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Tag: Oyo state

  • The governor Oyo deserves in 2019

    The choice of who succeeds the incumbent Governor Abiola Ajimobi in Oyo State is, without doubt, the most important topic within the socio-political and economic circles in the Pacesetter state as we inch closer to the March 9 governorship election.

    Since the race began, aspirants have emerged on the platforms of different political parties. But the question we should ask is: Who best among the numerous aspirants would take Oyo State to the ‘Next Level’ in its developmental strides? Would we opt for a health-challenged individual whose previous effort at steering the affairs of the state ended in near asphyxiation of the state’s economy, whose tenure witnessed arson and brigandage that nearly brought the state on its knees? Would it be an individual who had never held any public post, worked in any structured environment nor whose claim to political relevance is contesting for an election without clear cut focus, leading to monumental failure at every opportunity? Would it then be a lawyer who has never won any known case, risen to the zenith of his profession , pursuing landmark cases to the apex court or achieve ‘SANship’, the pride of the Bar profession.

    One can go on and on. Obviously, Oyo State would not be best served with the lot listed above. Oyo state needs the individual who has always shown his love for the state even when he had no aspiration. It needs an individual who has a track record of the Midas touch; a proven achiever who rose to the zenith of his profession and who has established many opportunities for employment for the teeming masses of the state. Only one man fits the bill, Bayo Adelabu, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He has shown unquestionable commitment to the development of Oyo state, long before the inception of the current administration. He has given to the state without taking anything back and still willing to come forth to continue his legacy of selfless service.

    Over the years, Adelabu has made very lofty contributions to the economic growth and development of Oyo State. He has established many businesses in the state employing about 600 people, and the philanthropic works predate the present administration. Both the Bayo Adelabu Foundation, which he established 10 years ago, and the Adegoke Adelabu Foundation (named after his late grandfather) have relentlessly engaged in the socio-economic empowerment of youths and women, also caring for the vulnerable and the underprivileged.

    The history of Nigeria’s first Technical University, which was established by the Oyo State government in Ibadan, will never be complete without a mention of the influential role played by Adelabu in transforming the vision of the model institution into reality. The selfless and patriotic role that he played in this regard is a story for another day.

    Among all the contenders and pretenders to the seat of governor, Adelabu, a native of the historical city of Ibadan, has clearly paid the highest price for leadership through dint of hard work, purposefulness, perseverance, dedication and single minded determination. Indeed, his inspiring profile bears eloquent testimonies to his unequalled level of preparedness for leadership.

    Right from the elementary stages of his education, Adelabu has always demonstrated leadership, excellence and focus. He did not deviate from this noble path throughout his educational sojourn, capping it with a First Class Honours degree in Accounting from the Obafemi Awolowo University and then became a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. He later attended the University of London, School of Management Development and the United States Institute of Internal Auditors in Orlando.

    A chip off the old block, Adelabu’s educational and career accomplishments prove that he is the true grandson of the legendary Yoruba leader, nationalist and patriot, late Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu (popularly known as Penkelemesi), who was described by a former Governor of the old Oyo State, Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo as “perhaps the most remarkable person that Ibadan has ever produced … a genius … better endowed than virtually all his contemporaries on both sides of the political divide … a deep thinker, widely read, philosophically accomplished strategist and master tactician”.

    After his graduation, Adelabu worked with Price-Waterhouse (now Pricewaterhouse Coopers) for seven years, during which period he was seconded to the CBN for a year to lead the Finance Team on the apex bank’s re-engineering and corporate renewal project.

    Thereafter, Adelabu held corporate management positions in First Atlantic Bank and Standard Chartered Bank before joining First Bank of Nigeria as Chief Financial Officer. He was later appointed an Executive Director during which period he set up the existing performance management framework for the bank. He was also credited with the successful execution of the bank’s medium term strategic plan targeted at profitable growth with respect to revenue maximisation and cost optimisation.

    As someone once said: “Leadership should be borne out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it.” Adelabu has over the years demonstrated a clear understanding of the peculiar developmental needs of the people he is seeking to serve.

    He clearly underscored this in an interview published in the July 6, 2018 edition of the Nigerian Tribune, where he stated: “This state alone can produce the entire food for the country giving the land that we have for farming. If we are saying Lagos State alone, with that kind of population consumes about 6000 cows on a daily basis, what stops Oyo State from supplying 1,000 cows to Lagos State?

    “Do you know how much we are going to make from this? If it is N100, 000 per cow, we will make 100 million per day. In 30 days, we are looking at N3 billion. In 12 months, we are looking at N36 billion accruable to the government. How much are we getting from Abuja in terms of federal allocation? That is just one of it.”

    Amongst other achievements, Governor Ajimobi has been able to build a development model for a new Oyo State, just as Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu did in Lagos. Like Lagos, all Oyo needs now is a technocrat with the ability and skill set to assemble a team to execute the economic/developmental blueprint. Our state needs a successor who has all it takes to be a better ‘Fashola of Oyo State’.

    Our dear people of Oyo State, as the Election Day draws closer, please be guided by the words of Bill Gates that “leaders will be those who empower others”. Choose wisely; vote Adelabu.

     

    • Adegboyega, a Public Affairs Commentator writes from Ibadan

  • Akala back in APC

    A former governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, is working for the All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of next week’s governorship election, and wants his supporters across the state to join him in his latest move.

    Akala was, until yesterday, the governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in the state.

    He, however, confirmed last night, that, he has agreed to work for the emergence of APC’s Adebayo Adelabu as the next governor of the state.

    Speaking to reporters at his Ibadan residence, Akala said: “I remain in ADP and all our candidates for the House of Assembly seats will stand in the March 9 elections, on the platform of the ADP, with my full support but I will work for the victory of Bayo Adelabu.”

    He explained that his alliance with APC was based on the party’s belief that the ADP could perform optimally, and maintain a strong grassroots network not only in Ogbomoso but also in Ibadan, Ibarapa, Oke-Ogun and Oyo.

    He said: ”Our core values and philosophies as indicated in our ADP manifesto, ‘Rescue Mission Agenda’ has been adopted by Bayo Adelabu with the Presidency as witness. I have, therefore, as a candidate of ADP, accepted to support Adelabu of APC for victory and therefore form a coalition government.

    “My solemn gratitude goes to our members, state and national leaders of the ADP, for the ample opportunity given to me to lead and fly the flag of the party. Though my decision is a very tough one, it is for the progress of Oyo State.”

    Alao-Akala said his decision following the outcome of the just concluded presidential and National Assembly elections was based on the outcome of some incidents.

    “It is widely known, that, I initiated alliance talks with the main opposition parties in Oyo State vis-a-vis my great party, the Action Democratic Party (ADP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) with my boss, the former governor of Oyo State and Osi Olubadan, Senator Rashid Adewolu Ladoja as mediator.

    “Meanwhile, during the alliance process, I received an emergency call from the Presidency. In the meeting with Presidency, I was prevailed upon to work for APC. My response was that I should be given 48 hours to consult with my people, the opposition parties’ alliance committee as well as the teeming members, leaders and the stakeholders of my great party, ADP.

    “On resumption of the alliance meeting, my boss, (High Chief Rashid Adewolu Ladoja), told me point blank in the presence of other governorship candidates, that I was not in consideration for governorship due to my place of birth – Ogbomoso. According to him, ‘We need an Ibadan man to slug it out with another Ibadan man, which is Bayo Adelabu.’ With the statement, my geographical place of birth is the only crime I committed.

    “Since I’ve been unfairly and technically booted out of the alliance talks, I consulted with my party stakeholders and supporters whose support have brought me this far. Having realised that my 2019 governorship agenda cannot be realised in isolation based on the present situation, the only option remaining for me is to form an alliance with Mr. Bayo Adelabu of APC.

    “I, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, the Oyo State 2019 Action Democratic Party (ADP), have decided to form an alliance with the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adebayo Adekola Adelabu, ahead of the March 9 Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections in the state. However, all the ADP candidates for the House of Assembly seats will go to the elections with my maximum support.”

    Earlier, yesterday, Akala’s spokesman, Wale Ohu, issued a statement saying: ”After a careful consideration of the results of the last Presidential, Senatorial and House of Representatives elections and in furtherance of the development, progress and peace of Oyo State, far-reaching decisions have to be taken and actualised.

    “The ADP, after holding series of high level consultations across Oyo State after the last general elections, has come to the conclusion that the sanctity, integrity and progress of Oyo State cannot and must not be compromised.

    “We have felt the pulse of the people whose support has brought us this far: it is important that we dance when they play the tunes.

    “We have given deep thought to the future of this state and have realised, that, not much can be realised in isolation, hence the need to team up with the party that puts the interest of the masses on top of its priority list.

    “Looking at the results of the last elections, we have realised the need to restrategise and ensure that Oyo State is not left out in the cold.

    “To this effect, the Oyo State ADP and the Akala Campaign Organisation, hereby, call on all our members, teeming supporters and well wishers across the state to come on board in this move towards positioning our state for better national interest.”

    Akala defected to the APC last year, only to join ADP, a few months back.

    However, the anti-APC coalition is set to resume talks today as yesterday’s meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Social Democratic Party(SDP) lasted barely 90 minutes, after which representatives of the parties agreed to resume their discussions today on what they termed ‘government of unity.’

  • I will work for Adelabu, says Akala

    The governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in Oyo State and former governor of the state, Adebayo Alao-Akala, Friday gave details of how alliance talks between his party and other opposition parties in the state broke down.

    He also revealed that he has decided to work with the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate in the state, Adebayo Adelabu, to ensure his success in the March 9 governorship election, but still remains a member of the ADP.

    Alao-Akala made the revelation yesterday at his Bodija, Ibadan residence.

    His words: “I remain in ADP and all our candidates for the House of Assembly seats will stand the March 9th elections on the platform of the ADP with my full support but I will work for the victory of Bayo Adelabu.”

    He explained that his alliance with APC is based on the party’s belief that the ADP can perform optimally and has a strong grassroots network not only in Ogbomoso but also in Ibadan, Ibarapa, Oke-Ogun and Oyo.

    “Our core values and philosophies as indicated in our ADP manifestos, ‘Rescue Mission Agenda, have been adopted by Bayo Adelabu with the Presidency as witness. I have therefore as a candidate of ADP, accepted to support Adelabu of APC for victory and therefore form a coalition government.

    “My solemn gratitude goes to our members, state and national leaders of ADP for the ample opportunity given to me to lead and fly the flag of the party. Though, my decision is a very tough one, it is for the progress of Oyo State.”

    Alao-Akala said his decision following the outcome of the just concluded presidential and National Assembly elections was based on the outcome of some incidents.

    He said: “It is widely known that I initiated alliance talks with the main opposition parties in Oyo State vis-a-vis my great party – the Action Democratic Party ((ADP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) with my boss, the former governor of Oyo State and Osi Olubadan, Senator Rashid Adewolu Ladoja as mediator.

    Read also: Election results: Why Atiku must go to court – PDP

    “Meanwhile, during the alliance process, I received an emergency call from the Presidency. In the meeting with the Presidency, I was prevailed upon to work for APC. My response was that I should be given 48hrs to consult with my people, the opposition parties’ alliance committee as well as the teeming members, the leaders and the stakeholders of my great party, ADP.

    “On resumption of the alliance meeting, my boss (High Chief Rashid Adewolu Ladoja) told me point blank in the presence of other governorship candidates that I was not in consideration for Governorship due to my place of birth – Ogbomoso. According to him, “we need an Ibadan man to slug it out with another Ibadan man, which is Bayo Adelabu,” With the statement, my geographical place of birth is the only crime I committed.

    “Since I’ve been unfairly and technically booted out of the alliance talks, I consulted with my party stakeholders and supporters whose support have brought me this far. Having realised that my 2019 governorship agenda cannot be realised in isolation based on the present situation, the only option remaining for me is to form an alliance with Mr. Bayo Adelabu of APC.

    “I, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala – the Oyo State 2019 Action Democratic Party (ADP), have decided to form an alliance with the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adebayo Adekola Adelabu ahead of the March 9 Governorship and state House of Assembly Elections in the state. However, all the ADP candidates for the House of Assembly seats will go to the elections with my maximum supports.”

  • Akala to supporters: join me in APC

    A former governor of Oyo State Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala has called on his supporters across the state to join him in his voyage to a new party, which he refrained from mentioning officially.

    But The Nation can authoritatively confirm the new party is the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    In a statement by the Director General, Akala Campaign Organization, Chief Wale Ohu, the former governor, who was the governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in the March 9 election, said going by the results of the February 23 presidential and National Assembly election, not much can be achieved in isolation.

    The Nation had earlier reported his return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as confirmed by a highly placed member of the party.

    It was learnt that Akala refrained from announcing his formal return to the APC on Friday so as not to hurt the sensibility of ADP House of Assembly candidates who were still campaigning.

    The leadership of the party was still holding consultations with the candidates as at press time.

    This came as the former governor shunned the ongoing alliance meeting of opposition parties in the state on Friday.

    While governorship candidates of other parties attended the meeting at Sen. Rashidi Ladoja’s Bodija, Ibadan home, Akala, who was the brain behind the alliance, was absent.

    Read also: Pro Buhari group to Atiku: respect verdict of Nigerians

    The Nation gathered that in a meeting with the ADP candidates on Thursday, the majority of them signaled intention to go on with their election under ADP, stressing that it was too late for them to back out from the race.

    Akala’s statement read: “After a careful consideration of the results of the last Presidential, Senatorial and House of Representatives elections and in furtherance of the development, progress and peace of Oyo State, far-reaching decisions have to be taken and actualized.

    “The ADP, after holding series of high-level consultations across Oyo State after the last general elections, has come to the conclusion that the sanctity, integrity and progress of Oyo State cannot and must not be compromised.

    “We have felt the pulse of the people whose support has brought us this far: it is important that we dance when they play the tunes.

    “We have given deep thoughts to the future of this state and have realized that not much can be realized in Isolation, hence the need to team up with the party that puts the interest of the masses on top of its priority list.

    “Looking at the results of the last elections, we have realized the need to restrategise and ensure that Oyo State is not left out in the cold.

    “To this effect, the Oyo state ADP and the Akala  Campaign Organisation hereby call on all our members, teeming supporters and well-wishers across the state to come on board in this move towards positioning our state for better national interest.”

  • Akala, Makinde, others form alliance against Adelabu

    Leading opposition parties in Oyo State including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Action Democratic Party (ADP) on Thursday advanced their talks for an alliance against the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    They suspended the talks shortly before the presidential election but resumed on Thursday.

    Thursday’s meeting held at the Bodija, Ibadan home of a former governor of the state, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja.

    The Nation learnt that they had a much more detailed discussion on factors such as general popularity of each party and candidates.

    They also reportedly discussed which party or candidate will be most acceptable to the people of the state.

    Also discussed was sharing of portfolios and withdrawal of which House of Assembly candidate in which local government.

    Though they considered the performance of the parties in the presidential and National Assembly elections, it was viewed that it would not be a major factor in deciding which party to jointly support for the next election because of local strength of many parties.

    At the meeting were Ladoja of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Adebayo Alao-Akala, who is the governorship candidate of the ADP, ADC governorship candidate Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin and his PDP counterpart Seyi Makinde.

    Read Also: I’m not in any alliance against Adelabu– Akala

    Others are ZLP governorship candidate Sharafadeen Alli and his counterpart from the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Bolaji Ayorinde.

    After meeting for hours, the gladiators agreed to continue with the meeting on Friday.

    The opposition parties are seeking a joint effort to defeat the governorship candidate of the APC, Adebayo Adelabu and its House of Assembly candidates.

    They came to the conclusion that only a coalition can defeat the ruling party on March 9.

    They drew their conclusion from the result of the 2011 and 2015 governorship elections.

  • Ajimobi’s legacy of service

    The tenure of Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who broke the second term jinx in 2015, will expire on May 29. In this piece, Joke Jacobs examines the achievements of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration in the Pacesetter State.

    Having mounted the saddle of the leadership of Oyo State in May 29, 2011, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the ebullient governor of the Pacesetter state declared in a speech before the massive crowd during his swearing-in-ceremony at Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, that his administration will be committed to the restoration, transformation and the repositioning of Oyo State.

    The indefatigable and visionary leader, Senator Ajimobi who clocked 69 years on December 16, 2018 was born into the renowned Ajimobi family in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. He had his elementary education at St. Patrick Primary School, Abebi and Ibadan City Primary School, Aperin, Ibadan. He graduated from Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan, in flying colours. While in school, Ajimobi was very active in sport. He was the Games Prefect. In athletics, he was the second fastest student manning the first leg for relay race and number two in 100 metres and 200 metres races. Due to his all rounder image, he was nicknamed “archipelago”.

    Ajimobi attended State University, Buffalo, New York, in the United States of America (USA) and the State University, Park Forest, Illinois, also in the USA.

    He graduated with B.Sc (Honours) in Business Administration and Finance. He also obtained Master of Science in Operations Research And Marketing. As a result of his sound academic credentials and excellent performance at the New York Insurance Examination he was engaged as the first Nigerian certified underwriter by Equitable Life Assurance Corporation which is the second largest insurance company in America.

    A technocrat and literary enthusiast Senator Ajimobi returned back to Nigeria in 1977 after his sojourn in the USA. He joined Management and Industrial Consulting firm as a Senior Consultant and later the Modular Group, where he worked briefly as the Finance and Administration Controller. Subsequently, he joined Nestle Foods Plc as the Operations Controller and later became the Marketing Controller.

    Senator Ajimobi joined the National Oil and Chemical Marketing Company as the Consumer Products Manager. He was deployed to Ibadan Business District as the Area Manager, to ensure the repositioning of the company’s activities. He was later posted on international assignment to Shell Marketing Company in Togo, where he served as the Chief Executive Officer in-charge of the entire West Africa sub-region. He returned to Nigeria in 1995 and was appointed as the Oil Sales Manager in 1996. In 1998, he was appointed to the board of the company as Executive Director (Marketing). On February 2001, he was appointed as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil and Chemical Marketing Company. Governor Ajimobi voluntarily retired in 2003 from the National Oil and Chemical Marketing Company after 26 years of meritorious service and joined politics. He became a senator of the Federal Republic on the platform of Alliance for Democracy (AD) and was elected Deputy Minority Leader.

    He established the first and largest free vocational training institute in Oyo State. The institute offers training in computer engineering, computer operation, fashion designing, hairdressing, telephone engineering and tie and dye. The centre has turned out over 15, 000 students most of whom have gained employment in companies, while others are self-employed. The centre has been recognised and certified both as a partner and training outfit by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).

    Ajimobi was the governorship candidate of All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) in 2007. He lost the election, but never gave up his desire to serve the people of Oyo State. In 2011, he contested again on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). With the popular mandate of the people of Oyo State, he emerged victorious and was subsequently inaugurated as the governor.

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who is aspiring to return to the Senate to represent Oyo South district in the Red Chamber in the forthcoming election, once declared at the beginning of his first term that “commitment to hardwork, patriotism, respect for due process, diligence, and general values would be needed at this point of our march towards the restoration of Oyo State”. He added that the agenda of his administration focuses on recreating the economy of Oyo State with a view to engendering the emergence of a new economy, empowering the people for a sustainable wealth creation and developing the capacities of all the economic agent. He said: “Our vision is to create a state in which citizens can achieve the best of their potentialities.”

    Governor Ajimobi, an advocate of qualitative education, believes that every child must be adequately educated and that education is the best legacy that can be bequeathed to children. He believes no nation can hope to make any meaningful progress without sound and qualitative education. Quoting Martin Luther King, Ajimobi added: “If you want to keep a man in perpetual slavery, do not give him education.” He pledged that his administration would remain committed to education. His words: “As pace-setter state, the present administration under my leadership will leave no stone unturned in repositioning our educational system with global education standards. I am assuring all and sundry that the Oyo State government would not hesitate to earmark a staggering part of its financial resources to the development of education as the benefit of it would manifest in multiple folds in the future.”

    Not surprisingly,  Ajimobi’s achievement in the area of education has made Oyo State an enviable one. He has rehabilitated thousands of dilapidated primary and secondary schools, provided furniture for the primary and secondary schools and trained thousands of teachers.

    There was also massive equipping of science and home economics laboratories in the schools, renovation of technical colleges, as well as building of new skill acquisition centres in each of the senatorial zones. New model secondary schools are being built in the state. The construction is almost at the completion stage.

    During the 27th convocation ceremony of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, in December 2, 2011, he said his administration was prepared to confront the challenges in the education sector. His words: “Our ultimate ambition is to make the state a model in education which would be emulated by others in terms of the quality of personnel engaged in the academic activities at all level.” This process began through putting people of exemplary academic and moral standards at the helm of affairs at the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) for primary schools and Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) for secondary schools and the governing councils of  higher institutions of learning. Under the leadership of Senator Ajimobi, the sum of N396 million was paid to enroll senior secondary students for the West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) in 2013. The sum of N443.4 million was paid for the exam throughout the state that year. Regular procurement of science and technical laptops were given to Zonal and Local Inspectors of Education. Bursary and scholarship awards were presented to indigenes of the state. The unrelenting efforts of the Ajimobi administration in education has yielded fruits in 2017, as the state recorded the best result in West Africa School Certificate Examination (WASCE). Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, said the improvement in the West Africa School Certificate Examination is as a result of government’s renewed commitment and efforts in improving in WASCE, as well as the National Examination Council (NECO). He claimed the state also came second in the 2016 NECO examination. Mr. Arulogun said the improved performance did not come as a surprise. He reiterates that the state government introduced several polices to re-engineer the education sector for improved performance at both the internal and external examinations, so as to reclaim Oyo State as the Pacesetter state. Automatic promotion in schools has been been canceled, while the government School Board, WASCE Boot Camp, Extra Mural classes, staff review for optimisation of workforce that is set up by the government are already yielding fruitful results.

    As part of the Ajimobi-led administration’s determination to transform the education sector, the state government did not relent its effort in complementing the existing higher institutions. A technical university was established with the seed grant of N250 million. The university is a national and global institution that will not only be sound academically but also fully grounded in entrepreneurial practice based on fundamental theories and commitment to international best practices. The overriding focus of the technical university is to provide conducive training and learning environment that will produce quality students who are technically and socially grounded in their courses of study. One of the achievements recorded by Ajimobi administration in the field of education is the organisation of an Educational Summit, to address the challenges facing the sector. The areas of focus for the summit included Special Needs Education, Technical and Vocational Education, Information Communication Technology in Education, review of Education Policies, Adult Education, Capacity Building, and Funding for the Educational Sector, Private Sector Partnerships, Education Support Partner, Infrastructure Development, Building of Model Schools, and Tertiary Education among others. At the summit, governor reiterated: “There is more important contribution the citizens can make to Oyo State and Nigeria’s future that a determined and long-term commitment to one of the greatest challenges the citizen face as a people today that is educating the children very well. I remember with nostalgic the excellent state of education in the 1960s in the Western Region and I sincerely believe that the ethics that have driven me till this moment took its root from the educational foundation that I was nurtured on.”

    In its resolve to put in a place a conducive learning environment, improved and adequate physical facilities, as well as quality and well-motivated teachers, Governor Ajimobi inaugurated the Education Trust Fund (ETF). The ETF is saddled with the responsibility of mobilising resources to complement government efforts in its drive to address the decadence in the sector. The agency is headed by a former Minister of Industry, Chief (Mrs.) Onikepo Akande.

    The Ajimobi administration’s commitment to bettering the lives of the people is achieved by providing quality healthcare, which is the watchword of his government. This is proven through the donation of eye glases to people. Over 5,000 people have been treated for various ailments under the Oyo State Free Health Scheme. In the area of the governance reforms, Governor Ajimobi has launched the state strategic health development plan which is developed in conjunction with development partners like the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Bank, the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the Federal Government. Through the governance reform, the administration has launched a health insurance initiative, to ensure that all citizens are able to enroll in various health insurance programmes. Among these are the national health scheme and the medium development goal programmes. The Oyo State community based health insurance programme and formal sector health insurance plans for government employees and the private sector. To support the Oyo State citizens in the rural areas who may not be able to afford the insurance premiums, a public health trust fund is available which members of the public, charitable organisations and religious bodies can donate to increase the pool of available funds. As part of Governor Ajimobi’s plan to transform the health sector, there was personnel training, renovation of hospitals, provision of basic medical equipment and the recruitment of medical personal into various departments of the hospitals, to support the free health programme, essential drugs worth millions of naira were purchased and distributed to the hospitals. In partnership with malaria action programme for states and the United States Agency for International Development, millions of insecticide treated nets were distributed to families.

    To reduce death being recorded from road traffic accidents, home accidents, disasters, childbirths and other types of emergencies, ambulances and tricycle ambulances were provided by the Senator Ajimobi-led government.

    Millions of children have been immunised against poliomyelitis, measles and other diseases, as a demonstration of the administration’s commitment to the welfare of children in the state.

    Governor Ajimobi remarked: “Free health service for children and the aged is one of the six-point agenda of this administration. We are set to make immunisation services the right of every child, not a privilege. All the children must be fully immunised and protected from various preventable diseases, such as poliomyelitis, measles, yellow fever, whooping cough, tuberculosis, hepatitis and tetanus.”

    To upgrade health facilities, the Ajimobi administration held a N50 million health endowment fund raising. The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Azeez Adeduntan, said the fund is utilised for the establishment of a cardiovascular centre, to provide up-to-date routine and emergency care in a bid to reduce sudden deaths. He added that the fund will also be used for the upgrade of the general hospitals and healthcare centres. A renowned professor of medicine, Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe, was appointed as the head of the board of trustees for the health endowment fund.

    In a bid to curtail unemployment, Senator Ajimobi set up a youth empowerment scheme tagged the Youth Empowerment Scheme of Oyo State  (YES – O). Under this scheme, thousands of unemployed youths were trained and deployed in the area of environmental sanitation and beautification, sensitization and enforcement of traffic rules, provision of support in emergency situations, maintenance of public infrastructure and farming. The second prong of the youth empowerment scheme involves the training of the youth in cognitive and entrepreneurial skill. They are given opportunities in government’s micro-credit scheme as entrepreneurs. To eradicate poverty and improvement of the well-being of the citizens, through its restoration, transformation and repositioning agenda, thousands of tricycles called ‘Keke Ajumose’ were bought and launched by the state governor. Senator Abiola Ajimobi affirmed during the launching of the tricycles: “The tricycles would generate employment for the teeming unemployed, citizens for whom eking out a living has become a herculean task. This will act as a veritable platform for socio-economic transformation.”

    In order to ease transportation problem for workers, luxurious buses were bought by the state government to convey them from various destinations to work and back.

    The Ajimobi administration also constructed a bridge on the Mokola-Roundabout, along Sango-Mokola-Dugbe road, to restore, reposition and transform the state’s transportation system to higher efficiency and effectiveness. The bridge is expected to make driving within the axis smoother and stressfree for the residents. The Restoration Bridge, which is located along Secretariat-Bodija road, was also constructed. Another bridge was also constructed in Molete.

    The dualisation of Idi-Ape-Akobo-Odogbo Barracks Junction’s road is ongoing. Also ongoing are the Ibadan inter-change, the Challenge-New Garage-interchange road and Onireke. The Jericho-Eleyele-Dugbe roads, as well as entry roads to Oyo-Iseyin and Ogbomosho town have been completed. From Ijokodo to Apete area, there are bridge works. This also applies to Ikoyi Express Junction, Taki Palace and Ogbomosho Grammar School, where new roads are constructed. There is massive construction of roads, bridges and road repairs across the nooks and crannies of the state.

    To reduce carnage and enhance safe driving culture on the roads, the Oyo State Government has re-designed the traffic light at challenge roundabout, the M.K.O. Abiola Junction, Premier Hotel, Oremeji Junction, Oyo Road, Sango-Polytechnic Junction and several others. Senator Ajimobi has restored peace and order in the state by inaugurating the state joint security task force codenamed ‘Operation Burst’. The joint security taskforce is expected to curb banditry, violence, arson, brigandage and destruction of property being carried out by criminals.

    The governor Ajimobi said: “We have fortified Operation Burst with officers and men of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Special and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to renew the people’s confidence in the capacity and capability of the outfit.”

  • Ajimobi hails Oyo people for peaceful conduct, large turnout

    Oyo State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Oyo South in last Saturday’s National Assembly election Senator Abiola Ajimobi has expressed appreciation to the people of the state for their peaceful conduct and large turnout during the elections.

    A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Bolaji Tunji, quoted the governor as saying that the people have shown their love for the APC by voting massively for President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC candidates in the elections.

    From the results released so far nationwide, he said the APC was coasting home to victory.

    The governor equally congratulated the APC and its candidates in the state, who picked nine out of the available 14 Federal Constituency seats and two out of the three senatorial seats.

    Ajimobi said: “We appreciate our people for coming out last Saturday, which led to APC winning two, out of the three senatorial and nine out of the 14 Federal Constituency seats in the state.

    ”The victory has shown the unassailable leadership of the APC in Oyo State. It has also shown that our people are appreciative of the developmental strides of the APC in the state and the country at large.

    ”We have taken Oyo State to an unprecedented level in terms of massive infrastructural renewal. Most importantly, we have ensured peace in the state.”

    The governor described the loss of the Oyo South Senatorial ticket seat as unfortunate, but noted that no sacrifice was too much for a leader to make.

    He enjoined APC members to gird their loins for the March 9 governorship election, stressing that the battle was not over yet.

    Ajimobi emphasised that the loss of Oyo South Senatorial seat would not deter him from his firm resolve and that of the APC to work hard for the party’s victory in the governorship election.

    The governor said: “The results of the Oyo South Senatorial District election have been released by INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) indicating that I lost to the PDP candidate.

    ”I hereby accept the result as announced. Although there were a number of grievous infractions and established electoral malpractices, I have decided to let go in the interest of peace. I, therefore, congratulate the declared winner, Kola Balogun and our APC senators-elect, Abdulfatai Buhari and Teslim Folarin.

    ”If I lose the ticket and the party was able to gain, then it is nothing to feel sad about. APC has done well but we can always do better. If we won two out of the three senatorial seats and we picked nine out of 14 federal constituency seats, then we should congratulate ourselves.”

    ”To the teeming members and supporters of our party, who came out in their thousands to show their preference for the APC, I thank and urge you to keep the faith, especially as we look forward to the governorship and the House of Assembly elections.

    “With the impressive results we currently have, we should proudly go forth with greater sense of confidence and unity of purpose. Let us work together to ensure victory for our governorship candidate, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, and all our candidates for the House of Assembly.”

  • Ajimobi loses senatorial election to PDP

    Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has lost his bid to return to the Senate.

    In the result announced by the Returning officer for Oyo South Senatorial District, Prof. Wole Akinsola, Dr Kola Balogun of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) beat Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the incumbent Sen. Adesoji Akanbi of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to emerge the winner.

    He polled 105,720 votes to beat Ajimobi who scored 92,218 and Akanbi who polled 49,437 votes.

  • Collation of results stalled in Oyo

    Collation of results of the election is stalled across the 33 local government areas of Oyo State.

    As at 7:00 am Sunday, no result for a single local government was ready for announcement by INEC.

    Collation was either stalled or still ongoing at a snail speed in the various centres for wards and local governments across the state, thereby leaving many tensed.

    Journalists and observers waited endlessly at the commission’s headquarters throughout the night waiting for arrival of Returning Officers to bring results.

    Collation was said to be ongoing at the various ward and local government headquarters.

    INEC Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Wola Awolowo, told The Nation that the leadership of the commission was also awaiting arrival of results from local governments, stressing that various challenges were slowing down the activities.

    This contrasts with past experienced when results were ready for announcement Saturday night.

    None of the commission’s staff was able to leave their duty posts.

  • Olubadan: new Iyalode to be installed soon

    The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, has revealed that the installation of Chief Mrs. Theresa Oyekanmi as the substantive Iyalode of Ibadanland will happen soon.

    A statement by the Personal Assistant and Director of Public Affairs to the palace, Mr. Adeola Oloko, said the monarch gave the assurance while welcoming chiefs from the Iyalode line who paid him a surprise visit at his Popoyemoja, Ibadan palace on Thursday.

    The chiefs visited to know when the new Iyalode would be installed.

    According to Oba Adetunji, there is no doubt that following the death of the former Iyalode, High Chief Aminat Abiodun, on December 8, 2018 and observation of the 41-days mandatory mourning period, the Otun Iyalode, Chief Mrs. Theresa Oyekanmi, is sure to be automatically installed as the new Iyalode of Ibadanland.

    He said: “Everybody knows that our chieftaincy system in Ibadan is based on promotion. Even, the Oyo State Governor, His Excellency, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has repeatedly said that, the beauty of Ibadan Chieftaincy System is that it is ordered, such that the most senior on the line is automatically qualified for the top job.

    “For example, on 27 April, 2016 when the wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari paid me a courtesy visit in the palace, the Governor took pride in the orderly arrangement of our chieftaincy system.”

    The monarch also revealed that nobody in the Iyalode line or elsewhere has challenged the seniority of Chief (Mrs.) Oyekanmi or questioned her integrity and her state of mind, making her installation a fait accompli.

    Adetunji, however, pointed out the procedure for appointing Iyalode is similar to that of the Olubadan, adding that in consonance with the Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration of 1957, the kingmakers who are high chiefs, have been duly informed by the Secretary to the Olubadan-in-Council, stressing that there was some progress.

    “I have signed along with another High Chiefs and we are waiting for the other High Chiefs to sign also.

    “To speed it up, the vacancies that exist in the Balongun line notwithstanding the chieftaincy crisis had been added to it.

    Read Also: Buhari greets Olubadan at 90

    “The next stage is to formally inform His Excellency, the Oyo State Governor. And, I’m proud to say that our Governor would expedite action on the matter when it gets to his table.”

    Responding, some chiefs in the Iyalode line commended the Olubadan for the peace and progress of Ibadanland during his reign.

    They expressed satisfaction that their fears had been allayed following the comprehensive explanation of the monarch, noting the Iyalode line is the tripod on which Ibadan chieftaincy system rests after Egbe Agba and Balogun lines

    In attendance at the meeting were Balogun Iyalode, Chief Mrs. Amudalat Adekunle; Osi Iyalode Chief Mrs. D. A Amao; Iyalaje Iyalode Chief Mrs. Olufunmilayo Soyege; Asipa Iyalode Chief Mrs. Yewande Durosaro; Ekerin Iyalode Chief Mrs. Onikepo Akande; Maye Iyalode Chief Mrs. Ayo Adunni Adegbite; Agbaakin Iyalode Chief Mrs. Kudirat Iyabo Adeleke and Aare Alaasa Iyalode Chief Mrs. Wosilat Ajoke Ekeolu.

    Others include Asaaju Iyalode Chief Mrs. Mutiat Ladoja; Lagunna Iyalode Olori Rashidat Adetunji; Oota Iyalode Chief Mrs. Titilola Ogbogodo Ayingun Iyalode, Chief Mrs. Mojisola Ladipo and Gbonnka Iyalode Chief Mrs. Jadesola Osho.