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Tag: Ondo communities

  • Ondo communities resort to self-help, lament poor condition of roads

    Ondo communities resort to self-help, lament poor condition of roads

    Residents of Irese and Aaye communities in the Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State, at the weekend, resorted to self-help in fixing their bad roads as a temporary measure.

    The residents, who had been suffering as a result of deplorable roads, contributed money and resources together to carry out temporary repairs on the bad roads.

    Led by their traditional rulers, the Olurese of Irese, Oba Saka Ahmed Destiny, and the Alaaye of Aaye, Oba Peter Adeleye, the residents mobilised to the roads to fix bad portions that have nearly cut the communities off from the state capital, Akure.

    The communities mobilised granite chippings, bags of cement, and hard cores to mitigate the effects of the bad road on their existence.

    A resident, Abimbola Akeem, told our reporter that landlords and residents have been crying in vain to the government to fix the road.

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    He noted that the communities have been maintaining the roads that link other communities, such as Aaye and Ijare, for the past few years.

    “We have to resort to self-help because the road is totally bad. We have made a plea to the government, but we did get results despite having a housing estate along the road.

    “There was a time that Mr. Governor (Lucky Aiyedatiwa) came here to visit and promised to fix the road, but nothing has been heard since then.

    “Sadly, the rain has made the situation worse, and the road is about to be cut off and washed away. Motorists can no longer pass. We have to raise taxes ourselves to fix it,” he said.

    Another resident, Tolulope Sanyaolu, decried the neglect of the roads, saying successive administrations had not done anything to rehabilitate them since their state of condition.

    Sanyaolu, who moved into the Irese community in the year 2020, said the residents had been the ones patching and maintaining the road.

    “I learnt that the last time the road would have a touch of government was during the administration of Olusegun Agagu, after it was built by a military administrator. That was almost two decades ago.

    “It’s appalling and very disappointing that residents of the community have to live with this for those years. If you have a vehicle plying this road, you would understand better. It’s very bad, and we had to visit the mechanic workshop every week,” she added.

    Speaking, the Olurese, Oba Saka, said they could not continue to wait for the government on the bad condition of the road, saying the residents are the ones bearing the brunt of the dilapidation.

    The monarch, who recalled the commitment of Governor Aiyedatiwa in fixing the road, urged the state government to embark on the construction of the road to complement the ongoing construction of the Onyearugbulem flyover bridge in the state capital.

    Also, the traditional ruler of Aaye, Oba Adeleye, pleaded with Governor Aiyedatiwa to assist the community in rehabilitating the road, saying its construction would not only boost economic activities but also enhance agricultural productivity.

  • Clash: Ondo communities deserted as police arrest 32

    Clash: Ondo communities deserted as police arrest 32

    Residents of three communities in Akoko Southwest local have deserted their homes over communal clash that claimed two lives.

    The three communities: Oke-Odo, Owaki and Ebo, engaged in a fracas that led to burning and destruction of houses.

    Oke-Odo was worst affected by the clash as it was in the community the fighting occurred and two persons were killed.

    Crisis began on Sunday when youths from Edo who were on a hunting expedition were allegedly attacked.

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    The Edo youths were said to have believed their attackers were from Owaki with whom they have an age-long land dispute.

    Sources said Ebo youths mobilized and invaded Owaki community, leading to incidents of arson.

    Another source said: “Earlier that same day, members of the Owaki Community had gone to install signposts on lands along Ikun Road, acting in line with an Appeal Court judgment that affirmed their ownership of the disputed lands.

    “However, on their way back, members of the Owaki Community were ambushed by suspected thugs, who launched a violent attack, leaving many injured.”

    Ondo State Police Commissioner, Wilfred Afolabi, Police said 32 suspects have been arrested over the attacks and arson.

    Afolabi said the suspects were caught in the act and would be prosecuted accordingly.

    According to him, “The suspects are those caught in the act. The evidences we have against them are overwhelming. I am assured we will get conviction and they will be put of circulation.”

    “What I have seen now in Ondo State is that most of the crisis does not give signal. I advise communities to go the way of peace.

    “Prompt deployment of police saved the situation. It this crisis have given signal. The police would have nipped it in the bud.”

  • Residents cry out over ritual killings in Ondo communities

    Residents of Akoko in  Ondo state have cried out over rising cases of ritual killings in the four local government areas of the section of the state.

    No fewer than six women  have been killed recently by suspected ritualists in the area.

    The  killing of an 80-year old woman, Mrs Kojusola Mogaji from the famous Mogaji family in Arigidi-Akoko last week has created panic and apprehension in the ancient town.

    Residents condemned the dastardly act, describing it as heinous.

    The octogenarian was  murdered and her breasts removed by yet-to-be-identified persons suspected to be ritual killers.

    A one- time Vicar-in-Charge of St Lukes Anglican Church, Imo-Arigidi, where the deceased worshipped until she was gruesomely killed, Revd Canon Isaac Awowole and his wife described the late woman as a committed member of the church.

    He noted that perpetrators of this evil act would meet their waterloo for spilling human blood.

    A younger brother of  the deceased, Vincent Sunday, described his sister as an asset to the family.

    He said the victim  was a mother of five who raised her children in Christian way .

    He urged security agents to do the needful and fish out the perpetrators of the dastard act.

    Another family member of the deceased, Mrs Kehinde Adewumi, urged community leaders to put an end to ritual killings in Arigidi community.

    The chairman of Akoko Northwest Local Government, Elder Samson Akande, who paid a condolence visit to the bereaved family of the late octogenarian assured that government would get to the root of the killings.

  • Oke decries plan to stall polls in Ondo communities

    The Southwest Director of Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Olusola Oke (SAN), yesterday alerted the public to alleged move by some “unscrupulous elements” to obstruct peaceful conduct of elections in the riverine areas of Ilaje and Ese-Odo local government areas of Ondo State.

    A statement by his media aide, Rotimi Ogunleye, said the directorate learnt that the mastermind of the act reportedly summoned “known armed militants” in and outside the two local government areas to a meeting at Okitipupa last Friday before the postponed elections.

    The statement said: “It was reported that after parting with a huge sum of money, he instructed the militants to hijack and destroy election materials in riverine areas, generally and specifically in Ilaje Constituency I, where the mastermind fears that his agenda against the APC, specifically the party’s senatorial candidate, may not sail through.

    “Sources said while assuring the militants at Okitipupa, he boasted to have secured the understanding of security agents to look the other way while the militants carry out this heinous crime.”

    The directorate urged men and officers of the Forward Operation Base of the Army and the police to beam their searchlight on Ondo State, especially Ilaje, to prevent “these agents of destabilisation” from implementing their devilish plans.

    It also advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be on the alert.

    Assuring the public of the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure free and fair elections, the directorate warned that the arm of the law would catch and bring perpetrators of violence and other criminal acts to justice.

     

     

  • Months after, BEDC restores power supply to Ekiti, Ondo communities

    RESIDENTS of some communities in Ekiti and Ondo states are still savouring the restoration of electricity in their domain by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) on Christmas Day.

    The communities, called “Eka Meta” in Ekiti State, are: Erinijiyan, Ipoleloro and Ikogosi. They were at the end of Ilawe/Aramoko feeder with unreliable power supply for several years.

    But the supply source of the community was changed whilst the feeder and the entire network was rehabilitated and restored at 1.15 p.m on Christmas Day.

    The feat was achieved in collaboration with Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) under the National Independent Power Project (NIPP).

    In neighbouring Ondo State, residents of Ode-Aye in Okitipupa Local Government Area, had lived without electricity for almost seven years.

    But the BEDC restored power supply on Christmas Day after a comprehensive overhaul of facilities by the NDPHC under the NIPP and BEDC.

    It was the first phase of the Ondo South restoration; Okitipupa will be in the next phase.

    Ode Aye monarch, Oba William Akinmusayo Akinlade, hailed workers and management of BEDC for restoring electricity to his domain.

    In company of excited subjects, Oba Akinlade said: “We thank God that after a long time light is now on. We thank BEDC. We thank the workers, management and everybody working in BEDC. God will bless you all. You will not be put into darkness.”

    The BEDC management, led by the Chief State Head for Ondo/Ekiti states, Mrs. Kunbi Labiyi, urged the company’s field officers to ensurie that Ode-Aye residents enjoy electricity before the end of last year.

    BEDC had announced its plan for the ancient town, one of the major communities that suffered electricity deprivation in Ondo South.

    Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu issued a stern directive through the state’s Technical Committee on Power that everything must be done to end blackout, which had enveloped the area for 12 years.

    A a meeting with Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, the BEDC management had assured that power would be restored to the tourism corridor of the state before the end of last year.

    Communities in the tourism hub, which have been without power supply, include: Ikogosi-Ekiti, host of the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort; Ipole-Iloro, the base of Ariata Waterfalls and Erinijiyan-Ekiti.

    BEDC’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mrs. Funke Osibodu, told reporters of the rehabilitation of Ikogosi/Erinijiyan/Ipole-Iloro on Aramoko 33kv feeder.

  • Ondo communities decry three-year blackout

    Ondo communities decry three-year blackout

    Residents of Ogbagi, Irun, Eshe and Afin in Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State are lamenting a three-year power outage.

    The Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) disconnected Akoko from the national grid in 2015.

    But some towns got succour about a year ago through a religious leader, Pastor Temitope Joshua, of Synagogue Churchm, and other notable indigenes.

    They donated money to boost power supply in the area.

    Joshua, who is from Arigidi-Akoko, donated to bail his people out of darkness.

    The blackout almost paralysed socio-economic activities of the four councils in Akoko.

    Many vandalised installations were replaced through a committee initiated by Pastor Joshua.

    This paved the way for the communities to get power supply.

    But others, including Ogbagi, Irun, Eshe and Afin-Akoko could not benefit from the gesture.

    The communities are groaning in blackout. Many artisans have relocated.

    Two community leaders – Joseph Omolale, from Afin-Akoko, and Chief Eli Olorunsola, from Ogbagi-Akoko – hailed Pastor Joshua for his selfless service.

    They urged him to find solutions to the problem in the affected areas.

    Another Akoko community leader, Alhaj Ibrahim Kilani, hailed the cleric for donating vehicles to security agents to patrol Akoko and check robbery and kidnapping, which made Akoko roads unsafe to travellers.

     

     

  • Ondo communities task new CP on security

    Ondo communities task new CP on security

    Residents of the four local government areas in Akoko area of Ondo State are worried over the security situation in their various communities.

    They urged the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Gbenga Adeyanju, to beef up security in the communities to curb cases of armed robbery and kidnapping.

    Insecurity, according to community leaders is prevalent on Owo-Ikare road that links Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    The Chairman of Akoko Northwest Traditional Council, Oba Yinusa Olanipekun, said the Owo- Ikare-Akunnu- Ikaram road has been invaded by hoodlums who had abducted traditional rulers, religious leaders and others on the same route.

    Oba Olanipekun, who is also the Zaki of Arigidi, urged the new police commissioner to introduce motorised patrol on the road while local government authorities should mobilise vigilante group to complement efforts of the police.

    The monarch pleaded with Adeyanju to deploy more policemen to the zone.

     

  • BEDC to restore power to Ondo communities

    BEDC to restore power to Ondo communities

    The management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) yesterday promised to restore power supply to six Ondo State communities that have been in darkness for years.
    The affected communities are in the four local government areas in Akoko land.
    The news came after Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) said the residents suffered pains and losses because of constant outages.
    Akeredolu recalled that during his meeting with the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), many communities in the Southern and Northern senatorial districts of the state were in darkness.
    The governor told the BEDC management the company would make more money if it restored power to communities that had been disconnected.
    The governor’s empathy with the people over the power situation prompted a positive response from BEDC management.
    The electricity distribution company, led by its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, promised to restore power to the affected communities.
    She said though power supply from the national grid was not enough, the communities were disconnected because of the perceived attacks on the company’s workers.
    The BEDC chief decried recurring vandalism of the company’s property.
    Mrs Osibodu urged the state government and other stakeholders to join in the fight against vandalism of the company’s property and other public utilities.
    According to her, BEDC has taken some steps, such as fencing its transformers, to prevent destruction by vandals.
    Akeredolu said over half of the state had been in darkness for years.
    He urged the power distribution company to be fair to its consumers and replace aging facilities.

  • Ondo communities to restore power after three years

    Ondo communities to restore power after three years

    Communities in the four local government areas of Ondo Southern District have resolved to restore electricity by themselves after three years of blackout.

    A group, Bring Back Our Light (BBOL), is championing the move to restore power supply in the communities.

    Residents of Ilaje, Okitipupa, Irele and Ese-Odo local government areas with over 2,000 communities have been in darkness since 2014, following the disconnection of the areas from the national grid by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) for alleged indebtedness.

    At a meeting in Okitipupa, the communities agreed to raise funds after opening an account, with four traditional rulers from each of the local government areas, as signatories.

    BBOL’s Coordinator Akinrinlola Olumide said the monarchs include the Amapetu of Mahin, Oba Lawrence Omowole (Ilaje); Jegun of Idepe, Oba Michael Adetoye (Okitipupa); Oba Thomas Adesayo, the Ahaba of Ajagba (Irele) and Oba Adeniyi Ajayi, Gbaluwe of Igbotu (Ese Odo).

    He said their inclusion as signatories would guarantee accountability.

    Olumide said the communities would use the money to defray their indebtedness to BEDC through the committees expected to work with the traditional rulers.

    The coordinator sought the support of indigenes of for financial assistance, adding that levies and collections would be collected house to house, offices and concerned parties, in accordance with the rules on electricity consumption.

    He said BEDC agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the residents to begin immediate repairs of the damaged facilities immediately the stakeholders paid up to 20 per cent of the total debt to aid restoration of electricity.

  • Power restored in Ondo communities

    Power restored in Ondo communities

    After eight months of darkness, power has been restored in four Ire-Akari communities in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    The development came after the resolution of disagreement between the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and the communities.

    BEDC’s Head in Ondo and Ekiti states Ernest Edgar, after the meeting, promised to restore power in the area immediately.

    Consequently, some areas have been lit as part of the fulfillment of the agreement reached.

    Power has been restored at the Federal Government College, Ido-Ani.

    State Electricity Board (OSEB) Chairman Olatunji Oshati had promised to intervene in the crisis, which left the communities without power for eight months.

    Oshati said it was the duty of the government to be responsive to the plight of the people.