The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ONDO

  • INEC announces dates for Ekiti, Osun governorship polls

    INEC announces dates for Ekiti, Osun governorship polls

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced April and September 2018 dates for governorship polls in Ekiti and Osun states.

    The tenure of Ekiti incumbent governor, Ayodele Fayose and his Osun state counterpart, Rauf Aregbesola would end on Oct 15, 2018  and November 28, 2018, respectively.

    According to the timetable released on Thursday in Abuja by the electoral body, the Ekiti and Osun elections would hold on  July 14th and September 22, 2018, respectively.

    Based on the timetable any run off election would  be held within seven days after the announcement of result in line with relevant laws.

    The timetable for the polls was signed by the Commission’s secretary, Mrs Augusta Ogakwu.

    According to the timetable, INEC is expected to issue notice for the Ekiti  election on April 4, 2018, which is not later than 90 days before the election. Political campaigns would commence  on  April 15 while collection of forms by political parties for issuance to candidates would come a day after.

    Political primaries and resolution of disputes arising from such was slated for 15April-14 May, 2018.

    Notice of election was fixed for 23rd June 2018 while campaign for the Osun state government house would start on June 25, 2018.

    Collection of forms for the Osun election has been fixed for June 25th, while primaries and resolution of arising disputes must be conducted between June 24- July 23rd, 2018.

    Speaking on the dates,  INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Prince Solomon Soyebi  said INEC was guided by the  provisions of section 178(1)and (2) of the 1999 constitution as amended, and section 25(7) and (8) of the electoral Act,2010 in arriving at the dates.n

    He also restated the Commission’s earlier warning to intending aspirants and their parties that the release of dates for elections did not amount to notice for campaigns for votes. He further warned that parties which infringed  on provisions of the Electoral Act as amended  would be sanctioned.

    “Anybody who deviates  from the Electoral guidelines by engaging in public campaign ahead  of the date for commencement of campaign is committing electoral offence and will be prosecuted.

    “All political parties and their candidates are hereby enjoined  to cooperate with us,” Soyebi said.

  • Ondo assures traditional rulers of rural development

    Ondo assures traditional rulers of rural development

    The Ondo State Government has signed Memoranda of Understanding ( MoU ) with some foreigners to establish industries in rural areas in the state.

    Chief Timehin Adelegbe, the state Commissioner for Commerce, Industries and Cooperatives, said this on Wednesday in Ifon, headquarters of Ose Local Government while on a courtesy visit to traditional rulers in the council area.

    He said that the industries would bring development to rural areas.

    10 towns that make up the council area are: Okeluse, Imoru, Ijagba, Ikaro, Idogun, Ifon, Idoani, Imeri, Ute and Afo.

    He said that one of the aims of the current administration of Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu was to check unemployment by establishing industries.

    According to him, efforts are ongoing to tap the state’s resources to create wealth and make the state a hub of commercial activities.

    “This two-day visit to this local government area is to appreciate our people, to make government familiar with the area and inform our people about our development plans for this place.

    “Ose Dam is being considered to be used as hydro electric dam and this will create opportunities for employment.

    “We equally plan to establish a sugarcane processing factory in Ikaro.

    “Similarly, an oil company, packaging ethanol production programme, is scheduled to kick off in this local government and it will make cassava to be more lucrative.

    “There is also discovery of kaolin in this local government area which has attracted a private firm’s interest to establish a ceramic firm here,” he said.

    The commissioner said that the local government area had potential for development that would benefit the state government, stressing that as an indigene of the area, he would pursue such benefits to logical conclusions.

    “This government will not joke with its people because it is people oriented.

    “Apart from all these firms coming to our local government area, rural infrastructure such as road rehabilitation to be funded by World Bank will also be benefited,” he said.

    Responding, Oba Israel Adeusi, the Olufon of Ifon, said that the state governor was already doing well and making positive impacts.

    Adeusi admonished the government to continue with its momentum of performance as well as ensure that dividends of democracy went round, saying that he knew that the state would witness all-round transformation at the end of the administration.

    Similarly, Oba Adeyegba Owasunloye, the Arujale of Okeluse, said he was glad for the visit and advised the government to be focused and rule with fear of God.

    The traditional ruler said that the government must ensure that dividends of democracy promised the electorate went round all parts of the state.

    Those on the entourage of the commissioner included the Chairman of All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in the local government area, a member representing the local government area in Ondo State House of Assembly and caretaker chairman of the local government.

    NAN

  • Another Boko Haram suspect arrested in Ondo

    The Ondo State Police Command yesterday said it had arrested another suspected Boko Haram member, Mohammed Basha, at Isua-Akoko in Akoko South East Local Government Area.

    Police spokesman Femi Joseph said the suspect was arrested by the men of the anti-crime patrol while he was loitering on Isua-Ifira Akoko road.

    He said: ”When the suspect was arrested, he was interrogated and he confessed that he was a member of the Boko Haram sect. He said his father is from Niger Republic while his mother is from Maiduguri in Borno State.

    “He said when Maiduguri was hot for him, he ran to Nasarawa State last month and that he left Nasarawa yesterday and came down to the Southwest to hide here.

    “He also confessed that a man he called Daffo is his team leader while Abubakar Shekau is still the overall leader of the group.”

    Joseph said items suspected to be charms were recovered from Basha.

    The spokesman said the suspect was still in the command’s protective custody for further investigation.

    He added that the suspect would be paraded soon.

  • Man dies after drinking herbs

    Man dies after drinking herbs

    A farmer identified as Johnson Adeyeye has been confirmed dead after he allegedly drank a liquid substance suspected to be herbs.

    The victim, reportedly drank the herbs with some of his friends at a joint in joba village, near Ondo

    Adeyeye reportedly sipped the concoction after he returned from farm, while his friends who were also farmers, joined him at the joint.

    Few minutes after, the deceased became unconscious

    He was said to have been given palm-oil and other local antidotes before to suppress the  trauma before being taken to a private hospital in the town where he later died.

    A youth leader in the town, Anthony Akinbebije, expressed sadness on the death of Adeyeye, described as responsible.

    Akinbebije said he had interacted with the deceased few hours before the news of his death came.

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Bolorunduro Police Division, Ade Olowo was not around but a senior police officer who spoke in confidence confirmed the death.

    He said police were investigating the report.

  • Ondo vows to deal with tax impostors

    Ondo vows to deal with tax impostors

    Ondo State Government says it will deal with all those impersonating government tax collectors constitutionally.

    Otunba Timehin Adelegbe, the ondo state Commissioner for Commerce, Industries and Cooperatives, made the promise in Akure on Thursday while hosting market women and men in the state.

    Adelegbe said that his ministry had received information about some fraudulent elements parading themselves as tax collectors.

    According to him, all markets in the state will now be maintained and sanitised, while market leaders would be involved in revenue collection and maintenance.

    He called for cooperations in all the markets, while the markers users should play their expected roles.

    Adelegbe said that unauthorised hawkers around the markets would be flushed out.

    “Play your role by playing your levies and you will get value for your money.

    “Those hanging  around the markets will be removed,” he said.

    Earlier, Dr Dupe Eshofonie, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, said that the markets were meant for all interested indigenes of the state.

    Mr James Yenyen, the Chairman of Igbokoda Market, said that the state government should allow the market users to be paying their levies to banks, rather than individual tax collectors to check tax impostors.

    Mrs Iyabo Adepoju, the Chairperson of Afunbiowo Market, urged the state government to renovate some facilities in the market, promising that she was ready to collaborate with the government.

  • Reps ‘ll promote unity, says Ondo lawmaker

    A member, of the House of Representatives, Hon  Bamidele Baderinwa, has said that the National Assembly will continue to make legislations that would promote the unity of the country.

    According to the lawmaker representing Idanre/Ifedore Constituency in Ondo State, the legislature played prominent roles in the nation building.

    Baderinwa, who spoke in his home town, Ero,  noted that lawmakers are duty bound to portray the interest of the electorate at the National Assembly.

    He emphasised that on resumption from the recess, they would be more energised and refreshed to deliver on the dividends of democracy to citizenry.

    His words: ”The moment we return from recess, we will be able to do more for our people that voted us and Nigeria will be better for it.

    “Let me assure you that we feel the pulse of Nigerians and we will ensure the Executive arm do the right things.”

    Baderinwa berated the situation where hate speeches to leadership have become the order of the day.

    He said: “It is not enough to start raining abuses on those at the helm of affairs, what they need is constructive criticism to aid them in their art of governance.

    “One need not take the leadership to the cleaner by embarking on hate speeches on electronic, print and social media to drive out points home.”

    The legislator noted that there are better ways of calling the attention of leaders to issues that bothered on the development of the country.

    He promised to continuously prioritise the interest of the people in his constituency.

    According to him, he would ensure that people in his constituency get the true value of dividends of democracy they craved for and not betray their trust.

  • Ondo demolishes illegal structures at Owo

    Ondo demolishes illegal structures at Owo

    The Ondo State government yesterday said it demolished illegal structures at the Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Owo Local Government Area.

    Commissioner of Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Solagbade Amodeni, spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akure, the state capital.

    Amodeni said the structures contravened the Urban and Regional Planning Decree 88 of 1992 and Section 9 and 17(7) of the Ondo State Building and Subdivision Regulations, 1984.

    He said: “The Control and Enforcement Unit of the Ondo State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development carried out the demolition.

    “The structures were demolished because they blocked access roads in the GRA and did not follow approved plans.

    “The state government will continue to monitor building plans and demolish illegal structures.”

    The commissioner said GRAs were among some cherished schemes of government, adding that government will not allow the GRA to be disfigured.

    He said the demolition would deter people from erecting unapproved structures.

    According to him, town planners carried out the demolition in compliance with their rules and regulations.

    Amodeni urged prospective property owners to ensure that their building plans got approval.

    He said: “For the fact that you own the land does not give you total freedom to build anyhow on it. The GRA is a model in the state where law of planning and building is strictly followed.

    “We will continue with monitoring building plans and demolition of illegal structures in the state.”

     

  • Mimiko advises FG to prioritize maternal healthcare

    Mimiko advises FG to prioritize maternal healthcare

    Mimiko gave the advise while speaking with newsmen, on Friday, at the Chatham House in London after delivering a paper on “Improving Access to Health Services for All” using his Ondo achievement in maternal and child health as a case study.

    The former Ondo governor said funding will never be adequate in any human setting but with the right kind of leadership, the country can drastically reduce maternal mortality, which is about 19 percent of global maternal deaths according to the World Bank. “We must call a major stakeholders’ meeting where there will be an agreement on a universal health package that every state in the country can afford, and create an eligibility criteria for those who build on it so that they can be rewarded accordingly and eventually we will get there.

    As we do this, we prioritize safe motherhood and child health” he said. Mimiko also took time to demonstrate how his administration as Governor of Ondo state midwived a functional and effective healthcare delivery system, which attracted local and international recognitions as a proven method of reducing maternal mortality particularly with the introduction of his homegrown initiatives such as Abiye (Safe motherhood) program, Agbebiye and Orirewa that crashed the maternal mortality indices in the state.

    The former governor charged Nigerian leaders at every level not to see only physical structures as achievement saying that quality healthcare for women is a great empowerment tool “Safe motherhood is a gender parity tool, every woman wants good life.

    They will be empowered if they can have access to quality health without catastrophic spending. What will eventually drive universal health coverage in Africa is the political will and that is what will generate passion and it the passion that will attract donors from around the world,” Mimiko stated.

    Also present at the event were Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, stakeholders in the health sector from Nigeria and Africa who came to discuss how to optimize global opportunities in achieving Universal Health Coverage and Health Security in Nigeria.

  • Man docked over car battery theft

    Man docked over car battery theft

    A 28-year-old vulcaniser, Tope Ogunwa was on Thursday arraigned in an Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court sitting  in Ondo State for allegedly stealing a car battery valued at N35,000.

    The defendant of No. 16, Ona-Opemipo Street, in Okitipupa is standing trial on a one-count charge of stealing.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Zedekiah Orogbemi told the court that on Aug. 21, at old garage, the defendant stole the battery of a Toyota Picnic, property of one Tade Gbadeyanka.

    He said that the car with registration number Ondo KTP 601 AP, was kept in his custody but when the owner came to pick up the car, the battery had been removed.

    He added that the defendant was unable to give a satisfactory report on the missing battery.

    Orogbemi said that the offence was punishable under Section 390(9), Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol.1, and Laws of Ondo State 2006.

    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge leveled against him.

    The Magistrate, Mr Banji Ayeomoni granted the defendant bail in the sum of N30, 000 and a surety in like sum.

    He added that the surety should produce evidence of one year tax clearance.

    He, However, adjourned the case untill Sept. 28, for further hearing.

  • NLC threatens to name, shame governors owing salaries

    NLC threatens to name, shame governors owing salaries

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened to name and shame state governors, who refused to pay complete salaries to workers in the country, in spite of the bailout funds.

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC President said this at the National Executive Council meeting of the Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Wabba said that some state governors have refused to effectively utilise both the bailout funds and the Paris Club refund given to them by the Federal Government.

    According to him, 10 out of the 36 states are particularly guilty of the offence, while six of the ten states were in terrible situation. We have promised to name and shame them.

    “The congress has directed all states chapters whose members are owed more than three months’ salaries arrears to declare an industrial action and we have promised to name and shame them.

    “The states include Imo that has been paying workers’ salaries in percentage and has not declared utilization of the bailout fund and Paris club refund.

    “”They paid 40 per cent pension to their pensioners without their consent and provided a form for them to sign under duress. That is not allowed in law.

    “We have Bayelsa which has between five to 10 months’ arrears, Ondo is owing between four and six, Ekiti, (five to eight), Benue (five to eight) and Kogi which is the worst case scenario.

    “We have three category of workers in Kogi. We have 40 per cent that are being paid up to date, we have 25 per cent that had not been paid between eight and sixteen months.

    “We also have another 25 per cent that have not been paid between eight and twenty-one months.

    “In all the sectors, they have categorised the workers into three categories,” he said.

    The president also listed Osun, Ebonyi, Zamfara and Abia among others still owing salaries and non-implementation of the 2011 National Minimum Wage for workers.

    Wabba while speaking on the issue of increase tariff, warned the government against approving another increase in electricity tariff.

    He said that the congress would mobilise its affiliates, social partners and other Nigerians to resist any further increase.

    He noted that Nigerians were yet to get good services for the previous increment which has been declared illegal by the court.

    “The twin issue of fuel price increase and electricity tariff has made nonsense of the minimum wage. We have not been able to justify that 45 per cent increase.

    “But now, they are coming again with another increase. Let me say emphatically that NLC as an Organisation and all our affiliates will resist any attempt to increase the electricity tariff again,”he warned.

    Earlier, Mr Chris Ani, National President of NASU, said the current agitation for restructuring and fiscal federalism were attempts to divert attention from misgovernance and ineptitude the nation has been going through.

    Ani said that Nigerians should not be distracted by elements that have actively participated in the looting and mismanagement of our economy and can be found in the two major political parties.

    “What Nigeria workers need at this point in time is not whether more power should be given to states, but to know how they have managed the power at their disposal at the moment,”he said.

    He, however, urged the government to ensure improved welfare and benefits, jobs security, prompt payment of salaries, among others for workers in the country.