The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Tayo Johnson

  • Ajimobi prays court to dismiss case brought in by butchers

    Ajimobi prays court to dismiss case brought in by butchers

    The Oyo state Government has prayed the court to ‎dismiss a case brought before it by some butchers accusing the group of not having the right to sue the state government.

    The case which is before Justice M. O. Fadeyi, Court 14 of the state high court, Ring road, Ibadan with suit number 1/1209/2014 is challenging the decision of the government to move all the butchers and abattoir operators in the abattoir to a central location.

    In his submission, the state counsel, Mr Najeem Abiodun asked the court to dismiss the case between the butchers and State Governor.

    The claimants are: Abdul Lateef Salau for‎ himself and on behalf of all butchers in Egbeda  local government and Muritala Babalola from Ona Ara local government,

    Others are: Sulaiman Adesola from Lagelu Local government, Yekini Olaiya from Oluyole local government and Alhaji Taju Oni from Ido local government while the state government is defendant

    It will recalled that on December 17, 2014, the Oyo state government during the first term of the Governor Ajimobi led administration commissioned a bigger and modern abattoir in Akinyele local government area of the state.

    The Governor had also given a directive that all the butchers from across all the 33 LGs should relocate to the ultra-modern facility to access the facility and improve hygiene and other health-related matters.

    The butchers had however flouted the directive and challenges the government decision in the court of law

    Counsel to the claimants, a former attorney general of the state, Mr. Micheal Adelana‎ in his submission said a state government has no power of establishment or maintenance of slaughter slabs, slaughter houses or markets in the state.

    The state counsel however told the court to dismiss the application insisting that the claimants have no right to sue the governor, and or his government on the matter.

    According to the counsel to the claimants, Mr. lana who was represented by Mr. Babatunde Akinola proffered a counter argument in support of their action suggesting that their action is competent and that the judge should refuse the application ‎of the state counsel

    In his ruling, the judge however adjourned the case till March 30,2017 for further hearing on the case.

  • S/West economy: Obanikoro, Bankole, others meet in Ibadan

    S/West economy: Obanikoro, Bankole, others meet in Ibadan

    The Former Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt Honourable Dimeji Bankole, former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, were among other ‎political bigwigs from various political parties in SouthWest, on Monday met in Ibadan, Oyo State capital to discuss agenda for the economic and industrialised emancipation of the region.

    The politicians who held a meeting under a group called Yoruba Patriots’ Movement, YPM, allso included, former Minister of State, Defence, Prince Kayode Adetokunbo, former Secretary to Osun State Government, Alhaji Fatai Oyebade, former Chief of Staff to former Governor of Oyo State, Dr Saka Balogun, Professor Adesoji Adesugba and Dr Kunle Olajide.

    Others are Dr Doyin Okupe, Elder Wole Oyelese, Chief (Mrs) Funmilayo Jabaru, Professor Soji Adejumo, Prince Dotun Oyelade among others.

    Speaking to journalists, the National coordinator of the Movement, Hon Oladosu Oladipupo the meeting was not for 2019 general election but to liberate the region from its current economic hardship.

    He said, “YPM was floated to mark out agenda for the region’s economic emancipation which majorly dwell mostly on agriculture and industrialisation”.

    Oladipupo said impunity of Fulani is one of the reasons for the decision to liberate Yoruba from the bad influence of the people from the Northern Nigeria saying the idea is to be modelled after the economic principles of Obafemi Awolowo during his rule in Western regional government.

    He said the group will have another meeting where they will come up with agenda that revisit the utility function of the region’s natural resources to generate wealth.

    He added that the agenda will also seek to educate the present generation to be value oriented to make use of the orientation of the past to make the Yoruba nation thrive economically again.

  • Ajimobi: ‘I love challenges’

    Ajimobi: ‘I love challenges’

    Oyo State Governor, ‎Senator Abiola Ajimobi while resuming to the office, after a week, stated that he was elected to face and tackle challenges in the state, expressing that he loves challenges and all will be solved.
    The state governor who stormed his office in high spirit on Monday looked charming and was chatting with journalist and security operatives, saying: “How are you today, hope you are fine. Don’t worry, I was elected to solve and tackle challenges. I love challenges and all will be solved.”
    Just last week, a Federal High Court in Abuja restraints the state Independent Electoral Commission, Oyo State (OYSIEC) from conducting the scheduled February 11 local government election.
    “How are you this morning. You are looking fine and I am sure you are happy. I am happy this morning. I am happy to see you. Though we have challenges, I love challenges, this‎ is why we are here. We are here to tackle challenges,” he said.
  • Laundered monies invested in real estate – Surveyor discloses

    Laundered monies invested in real estate – Surveyor discloses

    Real estate investment and surveying practice patronage have been confirmed to be saturated with funds believed to be stolen from government coffers.
    The Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Surveyor Ola Siyanbola (fnis) said during the annual general meeting of Oyo State Private Practicing Surveyors which held at the NIS Plaza, Ikolaba, Ibadan today.

    Siyanbola confirmed that many of those that benefited from corrupt practices in the country overtime have found it difficult to take the proceeds abroad as they were used to or buy properties at highbrow spots but now buy vast expanse of lands with the guise of investing in agriculture.

    He said members of the surveying profession have been warned of the consequences of providing professional services to individuals found to have corruptly enriched themselves as the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC)’s act clearly stated the penalty for such connivance.

    “We all are aware that those that stole from government or have corruptly enriched themselves now hide their monies in real estate investment by buying vast expanse of lands for security of their wealth.

    “Our members have been taken through trainings and series of admonitions on the ethics of our profession and I’m using this opportunity to reiterate the fact that our members should desist from acts that can dent the image of our institution.”

    The President of the Oyo State Private Practising Surveyors Cooperative Investment and Credit Society Limited, Alh. Adebayo Nafiu, in his address said the society had helped members survived the biting economic recession that have pervaded the country.

    Nafiu hinted that members have enjoyed credit facilities, savings interests for festivals as well as provision of food commodities that sustained the home front against hunger in the face of nonpayment of salaries, high cost of living and mass job loss.

    He assured members that the seven years old cooperative society would wax stronger and give financial protection that would sustain their status.

    “Our cooperative society has helped members survive the hardest, biting point of Nigeria’s economic recession in the areas of provision of credit facilities, soft loan schemes, savings interests and distribution of food commodities to our members.

    “Practising Surveyors who are not presently members are hereby enjoined to join and reap the gains of our cooperative society,” he concluded.

  • LAUTECH Crisis: Ajimobi, Aregbesola pledges irrevocable commitments

    LAUTECH Crisis: Ajimobi, Aregbesola pledges irrevocable commitments

    • As Olanipekun heads visitation panel‎

    Following the lingering crisis rocking the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology(LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and his counterpart from ‎Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola on Wednesday evening pledged their irrevocable commitment to the joint ownership of  the institution in accordance with establishment laws.

    This was part of both governments resolution at the end of a four-hour meeting held at the Oyo State Governor’s office in Ibadan.

    The institution had in recent times faced the challenges of funding from its owner states, which they hinged on the economic challenges bedevilling the nation.

    Ajimobi, who addressed journalist after the meeting, appealed to the institution’s academic staff to resume academic activities while they address their grievances.

    He also disclosed that a visitation panel to be headed by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) will review the current terms of engagement with a view of consolidating the joint ownership.

    Other members of the panel are Hon Rasheed Afolabi(Osun), Prof. (Mrs) Akinola (Osun), Prof. Sola Fajana (Osun), Dr Tunji Olaopa (Oyo), Prof. Ayo Salami (Oyo) and Mr S. A Raji(Oyo).

    The panel has Mrs A. O. Makanjuola, the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology as Secretary.

    The Olanipekun panel was expected to conduct an audit into the institution’s sources and application of funds while proposing strategies for overall improvement of its quality of education and service delivery.

    The governor said they regretted the current challenges of funding and management confronting the institution and restated their commitment to moving the institution forward.

    “We have both agreed on the necessity for a comprehensive restructuring of the institution to ensure fair and effective development.We also agreed on the distribution of academic resources, physical structures and other assets of the university across the two states to achieve national, regional and global reckoning,”he said.

    Ajimobi said that they have both resolved to rededicate their efforts towards the development of mutually beneficial goals that would further cement their bond of friendship and brotherhood.

    He said both governments enjoined residents, stakeholders, students, teachers and workers in the respective states to go about their lawful duties.

    The owner governments urged them to resist any temptation to take laws into their hands, saying anyone that does otherwise would face the full wrath of the law.

  • Oyo lawmaker advocates compulsory library for schools

    The need for every school and household to have library was advocated recently by the member representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju at Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr Afeez Adeleke.

    Adeleke who is the Chairman House Committee on Education said the present poor performance of students of public schools in external examinations was as a result of nonavailability of libraries in most schools and homes.

    He said this at the 2016 edition of Federation of Iseyin Local Government Students (FILGS) annual Career Talk program which was an organised national body of the students’ association at the Aseyin’s palace in Iseyin.

    Adeleke, while enjoining school and administrators to reach out to their alumni associations for donation of new and used books, called on parents to create bookshelves at home for their wards to be able to access books for reading at their study times, which he said would go a long way in changing students’ attitude to education and improve their overall academic performance.

    “An adage says ‘show me a brilliant student, I will show you a good library, it is apparent that the major factor militating against good academic performance by our pupils in public schools is the lack of a library. No matter the standard, even if it is not modern, there should be somewhere for students to go at their leisure to read and do personal research.

    “We discovered that many books distributed by State and local governments are being kept in Principals and Heads of Schools’ offices instead of creating libraries and allowing these pupils to access these books, this trend should change.

    “Schools’ Alumnus should be contacted to donate new and used books while our students should be encouraged to go to the library, parents should also create a little space at home for bookshelves that will serve as the library. These will at the end help encourage reading and eventual improvement in performances by students in public examinations,” he concluded.

    The guest speaker at the 2016 edition of FILGS annual career talk program, Mr Alhazan Abiodun who is an employee of Oyo State Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism called on students to identify a role model within their immediate environment and schools who has done well in his or her career to emulate.

    He charged them to always pick on the course of study in which they have  comparative advantage where they could perform well at the level of s higher institution of learning while advising parents not to force their wards to read any course of study for which they might not have the intellectual capacity.

  • Recession: Ajimobi’s wife distributes foodstuffs to Oyo women

    Recession: Ajimobi’s wife distributes foodstuffs to Oyo women

    Wife of the Oyo State governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi has said the Ajumose Food bank, is a programme to alleviate women’s sufferings in the state especially now the country is witnessing economic recession.
    The governor’s wife stated this on Wednesday in Ogbomosho while distributing food items to women  under the Programme in five local government namely: Oriree, Ogbomosho North, Ogbomosho South, Ogo Oluwa, and Surulere local governments.
    According to her, the state governor really has the love of women in the state at heart and willing to provide for their needs despite economic situation in the country.
    Mrs. Ajimobi said the food bank is aimed to show concern over present economic comatose saying though it’s token but appreciable food items to support and alleviate women’s sufferings in the state.
    While receiving the wife of the governor, Mrs. Serah Bamigboye, the wife of the caretaker chairman of Oriire Local government said the Programme is most important now the country is witnessing economic recession.
    She said women folks in the state have enjoyed the best during the tenure of Governor Ajimobi which is facilitated by his wife whose milk of human kindness has been flowing in all the nooks and crannies of the state.
    Mrs. Bamigboye added that “Ajumose Food Bank” initiative shows that the present administration in the state is people’s friendly and ready to ameliorate the sufferings of the masses.
    Also receiving the First Lady, Mrs. Hellen Alade, wife of the caretaker chairman of Ogbomosho North Local government, said the governor’s wife has impacted positively and meaningfully into the lives of the women folk and less privileged across the state within the last five years.
    Mrs. Alade said some of the life changing Programme of the wife’s governor is “Educate the Rural Child”, aimed at ensuring sound and qualitative education for the rural girls and among other programs in the 33 local governments in the state.

  • 10 die in auto crash in Oyo

    Ten persons were crushed to death on Sunday along the Ibadan-Oyo expressway in an accident involving an18-seater white Toyota Hiase bus ‎with registration number LSD 191 XA.

    Nine people were also injured when‎ the bus overtook another bus.

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) spokesperson, Oluwaseun Onijala, who confirmed the accident, said it occurred around 5:20pm.

    He said injured victims have been taken to two hospitals for treatment,while the corpses of the dead have been deposited at Adeoyo Hospital Morgue, Ibadan.

    “The cause of the crash was wrongful overtaking and loss of control by the driver of the Toyota bus. He was travelling from Ibadan to Oyo; it was in that process that the driver rammed the bus into an oncoming truck, travelling to Ibadan,” Onijala stated.

  • Ajimobi approves creation of 35 LCDAs

    Ajimobi approves creation of 35 LCDAs

     

    Oyo State Governor, Sen Abiola Ajimobi has approved the creation of 35 new Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), in the state in order to accelerate even development at the grass root.

    This follows a motion entitled:”Need to establish Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), for effective grassroots development”, brought before the house of ass‎embly on June 16, 2016, were the. Lawmakers urged the state government to take proactive measures to establish LCDA’S to ensure that development get to every community in the state.

    The Chief of Staff to the Governor, ‎Dr Gbade Ojo who made this known on Tuesday while addressing journalist in Ibadan, said the approval will give more legal teeth to Oyo State Gazette No. 23, Vol 27 of August 13, 2002, which created the 35 LCDA’S but with a nomenclature of Local Government Areas.

    Ojo who said the 35 new LCDA’S will be distributed zonally in line with both political and administrative zones of the state, listed the breakdown of the new LCDA’S as follows: Ibadan Zone 14, Ibarapa zone 2, Oyo zone 4, Ogbomoso 7, Oke-Ogun 8.

    He said the governor had directed the State Commissioner of Justice to prepare enabling laws as Executive Bill to be presented to the state house of assembly so that the new LCDAs can take off.

    “Between 2002 till date there has been explosion in the demography of each council area to the extent that what was gazetted in 2002 may not be sufficiently representative of the new yearning of our people. Thus, any council area that needs ‎more may begin to work on memorandum to justify their demands as in no distant future. ” he concluded.

     

  • JAMB: ‘UI to admit 3,000 out of over 29,000 candidates’

    JAMB: ‘UI to admit 3,000 out of over 29,000 candidates’

    The Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI), Prof Idowu Olayinka has said that only 3,000 candidates out of the over 29,000 who scored 200 and above in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and chose the premier university would be offered admission.

    The Vice Chancellor lamented that poor funding, infrastructure deficit, student-lecturer ratio and limitation of Hostel accommodation would not allow the University go beyond its present carrying capacity.

    Candidates who chose the university have been anxious to hear the admission guideline from the premier university since the ban on post-UTME examination which the Vice Chancellor attested had improved the quality of graduates and reduced those asked to withdraw from the University.

    While speaking on the topic “Challenges of Building a World Class University” at the 68th Interdisciplinary Research Discourse of the Postgraduate school under the Deanship of Professor Adeyinka Aderinto, Professor Olayinka noted that Nigerian government must decide if it wants her universities to be globally competitive or not by adequately funding research and fixing infrastructural deficits bedeviling them.

    While noting that without research a university is a glorified secondary school, the Vice Chancellor noted that Nigerian government should go beyond expressing ‘suspect’ regret at the ranking of her universities at public functions, rather, it should allocate more funds to revatilise teaching and research.

    The professor of Geology listed inadequate teaching and research facilities, problem of attracting and retaining top-class faculty, poor funding, overstretched infrastructure, inconsistent policy of education, inadequate suitable staff, and government attitude to education as factors affecting the global competitiveness of the university.

    “Funding is needed to make UI a world class university. A globally competitive university is that which can boast of top-class scholars with sound funding of research because without research, a university is a glorified secondary school. While our goal is to train new generation of leaders we have challenges towards achieving this. The mark of a truly world class institution is measured by what her graduates do after leaving the institution.

    “Oxford will boast that they have produced more Prime Ministers so is Harvard on world leaders. Of course UI graduates are doing well all over Nigeria but we must do more so that our graduates can be blessing to Nigeria and the global community. Nigerian leaders should go beyond feeling bad at the ranking of our universities. If UI is presently ranked 19 in Africa and the top 4 varsities are in South Africa, then Nigeria government should understudy what they do in south Africa for their universities including research grants and learning environment and infrastructure. We cannot be globally competitive without electricity. We will be more productive if power is available. We should be playing leading role in research and innovation, contribute to local and regional economies and this will drive our global competitiveness.”

    In his speech, Chairman of the occasion and former Vice Chancellor, Prof Bankole Oyediran noted that universities are the power house of knowledge designed to contribute to the development and planning through the production of innovative works, ground breaking research and high quality personnel.

    However, he noted that while it is obvious that universities and academics can play vital role in development most African countries including Nigeria declared recognition of the role of universities in national development remains mere politically correct rhetoric.

    The former VC then noted that a world class university, which by implication is research active can play vital role in regional economy and development.