The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Oyo

  • Ladoja returns to PDP

    Ladoja returns to PDP

    Former Oyo governor Rasheed Ladoja, who defected to the Accord Party to contest the state’s governorship seat in the 2015 general elections, has returned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Ladoja, along with Mr Seyi Makinde, a chieftain of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the state, moved to the PDP on Thursday in Ibadan, when Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, visited the Oyo capital.

    The former governor, who won the seat on the ticket of the PDP in 2011, said that he was returning to his home, adding that it was not his wish to leave the PDP when he did.

    “When I left the PDP some years ago, it was because of the injustice done to me.

    “We left because the PDP leaders, at that time, were not ready to protect the interest of all members. We are back now because the new leadership has promised to right all wrongs and avoid mistakes of the past.

    “I have discussed with members of the Accord party and they have asked for amnesty; we need assurance from Makarfi that Accord Party members will be given equal treatment and a level playing ground,” Ladoja stated

    In his response, Makarfi said that he came to Ladoja “to take you back to where you belong”.

    “We want you to return to your great beginning; we want to start all over again as one family,” he said.

    Makarfi expressed optimism that Ladoja’s presence would add value to the PDP in Oyo State, adding that he (Ladoja) had committed no crime to warrant a plea for amnesty.

    He implored PDP members to forget the past and work toward party unity, and assured Ladoja and new PDP members of equal opportunity for all.

    Makinde, in his remark, assured Makarfi of his group’s total support to the ideals of the PDP, urging him to protect the interest of his members.

    Two PDP chieftains, Chief Richard Akinjide and Chief Yekini Adeojo, who spoke at the occasion, commended Makarfi over his efforts to reconcile warring factions and “especially for wooing new members into the fold”.

    Akinjide particularly promised to assist Makarfi toward rebuilding the PDP, and urged him to carry all members along, so as to create a sense of oneness.

    The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that hundreds of Accord party, SDP, and PDP supporters received Makarfi who also visited Chief Christopher Alao-Akala, another former Oyo governor being wooed by Makarfi.

  • Broadcaster accused of murder granted N2m bail

    Broadcaster accused of murder granted N2m bail

    An Oyo State High Court  on Tuesday  granted bail to an Ibadan-based broadcaster, Oriyomi Hamzat,  and four others accused  of  the murder  of a teenager.

    Justice M.I.  Sule granted  each defendant  bail in the sum of  N2 million  with two sureties in like sum.

    Sule said one of the sureties must be a civil servant on Grade Level 14 while the other must be a business man.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  reports that the case was first heard at an Iyaganku Magistrates’  Court on Aug.  1.

    It was, however, transferred to the high court as the magistrates’ court had  no jurisdiction to hear the case. .

    Hamzat , 37;  Idowu Ibrahim , 27;  Mohammed Bashir, 31;  Taiwo Olaronke ,23;  and Yusuf  Toheeb Ajisafe, 23, were all arraigned  on a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder.

    The Prosecutor, Insp Sunday Fatola,  told the court that the defendants  conspired  among themselves to commit murder.

    Fatola alleged that  the defendants unlawfully  caused the death of one Peter, 17, by inflicting an injury on his head and body.

    He said Peter, who  had been an inmate at a home owned by the  Make a Future Alive Initiative, an NGO   owned by Hamzat,  was found dead at the home.

    Fatola said the alleged offences were   committed on July 21  at about 4. a.m.  at the home at Oremeji Agugu, Ibadan.

    He said the offences  contravened  Sections  324 and 316 and were punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol .II, Laws of Oyo State,  2000.

    The plea of  the defendants  was not taken by the court.

  • FRSC urges Oyo to evacuate faulty vehicles from roads

    FRSC urges Oyo to evacuate faulty vehicles from roads

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has urged relevant organs of the Oyo State Government to evacuate all faulty vehicles along some major roads in Ibadan, the state capital to check accident.

    Mr Austin Aipoh, an FRSC Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone 11, gave advice in Ibadan when he paid farewell visit to Gov. Abiola Ajimobi in his office on Friday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Aipoh, an Assistant Corps Marshall, is in charge of Oyo, Osun and Ondo zonal command of FRSC.

    Aipoh said his advice became necessary because there were faulty vehicles on the express way along Oluyole, Egbeda and Ojoo Local Government Areas of the state, stressing that such development also posed danger to motorists.

    He further urged the state government to deploy its personnel to clear bushes on the side of the major roads to curb criminal activities and adequately equip its traffic management agency to complement to ease gridlocks on the roads.

    In his remarks, Ajimobi said that the state government had reconstructed several federal roads in the state, adding it would not relent in evolving measures to improve the management roads across the state.

    Ajimobi, who was represented by Chief Moses Adeyemo, the Deputy Governor, promised that the state government would continue to create environment that would enable security personnel to operate efficiently and effectively, especially on roads.

    “The present administration has been fulfilling the core promises for which our people voted for us. Among them is the provision of standard roads in and around the state.

    “We cannot abandon federal roads in the state because they belong to the federal government; it is our people that ply the roads.

    “We won’t allow such roads to remain in bad condition while motorists suffer, we have been doing this overtime,’’ the governor said.

     

  • Ajimobi swears in 239 JPs in Oyo

    Ajimobi swears in 239 JPs in Oyo

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday swore in 239 Justices of Peace (JPs) to assist his administration in the dispensation of justice and maintenance of peace.

    The JPs, who were sworn in at the House of Chiefs inside the state secretariat in Ibadan, include Deputy Governor Moses Adeyemo and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Olalekan Alli.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that retired Justice Akintunde Boade swore in Adeyemo, while Adeyemo swore in the others.

    Ajimobi said the JPs were selected, having been adjudged worthy of the title.

    The governor, who was represented by his deputy, implored them to use their appointment to promote peace and delivery of untainted justice in their areas in Oyo State and Nigeria.

    Ajimobi urged them to see their appointment as a great responsibility toward the promotion of peace, rule of law and good governance in their communities.

    He said: “As we all know that Justice is the bedrock of democracy, our administration will ensure that justice is not only done, but seen to be done.

    “Toward this, an enabling environment is being made available for the judiciary in the state to discharge its duties without fear of favour.”

  • Oyo sanctions 12 facilities, others for environmental ‘offences’

    The Oyo State government has penalised 12 facilities for allegedly failing to abide by the state’s environmental laws.

    While six facilities were sealed up, remediation measures and community social responsibility were imposed on others.

    Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Chief Isaac Ishola, spoke at an inter-ministerial media briefing at the Film Theatre of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism at the Agodi secretariat in Ibadan, the state capital.

    He said the affected facilities were found culpable among the over 200 companies monitored since the beginning of the year.

    Apart from the facilities, Ishola said as many as 400 street-trading offenders, 250 improper waste disposal offenders, two poultry farms, four illegal rearing of domestic animals, one piggery farm and Temidire Plank Market were arraigned in court and or closed down.

    According to him, all industrial facilities in the state are being constantly inspected to monitor and control the impacts of their activities on the environment.

    Some of the activities that are being monitored, the commissioner said, include the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for new industrial facilities, environmental audit reports for existing ones, inspection of air emissions and effluent discharges, among others.

    On other activities the ministry performed under his watch, Ishola said it had a robust programme for climate change wherein causative agents, such as carbon and other gaseous emissions, were monitored and controlled.

    He said the state engaged the services of three consultants to carry out emission tests on vehicles, motorcycles and generators.

    He said: “One of the environmental issues is air and noise pollution emanating from religious and commercial houses to the detriment of public health. This ministry has been enforcing the provisions of the law, which had been proceeded with stakeholders’ engagement in a series of meeting demanding full compliance.

    “As of now, while we have on records significant level of understanding and compliance, several stakeholders are yet to comply. This led to the sealing up of three churches for flagrant contravention of the law.

    “It should also be noted that in our enforcement activities, as many as 400 street trading offenders, 250 improper waste disposal offenders, two poultry farms, four illegal rearing of domestic animals, one piggery farm and Temidire plank market were sanctioned through arraignment in the court and outright closure.”

     

  • Oyo govt to sanction churches, mosques, others for noise pollution

    Oyo govt to sanction churches, mosques, others for noise pollution

    •Three churches sealed as pastor harasses commissioner

    Oyo State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Chief Isaac Ishola, at the weekend narrated his ordeals in the hands of the General Overseer of a new generation church while attempting to seal off the church for violating environmental laws.

    The commissioner said the General Overseer allegedly molested, harassed and insulted him on the church premises to prevent the sealing of the church.

    Three churches were reportedly sealed off for alleged noise pollution and violating the government’s prescribed noise level.

    Speaking with The Nation in his office at the weekend, the commissioner warned against violation of noise regulation laws.

    He noted that the ministry would no longer tolerate what he called the impunity among religious bodies that were fond of exceeding the prescribed noise level.

    Ishola said: “…I was insulted and harassed (at the weekend) by a pastor, the owner of one of the sealed churches. He refused to comply with the state noise regulations. The pastor refused to attend a meeting when called. In fact, the pastor came out, pounced on me and said I could not seal the church because if I did, it would close my destiny. And I told him that I am a Christian too, but ‘you cannot use Christianity to disturb the peace’ of others…”

    The commissioner urged religious bodies to remove speakers mounted on their buildings, saying doing so violated government’s laws regulating noise in the environment.

    According to him, anybody who refuses to comply will be arrested and the premises sealed, in line with the laws regulating noise in the state.

  • Abuja, Oyo wrap up Walkhearton

    Abuja, Oyo wrap up Walkhearton

    The walk-for-the-heart organised by Dufil Prima Foods Plc, maker of Power Oil in FCT Abuja and Oyo State has ended the third edition of the annual Power Oil WalkHeartOn initiative which began a couple of weeks ago.

    The Power Oil WalkheartOn 3.0 which  kicked off three Saturdays ago in Lagos at the National Stadium Surulere, followed by Enugu and Port Harcourt at Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Ogui and Liberation Stadium, Elekahia respectively, generated lots of accolades from participants, before the final lap in Abuja FCT and Ibadan.

    The annual heart health awareness walk was strategically designed to promote a healthy lifestyle and remind Nigerians on the benefits of a daily fitness routine. It was aimed at encouraging Nigerians to walk at least 30 mins every day to keep fit and stay healthy.

    The five-kilometre walk which recorded a huge turnout at both locations, started in Ibadan at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium into Liberty Road; towards Challenge roundabout and back to the stadium. The walk was led by the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Oyo State, Mr Abayomi Oke, along with invited artistes, while in Abuja, the movement began from the River Plate Park Wuse 2 into Ahmadu Bello Road towards the Adetokunbo Ademola roundabout and back to the park.

    Oke told the participants the benefits of engaging in sporting and fitness activities as a form of exercising the heart to keep the entire body functional. He also praised the brand and team for the continuous partnership with Oyo State on the project.

    He also considered the initiative as a worthy one as it encourages everyone especially the youth to imbibe the culture of exercising which is in line with the vision of the state.

    The Brand Manager, Power Oil, Miss. Amisha Chawla who was also part of the fitness walk in Oyo State, said: “participation in Ibadan has always remained amazing, even in the last edition which held at this same venue. And going by the information received from the FCT Abuja activity, the turnout is equally high. And we are delighted that the WalkheartOn 3.0 project has successfully come to an end for the year and the advice is for Nigerians to keep the fitness and healthy living flying which is the whole objective of the initiative’’.

    Miss Chawla said the expectation of the participating crowd was greatly surpassed in both locations as people came out in thousands to join the healthy walk.

    The comedians and guest artists who put up great performances at both cities (Sound Sultan with MC Bonus in Abuja and Woli Arole and Afonja Sanyeri in Ibadan) also took active parts in leading the walk to encourage and demonstrate to the public the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle by taking a healthy walk for a healthy heart.

    Mrs. Beatrice Aroja, the walk Participant in Abuja praised the brand for the laudable initiative of encouraging healthy living amongst Nigerians. She confirmed that she felt light and better and hoped to engage in walk as part of her daily routine.

    Power Oil health camps were also available to all, offering free basic medical checks for participants to ascertain their health statuses, including blood pressure, BMI and general medical consultation.

  • Group wants Oyo Central to produce next governor

    Group wants Oyo Central to produce next governor

    A political pressure group under the auspices of Liberation Movement has decried what it called growing marginalization of the people of Oyo Central Senatorial District in the political equation of the state, alleging that since the advent of democracy in 1999, they have not been allowed to produce the governor of the state.

    The group said in a statement signed by its leader, Victor Oyelayo and made available to newsmen in Abuja that none of the governors of the state since 1999 has come from the central Senatorial district with Oyo south and north dominating the scene.

    According to the group, it is politically expedient to balance the democratic equations in the next dispensation with Oyo central producing the next governor in 2019″.

    While saying it has begun series of engagement with various stakeholders in the state and beyond, the group said Oyo South alone has produced most of the governors such as Alh. Lam Adeshina, Sen. Rasheed Ladoja and the incumbent governor, Abiola Ajimobi among a host of deputy governors, while Oyo North produced Chief Alao Akala.

    It said “emphasis must be placed on collective participation in Oyo state politics, the historical maneuvering, exploitation and political arm twisting of Oyo central must come to an end in 2019.”

    “The growth and development of the state must not be undermined by ethnic, racial or sectional politicking, therefore, all hands must be on deck to develop Oyo state to an enviable standard and this can only be achieved when all interest groups and not just a few section is involved in running the affairs of the state.

    “The appeal therefore goes to all stakeholders including the political elites, civil society and professional organizations, artisans, market men and women across the length and breadth of Oyo state to look beyond the two senatorial districts that have usurped power in the state in the last 18 years, rather, they should support the fight against sectional marginalisation to a stand still in future gubernatorial elections in the state.

    “The highly sensitive political Pace Setter state needs a vibrant, intellectually sound, politically experienced and forward looking grassroots mobiliser from Oyo central senatorial district as Governor of Oyo state come 2019 for the dividends of democracy to be evenly distributed amongst the good people of Oyo state and to guarantee equity, fairness, social justice and a mutually beneficial political climate in the state.

    “We have been marginalised for too long and our movement will continue to mobilise and vigorously pursue our goals by all legitimate means within and outside the state to conform with socially and politically acceptable standard,” the group stated.

  • Royal blessing for Oyo governorship aspirant

    A governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Mr Raufu Olaniyan, has received a royal blessing for his ambition from the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji.

    Olaniyan, who is contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Congress APC), received the blessing when he visited the monarch at his Popoyemoja palace.

    He informed the monarch of his ambition to succeed Governor Abiola Ajimobi in 2019, explaining that his experience in the public service for three decades and the love to serve his people spurred him to join the race.

    Olaniyan, who was a General Manager, Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency (OYSROMA), later retired as a permanent secretary.

    He was welcomed to the palace by the Ekarun-un Olubadan, High Chief Hamidu Ajibade.

    While introducing the former OYSROMA boss to Oba Adetunji, the high chief described the aspirant as humanitarian, adding that he had helped a lot of people, not just in Ibadanland but the entire state.

    He said as OYSROMA boss, Olaniyan supervised the construction of several roads within the Ibadan metropolis and all over the state.

    High Chief Ajibade said aside his pedigree and commitment to service of humanity, Olaniyan is also a man of honesty and integrity.

    He explained that Olaniyan was at the palace to receive the royal blessing of the Olubadan for his ambition in 2019, adding that at this time in the history of the state, Oyo needs an experienced technocrat like Olaniyan to preside over its affairs.

    Speaking on the purpose of his visit, Olaniyan, who thanked the Olubadan for the audience, said his political philosophy was engineered towards the welfare of the people, noting that once the people are taken care of, meaningful development would naturally take place.

    He said developing human capital through qualitative education would be the focal point of his administration, adding that he would also champion developmental projects that would be of benefits to the people, not in Ibadan alone, but the entire state.

    Oba Adetunji prayed for the success of the aspirant’s ambition.

     

  • Ibadan collapsed bridge turns death trap

    Ibadan collapsed bridge turns death trap

    the downpour of Tuesday, June 20 badly affected Kuola in Iddo Local Government Area of Oyo State. Apart from flooding experienced by hundreds of people that live very close to the Aworere River that passes through the community, it also destroyed the bridge on the river at Olorunadaba that links Apata with the uncompleted New Garage-Apata Expressway, Lagos-IbadanExpressway and Ijebu-Ode Road.

    The destroyed bridge has become a death trap. Water has eroded the sands beside the bridge across the road and underneath of the bridge. Water had dug a side of the bridge to the extent that the tar, which linked the road with the bridge, was delicately suspended. The underneath of the tar had been eroded by water.

    But for the barricade and warning signs put on top of the bridge to caution road users, the hanging link between the road and the bridge would have caved in and unsuspecting motorists would have gone down into the river.

    Many vehicles were parked by the roadside on both side of the bridge because they could not cross over to the other side. The alternative route would take motorists about one hour to cover instead of 10 minutes. The bridge could be an accident waiting to happen for motorcyclists and pedestrians crossing. The tension is heightened by the impending August heavy rains. Residents fear that the whole bridge could be completely swept away by flood because its foundation and sides have been eroded by water.

    The Chairman, Olorunadaba Landlords Association, Kuola, Mr. Muritala Afolabi said: “Each time heavy rain falls in this area, Aworere River always overflows its bank and submerges many houses.”

    Afolabi added that the bridge was destroyed by the flooding of Tuesday, June 20. He said the volume of water passing through the bridge was probably higher than its capacity.

    He appealed to Oyo State government to urgently reconstruct the bridge. He said the association having realised the danger posed by incessant flooding of the areas, contacted Ministry of Environment and Water Resources to help dredge the river.

    Aworere River is one of the 40 rivers in Ibadan dredged by the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP) in collaboration with the ministry early in the year.

    Afolabi added: “Based on incessant flooding caused by the river we took steps by going to the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources. Officials of the ministry later sent some engineers to inspect the river. We were persistent in going to the ministry and later the government brought some equipment and dredged the river for us. We were happy that the river was dredged.

    “But the problem we have now is that the Olorunadaba Bridge on Aworere River has become impassable. The underneath of the bridge has collapsed and has become a death trap. This is why we stopped vehicles especially cars from crossing the bridge. The bridge got to this stage because the volume of water coming from the other side is more than the water passage path created in the bridge.

    “When the bridge was destroyed by flood, we went to the ministry again to complain. We submitted a letter on the state of the bridge with photographs. We also submitted a copy of the later and pictures to the Governor’s Office. We were told that the officials of the government would come and check the bridge for us.”

    The bridge has been an important link for the residents of Kuola and its environs. Apart fr4om that, motorists coming from Lagos, Ijebu-Ode and Challenge usually pass through the road because it is shorter. It is also an alternative route to avoid the rampant logjam between Odo-Ona and Apata axis of Ibadan-Abeokuta Road. It is a busy road, which leads to Apata Market. Motorists going to Omi-Adio and Abeokuta pass through the place at the same time.

    However, about 500 metres away from the bridge, there is another bridge at Aba Eleshin that needs urgent attention of the government. This Aworere River also leads to the second bridge. The bridge was said to have collapsed two years ago and the community contributed money to reconstruct it. But they now need the help of government to complete the bridge.

    A pedestrian plank bridge was constructed on the river at the site of the second collapsed bridge. But whenever there was downpour, the water level usually rose beyond the makeshift bridge and nobody would be able to cross from one side to the other.

    Owodunni Landlords Association, Zone III, Kuola Treasurer Peter Aweda said the road that passes through the community from Apata, via Confidence Bus Stop leads to Oluyole Estate, Ibadan.

    He said: “When this bridge collapsed, there was nowhere to pass again. The landlords contributed money and started making the bridge. We have been on it for the past two years.

    “We are appealing to the government to assist us. We have been to Iddo Local Government and we were asked to write latter, which we did. We made a makeshift pedestrian bridge. But whenever there is heavy rain, we would not be able to pass through this bridge. We have eight zones of landlord association in this area and thus bridge is located in zone three.”

    Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP) Coordinator  Dayo Ayorinde said the Aworere River was dredged earlier this year up to Olorunadaba bridge, promising that the IUFMP would send a team to the collapsed bridges and appropriate actions would be taken.