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Tag: ONDO

  • Ondo business tycoon now market women president

    Ondo business tycoon now market women president

    A renowned Akure business woman, Mrs Ruth Olowookere (a.k.a Madam Do-Good) has been installed the new President of National Association of Traders and Market Leaders Council of Nigeria (NAMLCN).

    In addition, Madam Do-Good has also been conferred with the chieftaincy title of Erelu of Iyaloja of Nigeria by the Owa of Idanre Kingdom, Oba Fredrick Aroloye.

    The Ologboosere of Idanre, High Chief Olagundoye Olurankise who decorated her on behalf of the monarch said she was picked among millions of Nigerian market women due to her impact on the development of the country.

    According to Olurankise, “Olowookere has been supportive and also contributing her own quota to the economy of the country. She was chosen because she has been doing laudable things to mankind and very humble, respectful, diligent and hardworking.

    ”My advice for her is that she should continue to do good as she had been doing. We appreciate her (and) that is why she was recommended for Kabiyesi and Owa in Council gave her the title”.

    At her installation as NAMLCN’s president in Akure, the Ondo State capital, National Secretary of the association, Alhaji Idowu Alonge described Mrs Olwoookere as a hardworking person, who had connected with some international bodies in order to elevate the market women and men in the country.

    Alonge said, “We installed her as our President because she is highly connected, diligent, humble and educated. You   know in Nigeria, you must be educated in order to strive. Madam Olowookere is educated and we believe she is the best person to speak on behalf of us, the market women and men.

    “As the President of Market Women and Traders, she is expected to travel round the 36 states including Abuja, to ensure the welfare of her members and speak to the Governors if necessary (on their behalf). We are not politicians, we always support the government in power.”

    Olowookere thanked all market women and men in the country for reposing confidence in her as their President.

    She noted that her recent trip to Columbus has fast-tracked assistance for NAMLCN members from international bodies.

    Olowookere said, “as a business woman, I have been in business for years but today, I am giving a certificate to manage the whole world, not Nigeria alone because recently I travelled to Columbus to attend the Commonwealth meeting with women from other countries. So we held a meeting there and everybody discussed what she had in mind.

    “I told them that I want to work for my country, Nigeria, that they should please help all market women and men and they asked us to go and look for a guarantor that they are ready to give us a lot of money to help the traders and market women if we have a guarantor.

    ”I told them that I will guarantee that. I will call all our members and NGO to help Nigerians. So, they ordered me to go back to Nigeria and begin to group them, enlighten them. They are ready to assist us the money with little interest.

    ”Today, (December 13,) we will be joining some groups partially that will be giving out money to the traders and market women. We are starting from Ondo State. Very soon, Ondo State Market women will laugh.  We are also orientating the women that they should not put themselves in the position of begging the government to help them.

    “Government is an entity and if we can put ourselves together we are an entity too. We should be able to generate funds in order to move forward our businesses and how to train our children in our country. In this programme, there is no government input”.

  • Awara Dam to provide 6.7million litres of water in Ondo

    The newly-rehabilitated Awara Water Supply Scheme (Awara Dam) in Ikare-Akoko, Akoko North-East Local Government Area of the Ondo State will supply 6.7million litres of potable water to the people of Ikare, Akungba in Akoko South-West  and Arigidi-Akoko in Akoko North-West area of the state, when completed.

    Managing Director of NASTON Engineering, the firm handling the rehabilitation of the project, Kole Funso disclosed this during a working visit to the facility by the State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko.

    Mimiko, who was conducted round the Dam expressed satisfaction over the level of work done, and assured that the project will be commissioned soon.

    The governor stressed the importance of potable water supply both for industrial and domestic use and reiterated the commitment of his administration to the provision of this essential need for the people of the state.

    According to him, the Dam was built in 1956 but it had not undergone any major rehabilitation for years. He also pointed out that some repairs would still be carried out on damaged pipelines that would supply water to some communities in Ikare suburbs, so that the multi-billion naira project could achieve its desired objective.

    Mimiko said: “The project is ready for commissioning and I’m very happy at the quality of the job done. It was professionally done. You will recall that Awara Dam was built in 1956 and since then, there had not been a major rehabilitation there.

    “What we have carried out in the last few years is a total overhaul of Awara, this is like a brand new Awara Dam. We hope that we would have enough water to serve Ikare township up to Akungba.

    Although, there are still some issues with reticulation within Ikare itself, some of the burst pipes, and once we repair these, there will be enough water for our people,” he said.

    The governor visited the palace of the Olukare of Ikare, Oba Akadiri Momoh, where he solicited the supports of the monarch and his subjects in providing adequate security for the equipment at the Dam.

    He also assured the monarch that contracts for the dualisation of the road leading to the town and the construction of Mother and Child Hospital in the town would soon be awarded.

  • Ondo monarch to spend Christmas in jail

    The Ajagun-Ode of Ode in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, Chief Sunday Boboye, and four others will spend Christmas and New Year in prison.

    That was the order of a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Akure, the state capital.

    Boboye (40); Akeem Bakare (25); Ramoni Ismaila (27); Akinyele Gbenga (40) and Obadan Gabriel (55) were arraigned on a six-count charge of conspiracy, armed robbery, possession of illegal weapons, buying of stolen vehicle, supply of guns and forgery of Customs papers.

    The accused, allegedly armed with two cut-to-size locally-made guns and other weapons, were said to have robbed Mrs. Akin Adewale Esther of properties valued at over N1 million on November 6.

    The properties include: A Toyota Camry car; Nokia and Techno handsets; MTN recharge cards; textbooks and N88,500.

    Police prosecutor Pelumi Adejuwon prayed for an adjournment to enable the Investigative Police Officer (IPO) send a duplicate of the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for advice.

    The Magistrate, Mrs. Oluwabukola Kuye, turned down the bail applications for the fourth and fifth accused on the grounds that the court had no jurisdiction to grant them.

    She ordered that the suspects be remanded in Olokuta Prison pending legal advice. The case was adjourned till January 21, next year.

  • The short but memorable reign of Oba Adebiyi Adesida, the late Deji of Akure (2010-2013)

    The short but memorable reign of Oba Adebiyi Adesida, the late Deji of Akure (2010-2013)

    Oba Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida (Afunbiowo 11), the late Deji of Akure who joined his ancestors last Sunday, was one of the few monarchs of the ancient kingdom whose reign was short. Damisi Ojo recalls his three-year reign and the memorable times

    Sunday October 20,2010 to many people was just like yesterday when the Deji of Akure,Oba Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida (Afunbiowo11) who joined his ancestors last Sunday was presented with his staff and instrument of office by Governor Olusegun Mimiko amid wide jubilation and ecstasies.

    No wonder, his sudden death according to the Sao of Akureland, High Chief Moses Adebayo was an embarrassment and rude shock to Akure people and many non indigenes.

    In the history of rulership in Akure, the Ondo State capital, late Oba Adebiyi Adesida was one of the few monarchs whose reign were short lived.

    He was on the throne for only three years and two months.

    Late Oba Adesida according to palace sources died shortly after he complained of a slight fever and passed on before medics could reach him.

    His installation as Deji was prompted by the dethronement of his predecessor, Oba Oludare Adepoju Adesina by the state government for allegedly assaulting his wife in public glare. Oba Adesida from Ojijigogun royal house was the 46th Deji of Akure.

    According to historical records, the institution of Obaship in Akure kingdom was said to have been established by Asodeboyede, who was also known as “Ajapada”.

    He was said to be a son of Ekun, who was one of the sons of Oduduwa, the legendary progenitor of the Yoruba race. Asodeboyede, the first Deji, who ruled from 1150 to 1180, was married to Eyesorun.

    Immediately after the passage of Oba Adesida, all shops and central Erekesan market near Deji’s palace were closed down. The market will remain closed for seven days in accordance with the tradition, in honour of the late monarch.

    Business activities in the whole Akure have also been paralysed as all shops and business outlets have been shut down, as the people continue to mourn the passage of the Deji. Businesses have been counting their losses since last Sunday when Oba Adesida joined his ancestors.

    During the coronation of the late Deji Oba Adebiyi  Adesida Afunbiowo 11 on September 20,2010,Akure was agog. Nobody predicted a short lived reign for the monarch on that memorable day which also coincided with his 60th Birthday.

    As early as 8.00 a.m eminent dignitaries from all walks of life particularly Akure indigenes, princes and princesses of Akure royal hood both at home and in diaspora radiated in joy as they decked in various beautiful attires and ‘Aso Ebi”.

    It was a day when the rich culture of Akure was on display with various traditional groups and drummers outshining themselves.

    In spite of heavy down pour that delayed that occasion, the excited guests defied the rain which lasted for over five hours. Observers said that it was a sign of blessing to the community.

    The expansive palace ground where the coronation took place was filled to the brim with people dancing and exchanging pleasantries under the massive canopies erected for the event.

    The journey to the throne began on August II, 2010 when he was selected by majority of the kingmakers and was presented with his certificate and Staff of Office the subsequent day by Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

    At his installation, late Oba Adesida, apparently in a bid to reassure his people that the customs and tradition of the land were duly followed in his choice as their new king said: “My selection followed Akure traditional royal hood’s due procedures, the selection was done by kingmakers within the three lineages of Adesida, Faturoti and Arosoye .

    “I was selected after all traditional procedures (were complied with); my name was forwarded to the state government through Akure south Local Council leading to my installation”.

    After all traditional rites spanning two weeks then, Oba Adesida was crowned alongside his first daughter, Dr. Adetutu Adesida – Ojei  who may become the Regent of Akure from now on going by the tradition.

    The late monarch during his coronation promised to re-shape the bastardized tradition of Akure, partner with the government to realize the vision of Akure becoming a true millennium City like Washington DC, New York and others.

    He said he would eradicate hooliganism and ensure total development of the ancient community.

    Governor Mimiko while presenting the staff and instrument of office to the departed monarch described the selection of Oba Adesida as God –ordained, urging the people of Akure Kingdom to rally round him in moving the community forward.

    According to him, the present administration would continue to develop the town as a reference point of the whole state.

    The mammoth crowd at the ceremony were treated to sumptuous meal and assorted drinks mostly supplied by the International Breweries (IB) PLC Ilesa in Osun State.

    Even,the king of Juju music, Otunba Sunday Adeniyi    Adegeye (a.k.a. Sunny Ade) and his boys were at the band stand to entertain guests apart from other Local musicians.

    Among the dignitaries at the occasion were Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Leader of Afenifere, Chief Michael Ade  Ojo, Chairman Elizade Nigeria Ltd Chief Bola Akingbade, then Marketing Director, MTN, Members of the State  Executive

    Council, State Lawmakers, Mr. Olu Makinde, a veteran Journalist, Dr. Rotimi Adelola Secretary to the state Government, (SSG), Akure SouthLocal Government Chairman, Hon. Tayo Oluwatuyi and Mr. Ayo Ogunmoyero.

    The late Akure monarch was born in 1950 to the royal family of Adesida, he was a graduate of University of Ibadan and an industrialist. Oba Adesida was married to Olori Monisola and blessed with four children.

  • Crisis rocks Ondo NURTW over alleged fraud

    The current acrimony between members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Ondo State and its current leadership headed by Mr Obayoriade Oladutele (a.k.a Die-the-matter) has remained persistent.

    For three consecutive times within the last two weeks, members of the union have been protesting round the streets of Akure, the state capital and the governor’s office in Alagbaka to kick against the alleged moves by the state government to recall the embattled chairman from suspension.

    Oladutele was accused of allegedly printing fake tickets and sold to unsuspected members with impunity, until the fraud was discovered.

    Such offence according to a source is punishable under the law guiding the union, hence its national secretariat ordered the suspension of Ondo NURTW chairman.

    During one of their actions, the Drivers in a long convoy of vehicles passed through the popular Cathedral- Adesida-Government House to Governors office chanting anti-Oladutele songs.

    They also carried a white mock coffin with various unprintable inscriptions written boldly on it.

    According to them, they would resist any attempt to impose the embattled state chairman on them.

    The National Secretariat of the Union ordered Oladutele to step aside over the allegation. His suspension was to allow proper investigation into the matter.

    The aggrieved members alleged that the institution charged with the investigation want to compromise their findings despite the overwhelming evidences to show Oladutele’s culpability.

    They caused a traffic snarl at the popular Adesida road forcing many passengers to be stranded.

    The irate drivers said since Oladutele has not been cleared of the allegation of financial impropriety, he should not be recalled to lead the Union.

    They also protested to Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, but Governor Mimiko was not ready to listen to them as his convoy drove past the aggrieved Drivers at the gate before they terminated their action at the Union’s State Secretariat, Ijapo,Akure.

    What many observers are saying is that since the Chairman has been accused of the wrong doings, he should be penalised.

    But from the look of things, the embattled Chairman worked assiduously for the re-election of Governor Olusegun Mimiko during the last year gubernatorial election with his numerous members across the state.

    Then, it is ‘payback time’ hence the delay in deciding the faith of Oladutele and his executive committee.

    But majority members of NURTW are agitating for the removal of the suspended chairman, which according to them is the only condition that could guarantee peace within NURTW in the Sunshine State.

    One of the former executive members of the Union said the state needed peace to move forward and with the current crisis within the road transporters the peace of the State may be threatened if the dispute was not resolved in earnest.

  • Ondo holds special Mare Festival for Falae

    Ondo holds special Mare Festival for Falae

    Ondo State Commissioner for Information Mr Kayode Akinmade has said a special edition of Mare Festival, an annual mountain climbing competition, will be held this year to celebrate the life and times of the late Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Deji Falae.

    Falae, who died on October 3, was the chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the event.

    The festival will hold between December 13 and 14 at Idanre, Ondo State.

    Falae and 15 others, died in a crash involving the Associated Airlines’ aircraft on October 3 while conveying the remains of the late Governor Olusegun Agagu from Lagos to Akure for burial.

    Akinmade told reporters that preparations for the low key celebration had begun , adding that some artiste had packaged songs and short plays in honour of the late Falae.

    This edition of the event, he said would enable the people, to celebrate a man, whose passion for the project in the last two years had attracted global attention.

    He said: ‘Ordinarily, the state government had thought of suspending the celebration of Mare Festival this year because we are still mourning our dearly beloved brother but his friends in the entertainment industry pleaded that we should allow them use the occasion to honour him this year with songs and short plays they had composed for him.’

    Akinmade said the government was perfecting every strategy to immortalise the late Falae by ensuring that the Idanre hills, which are the focal point of the annual fiesta, were listed by the United Nations Educational and Scientific and Cultural Organisation, (UNESCO) as one of the World’s Heritage sites.

    He also said the government was celebrating the Mare Festival to showcase the Idanre hills to international tourists with the ultimate aim of attracting direct investments in the economy of the state.

    Akinmade said the world body had already approved the Idanre

    Hills nomination dossier and had dispatched independent inspectors to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the facilities at the site as contained in the dossier. The Commissioner said the current investment by the government to organise the annual festival was necessary in view of the fact that the event had already drawn global attention to Idanre. He said the state Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has vowed not to leave any stone unturned to make Idanre the best tourist centre in the country in order to attract foreign and local investors who will invest in hospitality industry, to the state.

    He said: ‘there is no other hill anywhere in the world that could be comparable to what we have in Idanre. The lovely rock formations were special gift to Ondo State and Nigeria in general.’ He commended the people of Idanre for their endurance and hospitality during the previous editions of the festival and promised that the edition which has been designed to have the full participation of the Idanre people would be more glamorous to reflect the dream of the late Commissioner for Culture and Tourism,” adding that various activities including marathon race, cultural display and mountain climbing competition both by professional and amateur climbers, will as usual, take place while cash prizes and laptops would be presented to winners of various categories.

  • This boy wants to be a lawyer

    This boy wants to be a lawyer

    It is no more news that some Nigerian youths have embraced internet fraud otherwise known as “Yahoo Yahoo”, seeing it as an avenue to make brisk  business and get rich quick without much ado.

    But one teenage boy is not looking in that direction, he simply believes in the dignity of labour.

    He is of the opinion that hard work pays.

    Seyi Oluwafemi, a native of Akure, Ondo state capital has decided to help his mum to sell pounded yam otherwise known as “Iyan”, a Yoruba favourite delicacy.

    From one street to the other, this young mobile restaurant carry a bowl filled with wraps of pounded yam and soup on his head to sell to customers.

    Although, he finished his secondary education in 2012, paucity of fund has cut his pursuit of higher education short, but the young lad is determined to further his education very soon.

    Hence, he has to assist his mother to sell pounded yam to ensure he actualises his dream of becoming a lawyer.

    Seyi, who graduated from Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Grammar School, Akure, had credit in four subjects.

    The 18- year old boy intends to sit again for NECO and WAEC exams to ensure that he is able to study law, his dream profession.

    He said: “I am helping my mummy to sell pounded yam because I want to further my education. I hail from a very poor background and we rely on my mother’s business to survive.

    “I don’t feel ashamed while selling pounded yam because I know that I must realise my dream of becoming a legal practitioner in life”.

    He was optimistic that at the end of the day, fortune will smile on him with determination and perseverance.

     

  • Police arrest teacher for alleged torture of school girl to death in Ondo

    Police arrest teacher for alleged torture of school girl to death in Ondo

    An undergraduate student of Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA) Akungba-Akoko in Ondo State,  Adebayo Alade, has been arrested by men of the state Police Command over the death of a four-year-old girl, Elizabeth Wanogho.

    Alade, who teaches a kindergarten class at Falaiye Memorial Nursery/Primary School Old  Ologede, Akure, was alleged by Elizabeth’s father, Mr. Ovie Wanogho of torturing her late daughter to death.

    Elizabeth was said to have complained to her parents several times about the attitude of her teacher, Adebayo when she returned from her school.

    These complaints came following the resignation of her former teacher, a female, before Alade was appointed to take over the class. This prompted her parents to report the class teacher to the proprietor, Mr. Kola Alade, who happens to be the father of the class teacher.

    When the suspect was summoned, he did not deny it, according to the father but only said he was only playing with the little kid.

    Elizabeth’s father, Wanogho, 45, accused Adebayo of putting his finger into the private part of his late daughter and also pressed her neck for reporting the sexual assault to her parents when she got home.

    The little girl complained of neck pain before she was rushed to a military hospital at 32 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army, Akure and later referred to Mother and Child Hospital in the city where she later died.

    Speaking with reporters, Wanogho demanded for justice over the death of his daughter, insisting that Adebayo deliberately killed the four-year-old girl.

    Wanogho said he was transferred from Bauchi to Akure few months ago which  warranted the changing of his daughter’s school to Falaiye Memorial Nursery/Primary School, which was very close to his new residence at Adebowale off Ondo Road in Akure.

    He said: “I am a civil engineer with HFP Construction Company and I got transferred from Bauchi to Akure three months ago and I decided to enroll my children in Falaiye Memorial Nursery/Primary School Old Akure-Ondo road, Ologede, Akure.

    “I have paid all the necessary fees demanded by the school and I also went to the school to see the person who will be the class teacher of my daughter, who is a female and I was satisfied with her.

    “But one day, Elizabeth after returning from school told us that her aunty has resigned and that she liked that her aunty. My response to her was that she will also love the new aunty or uncle who may likely take over her class.

    “Though, Elizabeth was fond of informing us about what is going on in the school particularly in her class. One afternoon after returning from school, I overheard my daughter telling her mother that her new uncle put his hand in her private part and touched her.

    “I went to her school the following day to report to the proprietor who summoned the teacher and asked Elizabeth to repeat what she told me and which she did in our presence. When the teacher was asked why he did such, he only responded by saying in Yoruba that ’mo kan nba sere ni’ meaning (I was only playing with her). I then warned him seriously that such should not repeat itself again. The proprietor promised that such will never happen again.

    “On getting home, Elizabeth still reported the uncle to me that because I came to warn him, he pressed her neck, saying that ‘your parents are not here I will deal with you’. She told me that the teacher is the proprietor’s son.

    “She complained of neck pains and I went to a nearby chemist and bought the prescribed drugs and administered it on her, only for her neck to swell overnight and I rushed her to the hospital that night. It was on my way I met Kola (the school proprietor) driving out and I explained my plight to him but he said my wife and I should wait for him which I did but Kola never returned.

    “It was while waiting with a neighbour who is a retired police officer that he saw us and decided to take us to the Military Hospital at the barracks where Elizabeth was placed on drips and antibiotics. She was also given nine bottles of drips and N2,800 worth of antibiotics each to just reduce the swollen neck but to no avail.

    ‘All along I was concerned with my daughter’s recovery but with all the treatment she was not responding well and each time she asked for food she could not swallow when the food was brought to her.

    It was after few days spent at the hospital that the soldiers asked about the proprietor and I took them to the school. The proprietor claimed that he was not aware of what happened and revealed that the alleged teacher is his own son and also an undergraduate of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, but only assisting him due to the ongoing ASUU strike and because some of the teachers have left the school. He told us that his son is a cult member at his institution.

    Wanogho said: “We were later referred to Mother and Child Hospital in Akure, where I was asked to buy blood but because I did not have money I volunteered to donate my blood in which two pints was taken from me to just save my daughter’s life.

    ‘It was then that I received a call from the police that the proprietor was negotiating the release of his son when I rushed to the police station and insisted that am still concerned about my daughter’s recovery. I was there when I was called on phone from the hospital that I had to rush back.

    ‘When I got to Mother and Child hospital I saw my daughter and she stretched her hands to me and called me, ‘Daddy! Daddy!’. As soon as I moved to her and carried her she breath her last’.

    “I thought it was a joke I raised her hand it dropped and I realised she was gone”

    At this moment, Ovie betrayed emotions and cried like a baby.

    Wanogho said the doctor’s report revealed that something struck her vaginal and she was strangled on the neck.

    “She is in the mortuary now and what I want now is justice. I want fellow Nigerians to help me, I have three kids and have lost one she is my carbon copy. I gave her my blood to keep her but she has left me.”

    The proprietor of the school, Mr. Kola Alade, denied all the allegations leveled against his son by the deceased’s father.

    He said: “Ovie never came to my school as claimed it was the mother of the deceased that came to the school with her children to complain and I summoned my Headmistress and the teacher, Adebayo who in turn denied that anything of such happened”.

    Alade said when the girl was in the hospital he told the Headmistress to go and visit her and we even advised the father to take the child to Mother and Child hospital but he preferred that his child be taken to the Military Hospital.

    He further alleged that Wanogho was complacent on the treatment of his child which resulted in the death of the girl. “He was reluctant all along as he did not respond when he was called to donate blood for his daughter which was late before he eventually did.”

    The proprietor lamented that Wanogho simply wants to tarnish the image of his school as all he claimed are untrue.

    The proprietor said: “We have urged him to let an autopsy be carried out on the girl but he has been avoiding that because when we know the cause of death, we will be able to know what really happened to the girl.”

    Also the headmistress, Mrs Tinuola Ajimajasan said, Elizabeth was neither beaten nor assaulted, claiming that the school was not aware if the deceased was sick.

    Reacting to the matter the state  Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Wole Ogodo, said the suspect, Mr Alade Adebayo, has been apprehended and he is presently in detention at the  State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Akure.

    Ogodo said, the case is still under investigation and it is only a postmortem that can reveal the cause of death because we cannot ascertain if it was the beating that resulted to her death or something else.

    “We will need an expert to do the autopsy on the deceased as the police cannot rely on an un-recognised hospital,” he said. Ogodo noted that the case is under investigation and the autopsy will soon be carried out.

     

  • Ondo oil producing communities decry bad roads

    Ondo oil producing communities decry bad roads

    ONe of the aims of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) is to tackle the most visible problem in the oil communities – bad roads. But the interventionist agency seems not to be making the desired impact on the area.

    Unlike in the upland areas of Ondo State, the coastal communities have no link roads, no electricity and infrastructure despite that they are the golden fish that lays the state’s eggs.

    Without the Ilaje and Ese-Odo local government areas, rating Ondo as an oil producer would not be possible.

    The state is enjoying oil derivation funds, but the source of that huge windfall is being neglected. Many important roads in the Ondo South Senatorial District, the oil producing region of Ondo, are left in deplorable conditions for the inhabitants to wonder where all their oil money was being spent.

    In 2008,OSOPADEC awarded the contract for the construction of Okitipupa-Irele road,which is 10.9km, to SETRACO Nigeria Limited for N4.2billion to ease the problem of transportation in the southern part of the state.

    The road, according to initial plan, was to be inaugurated in 2009, but has been abandoned.Besides, OSOPADEC awarded construction of Igbokoda-Ayetoro and Aboto-Olokola road to the same SETRACO Nigeria Limited at a cost of N10billion.

    Igbokoda-Ayetoro and Aboto-Olokola roads have since been abandoned by SETRACO, while Ugbonla-Ayetoro road, the only link to communities in the main coastal area, has been neglected.

    The Nation’s visit to the area passing through Ode-Mahin was a harrowing experience to behold. The vehicle that conveyed our correspondent broke down because of the deplorable situation of the road.

    For a long time, all entreaties by leaders of the communities to the relevant authority to repair or lay asphalt on the road has fallen on deaf ears making life more unbearable to travellers on the road.

    This development is also having negative effects on the economic and social lifeline of Ilaje people.

    The road was to provide cheap access through Ogun and Lagos states, the commercial nerve centre of the country.

    Prospective investors and visitors to the area always think twice before embarking on such journey, as several times the road has caused caused accidents that claimed lives.

    At the Okitipupa-Irele road, the bridge designed to link the road has been abandoned since 2009,thereby making the road impassable.

    It was observed that the Irele Local Government constructed a wooden bridge to link the extremely bad spots and, unfortunately, the council chairman allegedly imposed a N50 toll for crossing the bridge, thus further compounding the burden of the people.

    The Publicity Secretary of Ilaje Forum (IF) Dare Ebimomi urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe how the funds appropriated to OSOPADEC were spent by its chairman and other board members.

  • Three years after, parents still mourn 42 pupils killed in crash

    Three years after, parents still mourn 42 pupils killed in crash

    School remains closed

    Their mission was to further enrich their knowledge by going on excursion to different places in Ondo State, including the hilly town of Idanre to catch a glimpse of the natural endowment, which has put the town among the top tourists’ destinations in Nigeria.

    But the 42 pupils of Aricent Nursery and Primary School in Olupitan area of Ore in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo, who were part of the group that set out for the excursion on March 11, 2011 never returned home to their parents.

    They, together with some of their teachers and the school proprietor, were crushed to death on their journey back home when their vehicle collided with a trailer. It was a terrible accident. That fateful day will, undoubtedly, remain a day of anguish, mourning and distress, in the history of the state.

    The shock of the tragedy was compounded the day after when it was discovered that the private school was not even registered by the state Ministry of Education. It was an illegal school, the parents later learnt.

    Like every other person, the pupils were excited that the excursion was a life time opportunity to visit the ancient town of Idanre.

    Originally, the management of the school was planning for an inter-house sports, but the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) kicked against the move and opted for an excursion to a tourist centre.

    On that memorable day, the pupils accompanied by their teachers and school proprietor visited so many places of interest in the state. Their first port of call was the local airport in Akure before they proceeded to Idanre.

    They were on their way home when the unexpected happened. Most of them died on the spot while the others died later at the hospital due to poor medical attention.

    Three-and-half years after the unfortunate incident, residents of Olupitan are still mourning the death of the pupils, teachers and their proprietor. The school has since remained closed.

    Some of the parents, who lost their wards in the accident, are still in shock and disbelief. One of them is the Chairman of the PTA of the school, Mudasiru Abdulsalam.

    Abdulsalam, a native of Obaagun in Boripe Local Government of Osun State, lost his seven-year-old son, Yusuf. He had planned to go with the pupils on the excursion to Idanre for sight-seeing of the hills, but was saved by a nine-day -prayers, which he had embarked upon.

    He had been having nightmares where he was always seeing himself in the pool of blood. This made him to engage in the marathon prayer session to avert the  tragedy God has revealed to him through the dream.

    According to him, “I was supposed to be part of the team that was to escort the pupils to Idanre. As the Chairman of the Parent-Teacher Association, I was to be the leader of the team.

    “We had to shift the day earlier fixed for the excursion because it fell on the day the pupils were writing  their examination. But a few days to the day, we were supposed to go for the excursion, I started having bad dreams which forced me to change my plan.”

    Six days after Abdulsalam had started his prayers, the unfortunate incident happened. The bus hired by the school collided with a trailer and some of the pupils died instantly while others, who sustained serious injuries, were moved to Ore General Hospital.

    His words: ”I received a call around 7.pm from the proprietor of the school that they were in Ondo Town that they had a stopover to offer prayers to Almighty Allah. He also called me after they left Ondo to tell me that they are on their way to Ore.

    “I was, however, shocked that several hours after the last call I received from the proprietor, the pupils had not yet returned. It was at this point I discovered something was wrong.

    “I could no longer do anything when they did not return on time. I had to pick my prayer mat and rosary and started another round of prayer to Almighty Allah to bring them back home safely.

    “I was afraid and worried because the school proprietor could not be reached on phone, I had to continue with my prayer when  there was no response from his phone.’’

    However, when he finally got the wind of what happened, some pupils had already died. His son, Yusuf who was his fourth child, was among those who died instantly.

    He said: “I cried when I saw my son in the pool of blood. Yusuf was a brilliant boy, who was loved by many people in the area, because of his attitude to people. The poor boy was just too friendly.”

    He described the death of his son who was also known as “Yaro’, as a very big loss to the family, stressing that his fond memories still lingered on in the family over three years after his death.

    One strange thing is that Abdulsalam has continued to see his son in his dreams. He said there is no month that the poor boy would not appear in his dream.

    He said: “There is no month that I don’t see Yaro my boy in my dream since March 17, 2010. He always appeared to me. I have done many prayers, but the dream wouldn’t stop.

    “They told me that the boy was appearing to me because of the love he had for me. No other member of the family sees him except me.”

    He said it was painful that some of the pupils who survived in the accident died later because of absence of good treatment at the Ore General Hospital.

    According to him, the kind of treatment those injured in the accident received was nothing to write home about, adding: “They were not given quick medical attention at all. This was responsible for the increase in the death toll.”

    On why the school has remained under lock and key, Abdulsalam said since the proprietor of the school died in the accident, there was nobody to take over.”