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Tag: Oyo state

  • Civil society group decries IGP’s handling of Benue killings

    Civil society group decries IGP’s handling of Benue killings

    A civil society organisation, the Sanctity Transparency Peace Initiative (STPI) has called on the Inspector General of Police Mr. Ibrahim Idris to come clean on the alleged complicity of the police and its negligence which has worsened the herdsmen’s killings across the country.

    In a communique issued on Tuesday after its emergency meeting in Abuja, the group bemoaned the deteriorating security situation in the country, particularly in Benue State.

    The communique, signed by its National Coordinator, Sunday Alakho, the group condemned what it called the less than salutary role of the police chief since the killings by suspected herdsmen started on New Year’s day.

    The group said the IGP’s initial description of the mass murder of innocent villagers by herdsmen as a “mere communal clash” is callous and insensitive against people crying out for Justice.

    It further accused the IGP of flouting the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to relocate to Benue State and also rated the intervention of the police as a monumental failure, as according to the group, the killings have continued unabated.

    The group also expressed concerns over remarks credited to the IGP that the implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition Law in Benue was responsible for the killings.

    It wondered if the same law was responsible for the herdsmen’s similar killings in Plataeu, Zamfara, Edo, Ogun, Kaduna and Oyo States where such laws do not exist.

    The STPI maintained that the complicity of the police was confirmed by the reference to Benue’s Governor Samuel Ortom as a “drowning man” by Force spokesman, Mr. Jimoh Moshood.

    It demanded for a full public explanation from the police authorities on what it meant by branding an elected governor “a drowning man”.

    The group urged the Nigerian people not to take the characterisation lightly, as it could be interpreted to mean the safety of the Governor is endangered. It demanded a public pronouncement by the police guaranteeing the safety of Governor Ortom.

    The STPI joined other Nigerians in calling for the immediate arrest of leaders of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore which it accused of masterminding the killings, following an earlier threat issued by the herdsmen.

    It charged the IGP to impartially execute his presidential mandate by ensuring the safe return of villagers who have been moving to Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP) camps and to ensure the safety of their communities failing which he should resign.

    The STPI warned the police authorities to refrain from dragging the noble force into the murky waters of politics in order to disabuse the minds of citizens who suspect that the role of the police in this crisis is a manifestation of a hidden agenda against particular ethnic groups.

    It also recalled with dismay an earlier statement credited to the Minister of Defence, Gen. Dan Ali, citing the Anti Open Grazing law law passed by the state as being responsible for the killings.

  • Fulani herdsmen kill SARS operative in Oyo

    Fulani herdsmen kill SARS operative in Oyo

    Suspected Fulani herdsmen have killed the Officer-in-charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Saki Area of the Oyo State Police Command.

    The officer, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, whose name was not disclosed by the Command was said to have been macheted to death by the suspected Fulani herdsmen during an operation in a forest around Saki-Ogboro Road in the Oke Ogun area of the state.

    The incident is coming barely two weeks after the state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude and other top officers of the Command held a stakeholders meeting to address issues and crisis between farmers and herdsmen in the state.

    The meeting held at the Eleyele Headquarters of the Command in Ibadan.

    According to a top Source who pleaded anonymity, a combined team of police officers and men of the SARS operatives in the area had arrested some suspected Fulani herdsmen on the ground of disturbing public peace a day earlier, but that the men were ambushed by another gang of herdsmen during another attempt to arrest two other suspects involved in the public chaos.

    The source added that the development has led to palpable fear in Saki and its environs.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Command, Adekunle Ajisebutu who confirmed the incident said four suspects have been arrested in connection with the death of the officer.

    He, however, added that the Command has commenced an investigation on the incident while assuring people in the area to remain law-abiding and calm.

  • Oyo SSG family awards scholarship to 10 indigent students

    Oyo SSG family awards scholarship to 10 indigent students

    The family of the Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Alhaji Olalekan Alli at the weekend awarded scholarships to 10 indigent Junior Secondary School Students of Ibadan Grammar School in commemoration of the one year remembrance of their father, Pa Mustapha Alli (Baba Odoye)

    Pa Alli, who was a 1948 set of Ibadan Grammar School, died on February 2, 2017 at the age of 96.

    While presenting the cheque of the N350,000.00 scholarship to the school Principal at the school hall, the representative of the Alli family, Mr. Adekunle Alli said that the gesture was in line with the passion of their late father and mother.

    Mr. Alli explained that their late parents believed in education for all during their life time, noting that the scholarship to the 10 indigent students was a way of actualizing the realization of their late parents’ dream.

    He stated that the Sum of Thirty Five Thousand Naira (N35,000.00) was apportioned to each Student which covers their Annual Education Levies such as, School Uniforms, Text Books, School Sandals, Socks among others.

    Read Also:  Oyo  to hold Council Polls May 12

    In their separate remarks, the Principals of Ibadan Grammar School, Molete, Ibadan, Mr. Ajani Oyeade and his counterpart from Junior School, Mr. Jinadu Samuel thanked the Family for the support giving to the Students to attain success in their academic pursuit and prayed for the repose of their late Parents.

    Earlier, a special prayer was organized at the family House as part of the activities marking the one year remembrance of their Late father.

     

  • Ajimobi trying to balance history in Ibadan – Attorney-General

    Ajimobi trying to balance history in Ibadan – Attorney-General

    Olusegun Abimbola is the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State. In this interview with our Correspondent, Oseheye Okwuofu , the explains the motive behind he decision of the Govenor Abiola Ajimobi-led administration to carry out the now controversial amendment of the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration.

    DID the state envisage that the issue of chieftaincy review would become a legal tussle?

    In any society, particularly in the evolution of issues of institution, organizations, or even processes, there are bound to be those who support and there are bound to be those who oppose even for the most altruistic proposals. A very good example is that some people thought that slave trade was legal and appropriate. They practice it for generations. At some point, segregation was appropriate in some localities and when there was agitation for change, it was violently resisted in some areas.

    Similarly, when some countries effected legislations to change some obnoxious practices, some people went to court. What I am trying to say is that there is nothing in this life that is suggestive of a change, no matter how positive the change is, that will not be challenged by some people either selfishly or otherwise. Now, to your question weather litigation was anticipated or not, people who have good, bad or no reason at all can challenge any position, policy or proposal at any point in time.

    So, I’ll say it is not beyond contemplation. That is why government ensured that in implementing the decisions taken, every required steps were diligently followed. There is hardly any chieftaincy declaration that exist in any part of Oyo state and the entire southwest, perhaps even beyond the southwest, that is not a product of inquiry at some point.  What then is a declaration?

    The Chiefs law of Oyo State is today a referring material for all the states in the southwest, because when the Chiefs law was originally introduced, we were all in a region. So it became applicable in the other states of the west at a point. What is the purpose of a declaration? Section 4 of the Chiefs law says that the governor may require a committee to be set up to make a declaration on a customary law that will regulate in the selection of any person to hold a recognized chieftaincy post.

    That is what a declaration is. So if you want to become Oba or Baale of any particular locality, there is a statement of appropriate customary laws, processes and procedure that will govern how to become one. Now, under the Chiefs law, the supreme authority remains the governor. Every other institution under the Chiefs law hold their power as delegated responsibility of the governor.

    That is why it is usually said that ‘the governor may by order do this or do that’. So you find out that it is the governor that the law emphatically says holds the power. So everybody else who functions by virtue of the Chiefs law function as a delegated authority under the governor. That is foundational. So if the law says that for every competent council that would be established by the order of the governor, such number of committee may be determine by the governor for the purpose of declaration.

    That means the existence of previous committee is subject to the governor. I am trying to preface the prelude the numbers of issues. What the governor did was to exercise his powers under section 25 and commissions of inquiry law to set up an inquiry because if the governor can ask a chieftaincy committee to make a declaration in respect of any chieftaincy matter, what would be the basis upon which that committee will do so? What will be the basis of the governor’s directive.

    The governor cannot know the customary evolution of every domain in the state and all these chieftaincies need a declaration. The only way the governor can be availed with all the necessary informations that will determine the directive to chieftaincy committee as to the issuance of a declaration would be based on his knowledge of what is the customary law relating to a particular chieftaincy which can only be achieve through inquiry. That is why you hear of Ademola inquiry, Oloko inquiry etc.

    So is there no room for the state house of assembly to legislate on the issue?

    The position of the Chiefs law is that when the governor is satisfied that the declaration is inquired; that satisfaction can be a product of feedback or recommendation of inquiry or his personal knowledge but he won’t say he is satisfied because there would be need to issue a declaration or even to amend a declaration as the case may be. Then he can direct necessary chieftaincy committee that made the declaration to do the amendment.

    When the commission of inquiry make its recommendations, that is the content of what will inform the governor to know the facts relating to a particular chieftaincy. It was brought to the governor and the executive council. Then governor issued his opinion which was contained in a white paper and gazetted. That white paper was a represents the opinion of government in respect of what is to be done.

    The white paper is still not the amended declaration. It is the opinion of the government as what to be done. It was pursuant to that white paper and pursuant to the Chiefs law in section 10 that if the government is satisfied, he may require a chieftaincy committee to amend the declaration. It is contained in the white paper which was transmitted to relevant chieftaincy committee. It is the chieftaincy committee that amended the declaration. And when the chieftaincy committee amended it, it was gazetted and registered. Those are the steps as contained in the law and as followed by the governor. There is no part of it that says the House of Assembly must amend the declaration or register it.

    But in the past, declarations usually come from the Olubadan-in-Council. Why is it government this time?

    It won’t be correct if anybody alleges that there was no consultation because I am aware that there were consultations and this issue did not start with this administration. But it predates this administration and all the parties involved are aware that it predate this administration. Perhaps it is as far back as 30 years ago. All the settlement chiefs that were also part of the entire process know that it has been in existence for many decades, not as if it is just started yesterday.

    We also need to know that the essence of the commission of inquiry is to ensure that all stakeholders make impute into the final decisions. The essence is to invite memoranda and in this case, they receive about 120 memoranda. At that point when they were receiving memoranda, the people who had gone to court were expected to submit their own memoranda to avoid disagreement. It will interest you to know that none of the people that went to court submitted memoranda.

    But they have gone to court at that time?

    The commission of inquiry had started its sitting before they approach the court. That shows that they chose not to submit any memoranda but rather to go to court. The commission was set up on May 19 and went on public hearing in June 7  while the first case was filed in 25th of June. The public hearing was to allow those who have already submitted memoranda to come and speak on it so that it won’t be their own personal interpretation of written documents.

    With your explanation, don’t you think it is a mistake on the part of the government that you didn’t limit the promotion to the Baales and not the High Chiefs?

    Like I said, the essence of the commission is to take suggestions from all the stakeholders through memoranda. In many of those memoranda submitted different positions were canvassed and justified. Some of the memoranda were from Olubadan in Council, High chiefs and other institutions with respect to the elevation of the Olubadan in Council. Even this one predate this administration. These are the issues that have been on ground for long and we need to recognize some of the issues at hand.

    When change begins, there is always some measure of resistance. In several part of the state like Ibarapa and Ogbomoso, there were similar situation where government had elevated some traditional rulers to crown wearing Obas. Now, imagine a situation where a Baale who is a crown wearing Oba, sits as a member of a traditional council headed by one of the high Chiefs who is not an Oba.

    Can you see the aberration that will be created? That means someone who is an Oba has been put under a High chief. You can see that it is a way of balancing history and keeping the trend, peace and hierarchy in chieftaincy institution. The government is trying to create balance. Governor Ajimobi’s action is purely calculated to clean up the historical problems that different generations keep passing on because nobody could boldly take the decision this administration has taken.

    The new Obas are also members of the  Olubadan in Council, can they wear the Olubadan crown again in future?

    One of the things about life is evolution and none of us is in the position to determine what is in it until you face the circumstances that demands it of you. Just as you said you have never seen a promoted King so also you will say you have never seen a domain with emergence of paramount ruler the way we have it in Ibadan. It doesn’t exist anywhere but we cannot say because it does not exists elsewhere, our own is aberration. It is not because that is how we are.

    One of the things we should appreciate is the uniqueness we possess in Ibadan. Today, we are faced with issues that has to do with boundaries with some neighboring states and for those states to assert authority, they have conferred Obaship title on the boundaries community Chiefs. When it is time to take decision, you know what happens. Also, now that they are proposing a national council of traditional rulers, do you think a Baale will be part of the council?

    The qualification to be in the council will be something that shows your superiority in the hierarchy of traditional institutions. So, if we remain on that premise, we are not doing ourselves any good. Don’t forget, there was a time we have only one local government in Ibadan land. I mean Ibadan Municipal Council. When there was moves to have many councils, there was this kind of resistance.

    Then, did anybody know that there was still going to be the 1999 constitution which will tie distribution of consolidated revenue of Federal Republic of Nigeria to the number of local government we have? Assuming Ibadan remains only one local government rather than eleven, now we have 774 local government in the constitution that the revenue mobilization and physical commission divides allocation to every months based on the parameter set out.

    Ibadan would have been taking only make one slot because we are one local government. Now that we are eleven local governments, it is more resources and development for Ibadan land. That is what I am saying that naturally people resist change because they cannot see far off into the future. But that should not stop us from doing what is good for our people once we see that it is the good thing to do.

  • 1,000 relish free eye care services in Oyo

    1,000 relish free eye care services in Oyo

    Nigeria is among the 10 most populated countries in the world. Despite its size, there has not been earlier national estimate of the prevalence and causes of blindness and visual impairment before the Nigeria National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey which was conducted between 2005 and 2007.

    After then, scientifically valid data are available to provide the epidemiological evidence and data needed for eye care planning, priority setting; advocacy and for measuring the impact of service delivery in Nigeria. The data also contributes towards the global database of blindness, which is being used for global planning, advocacy, resource mobilisation, and to monitor VISION 2020 initiatives.

    Findings revealed that 1.13 million individuals aged 40 years are currently blind in Nigeria, as an additional 2.7 million adults aged 40 years are estimated to have moderate visual impairment. An additional 400,000 adults are severely visually impaired, while 4.25 million adults aged 40 years are visually impaired or blind.

    Against this background, the Oyo East Local Government, in collaboration with Eye Clinic, Iseyin, an arm of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo, both in Oyo State, recently organised a two-day Free Eye Screening, Testing and Surgeries for over 1,000 residents.

    The programme which held at the Oba Adeyemi Hospital, Durbar, Oyo Town, witnessed large turnout of residents, mostly adults and the aged.

    In his address, caretaker Chairman of the Local Government, Mr. Abiodun Sarafadeen Adebayo, said eyes are important parts of human health.

    He stated that people use their eyes to see and have a sense of the world around them, adding that some eye diseases can lead to vision loss. As a result of this, he said, there is the need to identify and treat eye diseases as early as possible.

    This, Adebayo noted, informed the decision of the local government to sensitise and assist the impoverished ones who have one eye problem or the other.

    He said: “We should get our eyes checked as often as our health care provider recommends it, or if we have any new visual problems. Just as it is important to keep our body healthy, we also need to keep our eyes healthy.”

    In an interview with reporters, the Administrator and Matron of Eye Clinic located in Iseyin, Reverend Sister Lucia Akinnusoye, said everyone needs to have their eyesight tested to check eye problems.

    Children usually have visual screening in school or at their health care provider’s office during a check-up, adding that adults may also get visual screenings during their check-ups.

    “But many adults need more than visual screening. They need a comprehensive dilated eye examination. Getting comprehensive dilated eye examinations is especially important because some eye diseases may not have warning signs. The examinations are the only way to detect the diseases in their early stages, when they are easier to treat. The examination includes several tests: A visual field test to measure your side (peripheral) vision. A loss of peripheral vision may be a sign of glaucoma. A visual acuity test, where you read an eye chart about 20 feet away, to check on how well you see at various distances .

    “If you have a refractive error and are going to need glasses, then you will also have a refraction test. When you have this test, you look through a device that has lenses of different strengths to help your eye care professional figure out which lenses will give you the clearest vision.”

    Continuing, Akinnusoye said: “At what age one should start getting these

    examinations and how often one needs them depends on many factors. They include age, race, and overall health’’.

    On the way out of eye diseases, the expert counselled thus, “there are things you can do to help keep your eyes healthy and make sure you are seeing your best. These include eating of  a healthy, balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight, get regular exercise, wearing of sun glasses, wearing of  protective eye wear, avoid smoking, knowing of one’s family health history, and knowing of other risk factors’’.

    She said: “As you get older, you are at higher risk of developing age-related eye diseases and conditions. It is important to know your risk factors because you may be able to lower your risk by changing some behaviours. If you wear contacts, take steps to prevent eye infections. Wash your hands well before you put in or take out your contact lenses. Also follow the instructions on how to properly clean them, and replace them when there is need. Give your eyes a rest. If you

    spend a lot of time using a computer, you can forget to blink your eyes and your eyes can get tired. To reduce eyestrain, try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds’’.

  • Firm renovates dilapidated community school in Oyo

    Firm renovates dilapidated community school in Oyo

    St. Martins Catholic School, Orile-Odo, Alomaja in Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State was a block of four classrooms. It served children from about 15 communities. But for 10 years, it had been in ruins. It was the only remaining block out of three blocks of classrooms as the other two had become derelict.

    Any wonder parents, teachers, community leaders and youths in the affected communities rolled out the drums in ecstasy when renovation work began on the remaining two dilapidated blocks of classrooms. Members of the community were joyful when the two blocks of classrooms were completed and handed over to the community.

    The project was an aftermath of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative of Rom Oil Mills Limited, a subsidiary of Flour Mills of Nigeria. The firm spent about N10 million in the renovation work.

    In the same manner, another subsidiary of FMN Plc equipped the classrooms with furniture for teachers’ and students’ use. This costs N1 million.

    Additionally, a set of newly built toilet facilities and water borehole to serve both the school and the immediate community were handed over to the community.

    The villages included Operinde, Fakayode, Idi Omo, Alaadorin, Ara Oje, Iyana Bare, Idi Ayunre, Onipe, Ekefa, Onidajo and Orile-Odo all in the Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State. Residents of Ibadan were so ecstatic at the inauguration and handing over of the school facilities.

    Parents, teachers, community leaders, education officials, local government officials, youths of the community, traditional leaders and officials of the donor company were present at the event.

    The Chairman, Parent-Teacher Associations of the school, Alhaji Rasheed Omojogunola, was very pleased with the gesture. He said he had been responsible for taking care or effecting repair works on the furniture that remained in the school.

    He explained that before the renovation, the dilapidated structure was more of an eyesore and had, over the years, discouraged many parents from releasing their children to attend the school because of the fear of imminent collapse of the old structure.

    Omojogunola, who expressed appreciation to the donor company, believed that the new effort will encourage more parents to release their children to attend the school as well as encourage more teachers who had refused postings to the school to take up teaching appointments at the school.

    The Baale (Village head) Orile-Odo community, Chief Suara Adegoke said the dilapidated structure was only inhabited by goats, sheep, dogs and other animals, as the structure was unfit for human habitation until the donor company intervened. He vowed to ensure that the facility would be well protected for the benefit of the teachers and pupils.

    The General Manager, Rom Oil Mills Limited, Douglas Ewing said the company was moved to embark on the venture because of the purpose it would serve as well as the proximity of the school to the company.

    Noting that the company was not out to throw money around, Ewing said the company decided on the project after conducting a survey of the numerous needs of the people of the communities and which would be more beneficial to members of the communities.

    He said the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative is in line with the vision of the parent company as the company would want to ensure that the project impacts positively on the lives of the children who he described as the future of the society.

    “We were committed to the project because we believed that our company has a social responsibility commitment that comes directly from our parent company. We also believe in giving back to the communities around our areas of operation. We refurbished the school because we believe that education is important to the children of any community.

    “Every year, we undertake CSR project and we have a number of projects that we go through. In the past years, we have procured vehicles for the police, sunk boreholes for community and the school. Every year, we do a survey and collate a list of the needs of the communities and we decide on which will be beneficial to the community.

    “Our interest was in the school because of the level dilapidation and many members of our staff passed through the school.”

    The Human Resources and Administration Manager, Olamide Ayoola, said the company decided to focus on education in last year’s CSR because it recognises that “education is essential to us as a company. Previously, we have invested in security, some couple of years back; we built a borehole and provided electricity for a community as well. But this year, our focus is on education which necessitated the renovation of St. Martins Catholic School, Orile Odo.”

    As a result of years of neglect which the communities have suffered, all stakeholders agreed that the facility needed to be secured. The donor company will also partner with the host communities in maintaining the facility and ensure its safety.

    Ewing appealed to the community leaders to show much commitment to ensuring that the facilities are put to good use, saying such will encourage the company to do more.

    “For us, maintaining the facilities that have been put in place will be our wish. If we notice that the communities valued them, we will be encouraged to work on other projects. If a project is abandoned or vandalised, we will be disappointed and we will be hesitant to invest in other projects,” Ewing said.

    Mrs Ayoola would want the benefiting communities to ensure that the children attend the school. She said: “We factored security issues into the construction. The doors and windows are made of iron bars and we are aware of various security challenges confronting not only the community but also the Nigerian society. So, we ensured that the doors and windows are such that can be managed. We are also partnering with the community to carry out security oversight function of the projects.”

    Not unaware of how CSR initiative can help transform a community, the Caretaker Chairman, Oluyole Local Government Area, Mr. Adeleke Adekunle said his administration has embarked on sensitisation of all corporate organisations within the local government area to make their impact felt through their Corporate Social Responsibilities to the host communities.

    “We have started visiting all the corporate organisations in our local government area to be identified with one developmental project or the other.

  • Herdsmen set 150 acres palm plantation ablaze in Ibadan

    Herdsmen set 150 acres palm plantation ablaze in Ibadan

    Two years after Fulani herdsmen invaded a multi-million Naira farmland in Lagun village destroying poultry valued at N100million, and maimed six attendants, the herdsmen again on Sunday invaded the palm trees farm of the settlement and set 150 acres ablaze in a night raid operation which left workers on the farm scampering for safety.

    In an emotion-laden voice, the farm owner who doubles as a former Secretary to Oyo State Government, Mr. Dele Adigun told journalists Tuesday evening after inspection of the gross damage inflicted on the farm that “farmers may be forced to begin to take laws into their hands if this stupidity and unguarded arson continue unabated”.

    He noted that about 1,500 palm trees were destroyed with value yet to be ascertained as at yesterday morning when he visited the place with a team of security agents.

    Said Adigun: “they set my farm ablaze and destroyed about 1,500 palm trees. You recall that six of my attendants were maimed and property destroyed two years ago, precisely March, 2016. We reported to the police and nothing has been done till date. In the 2016 attack, we lost about N100million. And we are yet to quantify this latest attack and that’s what we are contending with now. We have reported to the police and till now they are yet to make any arrest. I am disturbed; I am concerned because we are talking about diversification of economy but with these hoodlums now, there is a problem as many people would not like to go and farm again.

    “It is as if the law enforcement agencies are helpless to tackle this menace. What is DSS, police and other security agencies doing that they cannot make arrest? They go to farm at night and set it ablaze so that when it rains, their cattle can be fed with the new grass. How can you destroy someone’s property to feed your animals for your business to thrive? If care is not taken, farmers may be forced to take law into their hands. I hope we won’t get to such a situation. I am seriously disturbed,” a retired Permanent Secretary piqued.

    Meanwhile, Oyo state Police Command yesterday called for peaceful coexistence between the Fulani herdsmen and the farmers , stressing that there is no vacancy for bloodshed in the state.

    The Police Command who read riot act to all who are planning to cause disharmony in the state, appealed to such trouble maker to either leave the state or be prepared to face unpleasant consequences .

    Addressing a security interactive forum  organised by the state Police Command, the state Commissioner of police , Mr. Abiodun Odude said ” we have to organise this meeting so that we can address some issues that are affecting our farmers and the Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria and we have to take this proactive step in this state so that the existing peaceful atmosphere will not be hindered .”

    Odude said “Oyo state is a very peaceful state and we must make sure we do a lot of things in making sure we are having a peaceful society and that is the reason why we are here today.

    “We must make sure that we are doing  series of meetings with both the farmers and the Fulani herdsmen in the state so that we can address a lot of things that could have cause  serious crisis within them, once we are meeting with them some serious issues that can affect both parties will be discussed and settled amicably and in a peaceful manner without shedding blood.”

    In the same vein, the University of Ibadan Branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU ) has called on Nigerians to stand up for their rights and hold the present government accountable for promises not kept.

    He noted that ASUU, unlike Nigerian politician who will say one thing and do another, ASUU as union of intellectual would always fight for the right of the downtrodden.

    Omole noted that current administration seems to be taking Nigerians for a ride and prioritizing the lives of cows more than the enshrined right to live of Nigerians in the constitution saying that Nigerians must be ready to hold government accountable for their lapses.

  • No room for herdsmen/farmers clash in Oyo, Police warn

    No room for herdsmen/farmers clash in Oyo, Police warn

    The Oyo state Police Command yesterday called for peaceful coexistence between the Fulani herdsmen and the farmers, stressing that there is no vacancy for bloodshed in the state.

    The Police Command who read riot act to all who are planning to cause disharmony in the state, appealed to such trouble maker to either leave the state or be prepared to face unpleasant consequences .
    Addressing a security interactive forum  organised by the state Police Command, the state Commissioner of police , Mr. Abiodun Odude said ” we have to organise this meeting so that we can address some issues that are affecting our farmers and the Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria and we have to take this proactive step in this state so that the existing peaceful atmosphere will not be hindered .”

    Odude said “Oyo state is a very peaceful state and we must make sure we do a lot of things in making sure we are having a peaceful society and that is the reason why we are here today.

    “We must make sure that we are doing  series of meetings with both the farmers and the Fulani herdsmen in the state so that we can address alot of things that could have cause  serious crisis within them, once we are meeting with them some serious issues that can affect both parties will be discussed and settled amicably and in a peaceful manner without shedding blood.”

    while speaking at the forum,  the special adviser to the state governor on security matters , who also represent governor Abiola Ajimobi at the event,  Mr. Segun Abolarinwa said “I commend the state police commissioner for organizing this kind of summit and it is because you are very proactive. The peace we are all enjoying in the state is a collective efforts of all the stakeholders in the state as led by the Oyo state police command.

    He further said “We don’t want what is happening in others states in the country to happen here and that is why this meeting is very crucial at this time. You can all see that we don’t have a problem with the NURTW and also the level of robbery and other crime have drastically reduced so, everybody are sleeping with their  eyes closed and we don’t want anybody to import what does not belong to us here and started creating problem for us, that is why I said this meeting is crucial and we must appreciate the organisers of the stake holders meeting.

    “I have the privilege to have lived within the Hausa/Fulani people in Ejigbo when I was so young then and people are living in peace together and it was the Gah fulani that we use to go and buy wara { Milk Cake}  and all sorts and we are all living together in peaceful environment,  so I don’t want anyone to bring or import any problem that is not ours here.

    “we just have to be living together in peace in  Nigeria because we are so many and we have to learn how to tolerate one another , for we have no where to run to,  God forbids if we have crisis. Our neighbours in right hand which is Benin Republic are just about four million ,  so, we with our population as many as we are,  where are we likely to run to if we have crisis within us? So we need to embrace peace within us and shun all forms of violence.

    “We must all allow peace to rein in Nigeria because if we all fail to make sure we have peaceful coexistence in our society our children will have us to blame for it and they will question us , so we must make sure we embrace peace in our society,  he said.

    In his contribution, chief Saliu Kadiri , Seriki Fulani of Ibarapa area of the state said ” its love that is lost in our society and that is what is resulting to all these killings we are witnessing in our society today and we must all start to embrace peace so that we can have a peaceful atmosphere. “

    Also, Elder Taiye Ayorinde,  the Baale of Ekotedo, Ibadan  said ” Nigerian security is not that strong enough and government must make sure we have a very strong and formidable security so that those people parading themselves as fulani herdsmen can be properly checked, we even heard that those fulanis invaders are not Nigerians and if that is true, what is the duty of our immigration officers and our Customs service too needs to brace up their tactics in curtailing those people.”

  • Carpenter pleads guilty to raping 18-year-old daughter

    Carpenter pleads guilty to raping 18-year-old daughter

    A 45-year old carpenter, Olumide Akinleye, who allegedly cohabited with and accused of raping his own daughter, is to remain behind bars pending judgment, an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court ordered in Ibadan on Friday.

    Chief Magistrate Modina Akanni, who gave the ruling, said Akinleye should be kept in police custody until when hearing would begin.

    The lustful father had admitted committing the offence.

    Akinleye, who lives in Odo-Ona Elewe in Ibadan, is facing a charge of having unlawful carnal knowledge of his biological daughter.

    Earlier, Police Prosecutor Sunday Fatola told the court that Akinleye had a carnal knowledge of his 18-year-old daughter in their apartment.

    “Akinleye, who is cohabiting with his daughter in his one-room apartment, raped her several times between September and December 2017.”

    He said the girl had confessed during investigation that she confided in her father’s friend about the several sex bouts against her will.

    The offence contravened Section 214 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State 2000.

    The case has been adjourned until Jan. 25 for facts and sentence.

    NAN

  • NYSC corps members give birth at camp in Iseyin, Oyo – Official

    NYSC corps members give birth at camp in Iseyin, Oyo – Official

    Two pregnant women transferred from Kwara NYSC to Oyo State camp in Iseyin, delivered baby girls at the ongoing orientation camp.

    Mrs Ifeoma Anidobi, NYSC Coordinator in Oyo State, made this known in Ibadan on Friday in an interview.

    Anidobi said the babies arrived on Tuesday, the first day of the ongoing orientation course of 2017 batch B, stream II NYSC members.

    “The first baby arrived in the early hours of Tuesday at the General hospital, Iseyin while the second baby came later in the day.

    “The mothers are corps members deployed to Kwara state who are dislodged to Oyo state for their three-week orientation course.

    “The state coordinators of NYSC Oyo and Kwara states are very elated and full of praises to God for the safe delivery of the babies,” she said.

    NAN reports that of the 2,294 batch B stream II corps members that were sworn in at Iseyin on Thursday, 700 of them were from Kwara while 645 came from Ogun.

    NAN