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Tag: Oluwarotimi Akeredolu

  • Akeredolu urged to intervene on Ilaje chieftaincy tussle

    Ondo state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has been urged to intervene in the royal tussle prevailing in Mahin community, Ilaje local government area of Ondo state.

    There is tension in the oil rich Mahinin Ilaje over alleged plan to install new Amapetu to succeed Oba Lawrence Omowole who joined his ancestors last year.

    The feud was said to have been caused by the exclusion of Osuma royal lineage from presenting a contestant to the throne of the first class monarch by the Ilaje Local Government.

    It was learnt  that an interlocutory order has been filed before a law court to prevent the installation of any of the princes as a successor to the late Omowole.

    Besides, the aggrieved ruling house was said to have written a letter to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to stop any installation process.

    In the suit filed by the Osuma Royal Linage through their Counsel,  Olusola Oke, the family sought “a declaration that the exclusion of the Claimants’ family from the list of family entitled to present candidates to the kingmakers from the Alagwe Ruling House if unfair, unlawful, discriminatory without any justification.”

    The suit has Chief Thompson Adepiti, Yemi Saanumi, Chief Omolebi Adepiti and Folorunso Obebe as claimants

    The defendants are Chief Godwin Balogun, Prince Omomowo Adesola, Chiefs Roju Malumi, Arowojolu Dele, Felix Okunnuwa, Governor of the state, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice .

    The royal lineage also sought for “a declaration that the Claimant, being descendants of Alagwe Ruling House cannot be excluded and or prevented by the defendants from presenting candidates to the kingmakers of Amapetu of Mahin Chieftaincy stool.

    It further prayed “for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants either by themselves or by their agents, assigns, members, officers, officials and or any other person acting for or through them from further excluding the claimants Family from presenting candidates to the throne of Amapetu of Mahin Kingdom.”

    The ruling house in a letter to the governor, said the kingmakers was going ahead with the installation processes despite the pendency of the suit

    The family said an authority purportedly given to the authorities of the Ilaje Local Government and the Dr Roju Malumi’s family by the governor  depicts a gross affront to the age-long and respected judicial process and obviously, an attack on the rule of law.

    The aggrieved family urged  the governor to quickly intervene in the matter and stop all processes already put in place in order to prevent breakdown of law and order in the volatile riverine community.

  • Tension in Ilaje over chieftaincy tussle

    There is tension in the oil rich Mahin Kingdom in Ilaje Local Government over alleged plan to install new Amapetu to succeed Oba Lawrence Omowole who joined his ancestors last year.

    Sources said it was caused by the exclusion Osuma Royal Linage from presenting a contestant to the throne of first class stool by the Ilaje Local Government.

    It noted that an interlocutory order has been filed before a law court to prevent the installation of any of the princes as a successor to the late Omowole.

    Besides,the aggrieved ruling house was said to have written a letter to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to stop any installation process.

    In the suit filed by the Osuma Royal Linage through their Counsel,  Olusola Oke, the family sought “a declaration that the exclusion of the Claimants’ family from the list of family entitled to present candidates to the kingmakers from the Alagwe Ruling House if unfair, unlawful, discriminatory without any justification.”

    The suit has Chief Thompson Adepiti, Yemi Saanumi, Chief Omolebi Adepiti and Folorunso Obebe as claimants

    The defendants are Chief Godwin Balogun, Prince Omomowo Adesola, Chiefs Roju Malumi, Arowojolu Dele, Felix Okunnuwa, Governor of the state, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice .

    The Royal Lineage also sought for “A declaration that the Claimant, being descendants of Alagwe Ruling House cannot be excluded and or prevented by the defendants from presenting candidates to the kingmakers of Amapetu of Mahin Chieftaincy stool.

    The Ruling Linage further prayed “for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants either by themselves or by their agents, assigns, members, officers, officials and or any other person acting for or through them from further excluding the Claimants Family from presenting candidates to the throne of Amapetu of Mahin Kingdom.”

    Read Also: Tension in Kaduna as abductors kill monarch

    The Royal Linage in a letter to the governor, said the kingmakers was going ahead with the installation processes despite the pendency of the suit.

    The family said an authority purportedly given to the authorities of the Ilaje Local Government and the Dr Roju Malumi’s family by  Governor who is a Senior Advocate to go on with the selection process of the Amapetu when there were  pending litigations before courts of competent jurisdiction depicts a gross affront to the age-long and respected judicial process and obviously, an attack on the rule of law.

    The aggrieved family urged  the governor to quickly intervene in the matter and stop all processes already put in place in order to prevent breakdown of law and order in the volatile riverine community.

  • 36 die in road accident in Ondo state – FRSC

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Monday said no fewer than 36 persons had died in motor accidents in Ondo state from January till date.

    Sector Commander of the corps in the state, Mr Rotimi Adeleye, made this known at the 2018 African Road Safety Day and World Day of Remembrance of Road Traffic Victims, in Akure.

    The United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) adopted third Sunday in November every year as World Day for the remembrance for road traffic victims. Theme for this year’s edition is “Roads Have Stories.”

    Adeleye said that FRSC was organizing a week-long activities to commemorate the event and to sensitize the living to the need to stem the tide of road traffic crashes.

    He said that there were some black spots on some roads, including Oka-Akoko axis in North Senatorial District, Akure-Owo axis, Ore-Lagos Expressway and Onyeragbulem Junction in Akure, where accidents often occurred in the state.

    “On May 29, 16 lives were lost to road crashes in Oka-Akoko, with 13 of the victims burnt to ashes without identification.

    “On Jan. 21, along Akure-Owo road, near Celestial Church by Agbogbo Junction, eight people died on-the-spot in an accident.

    “In the same vein, on July 15, at Ogbese in Akure North Local Government Area, eight people also died.

    “Also, the most recent that claimed lives of a family at Onyeragbulem junction in Akure occurred on Oct. 3 when a mother with her two children and elderly woman died,” he said.

    Adeleye said that the crashes were caused by commercial drivers, but stated that the command had introduced enforcement to the section on any erring driver of speeding.

    Read Also: Man dies inside swimming pool in Akure

    “We have put enforcement in place, if you traverse the state and you are speeding and you are apprehended, we are ready to delay you for two hours.

    “With this enforcement, it will put some senses into theirs head so that when you get to Ondo state you will reduce your speed and put some senses in your driving culture,” he said.

    The commander said that the effects of the crashes were felt not only within the immediate families but in the extended and nation “because it depletes it virile workforce’’.

    He, therefore, called on major stakeholders and road users to join hand with the command to make the roads safer, especially during the yuletide.

    “Road safety is everybody’s business; therefore, everybody should be involved in one way or the other in making our highways safe.

    “We are all aware that government alone cannot effectively fund road safety programs, neither can a government agency like FRSC single-handedly deal effectively with road safety issues,” Adeleye said.

    While speaking at the event, the Ondo state governor,Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, commended the efforts of the FRSC in reduction of road crashes in the state.

  • Police beef up security, as Ondo Assembly embark on indefinite adjournment

    Security has been beefed up around the premises of the Ondo state House of Assembly complex, Igbatoro road, Akure, the state capital.

    The Speaker, Bamidele Oleyelogun, has also announced the indefinite suspension of 15 lawmakers of the Assembly who were among the 18 lawmakers that purportedly impeached him at the floor of the house on Friday.

    The suspended lawmakers also include Olamide George, who was said to have been elected as the new Speaker during a rowdy session.

    The affected lawmakers were suspended over ‘unruly conduct’ at the plenary sitting presided over by the Speaker, Bamidele Oleyelogun.

    Oleyelogun described his purported impeachment as laughable, insisting that he remained the Speaker of the House.

    He said no impeachment at all and nothing has changed in the House. He described those who purportedly impeached him as comedians, adding that their action is capable of putting the name of the Honourable House into disrepute.

    According to him, what happened in the Assembly was an  internal crisis of the House which would  be resolved soon.

    At the plenary sitting, Acting Majority Leader, Jamiu Maito moved a motion for the adoption of proceedings of last sitting which was seconded by Sunday Olajide.

    Read Also: Breaking: Ondo Assembly Speaker, Deputy impeached

    The Clerk of the House, Mr. Bode Adeyelu read a request from Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for an executive bill seeking the establishment of the Consumer Protection Council which was however stepped down till the next sitting.

    The Speaker expressed his displeasure over the conduct of the 15 lawmakers earlier in the day, saying their behaviour was capable of putting the state into unnecessary crisis. He,  therefore announced their indefinite suspension.

    Maito then moved the motion for the indefinite adjournment of the house which was seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Iroju Ogundeji.

    Other lawmakers suspended include, Abimbola Fajolu; Malachi Coker; Araoyinbo Olugbenga; Ade Adeniyi; Sola Ebiwonjumi; Olusegun Ajimotokin;  Tuyi Akintimehin and Jumoke Akindele.

    The rest are Fasogbon Akinyele; Olugbenga Akinsoyinu; Samuel Arowele; Vincent Obadiah; Fatai Olotu; Mukaila Musa;

    The speaker said the suspended lawmakers should not be seen around the Assembly premises. The House thereafter adjourned plenary sitting indefinitely.

  • Court insists on hearing suit challenging Akeredolu’s election

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the request by Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to strike out a suit by Olusegun Abraham, challenging his (Akeredolu’s) emergence as candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last governorship election in the state.

    The court also rejected Akeredolu’s arguments that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the suit; that the suit relates to issues that are internal to the party: that the suit was inchoate, among others.

    Read Also:Ondo: Akeredolu urged to intervene in Akure North APC crisis

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, in a ruling on Friday, although agreed with Akeredolu that the suit was wrongly commenced, he however refused to strike it out, as requested by the governor.

    Instead, the judge converted the suit, originally commenced by way of Originating Summons, to be heard under the Writ of Summons rules, on the grounds that facts in the case were contentions and would required parties to file pleadings.

    Justice Dimgba, whose ruling was on two notices of objection filed by Akeredolu, APC and the party’s National Chairman, gave parties up to November 30 this year, to file and exchange all pleadings.

    He adjourned to December 6 and 7 for hearing.

    Abraham is, by the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/788/2016, seeking the nullification of the APC’s September 3, 2016 governorship primary, from which Akeredolu emerged as the party’s candidate, on the grounds that it was allegedly manipulated.

     

    Details later….

  • Ondo Pensioners hail Akeredolu

    Pensioners in Ondo State have lauded Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) for always respecting them and listening to their views.

    The pensioners hailed the governor for granting them audience to discuss the  issue of their welfare when they visited him.

    They  were full of excitement during their meeting with Akeredolu at the Governor’s Office on Tuesday,  stressing that the immediate past government ignored them for six years.

    Led by their Chairman, Chief Raphael Adetuwo, they hailed Governor Akeredolu’s interest to provide fund for this year’s Pensioners’ Day Celebration.

    According to them,  the union itched to meet with the immediate past government for six years without success.

    They also hailed the governor for assisting the state pensioners union to put its vehicle on the road.

    Adetuwo said: “The prompt payment of monthly pensions since he came on board and his frantic effort to completely clear the liabilities inherited from his predecessor are commendable and praise-worthy.”

    Governor Akeredolu, while responding, told the pensioners said his administration owe the people of the state,  including the pensioners, the responsibility to serve them well and creditably.

    He added that the people of the state also deserved good infrastructure.

    Read Also: Akeredolu rescues accident victims

    The governor condemned suggestions in some quarters that he was executing projects, instead of spending all the public resources on payments of workers’ salaries.

    Akeredolu added that investing in the future of the state could not be termed as white elephant.

    He said: “Building good roads for the comfort of our people and rehabilitating public schools for children are not white elephant projects.

    “I am yet to be convinced that borrowing money to rehabilitate dilapidated public school building could be regarded as white elephant.”

    Akeredolu, however, clarified, to the admiration of the pensioners, that the N150 being deducted from from their pensions are bank charges.

    He said: “Before my administration came on board,  N350 was being deducted from the pension as bank charges, but when we came in,  we intervened to get the money reduced to N150. So,  the money is not being remitted to the state government’s coffer.”

  • Ripples over Ondo South Senatorial candidacy deepens

    The embattled lawmaker representing Ondo South District,Yele Omogunwa at the weekend said his emergence as the All Progressives Congress(APC) Senatorial candidate was ordained by God.

    He urged his detractors to know that absolute power belongs to God which nobody could manipulate.

    The lawmaker who is the former commissioner for works in the state,wondered why some people were wishing him dead, describing the action as sheer political desperation.

    Omogunwa whose clearance by the National Working Committee(NWC) has been generating friction among some stakeholders in the APC particularly from his district,however appreciated the party’s leadership for the opportunity given him to emerge the candidate.

    There was a protest at Ore ,headquarters of Odigbo local government on Thursday where party members mobilised themselves from Eseodo, Ilaje, Okitipupa, Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo,Irele and Odigbo local government areas to protest the candidature of Omogunwa.

    They emphasized that his  adoption by the party would spell doom on the fortune of the party ahead 2019 polls.

    The protesters urged the leadership of the party at the national level to substitute his name.

    Both Omogunwa,Boroffice and Alasoadura,the three sitting Senators in the state were cleared to contest 2019 election by the NWC because of their loyalty.

    Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu is said to be supporting the commissioner representing Ondo state on the Board of  the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) Lucky Ayedatiwa instead of Omogunwa for the seat.

    Omogunwa in an interview with reporters  in Akure said “my mandate, is divine with the support of the citizenry in the state.It underscores the capacity of APC to engender dialogue, robust discussion and compromise to pilot its affairs, without recourse to disagreements”.

    Read Also: Suspected killer of Ondo chief arrested

    The lawmaker pledged to strive hard in protecting the ticket and mandate given to him, towards ensuring that the APC becomes victorious in the south senatorial District, Ondo state and Nigeria as a whole.

    This, he said was because of his belief in the ability of APC to take Nigeria to greater heights with Buhari  bringing economic prosperity to the citizens.

    The senator said “We must not go back to Egypt.I am aware of series of reactions  and protests  trailing my emergence as the party’s senatorial flag bearer, this is understandable in any political contest of this nature.

    “But  denigrating and wishing a fellow human being dead for the sake of occupying a political office is a desperation taken too far. Some of these reactions which came as a direct attack on my person, defaming my character in news papers and social media is  sinful “.

    The Irele-born politician however noted that this is not the time for personal aggrandizement or agenda, but the time to think collectively for the sake of APC and Nigeria.

    He hailed Akeredolu, party leaders in the state and the NWC for the inspiring leadership they are providing to re-position it for victory at the general election.

    Omogunwa re-affirmed  his unalloyed loyalty to the APC and its leadership, while pledging his support to President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of next year election.

  • Council primaries: Aspirant protests alleged anomaly

    Aggrieved supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for local government chairmanship aspirants in Ileoluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State have protested an alleged manipulation of the primary election in the council area.

    They urged Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to act as a leader and quickly intervene to avert breach of peace.

    In a petition sent to the governor, one of the aspirants, Jerome Olorunyolemi said in compliance with the party’s directive, he bought nomination form and paid mandatory amount of N250, 000 to contest.

    According to him, the exercise was expected to be guided by Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) guidelines with timetable to guarantee transparent primary election.

    However, the aspirant lamented that the process was shrouded in secrecy to subvert transparency and inclusive participation of interested aspirants.

    He alleged that the chairman of the party in the local government failed to intimate the aspirants, the modalities for the conduct of the primary.

    Olorunyolemi alleged that the development was deliberately designed to favour a particular aspirant, who is the incumbent caretaker chairman in the local government.

    The petition reads: “We are aware that on September 13, a state commissioner from the area told some party leaders in the area that the governor had directed that all current local government caretaker chairmen in the state should be returned to office without subjecting them to primaries.

    “If this trend is true, what is the essence of the directive for participation of interested party members in such electoral processes with the outcome already predetermined?”

    Olorunyolemi noted that the development, if allowed to persist would be a threat to unity of members of the APC in Ileoluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area.

    He urged Akeredolu to intervene by allowing substantial compliance and adherence to democratic norms devoid of open manipulations.

  • Ondo Councils’ Primaries: Akeredolu must intervene

    Aggrieved supporters of the All Progressives Congress(APC) for local government chairmanship aspirants in Ondo state particularly in Ileoluji/Okeigbo local government area of Ondo state are unhappy on the outcome of the exercise.

    They have protested the alleged manipulation of the primary election in the third tier level.

    Consequently, they urged Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to act as a leader and quickly intervene to avert breach of peace across the local government.

    A petition sent to the governor by one of the aspirants,Jerome Olorunyolemi noted that in compliance with the party’s directive,he bought nomination form and paid mandatory amount of N250,000 to participate.

    According to him,the exercise is expected to be guided by Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission(ODIEC) guidelines with timetable to guarantee transparent primary election.

    However,the aspirant lamented that the process was shrouded in secrecy to subvert transparency and inclusive participation of interested aspirants.

    He alleged that the chairman of the party in the local government failed to intimate the aspirants,the  modalities for the conduct of the primary.

    He contended that the development was deliberately designed to allegedly favour a particular aspirant, who sources said is the incumbent caretaker chairman in the local government.

    The petition reads” We are aware that a state commissioner from the area on September 13, told some party leaders in the area that the governor had directed that all present local government caretaker chairmen in the state to be returned to office automatically without subjecting them to primaries.

    Read Also: Akeredolu mourns Agbi

    “If this trend is true,what is the essence of the directive for participation of interested party members in such electoral processes with the outcome already predetermined ?”.

    Olorunyolemi noted that the development,if allowed to persist would be a threat to unity of the APC members in Ileoluji/Okeigbo local government.

    He urged  Akeredolu to intervene by allowing substantial compliance and adherence to democratic norms devoid of open manipulations.

    APC’s spokesman,Alex Kalejaye said the party and its leadership valued internal democracy and rule of law.

    He stressed that the running of the local government,which is  closest to the grassroots populace would be participatory.

  • Akeredolu mourns Agbi

    Ondo State governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Wednesday joined other eminent Nigerians and members of the academic and diplomatic communities to mourn the passing of the former Secretary to the State Government and the Asiwaju of Akureland, Prof. Olu Agbi, who died on Tuesday.

    Akeredolu described the late Olu Agbi, a professor of diplomatic history, as a disciplined and intelligent scholar who rose to the pinnacle of his academic career at a young age.

    Admitting that his death was a chock to the people of Ondo State and the entire country, the governor added that the deceased will be missed by many people.

    Read Also: Ondo approves N1.5bn for cancer treatment centre

    Akeredolu recalled that as a university teacher, the late Olu Agbi nurtured, trained and positively impacted the lives of many people who have become great leaders in their respective careers.

    As a diplomat and politician, the governor submitted that the late Agbi’s arguments contributed robustly to discussions and issues that projected and promoted Nigeria’s image in international community.

    He, therefore, sympathises with the immediate family and friends of the deceased.