The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Oyo

  • Alaafin seeks honour for past heroes

    Alaafin seeks honour for past heroes

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111, has stated that until leaders learn to genuinely appreciate, reward and honour those whose invaluable contributions sustain the nation, true peace, harmony and progress will remain elusive.

    Adeyemi stated this in his palace yesterday when members of the anniversary and fund-raising committee for the Nigerian legionnaires Oyo State chapter paid him a courtesy visit.

    The paramount ruler noted that most nationals from developed countries of the world are so patriotic and nationalistic enough to lay down their lives for their countries because they are treated well.

    According to him: ‘’Citizens of developed countries are treated as human beings with self-respect and dignity whose needs and interests must be jealously protected.

    “As a result, criminality and the culture of sabotage are significantly reduced compared to our country Nigeria. Our own citizens are not criminals but very diligent, dynamic and enterprising.

    “But in situations whereby our citizens are denied their inalienable rights glaringly and the society shows little interest in their welfare and feelings, they cannot but become a rabble.‘’

    Describing annual remembrances of fallen military personnel who gallantly fought the civil wars to ensure the continued existence of the country as mere cosmetic, Alaafin wondered why the exercise should be limited to cenotaphs and decorations with flowers without any means of immortalisation and befitting provisions for the well-beings of their families.

    ‘’The independence we are enjoying in the country today did not come by chance; some people worked assiduously and sweated profusely for its attainment.

    “They must have inventory in a special museum that should be created at federal, state and local government levels.

    “Their marvelous contributions to the emergence of the entity must be on marble, as well as serve historical antecedents for future posterity.”

    Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111, has stated that until leaders learn to genuinely appreciate, reward and honour those whose invaluable contributions sustain the nation, true peace, harmony and progress will remain elusive.Adeyemi stated this in his palace yesterday

  • Lukman hooks Rashidat

    Lukman hooks Rashidat

    THE Youth President, Olarokun Community Abule-Egba, Lukman Adebayo, recently hooked his long-time heartthrob, Oluwatoyin Rashidat, in an elaborate Nikkah ceremony at Solam Events Centre, Oluyole, Ibadan, Oyo State.

    Lukman, an accountant at Doris Construction and Engineering Nigeria Limited, attracted a rousing crowd with some Lagos State government officials in attendance.

  • All is calm in Oyo as police smash criminals’ hideouts

    Ibadan the Oyo State capital is usually the barometre with which to measure what is happening in the State especially I terms of security situation

    Many residents of the ancient capital of Oyo state had been groaning under the grievous yoke of oppressive regime and self made political titans in the state between 2003 and 2011 and the approach of Christmas and New Year brought apprehension to the people as the period was associated with crime of all sorts.

    It was also common during the same period to record factional fighting between rival groups within the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) which inevitably affected innocent members of the public and brought anarchy and insecurity to the city. During this period, Ibadan was the topic of major news headlines.

    The reign of terror became more worrisome to the extent that visitors to the city were weary of visiting. A final year medical student of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria was murdered in cold blood at the then dreaded Iwo Road Garage, while returning from a meeting at Obafemi Awolowo University ( OAU), Ile-Ife en-route Ibadan to Zaria.

    Security of lives and property became a serious problem as governance and socio -economic development were stifled and stagnated.

    The economic base of Ibadan city rest on human activities, but this was substantially suppressed due to growing insecurity.

    Between 2011 and 2013, under the administration of Senator Abiola Ajimobi, a lot have been achieved in the area of massive transformation of Ibadan and other parts of the state into a haven of peace and security .

    From Molete to Iwo road, Sango to Olomi , Mokola to Challenge and Bere to Gate ,there is a fresh air of peace and security blowing across the ancient city of Ibadan. Aside, the security of lives and property the areas which used to be dens of criminals and miscreants have put on a new look following the untiring effort of the state governor and his avowed stand to rid the state of enemies of peace and security.

    There is massive urban renewal and environmental sanitation and beautification of the state  that have brought Ibadan city to global attention.

    It is widely acknowledged that peace and security of lives and property may not be totally guaranteed if left to any single government to provide.

    Hence, in November, 2011, governor Abiola Ajimobi  solicited private support and participation in the task of maintaining peace and order in the state while inaugurating  the board of trustees of the Oyo state Security Trust Fund ( OYSTF) .

    The governor added that vision of his administration is to turn things around for the better in the interest of the generality of the people and to evolve a consistent socio-economic development system that is free of apprehension.

    OYSTF was established as a partnership between the state government and key stakeholders in the private sector to provide the funding to equip the security services in the state such as the state security outfit code named “Operation Burst” which has continued to burst crime in the state since it was inaugurated.

    No doubt Operation Burst has contributed immensely in resolving a key challenge to effective management of security challenges in the state.

    With the operation of the security outfit the residents of Ibadan can today sleep at night with their two eyes closed without fear of harassment, assault, maiming and killings .

    The security trust fund has created an enabling environment for sustained funding of the security services in return for credible management of all security apparatus in the state and served as an intervention agency for the mobilisation and provision of funds for sustained and adequate operation of security services.

    Speaking on the success recorded in the sustenance of peace and security since 2011 in the state, the Oyo state Police Command spokesperson, DSP Olabisi Ilobanafor attributed existing peace in the state to the exemplary leadership qualities of the governor , Senator Abiola Ajimobi and the state Commissioner of Police.

    Her words” security situation in Oyo state has never been this quiet during Xmas and new year celebration. And this is as a result of the exemplary leadership qualities of Governor Abiola Ajimobi and the state Commissioner of Police in the sense that the Commissioner is always showing how best to police the state and making careful planning ahead. Due to our virile intelligence system, criminal hideouts were carefully detected. As early as September, he has finalised preparations for December. Operational order is followed to the letter and assistance of the members of the public contributed a lot to the security of the state. The issue of gender sensitivity in the posting of Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and community policing helped in achieving low crime rate. “

    Frankly, DSP Ilobanafor acknowledged the fact that in the last four years, Oyo state used to have rampant cases of security problems ranging from NURTW politically motivated crisis, banks robbery, and all sorts of criminal activities, but now the state is calm and bubbling.

     

  • Group scores Oyo high in governance

    Group scores Oyo high in governance

    Oyo Descendants’ National Congress (ODNC), a non-political cum socio-cultural oraganisation, an umbrella body of Oyo Indigenous Clubs in Lagos and in Diaspora, has commended the present government in Oyo State for it’s laudable achievements so far in the governance of Oyo State.

    Speaking through its National Chairman, Mr. Gafar Adeniran Ademola, the group remarked that “the government under the leadership of Governor Ajimobi has brought rapid developments to the state in terms of provision of social amenities, infrastructures, general transformation and urban renewal projects round the whole state.

    ” And as regards political atmosphere, there is total peace. No more threat to lives and properties. More so, our traditional rulers are placed in prime and eminent positions as there is great respect for traditional institutions.”

    In a similar remark, Ademola commended the governor on youth empowerment and employment programmes, special programmes for the aged, the children and women in enhancing their general living conditions.

    “On education, the achievements of the present administration are quite enormous. For instance, on assumption of office, Oyo State was in the 32nd position as regards WAEC in the whole federation but as soon as he took over the mantle of leadership, the standard improved and has now improved significantly to 18th position and there are rooms for improvement. Standards has indeed improved and records are there for everybody to see,” he said, adding, “The practical manifestation of the government is quite visible and enviable. A new dimension culminating in quality leadership has been brought into governance in the state.”

    Acoording to him, the governor is seen by many as a highly refined politician, a political strategist and a passionate believer in peoples welfare and human development programmes.

    In the statement, he as well gave the state legislature under the leadership of Rt. Hon Monsurat Sumonu pat in the back by stressing that “it has been working tirelessly and transparently with the government to achieve these laudable programmes without necessarily being a rubber stamp”.

    “Local governments and other departments of government could not be left out of the good leadership qualities and meaningful developments ravaging the state,” he added.

  • After years of violence: Peace, orderliness return to Oyo NURTW

    After years of violence: Peace, orderliness return to Oyo NURTW

    A wind of change has blown through the commercial drivers union in Oyo State, bringing a once theatre of violence to an empire of peace and orderliness, writes BISI OLADELE

    To Ibadan residents, the mention of Iwo Road interchange and Olomi areas of the city triggers natural fear. It also does to travelers that are used to the volatile areas and perhaps those who have fallen victim of violence by thugs suspected to be members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    The two areas were notorious for lawlessness and violence and the scars will remain visible for years to come.

    While Olomi hosts the headquarters of the state’s chapter of the commercial drivers’ union, Iwo Road interchange is the hub of commercial drivers’ activities. It is the gateway to many parts of the country.

    Visitors to the Olomi headquarters, which is located near the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, were greeted with Indian hemp smokers, rowdy activities and other horrible-looking hoodlums who largely protected the union leaders from external attacks as well as attacks from factional members. They were also used to attack other factional leaders and their members to cow them into the “norm” within the circle.

    It was the seat of power for any reigning NURTW Chairman and his lieutenants and the entire community trembled day and night at the roaring of the drivers’ warlords.

    So was Iwo Road interchange. Internal fracas broke out regularly, leading to killing and maiming of members as well as innocent commuters, the height of which was the killing of several commuters on the night of Saturday June 4, 2011. Other motor parks including Gate, Molete, New Garage and Ojoo were also sometimes racked with violence by members of the union.

    But all these have given way to a new life of peace and orderliness since Governor Abiola Ajimobi intervened by banning the activities of the union in the aftermath of the June 5, 2011 killing. He later insisted on a peaceful transition to a new regime.

    The regime change produced Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde (aka Fele) as the new Chairman. Other members of the Executive are Comrade Akin James (State Secretary); Elder Lekan Aleshinloye (Assistant Secretary); Alhaji Kamorudeen Beyioku (Deputy Chairman); Alhaji Abideen Olajide (Vice Chairman); Alhaji Ademola Adeoye (State Treasurer); Elder Joseph Odeyemi (Assistant Treasurer); Alhaji Musa Adeleke (Financial Secretary); Alhaji Abass Adigun (State Auditor) and Alhaji Kasali Lawal (Assistant Auditor).

    Construction of modern motor parks

    As part of the new lease of life, the Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration constructed modern motor parks for commercial vehicles to enable them operate in a conducive atmosphere. The parks also moved them away from the road where they used to obstruct traffic unhindered. Such newly built parks are the Temidire Motor Park located at WEMA Bank area of New Ife Road and the new park along Podo Road.

    With the parks, it became difficult for hoodlums to operate as there was no longer a hiding place for them. It also enabled government to collect taxes from commercial vehicle operators by appointing Park Managers who supervise smooth operation of the parks, while staff and officers of the NURTW also find it easier to operate as an officer is attached to a unit for collection of dues.

    Banning of hoodlums functioning as Agbero

    With a new regime operating with a strict instruction from the government to maintain peace and orderliness, hoodlums helping drivers to solicit passengers (popularly known as agbero) no longer have a role as drivers usher in passengers by themselves. With the parks and other approved loading points, passengers freely make their choice and walk straight to the units where they board the right vehicle.

    Agberos were known to foment trouble in the past. They own no vehicle, drive no vehicle but earn income by fetching passengers for vehicles at approved and unapproved parks. They foist their services on drivers and take a good percentage of the fare. The multiple times they earn income in a day sometimes make them richer than an average driver.

    Agberos were the available tools for trouble makers among union leaders and they are also useful tools for politicians wanting to unleash violence on their perceived enemies or opponents.

    But their stars have since dropped in motor parks in the Oyo State of today.

    Banning of alcohol sellers at motor parks

    Commercial drivers and Agberos are known to drink alcohol at all times of the day. From 5:00 am when drivers resume for work at motor parks, alcohol traders are open for business. They drink intermittently “to keep themselves strong and alive” according to a driver. But it sometimes fuel violence and lawlessness, and sometimes fuel tendencies for accident for inter-state drivers.

    But with the new regime of zero tolerance for violence, alcohol sellers have been sent packing. The sanity is strengthened by the removal of shanties housing those alcohol sellers and traders of other substances capable of fueling violence around the interchange.

    The presence of members of the Oyo State Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES-O) at the parks helps maintain law and order. They ensure the drivers park and pick passengers only at approved locations while offenders are punished.

    Today, only people who have business at the parks around the interchange are found there. They are drivers, NURTW staff, government agents and commuters.

    Iwo road as the main hub of NURTW activities in Oyo State

    The interchange is thick for various reasons. It connects the Lagos-Ibadan-Oyo-Ilorin expressway. It also connects Ibadan-Ile-Ife-Ondo-Akure expressway. The interchange also connects the main road to Iwo from where travelers link Osogbo and Ogbomoso just as it connects a major road into the inner parts of the city.

    Aside being the gateway to many parts of the country, there are more than 35 NURTW units around the interchange under three branches (local governments).

    While the units along Ife Road fall under Egbeda Local Government, those around Iwo Road and Ojoo axis are under Lagelu Local Government. Those units where travelers going to Lagos, Ikorodu and Ijebu-Ode axis board buses fall under Ibadan North East Local Government.

    The multiple loading of passengers going to various parts of the Southwest and other parts of the country including the North as well as several private vehicles navigating through the interchange make it one huge flash point for NURTW activities.

    It took over from the Gate motor park which reigned supreme until 1980s as the main hub of commercial drivers’ activities. The relocation of the defunct Dugbe market to the Bola Ige International Market located along New Ife Road, extension of the city towards Ile-Ife axis and construction of the Lagos -Ibadan expressway, among others, made Iwo Road to overtake Gate motor-park in terms of importance.

    For this reason, state chairmen of the drivers’ union always establish their control on the interchange as the hub and the most plum location for revenue. It, therefore, plays host to hoodlums who are strategically placed to maintain the grip of the helmsman on all members of the union.

    For instance, factional members of the union always show strength at Iwo Road as whoever is able to establish control of NURTW activities at the interchange is viewed as the reigning power bloc in the union.

    This has led to several skirmishes at different times, particularly during the factionalization of the union between 2003 and 2011.

    Gladiators of the crisis are Alhaji Lateef Akinsola (aka Tokyo), Alhaji Lateef Salako (aka Eleweomo), Mukaila Lamidi (aka Auxilliary) and Alhaji Tawa. Throughout the time of the crisis, Iwo Road interchange was the centre of muscle flexing.

    Administrative structure

    Largely seen, perhaps unfairly, as a union for touts and hoodlums, the NURTW has its own administrative structure for ease of administration. From the local unit to the branch, state, zone and national level, the union has elected/selected officers to run its affairs.

    A unit is made up of vehicles plying the same route. This may be intra or inter-state. For instance, the interstate units at the Iwo Road Interchange include the Ibadan-Ilesa-ife; Ibadan-Osogbo-Ilorin; Ibadan-Akure-Ondo; Ibadan-Ikorodu; Ibadan-Oshodi; Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode; Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin; Ibadan-Iwo a units and Ibadan-Warri-Portharcourt units.

    The units at the interchange are over 30 with a chairman each.

    All units in a local government domain belong to the local government branch. Every branch is also headed by a chairman. But in some cases, a local government can have more than one branch, depending on the volume of activities.

    A branch made up of interstate taxi, minibus, mini truck and heavy truck including quarry loaders tricycle and commercial motorcycles (Okada), consists of at least 12 units.

    The Nation investigation showed that there are 110 branches across the 33 Local Government Areas of Oyo State.

    Dues

    To finance its operations the union usually relies on dues from its members. And due to its large membership and the tough way it enforces compliance with payment of dues(often daily) the NURTW is reputed to be one of the richest unions in Nigeria and this is often reflected in the ostentatious life style of its leaders.

    Drivers pay two levies. Interstate vehicles pay N300 to the government through Park Managers while the NURTW takes N200 per day. Inter-state car drivers deliver N1,500 while inter-state buses deliver N2500 depending on the distance which determines the fare.

    For intra-city buses, drivers pay N250 union due per day. It was learnt that the union takes the due and share appropriately.

    The state headquarters, Olomi

    Fondly called State Office, the one-story building located at Olomi area of Ibadan is the seat of power for union leaders. Painted in national colors (green and white), the once dreaded building is now a peaceful place. It is now accessible to anyone having business to do with the union. Even the once fearful neighbours now freely visit the building to fetch borehole water provided as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) by the union.

    A resident around the building relived her experience in an interview with our reporter: “We lost a lot of tenants during the hot period as they ran away because of the violent activities of the NURTW members. They could not cope. We would have run away too if we were tenants. It was because we did not have anywhere to go and we could not abandon our property. That was the reason we stayed back. We just resigned to fate and prayed for survival. ”But they never attacked residents. But any resident who misbehaved by supporting factions would be warned and once they desisted, they never touched them.”The resident, who did not want her name in print, further explained that many of the hoodlums freely smoked marijuana around the place. They used to take traders stocks freely without paying.

    Today, however, the story has changed.  “We have more tenants now. We even go there to fetch water.” She said.

  • Customs destroys N103m frozen turkey

    Customs destroys N103m frozen turkey

    About 16,180 cartons of frozen products worth N103,547,955 were yesterday destroyed at Arapaja dump site in Ibadan by the Oyo/Osun Command of the Nigeria Customs Service.

    The smuggled frozen products were seized on Saturday by the command crack team, led by DSP Olajogun, at Orile-Ilugun in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State.

    Addressing reporters at the dump site, the Command Area Controller, Richard Oteri, said the smugglers brought in the frozen products for the Yuletide, adding that the driver of the vehicle conveying the products abandoned the vehicle and fled on sighting the customs team.

    Explaining that consumption of frozen products is dangerous to health, Oteri said: “I warn Nigerians against the consumption of frozen products. They are dangerous to health because of the method of preservation.”

    The products were buried and a caterpillar drove round the site to perfect the destruction.

     

  • Oyo trains teachers on drug abuse prevention

    Oyo State Government has engaged the services of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), as resource person to train the teachers on drug abuse prevention, and eradication education.

    The teachers, which were drawn from the eight education zones within the state, were engaged to a one day train the trainers workshop yesterday at Pastoral Institute, Oshuntokun, Bodija, Ibadan Oyo State capital.

    Opening the workshop, the Commissioner for Education, Prof Solomon Olaniyonu stated that the workshop will go along way to keep the teachers informed and take informed decision on issues of drug abuse prevention, reduction and eradication.

    “The issue of drug is a very tropical one. If one listens to radio and television, read newspapers, hardly is there a day without one comment or the other on drug abuse or drug misuse. As teachers, I believe that most of the destructive behaviour such as robbery, hooliganism, nude dressing, rape are being exhibited after taken drugs, when feelings, reasoning might have been altered” Olaniyonu said…”

  • Robbery scare in Oyo: Customer faints as banks remain shut

    Robbery scare in Oyo: Customer faints as banks remain shut

    For the second day running, commercial banks in Oyo Town have remained shut.

    The development, which began on Tuesday, caught many customers unawares. They got to their banks and were denied entry by security guards.

    At Owode, a woman fainted when she realised that her bank was shut. She was revived by other customers.

    There was no information from bank officials to angry customers on why the banks were shut or when they would be opened.

    Customers waited helplessly at the gates of banks in Owode, Ashogo, Durbar, Bode-Ogbomoso and Awe yesterday.

    They lamented that they needed to withdraw money for the Christmas celebration.

    Mobile policemen and an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) were stationed at a petrol station near a bank at Owode on Tuesday.

    A combined team of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and regular policemen from the four divisional police commands in the metropolis patrolled the banks.

    Efforts to contact the branch managers of the banks failed, as they were said to be holding a crucial meeting.

    A bank official, who did not want to be named, said they got information that robbers were planning to attack banks in the town.

  • Court restrains Oyo govt from trespassing on property

    In Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, has ordered the state government to stay away from a property belonging to an accounting firm, Oke Abayomi & Co., pending the determination of a suit on the land.

    The property is situated at the Ring Road GRA in Ibadan, the state capital.

    Justice B. A. Taiwo of Court 12 gave the order yesterday as applied for by counsel to the firm, Niyi Ogunjimi.

    Ogunjimi told the court that despite filing a suit to challenge the alleged illegal revocation of the property’s Certificate of Occupancy (Cof O), the government went ahead to demolish it without waiting for the court to determine the merit of the case.

    The case was adjourned till January 22.

  • Oyo govt sets up SME for 300 youths

    Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has disclosed that his administration has created small businesses for over 300 youths across the state.

    He disclosed this at a workshop, commencing the coordination of operators of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) in the state to enable them access necessary assistance from the government.

    The governor also laid bare his plan for SME operators who attended the workshop in large number. It was held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan, the state capital.

    According to him, his administration set up businesses for the youth who were selected from the 33 local government areas of the state after thorough trainings in vocations such as printing, barbing, hairdressing and computing. He said the programme was part of the youth empowerment project of his administration.

    The youth empowerment, he said, was undertaken by the Ministry of Youths and Sports and the state’s Agency for Youths Development.

    He recalled that unlike similar efforts where beneficiaries were just trained in a shoddy manner and given a token start-up capital that is not enough to defray the cost of shop rent alone, the government camped the beneficiaries at different locations where they were thoroughly trained in certain vocations. After the training, they were offered all necessary equipment and enough money to rent shops with signage paid for.

    The governor said his dream is to transform the economy of the state through SMEs so that more people will be empowered to create wealth.

    He told the cheering SME operators that his administration would transform the small scale industrial estate located at Iyaganku in Ibadan from next year. He added that an amount of money has been earmarked to assist operators and would-be operators that are serious about running sustainable businesses.

    Ajimobi emphasised that his administration embarked on urban renewal across the state to stimulate economic development, pointing out that investors were already coming to Oyo State based on the success of the efforts.

    He enjoined the SME operators to cooperate with the government by producing quality products and services that will keep customers coming back.

    Earlier, the Commissioner for Industry, Applied Science and Technology, Mr Adedapo Lam-Adesina, also called on the SME operators to register their businesses and liaise with relevant units of the ministry to access opportunities and assistance offered by the government. He said the current administration was determined to support the growth of SMEs because it is the life wire of any growing economy.

    Adesina also disclosed that several trainings have been lined up for operators in the state and enjoined them to avail themselves of the opportunity.

    Representatives of banks also addressed the gathering. They educated the operators on their various products through which they can access loans easily.