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Tag: ONDO

  • Subsidy removal: Ondo moves to crash food prices

    Subsidy removal: Ondo moves to crash food prices

    Ondo state government said it has begun move to crash prices of food by building what it terms ‘Farmers market.’

    It said the pilot phase of the farmers’ market which cost about N30m would be opened in November this year.

    The special assistant to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Agric and Agri-business, Pastor Akin Olotu, disclosed this during a training seminar organised for livestock farmers on feed formulation and alternative sources of feed ingredients.

    Pastor Olotu said the farmers’ market would serve as a meeting point where farmers sell their farm produce directly to consumers without middlemen.

    He said the market would be handed over to the farmers for proper management and functionality.

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    Olotu, who represented the chairman of the Palliative and Strategy Implementation, Wale Akinterinwa, said the 300 livestock farmers to be trained on alternative feed sources and feed ingredients for profit maximization were given free feeds as palliatives.

    He said the free feeds for livestock farmers were to curb the high cost of feed challenge being faced by farmers.

    Olotu disclosed that the first phase of the feed palliatives has been distributed and assured that there would be a second and third phase of distribution.

    He noted: “The farmers market belongs to the farmers, they bring their produce there, and there is no middle man or middle woman there.

    “It was the Governor’s initiative where what you are producing has a market in view in terms of who is buying, what they want to buy, the quantity, the variety, and some other things.

    “It is a market owned by farmers in the state which is going to be in the 18 local government so that when you produce, the one in Akure is going to be the central one.

    “At the end of the entire process or cycle, you discover that the consumers are able to access and buy at a cheaper price because the cost of the middlemen activities will not be there.

    “There will be two-way communication between buyers and sellers. It will even facilitate in-marketing because in the market, there will be an administrative office such that when you buy even for export, you can contact them about when you will be coming to pick up your goods from the market and the person in charge of the market will be able to send message to the farmers that somebody is interested in this product and he or she will be around at the communicated date and time.

    “The farmers market advantages include good price, good market information, quality product, good data for the state which we can use to plan.”

  • Aketi, Lucky, and the future of Ondo state

    Aketi, Lucky, and the future of Ondo state

    These are not the best of times in Ondo state. They are not the worst of times, either. Nothing in the governance crisis in the state in the last few months comes remotely close to the 1983 political crisis being invoked by some commentators. In that crisis, the state was totally paralysed. Some people were killed and their property destroyed. Others ran away from the state or went into hiding, while the majority held their breath. I was as much a witness of the 1983 crisis as I am of the present governance crisis in the state.

    Without a doubt, the current situation in Ondo state could have been better than they are but for the behaviour and selfish actions of a few characters, notably, the Deputy Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa. However, before I get to his case, it is important to briefly examine the facilitating factors that brought him to the fore.

    The key factor is Governor Rotimi Odunayo Akeredolu’s illness. It is easy to blame him now that the state also has caught his illness. However, he did what was necessary to ensure that the state remained healthy. Basically, he did major two things.

    First, he did what he could to move the state forward in key sectors. A few examples will suffice. One key area is the growth of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue from about N670 million to over N3 billion per month. He worked hard at it, by developing new policies and structures, such as the ODRIS building complex opposite the famous Dome, and hiring a whole complement of staff for tax collection. As of the latest assessment, Ondo had the fastest growing IGR among the 36 states. Interestingly, at least in terms of traffic and patronage, Akure Airport is also the fastest growing state airport in the country.

    With available resources, Governor Akeredolu was able to construct or renovate over 500 kilometers of roads and over 800 primary and secondary schools throughout the state. He also constructed a fly-over bridge at Ore to ease the heavy traffic flow and accidents at the junction of the Sagamu-Benin and Ondo-Okitipupa roads. Similarly, he commenced the very first flyover bridge in Akure, the state capital, to ease traffic congestion. He piloted the University of Medical Sciences at Ondo and the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology at Okitipupa to full accreditation of all their programmes. He also established the UNIMED Teaching Hospital Complex, by converting the State Specialist Hospitals at Akure and Ondo into Teaching Hospitals. This was complemented with a 200-bed building complex each at Akure and Ondo. Over 500 hospital staff, including about 200 doctors, were also hired.

    He took similar strides in Agriculture and the Blue Economy, by ramping up on Public-Private Partnership in agricultural and industrial production. For example, he developed the Red Gold Project, focusing on large scale palm oil cultivation and processing in partnership with the National Oil Palm Producing Association of Nigeria. Accordingly, an oil palm plantation was birthed with over 12,000 hectares of newly planted oil palm. In addition to the Ore-Irele Ondo is fast emerging

    Other projects have also taken root at the Ore Industrial Park. One is the Gas Inland LPG Terminal developed in partnership with Alles Charis LPG to produce large inland storage. Another is the Linyi Hub, which has so far developed five industries, with additional three underway. To boost the industrial plans, license was obtained for a deep seaport. The fact that none of these projects is located in your neighbourhood or that the road leading to your house (like mine in Idanre) has not seen the hand of the government at all does not mean that the government has not been doing anything as some in the media would like to make us believe.

    The second major thing Akeredolu did to ensure that the state remained healthy, while he was away, was to transfer power to his Deputy. Unfortunately, however, the erstwhile trusted Deputy became so over-ambitious as to have betrayed the trust. Once power was transferred to him, his focus shifted from the state to himself. He focused on how he would be the substantive Governor after the anticipated demise of his boss. He also started work on he would win the governorship election next year. In service of these objectives, he started obtaining, or making requests for, funds, which are all documented in the allegations against him by the House of Assembly. He even started doling out positions, including that of his Deputy, in anticipation of electoral victory. It was even alleged that he promised the Deputy position to more than one person!

    What is worse, he allegedly released his boss’s medical records and maligned him through his aides, who engaged in a negative media blitz against the Governor. Those records were said to have been obtained surreptitiously through female aides close to the Governor. Trust politicians! Aiyedatiwa’s moves quickly led to divisions within the administration, especially among the cabinet members. Following his footsteps, those who were interested in the governorship race were forced to start making moves. The result was an unnecessary governance crisis.

    It was not total failure, however, as alleged in the press. Many projects are going on, including the construction of the flyover at a dangerous intersection in the state capital. Wale Akinterinwa, the Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Palliative Committee, is also driving a robust, 11-point, Subsidy Relief Programme across the state.

    Aiyedatiwa’s various moves were not lost on his boss. Similarly, all his financial requests were documented, including his alleged foray into Local Government funds. Perhaps to divert attention from their boss’s actions, Aiyedatiwa’s media aides focused on the Governor’s ill health, pontificating and fabricating lies. No wonder then that Akeredolu fired them on his return, while the House of Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against the Deputy.

    It is to be expected that Aiyedatiwa would seek to defend himself. He has been going about it in a frenzy. He filed several court injunctions, corralled the support of the party at the national level, colluded with lawyers and various groups, and got some media outlets to put pressure on his sick boss. In the process, words, such as “incapacitated” and “unfit”, are being used in describing the Governor. Aiyedatiwa acknowledged all his “supporters” with a post, thanking them all for “standing by me”. There was no single acknowledgement of his boss in the post, because it is apparent that the boss is the target of his fight.

    How did Governor Akeredolu come about this guy? His wife is said to have suggested Aiyedatiwa to him. Or how else would Aketi have chosen as his Deputy someone who has neither executive nor governance experience and was repeatedly rejected by the party and his own people in previous runs for membership in the National Assembly, once as a Representative and once as a Senator? Even his nomination to serve on the NDDC Board was rejected.

    Akeredolu should have known that Ondo state could not be lucky with Lucky. He should be impeached to give room for the state to breathe.

  • Ondo 2024: Why Akeredolu’s legacies must be protected, by Ondo govt

    Ondo 2024: Why Akeredolu’s legacies must be protected, by Ondo govt

    Ondo state government has said the gains and legacies of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu must be protected, codified and built upon.

    It said Governor Akeredolu has earned his place in history as the custodian of the tradition of accountability.

    This follows a report by the Center for Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Watch (CeFTIW) in partnership with the MacArthur Foundation which judged the state as the third best among Nigeria’s thirty-six states in transparency and accountability in public fund management and the implementation of public policies.

    The Ondo government said such positive achievement was achieved in a structured way.

    Read Also: Ondo youths urged to emulate Akeredolu 

    Ondo commissioner for Information and Orientation, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, who spoke in a press statement, said the steady climb up the transparency and accountability ladder was a laudable understanding of the foundations needed for sustainable as opposed to ephemeral development.

    The commissioner noted that Transparency leads to better costing of projects and better service delivery.

    She said: “It also helps to develop the institutional memory needed for the long term.  That is why the institutional philosophy of Akeredolu is the REDEEMED Agenda. Akeredolu through this report has earned his place in history as the custodian of the tradition of accountability.

    “This sets a marker that must be institutionalised before the end of his tenure in office. The gains must be protected and codified and must be protected! Akeredolu’s legacy must be built upon.”

  • Ex-militants seek pipeline protection contract for Ondo, Ogun, Lagos

    Ex-militants seek pipeline protection contract for Ondo, Ogun, Lagos

    Former Niger Delta militants in Ondo State have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to prevail on the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation Limited (NNPCL) to decentralize pipeline protection contracts in the Niger region.

    The ex-militants said the purpose of their appeal was to avoid an imminent crisis in the region as well as stop the disrespect for the Southwest region.

    President of the ex-militants who spoke under the auspices of the Niger Delta Coastline Vanguard (NDCV) Akogun Omotuwa Job, begged President Tinubu to review the existing policy on the decentralization of the new surveillance project to accommodate leaders of ex-militants in Ondo, Ogun, and Lagos State to avoid an imminent crisis in the region.

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    Omotuwa said it was to take everything from their environments through pipelines and denied them the opportunity to maintain the pipelines.

    He said they were aware of the serious implication the neglect of their agitation could cause to the region ‘more so when the contract is awarded to a person who is not too familiar with the region.’

    According to him, “We are also very much comfortable with the tremendous peace being enjoyed at the moment and we want it to continue.

  • Ondo lawmaker gives 200 vulnerable persons N10m

    Ondo lawmaker gives 200 vulnerable persons N10m

    The lawmaker representing Irele/Okitipupa federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Jimi Odimayo, has supported the federal government’s palliative by doling out N10m to 200 vulnerable persons.

    Odimayo said his gesture was to help cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy.

    Odimayo, who also unveiled several empowerment programs worth over N100m to support rural dwellers, promised to improve the living conditions of his people.

    He said youths, women, and artisans would benefit from the self-employment programs.

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    The Chairman, of the House Committee on National Population Commission, said he is visiting and lobbying various federal agencies, to attract development to his home state.

    “In the area of actual financial palliative, a sum of N50,000 is now being given out each, to 200 vulnerable residents of the constituency, to alleviate their suffering.

    “This effort is my way of mitigating the consequences of the fuel subsidy removal by alleviating the hardship faced by them, as I’m committed to fostering a sustainable future for the residents of Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency.

  • Ondo crisis symptomatic of Southwest leadership decline

    Ondo crisis symptomatic of Southwest leadership decline

    Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s attempt to impeach his luckless deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has stalled legally, procedurally and politically. It will now require a lot of concentration, daring and persistence to unhorse the disfavoured politician and controversial husband. It is doubtful Mr Akeredolu can summon that persistence and concentration, considering how enfeebled by illness he has become. For more than three months, he was away in Germany treating an undisclosed illness. While on medical leave, reports of his deputy’s disloyalty deafened and incensed him. It is not known whether those alarming reports were responsible for his premature return home, or whether he really feared Mr Aiyedatiwa was capable of getting him declared incapacitated. But shortly after he arrived in Nigeria and took ‘refuge’ in Ibadan, Oyo State, the irate governor kick-started impeachment moves against his deputy by first stripping him of all his aides.

    That impeachment effort, which has dragged on uncharacteristically for more than a month, has now become snarled in the legislature, All Progressives Congress (APC) national headquarters, and the Federal High Court in Abuja. When the impeachment moves began, this column argued that it would take a miracle to save Mr Aiyedatiwa, especially because both the governor and the legislature were on the same page on the matter. The two are still on the same page. It is not clear how the courts will adjudicate the matter, but it can be safely assumed that the APC, which in recent years has proved less calculating and prescient than it pretends to be, will set store by its ability to perform the role of a fire brigade and peacemaker. Clearly, if the impeachment effort drags on for a little more than the governor’s liver can take, he will be distracted, if not lose interest altogether.

    The Federal High Court, Abuja will rule on the matter on October 30; for that was where Mr Aiyedatiwa took refuge to forestall his impeachment. The APC reconciliation committee headed by the level-headed former Katsina State governor Aminu Masari will probably do its best to ensure that the Ondo boat is not rocked too much as to jeopardise next year’s governorship election. It will lean on the governor to embrace peace and reconcile with his deputy. The legislature will toe the line of the governor: if he forecloses impeachment, the lawmakers will follow suit. But if the governor and the legislature cannot throw out the deputy governor, for his sins are actually grievous, they will do their best to neutralise him politically speaking. Mr Aiyedatiwa desperately wants to succeed his boss, and was evidently impatient and unfeeling in birthing his ambition while Mr Akeredolu was writhing in pain in Germany. Indeed, he has been largely tactless, amoral and reckless. He may now actually get his first wish, if things align fortuitously for him; it is, however, hard seeing him win the primary ticket, let alone win the main governorship poll in 2024.

    Mr Aiyedatiwa is privately and publicly unfit for a position of responsibility. His home front is unflattering, and his public office is marked by series of poor judgements and shocking calls. Unable to give loyalty or exude camaraderie, he is even more disabled from attracting or soliciting any kind of deep affection. On the surface, he is debonair, confident and soft-spoken. But at bottom, he has neither depth nor gravitas, at least nothing to qualify or recommend him for high office. However, he only bears secondary responsibility for the political morass swirling around Ondo. Mr Akeredolu in fact bears the greater responsibility for the unnecessary crisis enveloping the state, including its lack of inspiring example to the region. He fell out with his former deputy, Agboola Ajayi, and ensured he did not return with him for a second term, and was perhaps partly responsibility for his defeat in the last senatorial race. No one was certain that in his relationship and dispute with Mr Ajayi, he was not guilty of poor judgement in nominating him, in the first place, as running mate. In the nomination of Mr Aiyedatiwa, the governor was solely responsible, a selection now clearly based on poor judgement.

    It is not easy blaming Mr Akeredolu for anything, seeing how hobbled by illness he is. But this is politics and governance, not sentiments. He made the wrong call when he nominated Mr Aiyedatiwa as his running mate, and was a poorer judge of character by failing to vet his proposed deputy in all possible ways, including whether the nominee had the character and capacity to succeed him should anything unforeseen happen. There is little to suggest he carried out the necessary vetting. His failure may not be surprising. Even his leadership of the state, particularly in terms of innovativeness, leaves much to be desired. Far more than the human and economic resources available to the state, Mr Akeredolu had proved inadequate and unexampled. He seemed, therefore, quite the kind of politician capable of nominating flawed and incompetent deputies.

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    But mediocrity and lack of inspiration and innovativeness are not limited to Ondo State. The problems are regionwide, with Ondo merely symptomatic of the region’s worst. Shockingly, perhaps with the exception of Oyo State – but only just – the Southwest under both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and APC has entered a period of leadership decline so enervating that there is no period in history to compare with it. The Southwest has managed to trundle along in comparison, but not quite in competition, with the rest of the country. Its rich history has become unsustainable, while it has also become less ideological, less profound, less visionary, less secular, and increasingly more average and superstitious. Nothing distinguishes or differentiates the Southwest from the rest of the country, though it manifests a semblance of peace and stability. Lagos is corrupted by influx of migrants, its strength and soul and identity vitiated by a strange miscegenation of hostile and insidious cultures. And while Osun has lost pretence to administrative rationality, Ogun dithers in paralysis.

    If Mr Akeredolu is unable to get rid of his deputy, he will bide his time, waylay his victim during the primary, and punish him before the governorship poll. The deputy governor will, however, hope to outlast the ailing governor whom he had not spared kind or sympathetic thoughts. But no matter how things shape out for the governor, his political family is strong enough to make a difference in endorsements, and indeed powerful enough to make the difference in the next governorship election. He may not have been exemplary as many thought he would be on account of his training, exposure and experience; and he may even have lacked the capacity to make a lasting impact on Ondo, but he has had a significant rule sufficient in the short term to punish his enemies and reward his friends. Whether Mr Aiyedatiwa survives the Akeredolu barrage or not, he will be number one on the guillotine.

  • Ondo APC lawmakers to consult PDP legislators

    Ondo APC lawmakers to consult PDP legislators

    Leadership of the Ondo State House of Assembly has said it would consult with minority political parties in the Assembly on the political solution being proposed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) on its move to impeach Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi.

    It said it hoped the deputy governor would take immediate steps to withdraw the multiple court cases he filed over the same impeachment, to allow stakeholders freely discuss the settlement proposals and prevent actions or comments over a matter that was still subjudice.

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    Spokesman for the Assembly, Olatunji Oshati, said the lawmakers were ready to apply “political solution” to the impeachment plan against Aiyedatiwa.

    Oshati, spokesperson for the House of Assembly, revealed this in a statement issued in Akure.

    He said the assembly was exercising its power in Section 188 of the Nigerian constitution in the impeachment proceeding against Aiyedatiwa.

  • Impeachment: Ondo APC lawmakers to consult PDP lawmakers

    Impeachment: Ondo APC lawmakers to consult PDP lawmakers

    The leadership of the Ondo State House of Assembly has said it would consult with minority political parties in the Assembly on the political solution being proposed by the All Progressives Congress on its move to impeach the deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi.

    It said it hoped the deputy governor would take immediate steps to withdraw the multiple court cases he filed over the same impeachment to allow stakeholders to freely discuss the settlement proposals and prevent actions or comments over a matter that was still subjudice.

    A spokesman for the Assembly, Olatunji Oshati, said the lawmakers were ready to apply a “political solution” to the impeachment plan against Aiyedatiwa.

    Olatunji Oshati, the spokesperson for the state house of assembly revealed this in a statement issued in Akure, the state capital.

    Oshati said the assembly was exercising its power in section 188 of the Nigerian constitution in the impeachment proceeding against Aiyedatiwa.

    Read Also: Akeredolu can govern Ondo from anywhere, say lawyers

    He said the House leadership would further consult with members of the House cutting across party lines, on the political solution as proposed by the APC.

    The statement read: “Following the intervention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Dr Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, the APC members in Ondo State House of Assembly have agreed to consider the possibility of a political solution on the impeachment proceedings against the State Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.

    “The House therefore hopes that in the same spirit of genuine wish for a political solution, the Deputy-Governor would take immediate steps to withdraw the multiple court cases he filed over the same impeachment. This would allow the stakeholders to freely discuss the settlement proposals and prevent actions or comments over a matter that is still subjudice.”

  • Tantita: Ondo Commandant Asonja recommits to coastal area development

    Tantita: Ondo Commandant Asonja recommits to coastal area development

    The Commandant for the Ondo state chapter of the Tantita Security Services, Idowu Asonja, has applauded President Bola Tinubu, for renewing the renewing the contract earlier awarded to the Tantita Security Services, for securing and maintaining the nation’s oil lines.

    In a statement on Wednesday, October 18, Asonja thanked Tinubu for listening to the voice of the people in favour of the works of the Tantita Security Services.

    The commandant said: “The President has acted on the plea of Nigerians for the renewal of the contract earlier awarded to Tantita Security Services by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    “This is an affirmation of performance. Since the contract was originally awarded, peace and stability have since returned to the region.

    Read Also: ‘Tantita has proven competence in oil pipelines security’

    “It is public knowledge that pipeline vandalism, oil theft and leakages and allied unlawful acts have since been properly managed within the region since Tantita took over.

    “In spite of these successes however, we have continued to improve on our strides as we daily device ingenious ways to make certain that the current peace in the Niger Delta is well sustained and that government and citizens continue to maximally benefit from a peaceful Niger Delta region.”

    Asonja called on the youth and monarch in the region to embrace peace and development.

    He said: “Going forward, Tantita would continue to do its best in guaranteeing the safety of the petroleum pipelines and in maintaining the existing peace in the region.

    “In Ondo state, for instance, apart from our core mandate, we would explore all humanitarian options that could enhance youth and community development of the coastal area.”

  • Ondo lawmakers agree to cease fire

    Ondo lawmakers agree to cease fire

    Ondo State House of Assembly has agreed to stay action in the ongoing move to impeach Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

    A decision to this effect was reached yesterday after a closed-door meeting with the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

    Aiyedatiwa has been under the threat of impeachment by the House over allegations of gross misconduct and has been served with notice of the allegations levelled against him by the lawmakers.

    The meeting, which lasted about two hours, was attended by members of the party’s NWC, the Aminu Bello Masari-led nine-man Reconciliation Committee, party state Chairman,  Ade Adetimilehin, an engineer;  and 18 of the 22 APC lawmakers led by Speaker Oladeji Olamide.

    Addressing reporters after the meeting, the Chairman of the Reconciliation Committee, Masari, said the national leadership was committed to finding solution to the crisis in Ondo State.

    Read Also: Ndume’s plenary walkout unsettles Senate

    The former Katsina State governor said actions towards the impeachment of the deputy governor had been put on hold to enable his committee reach out to stakeholders.

    “We are working hard with the House of Assembly and the national leadership of the party to find solution to the crisis bedevilling our party and the government in Ondo State

    “All actions for the pros and against have been suspended for now to allow the committee complete its work. 

    “The Speaker of House of Assembly is here with us. He will collaborate with the leader of the party to see the final stand of the APC National Working Committee.”

    Admitting that the lawmakers were in Abuja at the instance of the National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and the Reconciliation Committee, Speaker Olamide said the lawmakers had agreed to cooperate with the party in finding a solution to the crisis.

    He said: “We were invited by the national chairman and the chairman of the reconciliation committee. We promised to work with the national chairman and the chairman of the reconciliation committee to find solution to the political crisis in Ondo State. 

    “We gave a promise that on our part, we are ready to cooperate as an arm of government with the party. At the same time, whenever they want to meet us, we will be of help to the committee. 

    “More importantly, we will allow the committee to do their work without hitches. Apart from that, we believe this is the only political solution that will be of help to resolve the crisis in Ondo State.”

    Appreciating the stakeholders in the crisis for allowing political solution to the impasse, the APC national chairman said the decision by the lawmakers to cease fire showed that they were democrats and committed party faithful.

    Ganduje, who said he had received an interim report from the Masari-led committee, said the reconciliation committed was yet to meet with the embattled deputy governor and his boss, Governor Olwarotimi Akeredolu, but confirmed the ceasefire agreement reached with the lawmakers. 

    According to him, “now, having suspended the impeachment process, they (lawmakers) have created a conducive environment to continue dialoguing. We believe we will reach a political solution. 

    “APC, as a political party, is an institution that is indispensable to democracy. Therefore, apart from our basic function for recruitment of membership, elected officers and appointed officers, it is our responsibility to see that the ethics of democracy are followed and crises averted in our government, both at the sub-national level and at the international level. 

    “It is a political crisis and we are a political institution. So, there’s no way we can fold our arms and see that our children are fighting and we allow them to go like that.”