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Tag: ONDO

  • Expect more medals, Ondo Sports Council GM assures

    The General Manager, Ondo State Sports Council, Wande Fabuluje says more medals are being expected to improve the medal haul of the state in the ongoing 19th National Sports Festival in Abuja.

    Fabuluje, who made the promise, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, expressed satisfaction on the performance of the state athletes in the festival, so far.

    NAN reports that Ondo state clinched five gold, one silver and five bronze medals.

    Three athletes representing the state won two more gold medals in Track and Field and Para-swimming events to increase the state total medals won so far to eleven.

    Powell Ofoyeju defeated other competitors to win gold in the 100 Metres Breast Stroke para-swimming.

    Read Also: 2019: I’ll reward hardwork, loyalty this time — Buhari

    Boluwatife Bukola triumphed in the 100m Women event gold medal in 11.45seconds by defeating Akwa Iboms Peace Uko who crossed the line with the time of 11.52s and Joy Gabriel of Delta with 11.53s.

    Fabuluje said the athletes had justified the confidence reposed in them by the state government.

    “I am proud of these youngsters. They are doing us proud. We will win more medals in Volleyball and wrestling, in semi final stage,” he said.

    He appealed to the athletes whose competitions have been rounded-off to stay behind and support those still competing.

  • Ondo to offset accumulated gratuities, pension, says Akeredolu

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has promised that his administration will start clearing accumulated gratuities of retired workers as from January with the remaining arrears of pension.

    Akeredolu spoke in Akure, the state capital, while addressing the state retirees on the occasion of National Pensioners’ Day celebration with a theme: Pension Without Tension, Without Tears: A Task That Must Be Accomplished By The Union In The Years Ahead.

    Represented by his Special Adviser (SA) on Labour Matters, Alaba Isijola, the governor said necessary machineries were being put in place to ensure that Ondo State pensioners get their pension and gratuities regularly.

    Majority of retired workers since 2011 are yet to collect their gratuities while local government pensioners are also being owed three months’ pension and the state pensioners are being owed one monthly pension.

    Akeredolu said: “We inherited seven months’ pension arrears from the previous administration. But as at today, we have cleared almost everything. On the gratuities, the government has mapped out strategies of paying affected pensioners as from January. So, rest assured that Mr Governor will not promise what he cannot do. His love for workers and our fathers – retirees – is unequalled.”

    The state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Chief Raphael Adetuwo, urged President Muhammadu Buhari and governors to implement a section of the 1999 Constitution which stipulates an upward review of pension to enable them cope with economic realities in the country.

    Adetuwo noted that the continuous violation of Section 173, subsections 3 and 210 (3) of the Constitution by governments had exposed many retirees to untold hardship.

    According to him, some of them collect ridiculous pension, like N2,000 to N5,000 monthly.

    He said: “Besides, it is inhumane that there are still some pensioners whose monthly pension is less than N5,000 while many receive over N500,000 monthly.”

     

  • Yellow fever alert in Ondo

    The Ondo State government has warned residents against yellow fever outbreak in several parts of the country.

    A statement by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro, said the residents should be proactive as the outbreak had spread to neighbouring states.

    This, the commissioner said, calls for serious concern.

    Adegbenro described yellow fever as a serious viral infection that can affect all ages and is usually transmitted by mosquitoes.

    He listed some of its symptoms to include fever, body ache, vomiting, yellowness of the eyes and bleeding, in serious cases.

    Read also: Yellow Fever: Edo adopts multi-agency response

    The commissioner advised the residents to maintain proper hygiene in their environment and sleep under mosquito nets.

    He said everyone should be on guard, report to the nearest hospital when they notice any of the aforementioned symptoms and avoid self-medication.

    Adegbenro also urged health workers to be at alert, investigate all feverish cases and alert appropriate authorities when there is any suspected case.

     

  • Ondo, Mimiko and senatorial contest

    Former Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko is the senatorial candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) for Ondo Central District. How far can he go? Grace Edema writes on his quest for a seat in the National Assembly.

    Dr. Olusegun Mimiko’s decision to contest for the Ondo Central Senatorial District of Ondo state has been greeted with joy, support and acceptance by his party members and other followers in the state.

    Mimiko who initially declared his interest to run as the presidential candidate of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has held town hall meetings in Abuja and Ibadan where he declared his interest publicly.

    Having considered the political weight and sagacity of the APC and PDPpresidential candidates, mentioned major candidates, the leadership of ZLP decided to appeal to their presidential candidate, Mimiko to rescind on his decision so that the party could channel their efforts to a more achievable goal while they can also mobilise support for either of the two popular presidential candidates. As an avid follower of the Nigerian politics, there is no mincing words that the contest/election is simply between Buhari and Atiku. ZLP corroborated this in a report recently.

    As such, within the short while,  the initial candidate for Ondo Central Senatorial District, Gboye Adegbenro, also accepted the new development and dropped his ambition to support Mimiko as ZLP senatorial candidate.

    Without doubts, Mimiko’s decision to contest for senatorial seat Is quite a laudable decision. His several years of experience in the political sphere as a two time former commissioner, federal Minister, a governor is a major admirable factor which the people of the state should harness in their favor. As the saying goes that, experience is the best teacher, they will indeed have a good representative at the Senate come 2019 if Mimiko is unanimously voted in by the wellmeaning people of the district.

    As an achiever with vast political experience, making relevant and effective laws that would better and uplift his people wouldn’t be a challenging task for Mimiko. He is in a familiar terrain. Mimiko already understood the political sphere of his state, the federal and Nigeria as a whole.  Also to his advantage are the knowledge, ideas and understanding he has about  Ondo state while he was the  governor for eight years. This will in no time assist him to come up with relevant and impactful bills and projects to execute for the good of his people. He also knows the right steps to take to ensure his choice of bills are accepted and passed by leadership of the senate. It boils down to his experience, familiarity, intelligent and goal getting nature.

    Furthermore, there are some senators who are not productive. They have the opportunity of transforming  their society and the lives of their electorates but they miss used or allowed the opportunity to slip away.

    One or two abnormalies which marred his term when he was the governor was the salary crisis which he always has an explanation for. Unlike Chief Obafemi Awolowo who remained loyal to his party,  Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), until his death, some quarters do not admire Mimiko’s incessant change from one political party to the other.

    Beneficiaries of his Abiye, free education, establishment of the first  medical university in Nigeria,  kaadi igbe Ayo projects to mention afew still show appreciation and recount how this great man whose leadership is first to none has impacted and changed destinies for the best.

    Mimiko’s meritous achievements and commitment attracted the World Bank, UNICEF, Academy of Chocolate Award held in London to the state who all in appreciate of his uncommon dedication to the progress of the Ondo people gave him awards and special recognition for his great initiatives.

    In 2015, the first Nigerian chocolate bar produced through the administration’s Cocoa Revolution Project won a Chocolate Silver award from the Academy of Chocolate Award, held in London

    As it is a known fact,  the people of Ondo state are enlightened, forthright, diligent, intelligent and courageous.

    Therefore, it is of utmost importance for them to elect an assertive, experienced, visionary political leader to represent them at the Senate.

  • Edo, Ekiti, Delta, Ondo, power consumers protest blackout

    A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of BEDC Franchise State Peoples’ Alliance, yesterday protested against the management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing in Abuja.

    The protest was led by power consumers from Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states.

    The protesters also visited the offices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to lodge their complaints against company.

    The power users from the four states called for the overhaul of the company’s management.

    The President of Edo Civil Society Organisations, one of the CSOs in the alliance, Mr. Leftist Agho, said the BEDC had not recorded any improvement since it took over the distribution of power to the affected states.

    The address was jointly signed by Comrade Terry Ajagbawa, Delta State Coalition of Civil Society Groups; Comrade Omopariola Dare, Ondo State Electricity Customers; Comrade Akinsuroju Olubanjo, Bring Back Our Light and Ibukun Ogundipe, Ekiti State Residents’ Association.

    Agho said: “Since takeover, the BEDC has not recorded any discernible improvement or added value to what it met on ground. Nigerians in the affected states have been groaning under heavy estimated and ‘crazy’ bills, deliberate non-supply of meters and molestation of consumers with the military.

    “There is also the refusal by BEDC to connect communities to the national grid, non-provision of transformers, poles and other ancillaries, creation of special electricity lines for certain institutions and individuals, while the majority are served total darkness, among other inefficiencies numerous to outline.”

    He urged the Federal Government not to extend the date for the review of BEDC’s performance agreement with the BPE.

    He said: “While Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti people are waiting for the end of the terrible activities that BEDC has dealt on them for over four years running. It was shocking to read in the media of the purported plan by the BPE and the NERC to extend the performance agreement with additional one year, which hopefully, will elapse in December 2019.

    “This is insensitive, to say the least, of a government in the face of several protests, complaints and petitions from citizens, civil society groups, communities and youth groups from the four states of BEDC franchise area.”

    In October, the Federal Government announced that the date for the final performance review of the privatised electricity distribution companies will be on December 31, 2019.

    The BPE said the announcement became imperative due to the interest shown by various stakeholders in the electricity industry on the date for final review of distribution companies’ (DISCOs’) performance.

  • Ondo: One House, two Speakers

    There seems to be no end in sight to the leadership crisis in the Ondo State House of Assembly. Two lawmakers are parading themselves as speaker. Correspondent DAMISI OJO writes on the politics of the divided house.

    THE crisis that has engulfed the Ondo State House of Assembly has persisted. The lawmakers are working at cross purpose. Two speakers are laying claims to the leadership of the House.

    Peace dissappered from the legislative arm last week.

    This followed the purported impeachment of the Speaker, Bamidele Oleyelogun (Ifedore) and his deputy, Iroju Ogundeji (Odigbo 1).

    Security men now keep vigil at the Assembly complex to prevent chaos.

    The lawmakers were on the floor of the of the House with the intention of conducting the routine House businesses but the hallowed chamber suddenly turned into a battle ground.

    They sacked officers replaced by the former student union activist, Olamide George, (Akure North) as Speaker and Abimbola Fajolu (Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo) as his deputy.

    There have been plans to change the House leadership since a year ago. But, the moves were botched with the intervention of  Governor Akeredolu.

    Few months ago, the deputy speaker, Iroju Ogundeji, became the target. He was about to be impeached. But, the prompt intervention of Akeredolu saved him from losing his position.

    The imbroglio reappeared last Friday and  consumed both the Speaker and his deputy.

    With nine lawmakers on their side, they still hold the baton. They are supported by the NURTW’s troops stationed permanently with their buses at the entrance of the House to protect the minority lawmakers that are supposedly been backed by the state government.

    Ironically,the 16 majority lawmakers led by the new ‘Speaker’, Olamide George, are temporarily operating in Ibadan,the capital of Oyo State.

    The impeachment was rancorous as 18 of 26 legislators signed the impeachment notice. But, two out of them, Sunday Olamide and Oluyede Olusola, said they were not part of the process.

    However, what is so unique in the political impasse is the interference of political thugs, led by the Jacob Adebo (Idajo) of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

    The thugs were armed with guns, axes, charms, cudgels and other offensive weapons.

    They invaded the House. Some lawmakers reporters and Assembly workers were injured.

    It was a repeat of the incident at BTO, Hall, adjacent Ilesa garage, Akure when the NURTW warlords invaded the venue of the parallel congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The development was condemned across the state, as residents queried the rationale behind using NURTW’s militias  to attack innocent people at any public gatherings.

    They decried the ‘excessive power’ bestowed on the road transporters, which was not in practice during the successive administrations.

    Aggrieved members of the public said there was peace when ‘Commander Wey’ and ‘Die the matter’ the past NURTW leaders were in office as state chairmen of the union.

    Oleyelogun and Iroju have declared their purported impeachment as null and void.

    They insisted that the George’s group had perpetrated illegality in its impeachment bid.

    The embattled Speaker said the impeachment did not satisfy the constitutional requirement of the House as signatures collated were not up to 18, which represents the two – third requirement.

    The Speaker said signatures of Sunday Olajide and  Olusola Oluyede were forged by the other group.

    Oleyelogun said “ George’s group claimed to have formed two-third as a condition to impeach the speaker and the deputy speaker,  whereas they were less in number as Olajide and Oluyede were not part of the attempted impeachment. “

    He added that the authorities of the House such as the “Original Mace or Gavel, Standing Order, Book of Oath and Proceedings were not honoured in the purported impeachment.

    According to him, serious business were not officially done on Fridays when the purported impeachment was carried out.

    The ‘home-based’ lawmakers also observed that the impeachment notice only sought to impeach the deputy speaker, stressing that that the letter written to the Clerk of the House of Assembly on November, 2018 was doctored.

    They insisted that George’s group intended to impeach the deputy speaker and not the speaker, but failed. He added: “It was the same letter written during a previous attempted impeachment against the deputy speaker that was doctored without the consent of all members.”

    The lawmakers also accused  George of misleading the House to cover up an on-going investigation into his true  financial rights from the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) where he is currently serving as Vice President.

    The factional group described George as  fraudulent for holding two public offices and receiving pay for both, noting that panels had been raised to find out this before he led the attempted impeachment to cover up his misdoings.

    The lawmakers asked George to stop parading himself as the speaker, adding that the plot has failed.

    Oleyelogun said: ”The clerk of the House of Assembly was made to serve them unofficially under duress. Also the attempted impeachment which was already foiled still has Olamide George parading himself as the speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, which is impersonation.

    “It is interesting to mention that the fraudulent group has two majority leaders in person of Araoyinbo Olugbenga Joseph and Fajolu Abimbola Olutope. With this, they do not have any Deputy Speaker as against their claims.

    “All the above are enough evidence to proof to the citizen of Ondo State that these people are not peace loving. They don’t care to put the state in problems just for their personal interests.“

    He urged security operatives investigate and prosecute members of the House who have been suspended,while those behind the forged signatures should face the penalty.

    However, the ‘ new Speaker’ and other 10 members, who are presently performing their ‘oversight’ functions in Ibadan, accused some members of the executive of planning to eliminate them.

    They added  that five members of the House in their group were being hospitalised, following the injuries they sustained during the impeachment.

    The lawmakers said the impeachment was irreversible, stressing that Oleyelogun and Iroju were impeached for alleged gross misconduct, financial recklessness, abuse of power and incompetence.

    George said the impeachment was an internal exercise within the House with constitutional backing and not targeted at anyone.

    He denied that the ‘new principal officers’ were sponsored by some governors and APC chieftains.

    The lawmaker mocked his colleagues, who he described as ‘impeached speaker and deputy’ for presiding over an Assembly on last Monday, wondering if it is possible for minority group to lead the majority.

    George emphasised that Oleyelogun and his group were also under suspension.

    As the leadership battle rages on, no one could predict the actual time the crisis will be over, considering the fact that it is the fall-out of the 2016 APC primaries and election, which created a wide gulf between the APC factions.

  • Ondo to offset outstanding salaries

    The Ondo State government has pledged its commitment to the welfare of the people.

    Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who made the pledge, said his administration would pay outstanding salaries and pensions before the end of this week.

    The governor spoke in Akure, the state capital, during the distribution of compensation for those whose property were affected by the road projects across the state.

    He said his administration would continue to make life meaningful for the citizenry.

    Akeredolu promised that before this weekend, all outstanding salaries and pensions of three months and 20 per cent deduction would be paid to workers and pensioners.

    The governor said N9 billion had been committed to various road projects in the 18 local government areas of the state, with a view to making accessibility to all nooks and crannies of the towns and villages much easier.

    Akeredolu said his administration would ensure that all projects are people-oriented while no project would be abandoned.

    He said: “I assure you of the commitment of my administration at ensuring that we have people-oriented projects across the state, while the era of abandoning projects is over. The little resources available must be judiciously utilised.”

    The governor added that transparency and accountability would continue to be the guiding principles of his administration, adding that all funds, especially the Paris Club refunds, would be accounted for at the public glare.

    About N403 million was paid as compensation to people affected by road projects.

    Akeredolu added: “A human-face approach was put into consideration in this regard: people without vital documents, such as Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), were considered as beneficiaries in the compensation.”

  • Strike looms in Ondo over unpaid salary arrears

    Organised labour in Ondo State has urged Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to pay the workers their backlog of salary from the N20 billion Paris Club Refund.

    In a letter addressed to the governor, dated November 9, the workers gave him till noon tomorrow to pay the salary arrears.

    The letter was signed by state chairmen of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) Tayo Ogunleye, Soladoye Ekundayo and Abel Oloniyo.

    They accused Akeredolu of not consulting labour unions, as agreed, on the release of Paris Club refund to the state by the Federal Government.

    According to organised labour, Ondo State workers will not be able to guarantee industrial peace, if the government failed to pay the outstanding salaries tomorrow.

    They threatened to resume the strike workers suspended in June 2016.

    The letter reads: “We believe that negotiation and agreement with labour was among the key criteria of how the fund was released, despite the fact that the fund has been released to the state without consulting labour.

    “We humbly refer Your Excellency to the agreement between labour and the state government before the suspension of our industrial action of June 30, 2016.

    “Furthermore, there were recommendations by a committee on payment of six-month arrears of salary to Ondo State workers set up by the state government.”

  • Ondo: Inside story of State Assembly crisis

    There have been plans to change the leadership of the Ondo State House of Assembly through the removal of the Speaker, Bamidele Oleyeloogun and his deputy, Mr Iroju Ogundeji, for nearly a year now. The constant intervention of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu each time the lawmakers make a move to push aside the duo and elect new leaders, kept Oleyeloogun and Ogundeji on their seat till last Friday when they were finally sacked by 18 lawmakers to pave way for new leaders, The Nation can now reveal.

    The plot that culminated in their impeachment on Friday, The Nation gathered, was hatched few weeks back but kept away from the knowledge of Governor Akeredolu, for fear that he would, as usual, meddle in the affairs of the legislature, to save the jobs of the then Speaker and his deputy. But when Oleyeloogun and Ogundeji learnt of the plot early in the week, they hurriedly adjourned the House indefinitely.

    Asides the issues of gross misconduct and financial impropriety raised against the duo during the impeachment proceedings, our correspondent gathered that the raging political battle between some leaders of the party on one hand and Governor Akeredolu on the other, played is another reason why Oleyeloogun and Ogundeji lost their positions. “The lawmakers had for a long time accused the former Speaker and deputy Speaker of failing to protect them from alleged highhandedness of the Governor against perceived political dissents,” a source told The Nation.

    So, on Friday, 18 out of the 26 members of the assembly met and sat for plenary in the absence of both Oleyeloogun and his then deputy. And in what later became a rowdy plenary session when the duo and their supporters arrived, with former Speaker Jumoke Akindele presiding as Protem Speaker, they were removed and new Speaker and Deputy Speaker elected.

    The newly elected Speaker,  Olamide  George has called on President  Muhammadu Buhari to rescue him and his colleagues from the reins of terror being allegedly perpetrated by the Commissioner of Police, Gbenga Adeyanju, in order to prevent the eventual collapse of the legislative arm of the government from sudden collapse.

    The Nation learnt that intense effort to once again avert the removal of the duo by Governor Akeredolu were rebuffed by the lawmakers as they went ahead to sack the ex-Speaker and his deputy amidst threats to their lives and properties. “While they were carrying out the impeachment exercise, the Assembly complex was already surrounded by thugs and other miscreants summoned by those opposed to the change of leadership.

    “Even the Governor sent some of his aides to warn the lawmakers not to impeach the duo. He also called all the lawmakers to meet him at the Government House, but the lawmakers refused. It was this determination to see the process through that led to the invitation of thugs and bandits by some politicians with the mind of forcing the lawmakers to abandon the process,” our source said.

    Some of the lawmakers who spoke to The Nation revealed some behind the scene moves to scuttle the impeachment exercise. The majority leader of the Ondo State of Assembly, Araoyinbo Gbenga Joseph has insisted that any attempt to subvert the will of the majority in a democratic setting must be totally condemned by all Nigerians especially those who want progress and development for the nation.

    The majority leader who spoke on behalf of the 18 lawmakers who carried out the impeachment on the former speaker, Bamidele Oleye-loogun for gross misconduct, abuse of power and poor leadership affirmed their belief and stance in the entire process condemned in its totality the invasion of the state assembly complex by thugs led by the Chairman of NURTW in Ondo State, Idajo, who came with dangerous weapons to inflict injuries on lawmakers who were carrying out their constitutional and legislative duties.

    In his words, “As I speak with you, five lawmakers are battling for survival in different hospitals, staffs and journalists were badly injured in the mayhem, cars and properties vandalised; our family members in the state are living in fear as they have issued death threats to their lives, and the most worrisome and disturbing aspect was that the dastardly act was under the supervision of the Commissioner of Police, Ondo State, Gbenga Adeyanju who gave directives to the over 200 thugs.

    “Our immediate call is to the Inspector General of Police to remove without delay the bias and disgruntled Commissioner of Police, and ensure peace and sanity returns to the Assembly complex as we are set to reconvene, protect our lives as lawmakers. The Ondo State House of Assembly is an arm of the three tiers of government, and it must be allowed to run independently devoid of any interference by politicians within and outside the state. We are concerned on the need to bring developmental bills that will aid the buoyancy of Ondo State as one of the prosperous state in the Southwest.”

    Following the successful removal of Oleyeloogun and Ogundeji, members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) invaded the Ondo State House of Assembly, beating lawmakers and members of staff to pulp and providing security to the impeached Speaker and four other lawmakers as they attempted to conduct another plenary session. Reliable sources at the scene of the incident said Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Mr Gbenga Adeyanju; Officer-in-Charge of Operations and Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the governor, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo and top police officers were present while the thugs held sway.

    Led by their state chairman, Jacob Adebo, popularly called Idajo, the NURTW thugs fatally injured not less than five persons, including newly-elected Deputy Speaker, Bimbo Fajolu, the Director of Information Service (DIS) of the Assembly, Seinde Fanokun and a cameraman with AIT, Abiodun Taiwo.  The thugs were said to have forced their way into the new Speaker’s office where the lawmakers had gathered for a parliamentary session following the impeachment proceedings.

    George, at a joint press conference addressed by the 18 lawmakers who impeached the former speaker and deputy speaker, said “We are duly elected members of the state of assembly, acting within the confines of the constitutional duties as we converged at plenary, surprisingly, the impeached speaker led the Commissioner of Police, Gbenga Adeyanju, with about 50 heavily armed officers, APC State chairman Ade Adetimehin and the chairman of the State NURTW, Jacob Adebo (Idajo) and over 200 thugs to assault honourable members, assembly staffs, journalists and visitors to the assembly complex.”

    He said there are video and pictorial documentations to show how cars and properties worth several millions of naira were vandalised by thugs under the alleged supervision and instruction of a senior police officer in the rank of CP adding that about N1.3bn was approved and released for the 2018 budget of ODHA, but the former Speaker and his deputy jointly, without due approval of the house expended well above N1bn, in the first quarter of 2018.

    Collaborating what the speaker said, the newly elected  Deputy Speaker, Faloju Abimbola called on the Inspector General of Police to immediately redeploy the Commissioner of Police outside Ondo State as he has shown bias and injustice against the ordinary man in the state.

    In an emotional laden voice, a former Speaker Olajumoke Akindele who was physically assaulted and her clothes torn in the violent mayhem equally cried for help and justice to President Muhammadu Buhari and Hajia Aisha Buhari to protect women in politics from molestation, intimidation and harassment which was meted to her.

    According to her, “My family members, my colleagues and my dear live is no longer safe, I have been marked for assassination for standing against corruption,”, as she bursts into tears. The trio equally appealed to Governor Akeredolu to allow the legislative arm of government to function independently devoid of interference.

  • Abducted Ondo ADC candidate,Chairman,others freed

    The Senatorial Candidate of the African Democratic Congress ( ADC ) for Ondo north district, Pastor Jide Ipinsagba who were abducted with the Ondo State Chairman of the party, Bisi Ogungbemi by unknown gunmen four days ago, have regained their freedom.

    Ipinsagba, Ogungbemi and three other chieftains of the party in the state were kidnapped along Oba Akoko-Owo road on their way from Ikare Akoko to Akure on Wednesday.

    According to a source, the incident occurred around seven o’clock on Wednesday’s evening on their way from Akoko to Akure after a political outing.

    Ipinsagba had recently dumped the ruling APC and joined ADC to actualize his senatorial aspiration.

    When contacted, the ADC House of Representatives candidate for Akoko North east/North west federal constituency and former speaker of the Ondo state House of Assembly, Dr Bakitta Bello confirmed the release of the party’s leaders by the kidnappers.

    Bello however said he could not confirm the amount of ransom paid for the release of the abducted ADC leaders.

    The Area Commander in Ikare-Akoko,Assistant Commander of Police(ACP) Razak Rauf visited the freed politician.

    He narrated his ordeals and urged government to increase security efforts as criminal and hoodlums are taken over the area.

    Ipinsa thanked Akeredolu,the state Police Command and the media with the entire Ikare-Akoko community for their efforts to rescue them from captivity.

    The Police Chief assured the public that his men would safeguard lives and property of citizens.