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Tag: Oyo state

  • Cocoa Mall to open in Ibadan October

    The Cocoa Mall is opening in Ibadan, Oyo State in October.

    Its owner Chief Tokunbo Omisore said the strategic location of the popular Heritage Mall to the mall is of advantage to it.

    He said: ”Cocoa Mall is of international standard in terms of structure and pricing and it is first of its kind in Oyo State. Pricing not just of space acquisition but also of the goods and services rendered by the occupants which is an affordable development to the area.

    ‘’Though the mall is a huge investment, we have set reasonable time for return on investment on the project. That the mall is 80 per cent allotted and paid for by prospective shop operators of repute in the growing country’s retail industry.”

     

  • Burial ceremony of member of Oyo State Nigeria Union of Journalist

    Burial ceremony of member of Oyo State Nigeria Union of Journalist

  • Alaafin tasks Jonathan, NASS on true federalism

    Alaafin tasks Jonathan, NASS on true federalism

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has warned that the only thing that can save Nigeria and guarantee its future indivisible entity is to revert to true federal system of government.

    Oba Adeyemi who said this in his palace while breaking fast with members of the Oyo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by its chairman, Mr. Gbenga Opadotun, urged President Goodluck Jonathan and members of the National Assembly to work together to save the country from collapse.

    According to him, with too many powers at the centre and the states going cap in hand every month to beg for money, there will not be meaningful development.
    The monarch said if states are allowed to control their resources, they will grow at their own pace while it will ease the tension of politicians scrambling to take over power at the federal level.

    Similarly, Oba Adeyemi called for constitutional roles for traditional rulers to be guaranteed in order for them to contribute their quota meaningfully towards making Nigeria great as envisaged by its founding fathers.

    While kicking against those working against giving roles to the royal fathers especially in decision making and advisory roles, he said the development amounts to postponing the evil day for the nation’s corporate and peaceful co-existence.
    According to him, “There is nowhere in the world where an important and vital segment of a society would be excluded from the administration and survive. We are just wasting our time. The Clifford constitution of 1922 tried to find a role for the traditional rulers in the legislative council.
    The British in their wisdom included the Obas although purely on advisory capacity – it worked. Remember that what we have today is federal system of government. The essence of federalism is that we are different people, different nation, customs, religion, administration, history, culture, language.
    “When you have diversity of culture, diversity of religion, way of life, the best form of contribution would be federal system. If you don’t take into cognisance all these and you are running away from essence and the social element of that diversity, you must formulate a policy that would go in line and unison to what people want.”

  • Ibadan residents relish infrastructure upgrade

    Ibadan residents relish infrastructure upgrade

    Residents of Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, have continued to applaud the infrastructure upgrade.

    There is a predominant feeling that the ancient city is undergoing a massive makeover, the latest effort being the inauguration of the Mokola fly-over bridge.

    A day to the launch of the historical facility, residents of the city were in high spirits. They had waited to see the bridge commissioned so that the difficulties experienced on the ever busy road will come to an end. To show their eagerness and preparedness for the event, all the traders, artisans, members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), motorcycle operators popularly known as Okada, and members of the business community declared a work-free day to be part of the epoch-making event which attracted both the high and low in the society.

    All the major markets in the city were closed, while the traders in these markets came out en masse to attend the event. Some were decked in Ankara uniform, others donned peak caps and T-shirts bearing the portrait of Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    Their city was changing and they were happy about it. Some have been converted to dual-carriage ways and beautified. Jobs are created. The state capital is looking neater and healthier. There is better access to quality health and education. Transportation and commerce have improved, while peace and order have been restored.

    The amazed audience was wondering how the governor was able to achieve these feats within two years in office when past governors failed to accomplish much in four years or more. Some have asked “where did the governor get the money to execute this project”. But that is the kind of governor they have been yearning for after many years of stagnation and bad governace.

    The commissioning of the flyover was accompanied by two other multi-million naira projects; the ultra modern market at Scout Camp, and the new Garage Modern Motorpark, Ibadan.

    The people’s faces glowed in appreciation for the good work of the governor. Now, there is unfettered movement of people, goods and services in most areas of the city as a result of a good road network.

    That the Mokola fly-over bridge, the first to be accomplished in the last 35 years by any civilian administration was successfully constructed and completed within a span of two years was still a like a dream to many.

    Indeed, for an average motorist, Mokola Roundabout was a no-go area most especially during peak hours, with a journey from Dugbe to Ojoo which should not take 20 minutes, taking  not less than  two hours. A commercial motorist, Kazeem Adelaja,  said  he always prayed in the morning not to be hooked up in the vehicular bottleneck so as not to waste precious time and fuel in the process.

    He said: “The Mokola Roundabout is a problem to an average motorist in this city, and we often find out that the bottleneck is caused by impatience on the part of the road users. On my part, I always tried everything to avoid the place so that at the end of the day I would not waste my money burning fuel unnecessarily.”

    Senator Ajimobi who described   the  road as critical in the transportation network of Ibadan in terms of commerce, education and overall well-being of the citizens, said  the flag-off  of the construction of the bridge on the  ever-busy Sango-Mokola-Dugbe Road, was a testimony of his administration’s commitment to ensuring that the citizens of the state live a better life.

    The governor who visibly expressed joy to be a vehicle of transformation, said: “It is a testimony to the fact that we desire good and robust life for the people of Oyo State. This particular flyover was conceived as part of the overall vision and mission of this administration to restore, reposition and transform the state and her citizen’s transportation to higher efficiency and effectiveness.

    “The completion of the bridge is expected to translate to less stressful journey for her citizens, especially the people of Ibadan and visitors to the state capital.”

    As early as 7.00 am, a large crowd of ordinary people thronged the Mokola area  with most of them singing and drumming to celebrate what they called a “monumental and unprecedented achievement” in the history of the state. Twisting their bodies to the sweet drum-beats by local drummers who thronged the venue of the event, the people could not hide their excitement.

  • Strange fish turns human in Ibadan

    Residents of Gege in Ibadan South West Local Government area of Oyo State were shocked on Tuesday, when a fish bought by a middle aged woman, Mrs. Ramota Salawu, suddenly turned to half human.

    Hundreds of residents struggled to see the miracle fish where it was placed inside water in a brown bucket at Akindele Compound, Gege , Ibadan, the home of Mrs. Salawu .

    When The Nation visited the compound, the said miracle fish has long white hair. The face has resemblance of a baby, while the trunk is that of a fish.

    While narrating her experience, Mrs. Salawu said “I went to where we usually buy fish at Kola Eleja , Oke Ado, Ibadan to buy fish. After I finished, I boarded Okada to my place to prepare the fish for sale. Before getting the fish out of the ice-pack, we need to use knife to remove them and use water to defreeze.

    “I was shocked to see the frozen fish developed into a living being in the water, the description of which showed half human and half fish. I quickly called by father and some alfas to see the strange fish.”

    The fish seller could not gather herself together as she was overwhelmed by what happened.

    The father of the woman, a retired civil servant, Pa Rauf Salawu expressed bewilderment over the miracle fish, adding that he has never seen such a thing before.

    He said,” It was around 11am, when I started hearing the voice of my daughter while I was resting on my bed. She was shouting and screaming, such that people in the compound were attracted. Then, I decided to check what the problem was. I took along my Quran and on getting there my daughter has gone to call Sheu , a Muslim leader in the neighbourhood .

    I saw the strange fish inside water in the bucket. It was strange. How can a fish bought in the cold room developed into human? That I cannot fully explain.”

    There was heavy presence of policemen from the Mapo Police Station to control the crowd and maintain peace and order.

  • Governors visit Amaechi, urge him to meet President

    Governors visit Amaechi, urge him to meet President

    A delegation of eight governors has advised, Gov. Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers, to personally visit President Goodluck Jonathan and brief him of the poor security situation of state.

    They gave the advice when they paid a solidarity visit to Amaechi in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

    The governors are: Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti; Babatunde Fashola, Lagos State; Ibukunle Amosu, Ogun; Rauf Aregbesola, Osun; and Abiola Ajumobi, Oyo State.

    The governors of Imo, Nassarawa State and Zamfara, represented their governors.

    They met with Amaechi in a close-door, while their spokesman, Fayemi, told newsmen that their mission was to stress the importance of their concern for the security of Rivers.

    Fayemi said that the issue of security in the country was “far more of a major concern’’ to Nigerians.

    According to him, we have met with our brother and chairman of our forum in an extensive discussion and he has briefed us on the situation on ground here.

    “We do feel strongly, having listened to him that it is quite important for him to actually go and brief Mr President, who is our leader and the chief security officer of the country on the very challenging security situation here in Rivers.

    “We believe that our chairman and brother will give serious consideration to that particular concern we have expressed to him.

    “It is important, as the chief security officer of Rivers, to take the opportunity to go and brief Mr President on the security situation in the state.

    “In our discussion with our brother, we talked on the importance for the hierarchy of our police authority, the Inspector General of Police, to help in restoring the confidence of the people of Rivers in police.

    “For us, we believe that this is a matter that requires the moral authority of Mr President as well; it is about saving the democracy; it is about ensuring that peace reigns in Rivers.

    Fayemi said that nobody should use any means to create tension in any place in the country.

    He added: “the tension in Rivers is avoidable and we want all parties to sheathe their sword and to help restore the peace and security of the state.’’

    The Zamfara Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Anka, believed that Amaechi briefing Jonathan would help find a lasting solution to the crises.

  • Muslim leaders push for peace

    Muslim leaders in Sepeteri, a town in Saki East Local Government Area of Oyo State have called on security agencies to unmask those behind the incessant clash between them and the Christian community in the area.

    Baba Adinni of Sepeteri, Chief Muda Ogunsola made the request during a press briefing held in Ibadan to shed more light on why tension has  persisted  in the area.

    The Muslim and Christian communities in the ancient town of Sepeteri have been fighting each other over a parcel of land, located directly in front of an Islamic college, which a Baptist Church was laying claim to.

    Chief Ogunsola further said that recent investigations by the state police command have absolved the Muslim community of any culpability in the crisis.

    He alleged that a petition by some Christian leaders in the community compounded the problem on ground.

    Ogunsola, who was a former chairman of Saki East Local Government Area said the security agencies in the state should look beyond the land matter and unmask the sponsors of the crisis.

    “The community is already divided and there is tension in the town but we are asking the people to keep calm and maintain peace.

    “We are not and  had never said we are the owners of the land.  The land belongs to the community and the community will decide what to do with it,” Ogunsola stated.

    According to him, the late Obalufon of Sepeteri, Oba Karimu Oyesiji, the regent of the town and some notable high chiefs and community leaders of the town  had been interrogated by the police and had cleared the air on the ownership crisis over the land.

    “The land belongs to the community and the community, through the late Oba and the Agoro said they have not given the land to the Baptist Church.

    “The Agoro was invited by the police at state Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Iyaganku. He told the police that the land has not been given to anybody and he said the community was ready to give land to the church at any place but not that particular spot,” he added.

    Ogunsola alleged that the receipt being flaunted by the church leaders for the acquisition of the disputed land was a forged document.

    According to him, the receipt was issued on the letter head paper of the late Obalufon, who was installed in 1986 for a land the church claimed to have acquired in 1973.

     

    The former council boss said the recent petition to Abuja by the Christian leaders would not solve the problem as Abuja was not the owner of Sepeteri land.

    He traced the persistent crisis on the land to the planned Pacesetter Farm, which was to be sited at the community but which some of the Muslim leaders kicked  against due to alleged insincerity of those behind the project.

    As a way out of the crisis, Ogunsola said the Christian leaders must accept the police report on the matter and leave the land to the community for another location.

     

  • NSCDC Inspector held for posting nude picture on facebook

    NSCDC Inspector held for posting nude picture on facebook

    A Senior Inspector in the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr Bayo Onifade, of the Oyo State Command has been arrested by the police for posting a nude picture of his mistress on facebook after their relationship collapsed.

    It was gathered that Onifade and the married woman started their private love affair in December last year in Saki, a major town in the northern part of Oyo State.

    While the relationship lasted, Onifade was said to have taken his lover to a location in the town where he took her nude photograph with his mobile phone.

    But disagreement  broke out when the woman decided to stop the relationship in March. The decision did not go down well with the NSCDC Senior Inspector. He was said to have pleaded with her to continue with the secret affair but the 27-year old mother of two declined.

    It was learnt that Onifade  consequently posted the nude photo of the woman on facebook .

    Facebook users  close to the woman’s husband were said to have drawn his attention to it, a development that made him send his wife packing.

    Onifade, 32, has since been arrested by police.

    It was learnt that  Onifade was arrested for defamation of character and indecent assault of the woman.

    The State NSCDC Public Relations Officer (PRO) , Mr Olusegun Oluwole, confirmed the incident and said that Onifade has been suspended pending resolution of the case.

  • Oyo trains youths in skills

    The Oyo State government has trained 46 youths in various skills, including branding and customising, barbing and hairdressing.

    The beneficiaries, who were drawn from the 33 local government areas of the state, received their work equipment at the state secretariat, Ibadan.

    The youths were trained and empowered by the state Agency for Youths Development.

    Presenting the tools to them, the chairman of the agency, Mr Olugbenga Olayemi said it will would bring many more youths on board this year.

    He said that the project, which was a pilot scheme, was initiated after findings showed that only about five per cent of beneficiaries of similar projects in the past are still in business.

    He explained that the agency decided to do something unique by picking willing youths for a two-week intensive training programme undertaken by experts in the three fields.

    Olayemi said: “They were camped at the IYY Training Village at Egbeda, Ibadan where they were fed and trained by experts,” he said.

    After the training, the beneficiaries were placed on a three-month industrial attachment with thriving practitioners for practical knowledge. During the period, the agency sought shops and paid one year rent for each of the participants. It also got the shops ready for business by painting and decorating them.

    “On completion, we bought all the equipment needed for each trade to enable them run their businesses without hindrance and to run it profitably.  For instance, each of those who trained in branding and customising received a complete set of computer, printer, UPS, scanner, iron, standing fan, executive office chair, two plastic chairs, office table, pressing table, carpet, 2.5 Elepaq generator and a flex sign-post.. This is in addition to the shop and offices already rented for them.”

    Olayemi put the cost of empowering each beneficiary at N250,000. He thanked Governor Abiola Ajimobi for supporting the project and disclosed that the number of beneficiaries would increase largely this year.

    But he pointed out that they would not be allowed to sell the equipment due to the monitoring mechanism put in place by the agency.

    One of the beneficiaries who spoke with The Nation, Miss Oluremi Kolawwole, a hairdresser, praised the administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi for the gesture.

    According to her, she had learnt hairdressing and was looking for funds to set up when the opportunity came. She lauded the training and industrial attachment, saying it enriched her knowledge of hairdressing.

    “I can handle any type of hair-style now. I can do Ghana weaving, fixing, rolling and setting as well as local weaving,” she said.

  • Former Oyo commissioner, wife arrested

    The immediate past Oyo State Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Cooperatives, Mr Kazeem Adedeji and his wife, Biodun, were on Thursday  arrested in Ibadan by men of the Special Anti-Fraud Unit, Lagos.

    They were picked up at Enterprise Bank, Agodi, Ibadan, where the wife works.

    A source close to the couple said the former commissioner was at the bank earlier in the day to visit his wife but that he later received a distress call from her shortly after he left there.

    “Honourable had to make a detour to know what was really the matter. On getting to the scene, the police team told him they were sent to Ibadan to effect the arrest of the two of them,” the source said.

    It was learnt that the bank manager tried in vain to resist the arrest, saying the bank’s leadership needed to be informed of the planned arrest.
    But the police had their way and took the couple to the Iyaganku police station before they were taken to Lagos around 1.30pm.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Oyo State Command, Mrs Olabisi Ilobanafor, said she was not aware of the incident.

    Adedeji was a governorship aspirant under the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeri (ACN) preparatory to the 2011 election in the state.

    He was appointed commissioner by Governor Abiola Ajimobi and lost his position in a cabinet reshuffle towards the end of last year.