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Tag: Oyo state

  • Police arrest seven boys for stealing 47 bags of cement

    Police from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Apata, Ibadan, have arrested about seven boys at Dogo area of Apata, Ibadan in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo state for stealing 47 bags of cement from a truck.

    The arrested boys reportedly stole the cement on Wednesday night when they were contracted to assist in evacuating bags of cement from the truck, which veered off the road and tumbled.

    The truck had tumbled during a heavy down pour at about 11.00 p.m on Wednesday, prompting the driver to beg the boys to assist him evacuate the bags of cement, in order to prevent them from being soaked by the rain.

    The boys agreed to render the assistance, but insisted that they should be paid, a demand which the driver acceded to.

    In order to have a record for the money he would pay to the boys, the driver reportedly asked them to write down their names in a sheet of paper, which he said would be presented as evidence for the payment when he gets back to the company. 

    Read Also: Police chief warns SFU officers against corruption

    The boys put down their names and immediately offloaded the bags of cement, after which they were paid the sum of N30,000 by the truck driver, as agreed upon.

    However, when the truck was pulled back on its track on Thursday morning, and the bags of cements were to be loaded again, the driver discovered that 47 bags were  missing.

    He promptly went to report the matter to the police at the Apata Divisional Police Station, and the police asked him if he had the identities of the boys that helped him to evacuate the bags of cement the previous night.

    The truck driver handed over the list in which the boys wrote their names in to the police, and that led to the arrest of the boys.

    A police source who confirmed the incident to our correspondent, said the boys would be charged to court.

  • Oyo to dredge 64 rivers

    Warn against dumping of refuse on water channels

     

    The Oyo State Government through the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP) in conjunction with the State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources has said that 64 streams will be dredged and blocked drainages will be cleared across the state.

    The government has also warned the people of the state to desist from dumping of refuse into the rivers, streams and water channel, saying that offenders will be treated in accordance with the provision of the environmental laws and regulations of the state.

    The State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Chief Isaac Ishola on Thursday said that government has taken proactive steps to prevent flooding in the state, noting that the citizens need to complement government efforts by restraining from activities that can block the flood drain.

    Chief Ishola said the State government has continuously sensitised the public on environmental sanitation, stating that this is in addition to the expansion of some rivers in the state for free flow of water and dredging of some rivers.

    The Commissioner explained that in line with the Safeguard requirement of IUFMP sub projects, the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) safeguard team will be displaying Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for dredging of streams and clearing of blocked drains in order to sensitize the general public on the social and environmental impact of the project.

    Read Also: Oyo warns masqueraders against violence

    He noted that the ESMP action is also to mitigate if the need arises, the negative impact of the project as stipulated by the guidelines of World Bank Projects.

    Chief Ishola stated that there will be updates on Environment and Social Impact Assessment for Eleyele Dam rehabilitation, saying that this is to ensure the project is line with best practices without any hazard to the society.

    He disclosed that the 64 streams to be dredged are within the 11 Local Councils and their Local Council Development Areas in Ibadan, assuring that the dredging will commence immediately the disclosure and display of Environmental Social Management Plan is completed.

  • 2019: Former Oyo HoS joins Guber race

    As the 2019 general elections gather momentum, the immediate past Head of Service of Oyo state, Mr. Soji Eniade has declared his intention to succeed Governor Abiola Ajimobi in continuing the good work of rebuilding the state.

    Eniade, who is the currently serving as an Executive Assistant to Governor Ajimobi was at the Secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to declare his intention and also intimate the party chieftains of his aspiration during a visit to the party secretariat.

    While stressing the need for people to elect a result – oriented politician as the next governor of the state, the former HoS noted that the next governor of the state should be someone who is ready to consolidate on the achievements of the incumbent Governor Ajimobi and even build on it.

    He also expressed his intention to contest the 2019 election on the platform of the party, calling for the support of the party chieftains and stakeholders in the state.

    Eniade, who was accompanied to the Oyo APC secretariat by hundreds of his supporters, maintained that one of the key drivers of the socio-economic development of any society is policy consistency.

    Read Also: 2019: Changing face of Oyo governorship race

    He said Oyo state has continued to experience substantial level of socioeconomic progress in the past seven years under the leadership of Governor Ajimobi, adding that the people of the state should not allow the wheel of progress to be rolled back.

    He said, “Fellow pacesetters, what we have to do to get to the desired destination is to keep moving forward. Unarguably, considering the substantial level of socioeconomic progress we have experienced in our state in the last seven to eight years under the able leadership of Governor Ajimobi, every well-meaning citizen of Oyo state will agree with me that there is no other direction to go than forward.

    “This is why the major thrust and driving purpose behind by gubernatorial ambition is to ensure that our state keeps moving forward. As such, I believe strongly that to move our state forward, we have to adopt a SWIFT approach. These coined acronyms will serve as the guiding components to drive our state forward.

    “Just as my decision to serve my state at a young age, my foray into politics at this time is also not accidental, I yearn to serve. Julian Gillard, the first Australian Prime Minister stated that only those who step out, run and rule the world.  This stirred me to join politics to bring to reality, my burning desire to be a source of renewed hope for every citizen of Oyo state.

    “After garnering wholesome experience in governance in my 35 years of public service, I am determined to join the league of the best and brilliant minds who are bold enough to step out, come together and partake in the drive to keep our state on a forward track.

    The former HoS explained that “SWIFT connotes: Socioeconomic development; Women and Girl -child empowerment, Industrialization through infrastructure; Future generation; and Technology and creative industry development.”

    The aspirant was received at the secretariat by the state party chairman, Chief Akin Oke who was accompanied by other Senatorial Chairmen, members of the state executive, leaders, elders and other party stakeholders.

    In his short remarks, the state chairman, assured that a fair playing ground would be giving to all the individuals who have shown interest in contesting for the party ticket ahead for the 2019 elections in order to ensure that a credible candidate emerges to continue the good work of the present political administration.

  • Female aspirant joins Oyo governorship race

    The first female governorship aspirant in Oyo state, Bolanle Sarumi Aliyu, has declared interest to run for the 2019 election.

    She made the declaration  on Tuesday at a service for souls that have fallen for democracy organized by Bolanle Aminat Sarumi Aliyu, (BASA) Foundation, at the Sultan Bello Hall University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

    Sarumi Aliyu is seeking to overturn the political landscape, giving life to gender balance in Nigeria’s political space. According to her, she is ready to set the pace that will invigorate the Nigerian Woman with a change of mindset that women taking the back seat in politics have come to an end.

    ‘Women of great vision and capacity from all over the world and indeed Africa have realized and have begun to take their rightful place as leaders. In Rwanda, my sisters and mothers currently occupy about 64% of the country’s parliament. I am therefore setting myself as a pace setter in the ‘pace setting state’ called Oyo State. My vision to govern Oyo state is not just a mere aspiration to have a woman in the highest Office in the State but a call to serve my people ‘she noted.

    She seeks for full support of all and sundry to help her deliver a better Oyo state. She added that the full and equitable participation of Nigerian women in public life is essential in building and sustaining strong and vibrant democracy.
    Sarumi Aliyu pointed out that Nigerian Women’s participation in politics will advance gender equality, girl child education and other issues bedeviling the Nigerian female child

  • Tax non-compliance: Oyo Govt seals bank, hotels, 13 other firms

    No fewer than 15 companies were on Wednesday sealed off by the officials of the Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue to commence a week-long compliance and enforcement drive.

    The effort according to the board is to ensure that corporate organisations and business interest operating within the state comply strictly with the tax laws governing their operations.

    Some of the corporate firms sealed off include banks, a telecommunication outfit, hotels, events centres and some merchant outfits in Ibadan metropolis for failure to pay outstanding professional/business registration/renewal fees.

    The team of officials, made up of representatives of various government income generating MDAs in the state, who worked in various teams to face different parts of the state commenced the exercise from a new generational bank in Dugbe, Kollington fisheries Oke-Ado, global communications limited (glo). Some of the popular hotels sealed off include Best Western hotels, Iyaganku, Owu Crown hotel, Iwo-road and Super K hotel.

    Read Also: 2019: Changing face of Oyo governorship race

    Other affected companies are Avian Specialist Ltd, Red Star Express, a popular event centre, Watershed event centre, Florentina event centre, Clementina event centre, Abah hall andOsho event centre among others.

    According to the Chairman, Oyo state Board of Internal Revenue, Mr Bicci Alli, the affected companies, had earlier been officially communicated of their outstanding debt to the government and another reminded of their inability to fulfil their payment within the regulated time through a letter from the office of the Director, Trade, Ministry of Trade, K.W. Mustapha, pointing out that only those who failed to comply as on Wednesday morning were sealed up.

    The enforcement effort carried out by the Board, it was gathered is in pursuant to the provision of section 8(1-2) Oyo state professional/business premises law 1996 (as amended) for varying years being owed.

    Meanwhile, some of the establishment upon the activity swoop on the Revenue office of the board at the state secretariat to regularise their papers and make prompt payment to save their business.

    Speaking with journalists at the end of the first day of a week-long exercise, the Board Chairman, Mr Alli said it is high time people of the state develop the culture of compliance of paying taxes, both to the state and federal authorities. He pointed out that the corporate entities affected by the inter-ministerial emergency exercise have been duly informed before the exercise was carried on Wednesday morning.

    Alli said, “Basically, what we are doing is not different from what we are supposed to do. That is, just that we make sure we are ensuring that people do what they are supposed to do and that what is due to Oyo state is accrue to it.

    Assuring that the Board will not act above the law, Alli noted that the agency had sensitised the affected entities a lot before the enforcement exercise which continue today, noting that“we have done a lot in writing, sensitising them, talking to them and exchanged a lot of correspondences before today.

    “However, where they fail to do the right thing, we enforce. We are very serious about compliance. People should be ready to pay. It does not really matter how much they pay, not about the money but once they have the assessment. Our people should learn to do the right thing. They should develop the culture.  Though we need to generate more revenue, it is not the amount per say but the culture of compliance that we want our people to cultivate”, he added.

    On the corporate establishments that were sealed on Wednesday, Alli maintained that the board “followed due process. Assessment notices were served on the corporate entities to pay. A bulk of the liabilities we are recovering now relates to 2016/2017, not even 2018. We have evidence to show that notices were sent to the corporate entities while reminders of seven days to pay followed.”

  • Tribal marks: culture on edge of precipice

    Before now, occupation such as making tribal marks on faces or bodies of interested people had brought both fame and wealth for those who engaged in it. However, while those who had lived on it are already making a detour to other means of livelihood, some who have tribal marks on their faces wished they never had them. YINKA ADENIRAN examines the situation and how the once-cherished cult

    According to a Yoruba legend, the tribal marks were once given as a form of punishment, but they were later seen as a sign of beauty.

    Experts maintain that the origin of the tribal marks is centred on the story of a slave who lived in the king’s palace. The king, who had many slaves, caught one of the female slaves fornicating with one of the palace guards. The king was angry and in order to punish this slave, he inquired from his youngest wife the kind of punishment that could be meted out to the slave. The queen said the slave should be taken somewhere and tortured with sharp objects such as knife or razor on her face and locked up for seven days.

    A waning cultural practice

    Adelani Alabede, a farmer in a remote Amosun Village in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State sat dejectedly on his settee gazing at nothing in particular. His mind is in a flux. He could not comprehend how and why situations just changed almost irredeemably.

    In his late 60s his source of livelihood has become so shaky so much so that he could not afford three meals a day. For him, poverty has set in.

    Alabede reminisced how the occupation of incising marks on people’s bodies made him both rich and famous. He also recalled how he used to go from place to place to give tribal marks on people who esteemed it either as a way of beautification or having great regard for their cultural norms. But currently, he barely receives invitation from people for the job he loved most. As a result of this, his family’s economic well-being is in a shambles as he could not make ends meet.

    The more he thought about the situation, the more confused and depressed he became. He wished the situation was different.

    When things went awry with the tribal marks job, he took to farming which is not as lucrative as that of giving tribal marks. He had no option than to return to the job he has done for years to shore up his family’s financial base.

    He never believed that a job that brought him so much fame and fortune would ever become irrelevant and would soon be extinct.

    Alabede had earlier given a thought to the fact that with the rate at which people are embracing western civilisation, his job which is rooted in culture might be in survival battle with modernism. What he could not decipher is the suddenness of its reality.

    Alabede had taken to farming as a part-time job and only plant some food crops at a subsistence level.

    Alabede inherited the skills of making tribal marks and circumcision from his late father.

    As the name implies in the Yoruba-speaking communities, ‘abe’ connotes a small surgical blade-like material used to make the mark on the skin before applying some powdered materials made of leaves and herbs.

    ‘Alabede’, literally refers to the ‘arrival of the person who goes from place to place (with abe) for the purpose of helping interested people to make tribal marks and or circumcision’, especially for kids.

    The signs were rife and the warnings of eventual loss of clients were imminent in the face of modern trend and increasing aversion for tribal marks, especially among the people who were becoming more exposed and informed. Awareness on the dangers of sharing sharp objects and the spread of HIV/AIDS has intensified.

    Distinctiveness of tribal marks

    Each tribe of the Yoruba ethnic group had different inscription patterns which appear in different sizes and shapes at different locations within the face or body. The location and position of the mark’s inscription depends on the tribe and culture. The tribal marks could be inscribed on the breast, arm, lap or buttocks, but they are usually on the face.

    Among the people of Ibadan, tribal marks remain a thing of particular pride, especially among the indigenes in the core areas of the township. The marks, to them are meant to serve different purposes.

    For example, it is used to differentiate one royal family from another as is the case with the Mefa Omo Oba, a six-line drawn on both cheeks of the descendants of Iba Oluyole – the founding father of Ibadan.

    There is also another one known as Abaja awon Basorun, a four-horizontal line drawn on the left cheek with three vertical lines drawn on the right cheek and which is peculiar to children of the descendants of Basorun in Ibadan. The pele also cuts across different families in Ibadan because of the way it beautifies their faces.

    Tribal marks as cultural pride

    In a chat with Southwest Report, Alabede recalled how, many years back, when people take pride in the tribal marks on their faces. He noted that even parents willingly bring their new babies to him for tribal marks depending on the choice of the family, especially the father. He also said some families have certain peculiarities in tribal marks and many of those families use them as forms of family identity and pride.

    Aside from facial tribal marks, Alabede also engages in inscribing names, dates and signs on any part of the body.

    “Irrespective of where you are, when you see certain tribal marks on some people’s faces or bodies, you don’t need any soothsayer to tell you where the person is from. You easily recognised people and immediately know their background. Years back, it is often seen as additional form of beauty, as people would take pleasure in touching the marks in appreciation of its beauty”, he said.

    He also added that dates of birth are also inscribed on some people’s bodies just as a way of reminding them of the time they were born and who their peers are, as many families lacked proper documentation in the yesteryear.

    Hard feelings about tribal marks

    Adebimpe Aderibigbe, a civil servant has three separate strokes on each of her cheeks. They are bold and clear. She could not understand why the marks were there. She was later told that the style is peculiar to her family. She recalled that, while growing up, she never forgave her parents because many of her friends in school often make a jest of her and even tease her with the marks, especially those who do not have any on their faces.

    She lamented that she had thought about the idea of erasing the marks if she had known how to go about it. But she said she has forgiven everybody as she has no option than to live with it.

    Adebimpe noted that she could not imagine allowing any of her children to have tribal mark.

    Although Alabede couldn’t stop civilisation from snatching his profession from him, he was sure the skills are still there for him to make use of should anybody be in need of his service. He has no one to blame for the change in the trend but feels so sorry that the profession that has been handed over from generation to generation is at the edge of the precipice.

    He stressed that, but for a few people who seek his services once in a while, many would not want their children to have any form of tribal marks anymore, as it is no more fashionable.

    He noted that people’s sudden aversion for tribal marks in the late 80s and early 90s was the beginning of the decline in his fortune. He lamented the waning trend in natural and traditional beauties, even as he wondered why nothing could be done about it.

    He, however, advocated that efforts should be made by custodians of the culture to tame the waning and ensure that the culture of scarification does not go into extinction.

    A popular Nigerian fashion designer who identified herself simply as Epaz recently narrated how her tribal marks almost made her to commit suicide years back.

    While narrating her ordeal on her Facebook page, she said she was bullied during her school days because they felt she was ugly.

    “Gone are these things; there had been cases where I wanted to commit suicide due to inhibition in educational pursuits due to my tribal marks, as many people said they find my tribal marks repulsive. Even in my school days, they called me all sorts of names because of the severe tribal marks my dad put on my face.

    “One of the greatest things that has happened to me was being educated and my ability to communicate in the English language fluently. Otherwise it would have been disastrous for me, so disastrous.

    “Some years ago, all I felt was resentment towards my parents for giving my siblings and I such scars in the first place.  I can’t count the number of times I’ve been embarrassed by them.

    “But, I won’t let these deep horizontal marks on my face hinder me from getting anything I wanted. I have gotten over it now because I have no time for pity for myself again. I love how my friends encouraged me to be bold and love myself just the way I am. Tribal marks or no tribal marks,” she said.

    Going into extinction?

    Given how useful, fascinating and deeply cultural these tribal marks were, why it is slipping precipitously into oblivion is a matter of serious concern to cultural gatekeepers. Several reasons account for this.

    One of the reasons is its health implications. Many of those who carry out tribal marks are said to be archaic in their ways and the tools they use are out-of-date and, in most cases, not well sterilised. This indicates that the child to be given the tribal marks stands the risk of contracting diseases.

    The second reason is that, scarring a child for life without his/her consent is something contemporary society frowns at as it is against his or her fundamental human rights. Another reason is that tribal marks used to be an indicator to identify slaves and since slavery has been abolished, it has become a stigma most parents wouldn’t want to pass on to their children.

    The blowing wind of civilisation and the great urge to embrace western culture is another reason this ancient practice and old way of identifying people is becoming an outlaw practice in most Nigerian societies. Many human rights organisations argue that scarring of children is abuse and have often associated the practice with female genital mutilation.

    However, in recent times, the use of tribal marks as a means of identification and beautification among the Yoruba tribe is no longer a norm as some Yoruba states have enacted certain laws that prohibit the use of the marks. Violators of the law are liable to fines or imprisonment (or both).

    In Oyo State, for example, the prohibition of tribal marks is an integral part of the state’s Child Rights Law, a law that imposes a fine or one-month imprisonment or both for violation.

    The law states: “No person shall tattoo or make a skin mark or cause any tattoo or skin mark to be made on a child”. This, among others, contributes to the waning trend of tribal marks in Yoruba land.

  • 2019: Changing face of Oyo governorship race

    The political cloud is gathering in Oyo State ahead of the 2019 general election. While the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to blow the whistle to kick start campaign for the general election, gladiators in the state are already at each other’s throat over who will succeed outgoing Governor Abiola Ajimobi, just as permutations continue to change almost on a daily basis, writes Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan

    COUPLE of months ago, Governor Abiola Ajimobi highlighted the veracity of the ongoing struggle for the governorship seat when he said not less than 34 governorship aspirants are seeking to succeed him. At that time, a few of the aspirants were already looking like possible candidates of their various parties. In fact, within the ruling APC, there were already talks about an alleged Ajimobi’s anointed candidate, who some observers said looks good to clinch the ticket.

    But today, the entrance of some other aspirants into the race for the gubernatorial ticket of the APC has not only upset permutations, it has also introduced fresh intrigues into the contest. The recent declaration by former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala and immediate past Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in charge of Operations, Adebayo Adekola Adelabu, that they will be seeking the APC ticket, has forced some leading aspirants to return to the drawing board.

    While many analyst are insisting that Adelabu will not dump a job like the plum seat of Deputy Governor of CBN for a governorship race if he is not certain of winning, others are saying Alao-Akala, given the current cordial relationship he enjoys with Ajimobi and the leadership of the ruling party in the state, will not join the governorship race without some certainties.

    Incidentally, while speaking during an interview with journalists, Alao-Akala alluded to the fact that Ajimobi is aware of his aspiration when he said ‘the governor cannot claim to be unaware of my governorship ambition.’ Adelabu on his part announced his entrance into the race with a declaration that he is ‘starting the onerous task of nation building from my immediate constituency, Oyo State where I have resolved to play an active role in politics.’

    The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was not without its own drama. At the beginning of talks between the party and erstwhile leader of Accord Party (AP) in the state, ex-Governor Rasheed Ladoja, the permutations in many quarters were centered around Ladoja’s likely candidacy on the platform of the PDP. Expectedly, frontline aspirants on the platform of the PDP resisted his defection back to the PDP, his old party.

    But the struggle changed when Ladoja hinted that he may not be seeking the PDP governorship ticket. This was further re-enforced when he sought to be the national chairman of the party. Some PDP gubernatorial aspirants, who hitherto were opposed to his defection, became some kind of allies and associates. Till today, many aspirants are in the race because Ladoja is likely not going to contest.

    In addition, observers of the politics of the state say the chummy political relationship between Ladoja and Engineer Seyi Makinde, another frontline aspirant on the platform of the PDP, is another important factor in the analysis of how the general election will be won and lost. Before now, the camps of the two politicians have engaged in fierce supremacy battle following Ladoja’s defection to PDP.

    But Makinde laid that to rest weeks back when he affirmed Ladoja as the leader of the PDP in Oyo State. “Some people said I am dragging the leadership of the party with Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja; it is not so. He is still the leader of the party in the state and my leader in Oyo State. What we want to do is to send APC away in 2019. After that, we will call ourselves and move forward,” he said.

    But pundits say beyond the changes daily being introduced into the race by old and new aspirants alike, there are a number of other factors that are likely to continue to alter permutations in the race to determine who takes over from Ajimobi in 2019 until the two leading political parties elect their various gubernatorial candidates at their various primary elections.

    Rotation debate

    One of such issues, according to political observers, is the raging debate over an unwritten zoning arrangement that will see the governorship rotate among the various parts of the state. While it is obvious that zoning has until now, not been a major part of the governorship politics of the state, many notable personalities, especially outside the Ibadan area, are today clamoring that the position be zoned away from Ibadan.

    Speaking on the agitation for rotation, Prof. Adeolu Akande, said given the fact that parts of the state, like the Oke-Ogun area, have not produced a governor for the state before; it is important that the rotational formula be encouraged. He added that he is convinced that the next governor of the state will come from the Oke-Ogun, based on an earlier promise by Ajimobi.

    He also expressed confidence that Ajimobi would keep his promise of supporting an Oke-Ogun aspirant. “It is only fair to hold someone to his word. If somebody at the level of a governor can say two or three times that the Oke-Ogun area of the state will produce the next governor, I don’t think there is any basis for anyone to doubt him. He has put his honour and integrity on the line, so we should believe him,” Akande said.

    But legal luminary, Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) disagrees. According to him, zoning of governorship position in Oyo State is unnecessary. ‘There is a wide divide between morality and law. Democracy is anchored on the rule of law and not on sentiment. Apart from sentiment, I have asked this question before and no one has been able to give me an answer: who is an Ibadan man? Who is an Oyo man? Who is an Ogbomoso man? Let us face it; the Oyos are one, from Ogun to Kwara states.

    “Those who are saying otherwise are political, social and cultural illiterates. You may have chains of university degrees without being articulate. The late MKO Abiola’s father was from Ojoo in Ibadan. He was the Balogun of Ojoo in Abeokuta. He was later made Basorun of Ibadan. The Adedibus are cousins to the Alaafin. Ikire people in Osun State have their family compound in Ibadan. The next in line to the stool of Olubadan, Lekan Balogun, is the grandson of Alli Iwo, a former Olubadan. Shall we say he is no longer an Ibadan man? We are talking of Oyo State being ruled by Oyo people’ he said.

    Beyond the argument for and against zoning, there is also a raging debate over what the parameter for zoning should even be. While some are agitating for zoning on the basis of senatorial district in the state, many more are saying the traditional regions of the state should be the zoning yardstick. Consequently, the camp of pro-zoning agitators is equally divided, giving indications that the issue may be more difficult to resolve than many think.

    While the senatorial districts in the state are Oyo North, Oyo Central and Oyo South, the old regions are Ibadan, Oke-Ogun, Ogbomosho, Oyo and Ibarapa. As at today, only Ibadan and Ogbomosho regions have had the opportunities to produce governors for the state. Thus, the other three regions are agitating for a shot at the seat. Also, the people of Oyo Central, for instance, are clamouring for the opportunity to produce the governor based on the fact that the zone has never produced one since the creation of the state in 1976.

    Since the return of civil rule in 1999, Oyo North and Oyo South have been producing the governors. Late Lam Adesina, from Ibadan in Oyo South was governor between 1999 and 2003; Rashidi Ladoja, also from Ibadan, governed from 2003 to 2006 and Abiola Ajimobi, from the same Ibadan in Oyo South, has been in office since 2011. Oyo North had the opportunity of producing the governor between 2007 and 2011, when Adebayo Alao-Akala governed the state. Alao-Akala hails from Ogbomoso in Oyo North.

    Thus, the central senatorial district is yet to produce a governor and is determined to do so in 2019. But Oyo Central is a mixture of people from various traditional zones, unlike the south and the north. Of the 11 local governments in the district, four are from Oyo region, namely Afijio, Atiba, Oyo West and Oyo East; five are from Ibadan region. namely Akinyele, Lagelu, Ona Ara, Oluyole and Egbeda; while Surulere and Ogo Oluwa, the remaining two, are from Ogbomosho region.

    According to a former physician to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Olusegun Ajuwon, using senatorial district is unacceptable because “Oke-Ogun as a distinct segment of Oyo State is hereby announcing formally that for the governorship of Oyo State, it is our turn, come 2019. We believe, as the people of Oke Ogun, that the time has come to ask for and to get this coveted position of the executive governor of our dear state. There are reasons to justify this clamour for the gubernatorial power to shift to Oke-Ogun.”

    “If an Ibadan aspirant from Akinyele, Egbeda, Lagelu, Oluyole or Ono Ara emerges, it will still be an Ibadan man governing, not the district. And it will be an Ogbomoso still should the next governor hail from Surulere or Ogo Oluwa. That is why the zoning should be done on the basis of the old regions if we are to be fair. This and many more reasons explain why Oke-Ogun is particular about how the zoning should be done.”

    The gladiators

    A look at the array of aspirants across party divides, gunning for the governorship seat revealed that the forthcoming race promises to be fierce. The Nation also gathered that aside the many who have formally declared their interest in the race, a number of interested persons, within and outside the two leading political parties are still waiting for the appointed time to throw their hats into the ring of the governorship contest.

    In the race already is the ex-Chairman, Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Barrister Sharafadeen Alli. He hails from Ibadan North Local Government Area. A former council Chairman, he served as Secretary to the State Government under Ladoja. He is seeking the ticket of the PDP for the 2019 election and his supporters within the party say he is the man to beat in the race.

    Senator Soji Akanbi, currently representing Oyo South in the senate, was once in the lower chamber. He aspired for the governorship in 2011 under the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) but lost to Ajimobi. He is currently of the APC and he has left no one in doubt of his readiness to give the race his best effort. He enjoys the support of a good number of party leaders, especially in the southern senatorial district where he is seen as a performing lawmaker.

    Senator Femi Lanlehin, also from Oyo south is another PDP gubernatorial aspirant. He represented his district under the platform of the defunct ACN from 2011 to 2015 and earlier served as Special Adviser to ex-Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters. He was in the Accord Party with Ladoja and is still seen by many as the PDP leader’s 2019 governorship joker.

    Incumbent Deputy Governor, Moses Alake-Adeyemo, is also running on the platform of the APC. So is Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Communication Minister, Adebayo Shittu and Senator Fatai Buhari, all of the ruling APC. A retired banker, Adeyemo was chosen as deputy to Ajimobi on the platform of the ACN in 2011 and was re-elected along with the governor in 2015 for a second term. He is from Oke Ogun.

    Akintola is from Iddo Local Government Area of Ibadan, Oyo State capital. He once served as deputy speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly and now want to be governor on the platform of the APC. Shittu hails from Saki in the Oke Ogun are of the state. He was a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state and had contested gubernatorial election in the state on the platform of the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC).

    Buhari, currently a senator, is not seeking a return to the legislative chamber, but nursing the ambition of becoming governor of the state. He was the Commissioner for Agriculture and Water Resources during the first term of Governor AjimobiThere is also Seyi Makinde from Ibadan North East Local Government. In 2015, he ran a spirited and gallant race as the governorship candidate for SDP. But he is currently a chieftain of the PDP.

    Other aspirants include Engineer Oyedele Hakeem Alao, a governorship aspirant on the platform of Alliance for Democracy (AD); former Finance Commissioner, Zacheaus Adelabu  from Oyo town;Temitope Olatoye, member of House of Representatives representing Lagelu/Akinyele Federal Constituency; Adeolu Akande, former Chief of Staff to Ajimobi; and Abiodun Akintunde, another former Commissioner in the state.

  • Ajimobi secures over N20b for Oyo Basic, Secondary Schools’ education

    The Governor Abiola Ajimobi led government in Oyo State has secured over N20 billion for both ongoing and newly approved projects to enhance the infrastructural and other educational developments in the state.

    Professor Adeniyi Olowofela, the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology stated this yesterday  at the 59th edition of Science Teachers’ Association of Nigeria, (STAN) conference held at The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

    According to the Commissioner, the School Governing Board (SGB) has input N2.5 Billion with Construction of three model Schools to the tune of N1.8 Billion and renovation of 100 secondary schools to the tune of N2 Billion by the state government.

    He continued: “State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB’s infrastructural development consisting of new construction of schools, model schools, toilet facilities, furniture has gulped N3.7 Billion all to the total of N10 Billion. 

    Read Also: Ajimobi, Badaru: APC ‘ll hold peaceful convention

    “A counterpart fund of N4.6 Billion each from State and Federal government have been approved to the tune of N9.2 Billion to cater for schools’ infrastructure. Also, the State Education Trust Fund, ETF has released a sum of N200 million for technical education in the state coupled with a released of N2.2 Billion for procurement of textbooks for secondary school students and all  to the tune of N21.6 Billion”.

    Speaking further, Olowofela also disclosed that the state government is a beneficiary of $500 Million World Bank grant to tackle the issue of out of school children for the next five years in the state coupled with a last year’s released of N94 Million bursary award by the state government to indigenous students. 

    Speaking on the topic of the conference, “Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Economic Growth”, the Commissioner said Science is emanated from Latin word, Scientos and it means wisdom saying it is pertinent to apply wisdom in every human enterprise which leads to industrial revolution. 

    He noted that riches in the past depend on natural resources to make wealth but today’s riches exploit intellectual resources to acquire wealth. He therefore tasked Nigerian government to diversify from exploitation of natural resources to exploitation of intellectual resources to enhance economic breakthrough similar to economic model of countries like China and other developed countries to become a technological giant. 

  • Protest rocks Ibadan over the killing of 12 year old boy

    Hundreds of youths in the sleeping town of Omi-Adio, Ibadan  in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State on Monday took to the streets in protest against the killing of a 12 year old boy by the state mass transit bus, Ajumose bus, on Saturday evening .

    It was learnt that the driver of the bus who was coming from Apata , lost control and rammed into the ditch , crushing the little to death.

    Angered with the death of the boy, youths who rushed to revive the boy , on learning of the death of the little, seized the driver and bus .

    The lifeless body of the boy was said to have been deposited in Adeoyo state Hospital .

    The bus with registration number OY 148860 Y was damaged beyond recognition, smashing the windscreen and side glasses.

    It was gathered that the driver of the ill-fated bus  who escaped death by the whiskers was rescued by policemen from the Omi-Adio Police station,  located few meters to the scene of the accident.

    Read Also: Mob attacks driver after crushing pupil in Ibadan

    The aggrieved youth who stormed major streets and  the ever  busy Ibadan-Abeokuta Expressway carried clubs, sticks and iron rods as they rained abuses on the driver of the bus .

    There were fire on the expressway made from used tyres at different locations , preventing motorists from plying the road.

    Several traders and shop owners were said to have abandoned their wares and hurriedly locked their shops ,  in fear of attacks and looting.

    Some of the eyewitnesses who spoke with The Nation on Monday identified the boy as an apprentice in a rewire workshop near the scene of the accident .

    The skeleton of the state mass transit bus was sited  in front of the police station at Omi Adio on Monday .

    Last week , a similar accident occurred , involving the state mass transit bus , (Ajumose bus) where a teenage secondary school girl was crushed to death at Mokola area of Ibadan.

  • Court grants Oyo Judge Paternity right of late Premier

    Justice Aderonke Aderemi of the Oyo State High Court on Thursday granted the prayers of an Oyo state judge, Justice Ladiran Akintola by declaring him a biological son of the late Premier of the old Western Region, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola.

    The court by the decision also ruled that Justice Akintola is therefore entitled to a share of the estate of the deceased Premier.

    Akintola had approached the court by filing a suit against his half siblings; Chief Abayomi Akintola and Dr Abimbola Akintola, asking that the court declare that the letter of administration being used by his siblings and the one earlier given to his stepmother, Late Faderera Akintola as null and void.

    Delivering a judgment which lasted for about three hours, Justice Aderemi in the suit which had earlier been heard before Justice S.A. Akinteye and Justice N.A. Esan held that Justice Akintola had led sufficient evidence in the matter and had entered judgment in his favour.

    The court declared as null and void the letter of administration issued in 1968 on the estate of Late S.L Akintola by the Western Nigeria High Court of Justice  under Faderera Akintola and Abayomi Akintola on the ground that it was obtained by fraud and concealment of interest in a manner that is inimical and discriminatory against Justice Akintola.

    Also, the court declared as null and void the letter of administration issued in October 2007 on the estate of Late S.L Akintola by the Oyo State High Court of Justice under Abayomi Akintola and Abimbola Akintola on the ground that it was obtained by fraud and concealment of interest in a manner that is inimical and discriminatory against Justice Akintola.

    The court further held that Justice Ladiran Akintola and the six claimant’s witnesses has led enough evidence to his paternity and ruled that he is the biological son of late S.L. Akintola and is therefore entitled to a share of his estate.

    The judge further ordered that the two letters of administration declared null and void is immediately revoked and ordered that the Administrator General of Oyo state take up the management of the S.L Akintola estate until a fresh letter of administration that covers all the three children is issued.

    Further, she mandated that the detailed account of the estate be submitted within a month of the judgment and gave an order of perpetual injunction mandating Abayomi and Abimbola Akintola from administering the estate of S.L. Akintola or undertaking any activity on behalf of the estate until the new letter of administration is issued.

    In the course of the trial, the defendants had filed a Notice of Preliminary Objection asking for an order dismissing the suit on the ground of Section 17 of the Limitations Law of Oyo state and arguing that the time prescribed by law to contest the estate of a deceased had lapsed as the case was filed 47 years after the death of their father contrary to the 10 years provided by law.

    However, in determining the issue, Justice Aderemi noted that the defendants did not plead statute of limitation anywhere in their defense and held that, “defendants are not entitled to rely on facts not stated in their defense before the court. The defendants cannot be allowed to plead issues outside the ones clearly stated before the court,’ Justice Aderemi ruled.

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    On the issue that Justice Ladiran does not have the locus standi to sue as a beneficiary in the matter of the estate but the court also ruled that he had locus standi.

    The court further held that the refusal of the first defendant to testify after the defense had opened its case is tantamount to an admission of the claimant’s allegation, adding that it is wrong for the defense to withhold a proof that it had earlier said it had even when the claimant asked for same.

    “It is regrettable that the defendants refused to produce the red diary which the defense claimed contains the record of birth of all children of Late S. L. Akintola even when it was served with court notice to produce same by the claimant, this according to the law reflects that the defense withheld the evidence because it found it will be unfavourable to its case,” the court held.

    Counsel to Justice Akintola, Abiodun Abdulraheem further applied to the court that it is entitled to cost after expending so much energy and resources in gathering evidence and resources including an 83-year-old man who was the secretary to Late Ladoke Akintola when he was a Premier.

    “The defendants filed 12 applications which were all resolved in favour of the claimant and we spent five years on this trial within which we lost a lawyer on our team. I will be asking for a cost of N100, 000 for the application dismissed this morning and N200, 000 for the main case,” Abdulraheem said.

    The court consequently awarded the cost of N200, 000 as cost against the defendants.