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Tag: Oyo

  • Ajimobi, Aregbesola, Tinubu, Akande, others pray for Lam Adesina

    Ajimobi, Aregbesola, Tinubu, Akande, others pray for Lam Adesina

    •Ayo Lam Foundation unveiled

    Eminent Nigerians yesterday gathered at the Adamasingba Stadium in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to pray for the late former Governor Lam Adesina, who died a year ago.

    The prayer session was organised by the state government.

    Dignitaries at the event include Governors Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun); All Progressives Congress (APC) Interim National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande; APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; former Oyo State Governor Omololu Olunloyo; Oyo State House of Assembly Speaker Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu and Senator Ayo Adeseun.

    Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) were represented by Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa and Dr. Ganiyu Owolabi.

    Also present were Gen. Adedayo Popoola; former Secretary to the State Government Chief Michael Koleosho; the Iyalode of Ibadanland, Mrs. Aminat Abiodun; former Deputy Governor Hazeem Gbolarunmi; Aare Abdulazeez Arisekola-Alao; Chief Iyiola Oladokun; Elder Wole Oyelese; Justice Adekola Nurudeen; Chief Lateef Oyelade and representative of the Olubadan, Chief Olufemi Olaifa.

    Others are House of Representatives members Kamil Akinlabi and Biodun Awoleye; Chief Aminat Abiodun; Alhaja Sekinat Adekola; Dr. Busari Adebisi; APC’s Interim National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Oyo APC Chairman Chief Akin Oke and the late Adesina’s supporters, known as the Abegi Group, among others.

    Ajimobi described the late Adesina as his teacher, father and political leader.

    He said the late Adesina taught him in school.

    The governor urged APC factions to resolve their differences, saying it was the best way to honour the late Adesina.

    He said: “Some people are calling themselves Lamists to the core; they do not even know that I am one of the core followers of the late Adesina. When I was vying for the governorship seat, Asiwaju Tinubu and other leaders of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) took me to him and he blessed me. We shall continue to honour the memory of the great Lam Adesina and tread his path.”

    Aregbesola said the large turnout of people at the ceremony showed that the late Adesina was loved by many.

    He urged the people to emulate the virtues of the late politician, who he said lived an exemplary life.

    People also gathered at the late Adesina’s home, where the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Suara Haruna, led prayers for the repose of his soul. This was followed by the inauguration of the Ayo Lam Care Foundation.

    The late Adesina’s first son, Ayo, said the foundation was to immortalise his father.

    He said his father was a philanthropist and he (Ayo) was determined to build on his legacies.

    Ayo said the foundation, which was established early this year, has made donations to many charity homes.

    He urged eminent personalities to support the foundation in caring for the less privileged.

    Former Governor Rashidi Ladoja described the late Adesina as a God-fearing man, who lived his life serving Allah.

    He pledged to donate N100,000 monthly to the foundation for life.

    Ladoja said: “Lam was a selfless man, who loved the masses. There is need to donate to this wonderful foundation to help the needy in honour of Lam’s memory.”

    Former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala described the late Adesina as “loving towards everyone”.

    He pledged to send his donation to the foundation before Friday.

    Chairman of the Odu’a Group Sharafadeen Ali; Senator Olufemi Lanlehin and Mr. Femi Babalola were also in attendance.

  • Oyo gets commissioners

    Oyo gets commissioners

    The Oyo State House of Assembly has confirmed the appointment of 12 commissioner-nominees, whose names were presented to it on Tuesday by Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    After drilling the nominees for two days, the Speaker, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu, yesterday, at plenary, confirmed their appointment.

    They are Mr. Adebayo Ojo; Dapo Lam Adesina; Princess Adetutu Adeyemi-Akhigbe; Muyiwa Gbadegesin and Zacchaeus Adelabu.

    Others are Prof. Solomon Olaniyan; Princess Olufunke Oworu; Prince Gbade Lana; Faruk Umar Alao; Adewale Lawrence Olujide; Abiodun Fatai Atanda and Deji Akande.

  • NSCDC arrest 3 kingpins of pipeline vandals

    Mr Shem Obafaiye, the Oyo State Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC),  says the command has arrested three of the six suspected leaders  behind pipeline vandalism  in the state.

    Obafaiye said this on Thursday at the command’s headquarters in Ibadan while parading a 35-year-old driver arrested for  oil pipeline vandalism.

    Acknowledging that the fight against vandalism was tough, Obafaiye  said the commitment of the NSCDC was to sustain the campaign.

    “The command has been able to arrest three out of the six barons we have identified to be the brains behind vandalism  in the state.

    “We will continue to fight and no matter the challenge that may arise in the course of performing our duties, we are resilient,” Obafaiye said.

    The News Agency of  Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suspect was  arrested in possession of a 33,000 litre tanker marked XB 190 SMK.

    Obafaiye said the suspect was arrested on Oct.  9 at Odo-Oba, Ogbomoso,  during  a joint operation of the NSCDC and the state police special squad known as “Operation Burst.”

    “They had succeeded in loading the truck with 22,000 litres of petrol, but on sighting our men, others escaped  while we arrested one person,” he said.

    Obafaiye said that the truck would soon be taken to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation for decanting.

    The suspect however, told reporters that he was not aware that his friend whom he thought was helping him was involved in pipeline vandalism.

    “I met Kazeem, the owner of this tanker,  who invited me  to load his tanker with fuel and because I was out of job for about six months, I thought this was the breakthrough.

    “It was not until we got to the site at about 1.00 a.m.  that I realised I was walking into trouble.

    “It was very late and I had only N90 on me. I could not shout or run. I was, therefore, stranded with them in the middle of nowhere.

    “I am married with three kids and my regret is that while Kazeem escaped with none of his phone lines going through, I was arrested,” he said. (NAN)

  • Oyo residents celebrate Alaafin at 75

    Oyo residents celebrate Alaafin at 75

    It was double celebration yesterday, as residents of Oyo town celebrated the Eid-el-Kabir festival and the 75th birthday of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111.

    Residents, both young and old, danced round major streets in a carnival-like procession, praising God for giving their monarch long life, good health, knowledge and wisdom to lead them.

    Extolling the ruler’s virtues, they said his visionary leadership had brought tremendous development to the town and its environs.

    They sang songs in support of the Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration and the Caretaker Chairman of Atiba Local Government, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who is the Alaafin’s son.

    They said Ajimobi was providing good governance and hailed Adeyemi’s “commitment” to rural transformation.

    The celebration was rounded off at the palace, where the Alaafin thanked the people for their support and cooperation.

    Oba Adeyemi entertained the people by dancing to the beats of the talking drums.

    At the event were members of the House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu; Senator Ayo Adeseun (Oyo Central District); traditional rulers and religious leaders.

     

  • Oyo gives N28m to Boko Haram victims’ families

    Oyo gives N28m to Boko Haram victims’ families

    The Oyo State government yesterday gave N28 million to the families of the Bodija traders that were killed by suspected Boko Haram members in Maiduguri, Borno State.

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi distributed the cheques to the families of the slain traders at the Bodija Market.

    Representatives of the 14 families, mainly the widows of the deceased and the aged mother of one of them, were given N2 million each.

    Ajimobi said: “We cannot pay for people’s lives, but we can cushion the effects of their departure by helping their families.”

    He described the killing of the traders as “gruesome”, urging the bereaved to take it as an act of God.

    One of the widows, Mrs. Folasade Afolabi, who spoke for the others, thanked the governor for his help.

    The Chairman of the Ibadan Foodstuff Sellers Association, Alhaji Olalekan Azeez, urged the Federal Government to tighten security in the North.

     

  • LAUTECH hospital workers urge Osun, Oyo to set up board

    LAUTECH hospital workers urge Osun, Oyo to set up board

    Workers of the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, under the aegis of the Joint Health Professionals (JHP), have urged the governments of Osun and Oyo states to inaugurate a governing board for the hospital.

    They said the inauguration of a board would address workers’ welfare and inprove the hospital.

    JHP Chairman Adetunji Adeyeye told reporters yesterday that the Oyo State government “failed to contribute its quota to the hospital”.

    He said the workers’ August salary, which was the turn of Oyo State to pay, is yet to be paid.

    Adeyeye said: “Of all teaching hospitals, LAUTECH is the only one without a pension scheme. We do not even know where our fate lies when we retire. The two owner states should urgently constitute a governing board for the hospital to forestall further complication in the system. The board must include our members, who are qualified professionals, from both states.”

    The workers called for the employment of more professionals in the hospital to boost service delivery, saying there are more administrative workers than medical workers in the hospital.

  • Child rescued from ‘kidnapper’ in Oyo

    A vigilance group in Oyo town has rescued a seven-year-old girl from a suspected kidnapper.

    The victim and her elder sister were running an errand for their mother around 8pm when the suspect snatched her.

    It was learnt that the elder sister screamed for help but no one responded.

    She ran home to tell their parents and the Commandant of the Vigilance Group of Nigeria (VGN) in-charge of the local government, Mr. Akeem Lukman, was notified.

    Lukman reported the matter to the police and mobilised a search party.

    It was learnt that the suspect was apprehended in Oroki around 10pm and taken to the Ojongbodu Police Station.

    The suspect said he was not a kidnapper and he “only came to take his daughter away”.

    Asked to show proof that she was his daughter and why he decided to take the child away at night without her mother’s concent, the suspect kept mute.

  • EFCC arrests 17 suspects for N1.7b Oyo pension ‘fraud’

    EFCC arrests 17 suspects for N1.7b Oyo pension ‘fraud’

    •Ex-HoS wanted

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 17 suspects for an alleged N1.7 billion pension fraud in Oyo State.

    The embezzled funds were meant for primary school pensioners.

    In a statement, EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren said the pension offices in the 33 local governments in Oyo State were affected by the scam.

    He listed the suspects as former Executive Secretary of the State Local Government Pension Board Muili Aderemi; former Treasurer of the board Mrs. Iyabo Giwa; former Cashier Adeshina Ayoade; former Internal Auditor Oguntayo Banji and former Administrative Officer Adebiyi Olasunbo Musendiq.

    The rest are Muili Adedamola; Salewa Adedeji; Kareem Rasheed; Johnson Bosede; Adeduntan Johnson; Olomide Olaide; Oyebamiji Akinlolu; Adewale Kehinde; Saka Ikeola; Oluokun Funmilayo; Oyetunji Taiwo and Olujimi Philip Adebayo.

    The statement reads: “The Pension Board reportedly received N4,140,020,501.72 billion from both the Federation Account and the Oyo State Government between September 2010 and February 2011.

    “Of this amount, N1.711,894,667.05 cash withdrawal was fraudulently made by the suspects. Items recovered from the suspects include buildings, poultry farms, power generating sets and undeveloped plots of land. The suspects will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.”

    Chairman of the Oyo Local Government Pension Board, who is also the Head of the Local Government Service Commission, Chief Lasisi Ayanjoko, said a probe of the board’s account between September 2010 and March 2011 revealed the fraud.

    He said: “The board discovered this fraud after complaints by local government workers and retirees, who claimed that the government had not paid their pension.

    “When we received the complaints, we set up a committee to look into it and found out that some money was collected by some civil servant intermediaries in the commission and was never remitted to the pensioners.”

    The Nation learnt that a former Head of Service (HoS) in the state is wanted by the EFCC in connection with the fraud.

    The former HoS served in the administration of Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala.

    EFCC operatives were at her home last week but she was not around.

    They pasted a sticker on her fence with the inscription: “Under Investigation”.

    EFCC Head of Public Affairs Mr. Wilson Uwujare said he was yet to be briefed on the case.

    On how the fraud was allegedly perpetrated, Ayankojo said cheques were issued in the suspects’ names, rather than through e-payment into the accounts of pensioners.

    He said between September and November 2010, the then Executive Secretary and Director, Finance and Administration, of the board withdrew N680,430,646.69 from the Local Government Staff Account meant for pensioners and N1,353,868,062.60 from the Teachers Account.

    Ayankojo said the two officers, who are at large, and seven other top officials of the board also collected N173,800,000 from the pensioners’ accounts.

    He alleged that another staff in the Accounts Department (names withheld), at various times within the period, withdrew N401,300,000 from pensioners’ account.

    Ayankojo said the suspects claimed they collected the cheques from the Executive Secretary and gave the money to him after cashing it.

    He said the government had no option but to invite the police to get to the root of the matter, adding that the fraud was responsible for the slow payment of teachers and local government pensioners’.

    Ayankojo said: “We urge pensioners to be patient with us. What we are doing now is to protect their interests. That is why we are telling the whole world what is responsible for the delay in pension payment.”

     

  • Oyo Assembly summons SUBEB boss

    •Approves new council chief

    The Oyo State House of Assembly has summoned the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Busari Adebisi, to appear at its next sitting to explain why he has been absent from the house.

    The motion was yesterday moved by Mr. Farintan Fakorede, who said it was embarrassing that Adebisi failed to honour the House’s invitations.

    The Speaker, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu, told the clerk to send a reminder to the SUBEB boss.

    The Assembly passed the Oyo State Bonds, Notes and other Securities Issuance Bill into law.

    The law will ensure prudent management of bonds and give the Assembly the right to receive quarterly reports from the commissioner of Finance.

    The Assembly approved the appointment of Mr. Olatunbosun Wasiu as the caretaker chairman of Olorunsogo Local Government.

     

  • Oyo Majority Leader solicits support for Ajimobi

    The Majority Leader in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr. Akande Oyeniran, has urged the people of the Oluyole Constituency to support Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s re-election in 2015.

    He said this is the only way the developmental programmes embarked upon by the Ajimobi administration would be sustained.

    Mr. Oyeniran spoke yesterday in a message to his constituents following the mega rally held at the Mapo Hall to launch the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

    Oyeniran, who represents Oluyole Constituency, said the launch of the APC marked a turning point in the political history and future of Nigeria.

    He stressed that the merger of the parties has confirmed that the future of Nigeria is back in the hands of the progressives.

    The Majority Leader said in the past two years, Senator Ajimobi has touched the lives of the indigenes in terms of developmental projects, adding that he and the people of his constituency were happy to be associated with his administration.