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Tag: Oyo

  • Dry taps to run again in Oyo

    Dry taps to run again in Oyo

    Public water taps across towns and cities in Oyo State that have gone dry for about 17 years are gradually returning to life, according to the Ge-neral Manager, Oyo State Water Corporation, Mr. Gabriel Olusoji. He spoke to journalists in Ibadan about what the state government is doing to bring potable water to every home. BISI OLADELE was there.

    Water supply in Oyo State has been poor in recent years but that appears to be changing now, how did you do it?

    I must say that we need to give kudos to Governor Abiola Ajimobi for all that he has done. I have spent close to 26 years in the corporation and I can speak on the activities of the corporation. For the past two years we have never had it so good, not because I am the General Manager but because of the physical achievement we have recorded.

    Before I became the General Manager, before this present administration started, we were not operating at any significant level. I went through the records in the last 10 years, especially from year 2003 to 2012 it will amaze you that the percentage of our performance was as low as one per cent. That was our total capacity. For example, when you look at the production capacity in the corporation, it was 2,120 cubic meters of water per day and when you look at the actual production capacity it could produce 240,120 cubic meters per day.

    So, what are the problems?

    The problems are not far-fetched and they are very simple. The first problem we had at that time was that many of the water plants were aged and already depreciated. It is like a vehicle that is being used without servicing as at when due. Most of the facilities, especially electro-mechanical component like pumps of various sizes needs to be maintained or replaced. So if this is not done it will lead to problem.

    What other challenges is the corporation facing?

    The second one is the issue of electricity and that is also very important. Very many people do not know how we treat water. Some people think that we boil water but it is not true. The issue is that we use electricity from the national grid because it is cheaper. We use generator sometimes but it is not economically advisable. We have many generating plants but the cost of diesel (fuel) is high and  judging from the people’s poor response to paying the little we ask them to pay, diesel will cost us more and we just have to rely on public electricity supply directly, that is on the side of production. When you come over to the distribution side, we are talking about pipelines and what we have now is inadequate length of pipelines all over the state. We have a growing population daily in this state and people are moving into new areas daily. So, we are having challenges in this area coupled with aged pipelines. All over Ibadan now we are recording a lot of pipe bursts and we call it water loss. So, a great percentage of the water we are producing now is being lost. These are the various problems we are facing. The other problems are either managerial or inadequate workforce, but that is not the big issue. The big issue is production problem.

    By the time His Excellency came on board, he gave us a charge that he had promised to give people adequate water supply during his electioneering campaign. So, he asked us to go and do a blueprint on how to achieve this as he wanted potable water supplied to every area in the state. We went back to him and gave him our proposals and he has approved 25 capital projects for the corporation all over the state. Some of them are on-going, some completed. I just returned from Ayete community. They have a water plant which was built since 1988 and was re-awarded in 2005 and since that time the scheme has not been completed. The first project Governor Ajimobi approved was that of Ayete. Even when we were having problems with some of the contractors, he personally headed a meeting with them and he resolved that matter, and it will be commissioned soon.

    We have water treatment plants all over the state and the problem is very general to all of them. The projects cover all the state from Kishi water supply scheme to Saki, Igbeti, Ogbomoso, Ago-Amodu, Igboho, Iseyin, Eruwa, Ibadan and Oyo. So, in all these places we have one project or the other going on and by the time they are completed it will be another story for water distribution in the state.

    We started with Asejire and the problem there is the depreciated facilities and for 17 years that place has not been performing very well. We started with the upgrading of the water facilities and provision of water laboratory equipment to monitor the quality of the water. When you don’t know the quality of water, there is nothing to treat. The first port of call in water treatment is laboratory analysis. You have to monitor the quality of water that you are giving to the people. But then there was no reliable laboratory equipment there but he (Governor Ajimobi) provided them.

    What is the situation at Asejire now?

    At Asejire we should have 10 low and high lift pumps but at the time this administration came on board we had just only one that was working and we were not comfortable with that because if anything happens to it that will be the end of operations. So, at the end of the day, since the administration came on board, we were able to restore the pumps. Out of 10, we now have eight rehabilitated pumps and that is sufficient for us to perform very well.

    But we will still have more to do. We have done a lot when it comes to distribution, two things were done. One, we had pipes and repair materials purchased for us by the government. The implication of that is that if there is any pipe burst anywhere in the state we will not be running up and down to repair it. More will soon be bought, but at the same time these pipes are going to be used to expand pipelines to other new areas without water. The pipeline extension contract has been awarded and it will be done all over Ibadan, Oyo, Saki and Ogbomoso because all these cities are expanding and the people need water.

    What I can just say is that water is a capital intensive venture. It takes a lot of money for the government to provide water for the people. When you look at the salary of workers, we are not less than 700 and we still work day and night. You will find out that the chemicals needed for water treatment must be bought in the right content because if you don’t, the chemicals will be over-dosed. It is not about giving people water but we must give them water that will not give them problem. We are spending up to N7 million averagely on a monthly basis on electricity and that is different from operational expenses which are so high. Water supply is a very capital-intensive project and we are just thinking that we need to help whoever that is in government to be able to carry the burden for water production. Where water is not available, development will be far because it will be hard to live in such areas, but when there is water many people will migrate to that area, market will spring up and it will enhance the economic activities of the people. So, it is a social service that the government must provide by all means but the resources available to the government is never inelastic, it has limit, so it is not only water. We have other sectors. That is why the people in the state must understand that they need to pay for the water they use. For example, in a low densely populated area, like Bodija, Oluyole, they pay N2,000 per flat, per month, no matter the quantity of water they consume. But in a high density area they pay only N1,000 per flat, per month and in such places you can have 10 people living in a room and it doesn’t matter the volume of water they consume they just have to pay N1,000. But, it is saddening that many people are still not paying. We think we need to educate people more. It is not that the government is asking them to pay something special; it is just a responsibility from them because if the water is not running they are the people that will bear the consequence.

    We want to plead with the people of Oyo State to kindly reconsider and ensure that they pay their water bill regularly. The idea of disconnecting water from people owing is not the best because we labour at the water works to give people water. So, if we now go ahead to cut off the water pipes we are still not achieving our aims. Our people need this water. If it is light our people can buy, generator or candle but water is not easy. That is why we are not interested in disconnecting. We just want to plead with them to pay, no matter how much they are paying, let them be paying small amounts gradually.

    In what other area do you think water users can contribute to the success of your corporation?

    Another area where we also need the support of our people is in what we call illegal connection, that is, when people tap water from the corporation without following due process. Several people are doing that. They will just call the road-side plumber and they will connect without any authorisation. We want to plead with them to discontinue such act. It is not good for the system and state. We want them to desist from it. We have had people that produce pure (satchet) water, sometimes they bypass the connection meter and they will be using water but the meter will not read. Although, we have the power to prosecute but what will be our gain? It is better for us to plead with them to consider the government and to consider our society.

    How have you been able to solve the problem of power?

    We have formed a very good relationship with the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company. We have met with them and we have reached a particular agreement that they will ensure that we have light but the issue is that it has not been so. Then, we decided to proffer the solution by constructing a 33KVA dedicated power line. The normal light that we use comes from 11KVA. So it is from 33KVA that the light is shed to 11KVA. The electricity flows regularly with 33KVA and we have constructed that for Asejire and that is why we are having light regularly. We have also rehabilitated and reactivated the dedicated power lines to Ogbo-moso. The performance of that scheme was less than one per cent for the past 30 years and it is because of the light. Work has started. People thought that the water corporation is already dead but now it is coming up again. We are also constructing a power station in Saki and the contractor just reported that he has erected almost 80 electricity poles. Before the end of February, it will be completed. That means the people of Saki will have adequate water supply soon. We are also proposing another one for Eruwa which will be done soon and we have back up transformers.

  • Quiz competitions for Oyo primary schools begin

    Quiz competitions for Oyo primary schools begin

    Worried by the high prevalence of examination malpractices in the country, Kingston College, Ibadan (KCI), has kicked-off the maiden edition of its Inter-School Quiz Competition for primary schools in Oyo State in order to prepare pupils to confront future challenges in their academic pursuits.

    The participating schools include, St. Patrick School, BISKAN Golden Heritage School, Mary Hill Convent School, Precious Heritage School, Police Children School 1, Air Force Primary School, IAR&T Staff School, Kingdom Heritage Model School, St. Catherine School, Olives International School, Develiz Golden School, Rosebud School and Grace Kiddies Porch School.

    In his welcome address, at KCI auditorium, Eleyele, Ibadan, the chairman, Board of Directors of KCI, Prof. Labo Popoola, stated that the competition was coming at a time when examination malpractices are gradually eroding ideals and values of sustainable education.

    According to the university don, the competition was packaged primarily to ignite the can do spirit in the young pupils for future challenges.

    He went further that the opportunity will undoubtedly impact positively on the lives of the pupils by way of instilling in them the virtues of hardwork, total commitment to their studies and self confidence.

    “This competition is coming at a time when examination malpractices are gradually eroding the lofty ideals and values of sustainable education,” Popoola said.

    The participants, he said, will be examined in Mathematics, English Language, Basic Science and Current Affairs.

    Addressing journalist shortly after the event, the executive director of Kingston College, Mr. Kayode Fasola stated that the competition would focus on tasking pupils intellect which prepares them to confront future challenges.

    Fasola stated that this will stoke the spirit of competitiveness in primary school pupils, adding that it was designed to encourage them to collectively solve problems.

    The director of the school described Kingston College as an emerging world class school with a vision to train pupils in an atmosphere that is underpinned by excellence.

    “ We are passion-driven to provide a top-notch qualitative education and I encourage all participating schools to put in their best as success can only be achieved through hardwork.”

  • Court restrains Ajimobi, others

    In Ibadan High Court yesterday restrained parties in a land dispute from trespassing on the 404.74 hectares of land situated in Ibadan Southwest Local Government of Oyo State, pending the hearing of an interlocutory injunction filed by some families against the governor; the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice; the Commissioner for Land, Housing and Survey and two others.

    The families sued the respondents for not releasing the land, which was formerly acquired by the Federal Government.

    The land is worth over N16 billion.

    Justice Adegboye Gbolagunte said: “Based on the agreement of all the counsel in this case that there is need for positive order pending the hearing and determination of the interlocutory injunction dated May 2, 2013, filed by the claimants, the interim order is hereby granted on the 404.74 heacres of land situated in Ibadan Southwest Local Government.”

    The judge fixed February 10 for hearing on the application for injunction and granted the claimants’ application to amend their brief.

     

  • 3 dead, 15 injured in Ibadan accident

    Three people were on Sunday  feared dead while 15 others were injured in a motor accident in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
    Two commuter buses were said to have collided at Awolowo Road junction, Bodija area of the city causing the tragedy.
    A Lagos bound Volkswagen bus with registration number Lagos LSR 945 XH and a Toyota bus with the registration number AJ 91 MNY carrying passengers were involved in the collision.
    The injured persons were taken to the Accident and Emergency Unit  of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan for treatment.
     An eyewitness who preferred anonymity attributed the accident to overspeeding  by the driver of Volkswagen bus. He added that the driver was drunk, pointing out that bottles of beer were found in the bus.
    He disclosed that they stumbled on the bottles during rescue operation.
     The  Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Oyo State Police Command, Mrs Olabisi Ilobanafo, confirmed the incident.

     

  • My father never composed songs for me–BARRY SHOWKEY

    My father never composed songs for me–BARRY SHOWKEY

    I don’t like people to know I am a son of Barrister because I want to build my own name. But anywhere I go to, people easily recognize me and my father’s name opens doors for me

    A few weeks ago, when Adewale Akanji Balogun, a.k.a. Barry Showkey, performed at Top One Garden in Ibadan, Oyo State, the crowd was really ecstatic. Indeed, if the muted as well as ventilated feelings of the crowd on that day were anything to go by, then, his father, the late fuji music legend, would have turned in his grave that one of his children has courageously taken up the baton of fuji music from where he stopped. At the well-publicised event on Friday, January 3, his vocal and stagecraft evoked memories of Mr. Fuji, as his father was fondly called. So, to say the crowd, who had been longing for a re-enactment of Barrister’s captivating live show, had asked for an encore is to put it mildly.

    But if that showmanship could be described, as some critics are wont to say, as a flash in the pan, what Barry Showkey subsequently did during the New Year party organised by the chairman of Oluyole Local Government in Oyo State was another proof that he is committed to the development of fuji music while also popularising his brand of music.

    However, that was not his first time on stage as a musician. His sizzling romance with the microphone started at a relatively young age of 10, when he used to accompany his late father on musical tours in and outside the country. Interestingly, he started out professionally in 1993, when he performed at a naming ceremony in Mushin, Lagos State.

    He went into music without any inhibition, given that he had shown evidence of a potential music star very early in life. He found music so irresistible. As a result, as soon as he completed his secondary school education at A to Z International School, Ajao Estate, Lagos, he began to devote his energy and time to music. In this recent interview with The Nation, he said, “Music took me away from school, but I am now planning to go back to school in the US. Having said this, I don’t have any regrets. Music is giving me all I want in life. I have my fans and if you love my dad, you will love me too. My first album was released in 1996. I have so far done seven albums. Until now, I was leading my own band, a 25-member band. I am the first fuji musician nominated for the Kora Awards in 2002 for my album, Fuji Hip-hop, which was produced under the Kennis Music label.”

    Barry Showkey, who released his first album in 1996, further explained that the first show in Ibadan was put up to formally announce the merger of his own band with his father’s. With this disclosure, you wonder how Barry Showkey, who now leads Mr Fuji Memorial Band, will be able to lead such a huge band, considering his age and experience. But the seventh child of the late Barrister’s 49 children said, “The two bands were pruned to 25 members, after the merger. We love and trust one another. Before the two bands were merged, my father’s fans were pestering me to lead the band.” When asked if he could be in his father’s shoes, he went philosophical, saying, “Everything is in God’s hand. If God says I will be in his shoes, fine, and if He says otherwise, fine.”

    Barry Showkey, who also runs a restaurant, Bis Kitchen, with his Ijebu Ode, Ogun State-born wife in the US, further said that he wants to build his own name rather than ride on the crest of his father’s name. According to him, “I don’t like people to know I am a son of Barrister because I want to build my own name. But anywhere I go to, people easily recognise me and my father’s name opens doors for me.”

    With such albums as New Edition (1996), Buster (1997), Beauty of Democracy (2000), Fuji hip-hop (2002), Transformation (2011), Barry Showkey could not but take an introspective look at his musical journey in the past years. And his conclusion is that he urgently needs to do everything humanly possible to advance his career, as he prepares for his next album which, according to him, will be released under Ade Otolowo100 Percent Entertainment in April.

    Having watched the current development in the house of fuji music, particularly after his father passed on, he stated without mincing words that the industry needs to be repositioned for the overall benefit of the practitioners. He seemed to be angry at the turn of things in the fuji music industry. But his anger was not misplaced. How? He said, “I am not happy about the state of fuji music in Nigeria today. Fuji artistes are not making efforts to develop it or move it to the next level. It seems to be stagnant. There is no conscious effort to move it any further from where my father left it. It is one of the indigenous music, so it should never be relegated to the background.

    “I am a member the Fuji Music Association of Nigeria (FUMAN). But the truth is there is no love among the fuji artistes and this is affecting the development of fuji music. My father suffered so much to build the genre, so I won’t be happy to see it die.”

    But an average lover of fuji music knows that the crisis that has almost ripped the fuji music industry apart had started while his father was alive. So, when The Nation reminded him that his attempt to absolve his father of any blame might not hold water, he sat up in his chair and said, matter of fact, that “Though the crisis was there when my father was alive, fuji music was still moving on. It was not standstill, as it is today. But I have already spoken with Obesere, KI, Osupa and Muri Thunder on the way forward.”

    In his careful dissection of the fuji music industry, he also told The Nation that a majority of the hip-hop artistes now infuse fuji in their music, with no apologies. So, this, in his view, has confirmed the continued relevance of fuji music, even in modern time.

    A member of the American Musician Association, Barry Showkey said he might be doing collabo with some A-list hip hop acts, including Tuface, D’banj, Olamide and Whizkid. The proposed Collabo, according to him, is just to inject some newness into fuji music.

    As an artiste, he is under perpetual temptation from the opposite sex. Besides, his background- coming from a polygamous family – may have impacted his lifestyle in some way. So, it will be interesting to know if he wouldn’t mind marrying more than one wife, as it is true of many traditional musicians, including his late father. Without any scintilla of emotion, he said, “My father had 49 children and I am the seventh child. Also, I am the only child of my mother, Alhaja Abibat Aduke Balogun, for my father. Many of my father’s wives had only one child for him. Coming back to your question, my belief is that whatever has been pre-destined to happen to you in life will surely happen. So, if God says I am going to have many wives, there is nothing I can do to prevent it. I don’t know my destiny; I have a God who is directing my affair in life. However, I am not saying I am going to have 20 wives and I am not saying I won’t have either. I have two more years to turn 40, so if I have not been doing it (having several relationships) in the past years, why will I do it now? I know a number of my age mates who are artistes and who are married to many wives.”

    Today, whenever there is a heated argument about the depth of his composition, opinions are usually divided regarding whether or not his late father was not his ‘engine room’, music-wise. But it is doubtful if there is any truth in the claim that his father was his ‘power house’, given that his latest album, Transformation, is a veritable proof of his own lyrical power. So, when he was prodded on the issue, he said, “My father didn’t write any of the songs for me. However, he backed me up in the studio when I was producing my first album.”

  • Oyo denies order stopping fiesta

    The Oyo State government through its Ministry of Culture and Tourism has debunked the story published in a National daily on the 27th January, 2014 with the headline firm asks court to stop Oyo’s “Samodun fiesta”.

    In a release issued by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Dr Bunmi Babalola described the story as a total mix up and complete misconception about the “Samodun fiesta”.

    “The claim which was made by the firm was in regard to Oyo festival in 2009 and since then OYO FESTIVAL has never been held again. The “Samodun fiesta” with the theme “Asaparapo” is a new concept entirely and has nothing to do with Oyo festival of 2009.”

    He said the “Samodun fiesta” is coming up between 14th – 15th February, 2014 and there is no court order restraining the Ministry from holding the Festival.

    According to Babalola, participating States are therefore enjoined to disregard the misconception and go ahead with the preparation to ensure a hitch free and successful Cultural Festival.

     

  • How Oyo averted religious crisis in Iseyin

    The postponement of the second term resumption of public and private schools in Iseyin town by one week saved the ancient town from religious crisis already brewing among adherents, it has emerged.

    The Oyo State Government had postponed resumption for schools in Iseyin by one week on sensing trouble.

    It was learnt that Muslims had informed female Muslim students, particularly those from Iseyin District Grammar School, to start wearing hijab to school once the second term kicked off.

    They insisted that any school tradition that denied their female students of their right to wear hijab like their Christian counterparts wearing beret would be resisted by all means possible.

    The situation, which had generated tension in the town, compelled the state government to convey a meeting with education stakeholders at the palace of Aseyin of Iseyin on January 4, two days to the resumption of the schools.

    The meeting afforded representatives of both religions to express their views, though no compromise was reached on the contentious issue.

    At the follow-up meeting held on January 9, it was resolved that in Muslim-named/faith-based public schools, the usage/wearing of hijab should be allowed in accordance with the Islamic tradition/religious belief of the affected students.

    It was also agreed that in Christian-named/faith-based public schools, the uniforms should be in line with the established tradition of the school and Christian religion.

     

    Part of the resolutions at the meeting was also that in community-based public schools, the usage/wearing of a common hijab/beret by female students should be permitted, although it was made optional for parents/students.

    The management of each school was saddled with the responsibility of determining the size and colour of the beret and hijab for uniformity.

     

  • UACN takes prime properties to Oyo

    •Olive Court Estate rises in Ibadan

    UACN Property Development Company Plc (UPDC) has over the years built a reputation for vintage properties in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt but the company is now expanding to Ibadan and some other big cities, writes Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

    For real estate developers, Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt have always been first choice because of the high demand for upscale and exotic properties by the wealthy but this is about to change as UACN Property Development Company Plc (UPDC) is moving into previously untapped markets in Oyo State in a joint venture agreement with the government by building Olive Court estate in Ibadan, the state capital.

    Located on 2.04 hectares of land in the Agodi Government Reservation Area (GRA) opposite the Government House, Olive Court is where the very best of sub-urban living comes to life with beautifully designed, generously spacious houses, coupled with excellent leisure facilities.

    According to UPDC Managing Director, Hakeem Ogunniran, the ancient city of Ibadan has never had anything close to what his real estate company is currently building in the political capital of Southwest, Nigeria.

    Giving a breakdown of the housing units on offer, Ogunniran said, there are 9 units of 5-bedroom detached houses, 22 units of 4-bedroom semi-detached houses and 19 units of 4-bedroom terraces.

    Facilities include swimming pool, gymnasium and children’s play ground. Others are borehole and sewage treatment plant, fire and burglar systems, PHCN and standby generator including ample parking space for residents and visitors.

    The real estate company has also expanded to Calabar, the Cross River capital in a bid to compliment the world acclaimed tourist destination. Tinapa, in yet another joint venture arrangement  with the state government  to develop the Golf Estate, a 178 unit estate very close to the Summit Hill estate that epitomise luxury and pleasurable living that has become the toast of tourists across the world.

    On Pineville estate in Asaba, the UPDC chief said, though it didn’t work out as a joint venture project with the government, the exclusive estate located on one hectare of land in Asaba, the Delta State capital features contemporary design which exudes grace and style, adding to the magnificence of the capital city.

    He said: “Built to instill pride and pleasure in its residents, Pineville adds a touch of exclusivity by offering just 20 housing units which consists of 4 units of 5-bedroom detached houses and 16 units of 4-bedroom semi-detached houses. The units also come with full compliments of UPDC standards and even more”.

    On the reason behind the change in strategy and choice of cities, the UPDC MD said, his firm researched and came into a conclusion which led to the critical decision as a result of some business fundamental factors such as massive infrastructure and urban renewal programmes in the chosen states, the ease of doing business, land reforms and ease of obtaining land tiles etc.

    On plans to make inroads into other states, Ogunniran said that will be a sound business decision based on the efforts of the state government’s concerned to revive their infrastructure and create an enabling environment.

    According to him, real estate development has ceased to be a 100 metre dash but a marathon as investors demand good returns “so our move will only be determined by sound business decisions”.

    Ogunniran said the company’s presence is still very strong in Lagos as it had redeveloped the former FESTAC 77 Hotel into what is today known as Golden Tulip Hotel with all modern trappings. Currently, the company is delivering a mixed development in the hotel known as The Residences, adding that the apartments will be an ideal location for both business and pleasure. “Whether you chose a short let apartment, an office space or decide to make a home of the building, rest assured you will always be in the thick of all the activities and goings-on which its prestigious neigbours have to offer,” he enthused.

    In his words: “The Residences divided into wings will comprise of  88 units of one-bedroom apartments in the Wing 1, while the Wing 2 will accommodate 8 floors of commercial offices and Wing 3 will consists of 18 units of one-bedroom apartments and 46 units of 2-bedroom apartments”.

    In a related development, UPDC has also unveiled James Pinnock Place (Phase 111) Lekki in Lagos on about 3 hectares of land with the waterfront portion of the estate directly facing the Lagoon, ensuring a cool and airy atmosphere for residents. The 83 housing units offer an exceptional lifestyle, and doubles as an excellent investment opportunity as the Lekki axis continues in its phenomenal development. It consists of 11 units of 5-bedroom detached houses, 28 units of 4-bedroom semi-detached houses, 42 units of 3-bedroom apartments and 2 units of 4-bedroom maisonette all with boys’ quarters.

     

  • Ajimobi’ll break second-term jinx, says Alaafin’s aide

    Ajimobi’ll break second-term jinx, says Alaafin’s aide

    The Royal Ambassador to the Alaafin of Oyo, Aare Ayandotun Ayanlakin, has said Governor Abiola Ajimobi will break the second term jinx by winning the next governorship election.

    He spoke with reporters yesterday in Ibadan, the state capital, on Oyo politics.

    Ayanlakin said the governor’s achievements would make the people reelect him.

    He said the Ajimobi administration’s achievements in the last two years cannot be compared to that of any administration in the state’s history.

    No governor has been reelected for a second term in the state’s democratic history.

    Ayanlakin said the Ajimobi administration had invested greatly in infrastructural development, adding that the people appreciate the governor’s efforts to restore the state’s pacesetter status.

    He listed some of the administration’s achievements as the construction of the Mokola flyover; beautification of the environment; restoration of peace; construction of roads; disbursement of N300 million loan to traders; and the timely payment of workers’ salary and 13th month salary for the third year running, among others.

    Ayanlakin said the governor has transformed Oyo within a short period, adding that it would be in the state’s interest to give Ajimobi another four-year mandate.

    He said the people are now wiser, adding that it was the reason they did not reelect former Governors Rashidi Ladoja and Adebayo Alao-Akala.

    Ayanlakin said: “Since Ajimobi assumed office, the masses have witnessed tremendous change. I am very convinced that Ajimobi will break the age-long second term jinx because he is an outstanding governor, who has made land mark achievements and the electorate will vote for him on that basis.

    “He has transformed almost all sectors. He has built roads, transformed the health sector, turned around education and agriculture, created a peaceful and conducive atmosphere and improved the welfare package of workers.”

  • Hope rising for Oyo civil servants as Ajimobi promises housing scheme

    Hope rising for Oyo civil servants as Ajimobi promises housing scheme

    •Focus shifts to water supply, education, health and agriculture

    Though it was the usual inter-faith prayer heralding a new working year and all was set to do so, but civil servants in the employ of the Oyo State government got more than they expected last Monday.

    They went jubilating as Governor Abiola Ajimobi reeled out his plans for them in 2014 even as he doled out cash to reward good performance in the previous year.

    With spontaneous rousing greeting, the Governor’s Office Car Park, venue of the prayer meeting, became a rally ground of a sort for the three hours that the programme lasted.

    The Muslim and Christian clerics had opened the meeting with prayers. Traditional worshippers were also on ground to add colour to the event.

    The governor, who spoke last, acknowledged that the civil servants have shown a good level of change for the better within the two and a half years that he took over the mantle of leadership of the state. He lauded their tenacity and encouraged them to keep changing for the better.

    Ajimobi said they were capable of performing any task no matter how difficult it looks, pointing out that they have risen to the occasion in the various ways his administration has challenged them. He cited several examples, starting with the production of the beautiful programme for the event.

    The governor called out an official of the state printing press who produced it, Mrs Margaret Olatoun Oluwafemi, lauded her and rewarded her with a cash gift of N250,000. All the workers jumped up in ecstasy and went into a frenzy of terrific clapping. He also gave the entire team another N250,000 for doing a good job.

    So was the case for Mr. Oyelola Okunlola of the Office of the Surveyor-General that was singled out for dressing well. He was rewarded with N100,000 cash gift.

    For beating his deadline to revamp the Asejire Waterworks in order to provide water for Ibadan residents within three months, the state’s water corporation got a gift of N5 million while all participants at the prayer meeting got a cash gift of N10 million.

    Reeling out his plans, Ajimobi disclosed that a car assembly plant would be opened in Ibadan this year to help more civil servants buy brand new cars. He said, civil servants deserve the best, stressing that it was part of the reasons his administration went for the car assembly plant that would be delivering brand new cars at affordable prices to the masses. He further disclosed that he has taken delivery of a sample of the car which would be assembled by a Chinese firm.

    He also promised to build more low cost houses for civil servants to enable them enjoy decent accommodation. The governor said once the first phase of the project is completed, they would enjoy the opportunity to come and see what is on offer and decide whether they want to participate or not.

    He said he had ordered redevelopment of many governor’s guest houses located in many Government Reserved Areas (GRA) into luxury apartments for purchase and use by residents including civil servants.

    The governor, who said all the cash gifts he gave to the workers were from his personal purse, emphasised his knack for quality, stressing the need for civil servants to always settle for the best.

    “I am a man of quality. So I urge you never to settle for less but to always have positive mental attitude towards service. Not only that, you must also inculcate it into your children,’’ he said.

    He also announced salary review which he said would be done by the end of the first quarter of the year and implemented without delay. Governor Ajimobi disclosed that a committee would be constituted this month to fashion out a wage that would be acceptable to the generality of the workers.

    The governor, however, stressed the need for the workers to redouble their efforts towards improving on the internally-generated revenue of the state.

    Earlier the Head of Service (HOS), Alhaji Tajudeen Aremu in his welcome address, highlighted the several ways the Governor Ajimobi administration has raised the quality of life and work environment of an average civil servant in the state, including training and retraining in Nigeria and overseas, free transportation, upward review of housing and car loans and regular promotion.

    He urged the workers to redouble their efforts to consolidate on the gains of the past. He also urged them to shun crave for ill-gotten wealth and concentrate on how to leave good legacies. Aremu encouraged them to emulate great forebears such as the late Simeon Adebo and Tejumade Alakija as well as Chiefs Theophilus Akinyele and M. S. Adigun.

    He described Ajimobi as a “rescue agent ordained by God to save the state from the holocaust and reign of terror.

    He said: “To the generality of well-meaning people in this gathering, I like us to see Governor Abiola Ajimobi as a rescue agent ordained by God to save the state from holocaust and reign of terror.

    According to Mike Murdock, you don’t know the value of a thing until you lose it. I want to admonish us to do away with sentiments and embrace a vessel that is sold out for peace, progress and prosperity that we are all witnessing in the state. Walter Benjamin said: ‘If the enemy wins, even the dead will not be safe.’ This is our state. We don’t have any other place to go that can be like Oyo State. Therefore, we must watch out for sustainability of the ongoing good works in the state. A word is sufficient for the wise”.

    He also pointed out that “the current year is highly promising as government was poised to focus on total transformation in water supply, education, health and agriculture, having made remarkable success in the areas of environmental beautification and urban renewal and physical development in the previous year”.

    He advised the workers to work harder to ensure the fulfillment of the goal.

    In their sermons, Dr. Segun Olatunji, a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and Sheikh Ahmad Rufai, the Chief Imam of Government House Mosque, commended the commitment and dedication of the civil servants, urging them to continue to reciprocate government’s gesture by renewing their cooperation and support to the government.

    Taking his text from Quran 2: 102-104, Rufai called for more cooperation between workers and the government, stressing that nothing will be impossible for parties that cooperate in discharging their duties. He illustrated with a fable of a hawk, rat, cow and tortoise who worked together for the benefit of all members of the group.

    Rufai emphasised that workers must work excellently well to be able to thank God, adding that workers must also appreciate what the employer is doing well.

    The Muslim cleric advised leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to keep advising the governor well and keep supporting the government. “Cooperation is the best. It brings benefits to all stakeholders.” He said.

    Pastor Olatunji also spoke along the same line, calling on the government to continue to discharge its duties with the fear of God and civil servants working with diligence and honesty.

    They also called for unity among members of the political class to ensure the success of the Ajimobi administration and for the state to continue to move forward.