The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ONDO

  • How Ondo doctor died in own hospital, by NMA

    How Ondo doctor died in own hospital, by NMA

    The local chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Ondo State has raised the alarm over the death of one of its members, Dr. David Oguntuase.

    Oguntuase died in an inferno which ravaged his hospital – Universal Medical Clinic (UMC) in Akure, the state capital on last Christmas Day.

    A body, which was burnt beyond recognition, found in one of the rooms in the hospital, was identifies as that of the doctor.

    Addresing reporters at a news conference, the chairman of NMA in the state, Dr. Betiku Bamidele, described as suspicious, the circumstances surrounding the death of the medical doctor.

    According to him, the scene of the incident was initially free for all to come in and out of the premises before concerted efforts were made by the NMA for the police to cordon off the environment.

    The NMA chairman said the action became imperative to pave the way for the utilization of the abundance of evidence.

    He alleged there was a circumscribed area on the roof burnt almost all round the building with the roof itself caving in.

    Bamidele said: “The silhouette of the burnt body (face down) was noted to be in keeping with that identified before it was taken to the mortuary of the state specialist Hospital Akure.

    “The body was dismembered on the upper and lower limbs and the area of the silhouette was still somewhat wet and one of the small bones of the foot was found on the floor.”

    He also said the room where the body was had the burglar proof of its window destroyed, noting that it was the only one so identified.

    The NMA chief explained that there were two empty gas cylinders which were intact, adding that he was also reliably informed that there was no power supply throughout the night of the incident and the generator was intact.

    He described the late doctor as a very meticulous and highly intelligent person.

    Narrating the event that preceded the doctor’s demise, Dr. Bamidele informed that few days before the incidence, the late doctor was said to have lost his handset in a rather queer circumstance, following which he had to buy another SIM card and started retrieving lost phone numbers.

    According to Bamitale, the late Oguntuase called his wife to ask her to prepare food and that he would be at home for dinner.

    According to him, the late doctor had permitted the nurse on night duty to go home since it was the Christmas Day and there were no patients on the ward.

    The NMA wondered what happened between 8pm when the nurses left and 12:30am when the inferno was noticed as reported by the neighborhood.

    Bamidele reminded the Ondo Police Command that the late Dr. Oguntuase was arrested in Owo for an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)-related case on November 11, 2014 and arraigned at a High Court the subsequent day.

    He added that the late medical practitioner was arrested by the state Criminal Investigation Department(CID) section of the police command after he received a letter from the police through the management of the Federal; Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, where the late doctor worked as a Consultant Paediatrician.

    The letter had requested him to present himself for interrogation at the CID on an alleged threat to life and property of the FMC Medical Director, Dr.Olufemi Omotoso.

    The NMA chair alleged that the manner of evacuation of the burnt body from the scene was to say the least unscrupulous with a considerable likelihood to compromise the result of investigation.

    He said: “The press release by the PPRO (Police Public Relations Officer) of the Ondo State Command, Mr. Wole Ogodo, narrowed the incidence to electricity surge when the neighbours confirmed that there was no electricity supply at the time of the incidence.

    “This indeed is very suspicious. One could have expected the police to have conducted a preliminary investigation before the PPRO issued a statement on the cause of death of the deceased.”

    The NMA, however, said it shall resist any attempt to sweep the case under the carpet, saying the report of the police on allegation of threat to life and property must be produced.

  • Ondo students honour Kuku

    From Ondo State came an honour for the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Kingsley Kuku.

    Kuku, who is also the chairman of Presidential Committee on Amnesty, was honoured by the University of Ibadan (UI) chapter of the National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS) for what they called Kuku’s achievement in reducing activities of militants in the Niger Delta.

    Kuku, represented by former president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Oludare Ogunlana, said the award would motivate him to do more.

    He said he was grateful to President Goodluck Jonathan for appointing him as one of his aides, adding that the youth had never had it good under any government until the present administration came. He urged the youth to support the president.

    Kuku, who donated a Students’ Union building to Ekiti State University (EKSU), his alma mater, said he decided to give back to the society. He said he was committed to peace in the Niger Delta, noting more than 1,000 ex-militants had been trained in various vocations. He said the beneficiaries were trained in Germany, Italy and other European countries.

    While delivering a lecture titled: Ondo: Perspectives on good governance and economic development in a democratic state, Prof Akinbolaji Iwayemi of the Centre for Petroleum Energy, Economics and Law at the UI said that Ondo had risen from a dependent state to a less dependent one.

    He said: “Ondo is now the sixth oil producing State in the country and what remains is to tap into this. The state also grows food crops in large quantity. With this, the state will become the economic hub of the country.”

    The NAOSS president, Opeyemi Opara, a 400-Level History student, thanked members for the support given his administration.

    Guests at the event included Prof Nelson Fashina, who supervised Kuku’s thesis as an undergraduate, Prof Adenike Osofisan and representative of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Bolanle Olafunmiloye.

     

  • Shops, school destroyed by fire in Ondo

    Shops, school destroyed by fire in Ondo

    •Property, documents razed

    A school and some shops were razed yesterday in Odosida area of Ondo town.

    The inferno which was said to have started at 6 am destroyed personal property and vital documents owned by the school.

    Although no one died, the cause of the inferno was sketchy at press time.

    There were speculations  that the fire occurred shortly after some hoodlums, who drove in an unmarked Toyota Camry, allegedly stormed the area at 5am with guns and other weapons.

    It was gathered that the hoodlums blocked the major road leading into the street, before shooting sporadically and setting the shops ablaze.

    Sources said the hoodlums were led by a boy, whose identity was yet to be ascertained.

    The boy reportedly engaged in a brawl with his brother, whose name was given as Rotimi, over the property of their late father.

    Firefighters from the State Fire Service tried to put out the fire.

    Some of the victims, including the school’s headteacher, lamented the loss of the property.

    The headteacher, Nelson Akinkuade, said he lost several documents.

    Another victim, Mrs. Kikelomo Akinbobola, whose shop was destroyed, described the incident as sad.

    She explained that some boys threatened, two days ago, to set one of the shops ablaze.

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Enuowa, Emmanuel Adesina, , confirmed the report.

    He said two suspects arrested by the police were still in their custody .

  • ‘I ‘ll fulfill my campaign promises to Ondo South’

    ‘I ‘ll fulfill my campaign promises to Ondo South’

    All Progressives Congress (apc) chieftain Morayo Lebi has emerged winner of the Ondo South Senatorial primaries held at Adolak Hotel, Ore. He polled 1,261 votes to defeat his rival, Femi Akingbola, who had 156 votes.

    The Returning Officer, Duro Adonis said that 1,467 delegates participated in the poll, adding that total valid votes cast was 1,417. The invalid votes was 50.

    Adonis said that the election was peaceful and well organised, adding party agents and aspirants accepted the results.

    Lebi told reporters that the result undercored his popularity, assuring that he will fulfill his campaign promises, if elected as a senator. He dedicated the victory to his supporters.

    The flag bearer said that the emancipation of his people was utmost in his mind, adding that his senatorial district would experience unprecedented development during his tenure.

    Lebi, a lawyer, expressed optimism that he would defeat his opponents at the poll. He said: “Our people are tasty for change because they are tired of endless promises of the opposition party and I tell you that the wind of change is already blowing all over the country.

    “My people have repose their trust and confidence in me and I will never let them down because my senatorial district will witness unprecedented change and development,’’ Lebi said.

    The Chairman of the APC in Ondo South, Mr Paul Oyeto, also expressed satisfaction at the conduct of the election saying that it was peaceful and well organised.

    “I thanked the supporters for their decorum and peaceful organisation. The APC is known for organisation and unity. All these will be put in place to dislodge the opposition in 2015 general elections.”

  • When gas explosion jolted Ondo residents

    Penultimate Saturday, which ordinarily should be a happy weekend for residents and traders in Arakale area of Akure, the Ondo State capital, witnessed an unpleasant incidence of gas explosion.

    The incident, which occurred around 7: 00 p.m. was said to have been caused by a leakage at a gas retail outlet where 11 houses were burnt and eight people injured.

    Eye witnesses confirmed that it took almost two hours before rescue operation could come; thereby causing a lot of damage as countless valuables was razed.

    Many of the victims were rushed to the trauma centre in Ondo town for quick medical attention.

    Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who visited the scene of the explosion at Arakale the following day, said the state government would investigate the cause of the explosion.

    He condemned the act, stressing that it was not a bomb blast as was speculated in some quarters, adding that there was no life lost.

    Governor Mimiko said the gas outlet responsible for the fire outbreak was not approved for business.

    He warned that all illegal filling stations in residential areas and other hazardous locations would be pulled down.

    Our correspondent gathered that there was no immediate rescue operation from the fire service, even as it took a long time for many victims to be rushed to the hospital for quick medical attention.

    The delay was attributed to lack of operational vehicles and equipment.

    The state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Wole Ogodo, said there was no record of death at the scene of the explosion.

    He said while some of the injured have been discharged, others were receiving treatment at various hospitals.

    Ogodo said: “It was very sad that this incident happened, but I want to tell you that no life was lost, only few got injured in the incident.”

    Aggrieved residents and traders lamented that all efforts to get government’s attention to move the gas plant from the area to a safe place were unsuccessful.

    Narrating her ordeal, one of the traders, Miss Ikechi Anyanwu said: ”We were standing outside the house which is close to the shop when we heard a loud noise which turned out to be gas explosion. Initially, we thought it was a bomb because of the bang.

    “The gas tank was refilled this evening but they did not know it was leaking and it just exploded after it has been exposed to air for a long time.”

    It was alleged that men of the state fire service failed to show up at the scene at the appropriate time.

    They blamed it on malfunctioned vehicles and strike embarked upon by the workers in the state.

    But their counterpart from the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) later came about two hours after the explosion.

    It took the combined effort of policemen and soldiers who came to the scene later to return normalcy and to prevent hoodlums from hijacking the situation.

    Doctors at the state specialist hospital said several injured persons were rushed there and have been receiving treatment.

    They, however, said the treatment was not total because of strike action embarked upon by medical workers union.

    According to them, the victims whose conditions were critical have been rushed to the trauma Centre in Ondo for comprehensive treatment.

  • Ondo to start rice production in 2015

    The Ondo State government at the weekend said it has put all necessary arrangements in place to commence production of rice in January 2015.

    Disclosing this at the end of year press briefing, the Chairman, Wealth Creation Agency (WECA), Mrs. Bolanle Olafunmiloye, said the agency in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture is partnering with the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) on the production.

    She noted that the Marditech would commence the cultivation of 500 hectare of land for the rice production at Owena Dam area in Igba-Oke, Ifedore local government area.

     

    She said this would also help in boosting the internal revenue of the state and create employment opportunity for the youths.

    Olafunmiloye further disclosed that the agency would be using part of the N2billion fund it got from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) commercial agricultural credit to finance the project.

    While commending the federal government for encouraging the production of local rice, the WECA boss said the state government would do everything possible to support local producers in the state.

    Speaking on the agency’s plans for next year, she disclosed that WECA would soon embark on the rapid rehabilitation of the Ore, Auga, Isuada and Epe Agro Business Cities in order to keep in line with the vision of transforming it to international standards.

    She said: “We plan to intensify the promotion of goods and products made in the state to encourage the private sector and also organise the 2015 edition of the Made in Ondo Fair with more participation from enterprises and businesses in the state.

    “All through these activities, our profarmers and agroprenurs will be involved in extensive training and participation. Approval has already been given to engage an additional 300 young graduates in the first quarter of the year under the WECA/SURE-P GIS collaboration.”

  • Olowokere: APC ‘s waxing stronger in Ondo

    Olowokere: APC ‘s waxing stronger in Ondo

    Afe Olowokere is the House of Representatives candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC) for Akure North/South Constituency, Ondo State. He spoke with DAMISI OJO on his victory at the primary election and the quest for quality representation by constituents.

    You are now the APC flag bearer for Akure North/South Federal Constituency. How did you see your emergence.

    First, I have to thank God for sparing my life to witness this moment.Then, my appreciation to Akure people and the delegates who voted me in. This is a challenge; I will not disappoint them, for the confidence reposed in me to serve them. This is just the begining of the struggle, because we still have a long way to go and through the dedication and support of Akure people, I know we will get there to give a good representation to the constituents.

    Do you have political experience for this assignment?

    My foray into politics started in 1989 during the Babagida’s regime. In 1990, I contested as Councilor in Akure Local Government and won. Between 1991 and 1993, I served in different capacities such as Supervising Councilor for Health, Social Services and Women Affairs and later as legislator at the Local Government level. Then, we were practicing the parliamentary system, but after two months, Babangida introduced the presidential system of government and by implication we became the first set of legislators at the local government level. After that, I had the grace to contest for the position of  Committee Chairman, Commerce and Industry and later the Deputy Majority Leader of the House.  In 2003, I was the House of Representatives candidate for the Alliance for Democracy (AD). During that period, the PDP tsunami swept off the AD from the whole Southwest and I lost my election to the PDP candidate. By the grace of God again between 2009 and 2013, I served as the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Olusegun Mimiko on Due Process; even though I was not a member of the LP. It is because he knew my antecedents and pedigree in the AD. The Governor only saw the need to appoint me outside his own party. I also served as the coordinator for Price Project Monitoring Unit in the Office of the Governor. After serving the first term with Mimiko in his first term in office, I decided to opt out of his administration to return to my party that metamorphosed from AD to AC to ACN and now the All Progressive Congress (APC). Today, I am the candidate of the APC for the Akure South and Akure North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and I am going to excel in the assignment with my political experience.

    What is your assessment of the workings of the House of Assembly as a former legislator?

    We were the first set of legislators in this Fourth Republic. We were the experimental set. At that time, we went to that House with innocent minds; gave accurate representation to the people and genuine intention to serve the people of this state. Out of the 26 members in the House, 22 of us were members of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). We had three PDP and one APP member. Despite that, we did not see the Governor as member of our party and as a result, we decided to criticize the government objectively.We were actually giving our the representation they needed.There were occasions that we had cause to challenge the policies of late Adefarati’s administra-tions.When policy of the government was considered inimical to the people of the state, we opposed it because we were representing the people and not the executive arm of government. As representatives of the people, we were the mouth piece of the people and not that of the government. What I see today in fairness is a House that is serving the interest of the executive arm of government led by Governor Olusegun Mimiko.It is a House that is totally disconnected from the people that gave them the mandate. Majority of the people that are going to the House of Assembly and the National Assembly did not even know their role and the essence of being elected. The present House of Assembly has considered and joined its members as members of the executive arm and by so doing they are depriving the people of their rights and voice. Ondo State House of Assembly has become partners in looting whereas the essence of being there is to check the tendency of the executive in looting what belongs to the people.

    What’s your assessment of the Mimiko administration as a former Special Adviser?

    In fairness,when Mimiko came on board after he retrieved his mandate from the PDP, he had genuine interest in serving the state and that was why people from different political backgrounds came into that government to work with him. I contested in 2007 under the defunct Action Congress (AC) and from that platform he appointed me to that position that is very sensitive. I considered that as demonstration from somebody who wanted to serve and wanted to do honest job. My experience in that office was a good one. Throughout my service in that office, there was no time he called me to compromise any file for him. But, there were some things that were brought to that office from different ministries and agencies that I considered as outrageous. We did our jobs honestly in that office,but the man did not call to check me or question any decision we took in that office. So, the first term of Mimiko was better because he tried to do some little projects. Today, we can all see that the present government has gone to sleep. Governor Mimiko is completely sleeping in his second term. He is no longer doing anything unlike in the first term when we could point to one project or the other.

    How would you rate the quality of representation at the Akure South/North Federal Constituency in the last few years?

    What I understand by that question is that if somebody goes to the National Assembly and his voice is not heard there for a period of four years and no practical action or project that could be seen, one will conclude that such person does not give the people he represents a voice. What will you call that? If somebody has been in the House of Assembly for four years and he could not point to anybody that he helped to get employment. Will you call that a good representation or bad one? All these we have noticed in this federal constituency and that is why we want to effect a change and make our people happy. I will give this question to the people to answer appropriateky at the right time.

    Don’t you think the recent defection of Mimiko to the PDP will be a threat to the chances of the APC in the state?

    The so-called merger and Mimiko’s defection to the PDP will be an added advantage to the APC in the forth coming election. Even before the merger, the comment of the people in town is that the PDP has been in the saddle for six years and they experienced untold hardship and oppression. They have seen the APC as alternative party. The merger has however brightened the chances of APC in the coming election. I want to appeal to all members to consider this period as time to be focused, sober, determined, disciplined and committed to winning. We must reason together and fight our common enemy which the PDP represents. There is nothing that can be shared in zero. Our leaders must lead by example.

  • Ondo workers on strike

    Ondo workers on strike

    Activities have been paralysed in ministries, departments and agencies in Ondo State as the strike by civil servants entered its second day.

    Operators of refuse disposal vehicles have also been on “holiday”, with heaps of refuse littering the streets of the state capital, Akure.

    Civil servants, including teachers, embarked on the strike to press home their demands for the payment of their two-month outstanding salaries.

    The Chairman, Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), Sunday Adeleye, said the government failed to accede to their requests.

    But the government has appealed to its workers to call off the strike, assuring them that their demands would soon be met.

    A top government official said the government would, next week, pay last month’s salary.

    The workers are also demanding for the payment of all their deductions and promotion of those who are due.

  • Ondo community pleads for good roads

    Ondo community pleads for good roads

    It is not the best of times for residents of Oke-Odo community in Ondo State. At present, the road network in the community has become dilapidated. Ironically, the people are part of various communities that formed Akure, the state capital.

    Most of the social amenities in this large community located off Danjuma in Akure South Local Government Area were provided by the people through self-help. However they try to provide amenities for themselves, one remains beyond their strength. That is good network of roads which is of paramount importance to them now.

    Virtually all the roads in the area are in a bad shape. Landlords in the area are the worst hit. This is because many tenants in the area are relocating to other areas that are more accessible.

    Unable to bear this horrifying situation, they held a meeting recently where they discussed the issue of dilapidated roads. Throughout the several hours the meeting lasted, expressions on their faces depicted misery. The once vibrant and humane landlords who provide shelter for those in need of it suddenly became melancholic, no thanks to non-provision of motorable roads in the area.

    The chairman of the Landlords’ Association, Mr Bade Adaralagbe said the economic implication of the bad state of the roads cannot be quantified. He noted that residents spend so much money to fix their vehicles which were greatly affected by the bad roads.

    He said: “All the roads linking this area are very bad. In fact, during the rainy season, we don’t normally take our vehicles to our houses.

    “We always park our cars by the road side to let the rain subside. It is so unfortunate that successive governments in the state had neglected members of this community.”

    Some residents told our correspondent that all the social amenities in the community were provided by the people as if they are not part of Ondo State.

    Adaralagbe said: “We contributed money on our own to do many things in this community. We are appealing to the state government to urgently come to our aid before we are completely cut off from the rest of the world.

    “We are appealing to Governor Olusegun Mimiko to help us by grading the roads and construct drainage system for us.”

    Apart from the issue of roads, they are also pleading with government to

    intervene in other areas.

    The community is also in dire need of a health centre so that people would not travel too far before having access to health facilities.

    Some of the landlords embarked on peaceful protest; carrying placards to draw government’s attention to their plight. They urged the state and Akure South Local Government Area to come to their rescue.

    The deplorable conditions of the roads and dearth of basic infrastructure have made life difficult for them.

    However, authorities of Akure South Local Government have promised to look into their complaint with a view to addressing some of them.

    A top Council official who spoke in confidence said the leadership of the council had earlier visited the area, promising to fix the roads.

    However, the council could only make good its pledge when the rainy season is over.

    The Chairman of the council, Mr. Alarapon Adebayo also promised to do the needful in Oke-Odo by sending compactors and graders to the area to fix the roads and if possible lay asphalt on them. That, hopefully, will go a long way in easing the pains of the people.

    Many other roads in Akure, particularly Aule, New Stadium/Onyearugbulem Junction, Oke-Ogba, Igbogi, Isolo and others are impassable and need government’s attention.

     

  • Ondo quarry project faces legal hurdle

    Members of a prominent family in Ondo State are up in arms against an indigenous company over alleged trespass and destruction of their farmland and economic crops while clearing the site for crushing stone without mandatory agreement and compensation.

    The head of the family and spokesman for the estate of late Pa Josiah Aderinola of  Ipele in Owo  Local Government area of Ondo State, Mr. Dapo Aderinola, said DIC Materials bulldozed and destroyed cocoa, cassava, orange trees, plantain and kola nut trees, among others, while clearing more than two acres of  the family’s farmland at Ipele/Ifon Road.

    Aderinola who holds the power of attorney with his brother, Olu Aderinola, said it would be wrong and excessive if a company in business for profit were to be allowed to ruin the family’s property and leave the owners empty handed.

    In a letter dated August 25, the family’s lawyer, Dr. Bode Ayorinde, principal partner at Bode Ayorinde Ayorinde & Co Legal Practioners, asked the company to stop further work on the site, pending a meeting with the representatives of his clients.

    The company denied the charges and said it followed due process as it had signed a Community Development Agreement (CDA) and  a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Olupele of Ipele, in addition to a letter of consent for rock exploration and documentary evidence of compensation to the land owners and occupiers.

    The company’s quarry manager, Engineer Balogun Ayodele also said in a letter dated October 15, that an unspecified “monetary compensation” was paid to “any farmer for his/her crop within the perimeter of the area where the explorer will explore/crush rock.”

    But, in his reply dated November 4, Ayorinde said the company had confused the consent it required from the government and the traditional ruler on the quarry site with that required from the Aderinola family as the owners of a piece of the surrounding land.

    “Our client will not compete with HRH, the Olupele of Ipele or the Federal Government of Nigeria on their right and authority on the rock in question, which is legally classified as mineral deposit”, he said.

    “However, no law in Nigeria has appropriated our client’s land to the traditional ruler or the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel. It is left to you to operate directly on the rock or find another piece of land to serve as your operational base” , he said.

    “Our clients hereby deny ever receiving any monetary compensation from you before entering this land, and you are hereby put on the strictest proof ,” he added.

    Ayorinde gave notice that the family may head for court to enforce its right if the company failed to comply with its demand within 14 days.