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Tag: ONDO

  • Ondo introduces new property ownership scheme

    Property owners in Ondo State can now obtain titles for a minimum fee of N15,000 and maximum of N25,000, with the processing and delivery period of the certificates pegged at eight weeks.

    Giving details of the new deal at a Stakeholders meeting in his office on Friday, the state Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, said the issuance of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) in the state will be done within eight weeks for N25,000 in urban areas, maximum of N20,000 in semi-urban areas and a maximum of N15,000 in the rural areas of the state.

    He said the package is as a result of government’s digitalised C-of-O scheme, which he flagged off on Thursday, with some beneficiaries presented with their certificates.

    The Governor said  the new digitalised scheme will eradicate fraud and unnecessary gatekeeper or agents, adding  that the new systemic titling of land registration is a way of moving away from the old order and a surefooted step to move the state forward.

  • Corps members visit Ondo Prison

    Olokuta Prison Yard in Ondo State hosted Corps members in Akure South Local Government on their community development service. The visiting youths, under the aegis of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences and National Anti-Corruption Volunteers Corps, were led by Alex Ojekunle, their president.

    The purpose of the visit was to identify with inmates of the prison and sensitise them on corruption, its implications on the nation’s wellbeing and how to stop it.

    Alex told the inmates that corruption was the cause of the bad state of the nation, saying it was also responsible for subversion of justice system. He said respect for human rights and equality before the law remained hallmarks corruption-free society.

    The Corps members were received and conducted round the facility by a Deputy Controller of Prison, who said the society had abandoned the inmates.

    The Corps members divided themselves into groups and interacted with the inmates on social, economic, and political issues. Some of them were moved to tears as the inmates lamented how corruption was affecting their wellbeing in the prison.

    “We are at the receiving end of corruption in the society. Life is hard for us here, because about 180 of us occupy a cell room originally built for 30 inmates,” one of them said.

    “Help us pass this message to our government officials, judiciary and legislature that we want a viable ad independent judicial system because some of us are suffering the slowness of our judicial process,” an inmate awaiting trial said.

    Blessing Oko, a Batch “A” Corps member, told the inmates to be prayerful and assured them that they are useful to the society.

     

  • ‘We have confidence in Ondo APC leadership’

    ‘We have confidence in Ondo APC leadership’

    Chairmen of  the 18 local government chapters of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State yesterday passed a vote of confidence on the state executive committee led by Isaac Kekemeke.

    The party leaders debunked various allegations levelled against the leadership of the party and appreciated the successes it recorded in the recent elections.

    A group, Political Youth Frontiers (PYF) had earlier condemned the alleged recalcitrant posture of Kekemeke which they claimed have deprived many members from contributing their inputs into the affairs of the party for its development.

    They particularly lamented that the leadership of the party shunned proceedings at the election petitions tribunal where some of its state Assembly candidates contested the election results.

    But the chairmen maintained that there is need to instill discipline in the party in view of recent happenings.

    Addressing reporters at the state office of the party in Akure, the chairman of Akoko North Local Government chapter of APC, Alhaji Rasheed Badmus said, “we need to correct the recent happenings where some members tend to indulge in some acts that tend to portray the party in bad light.”

    Badmus noted that all party members should realize that constituted authorities should be respected at all levels.

    He advised against the idea of groupings within the party, stressing that it should be discouraged where they exist.

    According to him, “APC is a big party with open arms to embrace and accomodate all entrants who should be encouraged to operate within the constitutional positions of the progressives party.

    Children and youths have been charged to justifiably appreciate the huge investments on them by their parents and the nation at large by excelling in all their endeavours.

  • APC to banks, Fed Govt: don’t grant Ondo loan

    APC to banks, Fed Govt: don’t grant Ondo loan

    Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) has cautioned the Federal Government and Access Bank Plc against granting any loan to the state government.

    The party urged Governor Olusegun Mimiko to give account of allocations he had collected since the inception of his administration.

    Its spokesman, O’moba Abayomi Adesanya, in a statement yesterday, challenged the state government to explain to the people why he was seeking N7 billion loan from Access Bank despite the alleged N70 billion debts he incurred.

    Besides, Adesanya said the few projects implemented so far by the government did not justify the money he met in the state’s accounts and the allocations collected since 2009, when he took over.

    He said Mimiko was only trying to create a mess for any incoming government that would take over from him in 2017.

    The statement reads: “We have it on good authority that the said N7 billion loan was only meant for the completion of the ‘Dome’ project and the Fiwasaye/Oba-Ile/Airport road.

    “These projects have been on since 2009. Mimiko should explain to the people why he should be seeking for loans for the completion of the project, when N4.1 billion was awarded for the road project and N1.5 billion was first awarded for the ‘Dome’ project and N2 billion when the same ‘Dome’ was re-awarded in 2013.

    “The little projects completed by the state government since its inception in 2009, do not justify the over N44 billion it met in the state treasury and over N700 billion allocations it had collected since 2009.

    “Mimiko has only embarked on window dressing jobs while all our industries and ongoing projects embarked upon by his predecessor, late Governor Olusegun Agagu, have been abandoned.

    “It will be recalled that when Mimiko’s government came on board, it promised residents of Akure, the state capital, that the major road, Oyemekun/Oba-Adesida, will be turned to a “Washington DC”.

    “He proposed to make this road six lanes road. Houses and shops were demolished and this project was awarded for N3.2 billion. But, we were shocked that what the contractor could do was removal of streetlights and construction of the median along the road for one year.

    “The Ondo township road in his home town was flagged off around the same time at the cost of N3.8 billion and up till now, the job is yet to be completed.

    “Mimiko and his co-travellers have grounded the economy of the state while the rate of poverty has increased. The masses cannot eat three square meals. In Ondo State, government taxes have weakened commercial activities. It has gotten to the stage that the poor masses are being denied government’s facilities through taxation.”

  • Impeached Ondo deputy governor petitions EFCC against Mimiko

    Impeached Ondo deputy governor petitions EFCC against Mimiko

    •Olanusi: governor ‘is a personification of corruption’

    Impeached Ondo State Deputy Governor Ali Olanusi said yesterday he has written a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe allegations of corruption against Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

    He urged “indigenes and patriotic Nigerians to beam a searchlight” on the activities of the governor, alleging that he had derailed.

    The septuagenarian politician, who returned to his native Akoko with his associates, rejected the allegation of gross misconduct leveled against him, before he was impeached by the House of Assembly.

    Reiterating his innocence, Olanusi, who is now the leader of the state All Progressives Congress (APC), alleged that Mimiko was a personification of corruption.

    He told reporters in Lagos before departing home that Mimiko failed to paint him as a corrupt deputy after he rejected the governor’s plan to run Ondo State as a sole administrator.

    Olanusi said the “one-day impeachment drama” against him underscored the personality of the governor as a corrupt politician.

    The former deputy governor said if the anti-graft agency failed to investigate the allegations, the alleged looting would continue.

    Olanusi alleged that N80 billion debts and borrowing have pushed the state into stagnation.

    He urged the people, including civil servants, “to gird their loins”.

    The way forward, he added, was for the people to propose a closure to the “corruption of the government” and insist on the “recovery of the stolen and looted funds”.

    Olanusi added: “I urged civil servants and the people of Ondo State to help prevent further theft of our resources and step up this engagement by documenting credible reports of corruption going on in high places within the government.”

    The former deputy governor noted that his warnings and advice to the governor delayed the drift, stressing that the administration regressed into a gale of forgery and falsification of financial records and documents when he stopped listening to his wise counsels.

    Olanusi challenged the governor to dispute the claim of forgery and falsification of the State Oil-producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC) Appropriation Law 2014, which he said, led to the alleged squandering of N18 billion meant for frontline services and the implementation of people-oriented programmes in riverine communities.

    He said the governor should clear the air on the alleged forgery and falsification of 2014 Re-Ordered Budget to cover N6.7 billion, which, he alleged, was channeled into specialised conduit-pipes.

    Other allegations made by Olanusi included the alleged falsification of the House of Assembly resolution authorising the borrowing of N2.4 billion for the Wealth Creation Agency (WECA), the diversion of money meant for the Residency Card Project by the State Information Technology Agency (SITA), the manipulation of the N27 billion bond and diversion of its proceeds without the Security and Exchange Commission’s (SEC’s) approval and falsification of records of the House of Assembly on his impeachment.

    Olanusi added: “The more you look, the more you see tactical incursion, divorced from the machinery of an elected government that seeks to undo checks and balances created to protect the supremacy of parliament and the independence of the judiciary.”

  • ‘We’ll turn Ondo into tourists’ centre’

    ‘We’ll turn Ondo into tourists’ centre’

    Prominent indigenes of Ondo Kingdom in Ondo State have vowed to make all annual traditional festivals unique to enable them to attract tourists to the ancient community. They said this would make real their long vision of making Ondo a city by December this year.

    The indigenes spoke with journalists during this year’s Odun Oba Festival to honour their monarch, the Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Kiladejo. They also said Ondo town is rich in culture, which they said could add value to the town and the economy of the state.

    The annual Oba festival is celebrated by Osemawe during which his wife, children and subjects pay homage to him.

    The three-day event begins with Olojas (the market women) paying homage to the king, followed by the high chiefs and his immediate family.

    The chairman of Ondo West Local Government Area, Abiola Makinde described the festival as unrivalled in the custom of the ancient town.  Makinde, who said the festival was part of tradition and culture of Ondo town noted that it was put in place to display the cultural heritage of the people.

    He further noted that the festival, if properly harnessed, could attract tourists to the town thereby help in generating employment opportunities for the unemployed youth.

    He reiterated his administration’s commitment to the realisation of Ondo vision 2015 which aims at turning the ancient town into a city by December this year.

    Odun Oba is one of the 44 traditional festivals usually celebrated in Ondo town when indigenes who reside in every part of the world return home to honour the monarch.

    A prominent Ondo Chief, Wole Benson, explained that Odun Oba Festival has become one of the important festivals that serve as unifying platforms for Osemawe and the his chiefs on one hand and the people on the other.

    The elated monarch danced around the town in company of his family, praying for the people.

    The celebration of this year’s Odun Oba Festival began on July 4, with the paying of homage by the people of the town to the palace of Osemawe.

    Other activities that featured during the festival included musical concert, exhibition of Ondo cultural artefacts, tree planting and launch of Ondo City Vision 2015.

  • Ondo community seeks upgrade of monarch

    Ondo community seeks upgrade of monarch

    Members of the Uso community in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State have appealed to the state government to upgrade their traditional ruler from his present status of grade “C” to grade “A” chief. The community said the upgrade is long overdue.

    The chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Mr. Emmanuel Ayodele made the appeal during the installation of Oba Ademola Adebiyi Olanipekun III as the 24th Oloba of Uso.

    The stool became vacant when the former traditional ruler, Oba Albert Adebayo Olanipekun II joined his ancestors on September 30, 2011.

    He lamented that since the state government released the White Paper on the Morgan Chieftaincy Review Commission in 1979, their monarch has been a grade ‘C’ chief.

    Ayodele, who gave a brief history of the community, said though they were merged with Owo Local Government Area by the British Colonial Administration, they migrated from Oba-Ile in Akure Kingdom.

    The community leader claimed that Oloba of Uso was among the earliest kings that had reign in Yoruba land after settling in the present Uso land in about 1288 A.D.

    “Your Excellency, no student of any institution anywhere in the world can be made to remain in the same class for a period of 36 years without promotion. Such a student will either be asked to withdraw from such institution or promoted on compassionate grounds.

    “Our Oba has remained on grade “C” since the Ondo State Government released the White Paper on the Morgan Chieftaincy Review Commission in 1979.

    We use this opportunity to passionately plead with you to upgrade Oloba of Uso from grade ‘C’ to ‘A’,” he stated.

  • ‘APC should conduct primary in Ondo’

    ‘APC should conduct primary in Ondo’

    A group, Ikale Youth Congress (IYC), has called on the national leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to ensure a level playing ground for governorship aspirants in Ondo State.

    The group urged the party not to jettison the chances the party has on the basis of zoning.

    It lamented that the political method adopted by the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in picking the party’s candidate during the last governorship election, cost the party the chance to unseat the Governor Olusegun Mimiko, despite the political machinery put in place by the leaders.

    In a statement, signed by the Coordinator of the group, Mr. James Atenuoro, said the group has urged a chieftain of the party in Ikale, Dr. Paul Akintelure, to join the race.

    He said Akintelure is a worthy leader who can lead the people of the state out of wilderness.

    Akintelure was the South Senatorial candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria in 2011 and deputy governorship candidate of the party in 2012.

    IYC said Akintelure should not settle for anything less than the governorship in the next year.

    It said the medical doctor has touched many lives in the area, stressing that both young and old are beneficiaries of his philanthropy.

    The group said it is awaken by the need for an Ikale man to finish the good work of the late Governor Olusegun Agagu, who had laid the foundation for a better sunshine state.

  • Man commits suicide in Ondo

    Man commits suicide in Ondo

    A man, Damilola Ibitokun, has reportedly hung himself at Ori-Oke farm in Ero town, Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    Sources said Ibitokun, popularly called Seven Feet, because of his height, was sighted by neighbours and passers-by on his way to the farm.

    He was said to be shouting that he was going to commit suicide, holding a rope in one hand and a sharp knife in another.

    It was learnt that efforts to dissuade him failed because he threatened everyone with the knife.

    Sources said most people did not take him serious because he was a drunk.

    His widow, Muibat, said she and the deceased had been sleeping in a church in the last few months because of an undisclosed family problem.

    According to her, her husband left the church on Tuesday evening on the excuse that he was tired of sleeping in the church.

    She said: “We’ve been sleeping in the church for some time now.

    “But on Tuesday evening, he just decided that he was going home to sleep.

    “In the middle of the night, he rushed back to the church, shouting and banging the door.

    “He asked for the whereabouts of the man who was fighting me. But I told him nobody was fighting me.

    “He went back home. But some minutes later, some of our neighbours called me that my husband was shouting and running around that he was going to commit suicide and that nobody should stop him.”

    The deceased’s son, Ayomide, described his father’s death as shocking.

    He said his father was restless throughout the night, until he took his life.

    The remains of the deceased have been buried after some rituals were performed by the community.

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  • Ondo pensioners protest

    Ondo pensioners protest

    Scores of pensioners in Ondo State yesterday marched on the streets to protest unpaid gratuities, allowances and harmonisation arrears.

    The protesters, under the auspices of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), converged on its office at 8am, singing solidarity songs.

    They carried various placards with inscriptions, such as “Ondo State government owes us N13 billion” ; “Pay arrears of 15 per cent pension increase”; “Our gratuities yet to be paid since 2011 December to both state and local government pensioners”

    The aggrieved protesters demanded the removal of the Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, for saying the government did not owe pensioners.

    They urged the government to pay pensioners from the Federal Government’s “bailout” fund.

    A statement by the NUP Chairman, Raphael Adetuwo, Secretary Adejare Adesida and Treasurer L.F Omoniyi decried government’s insensitivity to their plight.

    “We are, therefore, constrained to inform  Governor Olusegun Mimiko that the government owes pensioners arrears of 15 per cent pension increase paid in 2012.

    “We are also owed gratuities since December 2011 and 33 per cent pension increase approved by the Federal Government.

    “Non-payment of pensioners for June and July, refund and stoppage of illegal deductions from monthly pensioners allowances from December 2013. Non-payment of 27.5 per cent pension increase yet to be paid to those retired on July 31, 2011 and arrears of pension since December 2011.”

    The government has assured pensioners on its payroll of payment of their outstanding pension and gratuity after payment of workers’ salary this week.

    A statement by Akinmade acknowledged that the pensioners were owed outstanding arrears and hinged the inability to pay on the dwindling revenue from the Federation Account as well as low internally-generated revenue.