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  • Gbenga Daniel says no plans to step down

    Gbenga Daniel says no plans to step down

    A national chairmanship aspirant of the PDP, Chief Gbenga Daniel, said on Monday in Lagos that he had no plan of stepping down for any of the other contenders.

    Reacting to speculations that he might be stepping down for Chief Olabode George, another aspirant for the position, Daniel said he had no intention of stepping down for anybody.

    Daniel is a former Governor of Ogun, while George served as a former national deputy chairman of the now opposition PDP.

    The zoning of the PDP’s chairmanship position to the South West, five major contenders are currently jostling for the position.

    The other contenders are Mr Jimi Agbaje, the 2015 governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos State, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, a former Minister of Education and Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, a former Minister of Sports.

    Daniel told reporters that although George was a respected leader of the PDP, he would not back down for the Lagos chief but would see the race to its logical conclusion.

    “All the aspirants for this position are my friends and competent people but I am the bridge builder and the best man for the job.

    “I will not step down for anyone because I did my consultations during our convention in Port Harcourt and I know so many leaders in Yorubaland who support me.

    “People contest for various reasons. Some people contest to enrich their curriculum vitae, some contest to get donations while some run to win.

    “It is not a do-or-die affair. It is an in-house contest and I’m running to win so as to bring my experiences to bear on the party and work on re-positioning the party,’’ Daniel said.

    According to him, with 2019 around the corner, the PDP cannot afford to make mistakes in choosing its leaders because it is germane to the rebuilding of the party.

    “PDP is spread across the length and breadth of Nigeria. The fragmentation in the party cuts across all political parties in Nigeria.

    “However, most of our members who defected to other parties left, due to the internal challenges within it.

    “The moment those who leave see a new leadership committed to fairness and justice, they will return’’ the former governor said.

    On the PDP’s zoning of the presidential slot to the North, Daniel described the decision as sacrosanct, noting that it was commonsense for the party to look for a candidate from the northern part of the country to square up with the APC.

    Speaking further, he debunked an alleged strife between him and Sen. Buruji Kashamu from Ogun, stating that they had no personal issues and that they had no quarrels.

    Daniel, however, expressed his support for the clamour for Nigeria to be restructured, arguing that the nation’s potential would be maximised when restructured.

    “We must begin to examine the system to give equal opportunities to all parts of the country,’’ he added.

    NAN

  • Yewa are no minority in Ogun, says Senator Adeola

    Yewa are no minority in Ogun, says Senator Adeola

    The Yewa of Ogun West  are not a minority ethnic group, Senate Committee on Local Content Chairman Solomon Adeola (aka Yayi) has said.

    The senator said it was unfortunate that internal and international boundaries had separated the people into different countries, states and local government areas.

    Delivering a paper: Sustainable Development of Yewaland: The Role of Accountability in Governance, at the weekend in London, Adeola said international and national conspiracies had reduced Yewa land, with many indigenes living beyond their Ogun  home.

    “Internationally, a large number of Yewa people reside on the other side of Benin Republic, where Ipokia, Yewa South, Yewa North and Imeko-Afon LGAs share boundary and nationally, where Yewa people share boundaries at Imeko-Afon with Oyo State in the North, Abeokuta North and Yewa North in the East. Also, Yewa are split by boundaries at Yewa North boundary with Abeokuta North, Yewa South boundary with Ewekoro, Ifo and Ado Odo Ota local government areas. It is also common knowledge that there is a large population of Yewa people in four wards in Oke- Ogun area of Abeokuta North and Ibara /Oke Ilewo area of Abeokuta South,” he said.

    ‘’Given this scenario and based on the 2006 Census figures, the different population figures among the ethnic groups of Ogun State based on senatorial districts at the detriment of Yewa people are by far compensated for by all the Yewa not in the current four LGAs of Ogun West, as Yewaland was “originally far bigger than what now obtains in Ogun West Senatorial District of Ogun State”.

    Adeola noted that the non- accountability in governance is responsible for the marginalisation and low development of Yewa.

    He remarked that development has favoured Ogun East and West, as governors from these districts attract projects to these areas.

    Lamenting that Yewa, and indeed Ogun West, have not produced a governor in the state’s 42-year history, the senator, who is aspiring to contest in 2019, said if Yewa got the governorship, it shall be embrace the even development of the state.

    President of Yewa Descendants Union (YDU) in the United Kingdom and Ireland, organisers of the conference, said the theme: ‘’Yewaland of Our Dream: Harnessing Thoughts, Expectations and Contributions from Diaspora,” was a wake-up call to those in the diaspora to support government and proffer solutions to issues of governance.

    Other resource persons and dignitaries at the event include Suraju Adekunbi, Speaker of Ogun House of Assembly; Professor Rahman Bello; vice chancellor of University of Lagos; Professor Tope Poopola, of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

    Also present are Prince Gboyega Isiaka, Oba Lukmoan Agunbiade, Alagbara of Agbara Kingdom, who represented Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland. Chairman of Ogun Traditional Council Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, Mr. Lekan Asuni, managing director of Glaxo Smithkline Phamaceuticals; Rotimi Adebari, first elected black mayor of Ireland, and Idowu Adejumo.

  • My agenda for Ogun, by aspirant

    My agenda for Ogun, by aspirant

    Prince Olatunde Rotimi Paseda is a business man, philanthropist and politician eyeing the Ogun State governorship seat in 2019 on the platform of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). In this interview with SINA FADARE, he explains that service to humanity has propelled him to joining the race.

    You are a successful business man why are you interested in Politics?

    After my education and sojourn in United Kingdom for many years, I came to the conclusion that all the experience l have acquired should be used for the benefit of mankind in my little way. It is a known fact that in 1945, Great Britain after the World War II, commenced on the reconstruction of the British economy and the rehabilitation of their citizenry. The first step was to identify the five giant evils that plagued the British society and how to free their social and economic sectors from their infections. Without the eradication of these evils, the British government believed that accomplishment of rapid growth, economic and social stability of a new and reformed Britain would be obstructed. These evils are Want (Poverty), Ignorance (Education), Diseases (Health), Squalor (Housing) and Idleness (Employment). If the aforementioned can be conquered, Nigerian will rise again.

    How do you think you can actualise this dream?

    For many years I have observed the ruination of our economy, our country, cultural pride and prestige by those whose only mission in the corridors of power is to divert our commonwealth into their private wallets. They in the process squandered our natural, agricultural and human resources that they ought to have harnessed for the greatest happiness of the greatest number of our people. The late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo (prime minister and founder Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the first republic) remains an exemption to the kleptocratic style of governance. Sadly enough, Ogun State is no exemption to the melody and malady of inequality and impoverisation of our people except the regime of late Chief Bisi Onabanjo of the blessed memory.

    Chief Obafemi Awolowo together with his disciples established the UPN to tackle the same five giant ills through the four cardinal programme of the party. These are free education, free health, full and gainful employment and rural integration and social development. These are that will easily eradicate poverty, ignorance, squalor and diseases among our people if selflesslly implemented. As at today we are still being confronted by these five evils. Sadly enough, the evils have increased from five in Nigeria to include corruption, insecurity, poor infrastructures, epileptic power supply and bad governance.

    To rectify these anomalies, I decided to fund the UPN resuscitation and rebirth with the same four cardinal programmes and philosophy which are meant to reduce if not terminate the ills that have plagued our nation and Ogun State in particular. UPN has come to kick-start the socio-economic development of Ogun State nay Nigeria based on the vision, thought and developmental path-way of the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    What is your vision for Ogun State?

    In or out of government my mission is to facilitate and provide an enabling platform for sustainable free education at all levels to all in Ogun State, free health from cradle to grave to all in Ogun State, provide affordable and decent social housing for the people of Ogun State, generate and facilitate employment and encourage business opportunities to all able-bodied Ogun people and empowerment of our people to become entrepreneurs and employers of labour, keep the money circulating within the state as best as possible. Discourage economic and financial flight. Ogun to be the hob of and be noted for cottage industries for which I will be in talks with some local and foreign interest.

    In addition it is a duty that I owe to the masses and public servants to Fight for or ensure prompt payment of salaries and allowances as and when due, create conducive environment for workers and businesses, provide social benefit support for the needy especially the aged and physically challenged indigenes of Ogun State.

    What are your chances with all the array of political heavy weights the state is parading?

    I am not out to give empty promises or embark on projects that will not have any meaningful impact on lives or project that will only enrich few contractors. I will provide you with the opportunities to realise and actualise your selves and potentialities as envisaged by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. This I have done by setting up NGO ‘Paseda’ legacy foundation dedicated to education and health matters. With my success stories and impact on families and individuals l have the best chance to do more for the people.

    I have dedicated my entire life and comforts to your upliftment and to through you serve HIM by putting smiles on your face and ensure that no one goes to bed with an empty stomach in Ogun State during my tenure.

    “I do not plan to strive to be an “all in all governor”. Instead, I will remain focused on the four cardinal programme of our Party and empower others, delegate and allow our local governments autonomy”. I am not interested in witch hunting anyone or condemning good work of a government but continue and give credence to the work.

    Gifted by God there are many things I can do, but I shall narrow it down to education, health, employment generation and rural integration and development in the first instance. These I believe, will better the lots of the good people of Ogun State.  My competence in these areas will define my success as a governor.

    Accepting the status quo or running the government as business as usual is equivalent to accepting death sentence for the good people of Ogun State.Where there’s no progress, there’s no growth. If there’s no growth, there’s no life. Environments void of change are eventually void of life. At present, Ogun State seriously craves for change in education, health care delivery, employment and rural development. I know I will at times find myself in a precarious and often career-jeopardising position of being the one to draw attention to the need for change, real, factual needs of our people. Consequently, courage is a nonnegotiable quality I have. Our government will be very ambitious in service delivery within the four year tenure.

  • I’m determined to be governor -Ogun Speaker

    I’m determined to be governor -Ogun Speaker

    The Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Suraj Adekunbi, is one of the longest serving speakers in the country today. He has occupied the position for over six years. Many have described the assembly under his leadership as peaceful unlike what obtained in the past. He was first elected speaker in 2011 as a first term legislator. He was re-elected in 2015.
    In this interview with Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor, he submits that he is not desperate, but determined to succeed Governor Ibikunle Amosun. Excerpts

    Y OUR assembly has  passed a bill on land grabbing, kidnapping and armed robbery. As the Speaker, why was so much effort put into the making of this  law?

    Our people are really pleased with the anti-land grabbing law. They are happy and since the bill was presented, I have been receiving so many thank you calls. Our understanding of the needs of our people informed the efforts we put into the making of the new law. Secondly, you just mentioned the fact that Lagos State has earlier made the same move. It is therefore instructive that we should act swiftly to ensure that displaced criminals from Lagos do not regroup here in Ogun State to continue their nefarious activities.

    The bill came at the right time and during the gestation period, all stakeholders were invited and they had their input. And it is not surprising that as soon as the bill was passed, His Excellency, the Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, signed it into law. We believe that with this law, we have ended the menace of Ajagungbale, kidnappers and cultists in Ogun State.

    What has been the people’s response  since the law came into being?

    So far so good; following the signing of the bill into law, we have seen a decline in the activities of these criminals in Ogun State. They have withdrawn into their shells. They are conscious of the new law and they know the implication. Land grabbing, armed robbery and kidnapping are gradually being checkmated. Even before the law, Ogun State has never been a comfort zone for criminals.

    The PDP says it is repositioning itself to displace the ruling APC from the Government House in 2019. Are you worried about this?

    Every marketer will tell you his product is the best. So, I am not surprised about the claim of the PDP. But you must know that this government is a product of contests. We have contested many elections and we are still contesting elections. Why then should we be worried about another political party’s claim to being prepared for an election? We are not worried. Rather, we are equally prepared and ready for the next election.

    The APC is all over the place with various activities by various stakeholders in preparation for the election too. So, it is about who reaches out to the people the most. Our people are not daft. They know what they want. They know the people who gave them good governance. We have a lot of things to showcase as far as governance is concerned. So, we are not worried at all.

    The opposition party has also been condemning the creation of Local Council Development Areas in the state. What is your take?

    I ask people to always consider the reasons for the creation of the LCDAs first before anything. Those condemning it should also tell us if the reason is good or bad. The reason why we supported the creation of new LCDAs is to make government closer to the people at the grassroots. For many years, our people asked for this to be done.

    The LCDAs are just taking off after their creation and election of chairmen and councillors. We need to allow them to carry out some processes that will lead to stability, and I believe that by the time that is done, the inactivity of the local government will be addressed. That will be the time to appraise the new LCDAs and give verdicts.

    I firmly believe that with the creation of the new LCDAs, things will get better at the grassroots level. What is left now is for the people to give maximum support to the new administrations at the council level. Same thing was done in Lagos State many years ago. Now, they are up and doing. I strongly believe that our state would get to that level soon.

    There are also talks about division within the ruling party.

    I wouldn’t know what people mean by division. The term division is relative, especially in politics. When we are approaching election like this, there will be clashes of interest, even within the same political party. That, to me is not division or crisis. It is politics. What is important is the ability of the leadership and chieftains to manage the situation in such a way that at the end of it all, we will continue to see ourselves as one big happy family.

    And you think these clashes of interests will not create crisis?

    I don’t see any division happening. Towards the 2015 election, the situation was the same as this and we were able to surmount it. So, this is not a big issue for us in APC. With the understanding of all the stakeholders and the maturity of the governor, who is the leader of the party, I want to believe the situation will not get out of hand. Governor Amosun is a father to all and he knows how best to ensure that all ends well.

    Some say there are too many aspirants in Ogun APC. Do you think so?

    I don’t think so. If you ask me, I will say it is wrong to say there is crisis because there are too many aspirants in our party. Election is an exercise of ones right. We all have right to vote and be voted for. In APC today, we have aspirants who are willing to serve their people. We are still electing many more people to join the race.

    You are an aspirant too. Why do you think you should be the next governor?

    To God be the glory for keeping me alive till today. I want to appreciate Governor Ibikunle Amosun for his support for me as a politician and Speaker. I thank all the stakeholders for being with me this far in the service of Ogun State. And having come this far with the support of the people, and having done so much as the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the best thing to do is to offer oneself for service at the next level.

    So, my governorship ambition is in continuation of service to the good people of Ogun State. And I always say this that amongst all aspirants in the APC, none of them can boast of the working experience I have, especially in governance and in terms of working with the executive arm of government. This is a huge advantage for me and for the people of Ogun State. I have the highest longevity in service. None of them can match me in many of these things.

    I am grateful that I worked with Governor Amosun, who is someone who gives a lot of opportunities to those working with him to excel. Coupled with the fact that we share the same ideas about how best Ogun State should be administered. I want to tell you that I am not desperate, but I am determined to be the next governor of Ogun State.

    What is your take on Ogun West’s  agitation for the governorship?

    I will only enjoin our people to first and foremost do everything within our capacity to support the current administration wholeheartedly. That is the first thing to do if we are sincere about the Yewa agenda. This administration is committed to the cause of Ogun West. Secondly, we need to be more matured about how we go about the whole agitation.

    It is a position for just one person. We can have numerous aspirants, but it is only one person that will emerge as governor. So, as a people, we must go about our aspirations and agitations maturely. We must avoid rancor within us. If we are divided, there is no way we will achieve our desire. Unity and maturity are key factors too.

    We should see the race as a collective one even when we know that only one person will emerge as winner. We must therefore shun the politics of hatred. We must open the door for all aspirants to participate and see all of them as our sons and daughters. We must put behind us the things that divide us and embrace the things that unite us together.

    We must also reach out to the two other zones for support. We must appeal to our people in Ogun East and in Ogun Central for support and understanding. We must jettison this idea that we must produce the governor in 2019 simply because it is the turn of Ogun West. Not at all! Anybody can seek to be governor. But we must crave the understanding of the people of the other two zones to allow us produce the governor.

    We should see the aspiration of all aspirants as a collective pursuit. No aspirant can go it alone. We need ourselves and Ogun West needs all of us. If I am chosen as the party’s flag-bearer today, I cannot do it alone. I will need all the other aspirants. So, we must be conscious of what we are doing and how we are doing it if we want to succeed in 2019.

    What efforts have you made to reach out to the other zones you mentioned?

    The truth of the matter is that since I declared my intention to seek the governorship ticket of my party, the AP[C, I have been going round meeting people within and outside Ogun West, to intimate them of my desire. And as I am doing this, I am reminding them of their promises to support Ogun West for governorship in 2019.

    There is no way we will not reach out to them. Even if one becomes the candidate of one’s party, they have vital roles to play. It is on the strength of this that I have been moving round, talking to people ahead of the election. In Ogun East and Ogun West, I have met the leaders and the stakeholders to intimate them of my ambition.

    I don’t want to wait until I become candidate before reaching out to these people and zones because the success of both the Ogun West agenda and my personal governorship ambition rely on these people. A lot depends on how best we can convince the other zones to support us. Politics is a game of numbers, so we need the other zones to support our agenda.

  • Ogun, Abuja show class at 2017 Cowbellpedia Maths TV Quiz

    Representatives of Ogun, Osun and Abia states the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have cruised into the semi-final of the on-going 2017 Cowbellpedia Secondary School Mathematics Television Quiz Show sponsored by Cowbell.

    In the preliminary group 8 contest last weekend, Chukelu Egboka of Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja, and Joel Ndoh of Marist Brothers Juniorate Aba, Abia State,  scaled the hurdle in the junior category.

    The duo edged past Charles Abasiofon of Rayfield International Secondary School, Uyo, Akwa Ibom; Obichukwu Enibe of University of Nigeria Secondary School, Nsukka, Enugu State; Harry Biobele of Access High School, Calabar, Cross River State and Michael Simon of Air Force Comprehensive School, Yola, Adamawa State.

    Ndoh thanked Cowbell and Promasidor for the “good work and encouragement given to students across the country.” The 14-year-old, who scored 96 percent in the qualifying examination, disclosed that his expectation was to get to the final and win the prize. “My expectation is to get to the final and win, though I don’t know what to do with the money yet,” he said.

    Egboka, who is participating in the competition for the first time, also hopes to win the ultimate prize. “My expectation is to win. And if I win, I will take my family out for a special dinner and save the rest of the money,” he told newsmen outside the studio in Lagos last week.

    In the senior category, Favour Abusomwan of Iganmode Grammar School, Ota, Ogun State, and Blessing Olaleye of Reality High School, Ilesha, Osun State, also crossed the hurdles into the semi-finals.

    They eliminated Akanyo Ebipade of Federal Government College, Warri, Delta State and Oreoluwa Arosanyin of Chapel Secondary School, Ilorin, Kwara State. Others who did not make it were Saudat Ayuba of Kunatu Science Academy, Kano, Kano State, and Samson Madamidola of Global Kids Academy, Sokoto, Sokoto State.

    The ultimate prize in the senior and junior categories is N1 million each and an all-expenses-paid educational excursion outside the country. The first and second runners-up for each category will go home with N750,000 and N500,000 respectively.

    Each teacher of the 2017 champions will be awarded N400,000, while those of the first and second runners-up will receive N300,000 and N200,000 respectively. Also, the winning schools will be rewarded with Mathematics textbooks, desktop computers and printers.

  • Odegbami urges Nigerians to support Eagles against Zambia

    Odegbami urges Nigerians to support Eagles against Zambia

    An ex-international, Segun Odegbami, has appealed to Nigerians to support the Super Eagles in their match against the Chipolopolo of Zambia on Saturday in Uyo.

    Odegbami on Friday in Ota, Ogun state said that this would qualify them for the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup.

    Super Eagles, topping the Group B with 10 points, had earlier beat Chipolopolo of Zambia at home by 2-1 in the first leg.

    According to him, Nigerians should support Super Eagles through vocal and their prayers, because it is a game that Nigeria must win.

    ”We must do everything possible to win the match so that we can qualify for Russia 2018 World Cup,” he said.

     Odegbami, however, implored Nigerians to turn out massively at the Godwin Akpabio Stadium in Uyo to lift up the Super Eagles’ spirits.

    The ex-international also urged Nigerians to leave the technical aspect to the coaching crews to decide.

    NAN

  • Ogun PDP caretaker committee ‘is biased’

    Ogun PDP caretaker committee ‘is biased’

    Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) factional chairman, Otunba Adebayo Dayo does not believe that the tenure of his executive has lapsed. In this interview with Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN, he speaks on the composition of the caretaker committee, the arrest of some members and his relationship with former National Chairman Ali Modu Sheriff. 

    Is it true that all the factions made input in the selection of Ogun State caretaker committee?

    It is not true that all the interest groups made input into the formation of the PDP Caretaker Committee in Ogun State. If anyone is claiming so, let him tell us the names of those representing us. Is it possible for some people to be representing us on the committee and we won’t know them? Immediately after the July 12 Supreme Court judgment, a letter was written to me by the National Caretaker Committee, in the capacity of my office, asking for updates on the situation of our party in Ogun State. The letter was replied immediately, telling them the situation on ground. I attached the court judgments that uphold our congresses from the ward to the state level. I also wrote four other letters to them, but I didn’t get any reply, contrary to the PDP Constitution in Section 60 sub section 4 in page 102.

    The National Caretaker Committee has alleged that Senator Kashamu instigated the police to arrest some members of the Ogun PDP caretaker committee. What is your position?

    It is also not true that Senator Buruji Kashamu has a hand in the arrest of Caretaker Committee members. The Ogun State chapter of the party led by me wrote a petition to the police about the illegal Caretaker Committee, since we still have a subsisting judgment which has never been set aside by any appellate court. The police carried out investigations on the basis of my petition. The matter thereafter was between the suspects and the police with Ogun State PDP executive as complainant. Senator Kashamu has no hand in it.

    Is it true that Kashamu is sponsoring some candidates for elective offices during the PDP convention in December, especially Professor Wale Ladipo?

    I cannot answer for Professor Wale Oladipo. It is a free world and I think the professor is qualified enough to contest in whatever office he so wishes.

    Why did you refuse to recognise the Odanye-led Caretaker Committee?

    How can I recognise the Caretaker Committee, knowing full well that my mandate and the mandate of all duly-elected committees from the wards to local governments and the state are about to be stolen? Even from his utterances since his so-called appointment, the man who purportedly heads the so-called committee has been going about denigrating us. He has shown his bias against us and his preference and affection for our opponents. We have information that he is an old-time friend of Otunba Gbenga Daniel. They socialize and do many things together.

    Should you fail to get justice from the National Caretaker Committee, what next?

    If I fail to get justice from the National Caretaker Committee, I am sure I will get justice from court. The Senator Markafi-led Caretaker Committee and some of you in the media see Otunba Gbenga Daniel as the PDP leader in Ogun State without going through our party constitution. He was our leader when he was the PDP governor in Ogun State. But having dumped the PDP for PPN and Labour Party and came back to PDP in 2014, he has lost his seniority. Yet, he was the one that single-handedly picked all members of the Caretaker Committee, including his friend from Osun State, Tunde Odanye, who was appointed chairman. I wrote a letter of recommendation to our national office in 2014 in order to get waivers for Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Oladipupo Adebutu and a lot of others coming from Labour Party, in order to allow them to contest the 2015 election. I went to Abuja three times to obtain the waivers for them and I cannot imagine how on earth they can be referred to as our leader, as if the party was not in existence in their three years of absence.

    It was reported that some of your associates have defected from the PDP to another party. Did they inform you?

    As I said earlier, it is a free world. I can only appeal to the followers, but cannot force them to stay in the PDP. People are defecting because of their personal interest. Otunba Daniel defected to the PDP from the AD in 2002, in order to contest for the governorship of Ogun State. He was lucky he got the ticket and won the election. Politicians are always calculating their movements and there is nothing anybody can do about that.

    Ali Modu-Sheriff and some of his lieutenants have moved to the APC. Are you surprised?

    I must tell you at this stage that prior to the July 12 judgment I was attending all meetings summoned by both Ali Modu Sheriff and Senator Makarfi, because both of them were my leaders. I don’t relate with any of them that has dumped our party.

    Do you still communicate with Sheriff?

    I have never had a personal discussion with Ali Modu Sheriff and Makarfi, but official communications. I congratulated the National Caretaker Committee after the judgment. I thought we could work together, but it has decided to take sides. I am a founding member of the PDP and I will never dump it for any other party. It is the rule of law that made Makarfi our National Chairman and I stand with the rule of law.

  • Students protest rocks Ogun over rot in education sector

    Students protest rocks Ogun over rot in education sector

    • We’re committed to quality education, says Amosun

    Thousands of students under the aegis of National Association of Nigerian Students(NANS) spilled into roads in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, in protest over what they considered as “rot in the state’s education sector.”

    The protesting students who took off with their protest from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation mega station, Abiola Way in the morning, poured into the IBB Boulevard where they later branch off to the Governor’s Office, Oke – Mosan, demanding to see him.

    And bearing placards with the inscription “Rescue Ogun State Education Campaign,” “Save Ogun State education, ” ” Education must survive” and “MAPOLY must survive” among others, urged Governor Ibikunle Amosun to quickly halt the unsavoury trend.

    The chairman of Ogun NANS, Comrade Olawale Balogun, told Amosun that the students were not happy with the state of education in the state.

    Olawale cited delay in the take off of the examination of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, (MAPOLY) Abeokuta, as an issue if not urgently addressed could affect the career of the students.

    Olawale also said the association was not comfortable with the cancellation of the payment of the West Africa Examination Council(WAEC) fee for secondary school students, adding that they equally frowned at the recent hike in the Acceptance Fees being paid by new entrants into the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.

    The students also demanded a categorical statement from the Governor regarding the status of MAPOLY, in the light of its metamorphosizing into Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology as well as the creation of the Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia.

    But responding, Amosun said MAPOLY has gone into extinction with its upgrade to a university status, explaining that the institution would still be in existence for the next four years.

    Amosun who blamed the institution’s lecturers for the delay in students examinations, said his administration remained committed to improving the standard of education in the state.

    “I am not happy because this my school. What is happening today is because those that have been given the privilege to serve us are not serving well.

    “Everybody here (current MAPOLY students) will finish their courses, it will take four years before MAPOLY will go into extinction. You are not going to Ipokia . If the lecturers don’t want that, we will sort them out.

    “We will sought for new lecturers for the university and the new poly. MAPOLY lecturers are not comfortable with it, I said the appointment they have is for MAPOLY, for the new university, they will have to reapply. If they are qualified, they can take them.

    “I will ask the Commissioner to meet with the academic union of the the institution. We are only admitting ND 1. We are not admitting any student into MAPOLY. We are not sacking anybody, we are not taking them automatically. Why should we carry another place problem to new one.

    “We are only admitting ND 1. If you have carryover, you are going to Ipokia. I told them (management) don’t admit new students into MAPOLY,” Amosun said.

  • Operation Crocodile Smiles’ coming to Ogun soon – Army

    Operation Crocodile Smiles’ coming to Ogun soon – Army

    The Brigade Commander, 35 Artillery Brigade, Nigeria Army, Alamara, Abeokuta, Basil Adoke, has advised residents of Ogun State and visitors not to panic with the imminent coming of a military campaign tagged ‘Operation Crocodile Smiles’ in the state.
    Basil said the exercise, when it eventually arrives and commence, would be targeted only at “miscreants and other criminals,” adding that the law abiding members of the society have nothing whatsoever to fear about it.
    The Brigade Commander who made this known at the Government House, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, in his remarks during the cutting of the 57 Independence Day anniversary cake, said though the  state is “relatively peaceful,” there was also the need to sustain the peace.
    “Operation Crocodile smiles will take care of miscreants and nobody should panic or entertain fear about it except miscreants. There is relative peace in Ogun State but the peace should also be sustained,” Adoke said.
    Earlier, Governor Ibikunle Amosun in his remarks, expressed the confidence that his successor would do better than him as the bar of governance has been raised in the state since May 29, 2011.
    Amosun recalled that the tell tale sign among others, that a successor would out-perform him, include the World bank’s $350m credit facility being extended to the state government to access at one percent interest rate.
    He noted that Lagos state government during the era of Babatunde Fashola, SAN, availed itself of such soft loan facility and that the incumbent administration in Lagos has also  accessed part of that initiative started by Fashola to embark upon the on – going  projects in the state.
    According to the Governor, should the Ogun State government accessed the $350m credit facility, even succeeding administration would access part of the fund.

  • Ogun to sell branded rice

    Ogun State government has concluded plans to release locally-produced branded rice by December.

    Its Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Adepeju Adebajo, disclosed this during an inspection of the first phase of rice harvested in one of its farms at Eggua in Yewa North Local Government Area of the state.  According to her, it forms part of the measures to ensure food security.

    Adebajo said the state had begun harvesting 30 hectares of the 100 hectares of rice farm, and it would be ready for distribution by December, after all due processes had been followed.

    Aside, hundreds of hectares of rice plantations are said to be on the verge of being harvested at the IFAD Value Chain and FADAMA farms across the state.

    She said: “The rice will be of the best quality because the government provided the farmers with most improved variety of seedlings. They will be in our local Ofada, Nerica and Faro 44.

    A farmer, Olugbenga Popoola thanked the state government for land clearing, provision of improved seedlings and fertilisers, among others.