Tag: tackles

Within three days last week, no fewer than 200 residents with eye defects, especially cataract and glaucoma, benefitted from the humanitarian gesture of the Rotary Club of Agege (District 9110, Nigeria), under its project for the Rotary Year, ‘Peace through Service.’

Tagged, ‘Save a sight,’ the three-day project which kicked off last Thursday at the Rotary Centre, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, attracted about 85 beneficiaries that day. For the three days, officials of Eye Foundation, another non-governmental organisation, who partnered with the club on the project, were on hand with a mobile clinic, to conduct tests and surgeries on the beneficiaries.

The host – President of the club – Rotarian Linus Adaba, received the beneficiaries, some of who came from as far as Ogun State. He got a helping hand from Dr. Dele Balogun, incoming Governor of the District; Dr Fatai Oluyadi, who gave an opening lecture, and Rotarian Wumi Oyewole, who is charge of Rotary Foundation for the club.

Adaba explained the exercise on its opening: “As a charity organisation of note, we have been expending our resources on assisting the less-privileged in the society in actualisation of the current aspirations of the Rotary International, our parent body, which include concerted onslaught against illiteracy, infant mortality, women’s deprivations, various indices of poverty and above all, commitment to our peace project, part of which is what we are doing today.

“The eye projects include screening, treatment of glaucoma and cataract cases. We shall give out 200 eye glasses to patients in Agege area and its environs for free and no fewer than 30 will benefit from eye surgery apart from the corrective tests. All these we are doing in appreciation of the fact that the government cannot do it alone and sadly, we are in a society where many cannot afford the cost of these medical services however meagre. We will wind it up by 5pm each day and it will end on Saturday.

Balogun who corroborated Adaba added: “Somebody who can’t see cannot be at peace with himself, his family and generally, with his community and the larger society; this is why the project is dear to our hearts in Rotary Club.

While he urged other bodies to partner with the club to lift the needy, he lauded the government on its efforts so far, but added: “Government can still do more because of the enormity of the problem at hand.”

Besides the corrective aspect of the project, Oyewole added that prevention of diseases is also among the key concerns of the club in its current efforts.

Mrs Olabisi Adewole and Pa James Adebayo were among the beneficiaries. They were united in prayers for the club over the gesture which they urged the government to emulate and extend to more Nigerians.

On Saturday, during the round-off of the exercise, words of appreciation flowed for Adaba and his colleagues, who promised that the club would remain committed to the welfare of the needy.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole has stopped farmers farming in government reserves forest at Okada, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State from paying N40m annual royalty to Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin kingdom.

It was gathered that the land was leased to Chief Igbinedion who later sublet the land to individual farmers for some fees.

Governor Oshiomhole told the farmers to stop the payment when the Yoruba farmers paid him a courtesy visit.

He said the land has been recovered and reverted to the state government.

The governor warned the farmers to stop paying tax to the individual or they would be evicted from the land.

According to him, “As far as I know, there are only two custodians of land in Edo State. First, is that all land is vested in the state government; the second is the Oba of Benin by virtue of the fact of being the Oba of Benin and the history behind that institution as regards traditional ownership of land.

“As far as I know, government policy across the country is that Nigerians cannot be tenant farmers particularly on government-owned lands, because the land in question is government-owned that was reserved for an individual for the purpose of farming by himself, not to sublet to actual farmers who then pay royalties to him. The only person who can collect royalties in Edo State is the Oba of Benin.”

“What you are expected is to pay your personal income tax. Whether you are an Hausa man, an Igbo man, an Itsekiri man, an Ijaw and you live in the land area called Edo, you are not a second class citizen. Where you live you have the right to farm. And the money you make from you farming is your money, the only think that the law requires of you is to pay your personal income tax.

So if you make as much as N10 million in income, we will assess your income tax on the basis of your earning but you cannot pay tax to individuals, no matter how highly placed. I as the governor cannot ask you to pay tax to me if I give you land to farm. That land is government land, and when I exercise my privileges as a governor, it doesn’t make me a governor, it doesn’t make me a landlord.

“Under no circumstances should you pay taxes to an individual and I warn that if you do, then we will evict you from that land. All those lands you are talking about have been recovered by the government of Edo State. That land is reserved, you are entitled to farm on it within the agreed rules and if any dues are to be paid, they will be paid directly to the treasury of Edo State Government.”

Spokesman of the Yoruba community in Okada, Opajobi Semiu, earlier informed the Governor that the five camps of Yoruba community in Okada pay N40 million per annum to an individual who claim to be the owner of the government land.

Oil workers yeterday protested at the Lekki, Lagos office of an Indian firm, SWAP Technologies, over an alleged N27.4 million debt owed F and B Global Oil and Gas Company.

Under the aegis of the National Union of Petroleum and National Gas workers (NUPENG), the protesters said they would not allow SWAP to operate until it pays F and B, which is owned by Fabian Obi, a NUPENG member.

Obi was in tears when he addressed reporters on the scene. He said he supplied over 1.2 million litres of diesel to the company which has allegedly “refused” to pay him despite repeated demands.

“They (the company) will not function, until they pay me my money. I need to be assisted because the bank that gave me the loan to prosecute the business is on my neck.

“My business has been paralysed and my family is being affected adversely. Somebody should save me now; the trouble is beyond me,” Obi said.

He appealed to Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola and Commissioner of Police Umar Manko to call the company to order .

Captain Peter Olugbemi, who led the protest, said: “SWAP is owing one of our members over N27 million. It is frustrating our member with lies and it is affecting us. The last time we met with the company, it promised to pay him the money they owed him within two weeks, but it is now over one month. This attitude of the company has paralysed Obi’s business and it has affected us. For failing to keep their promise, we are here that they should pay the money now.”

He wondered what informed the company’s action when it knew that Obi borrowed money from banks for the supply.

Some of the placards read: “SWAP, don’t trade with our money,” “injury to one is injury to all,” and “debt is prohibited, please pay us.”

A SWAP official, who spoke with The Nation on phone, said Obi is a customer, adding: “It is surprising that he came with NUPENG officials to protest and embarrass the company.” The official, who preferred to remain anonymous, claimed that the matter had long been sorted out with Obi.

In a bid to solve the water scarcity in Minna, Niger State capital, member representing Chanchanga Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon Umar Bago, has assured the residents of early completion of the 300 boreholes being sunk in the constituency.

Out of the number, 45 are motorised while 265 others are hand pumps.

Bago disclosed this when he donated 24 wheel chairs to the handicaps, the elderly and general hospital in his constituency.

According to him, the water projects are to complement state government’s effort in solving water problem in Minna metropolis.

The lawmaker elected on the platform of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), explained that the presentation of the wheel chairs was in fulfillment of the promises made to the constituents during the 2011 electioneering campaign.

He explained that work on the projects began in 2012 but was delayed by the difficult terrain of the city and its underground water level.

Bago said that he also embarked on the provision of welfare packages to the constituents particularly in the area of empowering the youth and appreciating the electorate.

Commending Bago for the good work he has been doing, the Niger State chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Alhaji Umar Shuaibu while inspecting the projects in the constituency expressed satisfaction over the performances of elected officials under the party platform.

He said Bago who was elected on the platform of CPC, was always taking the lead in providing basic amenities to the people who elected him, adding that CPC has shown that he has the interest of the people at heart.

The CPC chieftain then called on other lawmakers and elected officials to give priority to the welfare of the people.

Who is the custodian of Yoruba history?

The controversy resurfaced at the weekend with the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, accusing the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, of distorting the facts.

The Alaafin broke his silence following a comment made by the Ooni during the centenary anniversary celebration of the Oranyan Festival.

Oba Sijuade had, during the memorial anniversary of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo at the MUSON Centre in Lagos, said the Alaafin had no connection with Oranyan and was not qualified to celebrate him (Oranyan).

Oranyan was one of the sons of Oduduwa.

The Ooni said the Alaafin was presiding over a dead empire.

Alaafin alleged that the Ooni described him as a rascal and not Oranyan, during the celebration, which attracted dignitaries from all walks of life within and outside the country.

He spoke at the weekend during the special birthday lecture organised in his honour by City People magazine, entitled: “Reviving the Old Oyo Customs and Tradition”.

The lecture was delivered by a Portuguese national, Ms Paula Gomes (the Alaafin’s Cultural Ambassador).

Oba Adeyemi said the Ooni had a tradition of distorting history out of ignorance of the details of his ancestral roots.

He said he decided not trade words with the Ooni after former President Olusegun Obasanjo summoned him; the Awujale of Ijebu, Oba Oyebade Lipede and the Ooni to a meeting where everyone agreed to a truce.

Justifying his reaction, the Alaafin said it was proper “to recall history, educate the Ooni and let the world know the truth” because Oba Sijuade continues to castigate him and his traditional activities.

Making reference to series of documentary evidence, the Alaafin insisted Oyo was superior to Ife.

He said: “From where did this Yoruba Language that we are speaking evolve? Which language was used in writing the Bible? It is Oyo language. Why not Ife language? Where else are they speaking Ife language apart from Lagere Quarters? Why are the Modakeke people, who are living behind Ife, not speaking Ife language?”

The Alaafin said Ooni could not answer the questions he posed to him in the past, including the ones at the parley brokered by Obasanjo, “instead, he came with books that could fill three baskets”.

He said: “In 2009, Ooni had undermined the institution of the Alaafin, but a year after when he was celebrating his birthday, he said Oranyan was his father’s ancestor.

“How could you have denigrated your ancestors and later claim that you are a son of the Alaafin. Anybody who does not know his ancestral roots, who did not strive to learn about it and does not learn from those who know will continue to make mistakes and flounder in ignorance. That is part of Ooni’s inadequacies.

“When we wanted to celebrate Sango, they said Sango was not Yoruba. Sango studied the Quran. He was the one that was first conferred with the title of ‘Akeugberu’. He was the first in the art of adjudicating justly. When he was born, the umbilical cord that joined him with his mother could not be severed. Because they pulled it and it would not cut, it became the name ‘Afonja’. The glory, success and tradition of Yoruba started from Oyo.”

He added that Oyo State, during the administration of the late Chief Bola Ige, came up with a gazette recognising the Oranyan as the head of the princes and princesses in Yorubaland, and that Oyo dominated all other nations, namely: Ife, Ijebu, Egba, Ijesa, Sabe, Owu and so on.

Alaafin said: “When Messrs Richard Lander and McPherson visited Oyo Ile in 1827, they concluded that what they saw in Oyo Ile in terms of historical structures and the rich cultural heritage was superior compared to what obtained in the old European world.”

He cautioned the Ooni against “further distortion of historical facts”, which he said his (Oba Sijuade’s) predecessor, Oba Adesoji Aderemi, did not do.

The Director of the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan (UI), Prof. Isaac Albert, said: “The university is proud to associate with the Alaafin, who turned 74 on October 15, “being our able and reputable patron, who epitomises the rich African cultural heritage and is an inspiration to all of us.”

 

Lagos State Governor Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday took a swipe at the Peoples Democratic (PDP)-led Federal Government over its inability to tackle fuel scarcity and other problems.

Fashola spoke when he addressed an audience including former governors of the state Brig. Mobolaji Johnson, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu and Alhaji Lateef Jakande, party chieftains, traditional rulers, stakeholders, among others at the commemoration of his administration’s 2,000 days in office held at the Blue Roof, Lagos Television, Agidingbi, Ikeja.

He said the marking of his administration’s 100 days in office, which the state chapter of the PDP described as a frivolity, waste of time and money, is now being replicated at the national level in a very unimaginative manner and poor imitation of the accounting process.

Fashola said: “Please, keep an eye out for them, because they may soon come to you to tell you what good governance is, as if you do not know.

“I hope the Lagos State chapter of the PDP will remind them that you are queuing to buy fuel. That you cannot complete telephone conversations on your phones anymore and that the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway requires urgent attention.

“But please, remember to thank them for maintaining the Third Mainland Bridge.”

According to him, the Lagos State Government will continue to make progress with its developmental initiatives.

He said government has in the last 100 days embarked on various programmes that will have direct impact on the lives of residents.

The governor listed such projects to include the award of 185 inner city road contracts, the award of 1,404 housing units, the award of the Adiyan Phase II 70 million gallons per day water project and the construction of a 60km of pipeline network to be dedicated to areas such as Iju, Agege, Ifako-Ijaiye, Alimosho, Ojo and Ikeja to mention a few.

He said: “We are also in the process of upgrading the Ishasi Waterworks from 4mgd to 12mgd to service the Ijanikin, Badagry axis,” he said.

Governor Fashola said he embarked on project inspection tours regularly to ensure that the contractors lived up to expectation.

“Some of the projects we have inspected are the Oyingbo Market and the two markets being simultaneously built in Tejuosho, the 36-unit housing project in Shitta, the 60- unit housing project in Mushin, the expansion and concrete lining of the system 6c canal that passes through Itire, the reconstruction of the damaged Ilasamaja pedestrian overhead bridge and the reconstruction and expansion of Kodesoh Road in Ikeja.”