The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Oyo state

  • 2019: Ajimobi threatens to ban transport unions linked to violence

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has warned members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) to remain peaceful or risk being banned.

    Ajimobi gave the warning on Tuesday in Ibadan during the All Progressives Congress (APC)  gubernatorial rally held in Egbeda Local Government Area of the state.

    The  governor gave the warning against the background of security reports that the transport unions were poised to engage in violence.

    He, however, said that any transport union involved in any clash during the electioneering campaigns in the state would be banned.

    ”Over time, in-fighting and clashes between the two unions have been over daily fees charged by drivers’ unions as well as supremacy tussle,” he said.

    The governor, who urged them to remain peaceful, vowed that any of their members involved in such acts would also be prosecuted.

    ”I still have 134 days to go, so no one should take our gentleness for cowardice.

    ”I’ll ensure that anyone who disrupts peace is prosecuted. Those who tested our might in the past regretted it.

    Read Also: Vote Buhari for N-Power’s continuity – Ajimobi

    ”So, let’s talk to one another and not disrupt the peace we worked so hard to achieve in the state,’’ he said.

    Ajimobi also expressed confidence in the ability of the party’s governorship candidate, Adebayo Adelabu,  to sustain his legacies in peace and security as well as infrastructure development.

    Adelabu,  in his remarks, pledged to consolidate on the foundation laid by Ajimobi in all sectors.

    He said that no other opposition leader or candidate could match Ajimobi in terms of achievements.

    Chief Akin Oke, the state APC Chairman, urged the people to vote all the party’s candidates in the forthcoming polls, saying continuity was the best option for the state.

    Mr Abideen Olajide, the State NURTW Chairman, urged his members to reciprocate the Ajimobi administration’s gestures by voting for the  APC at all levels of government.

    The rally was attended by the party’s executives in the state as well as candidates and supporters.

    NAN

  • Vote Buhari for N-Power’s continuity – Ajimobi

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has called on youths in the State, especially the beneficiaries of the federal government’s economic intervention programme christened ‘N-Power’ to vote President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office for the programme to continue beyond 2019.

    The governor gave the charge on Thursday while addressing the beneficiaries at a ‘Thank you Rally’ organized by the close to twenty thousand beneficiaries of N-Power in Oyo State at the Agodi Gardens, Ibadan on Thursday.

    Ajimobi who described N-Power as an intervention programme by the Buhari-led federal government to build the youths population towards enhancing their financial capabilities for a developed society added that their number if in concert was enough to give Buhari the second term.

    He said “If you fail to vote President Buhari for the second term, I want to assure you that N-Power will be stopped. We all know that your age group is 54 per cent of the Nigerian population and if the number of registered voters in Nigeria is 84 million, we can be sure that Buhari already got 61million votes.

    “I want to also assure you that the N-Power fund will be reviewed upward after 2019 but you all must know that to succeed in life, you must hold your future in your hands.

    “An empowered people will contribute to the growth of the society, that is why the federal government said the youths that constitute the larger percentage of the nation’s population must be well taken care of. The youths are the one that can bring the country forward and must be helped.”

    Read Also: Southwest plans Buhari’s re-election

    The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Jobs’ Creation, Mr Afolabi Imoukhuede who had earlier participated in the rally round Ibadan city, appreciated the consistent dedication of N-Power beneficiaries to the growth of the nation.

    He assured the youths of continuous support of the federal government as their engagement had reflected the better economy and robust human capital development.

    Imoukhuede said Oyo State had 9000 beneficiaries for the first batch of the programme and 8000 for the second batch, totalling 17000, with the assurance of a new set of the batch after the 2019 election.

    “We commend the participants and beneficiaries of the N-Power programme for being faithful to their country and contributing to the progress of Nigeria. Today is a great day, looking at the colourful rally with which we were welcome here today.

    “It will go into history that these teeming number of Oyo youths have come out to appreciate President Buhari for changing their fortune for the better and giving them a voice to be reckoned with and for them to contribute to the nation’s economy.

    “It is pertinent to remind you youths that continuity of Buhari is tantamount to the continuity of this social programme. So you must keep supporting President Buhari for the future of this programme to be assured”, he said

    The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Atinuke Osunkoya, hinted that the close to 20,000 N-Power beneficiaries from Oyo State was selected without any religious or political bias but through the online application.

    She appreciated the federal government for the programme which she said Oyo State had earlier introduced its like in Youths Empowerment Scheme (YES-O), that created financial freedom for over a million youths in the State.

  • I will ensure completion of Ibadan Circular Road– Alao-Akala

    Former Gov. Adebayo Alao-Akala, the governorship candidate of Action Democratic Party (ADP) in Oyo State,  has promised to ensure the completion of Ibadan circular road if elected.

    He made the promise on Wednesday at a programme tagged,  ‘Meet the Ibadan Electorate, ‘ organised by the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), a pan-Ibadan socio-cultural group.

    Alao-Akala was at the programme alongside his running mate, Prof. Abideen Olaiya,  and Oyo South Senatorial candidate, Dr Fola Akinosun.

    Alao-Akala promised to continue his urban renewal programme, embark on massive road projects in Ibadan and across the state when as soon as he was sworn in as governor.

    “Ibadan is very big and as an administrator with experience, this city needs massive road expansion. I demonstrated this during my first term as governor of this noble state.

    “And if you can remember vividly, I started the Circular Road and I am promising that it will be a priority project of my administration if I am elected.

    “I will open up more places with Circular Road construction in Ibadan.  I have listed in my manifesto some other 14 roads in the state that need urgent attention in Ibadan.

    “I will also create access road to our rural areas through re-construction and rehabilitation of more roads in the state,” he said.

    The former governor reiterated his determination to improve the internally  generated revenue of the state through taxation of the rich to provide for the poor

    Alao-Akala described Adeoyo Hospital, Yemetu, Ibadan,  as very historical, promising to give it a facelift like he did to the ancient Mapo Hall.

    He also pledged to solve the ownership problem affecting Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso .

    Earlier, Chief Yemi Soladoye, the CCII President-General, said the platform was neither for debate, campaign nor anointing of any candidate in whatever form.

    “It is very clear that what the CCII is organising is a meeting, not a debate or a campaign.

    “ We, the people of Ibadan,  are known to be tolerant and hospitable to all and sundry.

    “The CCII will not provide a platform to ridicule, embarrass or expose the past and background of any of our candidates. This meeting is strictly going to be 100 percent issue-based with zero percent personality-based.

    “We believe that there is direct correlation between the five elements of education, infrastructure, business revolution, financial empowerment and job creation.

    “To what extent does our next governor understand this correlation? We do not believe that the fortunes of Oyo state and the future of our children should be tied to oil.

    “We achieved our ‘pacesetter’ status from our home-grown resources in South West Nigeria, ” he said.

    He also said that the CCII would at the end of the exercise not anoint any candidate, adding it was an avenue for people to make informed decision about who should govern them in the next dispensation.(NAN)

  • Oyo State govt. rebuilds Ayefele’s Music House

    The Oyo State government has rebuilt gospel singer, Yinka Ayefele’s ‘Music house’ it demolished in 2018.

    Ayefele expressed his gratitude to the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi for rebuilding the once-demolished ‘Music House’ allegedly valued at N800m.

    He took to his instagram handle @yinkaayefele to shared his appreciation message a card and the caption, “Thank you sir, we appreciate you”.

    The card read, “The management and staff of Yinka Ayefele Limited is using this medium to thank his Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi for rebuilding the music house.”

    Following Ayefele’s appreciation message, fans congratulated Ayefele on getting the house back but added that the demolition was unnecessary to begin with.

    Funmionabam said, ‘The power of social media. Congrats @Yinkayefele but I would advice you to be careful.”

    Lordsfavour commented, “Happy for you Ayefele. God over everything. Thanks to the governor.”

    @Hollarbesse said, “But what was the purpose of bringing down the building in the first place and then building it back up.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in August 2018, social media users went ‘wild’ when the Oyo State government demolished the Music House for allegedly flouting state housing rules.

    Although Ayefele denied breaking the law, the state government denied receipts of any court injunction restraining them from demolishing the house.

    According to Ayefele, the structure, which also housed his radio station and music studio, represented 20 years of his hard work.

    The case received wide publicity and fans of the singer pleaded for the government’s assistance in rebuilding the structure as the demolition was ‘unfair’.

    The Oyo State government heeded to the calls and in Nov. 2018 began rebuilding the Music House with the hope of completing before the end of 2018.

     

  • Oyo pays 81 pensioners N204m gratuities

    A new set of retirees on Thursday received N204 million cheques for their gratuities in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, bringing total gratuities payment by the state government for the year 2018 to over N1.5 billion.

    A total of 81 civil servants and teachers across all grade levels who retired in 2012 received the sum of N204, 235,185.06k as gratuities.

    While presenting the cheques to beneficiaries at the old Ministry of Establishment and Training, State Secretariat, the Head of Service in the state, Mrs Olawumi Ogunesan, said the payment was another demonstration of the Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers and pensioners who sweat daily to ensure that government meets its obligations to the society.

    Ogunesan, who was represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service, Mrs Adejoke Eyitayo, assured that the government would continue to pay gratuities based on merit.

    She added that government was making efforts to ease the pains of the pensioners in the state, stressing that the disbursement was done to
    make life easier for the senior citizens, who had served the state meritoriously.

    While advising beneficiaries not to venture into any business in which they do not have adequate knowledge, Ogunesan urged those who are yet to receive theirs not to lose hope. She pointed that the government was working hard to meet their expectation.

    Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Kazeem Mudathir thanked Governor Abiola Ajimobi for releasing the huge sum as in spite of paucity of funds. He also commended the government for following the procedure laid down in selecting beneficiaries.

    The state had disbursed over N1 billion last year for the same purpose, bringing smile to the faces of retirees.

  • FRSC arrests 50 traffic offenders in Ibadan

    As part of strategies to ensure safety during the yuletide season, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) mobile court in Oyo State, says it arrested 50 traffic offenders in Ibadan.

    Mrs Cecilia Alao, the state FRSC Sector Commander told newsmen that offenders were arrested during the exercise in Egbeda area of Ibadan on Thursday.

    She listed their offences to include overloading and dangerous driving among others.

    The sector commander said the mobile court was a shift from normal patrol operation where motorists apprehended for various offences were given tickets to go and pay.

    Alao said the arrested motorists were arraigned in the presence of a magistrate, adding that the magistrate used his discretion to fine or sentenced the offenders.

    She said it was the discretion of the magistrate of the mobile court to either remand in prison those that failed to meet the fine until they paid or release them without paying any thing.

    Read Also: ‘Police, FRSC, others abet rice smuggling’

    “So far we have apprehended 50 vehicles for violating various traffic offences ranges from overloading, driving without licence, use of expired tyres and dangerous driving among others.

    “This exercise, starting today will end on Jan. 15 and we hope it will serve as deterrent to road users.

    “Most of these vehicles arrested are passengers’ vehicles who are carrying six passengers instead of four.

    “And in case of any eventuality there will be no space for the driver to maneuver and we don’t what this to happen.

    “Our aim is to ensure people drive safely during this period and obey the traffic rules and regulations for their safety,’’ she said.

    The sector commander said the FRSC in Oyo State would be deploying over 800 personnel including the Special marshals during the season.

    She said that 26 operational vehicles and ambulances would also be deployed on the roads in case of any emergency.

    One of the offenders, Mr Isa Muraina said he was arrested for dangerous driving and was fined eight thousand naira.

    NAN

     

  • Christmas: ‘201 FRSC mobile courts to begin sitting Monday’

    The 201 mobile courts set up by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), nationwide to prosecute traffic offenders during the yuletide season, will begin sitting on Monday,

    Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshal of the FRSC, disclosed this on Saturday in Ibadan during his visit to Oyo State, in an effort  to ensure free flow of traffic nationwide during the yuletide season.

    The Corps Marshal said all his personnel would be mobilized to ensure motorist obey traffic rules and urged road users to comply with traffic regulations so as not to spend their Christmas and New Year in prison custody.

    He called for maximum punishment for any motorists that assault any of his personnel, saying 71 of his officers were assaulted by motorists from January till date as a result of malicious behaviour of some road users.

    Oyeyemi advised motorists to cooperate with FRSC personnel as we move towards the end of year 2018.

    He said the commission has been able to bring down the  number of road traffic crashes to single digit in 2018 compared to 2017, saying this was an indication that an appreciable achievement had been achieved.

    Oyeyemi said the FRSC was embarking on critical assessment of key federal roads nationwide in which Lagos-Ibadan Express way tour-gate, Iwo road express way were among in order to ensure free flow of traffic during yuletide period.

    “I am satisfied with the level of operation so far and we are complying with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure free flow of traffic and reduce road crashes.

    Read Also: FRSC to drivers: Drive safely, arrive safely

    `I have set down full enforcement to ensure removal of obstruction from high ways, proper manning of all diversion areas so that we don’t experience gridlock and rescue team fully activated among others,’’ Oyeyemi said.

    Oyeyemi urged road users to plan their journey and not to be in haste to complete the journey of four hours in two hours, saying most federal roads were now undergoing repair and motorist may not spend the normal time they spent when traffic was light.

    He promised prompt response of the commission whenever there was traffic obstruction or road crashes and appealed to motorists to cooperate adequately.

    Oyeyemi also urged the FRSC personnel conduct themselves in a professional manner.

    NAN

  • 2019: I am on a rescue mission, says Alao-Akala

    A former governor of Oyo state and the governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in the forthcoming 2019 elections, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala has said he is seeking another opportunity to govern the state on a mission to rescue and re-position the state for the betterment of the people and investors.

    He lamented that his heart aches because of what he described as the anti-people policies of the outgoing government of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, saying at least 90 percent of the government programmes and projects are not in the interest of the people.

    Alao-Akala spoke on Tuesday while delivering his address at the official presentation of the Alao-Akala and Olaiya as the ADP candidates for the 2019 gubernatorial elections cum official inauguration of the Akala-Olaiya campaign organization.

    The event which held at Jogor Centre, Liberty Area, Ring Road Ibadan was attended by his running mate, Prof Abideen Olaiya, party candidates for the National Assembly positions, party leadership and members from different parts of the state.

    The former governor who noted that instead of criticizing, he made himself available to guide the incumbent government on how to best run a proactive and pro-people governance but that the driver lacks the required goodwill.

    He further alleges that the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) is conniving with some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to engage in what he described as advanced rigging method.

    Read Also: Why I want to be Oyo governor again – Alao-Akala

    Alao-Akala said, “As a bonafide citizen, I’m seeking another opportunity to govern the state from May 29th 2019 with a rescue mission to reposition the state for the betterment of our people and investors.

    “Service to humanity especially holding a public office is not a function of age but mental capacity, experience, maturity, good vision and mission, sensitiveness, responsiveness, credibility and popular acceptability of a person. I am offering myself again to serve the good people of Oyo state because I am healthily and mentally fit for the rigorous tasks of governance.

    “My heart aches because 90 percent of the outgoing government’s policies, programmes and programmes and projects are best described as anti-people which leave our people in pain and despondency.

    “Instead of criticizing, I made myself available to guide the incumbent government on how best to run proactive and pro-people governance but the driver lacks the required goodwill. Today, the major sectors of our economy, which are education, health, agriculture and environment, have been either neglected or bastardized. Oyo state is in a serious mess.

    “When a serious duty of overhauling government calls, experience counts. On July 4th of this year, I responded to Oyo State Patriots’ clarion call to contest the 2019 governorship elections, so that succor, humane posture, robust economic activities, even and equitable infrastructural developments that were once entrenched in governance of the state during my past tenure could be repeated and improve upon with renewed vigor.

    “Immediately after the inauguration of our government come May 29th, 2019, we shall hit the ground running by declaring state of emergencies in the education and health sectors of Oyo state. Our dying LAUTECH, EACOED, The Polytechnic Ibadan and other state-owned tertiary institutions will be rescued and their pride statuses in the comity of educational institutions will be restored.

    “Also, we are determined to initiate and implement policies and proagrammes that would transform the state, improve the welfare of the residents and create an environment conducive to business growth and security as well as wealth and employment.

    “May I use this occasion to inform the stakeholders in the Nigerian electoral system and the world at large that information reaching us from competent sources is that some bad elements in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are conniving with the ruling APC to disenfranchise thousands of voters across the state and weakening the leading opposition candidates in their strongholds by engaging in state-wide illegal relocation of voters from their units/local government of origins to another units/LGAs.

    “We call on the INEC chairman and the constituted security agencies to put a stop to this advanced rigging method.

  • Ajimobi seeks state police

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has called for the establishment of state police to curb crime in the country.

    Ajimobi made the call at the inauguration of the Oyo State Safe City Control Centre aimed at improving the security network in the state.

    “As important as concepts such as democracy is, go around the world and see the best of democracies, there is none of them without its state police, all the states in America, France and other countries.

    “State police will be staffed with people from the local communities where they have deep knowledge about the terrain and the inhabitants therein. That is why no crime goes unsolved in the western world,” he said.

    Ajimobi said that the control center was one of his administration’s efforts to ensure the restoration and sustenance of peace in the state.

    “Before our administration came on board in 2011, what we had in the state was hooliganism, violence, brigandage and killings. On assumption, we swung into action and started from the restoration of peace and security.

    “Our immediate effort in 2011 at stopping crime and criminal tendencies yielded positive results as our special security outfit was instituted.

    “If we have not achieved anything since we came on board, we have achieved peace and security which is the major purpose of government,” he said.

    He said that the efforts accounted for the state being ranked as one of the most peaceful, adding it was also adjudged one of the five topmost states in the Ease of Doing Business by Nigeria Bureau Statistics.

    Read Also: Ajimobi’s aide, others for award in Ondo

    Ajimobi commended security agencies in the state for working with resilience to reduce crime in spite of poor logistics as well as lack of technology and database in Nigeria.

    He assured the people of his administration’s commitment toward combating crime with the use of technology.

    Mr Abiodun Odude, the Commissioner of Police in the state, commended Ajimobi for his support to security agencies, adding that this had made their work easier.

    “If not for the intervention of the incumbent governor in providing operational vehicles, vehicle batteries, tyres and other needed materials like armoured personnel carrier, the security apparatus would have been grounded in the state.

    “No security work can be done without needed materials. OYSSTF (Oyo State Security Trust Fund)  has helped refurbish three armored personnel carriers out of the 12  we have and I can assure you that one APC is equal to 100 policemen.

    “So we must show our gratitude to the present administration for the support given over time,” he said.

    Chief Bayo Adelabu, the Chairman of OYSSTF Board, said the Safe City Project was another landmark achievement by the administration.

    He said the monitoring capability of the CCTV technology pre-empted crime in notable strategic locations in the state.

    “Nobody will commit crime if they know they will be apprehended;  the realization that you are being watched is a measure of deterrence against crime.

    He commended corporate organisations for their support, calling on others that were yet to contribute as well as private individuals to support the initiative.

    The control centre is the hub for the close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras installed in some parts of Ibadan metropolis such as  Sango, Mokola and Challenge.

    NAN

  • Four dead as trailer crushes taxi on Ibadan-Oyo expressway

    Four people were crushed to death on Ibadan-Oyo expressway on Monday when a trailer rammed into a taxi at a failed portion on the expressway.

    Other motorists burst into wailing on sighting corpses of the accident victims which occurred near the overhead bridge in Akinyele area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    The trailer was said to have rammed into the taxi which slowed down to navigate through the failed portion. Eye witnesses said the accident was as a result of the trailer’s brake failure which made it impossible for the driver to avoid hitting the vehicle. Both the corpses and two other occupants, who sustained varying degrees of injury, were taken to State Hospital, Adeoyo.

    The accident, which occurred at about 12:15 pm, led to massive traffic gridlock on the busy road. Several portions of the road have failed near Ibadan, making it dangerous for motorists, especially at night.
    When contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), in Oyo State, Mr Seun Onijala, confirmed the incident. He said a team of the the corps’ men in Akinyele had been dispatched to the scene as at press time. Onijala assured that normalcy would be returned within hours, urging motorists not to panic about the traffic situation.