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Tag: Ondo state

  • Governor’s wife advocates more cancer awareness

    Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, wife of Ondo State Governor, has called on non-governmental organisations to raise awareness on cancer and its impact in the country.

    She made this call in Abuja at a music and comedy fund raising show organised by Project Pink Blue, a cancer non-profit campaign organisation.

    Mrs Akeredolu, a breast cancer survivor, noted that cancer can be defeated when people are enlightened about the ailment and the need to go for regular checkups.

    According to her, the idea of referring the ailment to spiritual attack is contributing to the high rate of preventable deaths in the country.

    “I am a 21 years cancer survivor and I am still alive, but the entry point to defeating cancer is education.

    “Education is very important in the fight against any type of cancer but in this our environment, we are held back by all sort of misconceptions on what causes cancer and how it can be treated.

    “We attribute it to spiritual attack, so instead of going to the hospital, we keep going to prayer mountain thereby wasting time.

    “People do not know that early detection is the key but we find out that by the time victims report to the hospital, their cases would have gotten to Stage 3 or Stage 4,” she said.

    She also called on Nigerians to make financial support to the treatment of cancer victims in the country.

    A male breast cancer survivor, Mr Chuks Igbokwe, advised Nigerians to regularly check themselves of lumps in their breast area and also go to the hospital for mammogram check.

    “The public should be aware that breast cancer is not exclusive to females only but men can also be victims of it.
    “I implore everyone to always check themselves and also get themselves enlightened about the disease,” he said.

    Fund were raised by ‘auctioning’ various celebrities and artists in the entertainment industry at the event.

    The celebrities include Alex Unusual, Rachael Okoronkwo, Kemen, Ex-Mr Nigeria Bryan Okwara and Denrele Edun.

    NAN

  • Ondo 2018 re-ordered Budget, constitutional

    Ondo State government on Friday criticized the statement credited to a member of the state assembly, Olugbenga Araoyinbo  condemning the  2018 Ondo State Reordered budget.

    Araoyinbo was said to have described the budget as “unconstitutional” claiming that it was the cause of the failed attempt to remove the incumbent Speaker, David Bamidele Oloyeloogun and his deputy, Iroju Ogundeji.

    A statement by the state commissioner for information and orientation, Yemi Olowolabi said “baleful and vengeful, the notion speaks  volumes of orchestrated mischief and  calculated malfeasance all in the name of filthy politics.

    “I wish to put on record that it is not unusual for budget to be reordered.  This was done here in Ondo State by previous administrations and it is being done in other states in the Country. Even the Federal Government, recently, had to reorder the 2018 budget in line with some prevailing fiscal realities

    “What we have done now and always is in tandem with our avowed commitment to the welfare of people of Ondo State. No amount of denigrations and aspersions will halt the wheel of progress our state is currently experiencing under the leadership of Akeredolu.

    Read Also: Ondo to offset outstanding salaries

    “The current reordering  budget exercise among other reasons had to be done in anticipation of the release of recent Paris club refund, which is to be used to pay arrears of workers salaries and pensions of retirees in the terms agreed with labour leaders.

    “The bill was passed to the house a couple of weeks after the Federal Government made public the various amounts due to each State as Paris Club refund.

    “Surprisingly, it was left unattended to by the House, even before the recent failed attempt to effect a leadership change in the Assembly”.

    Olowolabi said Araoyinbo’s statement clearly advertised crass legislative ignorance and a morbid desire to mislead the public.

    According to him ” Notwithstanding the heist and hate campaigns, the truth is that the budget size remains unchanged and any enlightened person knows that budget re ordering is a fiscal instrument used for re-allocating funds from non-performing heads to more active heads without increasing the budget”

    He insisted that the state government had done nothing illegal stressing that the state government has continued to hoist the flag of transparency in governance while pursuing the top agenda to transform Ondo State.

  • Akeredolu canvasses equity in renovation of schools

    Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has called for equity in the renovation of secondary schools in the state.

    Akeredolu made the call in Akure when a delegation of the Ondo Boys High School Alumni Association visited him.

    The governor said the school was left out in the renovation exercise carried out by the previous administration in Ondo town as two schools were already renovated.

    “We need to be fair in whatever we do.

    “ We looked at all Unity Schools in the state and found out that the one in Ondo town and St. Joseph, both in the same town, were renovated by the previous administration while others were left out.

    “I am not saying it is  not good to renovate them, but you will agree with me that we must spread this to other parts of the state so that we can have some measure of balancing,” he said.

    The governor, who lamented the paucity of funds being experienced in the state, however,  assured the association of financial support in the renovation of the unity school.

    ” The circumstances we have found ourselves is that we are only eking a living. The money is not there and at a point, we felt that we needed to look for money by all means to renovate our secondary schools.

    Read Also: Akeredolu urged to intervene on Ilaje chieftaincy tussle

    “The government has a responsibility, but it is just that there are too many things contending for the little we have.

    “But I  assure you that whatever we can do, this little will be used judiciously,” he said.

    Earlier, Oluyemisi Lofinmakin, the President-General of the association, had commended the governor for his positive contributions to the development of the education sector.

    He also commended  Akeredolu for the infrastructural development of the state in spite of the paucity of funds.

    Also speaking, Chief  Reuben Fasoranti, the Akure Chapter Chairman of the association, said the school had turned out no fewer than six traditional rulers as well as other illustrious Nigerians.

    Fasoranti, a chieftain of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, urged  Akeredolu to support the association.

    “ The old students themselves are making some contributions, but we feel that the government should assist us to sustain the heritage and good work being done in that place,’’ he said.

     

    NAN

  • Boroffice faults invasion of Ondo Assembly

    The  lawmaker representing Ondo North Senatorial District, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice has condemned the violent invasion of the Ondo State House of Assembly by members of the National Union Road Transport Workers (NURTW) who attacked lawmakers, staff and journalists at the premises of the parliament on Friday.

    The senator described the invasion as an ugly political decadence that is condemnable and unacceptable.

    In  a statement by his Press Secretary, Kayode Fakuyi said “In Ondo State, there is an evolving trend of violent interference and fierce intervention of NURTW members in political affairs and state matters. Thus, security agencies need to swiftly check and curb the trend.

    “Aftermath of the invasion, an atmosphere of fear and insecurity has been ignited. It is therefore incumbent on the security agencies to immediately restore an atmosphere of peace and tranquility for legislative activities to thrive and flourish”.

    Boroffice urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to ensure adequate security to protect the lives of all members of Ondo State House of Assembly.

  • 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.

  • Buhari deserves second term – Cleric

    The Founder, Unity and Peace Movement (UAPM) in Ondo state,  Pastor Sola Okunade on Wednesday urged Nigerians to give President Muhammadu Buhari the opportunity  to serve for a second term.

    According to him, a vote for President Buhari in 2019 would save the nation from impending economic crisis going by his resolute to wage war against corruption in the last three and half years.

    Okunade recalled how he predicted that even though Chief M. K. O Abiola would win the June 12, 1992 Presidential election, but that some powerful bloc would prevent him from actualizing his mandate.

    The cleric noted that he also hinted on the attempted transformation of late Gen. Sanni Abacha from Military to Civilian rule which he said could had slept doom for Nigeria if not for divine intervention.

    On Buhari, the cleric assured that there would be peace and stability if Nigerians cast their votes for him in February 2019.

    He noted that Nigeria was blessed with good leaders capable of fixing both human and material resources to move Nigeria to greater heights citing  the antecedent of Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu, one of the political pillars in the South West.

    According to  UAPM founder, Tinubu had plaid a significant role in sustaining peace, unity and Progress of the country by creating political stability across the country as a detribalised leader.

    Read Also: Workers excited as Buhari accepts N30,000 proposal

    He said his organisation had being a reputable NGO for her various humanitarian services in building the nation for Harmony and Progress, providing succor for the less privileged in term of creating employment opportunities.

    He said major activities of UAPM since its establishment was seeking divine intervention in resolving the nation’s problems, basically seeking the face of the Lord to make Nigerian roads accident free especially during ember months.

    He said, “It is the will of God that every Nigerian citizen play a vital role for harmony, peace, Progress and Success to strive in Nigeria regardless of religion background”.

    The NGO was also involving  religious leaders, both Christians and Muslims to  organise safety awareness at Motor Parks in major cities across the South West to reduce carnage on Nigerian roads.

  • 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.

  • Soldiers invade Ekiti community over colleague’s death

    There is panic in Ogotun-Ekiti, a community in Ekiti Southwest Local Government Area of Ekiti State over the killing of a soldier.

    The killing of the soldier by gunmen suspected to be armed robbers on Wednesday sparked an invasion of the community by scores of soldiers.

    Residents claimed that the soldiers who stormed Ogotun from the Army base in Akure, the Ondo State capital, now patrol their community in twelve Toyota Hilux vans.

    While many residents have left the town, others who are afraid of going out are staying indoors owing

    A community leader, Mr. Paul Awopetu, who confirmed the development to our reporter on Thursday said a resident was killed by suspected robbers at Olori Oko farmstead in Ogotun.

    Awopetu disclosed that one person who escaped from the robbery scene reported the incident to soldiers manning a checkpoint between Ogotun and neighboring Igbara Odo.

    He added: “Two soldiers followed the person who escaped from the farmstead but the robbers killed one of the soldiers.

    Read Also: Ekiti Assembly confirms Fayemi’s commissioner nominees

    “As I am talking to you now, many soldiers are patrolling Ogotun in twelve Hilux vehicles.

    “The soldiers are combing the bush, forest and surrounding farmsteads in search of the robbers who killed their colleague.”

    The police spokesman Caleb Ikechukwu who confirmed the incident described those who killed the soldier as “unknown gunmen.”

    Ikechukwu said he cannot speak on the actual number of soldiers deployed to the community by the Army authorities.

    He said the men of the state police command have joined the military in the search for those who killed the soldier.

    Ikechukwu said: “The incident has come to my notice, I have been duly informed about the soldier killed by unidentified gunmen. That is the information at my disposal for now.

    “Intensive search is going on now but I cannot ascertain the number soldiers but if you kill a soldier you should expect the military go into action.

    “We have deployed our men to join in the search for the culprits who committed the crime.”

     

  • APC primaries exposed Oshiomhole’s incompetence, says Akeredolu

    Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Wednesday said the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries exposed the incompetence of its chairman Adams Oshiomhole.

    He described the primaries as “political charade”, saying they not only exposed the “sheer incompetence” of APC’s national leadership, but revealed “a shocking proclivity towards banditry and impunity”.

    Akeredolu said recent events justified his opposition to Oshiomhole’s choice as party chairman.

    According to him, those who feel aggrieved reserve the right to demand justice, including calling for Oshiomhole’s removal.

    The governor, however, restated his commitment to work “assiduously” for President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election, who he said is loved by the people of Ondo who see his re-election as a “patriotic duty”.

    Akeredolu, in a statement by his Senior Special Adviser on Special Duties and Strategy Dr Doyin Odebowale, was reacting to an allegation that three governors, led by Akeredolu, was bent on sabotaging the party.

    During a pro-Oshiomhole protest at the APC Secretariat in Abuja, Akeredolu’s name was mentioned as the “leader” of “conservatives” bent on working against the re-election bid of President  Buhari the removal of Oshiomole as APC chairman.

    But, Akeredolu, who described organizers of the protest as “opportunists”, denied the allegation that he led governors of Ogun, Kaduna Adamawa and Ekiti States against Oshiomole’s leadership.

    Akeredolu said he found the report laughable and distracting, adding that as a fiercely independent personality, he was not about to change his attitude to please any person or a group of persons.

    “There is no truth in the whole contrivance. The governor has been pre-occupied with matters of governance in Ondo State for which he was elected,” the statement said.

    Read Also: No development without unity, says Akeredolu

    Akeredolu recalled his “noble interventions” as Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President at critical moments in the cause of the progressives, including in restoring Oshiomole’s stolen mandate.

    The statement said: “The Governor had expressed preference for someone else during the contest for the office of the Chairman of the Party.

    “He did not hide his opposition to Mr Oshiomole’s aspiration for the simple reason that the leadership of a party, especially the one just emerging from a merger, should distance itself from egregious and inherently destructive narcissism.

    “Recent events seem to justify this position as prescient. Only sycophants will fail to see the obvious. Mr President would not have expressed worries over the crises in the Party if everything had gone on smoothly.

    “The handlers of the mob strive in vain to set the President against certain government functionaries considered antagonistic to their pernicious scheme for dominance.

    “Their devious plot to outsmart those perceived as opposing their expansionist tendency compelled them to take desperate measures. Anyone endowed with an attitude of sobriety should have seen the need for calm.

    “Rather than retrace their steps and display genuine contrition, their desperation pushes them to embrace measures capable of not only hurting the Party, but, regrettably, the President, whom they pretend to love so much.”

    Akeredolu said it was ludicrous that anyone would consider him a conservative.

    “Those who collected varying and humongous amounts as fees from aspirants during the last grandiose charade called primaries and submitted names dictated to them by a cabal, notorious for capturing political power for unbridled pillage, should be bold to explain their real motives to the people. They should be honest enough to deal with the issues.

    “Events, which took place across the country during the political charade, have exposed not only sheer incompetence on the part of the national leadership of the party, but painfully, it has revealed a shocking proclivity towards banditry and impunity.

    “It is becoming clear, increasingly, that party leadership at that level is seriously challenged in terms of capacity for serious engagements.

    “Arakunrin Akeredolu, SAN, does not need to move from ‘North’ to ‘South’ to collect signatures from victims of electoral heist. He was in Ondo State throughout last week.

    “He was at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, to deliver a lecture on restructuring a few days ago. He is at presently in Canada on a working visit.

    “Only the mob and their hirers can explain the imagined movement from North to South. However, those who feel aggrieved reserve the right to demand that justice be done. If this includes the removal of Mr Oshiomole, so be it.

    “May we seize this opportunity to reiterate the fact that the people of Ondo State are favourably disposed to the second term bid of Mr President.

    “Our people are unique; they are unwavering in their support for justice. They alone determine what is in their best interest at all times. The President is loved by the people of Ondo State.

    “All of us shall work, assiduously, for the President’s victory at the polls next year. We do not need any band of mendicants ready for hire to remind us of this sacred patriotic duty,” the statement added.