gbenga Daniel and his supporters as a minus for LP?

    I will say absolutely no. The truth is that, when you move from one party to the other, it shows you are not consistent. If you believe in a cause, it is very difficult for you to change very quickly. Aremo Osoba has been a progressive all his life and he cannot change to conservative. The people who believe in the doctrine of the LP still remain in the LP. Don’t forget that politicians are only one per cent of the electoral process; the other 99 per cent are still there. Some of them have decided while some have not decided. We will have the opportunity to present our programme to the others who have not gone anywhere. They are going to decide our fate. Anything that you should not worry about is that big names don’t win election in Ogun State. The trends are there for you to see. Osoba was defeated as a sitting governor, Gbenga Daniel was defeated as a sitting governor, when he tried to install a governor. Dimeji Bankole was defeated as a sitting Speaker. So, the trends are there for you to see in Ogun State. In spite of his wealth, M.K.O Abiola could not win an election, until he went to a party that the people perceived as progressives. We know how it works in Ogun State. People moving from one place to the other is a normal trend in politics, we should expect it. We are still going to have a lot of people move. The truth is that if we lose some people and we gain Segun Osoba, I will let you answer that question whether we lost or gain?

    What have you done for the people that makes you think they will vote for you?

    I have done quite a lot of things, in the sense that if you look at my antecedents I am a private sector driven person. I have noticed that the reason why there is so much poverty is because the quality and level of investment is extremely low. As I speak to you today, I employ well over 266 people. I am not in government. The estate where this interview is being conducted I developed it. This is not the only estate I have developed. I have developed several others. One of my reasons of going into politics is to continue doing what I do every day, which is creating and building new cities. So, we know how to provide roads, supply water, provide electricity and know how to manage community. That is what I have been doing in the last 15 years. There are no sitting governors that have that kind of experience. I have awarded contract to PWD, Julius Barger even as a private person. I have built communities. Our activities have made a lot of people extremely rich; this is what they have achieved through investment in property.

    What is your perception about the Senate that you are aspiring to  and why are you starting your political career from there?

    What has always been in my mind is to run for the governorship of Ogun State. But, when I look at all that is involved that the stakeholders will come after you because you are holding the resources and you are going to be allocating it, I believe in my mind that I still need more tutelage. Even Otunba Gbenga Daniel encouraged me to run for the office in the past, but I did not think that way. The Senate is about law making and I believe with what my exposure, it would be a fairly good place to start. I want a place that will enable me to spread my message nationally.

  • Understanding Ogun politics

    About five months to the general elections, it is yet unclear who is where in Ogun State. Who are the governorship aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party? Who is contesting for what office on the platform of the All Progressives Congress? And, is the Labour Party still attractive to those seeking one to hire for 2015?

    In concrete terms, is President Olusegun Obasanjo still a loyal member of the PDP? Would he be willing to back the official candidate of the party for the presidency and governorship? In view of the hijack of the party by Chief Buruji Kashamu and his men, could the party accommodate the former President?

    Also, former Governor Gbenga Daniel appears to be floating. Is he staying back in the LP? Or would he cross over to PDP and join forces with others to fight Governor Amosun?

    Another former governor, Chief Segun Osoba, is a bitter man. He could not fathom what Governor Amosun is up to. Osoba’s men are already talking to the PDP and would only accept to work with the governor if he agrees to cede as many legislative offices as he got in 2011 to him. This appears an impossible condition for the Amosun faction that believes it was shortchanged in 2011.

    The worst hit of the political parties appears to be the APC, as Chief Osoba is already looking out for new friends. He used the National Conference as an opportunity to point out to suitors that he was available and, his men, especially those in the National Assembly, have started jumping ship. This could be dangerous for the Amosun bid.

    The PDP success in Ekiti has shown that politics is actually the art of the possible. The terrain in all the states of the South West is actually slippery and whoever thinks he stands firm should beware lest he falls.

    Amosun is generally believed to have performed creditably in his first term. The model schools and roads constructed by his administration attest to this. But, again, as Ekiti showed, voter behaviour is not altogether dictated by performance in office. The same people hailing him for bringing their communities closer to humanity could be influenced to vote against him for sentimental reasons.

    The two main gladiators for the APC need to realise that the progressives stand to lose more than the conservatives. It would be a reproach to the political tradition of the region following the defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko to the PDP and Fayose’s emergence in Ekiti.

    Chief Osoba should realise that the term elder statesman is not a mere appellation. It is earned through experience and tolerance. He has paid his dues, both in journalism, his first love, and politics. However, it would be myopic to expect that the governor would easily yield ground to him by ratifying the greedy allocation formula of 2011.

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun, too, has a lot to lose if he fails to make concessions. While not expecting him to lay a foundation that would lead to the collapse of his political edifice, it will do him no harm by finding means of acknowledging that Osoba is one of the respected elders of the party.

    The crisis rocking the APC in most of the states is an indication that the elders have a lot to do yet. And in no time too. The likes of the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former chairman Chief Bisi Akande, General Muhammadu Buhari, among others need to work out solutions to check the slide.

    Already, the party has lost Ekiti and Adamawa States. Nasarawa is not particularly sure given the ethnic division and PDP dominance of the House of Assembly. The party is facing a peculiar challenge in Oyo State where Accord has a foothold and could split the APC votes in Ibadan.

    Ogun is not irredeemable. Should the elders step in now, and, if the combatants decide to put aside selfishness, neither the PDP nor Labour stands any chance. The reality is that the elections have to be woven around the governor. He holds the structures of the party and has proven his charisma and sagacity at the polls.

    In 2007 when he was handed the governorship ticket of the little-known All Nigeria Progressive Party (ANPP), he came a close second to the ruling PDP. The ACN was a distant third. This accounted for the head-hunting that led to making him the ACN candidate four years later. He did not disappoint as he resoundingly defeated the heavyweights in the PDP and PPN. Now that he is in power, it is inconceivable to shove him aside and impose unrealistic conditions on him.

    In Ogun, Amosun is the man of the moment. Chief Segun Osoba is an elder and should be pacified to accept the new reality. However, should both men decide to go different ways, the wall of the party would have split open and the lizards would thereby gain access. The PDP is a foe that should not be underrated. A divided house cannot stand.

  • …Amosun too

    Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has expressed deep shock at the news of the demise of front line journalist and Vice-Chairman of The Sun Publishing Company Limited, Mr Dimgba Igwe.

    In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Wakama, Amosun said he is saddened by the news of the death of the veteran journalist, describing it as a big loss to journalism in particular and the media industry in general.

    “Dimgba Igwe was a cerebral and fearless Journalist, prolific writer and renowned media administrator, who was well respected in his profession. I recall the last time I saw him and Mike Awoyinfa, when they came to interview me. I feel so sad that such a thoroughbred journalist, who still had so much to give to the journalism profession and indeed the development of our country died in his prime,” the governor said.

    The governor commiserated with the family of the deceased, management and staff of The Sun Publishing Company Limited, and the media industry in Nigeria on the demise of the front line journalist.

  • Ogun, KIND sensitise communities on self help projects

    As part of on-going discussion on good governance and monitoring, the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, (KIND) in collaboration with Ogun State Government has held an interactive programme in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

    The project supported by Open Society Intitiative for West Africa (OSIWA) was organised to sensitize people on the need to engage in self help projects especially on environment, health and education.

    During an interactive session, questions were raised on issues from local government relating to the three major services organised by the local Government which is education, environment and health.

    Mrs Hafsat Abiola Constella, Special Assistant to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, who was in attendance listened to a wide number of complaints by the participant and promise to bring it to the notice of the three local governments — Odeda, Odogbolu and Abeokuta South Local Governments used as pilots.

    Street naming and omission arising from it; inadequate benches and chairs; shortage of staff at health centres and the need to rehabilitate dilapidated buildings were top of the challenges identified by the participants during an interactive session.

    Mrs Akinyode Ololade , a Community Development Officer advised communities to help themselves when the local government fail to help. She said, “Self-help projects by community are a good way of getting issues solved without waiting for long from the government. If communities are properly orientated on these, it would go a long way in solving major challenges faced by our communities“.

    On the other hand, Mrs Emi Oyewole, emphasised on good governance irrespective of the government in power and it is the right of the people to dialogue for a better government.

    In an interview with Bunmi Shonde, a team member of the organization said, ”Through this project, KIND aimed to enhance interaction between local government and its electorates by providing the opportunity for citizens and communities to demand better leadership, accountability and transparency.

    Shonde said building the capacity of elected public officials to interact with citizens and ensure that their needs are reflected in development agenda, building the capacity of citizens to interact with elected representatives; creating a platform for interaction between citizens and their representatives as well as strengthening democratic accountability and transparency at the local level by generating a community score card (a tool for assessing local services and a platform to engage local service providers, local government to identify and address service and performance gaps) in three thematic areas- primary school education, primary health services and environment.

    The programme was a follow-up of earlier training held on governance monitoring and accountability.

  • Ogun scores high on routine immunisation

    OGUN State has recorded 100 per cent coverage on routine immunisation, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Olaokun Soyinka has said.

    According to him, this is an achievement compared to the previous years.

    Soyinka, who spoke to reporters at a  public sensitisation programme in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said the figure surpassed the national target of 85 per cent set by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) with development partners.

    He said a coverage of 171,359, which represented 100 per cent, was recorded last year while 149,048 (82 per cent) was recorded in 2012 on routine immunisation (RI) for children under one month and 11 months.

    He said: “This analysis shows that tremendous improvement has been made in the state to free children from vaccine preventable diseases, especially poliomyelitis that causes paralysis.”

    The state, Soyinka said, was able to achieve the feat due to the commitment and support of the government towards the provision of qualitative healthcare.

    He praised the support of partners, the state’s social mobilisation activities, community participation; outreach services, and improve coordinated team work with border countries and states.

    “The last case of polio virus in the state was in 2009 and since then we have been free,” he said.

    The commissioner said 2, 195, 314 children under five were immunised during supplementary immunisation last year against wild polio virus (WPV).

    Soyinka said: “At present, the state had successfully immunised 2,113,504 under-five children in the first quarter of this year while it would strengthen the routine and supplementary immunisation activities to capture children  who might have missed out in the exercise.”