The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ondo state

  • Ondo advises civil servants to plan well for retirement

    The Ondo State Government on Monday advised civil servants in the state to be proactive and plan well for their retirement from service.

    Mr Toyin Akinkuotu, the State Head of Service, (HoS) gave the advice in Akure at a retirement ceremony organised for Dr Taiye Oni, the Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Health.

    Akinkuotu noted that when there was a solid plan, retirement would not be boring to retirees but enjoyable.

    “As civil servants, we should be thinking of what to do after the service.

    “We must keep going and be active always so that we can find life enjoyable,” he said.

    The HoS described the retired permanent secretary as an honest man and a man of excellence qualities, who had served meritoriously having reached 60 years of age.

    Dr Dayo Adeyanju, the immediate past Commissioner for Health in the state, while also extolling the virtues of Oni, said that the officer was tolerant to a fault.

    Read Also: Ondo gets task force on forest reserve

    Adeyanju advised civil servants to shun poor preparation that could lead to loneliness, sickness and untimely death.

    Also, Dr Wahab Adegbenro, the state Commissioner for Health, said that the retiring officer was a man of peace, who had served without blemish.

    Similarly, Bishop Felix Adejumo of Agape Ministries International, Akure, also described him as a mentor, a good leader that was worthy of emulation.

    Adejumo urged civil servants to always be accountable to their superiors and God, and also support the development of the state.

    Dr Felix Olawoye, the Principal of Ondo State School of Health Technology, described Oni as a destiny helper, a facilitator of good things, who believed in solving challenges with peaceful approach.

    Dr Dolani Gbelela, the state Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) said that the ministry would miss Dr Oni because “he is a man that calms tension down to give way for peace.’’

    Responding, Oni described civil service to be full of ups and downs, thanking God who made it possible for him to scale through all the challenges.

    He advised civil servants to get prepared for their retirement, saying it would surely come.

    Dr Taiye Oni was born on June 4, 1958, had his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at University of Ilorin in 1983 and joined the service of the Ondo State in 1987.

    NAN

  • ‘Buhari’s government has redirected economy on value creation’.

    Factional members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state on Thursday hailed President Muhammadu Buhari administration for returning the economy of the nation in the direction of value creation.

    Chairman of the group,Idowu Otetubi who spoke after the meeting held in Akure,the state capital said the ruling party is proud of the Buhari administration’s effort  in curbing corruption and promoting agriculture.

    Otetubi, a chartered accountant urged APC members in the state to keep faith with the party,assuring of mobilising for the victory of President Buhari in the 2019 election.

    According to him,”Democracy has come to stay in Nigeria. It has not only endured, the present administration has demonstrated enough courage, stoic determination and legendary passion towards salvaging the nation’s economy.

    “We have come a long way. Before the advent of the present administration, our economy has a single revenue profile structure. To redirect It, it must be diversified. This the givernment has done and done very well.

    ” The president must be commended for his dogged fight against corruption. He has provided leadership and from all indication,the President is ready to rescue Nigeria from the hands of the few who see the country as their milking pot”.

    On APC affairs in the state, the factional chairman said efforts were being made to bring the party together as one.

    He lauded party leaders who visited some reporters and other party members assaulted by suspected political thugs during their state parallel congress in Akure.

    Otetubi said” Our party shall come out  stronger. I appeal to members of the party to be peaceful and law-abiding. I thank the leaders of our party who visited the journalists and other members of the party that were attacked by thugs during the recent state congress in Akure.”

    He expressed optimism that those behind the attack would be arrested and prosecuted soon.

     

  • 15 die in Ondo road crash

    No fewer than 15 passengers travelling along Epinmi-Isua Akoko in Ondo state reportedly died Tuesday in a road accident.

    Sources said the victims were travelling in a bus when the vehicle had a head on collision with an unregistered Tokunbo vehicle.

    It was learnt that the vehicles consequently caught fire which nearly consumed all occupants of the bus.

    Read Also:We’ll open up Ondo with accessible roads, Infrastructure – Akeredolu

    An eye witness said the ‘Tokunbo’ vehicle which was driven by a military man was said to have overtaken a vehicle along the ever busy Epinmi-Isua-Abuja road.

    The Police Area Commander for Akoko, Razak Rauf who was on a routine trip to some divisions in the area confirmed the accident and attributed it to recklessness.

    A community leader and Chief Imam of Epinmi-Akoko,Alhaji Maliki Alimi lamented the incessant road carnage along the same route in recent time.

    It was learnt that men of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Ikare Akoko  unit immediately came for rescue operation.

    They reportedly evacuated the corpses to Ikare-Akoko Specialist hospital mortuary.

    It was also confirmed that the drivers of the two vehicles survived but sustained various degrees of injuries and now receiving treatment in the hospital.

  • We’ll open up Ondo with accessible roads, Infrastructure – Akeredolu

    Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has said his administration would deliver access roads and life-changing infrastructures to uplift the state.

    He spoke at Molege, an agrarian community in Owo Local Government when he visited the community with some members of his cabinet to inspect the 13 Kilometres Molege – Ute farm access road.

    Akeredolu reiterated the commitment of his administration to opening up rural areas across the state at enhancing the socio-economic wellbeing of the people.

    He explained that once rural roads were made accessible to farmers, it would in turn boost the economy of their state.

    According to him “Part of our five cardinal programmes is rural development and in doing that, we have keyed into Rural Access Mobility Programme (RAMP) a World Bank assisted programme.

    “Most essentially, this exercise is to have farm to market access roads.This community has a lot of farming activities and people here are having difficulty in taking their produce from farms to market because of lack of access roads.

    Read Also: Akeredolu tasks Senate Committee on PIB

    Akeredolu pointed out that the roads would give the people smooth access to move their farm produce to the market while the cost of such produce would get cheaper and vehicles last longer.

    He said “During our election campaign, we did promise to construct this road, we have started and we would ensure that it is completed for your use very soon.

    “With our counterparts, we will open up about 540 Kilometres of roads. This is just about 13 kilometres from that. The people should expect it.

    “For me, opening up the rural areas is a promise we made which we will ensure we keep. I have said I want to be remembered as the governor that opened up the rural areas”

    The governor also promised to build a school for the community which has been without any since the existence of the area.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Community and Rural Development,  Victor Olabimtan noted that the road construction, from Molege to Ute in Owo Local Government, was the fulfilment of the present administration’s commitment to deliver democractic dividends to people of the state.

    He thanked residents of the community for the support given to those handling the project which had assisted in the progress made so far.

    The traditional ruler of Molege Community, Ahmed Otaro applauded Governor Akeredolu for fulfilling his promise of  constructing the road.

    He commended the governor for the giant strides taken so far by his administration across all sectors, pledging the continued support of Molege residents towards the success of his administration.

  • Mimiko calls for more investment in quality education

    Former Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has called for significant and sustained investment in quality education as that would help in creating massive development in Nigeria.

    Mimiko said this at the maiden edition of the Education Risk & Governance summit organised by Conrad Clark Nigeria, held at the Landmark Towers in Victoria lsland Lagos. The event tagged  “Learning Strategy, Quality and Safeguarding, and considered issues such as governance, funding, the role of government/regulators, education service providers, regulators and other stakeholders in resolving Nigeria education crisis.

    He said that Nigeria as one of the most resourceful countries in the world, and one which would benefit hugely from a significant and sustained investment in quality education.

    He said that such an investment would create massive development in the country and increase income flow into the economy.

    Mimiko posited that it is the fundamental right of every child to get an education and in ensuring this right; we will become more intentional about building a future for each Nigerian child.

    Read Also: Mimiko calls for more investment in education

    In her words, The Director General, Lagos State Office of Education Quality Assurance, Mrs. Ronke Soyombo emphasized the need for schools to adopt the starfish structure of leadership and governance, a structure where every arm of the school is learning and growing at the same pace and where roles are properly defined and carried out accordingly and effectively.

    Also speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Golden Links Educational Consultants (United Kingdom), Angelina Ikeako addressed the issues of violence, abuse and safeguarding of children.

    She emphasized the need to empower children to speak up when being abused and challenging the norm of being silent.

    According to her, it is time to move from strategic practices to operational practices and also to Implement and monitor the child protection policies already in place to know if they are effectively carried out.

    She insisted that child safeguarding needs to be tackled from the children, staff and management levels in the schools.

    In his paper, The Chairman of Cornfield Group, Dr Tope Agbeyo, spoke on the use – or lack thereof – of technology in Nigerian schools, said that Nigeria is losing bright minds to Education Capital Flight due to absence of quality and technology driven education, and the lack of credibility of Nigerian certificates.

  • Creditor charged with beating man to a pulp over debt

    A 22-year-old man, Idowu Okuato, was on Tuesday brought before an Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State for allegedly beating to a pulp a man who owed him N20, 000.

    The accused, whose address is unknown, is standing trial on a two-count charge of misdemeanour and assault.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Zedekiah Orogbemi told the court that the accused with another man still at large had on April 17 at 10.30 a.m. at Ikoya in Okitipupa, beaten to a pulp the complainant, Mr Julius Adebayo, who allegedly owed him N20,000.

    Orogbemi said that the accused also inflicted various degrees of injuries on the complainant and  tore his clothes valued at N12,000.

    The offences contravened Sections 351 and 517 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Ruling on the bail application of the accused, Magistrate Banji Ayeomoni granted him bail in the sum of N20,000 with a surety in like sum.

    He added that the surety must present a year tax clearance as part of the bail conditions.

    Further hearing has been adjourned until May 22.

  • APC chieftain applauds leaders over  successful ward congress

    Mr Tunde Giwa-Daramola, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ), in Ondo state on Tuesday applauded party leaders in the state for a successful ward congress.

    The Akoko North-West constituency House of Representative hopeful told the News men reports that the ward congress was well organised based on consensus and zoning formula.

    The ruling party’s ward congresses were held on May 5 across the country, with reports of irregularities and disruption in some areas.

    Read Also: “Ward congresses in Cross River remain suspended”

    Giwa-Daramola, a retired navy Commander said: “Unlike reports from other states and constituencies where the exercise was disrupted, it was indeed a peaceful event in Akoko.

    “Akoko people conducted themselves peacefully at the congress and the party leaders in the constituency should be commended for their leadership role.’’

    Speaking on other matters, there was the need to ensure the establishment of a Federal University of Education or Agriculture in the area.

    “Establishment of a University in Akoko land is long overdue, one of my mandate is to push for one, in order to bring developmental growth,’’ Giwa-Daramola said.

    NAN

     

  • Police rescue abducted driver on Ondo road

    Four days after he was abducted by suspected gunmen near Oba-Akoko along Owo-Ikare road in Ondo state, the abducted Lagos-bound commercial driver Tuesday regained his freedom from captivity.

    Sources said police men in Akoko axis led by the Area Commander, Razak Rauf reinforced to ensure the release of the Benue state commercial bus driver, Omale Idola

    He was kidnapped on Saturday between Ayegunle Oka and Oba- Akoko while he parked to urinate.

    The father of the victim, Francis who is a retired police officer Francis Idola from Okpoga, Benue state was full of praises to the police for their expertise in handling the incident which aided safe release of his son.

    On the payment of N5m ransom which the kidnappers demanded as precondition to free Omale, his father refused to disclose the amount but admitted that the gunmen took some money.

    Confirming the release of the Driver, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Oba-Akoko, Olakunle Fabolude, a Superintendent of Police (SP) said he was rescued safely.

    Read Also: Pastor in police net for propagating hate speech

  • Youths protest 10-year power outage in Ondo

    Scores of youths at the weekend marched on the streets of Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje local government to protest 10 years power outage in the Southern Senatorial District of Ondo State.

    The aggrieved youths lamented total marginalization of the riverine area by the state government.

    Under the aegis of Ilaje Advancement Forum (IAF), the youths mobilized themselves and sang in yoruba “Ko sina, ko sibo,” meaning, “No light, no election.”

    There was traffic gridlock in the town during the protest, which has the 2nd largest market in West Africa.

    The development laid embargo on economic activities for several hours as youths carried different placards with various inscription on peaceful procession.

    Some of the placards read: “Ilaje: enough is enough;” What offence has Ilaje people committed;” “Ondo State government has failed us;” OSOPADEC is fake,” NDDC is fraud;” The Federal Government has failed in service delivery,” “Our leaders are rogues;” “No light, no election” among others.

    The Co-convener of the Forum, Tokunbo Ehinmowo, decried the deplorable state of the riverine area, saying the Ilaje nation, despite its huge natural resources and contribution to the country’s GDP, is suffering neglect.

    Ehinmowo said IAF is a mass movement of the Ilaje people to bring about progressive change in Ilaje land.

    She stressed that non-availability of power supply has plunged the people into untold hardship for the past 10 years.

    She lamented that there are dearth of industries, factories, prevalence of infrastructural decay, environmental degradation, poor empowerment programmes, attributing it to failure of their representatives at all levels.

    Another member of the group, Oluwajuwon Ogunbiyi, stressed that the crux of the protest was to demand “renegotiation of social contract between the government and the people of Ilaje Local Government Area.

    “We are the local government producing the largest chunk of money to the Federal Government through our oil resources. We surrender everything we have for the government under social contract to take care of us.”

    He said over N6b Ayetoro Shoreline Protection project and other intervention funds by government agencies were embezzled by their leaders.

    The Yeye Oge of Igbokoda, Mrs Stella Odunnuga and Mr Adekunle Odusola, said their representatives to the oil companies have failed in their responsibilities to the people, using public fund to enrich themselves and cronies.

    Ilaje youths vowed that “if our light is not restored, government should forget 2019 elections. None of the leaders in Ilaje communities will be allowed to campaign, INEC should forget elections in the riverine areas.”

    OSOPADEC chairman, Gbenga Edema, sympathized with the people of the area, assuring that efforts are on top gear by the state government to ensure that there is restoration of electricity in the whole South Senatorial District.

    Edema noted that the menace had been lingering in the area for over a decade, saying he had been in the forefront of the vanguard to fight the marginalization of the riverine communities.

    He added they have been collaborating with the BEDC and other stakeholders, saying the government would soon find lasting solutions to the problem.

    He pointed out that the delays were due to the huge challenges the present administration met onboard in solving the problems, stressing the commitment of the state government to develop the riverine communities

  • Three kidnapped on Ondo road

    Kidnappers seek N5m ransom

     

    Deplorable situation of Akoko roads in the Northern District of Ondo state is aiding incessant robberies and kidnappings in the area.

    Roads like Owo-Ikare, Ise-Isua, Ipele-Idoani – Isua-Akunu- Auga have recorded such crimes due to its state of disrepair as potholes and gully erosion paved for armed robbers and gunmen to strike with impunity regularly.

    Last weekend, there were reports of kidnapping and robbery in two different locations in the area.

    ‘The Nation’ learnt that a commercial bus going to Onitsha from Ikare-Akoko around 5.am was robbed between the almost impassable Ise-Isua-Akoko road where substantial cash and personal belongings of the travellers mostly traders were seized.

    Sources said three of them were abducted and dragged into the bush.

    Two of the victims reportedly bolted out, after which one was reportedly shot at close range by the gunmen.

    He was rushed to the State Specialist Hospital, Ikare-Akoko.

    However, due to the ongoing joint medical workers strike at the Federal Medical Centre, (FMC), Owo,the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the State Hospital, Ikare-Akoko, Dr Wale Oguntuase refereed  the victim to University of Benin Teaching Hospital in Edo state.

    The second victim,a youth corps member serving in Anambra state, according to the Divisional Police Officer(DPO) lsua-Akoko,  Abiodun Ojediran trekked the bush for hours before he got to Ikakumo in Edo state.

    Similar incident happened around 4 pm on Saturday after APC ward congress between Ayegunle-Oka and Oba Akoko along the busy Owo-Ikare-Abuja road.

    It was learnt that the gunmen utilized the failed portion near Oba-Akoko to perpetrate the acts.

    An unsuspected commercial bus driver coming from Oturkpo,Benue state to Lagos came down to ease himself when the gunmen came out of their permanent hide-out near Oba-Akoko, where eminent people including Traditional rulers, Regent, Catholic Priests among others had been abducted in the past and kidnapped him.

    They eventually left his passengers inside the vehicle to remain stranded.

    The DPO, Oba-Akoko, Olakunle Fabolude said his men had swung into action to rescue the driver.

    It was learnt that the kidnappers were asking for N5m ransom from his family.

    The Police Area Commander for Akoko, ACP Razak Rauf assured that those abducted would be rescued alive by the police.

    According to him, all bushes and jungles are being combed by his men to arrest the culprits.

    A community leader in Ayegunle, Oka-Akoko,Gabriel Ariyo urged the Minister of Works ,Raji Fashola to dialogue with President Mohammed Buhari on how to fix the deplorable Owo-Ikare-Ibilo road, stressing that Akoko is the gate way to Ondo state from all parts of the country.