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Tag: Oyo

  • Oyo closes public schools

    Oyo closes public schools

    •No intention to privatise schools, says govt

    Oyo State yesterday ordered the closure of primary and secondary schools as “a way of protecting the lives and properties of the citizenry”.

    In a statement, the government said it took the decision following alleged “attempt by some members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (TUC) to expose our staff and students to danger arising from the on-going court action against their members.

    The statement reads: “Today’s incident whereby some students and members of the public were once again coerced by labour to disrupt school sessions and engage in an unwarranted public protests and wanton destruction of property is highly condemnable.

    “Members of the public will recall that members of the two bodies (NLC and NUT) and their hired collaborators last week disrupted the stakeholders’ forum organised by the government on the proposed participatory management of some public secondary schools.

    “The decision of the leadership of the NLC to declare total strike without existing labour dispute or ultimatum to the government contravenes all known labour laws and conventions.

    “It is quite unfortunate that labour leaders at the national level, who ought to know better, also failed to avail themselves of the opportunity of meeting with officials of the state government to clear apparent misconceptions about the intention of the government.

    “The state government wishes to state for the umpteenth time that it never had any intention to privatise, commercialise or cede any of its public secondary schools to any individual or group.

    “Rather, the intention of the government is to partner willing stakeholders in the participatory management of a negligible number of the public secondary schools, which may not be more than 10 per cent of the existing 631 schools in the end.

    “Discussions are still ongoing with stakeholders on the matter and this informed the invitation extended to those concerned, including labour, NUT and other members of the public to come and contribute to the discourse before a final decision is taken by the government.

    “The unpatriotic role being played by the disgruntled labour leaders and their external collaborators will not proffer solution to the dilapidated state of infrastructure, poor performance of students in public examinations, low morale of teachers and unconducive teaching-learning environment”

    The state advised parents to warn their children and wards not to allow themselves to be used for any unlawful gathering or protest, because law enforcement agents have been placed on red alert to disperse any unlawful assembly.

    “Workers who have been directed to embark on strike over a matter that is still in the conception stage should have a rethink and report at their duty posts, while the government intensifies efforts to clear arrears of salary,” the statement said.

  • No plan to sell schools, says Oyo

    No plan to sell schools, says Oyo

    OYO State has refuted allegation that it intends to privatise public schools.

    It stressed that it intends to go into Public Private Partnership (PPP) and return some schools to their original owners.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy Yomi Layinka said this yesterday while addressing reporters in Ibadan.

    According to him, the state’s decision followed over 40 years’ appeal from missionaries and communities that their schools should be returned to them.

     

    The governor’s aide noted that not all schools will be ceded in the process, explaining that schools would be affected based on certain criteria.

    He added that the decision was in the interest of promoting qualitative education.

    Layinka, who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Ronke Makanjuola and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Mr. Bashiru Olarewaju, said only 30 schools will be ceded out of the 631 public secondary schools.

    “The issue of return of schools has been a recurring issue since 1975, when schools were taking over by government from missionaries and private individuals for best reasons known to them. Governor Ajimobi administration has deem it fit to respond positively to their request and has started the process of returning the schools as far as it is for public interest, especially for proper management and sustenance of such schools.

    “It will create energy and resources to manage the schools properly. It is a concept of PPP, which is operated globally. We have advertised for an expression of interest from stakeholders interested to pick up the form. There will be clearly stated agreement to be met before an MOU will be signed,” Layinka said

  • Oyo residents urged to support Ajimobi

    Oyo residents urged to support Ajimobi

    Oyo State residents have been urged to  keep supporting the Governor Abiola Ajimobi-led administration, especially in the face of economic hardship.

    Caretaker Chairman, Ibadan North West Local Government Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun gave this admonition during a pre-Ramadan lecture and distribution of food items to Islamic faithful and 200 mosques in the council area at the Onireke Secretariat, Ibadan.

    The council boss stressed the need for residents of th state to key into the repositioning and restoration agenda of the state government.

    He added that the food items were distributed to complement the effect of the state government in ensuring that the Ramadan fast is observed conveniently.

    Olatunbosun assured the people of better lives and improvement in the infrastructural growth of the area.

    “Several measures have been put in place by the state government to boost security in all areas of the local government. I urge Muslims to use the Ramadan period to pray for Nigerians and the state to progress” he said

    Alhaji Abeeblahi Buhari, in his sermon, called on Muslims to adhere strictly to the teaching of Almighty Allah and abide by his instructions.

    “We should all imbibe the culture of give and take and we should be God fearing and have attitudinal change” Buhari said

    He said the Ramadan period is a time to move closer to God and renew Muslims’ commitment to His service.

  • Oyo multi-billion agro diversification to boost employment

    Oyo State government has said its multi-billion naira agricultural initiative partnership with the Heritage Bank will boost employment in the state.

    The state said the partnership is in line with the current drive by the government to diversify the economic and revenue base of the country, hence the partnership is geared  towards reviving agriculture and boost agro-allied businesses in the state.

    Tagged, Oyo State Agricultural Initiative, OYSAI, the state government announced that the project is part of its revolution in the agricultural sector and a massive empowerment programme for both youth and women across the state.

    Speaking at the launch of the project in Paago Village, along Igboho – Okeho road, the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, explained that the state has successfully secured a viable partnership with some private investors and financial institutions to back up the project in the areas of poultry development, rice production and processing along the value chain.

    The governor thanked Heritage Bank and other partners for deciding to support the project aimed at diversifying the state economy and drive self-sustainability by adding value to the lives of about one million beneficiaries. He added that the project will also reposition the state as the food basket of Nigeria and generate massive revenue for economic emancipation.

    “Farming is attractive; we want to make it more attractive. The programme will create jobs, wealth and socio-economic productivity. It will link agriculture to small business and manufacturing. The programme will also improve the lot of women, youths and small scale businesses,” Ajimobi said.

    The project, according to the governor, will spread across 3,000 hectares of land in 28 out of the 33 local government areas of the state. He added that the project will be in three stages: food crop cultivation, cash crop/horticulture and food processing.

    Under the arrangement, land, improved seedlings, fertiliser, farming equipment will be made available to participants in the projects, while the banks will support willing agro investors with funds and advisory services.

    The bank’s Executive Director, Lagos, South West and Corporate Banking, Mrs. Mary Akpobome, who represented the Managing Director/CEO of Heritage Bank, Mr. Ifie Sekibo, at the launch, stated that the project is in line with the bank’s vision of partnering with individuals, organisations and governments to create, preserve and transfer wealth across generations.

    She said: “We believe that our youths are the future leaders that will positively reshape and reposition our country in the global environment, and Heritage Bank is committed to contributing her unending quota towards grooming them by facilitating enabling opportunities and platforms.

    “This programme will definitely lead to the creation of quality and sustainable employment and livelihood for the youth, which will in turn reduce the crime rate in the society,” she said.

  • Rainstorm destroys 80 houses in Oyo

    Rainstorm destroys 80 houses in Oyo

    Some residents of Ariyo Community in Ona-Ara and Oluyole local government Areas of Oyo State have been rendered homeless by a rainstorm that destroyed about 80 houses on Sunday.

    Though no life was lost, properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.

    The roofs of some houses were blown off. Vehicles were destroyed.

    The rain, which started about 4:30pm, was pouring   for more than two hours.

    The downpour resulted in a traffic gridlock, with most commuters  stranded.

    Many motorists abandoned their vehicles.

    A resident, Akin Ojebode, said property worth millions of naira were destroyed and scores of residents made homeless.

    The octogenarian said the local government chairman visited the area and advised those affected to write their names for possible help from the council.

    Adebisi Ajani (70) said: ”Around 5pm, the rain started and five minutes later, there was a flood.

    “What we need now is the dredging of the river. All I have worked for in life have been destroyed.”

    Olanisebe Kunmi, who was wailing, said a lot of damage has been caused by the flood.

    The Caretaker Chairman of Ona-Ara Local Government, Sina Adeagbo, said: “The water on the Ariyo Bridge flows from Onigbese River.

    “We have been warning our people not to dump refuse inside the river and not to construct structures on the bank but they would not listen. They will say it’s for our political gain.

    “The residents built structures beside the river bank. Many buildings, vehicles, and other properties were destroyed.

    “We just thank God that no life was lost. We shall dredge the rivers again to allow free flow of water during the rains,” he said

    On palliative measures, Adeagbo said he had advised the government to assist the victims.

  • Oyo invokes ‘no work, no pay’ rule

    The Oyo State government has warned civil servants against participating in the ongoing industrial action by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

    It said it will invoke the “no work, no pay” rule.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Olalekan Alli, who conveyed the government’s position in a statement yesterday, said deregulation of the downstream sector was the best option open to the Federal Government.

    He cautioned dissenters and non-conformists against testing the resolve of law enforcement agencies, who, he said, have the constitutional mandate to crush any attempt to breach the peace.

    The SSG urged the public to go about their business without fear of intimidation and harassment.

    Alli said: “Deregulation appears the most realistic approach to solving the persistent fuel crisis, pending the time the necessary infrastructure for local refining of crude oil will be upgraded and expanded.

    “It is the responsibility of those who are against this government policy thrust to canvass public opinion against such policies without resort to threat and the intimidation of those who may choose not to agree with them.

    “Consequently, government warns protesters and dissenters from taking the laws into their hands under any guise.

    “For the avoidance of doubt as ruled by the National Industrial Court, the strike is illegal and consequently the ‘no work no pay’ policy shall apply in the state’s public service.”

  • Oyo outlaws night grazing, water poisoning

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has outlawed night grazing and straying of cows outside proposed “enclosed designated grazing areas” across the state.

    He warned farmers against poisoning farmlands and water.

    The governor gave the warning at a stakeholders’ peace meeting attended by senior police officers, led by the Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade, farmers, Yoruba and Hausa/Fulani traditional rulers and herdsmen, in Ibadan, yesterday.

    The Sabiganna of Iganna, Oba Saliu Azeez; Seriki Fulani of Ogbomoso land, Alhaji Umaru Guruma and an herdsman from Orile-Igbon, Alhaji Ahmed Sulaiman, praised the governor’s initiative and stated their preparedness to embrace peace.

    The CP said the meeting would lay a solid foundation for continued peace in the state.

     He praised Ajimobi for his  support for security agencies.

    The governor said the enlarged meeting was a follow up to the earlier ones spearheaded by the CP to foster harmonious relationship between herdsmen, farmers and host communities.

    Ajimobi said: “In the Southern part of the country, I can say without equivocation that Oyo people are the most hospitable and accommodating and that is why you find a large concentration of Hausa/Fulani and other ethnic groups living and doing business here.

    “Similarly, more than 70 per cent of Ogbomoso indigenes plying their trade in the North speak Hausa fluently.

    “So why should we fight one another. Progress and development elude communities where there is rancor and crisis.

    “There will no longer be night grazing and straying cows. The meetings will agree on the right compensations by herdsmen for farmers whose farmlands are destroyed or crops eaten up by cattle.

    “It’s either the herdsmen pay in cash or kind by valuing and paying for the farmland or crops with corresponding number of cattle. But, I must appeal to the communities not to poison farmland and water. You never can tell who will be the victim.

    “Any herdsman that rapes our woman will definitely go to jail. We will invoke the relevant laws of the land. If you like any of our girls who are ripe for marriage please go to the parents to ask for her hand in marriage and that is if she is equally willing. We have recorded many of such intermarriages.”

  • Protests: Oyo govt warns traders

    Protests: Oyo govt warns traders

    Oyo State government has warned traders at the Temidire Market to shed their recalcitrance posture and relocate to the new site provided for them immediately, instead of engaging in ‘misdirected, fruitless and stage-managed’ protests.

    The government’s position was conveyed by the Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy to the Governor, Mr. Yomi Layinka, in reaction to protests that have trailed the relocation order, on Saturday. He said, “Our reaction to the stage-managed protest at the Temidire Market this morning (Saturday) is that it is misdirected and unfortunate.

    “This project is only one among many of the ongoing statewide market redevelopment activities, and cannot therefore be sabotaged by any private interests purporting to represent some stakeholders. What we seek to do in Temidire plank market is to redesign and modernise it with infrastructural facilities for the benefit of all stakeholders, including the neighboring communities who have endlessly complained against the environmental hazard that they’ve had to live with for a very long time.

    “This is quite apart from the very important need to forestall the large scale fire incidences usually associated with plank markets located within built-up environments.”

    The government said it was not unaware of the manipulation of some vested interests bent on seizing the opportunity to foment trouble and frustrate its urban renewal and market development efforts.

    For the avoidance of doubts, Layinka insisted that the Temidire market development project was a task that must be accomplished; no matter the machinations of those he called ‘misdirected few.’

  • Oyo PDP ready to work with Accord, says Akande

    Oyo PDP ready to work with Accord, says Akande

    Former House of Representatives Majority Leader Hon. Mulikat Adeola-Akande, in this interview with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, speaks on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s efforts to achieve unity in Oyo State, its proposed alliance with the Accord Party and other issues.

    What is the future of PDP in Oyo State?

    The future of the PDP is very bright in Oyo State because up till the 2015 election. Everybody went where they thought things will favour them, but when they realised that it would not happen that way, they now know that the only party that can put people together in the state is the PDP.

    But, the party is presently factionalised…

    I don’t understand what you mean by factionalisation of the party in Oyo State. I know that we only have one PDP in Oyo. The leaders of the party are very much united. They have their supporters intact and they have been having meetings together. I am a leader in Oyo State. Why did you not say a section of the party has followed Hon. Mulikat Akande? People have those they aligned to, but they are still loyal to the party. As you can see, there are lots of people from Oyo at this PDP Southwest Elders Meeting. I don’t think there is factionalisation in Oyo PDP.

    What lesson has the PDP leaders learnt from the last general election?

    I am not in a position to speak for them. But, for me as a person, if you ask what lesson I have learnt, I will put it this way because we have different interests. So, I can only speak for myself. First and foremost, we have realised that imposition of candidates will not take us anywhere and everywhere I go I tell them. Please, don’t let us repeat the mistakes of the past. We have to sit together; our interest has to be of patriotic zeal. Even though people can have ambition, we should work together because the realization of any ambition is from God. Any position you want can only be achieved in unity because we do not have independent candidate position under our party. So you have to align. People should begin to realise that it is not a question of if they don’t put me there, then, the party is gone. It should not be like that because what you think is best for you may not good for you. Internal democracy is what I am talking about. It is very important. People should do things right because we have a constitution. The Nigerian constitution is there, the party constitution is there and we have our manifesto. We have procedure, ways of doing things. We should be law abiding. They should begin to do thing rightly. If I am contesting an election and you are contesting too, it is your right. Thank God, our party will now have direct primary, just like the Option A4. There is no hiding place to do anything. You have to queue behind any person you are supporting. It is very glaring and everybody will see who you are supporting. It is not about spending so much money anymore. We want to discourage money politics, we want to encourage internal democracy and also have respect for the leaders.

    How effective is the crisis resolution mechanism in Oyo State PDP?

    It is very effective, I must tell you. Like I said, you can see that all the leaders have come together. In the past, some of them cannot even sit with some people. We have made progress and will continue to make progress. A party is big enough for everybody. It is just for people to realize, who they are and know their limit. It is not about someone being in the front all the times. That is not party, for me, I can decide I don’t want to contest any position again. I want to continue to build my party and be supporting those candidates who can do the right thing. So, people should be able to see themselves as such. It is not about one person all the time. People should be cautious in whatever they do and we should always weigh our words before we talk. We know our onions because once you say something; it is capable of generating reaction. We should realize that a party is a congregation of people; we need people and need to carry people along in whatever we do, right from the ward level to the national level.

    How do you view the proposed PDP/Accord parley in Oyo State?

    If the Accord people can merge with the PDP, that will be great. But, we also need to the cautious. Like I said, it is all about interest. Accord will not come to PDP and say okay we have submitted to you hook, line and sinker. The PDP too will say, oh, we have been there, it is our platform. So, we need to really get it right, so that we don’t have any fallout at the end of the day.

  • ‘Oke-Ogun should produce next Oyo governor’

    ‘Oke-Ogun should produce next Oyo governor’

    An appeal has gone to the Oyo State All Progressive Congress (APC) to zone the governorship to Oke-Ogun in 2019.

    The appeal came from the President of Oke-Ogun Liberation Movement, Alhaji Fatai Azeez, shortly after the monthly meeting of the group in Iseyin.

    Azeez said the Oke-Ogun community, which makes up 10 of the 33 local governments in Oyo State, has not produced a governor since the inception of the state in 1976, in spite of its contribution to the socio-economic development of the state.

    Lamenting the fate of the community, he said: “It is on record that Oke-Ogun gave the current administration the second largest vote in the last election.

    “The APC lost only in one council out of 10 that make up the community. As we have garnered support for the APC at every election, it is regrettable that none of our sons or daughters has been considered  fit  to be governor.

    “This trend should stop for justice to reign. Bayelsa State is made up just eight local government areas and Ibadan axis where most of the governors have been coming from has 11 councils. Oke-Ogun has 10. We are, therefore, appealing to those in control of the APC to consider this before the next election.”

    Azeez decried the neglect the community, adding that there are many abandoned projects, including the Ikere Dam and many state and federal roads. He said many towns and villages in the Oke-Ogun axis lack amenities, including hospitals, maternities, electricity, schools and modern markets.

    He added: “Repair of these roads and provision of these facilities will enhance the economic wellbeing of the people, reduce crime, restiveness among youths and make life bubble again among rural dwellers. Youths that are interested in agriculture are not encouraged by the bad roads, as their produce often gets damaged before they are evacuated to nearby markets.”

    He pledged to work with other interest groups to end what he descry bed as the marginalisation of the area. He said: “We will work assiduously with other groups within and outside the community to liberate Oke-Ogun, by making an indigene a governor come 2019.”