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Tag: Oyo state

  • President approves special promotion for outstanding police officers

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has approved special promotion for outstanding police officers to reward excellence, hard work and competence in the course of duty.

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Adamu, stated this on Tuesday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    The IGP said the President also promised to renovate and build new barracks for officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to bring out the best in them.

    At a media briefing after addressing top police officers of the state command at Eleyele, Ibadan, the IGP said the President was aware of the efforts of the command and was ready to reward excellence.  He said: “We met with the Southwest governors and traditional rulers on Monday and we discussed security situation within the Southwest. We came out with a number of resolutions that will be implemented.

    “In implementing these resolutions, it is through you, the officers and men of the command, with the support of our special forces, that the resolutions from that summit can be implemented. For you to do that, we must empower you.

    “We are all appreciative of the fact that you have been hardworking, you have been doing a lot to keep this region safe for business to thrive. We know there are some isolated challenges here and there, but without your presence, without your input, without your dedication in fighting crime, the situation would have been worse. Your efforts will not go unnoticed.

    Read Also: Five facts you may not know about IGP Mohammed Adamu

    “The Federal Government is aware of the efforts you have been making, not only officers within this geo-political zone but also other officers and men all over the country.

    “In view of the fact that most of you are hardworking, you do it because we ask you to do it. The President has instructed me that any police officer, especially within the cadre of junior ones, who excels must be promoted for that performance that he or she has done, for those of you who are working and excelling in performing your duties. So, I will encourage you to put in more efforts to benefit from this special promotion.”

    On the deplorable state of many police barracks in the country, Adamu said: “It is for that reason the Federal Government has honest concern, especially President Buhari has honest concern on the welfare of officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force. Whenever we have the opportunity to meet, he asks: ‘Are you taking care of your officers and men?’ And we only say we are doing our best.

    “And he has agreed to make sure that our barracks are brought back to a position they used to be to accommodate our officers and men, instead of our officers and men going about looking for accommodation here and there to the extent that they suffer.

    “The government is already in the process of renovating the barracks and constructing new ones for all the officers and men of the force.”

     

  • Special Forces to combat insecurity in Southwest

    RESOLUTIONS

    • Deployment of special forces to be commanded by a Commissioner of Police
    •Provision of serviceable and fast moving patrol vehicles in support of fight against crime
    •Traditional rulers to work with the police
    •OPC to join crime fighting
    •Use of cutting edge technology, such as CCTV
    •Area surveillance of flashpoints
    •Recruitment of Community Policing Officers (CPO) to perform low risk security functions
    •Committee of police, other security agencies, OPC, Miyetti Allah to be set up

     

    SPECIAL Forces will be deployed in the Southwest to battle the escalated insecurity in the region, the police announced on Monday.

    The forces, to be commanded by a commissioner of police, will be supported with technology, better equipment and Community Police Officers (CPOs).

    The CPOs will complement the police, by performing low-risk and non-sensitive functions.

    Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu unveiled the plans in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, at a Security Summit attended by governors, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the region.

    It was the first leg of the six-state tour of the region by the police chief to organise his men and restrategise to secure the region.

    The IG’s plan also include setting up a committee of officers, other security agencies, the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Miyetti Allah, and citizens in each state to further discuss how to reduce criminality.

    IG Adamu said: “Within this perspective and in relation to the Southwest geo-political Zone, we shall soon relaunch the ‘Safer Highway’ Motorised Patrol Scheme as well as the ‘Safer City’ Scheme. We have since purchased new fleet of patrol vans to be deployed across our highways and cities. This will also involve the deployment of cutting-edge CCTV technology for surveillance across the highways and vulnerable locations in our communities in the zone and other parts of the country.

    “In addition, a special operation is underway across the Southwest geo-political zone. The operation will specifically address the threat of kidnapping and armed robbery on the highways and other locations. While for operational reasons, I would not offer the details into the operation, I am in this summit with the Commissioner of Police who will command the special operation to complement the efforts of the Police Commissioners in the states within the zone.

    “Furthermore, in order to give full effect to our Community Policing Vision as a pathway towards bridging security gaps, we shall soon commence the implementation of the strategy in the Southwest and other parts of the country. Hopefully, the breakdown of the Community Policing deployment plan will cover the recruitment of a total of forty thousand (40,000) Community Police Officers (CPOs) across the country.

    “The CPOs will be recruited from within the communities where the prospective applicants reside and an average of fifty (50) CPOs are to be engaged in each of the 774 Local Government Areas. In addition, one thousand (1,300) CPOs will be drawn from professional bodies like the academics, road transport unions, artisans, traders associations, religious bodies, women unions, and youth organisations among others in order to ensure diverse representation.”

    Read Also: Special Forces kill Boko Haram terrorists, retake Baga

    The IGP explained that the success of police anti-crime efforts in the northern part of the country has definitely made them relocate to other areas, including the Southwest.

    Speaking on why security in the region nose-dived, the IG said: “Generally-speaking, the security situation across the country has been stabilized. However, there are isolated cases of kidnapping and armed robbery in the Southwest, particularly, along Benin-Ore-Lagos Highway and across Ondo State.

    “The reality is that the current concerted operations of the police and other security agencies across the country, particularly, along the Niger-Kogi-FCT-Kaduna-Katsina and Zamfara areas, have engendered a dispersal and re-location of some of the criminals to new localities including the Southwest.

    He said the first summit was held in Kastina for the Northwest region, pointing out that strategies jointly developed from it have since helped improve successes against criminal activities in the region.

    Aside voluntary surrender of many criminals and foiling of planned attacks, Adamu pointed out that “a more significant outcome of the initiative is the enhanced trust between the communities and the police and a renewed determination to embrace the police as ‘their police’ who are committed to serving them. In consequence, there has been a remarkable increase in the volume and quality of pieces of criminal information shared by the citizens across the Northwest geo-political zone with the local police and these are being optimally utilised to take the anti-crime war to the door steps of the criminals with resounding success.”

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde pledged his administration’s support for the plans, including the promotion of 100 vehicles to strengthen security efforts, deployment of technology, and synergy with traditional rulers.

    Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola urged the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, to consider the states’ peculiarities in the recruitment of new policemen and officers.

    Describing the summit as significant in view of the security challenges confronting the country particularly the Southwest, Oyetola said the recommendations from the summit would further help the governors in their bid to strengthening security in the region.

    He added: “On our part, we have been doing our best to champion the core fundamental objectives of government which is the security of lives and property of the citizens.

    “We are providing logistics to our security agencies. We have maintained the available security vehicles- 25 Armoured Personnel Carriers. We are planning to buy more. We are also planning to build a helipad to boost security surveillance in the state and ensure effective performance.

    “We have approached the security chiefs to stamp out those criminals that are parading themselves as miners. It is in view of this that I commend my colleagues in the Southwest for the synergy that exists between us regardless of politics to keep our region safe”.

    Traditional rulers at the meeting endorsed the IG’s plan. They include:

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Owa Obokun of Ijesland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji; Olugbo of Ugbo land, Oba Frederick Akinruntan; Alake of Egba land Oba Adedotun Gbadebo and the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu.

    The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, Chief Gani Adams, also lent the OPC’s support to the new plans, stressing that the cooperation between police and OPC is commendable. He said it would be fantastic to have a platform for the two organizations to work together for the safety and security of the people of the region.

    Governors of Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti states  were represented by their deputies –  Obafemi Hamzat (Lagos), Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele (Ogun), Agboola Ajayi (Ondo) and Bisi Egbeyemi (Ekiti).

     

  • Insecurity: IG relocates to southwest

    Giving a bite to his order on security in the Southwest, Inspector-General Mohammed Adamu, will spend this week in the Southwest geo-political zone.

    He will fine tune his plans to secure the region which has also been grappling with kidnapping and other forms of criminality.

    On Thursday, the IG ordered that police helicopters be deployed in the region and the Northwest to comb the forests and conduct aerial surveillance.

    The helicopters are to patrol major highways and forests in the zones where killings, kidnapping for ransom and armed banditry have instilled fears in the minds of residents.

    During his tour of the six states in the Southwest, the IG is expected to unveil a new security architecture for the region.

    The Nation learnt last night that Adamu will arrive in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, today ahead of the security stakeholders meeting billed to hold at the International Conference Centre (ICC), University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

    It was gathered that the IG will explain how the police plan to contain insecurity in Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Lagos and Ekiti states before the governors and other stakeholders.

    The police plan to use their Helipad in Ondo and the Police Air Wing in Lagos to launch the air patrol in the region, it was learnt.

    The region’s governors at a summit in June proposed the establishment of a regional security outfit codenamed Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) .

    The outfit, which would have its members drawn from local hunters, the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) and vigilance group, will work with traditional rulers for effective community security.

    Also, the police chief, it was gathered, will inspect facilities, address personnel in Oyo state before proceeding to Osun State for a visit to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

    The IG will be in Ekiti and Ondo states on Thursday while Ogun and Lagos will host him on Friday.

    It was gathered that Adamu will also hold talks with traditional rulers.

    Read Also: IGP orders CP to fish out killers

    He will also assess the implementation of the directive on the deployment of helicopters for aerial surveillance he gave last week.

    The Lagos Police Command has commenced the deployment of two helicopters daily to survey the riverine (creeks) and hinterlands especially border communities like Epe, Isawo and Warewa to ward off militants/kidnappers.

    According to the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations (DCP) Mohammed Ali, the command started the practice long before the directive of the IG.

    Ali said: “The command has been engaging in aerial surveillance long before the directive and so, what we are doing now with the instruction is to ensure we sustain it. We deploy two helicopters each day for aerial patrol and they cover the length and breadth of the state.

    “One goes as far as Badagry. They pay more emphasis on areas that are not easily accessible like the creeks so that information is passed across should any grouping of militants or kidnappers, is sighted.

    “The state government is providing the fuel for the patrol and so, I cannot say we really have challenges in that regard.”

    The Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Undie Adie said his Command was ready for the kick-off of the aerial security surveillance as ordered by the IG.

    Spokesman Femi Joseph a Superintendent of Police (SP) said: “As a command, we are appreciative of this gesture, and most especially for granting Ondo State, the base for the security surveillance in the Southwest”.

    In Ekiti and Ogun states, measures have been taken to provide security.

    The aerial surveillance of the state with helicopters by the operatives of the Air Police began about a month ago, it was learnt.

    “A week hardly passed without the chopper being sighted flying across communities in the state, scanning around from the air for any suspicious gathering, movement and objects and relaying the intelligence to the Police Command”, a villager told The Nation.

    An Ogun resident and trader at the Lafenwa Market, Abeokuta, Mrs. Noimot  Ajasa, told our correspondent that she saw a chopper hovering over the market area last week.

    Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun in one of his security briefings acknowledged the deployment of the aerial surveillance chopper by the police and identified it as having played key roles in the rescue of five persons, including a deaconess with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

    Confirming the operation of aerial surveillance, the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Asuquo Amba, said the new development has been helping the command to monitor forests used as criminals’ hideout with the capabilities of recording and transmitting report to the base.

    He said: “I believe with this aerial surveillance we would be able to track, preempt and prevent the over-bearing influence of bandits, kidnappers and killer in the state.

    “There are thick forests in the state and that is the advantage some of the criminals are using because some of the places cannot be easily penetrated.

    “It is working with our capability. The whole essence of the whole thing is to take crime fighting to the criminals instead of waiting for them to strike.

    “So, with this development the days of criminal elements in the state are numbered. It will be advisable for to them engage in better job rather than criminalities because nobody we escape the wrath of law.

    “And I can assure you that with the plan the western states are making to launch their own security architecture and aerial surveillance both will complement each other to stamp out kidnapping, banditry and killing in the region.”

    But no aerial patrol has been seen in Osun State. The police in the state declined to speak when contacted.

  • Oyo yet to begin operations

    THE aerial security surveillance has not kicked-off in Oyo State, five days after Inspector-General (IG) Mohammed Adamu directed the exercise in the zone and the Northwest, it was learnt on Sunday.

    The security agencies, including the Oyo State Police Command, were said to be awaiting today’s arrival of the IG in Ibadan, the state capital, for briefing on the next line of action.

    According to the command, all enquiries concerning the IG’s order should be directed to the Force spokesman, Frank Mba, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).

    The command said there was no circular yet on the IG’s directive.

    Spokesperson for the command, Olugbenga Fadeyi, a Superintendent of Police (SP), who admitted that the IG gave the order, however, said the command was still expecting signals from the Force Headquarters in form of a circular to carry out the order.

    He said: “We are yet to have that in place. Everything is still in the Force Headquarters because here in the Oyo State Command, we have not received any paper (circular) to commence aerial surveillance as you said.

    “But, we are still waiting. However, you can direct all your enquiries to the Force PRO in Abuja, he is in better position to speak on the issue for now.”

    Read Also: Oyo Assembly begins review of 2019 budget

    The Nation noticed that the police have step up their operations to stem the tide of insecurity, with check points mounted on all the major roads leading into the state.

    There was visible presence of policemen on the roads 24 hours.

    The police have been carrying out stop and search operations, a top officer told our reporter in confidence.

    Mostly affected routes are: the Ibadan-Ife Expressway, the Ibadan-Abeokuta highway and the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway. Eagle-eyed policemen have been keeping vigil on the highways.

    Security operations in the state also got a boost last week when the State Executive Council approved the purchase of 100 vehicles for security agencies in the state at the sum of N832,650,000 million.

    According to the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, the approval was given in line with the campaign promises of Governor Seyi Makinde to ensure security of lives and property of the people of the state.

  • All I did as governor was in the interest of Oyo State – Ajimobi

    The immediate past governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, has disclosed that all his decisions as governor were in the interest of the state.

    The former governor and the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Chief Akin Oke, also appealed to all aggrieved members of the party in the state to embrace reconciliation for the sake of the party’s progress.

    They enjoined them to approach future political challenges with a resolve to be selfless, forgiving and more committed to the cause of the APC and Nigeria.

    Addressing leaders and chieftains of the party from the nine local government areas of Oyo South Senatorial district during a stakeholders’ meeting on Saturday at the party’s State Secretariat, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, Sen. Ajimobi took his time to explain the rationale behind some of his actions and policies which generated controversies among the populace.

    His words; “While we are expecting the courts to do justice to some of the cases emanating from conducts of the last general elections in the state, especially as it concerns the seats of the senator representing Oyo South at the Red Chamber as well as the governor of the state, I would like to admonish every member of our great party to eschew bitterness and preach genuine reconciliation.

    “There are insinuations in some quarters about some of the policies and undertakings of our eight-year administration which some people considered controversial but in all honesty, I meant well for the state. All my actions were geared towards facilitating development for the whole state and also thus make life more meaningful for the masses.” Ajimobi stated.

    In his welcome address, the party chairman in the senatorial district, Prince Adefisoye Adekanye, appealed to members to “remain faithful and committed in view of current challenges as what happened in the 2019 general election was an eye opener. We have all realized the need for loyalty to our party, renewed commitment to its cause and entrenchment of peace among ourselves”.

    Read Also: Ajimobi: my wish is for Makinde to succeed

    Both the State Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, and Secretary, Hon. Mojeed Olaoya, in their separate addresses sued for peace and harmony to accommodate various interests. “We are not leaving any stone unturned to make Oyo APC stronger and better. All avenues for genuine reconciliation are being explored and we are optimistic about getting the desired results in the end.” Oke said.

    Hon. Olaoya and party chairmen from the nine local government areas gave updates on the efforts made so far to bring back all aggrieved members who left the party during the crisis which engulfed it before the general elections. According to Olaoya; “The State Executive Committee has put in place various committees made up of experienced and passionate individuals to bring back all the aggrieved members and we are satisfied with the success being recorded on daily basis.”

    Dignitaries at the meeting include the governorship candidate of the party in the last general election, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alh. Olalekan Alli, Executive Chairmen of the local governments and LCDAs, former state lawmakers, members of the State Working Committee, party leaders and chieftains across the senatorial district.

     

  • Oyo traditional ruler decries incessant bloody attacks by herdsmen

    THE Baale of Araro, Ido Local Government, Oyo State, Chief Mustapha Ibrahim, is calling for help over alleged incessant attacks by herdsmen in the community.

    The traditional ruler said that despite series of complaints at police stations, attacks on farmers have not ceased.

    He narrated how seven farmers received machete cuts by alleged herdsmen after invading and destroying farmlands worth several thousands of naira.

    The village, a border town between Oyo and Ogun, close to Government Reservation, is about 20 kilometres away from the city of Ibadan, with its inhabitants mainly farmers.

    Read Also: Oyo impounds 400 vehicles

    When contacted, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olugbenga Fadeyi, a superintendent of police, confirmed that there has been incessant skirmishes between the farmers and Fulani herdsmen in the area, but said there was nobody harmed by herdsmen.  He explained that it was true complaints were made at the Omi Adio Police Station, by farmers from Araro community, and the DPO and some officers visited the area to access the situation.

    However, the Baale disagreed with the police and took time off to invite some of the victims to his palace and also acceded to the request of this reporter to visit hospitals where the victims were treated after the attack.

     

  • Ibadan 21 new kings may lose their crowns

    Indications emerged on Wednesday that the 21 new kings installed by the administration of the immediate past governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi two years ago amid controversies on Sunday August 27, 2017 may lose their crowns after all.

    Precisely, Senator Ajimobi in a well-attended ceremony handed instrument of office to the new kings on August , 2017 at the historic Mapo Hall , Ibadan.

    The 21 kings came into limelight, following the controversial review  of the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration and Other Related Chieftaincies in Ibadan land by a panel headed by  Justice Akintunde Boade to review the old laws, which culminated in the elevation and crowning of 21 kings including Olubadan High Chiefs and Baales.

    A reliable source confided in The Nation on Wednesday that state Oyo state government has opted for out of court settlement, and  discontinue with the prosecution of the appeal before the Court of Appeal.

    The terms of settlement between the Oyo state government (Appellant) and Senator Rashidi Ladoja (Respondent/Applicant) was filed in the Registry of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan on Tuesday August 20, 2019.

    The terms of agreement which was contained in the suit No.M/317/2017 , and Appeal No. CA/99&99A/2018 reads in part

    “Whereas , the parties herein are aware of the rancor and acrimony that exist upon the publication of the report of the 2nd respondent herein in relation to the Olubadan of Ibadan chieftaincy declaration and other chiefs in Ibadanland and the implementation of the said report;

    Whereas, the parties are aware of the disharmony created by the publication of Gazette No. 3 Vol. 43 dated 29 March 2018 and the subsequent elevation of chiefs in Ibadan among the chiefs and the Olubadan of Ibadanland; whereas, as it is of utmost importance to maintain peace and communal relationships that had existed before the said report and Gazette in Ibadanland, whereas, the new administration of Oyo state stands upon the doctrine of rule of law “.

    All the Olubadan High Chiefs, except the Osi Olubadan, Senator Rashidi Ladoja refused to accept the crown, following his disagreement with the process.

    Sequel to his disagreement, Senator Ladoja and the Olubadan of Ibadanland separately dragged the former governor, the government and the 21 new kings to the Oyo State High Court.

    While the court had delivered judgment in the case filed by Ladoja, it has not on the litigation instituted by Oba Adetunji.

    Read Also: Eid-el-Kabir: Ajimobi preaches tolerance, sacrifice

    Justice Olajumoke Aiki of an Oyo State High Court delivered the judgment on January 19, 2018, and declared that the Justice Akintunde Boade-led Judicial Commission of Enquiry that reviewed the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration and other Related Chieftaincies in Ibadanland as unconstitutional, illegal, null, void and of no effect.

    But the administration of Ajimobi appealed the judgment, giving 11 grounds why the judgment of the lower court should be upturned, asking the higher court to set aside the ruling and judgment of the Oyo State High Court, an order that would uphold his preliminary objections raised against Senator Rashidi Ladoja, as well as an order that will dismiss the case in its entirety.

    The Appeal Court judgment was however reserved,  till the All Progressives Congress-led government left power on May 2019.

    It was learnt that governor Seyi Makinde intention to reconcile all parties involved in the chieftaincy crisis was to end the protracted fued , and protect the sanctity of Ibadan traditional chieftaincy system.

     

     

  • Oyo Assembly to Fulani: anti-open grazing law will protect you

    The Oyo State House of Assembly has allayed the fears of the Fulani cattle rearers in the state that the anti-open grazing law being put in place will terminate their means of livelihood.

    The Assembly is currently working on the bill which has passed Second Reading.

    Moved by fear, a Fulani group, the Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria, on Friday appealed to the Assembly to consider an alternative grazing space for their members in the law being put in place. They described it as settled grazing.

    Addressing reporters in Ibadan, the state capital on Friday, the group led by its National President Alhaji Sale Bayari, called on the Assembly to give the law a human face by allowing an alternative grazing space for the Fulani in the state should the law become absolutely necessary.

    But the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon. Kazeem Olayanju, told The Nation on telephone on Sunday that the Fulani in Oyo State have nothing to fear about the law because it was aimed at regulating grazing in the state in a way that will protect them and other members of the society.

    Olayanju explained that the Assembly recognizes that the Fulani in the state have lived together peacefully with indigenes for several decades, adding that the lawmakers are aware that they have fully integrated into the various communities where they live and do their business.

    According to him, rather than ban open grazing totally, the bill is proposing registration of all Fulani in cattle rearing for issuance of permit.

    The lawmaker further explained that the Assembly believes that most of those involved in criminality are foreigners and Fulani who came from other parts of the country to infiltrate the resident Fulanis, thereby giving the entire stock a bad name.

    Read Also: Oyo gets $6 million World Bank education grant

    To resolve this, the lawmaker said the bill will make it compulsory for all involved in grazing to get a permit such that they can be traced as full residents with known addresses and antecedents.

    He said the permit will make it easy to identify and arrest infiltrators, stressing that the bill will also protect peaceful cattle rearers residing in the state.

    His words: “Our people have been living together peacefully with the Fulani for ages. But the popular claim now is that Fulanis are criminals. It is also believed that the Fulanis that are committing crime are those coming from other countries. So the bill will make them register and get permits and identity cards. So if they are accosted anywhere in the state, their ID cards and permit will clear them as well known Fulanis who are free to practice their trade. This will help check influx of foreigners into their midst. It will also protect them. We just want to regulate them so that nobody will harass them. It will also enable them live peacefully with farmers. This law will also enhance peaceful relationship of all stakeholders in the farming system in the state.”

    The Fulani group had pleaded: “We are pleading with the Oyo State House of Assembly to ensure that as interested and affected citizens of the pending law, we deserve to be heard and listened to during the public hearing of the bill so that our views and opinions as Nigerians are heard and considered without bias against or favour.”

    The Chairman, Bayari noted that though members of the Assembly have a constitutional right to make laws for the good of the people of the state, who include the Fulanis, and for the good and peace of the state, he said the law needed a human face.

    He said: “We plead for an alternative grazing space for our means of livelihood, which is the cattle, which we are rearing as peasant traditional stock owners, not as commercial livestock or cattle business stakeholders, ours is the hereditary and traditional family life sustaining cattle rearing, not done on commercial basis.”

    ‘In the continuation of our national assignment as a Fulani ethnic association disturbed by our present and current security problem in the country especially as it affects a section of our members who have come under fire, hail and thunderstorm some Nigerians, especially the farming communities which has resulted in tensions of ethnic crises of various dimensions in the country.

    “These are allegations that should have been leveled against all criminal elements within our society but unfortunately they are allegations that have been made against an ethnic, religious and a sectional group that have led to the profiling, stigmatization and harassment of Fulani ethnic group as a whole.”

    Bayari pointed out that during the meeting that was held with former president Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta on the August 3 where eight states were in attendance, a lot of the problems between herders and farmers were discussed, particularly the criminality that was attributed to the Fulani ethnic group as a whole.

    He recalled: “At the end of the meeting, it was all agreed that there is a national problem that needed to be addressed by all well-meaning Nigerians interest in having a prosperous, peaceful and one country that is the home of all that must be secured and protected for yet unborn generations.”

    The Fulani leader noted that Fulani ethnic group had both the good and the bad like any other tribe, pointing out that the action of one bad Fulani should not be taken against other Fulanis.

    The group called on security agencies and other well-meaning Nigerians to cooperate to fish out all criminals in the country and ensure their prosecution to serve as deterrent to others. The group added that members of the public should watch out for suspicious behavior and report such to the law enforcement agencies and community leaders as may be applicable.

    “We pledge to continue to work with the security agencies to flush the criminals from our communities, and to ensure that our members are law abiding, obedient and respectful to constitute authorities while promising to go all out to ensure that criminal elements were flushed out of our communities and ethnic group which may even make the enactment of the anti-open grazing law no longer a necessary absolute.” The Fulani leader said.

    Hon. Olayanju said that a Publix hearing might hold on the bill before the Third Reading of the bill.

     

  • Why we reversed appointments of Perm Secs made by Ajimobi, by Makinde

    OYO State Governor Seyi Makinde has explained why his administration reversed the appointments of 17 permanent secretaries made at the twilight of Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration.

    The governor said the decision became imperative because of the revelations that due diligence was not followed in the appointments.

    He noted that when he came on board, he had to set up machinery to review the appointment and why it was done “hastily”.

    Makinde said it was discovered that a lot of irregularities were involved in the process that led to the appointments of the permanent secretaries.

    Although 15 people were shortlisted, only 14 took the oath of office and allegiance administered on them by the Director of Cabinet, Mr. Fatai Omokemi.

    Five women and nine men were on the list of the appointees.

    They include Mrs. Olubunmi Oni, Mr. Fatai Oladeinde, Mrs. Adejoke Eyitayo, Mrs. Sadiat Oloko and Mr. Joel Ajagbe.

    Others are Mr. Olayinka Alli, Mrs. Abosede Abioye, Mr. Adebowale Balogun, Mr. Ademola Ajibola and Dr. Mufutau Ayoola.

    Read Also: Ajimobi: my wish is for Makinde to succeed

    It also includes Dr. Mercy Popoola, Mr. Akin Funilayo, Mr. Adeyanju B.A and Mr. Gafar Bello (Accountant-General).

    The event got emotional when the governor announced Ajagbe, who was said to have climbed all the rungs of the civil service ladder but was never appointed as permanent secretary as well as the case of Alli, who was mandated to retire three days after he was appointed Perm Sec.

  • Ajimobi to Makinde: ask civil servants about missing govt property

    FORMER Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has urged Governor Seyi Makinde to beam his searchlight on the activities of civil servants and those working in government instead of accusing his ex-officials of carting away government’s property after the expiration of their tenure.

    Ajimobi’s advice followed the accusations and counter-accusations between his administration and the state government on recovered government vehicles.

    The former governor said the admonition became imperative after alleged moves to tarnish his image and that of his former aides on alleged missing property, especially vehicles.

    The former governor spoke on Sunday while addressing reporters in his Oluyole, Ibadan residence after observing the Eid-el-Kabir prayer at the Ansar-Ur-Deen prayer ground, Liberty Area, Oke Ado.

    The two-term governor, who recounted that he did not meet anything in terms of home appliances, furniture up to kitchen utensils at the Government House upon his election in 2011, said he tried to avoid a repetition of the same because he worked till the last day of his tenure in office on May 28, 2019.

    He added that the lesson he learnt, which necessitated the move, was that government workers took advantage of ex-Governor Christopher Alao-Akala’s leaving the Government House few days before the legitimate expiration of his term as governor to loot and plunder the official government’s residence.

    However, he said as it is being done all over the world, even in corporate organisation where people are allowed to leave positions they occupied with their official vehicles, he also allowed his predecessors in office to leave with their official vehicles.

    Ajimobi added that his administration took the decision to advise people to pay for such vehicles before leaving with them.

    He was flanked by his wife, Florence, the APC governorship candidate in the 2019 election, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, APC state secretary Mr. Mojeed Olaoya, the embattled chairmen under the aegis of Association of Local Governments of Nigerian (ALGON), who were led by their chairman, Mr. Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, his former media adviser, Mr. Bolaji Tunji, among other aides, party chieftains and members.

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    He said: “Again, if we are talking vehicles, I think papers have been written. When you are in government, there are policies to be taken. There are decisions taken. We took the decisions that anybody using vehicles at that time should pay and take it away. And that was what we did. Go to every state, Federal Government and all other state, there is nowhere in the world that people will work and not take away their vehicles when they are leaving.

    “So, let them go and check many of those people in government, the civil servants. When I moved into the Government House, Agodi, I didn’t see any furniture; they took the whole curtains, furniture, chairs, tables, televisions, home appliances up till the last table spoon. Ask Governor Seyi Makinde if they took anything from the Government House, when he got there, up to spoons and knives. I left them there. But you know why? It was because I worked up till the last day in office.”