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Tag: residents

  • Residents protest 16-month blackout

    Residents of Ipetu-Ijesa in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State marched on the streets at the weekend to protest a 16-month blackout in Grammar School area.

    The protesters said the electricity  transformer developed a fault last year August  and has not been repaired.

    They carried placards with various inscriptions, claiming they complained to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) before the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) took over.

    They lamented that the situation remained the same until August when the Licenced Electrical Contractors Association of Nigeria, Istepped into the matter, following the intervention of a resident, who they claimed donated money for the repair of the transformer.

    The protesters alleged that 12 days after IBEDC released cables for the repair;  the cables were stolen.

    They said: “Since the  privatisation of the power sector, we expect the investor to provide the amenities and demand their bill from consumers.

    “Based on our findings, the management at Ilesa Business Unit is demanding that residents pay part of their bill but our people are angry over IBEDC’s non-chalant attitude to their complaint.

    “We are calling on the IBEDC as a service provider, to provide a transformer and the necessary cables  first.

    “It can then demand its debt, which was put at N1.2 million.”

  • Alimoso residents protest shoddy PVC distribution

    Alimoso residents protest shoddy PVC distribution

    The collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and registration of voters is over in Lagos but most residents are still complaining of the shoddy performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Residents of Alimoso Local Government Area in Lagos have been complaining about what they described as an attempt by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disenfranchise them during next year’s general elections. Although there has been complaints from many local government areas in the state over the performance of INEC, the loudest protest appear to be coming from Alimoso, which is the local government with the largest number of registered voters in the state, if not the country.

    It has been one complain or the other in many communities in the local government, especially during the registration of new voters. In communities like Ijegun and Abaaranje, the general conclusion is that there is a deliberate attempt by INEC to disenfranchise the majority of the people.

    There were long queues at the two communities daily, as people made efforts to ensure that their names get into the register. According to a community leader in the area, Alhaji Adeola Alase, “we have mobilised our people and they have complied, but it seems that INEC is not ready for this exercise or that it is a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise us. For the past three days, we have been using generating sets to supply power directly to the three computers on ground because their batteries are not working. Imagine INEC’s computers with no batteries, it is unbelievable.”

    An elderly woman, Mrs. Abigail Eleshin, who defied old age to attempt to register for the exercise, was left frustrated after waiting for four hours without even getting near the registration area. She had to go back home at the end of the day. “I can’t kill myself because I want to register, the organisers (INEC) seem not to be ready,” she lamented.

    The story is the same in other communities within the local government like Ilo, a border community with Ogun State; Ikola, Meiran, Ayobo, Ipaja, Ishefun, Camp David, Egbeda, Akowonjo, Shasha and Egbe.

    For instance, a resident of Ikola, Isaiah Oluwole, said there is need for the state government to take up the matter officially with INEC. His words: “I suspect a deliberate attempt to disenfrachise us, especially in Alimoso Local Government. INEC came to this local government with obsolete computers and equipment. I personally did my own investigation as I visited some of the registration centres as a community leader.

    “Most of the computers are not working. In some cases, residents have to obtain generating sets to power computers directly because some these computers don’t have batteries.

    “In all registration centres I visited, there was no security. For me, INEC has a hidden agenda.”

  • Victims, residents recall day of horror in Ibadan

    Victims, residents recall day of horror in Ibadan

    Penultimate week, some parts of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital boiled. Hoodlums descended on some areas, killing and maiming people, even as they destroyed properties. BISI OLADELE and TAYO JOHNSON captured the moods of some of the survivors who pleaded with government and public-spirited individuals to come to their aid.

    There were hustle and bustle of commercial activities in a bubbly densely populated community. There were brisk movements of pedestrians. Awkward movement of commercial motorcycles and other activities have returned to Born Photo-Iyana Asuni-Idi-Arere, an Ibadan neighbourhood troubled by a violent attack last week.

    The community was attacked by hoodlums in a battle of supremacy last week during which over 15 shops were burnt, some looted and many vehicles vandalised. The attack lasted about two hours as residents ran for safety from the scene of the attack.

    But while normal activities have returned, victims of the attack have commenced efforts to rebuild their shops while calling for help from the government and philanthropic Nigerians and organisations.

    They also recalled the day of horror in a chat with our correspondents.

    Mrs Falilat Rasheed, 38, is a tailor whose shop was burnt in the attack. The shop was reduced to rubbles after the attack.

    She recalled that the area had been attacked on Friday with minor impact but that the Sunday attack left sore memories for shop owners and residents in the area.

    Her words: “I have two sewing machines, a freezer with which I sell soft drinks and few other items. They were all burnt down with the shop. I could not salvage any of the items.

    “They actually started on Friday around 4:00 p.m. They stole my stocks – drinks and other items. We thought it was all over.

    “That day, I was cutting a piece of cloth when I suddenly noticed people running helter-skelter.  They said the hoodlums were on rampage.

    “As if that was not enough, at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, they re-surfaced in large number and were armed with dangerous weapons.  I ran for my dear life, just as many others did.

    They threw fire on our line of shops. It started burning. We couldn’t rescue anything. As the shops were burning, fire fighters arrived but the hoodlums turned them back.

    “Later, the police came, threw tear gas on them and they fled. Then, sympathisers came to help us quench the fire, even though the shops had been fully burnt.”

    She put her lost at N100,000.

    Another victim, Mr Dauda Ajani is a welder. His shop was also razed down by the hoodlums.

    He said: “I have been here for over 10 years. This violence sometimes happens but they never destroyed properties as they did this time. They could fight and threaten but they never destroyed our shops like this.

    “I was not in the shop on that sad day. They said the hoodlums came at 9:00 a.m. I just heard that they were fighting. By the time I got here at 9:45 a.m, my shop had been burnt completely.

    “We reached out for water to quench the fire but did not succeed. They burnt my welding generator, my hammer, uniform and photos of previous works.

    I didn’t even meet them. They had gone. I only met some sympathisers. They said the boys threw broken bottles to them while making efforts to quench the fire.

    “On sighting the burning shop, I broke down in tears. I was sad, distraught, disheartened. This is my only source of income. I never leant any other type of vocation in my life. He said he lost some money which he said he borrowed from a co-operative society.

    “I actually borrowed the money for the generator from a co-operative society. I lost about N400, 000.”

    On how he has been surviving, Mr Ajani said only God has been taking care of him through friends and relations.

    He appealed to the government and Nigerians to come to his aid.

    On what he requires as assistance, he said: “All we want is to have our shops repaired. We need instruments to work.”

    Funke Olaniyan. 50, is another victim. In her shop, grinding machine and two freezers were in her shop. They all went in flames when her shop was torched.

    She put her loss at N350, 000.

    “I burst into tears when I came here that morning. I don’t know where to start from again. I just need help now,” she said.

    Others include Mrs Fausat Amusat, 40, a retailer; Mrs Ishau Aminat, 29, a hairdresser; Mrs Toyin Hammed, 25 who sells eggs and Hafeez Oyeniyi, 32, who had his commercial motorcycle burnt.

    Mobile policemen are still stationed in the neighbourhood with two armoured personnel carriers (APC) at different locations.

    Meanwhile, major political parties in the state have been trading blames over the violence. While the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) accused the state’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Accord and Labour Party of sponsoring hoodlums to cause mayhem in affected areas with a view to discredit Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration. The washed their hands of the violence.

    The Chairman of the party, Chief Akin Oke, made the allegation while briefing reporters on the state of the crisis in Ibadan.

    Oke, who condemned the pockets of violence and described them as “totally unacceptable and appalling,” recalled that the governor had traversed 32 local government areas across the state in an official visit with a plan to round it off in Ibadan South West Local Government when opposition parties attempted to discredit the exercise by sponsoring the mayhem to score political points.

    He said the warm reception and tumultuous crowds that welcomed Ajimobi in all the local government areas he visited, the councils jolted the opposition, which made them embark on sponsoring the violence.

    “The Friday, November 21, violent and unprovoked attacks on our people at Oke-Ado area of Ibadan and the ones recorded at Born Photo, Popo Yemoja, Idi-Arere and environs on Sunday November 23, as well as the mayhem which ravaged Idi-Ikan, Opoyiosa and environs on Tuesday, November 25 are a clear manifestation of the script which the opposition elements in the state had prepared for implementation with a view to creating a tense atmosphere ahead of the 2015 general elections and discrediting the ruling party which has received global applause for stamping out lawlessness, brigandage and indecent practices from the state since we came into power in May, 2011,” Oke said.

    The APC specifically alleged that the hoodlums working for the PDP and led by one Ekugbemi caused a breach of peace on Friday while the gang also later engaged another political gang led by one “Omo Alhaja” in a supremacy battle which led to the destruction of property and harassment of innocent residents.

    The party alleged further: “In all of this, we wonder how the opposition elements in the Peoples Democratic Party, Accord Party and the Labour Party have been able to unite and organise themselves towards forming a formidable team of alarmists who dish out details of these ugly events even shortly before the attackers would commence their nefarious activities.

    “If not that they are the sponsors, how would street urchins and political thugs be carrying out attacks on the one hand and the opposition parties would be reporting it live in such a way to implicate some identified members of the APC even without any concrete evidence to prove their alleged involvement.”

    But the opposition parties denied the allegation. They urged the APC government to look inward for the sponsors of the violence.

    In a statement by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Kehinde Salawu, the party distanced itself from the claim by the APC, asking how it could be indicted of causing violence perpetrated by the ruling party, which aspirants continued to demonstrate desperation, leading to violent clashes across the state capital.

    “It is sad that rather than take responsibility for the destruction of property and waste of innocent lives being witnessed in Ibadan in the last few days as a result of APC’s desperation ahead of the 2015 general elections, the party has chosen to shift blames.

    “How and where did the PDP perpetrate the vioence in Ibadan? Can the APC, a Janjaweed party that is living on borrowed times, authenticate this demonic and baseless claim? Much as we will not like to dignify a party that has already been rejected by the people of Oyo State by reacting to its tissue of lies, which it is known for across the country, we state unequivocally that the PDP is committed to the peace and well-being of the people of Oyo State. And we warn the APC to desist from tarnishing our party’s image and focus on how to salvage its crumbling house,” the PDP said.

    Also in a reaction, the Labour Party, in a statement by its Director, Media and Strategy, Taiwo Ibrahim, said: “The APC should look inward concerning the latest rounds of violence and disturbances in the city of Ibadan. Two of their lawmakers recently engaged in bloodletting and fought dirty.  Are we the ones behind it? Reports at Oke-Ado showed that one of their thugs engaged an okada man and this snowballed into further attack on police. Anyway, police is in the know of all that transpired and we need not say more.”

     

  • Concern as residents shun pedestrian bridges

    Concern as residents shun pedestrian bridges

    As it was in the old days, so it is now. After the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) committed huge resources to build pedestrian bridges across its major roads and prevent people from being knocked over, little seems to have changed. Many road users shun the bridges and still make the dash across the busy roads in spite of the obvious dangers. This is a worry for the authorities and safety campaigners.

    Frequent deaths and injuries triggered calls for the overhead bridges in the first place. Almost every week, there were casualties either in the morning or evening and the drivers often sped off.

    The FCT has one of the best road networks in the country. Some of them are in Area 1, Area 3, Mabushi and Lugbe-Airport Road, among others. But they soon became death scenes as careless users were hit.

    The number of deaths arising from these incidents became unbearable. Social campaigners and interest groups flooded the media, especially the radio, to make the case for bridges. The authorities heeded the call and started building. But months after the bridges were completed and flagged off, a good chunk of the public still prefer the old order. They have been jettisoning the bridges. They brace for it, look this way and that and make the dash.

    There have been deaths, though not as much as there used to be before the pedestrian bridges. The FCTA has taken action to discourage pedestrians from risking the dash. One action the authorities took was to block the roadsides near the bridges with a mesh.

    This has had little effect. In the course of gathering this report Abuja Review discovered that pedestrians have attacked the mesh, seeing them as obstacles that must be removed.

    This was peculiar to some of the expressways where the obstruction could be found. It became so alarming that even if the trimmed part got fixed by the relevant authority, before dawn, two other sections of the iron net would be trimmed down. These things happen every day, much to the worry of the Authority. Some concerned individuals went as far as counseling the public on phone-in radio programmes to avoid the awful act and use the bridges.

    Recently, a police team was sighted at Area 3 waiting patiently to nab defiant pedestrians. Abuja Review noticed the police were so careful in their approach. Their vision was clear. First to arrest offenders who chose to cross the expressway rather than use the pedestrian bridge and secondly, to ensure the offenders were not chased to the expressway such that theywon’t be knocked down by coming vehicles.

    A taxi operator, Mr. Paul Obi told our correspondent what led to the incident. Being a commercial driver, he was always plying some of these roads. He said, though, the overhead bridges were too far from the spots the pedestrians used. He observed that scavengers popularly known as Babanbola, often in the night, cut down the barricades. He narrated his experience, saying, ‘do you know last week Saturday, one of these Mai’baro wanted to help convey a woman’s  goods across the road, but the next thing he did was to just use his barrow to draw the net and push his wheelbarrow through. These are the things people do and push the blame on the government.”

    A commuter, Enobong Macanson expressed worry why residents in the territory could be so stubborn. He said it was the same residents that clamoured for the construction of overhead bridges, certainly for their safety but have refused to use it.

    On the other hand, a number of reasons have been identified why members of the public would always prefer the conventional way. While some attributed robbery on the bridge as a major cause, others complained of health issues.

    “Some people have issues probably with their legs and cannot climb the stairs and the contractors do not make provision for those on wheelchair”, Phoebian Oludamilola said. For Adio Titilayo, some individuals see the road crossing as faster and easier but dangerous.

    Macanson told  our correspondent that some people have a phobia for heights. So, for that singular reason, they will always go for the normal road crossing.

    Gift Chapi stressed that some of the pedestrian bridges were built far away from the park.

    “I think it is because some of them has height phobia so they will prefer to use the road. Aside, there are no proper orientation to change that mind set of the people because it’s more of a culture. Some of the pedestrian bridges were even built far away from usual spot so people will rather prefer to cross rather than walk the distance.”

    Bushrah Yusuf also emphasised some of the bridges were not situated at the designated bus stops. So, most commuters saw it as a stressful exercise walking down the distance to the bridge. “Some complain of the stress of climbing especially the old people who speak of leg pains whenever they climb the bridge.” Moreover, aside from the listed reasons, Adetola Jensimi basically attributed laziness and impatience as major contributing factor.

    She said it was more attitudinal. “We are all guilty as charged but one thing I have come to notice about we Nigerians is that we always look for fast means. I think the reason is not far fetched from the fact that many see the pedestrian bridge as quiet stressful and tiring to climb….”

    However, a commercial driver, Mr. Ifeanyi Igbokwe came up with a different story. To him, the blame was to careless drivers who have accident, hitting the fragile barrier. He said reckless drivers often hit the barricade, destroying the grid. Igbokwe asked government to ensure the projects are supervised and maintained for at least one year. This, according him, would enable easy fixing of the damaged barricades.

    “At times, it is mostly caused by motor accidents. Most timeS, when I want to drop people by the bridge around the evening, they will resist and prefer I drop them by the normal spot people are used to.”

    Miss Etta Chidinma also narrated how a colleague was attacked in the evening around 7 pm on her way back from the office. She said the lady went through the overhead bridge but got robbed of her personal belongings.

    Based on her experience, she said it would have been better if the FCTA could put in place adequate security measures to protect pedestrians. She suggested that the authorities could partner the Department of State Security (DSS) who are mostly in mufti to arrest culprits.

    “The moment it is 7:30 pm, people are no longer safe using the bridge. As she was coming down from the bridge, the bad boys just came from nowhere, snatched her bag and pushed her away. Some even use knives.”

    Some have called on the FCTA to increase awareness and sensitisation campaigns, apart from the existing measures to encourage commuters to adopt the overpass. The gesture, they said, will go a long way in reducing road carnage in the territory and instil a new culture in the residents.

  • Enugu residents embrace alternative medicine

    Enugu residents embrace alternative medicine

    No fewer than 100 ailing residents of Enugu were treated by alternative medical practitioners at the Luminar International Centre for Energy Health International. The body specialises in application of alternative medicine and energy health.

    The President of the body and a specialist in alternative medicine, Prof. Joseph Okoro Akpa said it was high time the Federal Government and Nigerians embraced alternative medicine and energy health, revealing that the energy drawn from various planets can be used to cure sicknesses as well as prevent them.

    Akpa, while presenting what he termed the latest research development in alternative medicine and energy health, disclosed that the method of application involves what he called Homoeopathic Medical practice, Acupuncture Energy Health, Magnet Health, Pyramid Energy, and Medical Astrology, among others.

    He disclosed that in Homoeopathic Alternative Medical Science the practitioner uses the cause of aliment to cure the ailment, while Acupuncture which he said originated from China, the practitioner uses golden or silver long needles which he inserts into certain points in the body of the patient to balance energy flow and thereby effecting the healing.

    He further said that magnets can also be placed at certain points on the body to cure certain ailments too.

    In Healing Touch Energy Health, he said the practitioner draws energy from the planets and channels the energy to the patient while either touching him or not touching him in case of Non-healing touch.

    He however posited that this whole process does not in any way connote occultism or mysticism stating that it is nature that reveals this information to humans.

    Akpa also said that some people always feel reluctant to accept new innovations for fears that the new information may compete with their professions or even overshadow it. While he urged everybody to open heartedly accept all good innovations, try them and see whether they are real or not and even do further research on them.

    During the workshop the taught with demonstrations ways through which some ailments can be easily cured and as people tried them some of them claimed it worked for them.

    He demonstrated with examples how a magnet can be used to cure ailments and how a simple massage at certain points in the body can cure ailments like headache, heart pain, diabetes and also how energy is tapped from the planets to heal a person or oneself.

    He further urged the government to develop alternative medicine and energy health healing processes so as to compliment the orthodox medical practice.

    He said: “Looking at the great importance of this programme, we invited a cross section of our people from the presidency down to the common man on the street. This is one of my callings and I wish to fulfil my mission by sharing this pure knowledge with you, my brothers and sisters, here in Nigeria. I dare say that those present today for this programme are people chosen by God, people who are matured to experience the knowledge.

    “As a result, I shall make sure that all of you present here will go from here with some satisfaction and joy and will be glad that you have attended.”

    Akpa further said that people are always reluctant to and new truth at times for fears that the new information may complete their professions or may even over shadow what they have been propagating before the emergence of the new one.

    “To me, I think it is important for the human beings to open heartedly accept all good things, try and see whether the tidings are real or not, if they are real and truthful, people should follow them. If on the other hand they are false, people should discard them,” Akpa admonished.

  • Residents buy nomination form for lawmaker

    Indigenes of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have purchased a nomination form for the senator representing the FCT, Senator Philips Tanimu Aduda to run for a second term in 2015.

    The FCT Indigene and Geo-Political Leaders Forum, while presenting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination form to Aduda, said they did it because of his remarkable performance since assumption of office as FCT senator.

    The chairman of the forum, Ambassador Ayuba Ngbako, said they jointly took the decision after due consultation with different stakeholders on who will represent them effectively and they came up with a second tenure decision for Senator Aduda as the best among others.

    “This decision was not my own idea, but a collective one from all of us in the FCT. I have also seen what he has done for our people. In fact, he has made us proud, he has work with President Goodluck Jonathan for us and has brought the dividend of democracy to our door step,” Ngbako said.

    He also counselled the FCT PDP executives to be fair and provide a level playing field for all aspirants that will be going for primary under the party.

    However, Senator Aduda who has gotten approval from his people to run for second term in the Senate, expressed gratitude to residents of Abuja and the FCT political leaders for purchasing the nomination form for him.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Aduda said that such gesture will spur him  to improve on what he has been to doing for the FCT people, especially the rural dwellers, advising political leaders at all levels to know that power belongs God, that whoever is given the power to lead, should use it for the benefit of all.

     

  • ‘We’re committed to security of residents’

    ‘We’re committed to security of residents’

    The Chairman of Abaji Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Yahaya Garba has reiterated his commitment to the protection of lives and property of residents of the council.

    Hon. Garba, who spoke through the council’s Head of Administration, Alhaji Isah Rubochi while addressing residents and stakeholders on the need to complete some dumped buildings which pose serious security challenges.

    According to the council chief, although the country is currently overcoming its security challenges, governments, especially at the local level, will not relent in its efforts to curb crime and criminality in the country.

    He further urged residents to trim overgrown trees around their houses to avoid their being used as hide outs for criminal.

    Garba also used the opportunity to appeal to residents to have faith in the present administration, as efforts are being made to address various challenges confronting every community in the council.

     

  • Senator praised for empowering residents

    Senator praised for empowering residents

    The Chairman of Kwali Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Ibrahim Daniel has expressed gratitude to Senator Philip Aduda for his empowerment programme in all the area councils.

    Hon. Daniel gave this commendation during the flag-off of the distribution of cars and motorcycles as part of his empowerment programmes for PDP stakeholders in the six area councils and wards.

    According to Daniel, Aduda has done what no Senator had done in the areas of infrastructure, provision of social amenities, effective representation in the Senate and empowerment programme for the FCT residents.

    However, the Commissioner representing the FCT in the Civil Service Commission, Alhaji Hassan Sokodobo has affirmed the FCT endorsement of President Good-luck Jonatham as well as Senator Aduda because of their uncommon transformation they have exhibited. He called on residents of the FCT to support them in their second term bid because of their performance.

    “We as a people in the FCT have looked around and discovered that there is no body that has ever met our aspirations as Aduda since the inception of democracy. I can tell you authoritatively that there is no ward in all the area councils that has no one of Aduda’s project or the other,” Hassan said.

    Six jeeps and 62 motorcycles were distributed to the six area councils and 60 wards of the FCT respectively. Alhaji Musa Yahaya, one of the beneficiaries from Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) praised Aduda for his gesture.

  • Iba youths, residents call for change in LCDA leadership

    As the tenure of the current elected members of the 20 Local Government Areas (LGA) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) in Lagos expires this month there is already agitation among youths and residents in some quarters on how they want council affairs to be handled and who they want to take over as either Executive Secretary/Chairman of their council area.

    Even though the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has said it cannot conduct the local council election this year because of some constraints, in which case caretaker committees would have to be appointed for the 57 councils, this has not stopped the youths and residents of Iba LCDA to agitate for fairness in the headship of the council and their choice of candidate as executive secretary of the committee who they also want to transform eventually as chairman of the council when elections are eventually held.

    Last week about 3000 youths and residents of Iba LCDA led by their leader, Bola Hassan addressed a press conference where they demanded not only for redress of what they described as injustice in the headship of the LCDA but also that their former representative at the Lagos state House of Assembly, Hon. Saheed Taiwo Adio should emerge as the executive secretary/chairman of the council on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Stating their case, they complained that since the creation of the council in 2003/2004 only one Ward out of the five Wards in the council has been heading the administration of the council to the outright exclusion of the remaining four Wards.

    Calling for fair play, Hassan said Ward A has been unduly favoured with the headship of the council since its inception sometimes even holding position of council chairman and vice chairman at the same time and “this has affected development projects in other Wards as all focus is on Ward A. What we are therefore clamouring for is an end to injustice against the remaining four Wards and an end to political imbalance in the LCDA.

    “The other Wards have been unduly oppressed and marginalised in the governance of Iba council whereas they constitute the highest voting population. At this juncture the four Wards stand for fair play in the politics of Iba LCDA and what the youth and residents of Iba are soliciting for is democratic constitutional primary elections into the office of the chairman and other elective positions for the forthcoming council elections”, Hassan said.

    Making a case for their choice of candidate, Hassan said, “the youth and residents have been working very hard to ensure that APC as a party delivers the dividends of democracy which have eluded the people in Iba LCDA over time and we are sure that there is no better person than our former two-time representative at the state Assembly, Hon. Saheed Adio who can deliver the goodies.

    “Our utmost conviction is that APC through the leadership of Hon. Saheed Adio will definitely bring the dividends of democracy to the doorstep of the residents and all members of Iba LCDA, that is why we are asking for a credible primary election to pick who will be the LCDA chairman in the council election when it is time, but meanwhile we want him to be appointed to head the caretaker committee that will oversee the council at the expiration of the tenure of current elected officers of the council pending when the election is held because we need a drastic change in development projects and infrastructure in all Wards in the LCDA”, Hassan said.

    Iba LCDA was one of the 37 councils created by former governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2003 with its headquarters located within the vicinity of an oracle called Ayoka by the native Iba community  and it is delineated into five Wards namely: Ward A- Iba Township; Ward B- Okokomaiko; Ward C-  Abule Aka,  Afromedia, Mebamu and Nicer; Ward D- Isashi and Igbo Elerin; Ward E- Kemberi and Alaba Rago.

    According to Hassan, “even though it was agreed in 2003 at its creation when Ward A produced the executive secretary that subsequent ones will be rotational among the five Wards, this has not been the case as all subsequent chairmen have always come from the same Ward A. That means for 11 years the other four Wards have been neglected. Ironically Ward B is the largest and most populated  in Iba LCDA and thus has the largest number of voters. This is incontestable from the record of election result from 1999 till date.

    “Ward B is also blessed with the highest concentration of markets, public and private educational institutions, hospitals, small scale industries, motor parks and garages and therefore serves as the center of commerce which undisputedly make its environment very valuable in revenue generation. Hon. Saheed Adio who is our choice and the most credible candidate for the position of Executive Secretary/Chairman of Iba LCDA is from Ward B”, Hassan said.

  • Residents flee as police arrest traditional ruler

    A team of policemen last Saturday stormed Oko-Olomi village in Elemoro area of Ibeju-lekki Local Government area of Lagos State and arrested its traditional ruler, forcing residents to flee the community.

    The traditional ruler, Baale Tunde Olowu, his younger brother, Lukmon Olowu and another resident, whose name was given as Wasiu, were also allegedly arrested.

    The community’s lawyer, Mr Paul Bamidele Ogundele, accused the police of over-zealousness and wrongful usage of their position as law-enforcement agents to take side in what he described as a minor family problem.

    Ogundele alleged that a woman, Toyin Awawu Eleku-Bakare invited the police on false allegation of malicious damage, attempted murder and threat to her life, “because she was losing grip of her hold to power in the village.”

    He alleged that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Elemoro Police Station allowed himself to be used by deploying policemen who came and chased the villagers away.

    However, a senior police officer at the station said all the suspects arrested had been transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja.

    Ogundele has petitioned  the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 2, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Executive Director, Civil Liberty Organization (CLO), Amnesty International and the Chairman of the Police Service Commissions (PSC), alleging abuse of Human Rights.

    It was gathered yesterday that police authorities at Zone 2 have ordered that the matter be transferred to the zone’s X-Squad for proper investigation.