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Tag: Oyo state

  • Herdsmen/farmers clash: Oyo deputy preaches peace

    Against the backdrop of incessant attacks unleashed on farmers by herdsmen in Oyo State, the Deputy Governor of the state Otunba Moses Alake Adeyemo has appealed to farmers to go on with their farming activities, saying that the state government was leaving no stone unturned to ensure their safety.

    The Deputy Governor made the appeal on Monday while featuring on ‘Oro Oselu’,a political programme on a government owned radio station in Ibadan.

    He said, “The state government is regularly holding meetings with people of different tribes and religious belief with a view to ensuring peace.

    “In Oke Ogun, we have been living with herdsmen for many years, we have even intermarried. The farmers should not take laws into their own hands in the event herdsmen encroach on their farms. Such incident should be reported to the law enforcement agents for the law to take its course.

    Read Also: Herdsmen kill five in Benue

    “I can assure you that any herdsmen who encroach on farms will not go unpunished.”

    Otunba Adeyemo who contended that agriculture used to be the mainstay of the nations economy before the advent of oil called on the people of the state to show interest in agricultural practice, saying that the current administration was ready to support them with agricultural loans, inputs and farm implements.

    The Deputy Governor, however, expressed happiness that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration had restored agriculture to its pride of place in the country, urging the youths to embrace agricultural practice.

    He equally called for amendment of the nation’s constitution with a view to assigning specific roles and duties to the deputy governors to enable members of the public to assess their performance.

  • LG Poll: Oyo APC adopt consensus candidates

     

    As the May 12 local government elections draw closer in Oyo state, the ruling All Progressive Congress on Friday adopted the option of consensus candidates through an indirect primary which held at Lafia Hotels, Apata, Ibadan.

    The lists include candidates for the office of the chairmen, vice chairmen and councillors across the 33 local government areas and the 35 local council development areas in the state.

    The approach which was said to be in line with section 20A subsection 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the party constitution had all the party leaders and stakeholders from the ward level to the state and nationally elected officers of the party assembled.

    The primary also had in attendance members of the state executive councils, party leaders, women groups, youth groups and all stakeholders including elected officials at both the state house of assembly and the National assembly.

    The primary was greeted with jubilations and applause from the stakeholders present.

    The Speaker of the state house of Assembly, Mr Micheal Adeyemo led the APC lawmakers to the primary.

    Addressing the stakeholders, Governor Abiola Ajimobi who was flanked by the State party chairman, Chief Akin Oke, State Secretary, Mr. Mojeed Olaoya and other party chieftains, gave a background to the imperative of the adoption of consensus candidacy approach pointing out it was the decision of the stakeholders after all the aggrieved members of the party had earlier being appeased.

    Emphasising that the only party that can defeat the APC in the coming Council poll is the party in itself as a result of acrimony and disunity, Governor Ajimobi urged all the members to continue and sustain the peaceful co-existence and oneness that had helped the party over the years.

    While noting that the factionalisation issues rocking the party had been addressed, the governor told the stakeholders that anybody who parades himself as a Senaco or Lamist loyalist is a thief looking for the opportunity to swindle people or what to eat.

    He said the issue of some members being loyal to him or those being loyal to the late former Governor Lamide Adeshina had been long addressed during a unity meeting.

    On how the candidates emerged, the Governor said it was agreed that three names be submitted from each local government from where the eventual candidate was selected, adding that the list was devoid of any bitterness or rancour.

    He denied any form of imposition of the candidates stressing that the emerged candidates were thoroughly scrutinized by the party leaders to ensure that only the best were selected.

    Addressing journalist after the primary, the governor urged the candidates to emulate his good stance and replicate same through service to humanity, expressing confidence that the LG polls would end up a huge success.

    He said, “Let us thank God for ensuring that we had a peaceful outing. You will see that most party primaries have always been very rancorous but in our own case, it was very peaceful and in line with the constitution of our party, particularly if you look at page 74 sections 20A sub-section 1,2,3,4 clearly stated that the party can have either a direct primary or an indirect primary.

    “A direct primary meaning that all party members would assemble in a designated place where they will vote for the candidates of their choice. But in this case, you can also have the indirect, where it clearly stated that once you have elected members of the party from the wards to the various levels of the party organs, you can have them as a collegiate group and they become the delegates to participate and vote at a designated location for candidates of their choice and that is what we have done today.

    “We have been able to bring in all elected party members, assembly members, national and state and even at the local government wards level and we had what you call the consensus in which we listed the names of all the candidates and we asked for the support of the delegates and they agreed. And you could see that all the delegates were all happy.

    “We are happy because we took the right steps that should have been taken, with wide consultations. We consulted the party leaders, women, youth groups and all the stakeholders and we had what we call the consensus of the candidates.

    “There was no imposition of candidate and you could see the outcome. I think it was the best party primaries that I have seen and I have been in politics for quite sometimes now.

    “As we are, there is no party that can defeat us except we defeat ourself. And we felt all those who are aggrieved must sit together and talk that was what led to this.”

    The list of the consensus candidates was later read out by the State party secretary and later adopted by Remi Sadiq and Apostle Aderonmu to the cheering of the stakeholders.

  • PDP chief to court: I have liver ailment

    …Defendants reject witness’ evidence

    A People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader in Oyo State, Chief Olarenwaju Otiti, Friday asked the Federal High Court in Lagos for permission to  travel abroad to treat a liver problem.

    She is on trial with former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Jumoke Akinjide, and a former Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District Ayo Adeseun.

    They were charged with a former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is said to be at large.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused them of conspiring to directly take possession of N650million, which they reasonably ought to have known was part of proceeds of an unlawful act, and without going through a financial institution.

    They pleaded not guilty.

    Otiti, through her lawyer, Akinola Oladeji, promised not to run away if she is allowed to travel.

    “The applicant is seeking a conditional release of her passport for a trip to attend to her health challenges,” Oladeji said.

    The lawyer said Otiti had been suffering from the ailment for long, and that she was receiving treatment abroad when EFCC asked her to return.

    He said his client left her treatment in the US and came to Nigeria.

    After making a statement at EFCC, she returned to the US to resume the treatment but was again invited by the EFCC and was subsequently arraigned.

    “For the EFCC to call her a flight risk is a most unfair statement. We have stated that the ailment she’s suffering from is a liver disorder,” Oladeji said.

    The lawyer said the University Teaching Hospital in Ibadan issued a report that the PDP chief had “two cysts on the left and one on the right”.

    “This is just a confirmation that the operation can only be done in the United States of America. We have stated that her complete medical history is with the hospital and indeed she was referred there from Nigeria,” Oladeji added.

    The lawyer’s bid to tender the medical report from the Bar was rejected by the court.

    Justice Muslim Hassan held that for the report to be valid, it must be filed in form of an affidavit.

    Oladeji sought an adjournment to enable him file the affidavit.

    Earlier, defence counsel, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), Michael Lana and Oladeji had urged the court to expunge evidence given by an EFCC operative Usman Zakari.

    The witness had claimed that Mrs. Alison-Madueke allegedly collected N23billion ($115.01million) from three oil marketers ahead of the 2015 general election.

    He said Akinjide and others allegedly received N650million cash in March 2015 at the Dugbe branch of a bank in Ibadan on Mrs. Alison-Madueke’s instructions, and that the money was part of N23billion which the former oil minister kept in the bank.

    Zakari said the commission received a “Category A intelligence” about a meeting at Mrs Alison-Madueke’s house in December 2014 with a bank Managing Director and some oil marketers.

    According to Zakari, she told the bank chief that the oil marketers would bring hard currencies to the bank, and that he should keep the money until further directives.

    Zakari said Mrs Alison-Madueke directed the bank to convert the dollars to naira, which was complied with, after which she allegedly directed that the defendants be paid.

    The defence counsel, however, contended that Zakari’s testimony was hearsay and was inadmissible by virtue of Section 38 of the Evidence Act.

    Justice Hassan adjourned till April 9 for ruling and continuation of trial.‎

    Read Also: Court dismisses suit to sack Bello

  • Nigerian judges burdened with too many cases – Ajimobi

    Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has attributed the slow dispensation of justice to the high number of cases that judges across the country are being burdened with.

    The governor, stated this while inaugurating the Oyo State Multi-door Court House located within the premises of the State High Court, Ibadan, on Tuesday.

    He therefore appealed to litigants to embrace the newly-introduced multi-court door initiative as an alternative route to seeking redress and liberalizing access to justice.

    Ajimobi explained that the multi-court door system was in the furtherance of alternative dispute resolution system which he described as the country’s native jurisprudence before the contemporary court system came into being.

    He said: “The official commissioning of the multi-door court house today is a clear signal that we are returning to our root where issues are resolved amicably without the much experienced delays, complex legalese and drain on the resources of the state and disputants.

    Read Also: Why we are reforming education sector, by Ajimobi

    “This is not meant to minimize the role of our courts, especially the courts of records which play a pivotal role in the maintenance of civil and social order in our society.

    “But our vision is to ensure that we provide a credible alternative, yet constitutional route, towards dispute resolution and attainment of justice.’’

    In further justifying the introduction of the multi-door court system in the state, the governor frowned on what he called the astronomical addition to the court docket quarterly, saying the development might hamper speedy dispensation of justice.

    Ajimobi said that the multi-door court process would enable disputants to access the various other dispute resolution options such as mediation, arbitration, conciliation, early neutral evaluation and hybrid processes.

    He said: “I understand from the information available to me that each one of our judges in the High Court currently carry a case load of between 300 and 400 cases per court, which number increases monthly.

    “So far, within this first quarter of 2018 only, I am informed that 306 new civil cases have been filed by disputants before the Oyo State High Court and 173 criminal cases filed by the Ministry of Justice and the police.

    “With such astronomical addition to the court docket quarterly, our administration of justice system may never be able to achieve speedy dispensation of justice, without an initiative like the multi-door court.

    “It is clear that without this alternative route and a liberalization of our access to justice structures, speedy dispensation of justice will continue to elude our people.’’

    Also speaking at the occasion, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Oluseun Abimbola, said the landmark performances of the present administration, which culminated in the transformation of the State into the 4th Most Desirable Destination of Choice for Foreign Investment had been replicated in the legal system

    He described the multi-door court process as part of the Ajimobi-led administration’s legacy of restoration, transformation, and repositioning the state, for which the legal profession in the state would remain grateful.

    Abimbola urged all stakeholders and the organized private sector to embrace and harness the benefits of the new initiative in the state’s justice system for their own benefit.

    The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Munta Abimbola expressed appreciation to the governor for the initiative and promised that the state’s legal administration would do all within its power to enhance justice delivery in the State.

  • INEC says over six hundred thousand PVCs are unclaimed in Oyo

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said well over six hundred thousand permanent voters cards have yet to be claimed and or collected by registered voters in Oyo state.

    Specifically, the commission said a total of 649,183 PVCs of registered voters across the state were still in custody of the electoral regulatory body.

    The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Mutiu Agboke made the disclosure when he led INEC top delegation on a courtesy visit to the office of the Oyo state Chief Judge, Justice Munta Abimbola.

    According to Agboke, since the commencement of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, more than 13,000 new voters have been registered, noting that the ongoing CVR which started on January 8, this year, will end this week Thursday, March 22.

    He however added that, a second phase would be held soon with a view to giving more Nigerians that have attained voting age, and those that have never registered before the opportunity to do so.

    He said that those who have either lost their PVCs or have them defaced, as well as those who have relocated from one place to another would also be given the opportunities to have another cards or have their voting powers transferred to their new places.

    Agboke stated that INEC came up with two major documents, which are INEC Programme of Action and INEC Strategic Plan of Action, saying the two documents have been the guiding principles that commission has been working on, and that one of the major components in the documents is a robust continuous engagement of stakeholders.

    Speaking further on the CVR, he solicited the support of stakeholders as he raised the awareness and consciousness on the exercise, promising that “those, whose particulars have not been properly captured, will be regularised.

    “Not only that, for those who have moved from one area to another, you don’t expect them to go and do multiple registrations. We will help them to transfer their voting powers. For those who have also moved from one state to the other, we will help them with their voting powers.”

    Responding, the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Abimbola, described INEC and judiciary as partners that must ensure that democracy is not scuttled in Nigeria.

    “This will be the first time that INEC will come to the court and I agree with him when I listened to him that we need to talk to ourselves. We are partners in ensuring that democracy is not scuttled in this country”, the CJ said

    He noted that the electoral umpire has responsibility of conducting elections and some other functions, while the judiciary also has the responsibility of administering whatever the conduct of the election is, whether it is in compliance to the electoral rules or whatever.

     

  • Ajimobi inaugurates multi-door Courthouse

    As a measure of enhancing and facilitate quick administration and resolution of civil disputes as well as boosting the confidence of the organized private sector in the state, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, on Tuesday inaugurated the Multi-Door Courthouse.

    Ajimobi while speaking at the inauguration of the special court for the  Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) at the premises of Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan, explained that the Multi-Door Courthouse was one of the steps been taken by his administration to modernize the state and restore its pace setter status.

    He noted that in spite of the claim by the state of being a pace setter in the country, the reality is that Lagos State, which is less than three hours drive away,  has not only overtaken the capital of the old western region, it is 25 years ahead of Oyo State.

    He recounted that since the inception of his administration in 2011, he has “worked assiduously to nip in the bud, the rampant thuggery and hooliganism that characterized the state, by ensuring solid foundation of peace, security and massive infrastructural development”, adding that his administration has also introduced and implemented many initiatives that are gradually restoring the state to its pace setter status.

    His words, “We will make sure we make Oyo State a modern state. Look at Lagos State, it takes an average of one to three hours to get there depending on the traffic. Lagos state is 25 years ahead of Oyo State. We pride ourselves in pacesetter status, it has gone. We are no longer the pacesetter, but we are only trying to bring it back and I’m happy that with today’s commissioning, we are bringing back the pacesetter status.”
    He, however, stated further that his administration has been working to change some perceived attitudes that are anti-development, saying “we thought we should change the attitude because attitude will determine altitude. We are changing attitude in Oyo State, especially attitude of dependency in order to ensure that we transform this state to a modern state.”

    The Chief Judge of the state, Justice Munta Abimbola, in his address a new administration of justice had just begun in the state promising to use same to ease the task of justice system.

    He said, “A new dawn begins in the administration of justice in Oyo State. We shall use it to ease the task of justice system.

    “We shall make do all the enablements offered us to enhance and bear in justice delivery in Oyo State. We shall partner with Negotiation and Conflict Management Group (NCMG) and the ADR Society to ensure success in the adaptation and use of this alternative.”

    Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr. Seun Abimbola, in an earlier remarks stated that the multi-door court would be a wholesome complement to the Citizen’s Mediation Centre at the Ministry of Justice, “which had been earlier repositioned by this administration, and now on annual basis handle between 700 and 800 cases, with an 80 per cent success rate in resolution.”

    The facilitator of Multi-Door Courthouse in Nigeria, Mr. Kehinde Aina, also noted that the special court has capacity to attract the organized private sectors and other investors to the state.

     

     

  • 2019: EU trains INEC staff on gender mainstreaming

    As part of preparations for the country’s 2019 general elections, the European Centre for Electoral Support ( ECES ), on Monday in Lagos, commenced training of electoral officers on gender mainstreaming.

    The one-week training with the theme: “BRIDGE Training on Gender and Election in Nigeria,” is directed at desk officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ).

    The News men reports that “BRIDGE” stands for Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections.

    Mr David Le Notre, the Project Director of ECES, said that the training was designed to encourage more Nigerian women to take active part in the electoral process.

    “Records show that women demography makes up the largest chunk of voters’ population, but the women in Nigeria constitute only 5.8 per cent of the political space.

    “In 2015, only six women were appointed into the cabinet while there were seven female senators and six female deputy governors.

    “Also in 2015, only one female contested for the presidency while four contested for vice presidency, one for governorship and five for deputy governorship.

    “These are indicative of low participation of women in electoral processes and government,” he said.

    Le Notre said the training workshop would familiarize INEC desk officers with the concept of gender and its importance in election.

    “I hope this workshop avails participants the requisite knowledge for effective gender mainstreaming in the Nigerian political space,” he added.

    Read Also: INEC uncovers illegal registration centre in Kwara

    Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, INEC’s Chairman of Outreach and Partnership Committee, said that the workshop was one of the ways INEC adopted to build the capacity of its staff.

    Ogunmola who is also a National Commissioner in INEC, said that the commission was committed to building an all-inclusive democracy.

    “This course is aimed at equipping our desk officers with the capacity to carry out their duties of gender mainstreaming in the electoral process.

    “It is one of the many ways the commission has adopted to build capacity of its staff.

    “The commission is committed to building an inclusive democracy where equality and equity are guaranteed,” he said.

    His address was delivered by Mr Mutiu Agboke, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oyo State.

    NAN

  • Oyo targets 1.2million children for measles vaccine

    Over one million children in Oyo State are set to benefit from the measles vaccination campaign embarked upon by the State Government, Federal Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisations.

    Specifically, the state government said it is targeting over 1.2 million children under the ages of nine months to five years to be vaccinated to prevent measles in the state.

    The state commissioner for Health, Dr Azeez Adeduntan made the disclosure at a news conference which held at the Conference Room of the Federal Ministry of Health, Ibadan to flag off the vaccination campaign.

    According to the Commissioner, the vaccination which would be done in two phases will cover 17 local governments areas in the first phase while the second phase which would commence next week Thursday would cover the remaining sixteen local government areas of the state.

    Dr Adeduntan allayed the fear of parents and guardians on the wrong notion of the vaccine assuring that the vaccine is not harmful to children, but rather, it helps to prevent diseases that may later surface in life.

    Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Lanre Abass noted that the vaccine will be administered in 17 local government in the first phase which began on Thursday, urging mothers to take their children out to prevent various sicknesses.

    Noting that no fewer than 8,000 health workers have being engaged to administer the vaccine across the state, Abass reiterated the commitment of the present administration to transform the health sector and guarantee improved healthcare delivery for people of the state.

    The government also assured that the appropriate measure has been put in place to ensure that the health workers are given the needed security protection, on the heels of attack on health volunteers serving with communities with certain misgivings on the importance of the vaccine.

    The Commissioner after the press conference later led the team of government officials from the state ministry of health, federal ministry of health, World Health Organisation and other health stakeholders to the Ibadan North Local Government Council Secretariat to flag off the exercise with the administration on some children.

     

  • Oyo begins One House, One Refuse Drum policy

    Oyo State Government has commenced House to House public health and hygiene sensitization to ensure the compliance of one house, one refuse drum policy of the state, saying that dumping of refuse into the rivers and streams channels as well as road median remain prohibited.

    The State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Chief Isaac Ishola said this in Ibadan on Thursday, disclosing that the Ministry had dredged 50 streams and rivers in the state between 2014 to 2017.

    Chief Ishola said that efforts are already being taken to expand some rivers in the state for free flow of water through the construction of about 14 priority sites to expand river hydraulic and bridges.

    The Commissioner reiterated that it is a legal and moral offence for anybody to drop refuse inside rivers, streams and road median, urging that people should stay away from flood plains once the rain persists for more than half hour.

    Read Also: Oyo shuts eight facilities for ‘quackery’

    He said, “The beginning of failure, is the failure to plan, as a responsible State Government we have identified some rivers and streams that are due to be dredged in order to have a flood free raining season. We are also calling on our people to desist from activities that can cause flooding in the state. Furthermore, we have started the House to House campaign of the government’s policy of One House, One Drum to ensure that people are aware of their responsibilities.”

    Chief Ishola stressed that each house as a matter of civic responsibility is expected to patronise private refuse collectors as assigned by the management of Oyo State Waste Management Authority (OYOWMA), revealing that the government is planning to establish Oyo State Enforcement Agency to complement the various enforcement strategies of the Ministry.

    He called on the people of the state, who have their houses built on the flood prone areas, to vacate such houses to prevent the loss of lives and properties.

  • Oyo hands over new model schools to boards– Ajimobi

    Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State says the newly constructed model schools in the state will be handed over to the Schools Governing Board ( SGB ) by Match ending.

    Ajimobi made the disclosure during an inspection tour of the school’s projects in Ibadan.

    Newsmen report that Ajimobi visited two of the projects situated at Oremeji area of Mokola and Bashorun in Ibadan metropolis.

    Newsmen report that Ajimobi also visited the   newly constructed model schools at Oba Akinbiyi High School, Ibadan and Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.

    He, however, did not visit Baptist High School, Saki.

    The governor said that the projects were expected to be completed soon and would be received from the contractors in few days for handing over to the board.

    He said his administration was poised at constructing six model schools, adding that three additional schools would be constructed before the expiration of his tenure.

    “Our administration is poised at ensuring the modernisation of the state. This is part of our method of modernising education in the state.

    “We are modernising education in terms of content, curriculum and quality environment for students, which we believe is very essential,” he said.

    Ajimobi said that his administration had improved upon the curriculum in schools and several other educational reforms evolved.

    Read Also:  Ajimobi appoints Bolaji Tunji as Special Adviser

    The governor said that the efforts were aimed at bringing overall improvement in the quality of education which had already been yielding fruitful results.

    According to him, you will recall that in 2017, we have the best result in West African Senior School Certificate Examination ( WASSCE ).

    in the last 18 months.

    “No matter the rhetoric of our detractors, we have improved on education in the state. “We have the overall best students, both male and female from the state.”

    He said the model schools were another feathers to the cap of educational improvement in the state, adding that they had disappointed those who never believed they could do it.

    “We are doing Catch them Young, School Feeding Programme supported by the Federal Government and Oyo State Model Education System Intervention ( OYOMESI ) aimed at improving upon the character of students.

    “We have also evolved the school governing board to encourage participation of parents, associations, communities and students in the management of schools,” he said.

    Ajimobi cautioned the detractors, whose stock-in-trade was to lie against the government, to desist from such and embrace developmental politics.

    NAN