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Tag: Oyo state

  • First Lady donates sanitary pads to 10,000 school girls in Oyo

    First Lady donates sanitary pads to 10,000 school girls in Oyo

    First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, through her Renewed Hope Initiative, on Monday donated 10,000 sanitary pads to school girls in Oyo State.

    She said the donations were designed to empower schoolgirls by promoting knowledge, dignity, and confidence in them.

    Speaking in Ibadan while handing over the pads to beneficiaries across the 33 local governments of the state, Mrs Tinubu, who was represented at the event by the wife of Oyo State governor, Mrs Tamunomini Makinde, maintained that no girl should have to miss school because of the inability to afford sanitary products in today’s modern world.

    She said, “It is unacceptable that our girls continue to face significant challenges during their menstrual cycle, especially those in rural communities who miss school days every month because they cannot afford sanitary pads.

    “Some of our girls are using unsafe and unhygienic alternatives, while others stay at home, falling behind in their studies, and in some cases even dropping out of school. This trend must end, and this intervention under the education framework of the Renewed Hope Initiative is aimed at doing so.

    “We will be distributing disposable sanitary pads to 370,000 school girls in communities across the nation at the end of this program.

    “All states and the federal capital territories will be receiving 10,000 pads each through the state’s First Lady and the Renewed Hope Initiative coordinator. This is to support our girls and those who are unable to afford sanitary pads.

    “Today, I will be handing over 10,000 sanitary pads. As you can see, all the girls seated in this auditorium already have them, and this is the one plus some others that we cannot bring all here. We’ll be going to all 33 local government areas for distribution.

    “So today, I will be handing over 10,000 pads of disposable sanitary pads for distribution. To 10,000 deserving girls across all your states. We choose disposable sanitary pads because they’re affordable.

    “It is because it offers a simple, hygienic option that offers better health benefits for women’s reproductive well-being. For us at the Renewed Hope Initiative, we believe that no girl should ever have to choose between her dignity and her education. The success of Flow with Confidence programs depends on all of us.

    “I want to especially appeal to the executive chairmen of local government areas, given your critical position as the arm of government closest to the people and your role in delivering essential services.

    “It is crucial that you take ownership of this intervention. Scale it up and ensure these supplies get directly to the deserving girls in our rural communities.

    “The pads are not to be sold under any circumstances. Now, the Renewed Hope Initiative spent a total of 2,550,297,150 Naira to procure these customized disposable sanitary pads from a local manufacturing company.

    “Corporate organizations, our starters and agencies, and well-meaning Nigerians, to key into the Flow with Confidence program so that we can empower and reach as many girls as possible.

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    “To our traditional religious and community leaders, we cannot do this without your support. I urge you to monitor the distribution exercise in your communities and ensure to support our girls to grow into responsible and informed adults. To our dear students and beneficiaries, this is for you.

    “All this is for you. Make the most of it and do not sell the pads. Stay in school, study hard, support one another, and never allow shame or stigma to take away your confidence.

    “Use this opportunity to pursue your dreams boldly because you are the future of this nation. And I believe in you. I charge you all to commit to the dignity, well-being, and the future of every Nigerian girl.

    “Today, let us keep this promise that our girls will always have the support they need to live, learn, thrive, and flow with confidence. At this juncture, to the glory of God and the benefits of our school’s wealth.”

    Dignitaries at the event include the Head of Service in the state, Mrs Olubunmi Oni, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs. Toyin Balogun, Commissioner for Education, Hon. Segun Olayiwola, and Commissioner for Special Duties, Alhaja Joke Sanni, among others.

  • Oyo boosts health centres with phones

    Oyo boosts health centres with phones

    Oyo State Government, through First Health Dynamic Synergy International Ltd, has given phones to 66 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs).

    The project, which was funded by the state government, was part of its initiative to upgrade the 66 PHCs.

    Speaking in Ibadan during the presentation, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the firm, Prof. Temitope Alonge, said the phones would enable the PHCs to communicate with one another and also allow them for about three to four calls at a time.

    Alonge, former Chief Medical Director (CMD) at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, said PHCs were the nearest to the people, ‘’and it’s important for people to have benefits of good health care services, which should be a priority.’’

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    He added: “But beyond this, it also provides an opportunity for disease surveillance, because if you have a problem somewhere, in a particular local government, then they can quickly communicate and report to the appropriate authorities.’’

    “We hope during this dry season, when the risk of Lassa fever is going to be on the increase, they will utilise this quickly to make reportage, to avoid the disaster we had in the past.

    “After the assessment of the primary health care centres in 2003, it was apparent that there were a lot of issues. But we were able to resolve them through a meeting that evaluated the reports that were provided.

    “This decoder’s meeting gave back to the current upgrade. I suggested that we needed to have a set of criteria for the upgrade, and the set of criteria were pretty straightforward. The governor did not see anything wrong with them.”

  • Gas explosion claims three in Ibadan

    Gas explosion claims three in Ibadan

    No fewer than three persons were burnt beyond recognition when a gas tank exploded at Idi-Iroko, Amuloko, Ona-Ara local government area of Oyo State.

    The incident, which occurred on Friday night, also destroyed properties valued at millions 

    It was gathered that one of the victims was identified as the owner of the tank farm but the identities of the other victims could not be ascertained as at time of filing the reports.

    According to sources, the explosion occurred when  a gas tanker with registration number LSR268YC loaded with 15 tonnes capacity of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) was offloading the content into the gas skid tank.

    A source said: “Even though we could not say exactly what triggered the explosion, the only thing I know is that there was a blast which was accompanied by fire.

    “It was late in the evening. Both the passersby and Farm tankers scampered for safety but three persons were unlucky as they were consumed by fire.

    “Aside the recorded death, the valuables including blocks of residential building were razed by fire.”

    Also confirming the incident, the Special Adviser to the Governor, on fire reform/ Chairman Fire Services Agency Moroof Akinwande said three lives were lost to the incident.

    According to him: “It was a gas tanker Regd. No LSR268YC loaded with 15 tonnes capacity of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) that exploded while transferring the content into the gas skid tank.

    “The blast damaged two vehicles and a residential building;  three persons were recovered and handed over to a team of policemen from Akanran Division. 

    “The operation was jointly carried out with a crew of firemen from Federal Fire Service, Ibadan Command.

    “The explosion sparkled panic among  residents, the prompt arrival of our officers contained the situation”

    The chairman  emphasised the importance of obtaining the Fire service , DPR and other stakeholders approval before installing gas tank or cylinder to avoid unnecessary explosion. 

    He assured the community that all necessary fire safety has been done and the investigation team would be sent to ascertain the root cause of the incident in order to avert future occurrence.

  • Oyo govt reads the riot act to owners of undeveloped plots in Ibadan

    Oyo govt reads the riot act to owners of undeveloped plots in Ibadan

    The Oyo State Housing Corporation, on Friday, conducted a fact-finding mission to the Owode Housing Estate Phase II, Apata, Ibadan, urging those yet to develop their allotted lands in the estate to do so in order to avoid losing such lands.

    This is sequel to an outcry by residents over insecurity and constant attacks by men of the underworld using the area as a hideout.

    Residents of Owode Estate Phase II had earlier sent a Save Our Soul message to the Corporation, decrying the spate of insecurity in the estate, noting that the massive forest in the estate had become a criminal hideout and that the few residents, who had developed the plots, could not sleep with their two eyes closed.

    Speaking shortly after conducting newsmen round the wide expanse of land, chairman of the Oyo State Housing Corporation, Hon. Demola Omotosho, pointed out that though the estate was inaugurated close to 50 years ago, only about 20 per cent of it had been developed.

    He noted that the fact-finding mission to the estate with newsmen became imperative following protests from residents, who reported cases of burglary, rape, and violent attacks.

    Omotosho pointed out that a recent incident involving a 76-year-old man who was brutally attacked, triggered the latest round of protests from residents, who had developed their plots but were made to live at the mercy of allottees, who failed to develop theirs and whose lands have become criminal hideouts.

    He decried that despite the estate having been established in the 70s, there are close to 1,000 hectares of undeveloped lands.

    Omotosho maintained that in order to curb the insecurity in the axis, the state government had called for a Public-Private Partnership to transform the Owode Phase II into a residential district.

    Assuring residents that significant development would take place between now and June 2026, Omotosho noted that the Corporation would put up a Police Post, an Amotekun security base and also install solar-powered streetlights across the estate.

    He added that similar interventions are underway in Ajoda New Town, where the first batch of 1,000 housing units are expected to be completed and delivered by June next year.

    Fielding questions from newsmen on the likelihood of an outcry from allottees, Omotosho noted that many allottees have held the lands for decades without developing them, despite the laws of the Housing Corporation indicating that any plot that is not developed to a habitable level within two to three years would be revoked by the government.

    Omotosho stated that the failure to develop the allotted plots had resulted in a grave danger for residents of the estate, with incessant attacks on residents including armed robbery, rape and other crimes perpetuated by criminals who are using the thick bushes, which a larger part of the estate have become, as hideouts. 

    He declared that the Corporation would revoke the undeveloped plots, while those who are ready to develop immediately should approach the Corporation for a discussion, explaining that the move to revoke is backed by the Oyo State Housing Corporation Law of 2001, which stipulates “that any plot left undeveloped for more than two years, or any allocation not fully paid for within twelve months, is automatically revoked.”

    He said: “We have allocated lands to people and our desire is that they build. But now that they have not developed the lands, the lives of those who have built are in danger.

    “These persons whose lands we are revoking have had our allocation papers for years; some for 25 years and some more. What have they been doing? When they were taking this land, they knew that if they would not develop the land in two years, it would be revoked.

    “So, we are not the ones revoking the lands, it is the law and their unwillingness to build. 

    “If you have paid a certain amount of money, our law says you must finish paying within 12 calendar months. If you don’t pay, such a contract becomes null and void and I don’t even need to get back to you. So, that is the issue.”

    He added that the government had to act on what he described as a matter of urgent importance raised by residents of Owode Estate Phase II, clarifying that if and when the Corporation goes ahead with the revocation of undeveloped plots, it should not be blamed for land-grabbing, because the laws of the Corporation were clear about failing to develop an alloted plot.

    “We are Oyo State Housing Corporation and not Oyo State Land Corporation, so people cannot get land allocations and keep as souvenirs. If you have your land, we are not taking it away from you if you develop. The only reason we will revoke your land is when you don’t develop the land allocated to you.

    “We are alive to our responsibilities. Our duty is to protect lives, enforce the law, and ensure that every estate under the Oyo State Housing Corporation becomes safe and livable,” he said.

    Earlier, a representative of the residents of Owode Estate Phase II, Deacon Idowu Aladejobi, said that residents of the estate had, indeed, sent a Save Our Soul to the Oyo State Housing Corporation, noting that criminals frequently hid in the numerous undeveloped plots around the estate, launching attacks on residents both day and night.

    According to him, the abandoned lands have become danger zones and that it took repeated complaints to get the attention of the Housing Corporation to identify owners of the undeveloped plots.

    He added that residents recently staged a protest to demand effective security and adherence to the initial terms under which lands were allocated noting that the move to revoke the undeveloped plots is a step in the right direction.

    He explained that the agreement signed with the Corporation clearly stated that any plot not developed within three years would be revoked and reassigned.

    “We want the government to take action on these undeveloped plots. There are people who are ready to build. Those who are not ready should have their lands revoked and given to others who will develop it,” he said.

    Aladejobi added that the estate currently lacks a steady security presence, leaving residents to live in fear.

    “At night, we sleep with one eye open because anything can happen. We want the government to provide permanent security, if possible, a permanent Amotekun team within the estate,” he appealed.

    Other residents, who spoke with newsmen, expressed hope that the inspection and promises made by the Oyo State Housing Corporation would mark the beginning of meaningful action to secure and fully develop the estate.

  • State reopens college of health technology

    State reopens college of health technology

    Oyo State has reopened Covenant College of Health Technology and Medical Sciences, Ibadan, following confirmation the institution now meets accreditation requirements.

    A Ministry of Health team, led by Dr. Kehinde Oyebode, had shut the college on allegation some programmes were not okayed by Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria or the ministry.

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    However, two days after the closure, Oyebode returned and, after verifying that the college had aligned its programmes with Nigeria’s approved health training curricula, lifted the closure.

    College’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mercy Ajani, said the institution ‘’has now obtained full accreditation from Ministry of Education and has established proper communication with relevant health authorities and boards.’’

    “Our institution was fully accredited by Oyo State through Ministry of Education. The college offers admission for the 2025/2026 session to only fully accredited health courses.”

  • Ogbomoso cradles carnival enlists in iconic December programme

    Ogbomoso cradles carnival enlists in iconic December programme

    The Oyo State Government has officially included the Ogbomoso Cradles Carnival in the lineup of activities for this year’s Faaji December cultural and entertainment festival.

    The Faaji December programme, coordinated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, will run from December 1, 2025, to January 2, 2026.

    Speaking in Ibadan at a stakeholders’ forum, the Secretary of the Ogbomoso Cradles Carnival Planning Committee, Muyiwa Oke, said the carnival’s inclusion in the statewide festive calendar underscores the government’s commitment to strengthening tourism and cultural heritage across all zones.

    According to him, the carnival, which is part of the 25-year development agenda of Oba Ghandi Afolabi, the Soun of Ogbomosoland, is aimed at promoting the rich cultural heritage of Ogbomosoland and unity.

    He said: “We are fully prepared to consolidate on the success recorded during last year’s maiden edition”.

    Commissioner for Culture and Tourism Dr Wasiu Olatubosun stated the maiden edition of the program held last year recorded a huge success. 

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    Olatubosun expressed optimism that this year’s edition will surpass the previous one, assuring that the organizers are better prepared to deliver an improved and more engaging cultural experience.

    This year’s Vibing (Faaji) December lineup features a rich blend of entertainment and cultural showcases, including major concerts, cultural parades, arts and crafts exhibitions, food and fashion fairs, street carnivals, and community-led festivals across the state. 

    The inclusion of Ogbomoso Cradles Carnival adds further colour and diversity to the statewide celebration.

    According to the organisers, the 2025 edition of the Ogbomoso Cradles Carnival will feature an expanded lineup of events, greater community participation, creative performances, and tourism-driven initiatives aimed at boosting the local economy.

  • Oyo traders, artisans resolve leadership crisis

    Oyo traders, artisans resolve leadership crisis

    The lingering leadership crisis among traders and artisans in Oyo State has been resolved, following a peace accord ratified by the leadership of the 12 registered clusters that make up Oyo State Market Dealers Council.

    The resolution was reached at a joint meeting held on October 9, at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives.

    Stakeholders were in attendance, including the presidents of the 12 clusters, the Babaloja and Iyaloja representatives from the 33 local governments, and five delegates from each cluster.

    The meeting, convened at the directive of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, was aimed at fostering peace among the warring factions of traders and artisans before his coronation.

    According to a communiqué signed by the 12 cluster leaders, the Olubadan had mandated market leaders in the state to resolve their grievances before his coronation.

    He appointed Alhaji Yisau Hamzat and Chief Odunayo Danjuma to anchor the reconciliation process — a task they began immediately, with consultations and peace meetings.

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    The communiqué was signed by the following 12 cluster presidents: Alhaji Hamzat, president, Oyo State Tradesmen and Artisans; Chief Danjuma, president, National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS); Alhaji Dauda Oladepo, president, Ibadan Joint Traders Association; Mrs. J.T. Raimi, president, Associated Commodity and Foodstuff of Nigeria; Alhaja Amudalat Lawal, president, Oyo State Food Canteen Workers Union and Mrs. Labake Lawal, president, Joint Traders Association of Oyo State.

    Others are Alhaji Mogaji Salawudeen, president, Progressive Tradesmen and Artisans of Oyo State; Alhaja Afusat Adebiyi, president, National Traders and Market Leaders Council; Alhaji Najim Azeez, president, National Youth Traders Action Council of Nigeria; Alhaji Malik Babasale, president, Companion Traders Association, Mrs. Stella Olabode, president, Oyo State Association of Traders in Nigeria and Chief S. A. Jimoh, president, Oyo State Market Men and Women.

    One of the issues discussed was the controversy surrounding the title of Aare Babaloja-General of Oyo State, requested by the camp of Alhaji Jimoh. After deliberations, the larger house — comprising the presidents of the 12 clusters, the Babaloja and Iyaloja representatives across the 33 local governments, and five representatives from each cluster — unanimously rejected the creation of a new title that could cause further division.

  • No teacher beaten to death in Oyo – Govt, NUT

    No teacher beaten to death in Oyo – Govt, NUT

    The Oyo State Ministry of Education and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) chapter, have cleared the air on the alleged beating of a teacher to death in Ogbomoso by students, describing the viral news story as fake and a complete misrepresentation of facts.

    Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olusegun Olayiwola; Oyo NUT Chairman, Comrade Raji Oladimeji and the Principal of Soun High School, Ogbomoso, Mr Ajayi Adeyinka, who spoke separately on Monday, gave detailed accounts of the incident.

    The trio noted that the claim that the deceased teacher, Mr Adegoke Abiodun, was beaten to death by some students is false and unfounded, stating that the incident in which he caught four students gambling within school premises happened on May 28, 2025 while the teacher died on November 4, 2025.

    The Oyo State Government and the Education family in Oyo State commiserated with the family of the deceased, praying for the repose of his soul, while also warning members of the public to be wary of fake news.

    Olayiwola, while speaking after a stakeholders’ meeting of the education family in the state, at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology’s Conference Room, said the Ministry’s investigations from the school showed that the deceased was not beaten by the students.

    He said that though it was true that the late Mr Adegoke caught four students gambling in school, he was not beaten by the students, but that he dislocated an arm while trying to beat one of the culprits.

    He added the teacher made efforts to treat the dislocated arm through local bone therapist and a private hospital but it was later discovered that he had bone marrow cancer and that it was already at Stage 4.

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    He warned reporters and residents of the state to be wary of fake news, stating that the public needs to exercise caution with regards to unverified information.

    He said: “We have gone into the roots of the matter and found out that the information is false. We asked the principal to report to the Ministry and he is sitting down here.

    “The fact of the matter is that the late Mr Adegoke Fatai had been sick. But the actual disease was not diagnosed until recently. The principal of the school told me that he used to go for medical attention since the time he got sick up until the time he died.

    “We were told that he was admitted into the hospital two weeks ago and that was where he was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer.

    “I also spoke with the wife of the deceased, who is incidentally a staff member of TESCOM, and she told me that it was not a matter of some students beating her husband.

    “What happened was that Mr Adegoke apprehended four students, who were gambling within the school premises. One of the boys was enrolled into the school by the deceased, as he was his friend’s son. Upon seeing someone so close to him among the culprits, we were told that Mr Adegoke lifted his hand to beat the boy, but that boy ducked and the late teacher’s hand landed on the boy’s elbow. This led to the hand swelling and the teacher was given medical attention immediately.

    “It was while he was treating the hand that it was discovered that the local approach and the attention from a private hospital were inadequate and he was referred to a government hospital, where he was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer, which had sadly, reached Stage 4.

    “It is sad that some people are using the sad incident of his death to fabricate lies and peddle rumours that don’t exist.

    “For you to know how far we went to investigate this incident, we called for the TESCOM chairperson, who is here with us. The Chairman of the NUT in Oyo State, Comrade Raji Oladimeji, is here seated. The Oyo ANCOPPS President is here seated. The Secretary-General of the NUT in Oyo State is here.

    “We also have the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, the Permanent Secretaries/Tutors-General and the Inspectors-General of Education from Ogbomoso and other people who have one thing or the other to do with education in Ogbomosoland are here.

    “As part of my investigations, I have even spoken with the Majority Leader of the Oyo State House of Assembly, who is from Ogbomoso and he told me that he has been there and has seen the situation himself. I spoke with the LG Chairman of Ogbomoso North, and he told me that he was with the wife of the deceased this morning.

    “We shall be sending a powerful delegation to the wife tomorrow, which would be led by the TESCOM Chairman, to condole with her and the family of the deceased. I was even told that the boy who Mr Adegoke tried to reprimand, which led to his mishap, has been distraught since he passed away.”

    Principal of Soun High School, Mr Adeyinka, said the incident was wrongly reported, saying that Adegoke, a dedicated teacher, died after he had been down with bone marrow cancer, which was diagnosed late and not because he was beaten by students at the school.

    “The whole incident happened on May 28, 2025. But he was not beaten by the students. His attempt to beat one of the students made him dislocate an arm and he sought medical help. Along the line, I learnt that he visited a local bone therapist to mend the arm. On an occasion, I went to visit him, and I discovered that the local therapist could not take care of the bone. He was taken to a private hospital (names withheld).

    “It was at that hospital that it was discovered that his bones were weakened and the doctor called it brittle bones. I went to see him again at that hospital, but I discovered that his condition had not improved. I had to reach out to the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Ogbomoso Zone, to come to our aid to raise money. After raising some money, we had to follow the guideline that stipulates that as a public officer he should be treated by a government hospital, so we took him back to the government hospital.

    “On November 3, we went to check him to present the money. I went with the chairperson of Ogbomoso North LG NUT. We had to sit down with the consultant to ask him what was really happening. He told us that Mr Adegoke had bone marrow cancer and that the cancer was already at Stage 4, which was the last stage. He told us that his chance of survival was 50-50. He passed on the second day,” the principal said.

    The principal noted that the school had immediately taken disciplinary action against the affected students, saying that “having discovered that they were gambling, we punished them at that moment.”

    The NUT chairman, Comrade Oladimeji, decried the fake news, which he said was capable of scaring hardworking teachers, stating that the incident of May 28, 2025, was never reported to the union, because the teacher was not beaten by the students caught gambling.

    He explained the NUT got involved in Mr Adegoke’s case when it had to raise funds for his treatment, noting that the NUT and other persons raised about N2 million for the teacher’s treatment and also visited him.

    According to him, the union found at some point that the deceased had bone marrow cancer, and he passed away last week.

    He said that the spurious claim that the man was beaten to death had caused tension and had been made to become a national issue, but that the union had sent out a position to calm frayed nerves and give the correct version of the story.

  • Oyo 2027: Opposition mounts against Ibadan’s dominance of guber seat

    Oyo 2027: Opposition mounts against Ibadan’s dominance of guber seat

    Prominent individuals and stakeholders from across 22 local government areas of Oyo State, under the aegis of G22 Renewed, have kicked against what they called the political dominance of Ibadan in serving as governor of the state at the expense of other regions.

    The group which called for a rotational governorship seat comprises four out of the five political zones in the state. They include: the ten LGAs in Oke-Ogun, five in Ogbomoso, four in Oyo and three in Ibarapa, lamenting that the cumulative period of Ibadan dominance of the governorship of the state is put at 26 years despite being just one zone out of the five that made up the state.

    The group spoke while addressing a press conference on the issue of rotational governorship seat in the state on Thursday.

    According to the group, the event, which was held at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Oyo State House of Assembly Complex, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan, was called to draw the attention of the general public to what they described as ‘intolerable imbalance and insensitivity’ being perpetrated in Oyo State as far as the governorship seat is concerned.

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    Speaking on behalf of the group, Chief Ademola Ayoade said the group, made up of respected and responsible individuals have always been a vanguard for the unity and progress of the state, based on the belief that, for peace to reign, there must be fairness, equity and justice.

    He said, “The purpose of this press conference is to draw the attention of the general public to the historic and intolerable imbalance and insensitivity being perpetrated in Oyo State as far as the office of the Governor of Oyo State is concerned.

    “Going by the Federal Character Principle as enshrined in Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Oyo State is divided into five administrative zones viz: Ibadan (11 LGAs), Oke-Ogun (10 LGAs), Ogbomoso (5 LGAs), Oyo (4 LGAs) and Ibarapa (3 LGAs).

    “Historically, we like to invite attention to the hegemonic trend of governance of Oyo State since the advent of civil/democratic rule, using 1979 as the starting point:

    “Dr.  Victor Olunloyo (3 months/Ibadan), Chief Kolapo Ishola (1 year 11 months/Ibadan), Alhaji Lamidi Adeshina (4years/Ibadan), Senator Rashidi Ladoja (4years/Ibadan), Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala (4years/Ogbomoso), Senator Abiola Ajimobi (8years/Ibadan) and Seyi Makinde (8 years/Ibadan).

    “As could be seen, the governorship of Oyo State has been dominated by the Ibadan Zone to the exclusion of the remaining four zones. Ibadan Zone, apart from being the state capital with 11 LGAs, is just one-third of the entire state in voting strength.

    “Except for the accidental emergence of Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala between May 2007 – May 2011, none of the remaining four zones comprising 22 LGAs has ever produced a governor in the state. The cumulative period of Ibadan dominance of the governorship of Oyo State is about 26 years, whereas it is one of the remaining zones (Ogbomoso) that ruled for only four years.”

    He said further, “We also wish to forward attention to the pattern of governorship candidates and elections in other Southwest states, contrary to the winner-takes-all all situations in Oyo State, no particular Zone has been dominating the political landscape of their respective states.

    “For instance, since the creation of Ondo, Osun and Ekiti states, apart from rotating the governorship slot, no indigene of the state capitals of Akure, Osogbo and Ado-Ekiti has been elected as governor of these three states. The citizens of the state capitals have always ensured that the governor comes from outside the state capital.

    “It is also pertinent to state that even at the federal level, if the North had weaponised its famed voting population, no Southerner would have emerged as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is where the seeming uncompromising posture of Ibadan co-patriots becomes an issue. All told, the voting pattern in Oyo State has consistently shown that only 30 per cent of the voting population in Ibadan are Ibadan indigenes. The implication of this is that the remaining 70 per cent belong to the other zones of the state, as well as non-indigenes of Oyo State.

    “In the light of the foregoing, we, on behalf of the 22 local governments outside Ibadan in the state, are, by this press conference, making a clarion call on all stakeholders to effect the following changes in the political landscape of our dear state:

    “That our Ibadan co-compatriots should, in the interest of justice, peaceful co-existence, equity and fairness, allow the 22 LGAs to nominate candidates for the governorship position in Oyo State for the forthcoming 2027 general elections.

    “That all political parties in the state should support this peaceful and legitimate demand of the remaining four zones in the state by ensuring that their respective parties nominate governorship candidates from any of the 22 LGAs for the 2017 general elections.”

  • Senator pledges more dividends for constituents

    Senator pledges more dividends for constituents

    The lawmaker representing Oyo North Senatorial District and 2027 governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Sen. Buhari Abdulfatai, has pledged to remain committed to ensuring his constituents and other Oyo State indigenes and residents enjoyed the best things of life.

    He said he would prioritise projects that would promote education, health care and economic development, adding that he would work to address people’s challenges.

    He said he was dedicated to making positive impact in the lives of his constituents, contributing to the development of Nigeria.

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    In a statement by the lawmaker to celebrate the 65th Independence Anniversary, Buhari urged Nigerians to honour the sacrifices of their forebears, who fought for their freedom.

    He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership and vision for the nation, saying the President’s commitment to education and development was evident in the establishment of  Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho.

    Buhari thanked Tinubu for signing a bill into law, which would provide youths with access to quality education and equip them with the skills needed to drive the agricultural sector forward.

    He said the university would be a game changer for the region, adding that he was proud to have played a role in making it a reality.

    ‘’Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho will provide our youths with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in agriculture and technology. This will not only improve their lives, but also contribute to the growth and development of our nation.

    “I am confident that this institution will become a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, driving economic growth and development in our region,” the senator said.