Mrs. V. A. Samson is the founder and Managing Director of the BOVAS group that was established in 1980 and which started operations as an indigenous independent petroleum marketing company in the same year. "Mama Bovas" as she is fondly called in and around Oyo state, is a marketer per excellence having an experience of over twenty-five (25) years in the Oil and Gas industry as Dealer with both Texaco Nigeria Plc and Mobil Plc. She was the first Nigerian to win the highly competitive Texaco Latin America West Africa (LAWA) Award for Best Overall Dealer in 1990 for the highest sales in both regions combined. She is the Matron of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), NNPC/PPMC Satellite Depot, Ejigbo, Lagos State and Apata Depot Ibadan, Oyo State. Mrs Samson has led meritoriously over the years, making a difference in the Oil and Gas industry and is definitely an embodiment of resilience.

#AsiwajuNiWa
#OysowaWeek
#TheResilientWoman

Can u please tell us what is it standing for? We just need to put ourselves in their shoes

1. A public–private partnership (PPP) is a cooperative arrangement between two or more public and private SECTORS.

2. They are typically long-term in nature.

3. Governments have used such a mix of public and private endeavors throughout history.

4. However, the past few decades have seen a clear trend towards governments across the globe making greater use of various PPP arrangements to drive development.

5. The ultimate aim of PPPs is to ensure the availability of physical or technical infrastructure for public good and usage.

6. PPPs also enable the public sector (in this case, a government and its people) to harness the expertise and efficiencies that the private sector can bring to the delivery of certain facilities and services traditionally procured and delivered by the public sector.

7. In a PPP setup by government, such government enjoys the advantage of not borrowing money to make capital investment. In other words, PPPs help governments that are serious with development BORROW less.

8. PPPs also afford governments the assured possibility of bringing in new sources of financing for funding public infrastructure and service needs.

9. The present Governor Abiola Ajimobi-led administration in Oyo state has deployed all of these advantages above to drive development in accordance with its repositioning agenda over the past 6 years.

10. The Technical University with Central Bank of Nigeria, the Ibadan Circular Road with ENL Consortium, state-wide and state-of-the-art road construction(s), Dry port with Maersk, the Milk Collection Center with Friesland-Campina WAMCO, the Schools' Governing Board, the Ibadan City Masterplan with the World Bank, the Environmental Management pact with WestAfrica ERG, etc, are fruits from the OYSG-championed PPP initiatives.

#AsiwajuNiWa
#AjumosePPPs
#AjumoseRepositioning

Governor Abiola Ajimobi's repositioning agenda is entirely apolitical in intent and aimed at having a direct impact on the peoples' lives. Regarding
# Welfare, alot has been done in the past 6 years....
# AsiwajuNiWa # AjumoseFoodBank
# AjumoseWelfare

* That the many security policies of government which include the Joint Security Task Force (Operation Burst), the Oyo State Security Trust Fund (OYSSTF), Swift Response Squad (SRS) Safe City Project, etc, were nonexistent prior to 2011.
* That the security spend in Oyo state has seen an approximate 400% rise from 2011 till date compared to what was obtainable before then.
* That the rate of crime and criminality in Oyo state has seen a cumulative 527% decrease from 2011 till date.
* That, for example, no successful bank robbery has occurred in the past 5 years across Oyo state, with only 1 attempt in Ogbomoso, compared to the 21 successful robberies recorded across ten years before 2011.
* That, for example, the cases of armed robbery has experienced sharp and gradual reduction from a total 261 cases prior 2011, to 17 cases in 2017.
* That, for example, kidnapping has also reduced drastically over the past 6 years; such that, only" 3 cases of kidnapping have been seen in 2017, compared to the 55 cases seen across Oyo state between 2005-early 2011.
* That, for example, cases of grievous harm, felony, auto theft, gun running, street violence, rituals, rival clashes and politically-motivated violence dropped from 1,119 recorded cases between 2003-2010 to just 97 cases in the past 4 years.
* That there has been an increase in the procurement of crime fighting and security equipment for the entire security apparatus; 9 Armoured Personnel Carriers, 122 Patrol Vehicles and 7 power bikes have been newly procured between 2011 till date.
# AsiwajuNiWa
# DoYouKnow
# AjumoseSecurity
[Figures* SOURCE: Security Agencies via State Security Council Meeting]

* That the many security policies of government which include the Joint Security Task Force (Operation Burst), the Oyo State Security Trust Fund (OYSSTF), Swift Response Squad (SRS) Safe City Project, etc, were nonexistent prior to 2011.
* That the security spend in Oyo state has seen an approximate 400% rise from 2011 till date compared to what was obtainable before then.
* That the rate of crime and criminality in Oyo state has seen a cumulative 527% decrease from 2011 till date.
* That, for example, no successful bank robbery has occurred in the past 5 years across Oyo state, with only 1 attempt in Ogbomoso, compared to the 21 successful robberies recorded across ten years before 2011.
* That, for example, the cases of armed robbery has experienced sharp and gradual reduction from a total 261 cases prior 2011, to 17 cases in 2017.
* That, for example, kidnapping has also reduced drastically over the past 6 years; such that, only" 3 cases of kidnapping have been seen in 2017, compared to the 55 cases seen across Oyo state between 2005-early 2011.
* That, for example, cases of grievous harm, felony, auto theft, gun running, street violence, rituals, rival clashes and politically-motivated violence dropped from 1,119 recorded cases between 2003-2010 to just 97 cases in the past 4 years.
* That there has been an increase in the procurement of crime fighting and security equipment for the entire security apparatus; 9 Armoured Personnel Carriers, 122 Patrol Vehicles and 7 power bikes have been newly procured between 2011 till date.
# AsiwajuNiWa
# DoYouKnow
# AjumoseSecurity
[Figures* SOURCE: Security Agencies via State Security Council Meeting]

Former Governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao Akala has ruled out the possibility of returning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), affirming that his membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was unshakeable.
This is as he said that he had mandated his followers across the state to join him in the APC.
Alao Akala, who adorned a white cap tailored in “APC Change”, stated this at an empowerment programme of member representing Ogbomoso North State Constituency, Honourable Wumi Oladeji, held in Ogbomoso, on Saturday.
He said the affirmation of his membership of APC was to quell notions that he had accepted the offer to join the opposition.
According to him, recent visits to his London house by Governor Abiola Ajimobi and his Ibadan house by the former governor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, were all part of playing the game of politics.
“I am in APC and this has come to stay. I am not leaving APC. I have told my followers and people of Ogbomoso that we are in APC and nothing can change that. I won’t disappoint you. Don’t be deceived by those saying that I will dump APC.”
“We are trying to bring ourselves together so I don’t want to talk about merits or demerits of being in APC. Politics is a game.”
“I regard it as the grace of God and it is marvellous in my sight that those in APC and PDP are coming to meet me,” Alao Akala said.
On his involvement in the 2019 politics, he said he was waiting for God’s direction.
He argued that such discussion on 2019 elections were premature.
“In politics, you don’t talk about 2019 in 2017. Anything can happen. I leave everything in God’s and he will answer me when the time comes,” Alao Akala said.

Gunmen opened fire towards the vehicle of the ex - Secretary to the State Government of Oyo State, Mr Sharafadeen Alli this morning shortly after the installation of some Baales by the Olubadan at the Olubadan's Palace at Popoyemoja, Ibadan.

The former SSG was at the back seat of his black Toyota Land cruiser Jeep with registration number Epe 447 ER when bullets penetrated his windscreen by the owner's seat.

A source who pleaded anonymity said that, the gunmen were on the pay roll of a top PDP politician who engaged them with the intent to assassinate Mr Sharafadeen Alli because of his prospect of winning the PDP ticket to contest as Governor in 2019.

Investigations are ongoing about the sequence of events and actions that led to this assassination attempt. An update is expected soon.

One of the key thrusts in the repositioning agenda of the present Ajimobi-led Oyo state government is to make our state the southwest and the nation's food basket. And, true to form, the agricultural policies entrenched so far across the state prove that our state is already assuming this status.
You should know that;
• a whooping 20 out of the 33 LGAs of Oyo state are abundantly agrarian.
• 161 asphalt roads, totalling 510km have been either newly built or reconstructed by this government to create ease of access to farmlands within and around these agrarian LGAS.
• among other aids, 323 tractors, 16 each, were given to each of these 20 agrarian LGAs by the Ajimobi government to boost agricultural productivity.
• our state now has the largest combined plantation of cassava and maize in the country; yearly cassava yield rising from 3 million tons to 8 million tons and that of maize rising from 226 MT to over 300 MT, over the past 4 years.
• the Ajimobi government has used this agricultural drive to DIRECTLY empower many, and also INDIRECTLY by encouraging substantial private investments and interests.
• the JOINT FARMERS COMMUNITY INITIATIVE is one of the present government's interventionist programmes aimed at encouraging and empowering a sizable crop of farmers at once, across farming settlements in the state.
• evidence of the efficiency of the initiative above is seen in these pictures below at the ABÀ OLÁ Cassava plantation located in ISEYIN LGA. It's a 200-hectare cassava plantation that engages 100 farmers at once. It is financed by the government in partnership with Eagleson Farms and its expected to have a minimum yearly yield of 30 tons per hectare.
# AsiwajuNiWa
# AjumoseAgriculture

Result of the 2015 governorship election at a glance. Ajimobi: 327,310 Ladoja: 254,520 Alao-Akala: 184,111 Folarin: 79,019 Makinde: 54,740 Ajimobi+Alao-Akala+Folarin= 590, 440 Ladoja+Makinde=309,260 #Ajimobi #Oyo2019 #Powerbroking

The elevated high chiefs held their first meeting on Wednesday and dissociated themselves from the decision of the Osi Olubadan of Ibadan land, Chief Rashidi Ladoja, to challenge the installation of 21 new kings in Ibadan in court.

They declared that Ladoja was acting alone.

At the end of the meeting held at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, Balogun of Ibadan land, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, called on Ladoja to stop playing politics with the issue by embracing the new idea to instal the new kings.

He said “It is a wrong impression by Ladoja that the newly inaugurated obas do not have domain, the Olubadan and members of Obas-in-Council jointly rule Ibadanland as Oba Saliu Adetunji cannot rule without us.

“Ladoja himself who said he cannot be an oba without a domain is the Chairman of Ibadan South-West Traditional Council, and apart from collecting stipends from government all of us report back to the Olubadan. It is nothing but politics borne out of selfish motives.”

Meanwhile, The Mogaji (family head) of Akinsola compound in Oopo Labiran area of Ibadan, Chief Olawale Oladoja, said more than 300 Mogajis in Ibadan have decided to challenge the installation of 21 kings in Ibadan by the state government.

Oladoja, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone shortly after 315 Mogajis visited the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji in his palace on Wednesday, also challenged the authority of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes as the representative of sons and daughters of Ibadan.

He said the claim by the call that more than 90 per cent of Ibadan indigenes supported the move was false because the council only represented a small group of people in the city.

“Can we say that the new kings are not educated or are ignorant? Have they really read the letters that were issued to them when they were appointed by Governor Abiola Ajimobi? How can a king still be a chief in a palace at the same time? There is tradition and culture and that of Ibadan is different from that of the Ijebu or other places in Yoruba land.

“In Ibadan land, a king must spend some days in Iledi with Labosinde. We must follow the process. Only the people of Ibadan can decide who is a king. A baale cannot be a king, only Mogajis can be promoted to the king status. Mogaji chooses the baale, so how can a baale now be superior to the Mogaji that chose him? Which ruling house produced the kings?

“The 315 baales that visited the Olubadan today (Wednesday) are against the move. There can only be one king in a town. England has more than 40 million people with only one monarch. What of Ilorin, Kano, and other places? Ibadan has about five million people and will now have 33 kings. We will fight this to the last. Those chiefs must not be seen in the palace again and they should stop parading themselves as kings.

“When did CCII become the mouth-piece of Ibadan people? We know them as a social group. They cannot speak for Ibadan people, only the Mogajis can represent the people in matters that concern the city.”

Oladoja also called to question the human feelings of the high chiefs, saying that when they should be mourning the death of High Chief Femi Olaifa, they chose to go and collect letters of kingship from the state government.

“The day Olaifa died, the high chiefs did not mourn one of them, instead, they went to collect their letters. They should meet us in court,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government has said that despite the dust created by the appointment of 21 kings in Ibadan, the relationship between the Olubadan and Governor Abiola Ajimobi remains cordial.

The state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Bimbo Kolade, and the state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism counterpart, Mr. Toye Arulogun, who jointly spoke to journalists in Ibadan on Wednesday, said the governor had deep respect for the monarch

Kolade said, “From the speech of the governor at Sunday’s coronation, he maintained that the Olubadan remained his father. There is that cordiality of father to son between the Olubadan and the governor. There is no problem between them officially.”

Kolade also said that the Osi Olubadan of Ibadan land, Rashidi Ladoja, had yet to formally reject his appointment as a king.

Source: Punch

The quite painful and disheartening thing about the dissident voices howling foul about the Olubadan Chieftaincy review, is the desecrating, derogatory and demeaning effect these voices are having on the highly exalted Olubadan stool.

For any true Ibadan native, seeing our Oba being used by political piranhas and dragged through a roadshow around town with the sole aim of scavenging solidarity against a rather lawful and befitting cause such as this elevation and enthronement of new Obas, is tear-worthy and sad to say the least. Is this how far people will go in a attempt to trump and popular and just review? Desecrate the stool of our Imperial Majesty?

Judging by clear antecedents, it is actually believable that the Olubadan of Ibadan himself, Oba Saliu Adetunji, isn't against enjoying the attendant rights, rites and royalties that come with the elevation of his stool to an Imperial Majesty; thus, making it quite clear that he's been hoodwinked by whims of politically motivated and willfully ignorant people marauding around him as advisers.

And, one of such advisers is the supposed spokesperson of the palace, Adeola Oloko.

It is interesting to know that Oloko was the former press secretary to the former Governor, Rashidi Ladoja, the present Osi Olubadan, who has stood against the review obstinately, albeit, in solitary minority.

Hence, it is not only surprising that he is playing dirty politics with a traditional institution and by so doing, dragging the good name of the Olubadan and the royal stool into the murky waters of politics.

His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji is an octogenarian and a honorable one at but unfortunately, he is not aware of Oloko's politicization of the royal stool.

Afterall, he that pays the pipper dictates the tune. Oloko’s allegiance is not to the Olubadan but to Ladoja who is attempting to drag the traditional institution into politics by being an Olubadan-in-waiting that is actively involved in partisan politics.

Mr. Oloko should be reminded of past monarchs that attempted to politicise the royal stool, there was always a sorry and sad tale to the end of their story.

There are fresh rays of hope in Oyo state as Secondary School Principals in the state submitted WAEC result analyses of their students who sat for 2016/2017 West African Examination Council, WAEC results to the ministry of education, State Secretariat in Ibadan.
The result for Senior Secondary School examination in the state was made available last week Friday during this month’s statutory meeting where issues affecting education generally on Primary, Secondary and tertiary education are discussed.
The meeting had in attendance Zonal Inspectors of Education, Local Inspectors of Education Principals of ministry control Schools, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Education and other stakeholders in education sector in the state.
At the meeting, 10 principals present submitted the results of their students who were rated with excellent performance. According to the results: “72 out of 78 students who sat for WAEC examination in School of Science, PADE, passed with 92.3℅ as number of candidates with five credits and above (including English and Mathematics)”.
Results further analysed in other 9 schools are: Oladipo Alayande School of Science, Oke Bola, Ibadan – 335 out of 377 students passed (88.8℅); School of Science, Okeho, 72 out of 84 students passed (85.7℅); Queen’s School, Ibadan-108 out of 136 students passed (79.4℅); School of Science, Oyo- 80 out of 121 students passed (66.1℅)”.
Others include: “Wesley College School of Science – 70 out of 110 students passed (63.6℅); Oyo State School of Science, Ogbomoso- 91 out of 153 students passed ((59.477℅); Government College, Ibadan- 95 out of 161 students passed (59.006℅); and Oyo State School of Science, IDERE- 38 out of 67 students passed (56.72℅).
Speaking on the results, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Aderiyike Adekanmbi stated that there was no time students in the state are not performing in the WAEC examination saying that, the last year’s rating of students’ WAEC performance is mischievous as Oyo State was rated low.
According to her, the rating was from wrong source whose attempt was for political reason to condemn the effort of the state government in promoting the educational development.
She added that as part of efforts to make sure that the ministry leaves no room for the mischievous persons to come up with such rating against the state government, the ministry of education this year conducted qualifying examination for the WAEC candidates especially for public schools.
She stressed that through this initiative where only 22, 812 students sat for the examination this year against 54,000 who sat last year, only performing students were allowed to write the examination while others repeated the class or referred to technical college.
Earlier in his address, the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela assured that there will be more improvement in education sector in the state noting that despite the excellent performance of the students, Oyo state has not reached its goal towards making the state the best among other states in the country.
The Commissioner, however emphasized the need for effective monitoring of schools, teaching and learning activities as soon as the new academic session begins to achieve greater feat in education.

The Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) has pledged unalloyed support for the recent coronation of 21 new kings of Ibadan by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State.
This is just as the umbrella body urged indigenes of Ibadan land, the Olubadan of Ibadan land, the state governor, the Olubadan in council, mogajis, chiefs and other stakeholders to remain calm for the resolution of some grey areas identified and not turn Ibadan into a battleground.
The organisation said 90 per cent of Ibadan indigenes supported the review.
.

The President General, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Yemi Soladoye who made these calls while addressing journalists at Ibadan house, Oke Aremo, Ibadan, on Tuesday, said the review had become expedient to address the long journey of ascension to the throne of Olubadan, with many dying on the waiting line without becoming Olubadan.
.

Furthermore, the CCII said it was convinced that the state government’s action was in the interest of Ibadan because it did not create any new ruling houses, while every bonafide Ibadan indigene still had the right to aspire to become Olubadan.
Speaking further, Soladoye argued that the development empowered the former high chiefs to carry the authority of the Olubadan, while the new kings remained on the queue to become Olubadan and the imperial power over Ibadanland still remained with the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
.

He also hinged the support of the CCII on the fact that the crowns were also granted to protect the state’s border towns and satellite towns like Ijaiye Orile, Erunmu, Lalupon from some other ethnic groups in Yorubaland.
“For avoidance of any doubt, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) confirms the change that has just taken place in Ibadan as desired, initiated, supported, applauded and appreciated by the generality of Ibadan indigenes worldwide. The CCII approved it and I can tell you that 90 per cent of Ibadan indigenes asked for the reform and support the reform based on the issues we have been having.”
.

“We are in situation where before anyone becomes Olubadan, he is already more than 90 years; we are in a situation where 40 persons will start a race, by 35 years about 25 of them have dropped dead. So, it is not the typical situation where you look at what happens elsewhere. We are looking at our own peculiar situation.”
.

“In the past 20 months we have lost 5 of the members of the Olubadan-In-Council including eminent personalities like Chief Omowale Kuye, Chief Femi Olaifa just to mention a few. Since the demise of Oba Yesufu Kobiowu in 1965, not many Ibadan residents can confirm seeing most of our Olubadans at public functions except if they visited the palace.”
.

The CCII identified some grey areas to be addressed to include whether the elevation of some Baales to an Oba amounted to the Baale being superior over the Mogajis (family warlords), and whether the gazette could be interpreted as meaning that those on the Olubadan line must be a crown wearing Oba for them to gain further promotion.
.

He said the court could also help in the interpretation of gazette, which he said, was not an end in itself.
Describing the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji as a dynamic and progressive Oba, Soladoye noted that the CCII would provide further clarity and enlightenment on the matter.
.

“The CCII is quite aware of the fact that some grey areas still exist in the reform especially as it affects the Mogajis and the Warlords Families. The CCII is deeply looking into this with deep concern and interest. The CCII hereby salute the innovation in the Olubadan institution, though caution that saner counsels should prevail and be exercised to enable the matters in court to be rested to conclusion whilst Ibadanland should not be turned into a battle ground.”
.

“CCII was involved right from when the judicial review panel was created. CCII was part of it to create reform. The court will give interpretation to that gazette. The areas that we do think is part, we will create discussion and dialogue. Gazette is not an end in itself, issues arise and they perfect them.”
.

“We wish to confirm that our Kabiyesi is a dynamic and progressive Oba who would naturally due to his age and experience of life play safe in his response to any change agenda with insufficient clarity and enlightenment. The CCII takes responsibility for this gap.”
“The promotion of any of the new Obas to the stool of Olubadan of Ibadanland automatically ends that obaship in his compound until they have another Mogaji who may be lucky to ascend the position of Olubadan-In-Council in distant future,” Soladoye said.
.

On the remuneration for the new kings, CCII posited that the new kings were only dignified with their status and prestige while their salary equivalent of being a second class Oba remained.
He however pointed to some politicization of the matter owing to some persona involved and the peculiarities of the state.
Consequently, the CCII urged all stakeholders to shun vested interests and sentiments for Ibadan to achieve some of its desires like being a state and remaining peaceful.
.

“The CCII cannot pretend to be unaware of some political colouration that crept into this progressive change at the eve of implementation but suffice to say that for a city where Politics and Public Service are the two largest industries, the tension that accompanied the change is not unexpected. Our current Otun Olubadan was a member of the upper chambers (Senate), current Balogun of Ibadan was a member of the Lower chambers (Federal House of Representatives), the current Osi Olubadan was in the Senate and a former Governor while the current Aare of Ibadan was in the Senate and now the sitting Governor of Oyo State. In a city of politicians therefore, there will always be the tendency to politicize every issue.”

My father was one of the people that followed the late Olubadan Oba Odulana Odugade to Abuja, when he was to be conferred with the title of the Commander of the Federal Republic by Goodluck Jonathan, he went with just two high chiefs. Sadly, we were almost overlooked, relegated and pushed aside because I felt they expected more people from our royal camp but were disappointed unlike the Sultan of Sokoto that came with pomp and pageantry with a retinue of colourful Emirs numbering about 30 of them.

They were treated differently not because of their tribe, colour or religion but because of their number, calibre and number of Emirs that came with him.

Immediately after event, the late Olubadan met with the late Chief Kuye, Akinyele and a few of the high chiefs to discuss about the chieftaincy review with the government.

So what Governor Ajimobi has done with the elevation and coronation is an amazing and welcome idea. I am certain Oba Odugade will be smiling in his resting place.

Ibadan is as big as Kano, if not bigger. Our prominent ruler should never be relegated by an Emir and one way we can ensure that is by ensuring that when our own Olubadan of Ibadanland steps out, he does so in pomp and pageantry surrounded by not mere few high chiefs but by many beaded crown Obas. This amongst others is what the reviewed chieftaincy law that has birthed the new development will achieve.

The head of Afobaje family in Ibadan land, Chief Wahab Popoola, has said that the 21 new Obas, who were installed on Sunday, are like ‘honorary’ kings.
He explained that no special rites were performed on them as the white paper that led to the installation was explicit about it.
Throwing his weight behind the decision of the state government, the Afobaje who is also regarded as the Oluwo, noted that the new kings posed no threat to the authority of the Olubadan.
In an interview with Punch, he said that instead of performing the rites that were always done before an Olubadan would be crowned, the new kings only required his blessing because they were “honorary kings.”
Because They Are ‘Honorary’ Obas
He said, “I did what I had to do during the enthronement of the kings. I blessed them as the Oluwo Afobaje of Ibadan land. There are no special rites performed because they are like honorary kings. The White Paper that established the kings is explicit enough. The governor did this to change the status of the high chiefs and the baales. There is nothing to it more than that.”
Popoola added that the white paper stated that any of the new kings that disrespected the Olubadan would be punished.
“The White Paper, which I have seen, stated clearly that the Olubadan is the highest ranking king in Ibadan and that any of the new kings that disrespects him shall be sanctioned. This means that the power and the authority of the Olubadan are not tampered with,” he stated.

Elevation of Olubadan and coronation of new Obas in Ibadan - THE TELLING FACTS | Sayo Aluko

Ibadan is the most populous Yoruba city, the culture capital of the Southwest. It has 11 local government councils with over 160 recognizable regions. It has sought a "State status" for many years. But, until today it had only one Oba. A big disservice to the throne, heritage, history and the people of Ibadan. An unarguable disservice.

Our last Olubadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1, was conferred a CFR status. At the conferment, he was accompanied by chiefs. Other Oba's were accompanied by "lower-ranking" Obas from their domain.

Abeokuta has 4 or more Obas. Eko has many. Ijebu has several. Ife has about 4. Iwo has about 4. The Awujale is the paramount ruler of Ijebu land. The Oluwo is the paramount for Iwo land. The Alake is paramount for Abeokuta. The Ooni is paramount for Ife.

These are smaller towns than Ibadan with less population and lower numbers of LGs. The Olubadan deserves to have "lesser" Obas under him.

And, apart from its befitting stance, any Ibadan indigene who needs to be schooled on the importance and impact of regional and subregional Obas towards socioeconomic advancement and communal accord cum efficiency, must be wilfully ignorant.

It is clear as day that this move even seems already belated and couldn't have come at a better time. The efforts channeled into rebuilding and modernising Ibadan would amount to a futuristic futility if we don't strengthen and reposition our traditional institutions, in this case, the Obaship. What's the essence of building infrastructure without a reticulated, strong and befitting communal institution to boot? Well, your guess is as good as mine. I'll deploy a Yoruba proverb as an allegory here - Omo (read Ìlú) táà'kó, láá kó ilé táa kó tà!

By this move, Ibadan has one Olubadan that becomes the Imperial majesty, 11 senior ranking Obas and another 11 Baales that now wear beads.

The ascension line to the Olubadan remains unchanged. The Otun and Osi line continue in the historical path to Oba.

The demand for this was by 10 of the 11 high chiefs, the Baales, and other submissions to a Judicial Commission of Inquiry constituted by the Governor of Oyo State, who by law has the power to create such. Notably, past Governors have also attempted this move, but this is the time it's coming to fruition.

The move is supported by the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Ibadan Elders forum and other Ibadan cultural associations.

It's a new royal dawn in Ibadan, let's wear our robes and celebrate, while we brace ourselves for the positive impact that will be driven by this new, but long-overdue wave.

Ibadan State, Now Beckons
...as 21 new Obas receive staff of office today
Ibadan United in Diaspora, an international socio – cultural group consisting of well meaning Ibadan indigenes in Diaspora congratulates the people of Ibadanland on the dynamic and bold step by the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi on modernising the traditional system of Ibadanland without disrupting the succession and ascendancy structure.
We are indeed pleased about this development which is moving us closer to the actualization of Ibadan State.
Congratulations to His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1
Congratulations to Their Royal Majesties!!!
Congratulations to their Royal Highnesses
Congratulations to the People of Ibadanland!!!
Congratulations to the People of Oyo State!!!!
Signed
Ibadan United in Diaspora
27, Myrtle Close, Erith Kent DA 8, 3 PT

Oyo State Government has said that over N22bn has been expended on the Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH) since 2011, confirming that the recently inaugurated Governing Council is already finding a lasting solution to the crisis in the institution.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology Professor Adeniyi Olowofela, who made the disclosure on Thursday during a Ministerial Press Briefing, held at the Film Theatre, Ministry of Information Culture and Tourism, revealed that the Governing Council has had a series of meetings with the Unions of the institution to resolve the current imbroglio, saying that the unions have consented to the forensic auditing recommended by the visitation panel to the institution.
Prof. Olowofela said that the forensic audit is for all the tertiary institutions in the state to know the state of their finances, saying that the tertiary institution's fees will be reviewed as the present fees being paid are highly subsidized by the government.
The Commissioner explained that N10.5bn has been spent on LAUTECH as an institution, N8.317bn expended on LAUTECH teaching hospital Ogbomoso while N3.17bn has been spent on LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo from 2011 to 2017 adding, “It is a wrong insinuation to say that we are care free about the LAUTECH crisis. We are not happy with the situation in the school but there is good news already.
The unions have agreed to the forensic audit recommended by the visitation panel and the crisis is coming to an end with lasting solutions. The governing council is meeting the unions and stakeholders of the institution on a regular basis.
“Tertiary institutions' fees are being subsidized by the state government. For instance, A 300-level student at the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education as at now is paying N8,000.00 and the highest fee being paid in LAUTECH is less than N70,000.00.
We all know what the economy is saying and we are aware what is being paid in other government institutions and private ones. We are subsidizing fees paid in institutions in the state and we are committed to quality education for all.
We want to assure our stakeholders in the education sector that the LAUTECH and other crisis in the sector will be resolved in due course,” the commissioner disclosed.
Prof. Olowofela noted that there is a surgical operation going on in the education sector in the state starting with automatic promotion which adversely affected the standard of education not only in Oyo state but Nigeria as a whole; explaining that the state government has introduced the 'No Automatic Promotion" policy and started a unified examination system as well as harmonized grading for S.S 1 & 2 students in public schools in the state to improve the state’s performances in external examinations, WAEC and NECO.
He noted that the efforts of the government has started yielding fruitful results with the state coming 2nd in NECO external examination in 2016, better than 12th position of 2015, urging that the media should be wary of the reports they publish so as not to mislead the general public on the present rating of the state in external examinations.
Prof. Olowofela stated that the recently introduced School Governing Boards for Public secondary schools in the state is a master stroke that is changing the schools’ system, emphasising that the paradigm has changed and the SGBs are improving the standard of education and infrastructures in Oyo State schools.
He posited that the SGB model will outlive the present administration as it is yielding positive results already, explaining “One of our SGBs put N125m to renovate their school and they are presently trying to raise N1bn now.
The SGB is a master stroke that will change education in the state forever. The Government has also approved and initiated the process of renovating 100 schools with about N5bn comprising of N3b counterpart funding and N1.9bn which is a combination of funds generated from the students’ levies and state government's internally generated revenue.
“We want our students to take advantage of our Oyo State Model Education System Intervention (OYOMESI) to build good character and the Ajumose Legacy Note for secondary schools to download text books from the web, while the hard copies are also available in the Ministry,” the Commissioner stressed.
Prof. Olowofela said that the Education Trust Fund (ETF) inaugurated recently by Governor Abiola Ajimobi would complement the budgetary allocation at all levels by the government, adding that 5% of VAT to State/Local Government will go to ETF as well as 1% from IGR and 1% paid by students of private schools will go into the pool.
The Commissioner pointed out that The Technical University, Ibadan (TechU) will be self-financing, saying that the government is just midwifing the university that will develop the vocational skills of its students and promote technical education.

Oyo State government on Tuesday sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with six health management organisations (HMOs), in its mandatory health insurance drive.
Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Azeez Adeduntan said the HMOs will ensure that both the informal and formal sectors are covered under the health insurance scheme and that at least the scheme can enrols at least 2.5 million persons in three years.
The Commissioner, who noted that health is the priority of Oyo State government, added “the state takes this programme very important because it will like to meet the Sustainable development goals (SDGs), including the universal health coverage for all.”
He declared that already all public office holders in Oyo State, including members of the House of Assembly had been enrolled in the scheme, adding that the government is working assiduously to also ensure that all civil servants gets enrolled as well.
Dr Adeduntan declared that as the health insurance scheme will be focusing on universal health for all, the newly launched Health Endowment Fund will help to ensure facilities in government hospitals are upgraded to at least the minimum acceptable standard.
Chairman, Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN), Dr Tunde Ladele, remarking that the state’s model for health insurance was unique, assured that the scheme’s target of 2.5 million enrollees will have a good start as all civil servants are enrolled immediately.
Dr Ladele also commended Oyo State government for also targeting the informal sector, saying the state’s model of insurance was very good.
Secretary, HMCAN and Managing Director, Ultimate Health Management, Mr Lekan Ewenla, who described the platform the state is adopting as the best to drive the initiative, assured that the six HMOs will be working as consortium to ensure universal health coverage in the state.
He also stressed the need to ensure that all staffsof local government also buy into the scheme.
Earlier, Acting Executive secretary, Oyo State health Insurance Agency, Dr Olusola Akande said the HMOs were picked based on merit, after going through the necessary due process.

The Oyo State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Organized Private Sector (OPS) on Skills for job component for the 190 Youth Empowerment and Social Support Operations (YESSO) beneficiaries.
Similarly, the state government has signed a (MOU) with Hills Harvest Limited on the promotion of fruits and vegetable businesses to reduce post harvest loss on the part of farmers.
The state Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Yomi Oke explained on Thursday at the signing on the MOU that it is part of the prerequisite for any participating state under the scheme, adding that it is to ensure smooth implementation and sustainability of the operation.
The YESSO programme was designed in close partnership between the federal government and some states in Nigeria including Oyo State with support operation from the World Bank and Nigeria’s commitment to poverty reduction by permitting the poor people of the country to access increased opportunities for youth employment and social service delivery.
Oke admonished the OPS members to expose the beneficiaries to training that would allow them compete favourably in the local market and self-reliance, assuring that the state government will adhere strictly to the content of the MOU.
Speaking, the State Commissioner for Finance and Budget, Mr. Abimbola Adekanmbi, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. David Olatunde, assured the gathering of prompt release of fund for the programme, noting that it has been included in the current year budget estimate.
In his address, the Director General of National Directorate of Employment (NDA) Dr Nasir Ladan, who was represented by the South West Zonal Director, Mrs. Safar Adeola encouraged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the opportunity given them to learn.
The representatives of Ibadan Chambers of Commerce, Trades Men and Artisans of Nigeria Association and the Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprise, Messsrs Sola Abodunrin, Tajudeen Isola and Tunji Aleem charged the beneficiaries to project themselves as good trainees, promising that they will adequately be exposed to the necessary training they deserve.
At the signing of the MOU with Hills Harvest Limited recently, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Prince Oyewole Oyewumi said that the deal signed with the agricultural marketing firm was aimed at preserving perishable produce with limited life span and increase income generation for the farmers.
Oyewole stressed further that the partnership would afford farmers the opportunity to acquire skills that would assist them in producing standard produce suitable for exportation, hinting that cold ware houses will be built in agricultural zones of the state and managed under Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with a view to reducing post harvest loss to minimal percent.
The commissioner reiterated the commitment of Oyo State Government in making Agriculture a profitable business for all and sundry, saying that the government is on the verge of expanding the dams in the state to make irrigation farming convenient and profitable for concerned farmers.
In his remarks, the Managing Director, Hills Harvest Limited, Deji Rotimi assured farmers in the state of mutually benefited arrangements by receiving their produce at profitable rates, adding that ware houses will be built based on climatic condition of each agricultural zones of the state to prevent spoilage and make the produce presentable at the global market.

- the School's Governing Boards (SGB) policy is yielding fruit.
The intention of government for establishing the SGBs is to institutionalize and encourage communal and collective management of our public/state-owned schools.
With this new policy, the SGB runs the affairs of the schools, while government supervises and pays salaries of teachers and non- teaching staff, and ensure they act in line with laid down procedures in school management.
The introduction of the SGB policy by the Ajimobi government is aimed at restoring, transforming and repositioning the education sector in the state, and has started yielding positive fruits as Old Student’s Associations, Philanthropists, Parent Teacher Associations, Private Companies among others continuously stretched forth their good hands for the betterment of education sector in general and their Alma Mata in particular.
The gestures of Old Students' Association - Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo through various class sets have demonstrated the commitment and cooperation of Old students that no government can shoulder the responsibilities of education alone. It is this conviction that gave birth to the establishment of the School Governing Boards (SGBs).
The Alumni Association of Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo has renovated several blocks of classrooms stocked with furniture, revived music block among others.
# AsiwajuNiWa
# AjumoseEducation

There is no doubting the fact that an average citizen of Oyo State is politically sophisticated, highly intelligent and sagacious. They don’t suffer fools gladly and they call a spade by its name without minding whose ox is gored. All these attributes have always come to play during political discourse and whenever the need to make informed political decisions arises. It could, therefore, be safely concluded that their resolve to give Governor Abiola Ajimobi an unprecedented second term in office in 2015, through their overwhelming votes, was not a blunder.
Rather, it was a reward for his monumental achievements in the areas of peace and security, road construction, education, health, agriculture, physical and social infrastructure, among others, during his first term. This feat has equally received applause from far and wide.
For instance, a respected Ibadan elder and former envoy, Ambassador Olu Sanu, had, while acknowledging the governor’s exemplary performance, once said: “we are indeed very lucky to have Sen. Ajimobi as the governor of Oyo State. He came around at a time that Oyo State needed a leader who would not be insular in his thinking; a leader who would harness all our resources for the development of our state and one who would create an enabling environment for people to achieve the best they could.’’
A former Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria in Oyo State, Apostle Sunday Popoola, had also, in a letter to the governor entitled “A Word of Encouragement’’ saluted what he called Ajimobi’s courage, vision and determination.
The cleric had said further, “Ibadan had been a huge slum and a disgraceful sight to behold in the state called the Pacesetter. Now, the change we need is ongoing. I also appreciate the speed at which the work is being done. It takes guts to leave the ruts.
I am so delighted that we have found in you a leader with guts to get us out of the ruts we have found ourselves in the land.” In spite of these accolades, the governor had not rested on his laurels. Rather, he has sustained the tempo of development in all sectors, including industrialization, even in the face of dwindling resources.
But, to the uninformed, and those who have allowed political affiliations to becloud their sense of judgment, Ajimobi has got it all wrong. One of their reasons, which are jejune in all intent and purposes, is that Ajimobi has challenged the stat us quo by insisting that things should be done differently.
In their reckoning, the governor has committed many ‘sins’ and should be crucified. They care less if the paradigm shift has changed the typeface of Oyo State for the better and thus resulted in the tremendous growth and development of the state; a state that had earlier been held by the jugular by some reactionary elements.
Upon his election in 2011, Ajimobi met an Ibadan with the renown of one of the dirtiest cities in Nigeria, a development, he said, was unacceptable. As part of his administration’s comprehensive urban renewal policy aimed at changing the face of not only Ibadan, the state capital, but also other major towns and cities in the state, a ban was placed on street trading. An ultra-modern market was built by the state government at Scout Camp, Molete, Ibadan, as an alternative for the displaced traders, while the stalls were allocated to them free.
The governor also mandated the 11 local governments in Ibadanland to build neighbourhood markets in their respective council areas to ease trading. Aside helping in restoring sanity and improving the aesthetics of the city, the policy has most importantly saved the lives of the traders who hitherto had the unfortunate history of being overrun by vehicles while plying their trade by the roadside. Interestingly, this has become one of Ajimobi’s undoing as political jobbers have arm-twisted his good gesture to turn the gullible traders against him.
One of the many sins of the governor is also the staff verification that was conducted in all ministries, departments and agencies across the state with a view to eliminating fraud, errors in the payment of salaries and pensions, as well as determining ghost workers.
But the governor was vindicated with the mindboggling discovery of several cases of multiple salary payments into single accounts or to single names in other instances, as well as revelation of employees who have passed retirement age still drawing salaries.
Among other infractions was the discovery of invalid BVN, invalid bank accounts and name details, as well as employees with mismatched names, totalling 16,532, out of the 100,259 workers verified. While some with valid proofs have so far been cleared and re-absorbed into the payroll, available records show that several others have either voluntarily exited or have been eased out of civil service, thus reducing the state’s huge monthly wage bill. Also, when the automatic promotion policy in public secondary schools was abolished in 2016 and the students who failed some compulsory subjects were refused promotion, hell was almost let loose.
Critics went to town, calling Ajimobi all sorts of names for daring to stop the policy, which had unfortunately resulted in poor outings in public examinations by the students. Interestingly, the policy paid off, with the state coming second in the 2016 National Examination Council (NECO) examination among the 36 states in the country.
Part of the moves by government to address the infrastructural decay in stateowned secondary schools was the introduction of School Government Board (SGB) to serve as a masterstroke for education revival in the state. With membership drawn from the alumni associations, parents, community leaders, among others, the boards were constituted by the governor in all the 628 public secondary schools for all-inclusive management of the schools. Although critics have been unrelenting in their failed attempt at shooting down the policy, instances abound that it has started yielding result.
For instance, the old students of Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo, recently donated a block of classrooms constructed at a cost of N18 million for their alma mater. Similarly, Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan, also got a block of toilets worth N11 million from its old boys. A private firm, BOVAS and Company Limited, has just handed over a block of six classrooms with the capacity of accommodating 300 students, valued at N16 million, to Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora.
This is aside the 70,000 books covering different subjects, donated by a US-based non-governmental organization, Jewel of Africa, to the state government. Governor Ajimobi has also erred over his foreign trips which, in the estimation of his sworn critics, were mere jamborees; and the ultimate aim of which was to fleece the state government of its scarce resources in their narrow reasoning.
Whereas, those trips, particularly to China, had, at the last count, attracted no fewer than 36 new companies to the state, with close to 4,000 direct employment, according to the statistics obtained from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.
A further dividend of these trips was the rating of Oyo as the fifth most investment friendly state by the National Bureau of Statistics, with the governor adjudged to have attracted more than $61m (N22.4 billion) foreign direct investment to the state in the last six years.
The establishment of the Polaris-Pacesetter free trade zone and an industrial park along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and the fact that seven firms, among the 157 expected to berth in the zone, are scheduled for inauguration by the end of the year is a testament that the China shuttles have been of immense benefit to the state.
Inexplicably, the ongoing review of the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration, which is aimed at modernizing the process of ascension to the Olubadan throne and ultimately lift the status of Ibadan as a modern city, has also pitted Ajimobi against those masquerading as the custodians of the tradition.
The antagonists are unfazed by the argument that the review would give room for the emergence of more beaded crowns in the ancient city, who would be answerable to the Olubadan as the imperial majesty. While the critics are busy spreading falsehood and setting the revered Olubadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji and indeed, a section of the public against the governor, prominent Ibadan indigenes, including members of the Olubadan-in-Council have asked Ajimobi to forge ahead with the exercise. Only recently, the immediate past President of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Wole Akinwande, said in an interview that there was nothing bad in the review as long as it was aimed at further enhancing the status of the Olubadan and, by extension, the ancient city.
The wide acceptance of the exercise was also manifest at the public sitting of the Justice Akintunde Boade-led commission of inquiry on the review, where 91, out of a total 118 memorandum submitted, were said to be in support. On June 16, 2017, Ajimobi flagged off the construction of the 32km first phase of 110km Ibadan Circular Road to boost the socio-economic development and transportation system in Oyo State. The project was conceived in 2002 by the Alhaji Lam Adesina-led administration but had suffered neglect and abandonment under successive administrations. It is estimated to cost N70 billion and will be financed through a facility sourced from the Nexim Bank of China by the contractor, the ENL Consortium, on a `build, operate and transfer’ arrangement with the state government.
No sooner had the project been flagged off than those professing to be the ‘dreamer’ of the project took to town to condemn Ajimobi, the ‘actualizer’ of our generation, for daring to resuscitate the project. Explanations that the project would enlist Oyo among the elite states with modern road network; that it would ease the congestion within the city; and ultimately incentivize investors fell on deaf ears. Ajimobi’s other ‘wrongs’ are his knack for merit, orderliness, due process, doing things right and doing the right things; cleanliness, his bold and confident posturing, and public acknowledgment of his wife, Chief Florence Ajimobi, as the cornerstone of his political odyssey.
As a former Secretary-General of the Yoruba Council of Elders, Dr. Kunle Olajide, would say, “Nigerians are usually very quick to criticize leadership when things go wrong but often, they never commend government when they perform.” While waiting for their commendations would be tantamount to waiting for Godot, the opposition should at least acknowledge the giant strides of Ajimobi.
Ajanaku koja mo ri n kan firi, t’aba r’erin ka so pe a r’erin (only the visually impaired will deny the commanding presence of an elephant). Posterity, no doubt, will vindicate Ajimobi as the game changer of the modern Oyo State.
•Sadeeq is the Senior Special Assistant on Media (Print) to the Governor of Oyo State

The Oyo state government has distributed educational relief materials worth Thirteen million naira to schools affected by rainstorms in the 33 Local Government Areas as well as the 35 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the State.
The governor of the State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, who made the distribution at the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Warehouse, Secretariat, Ibadan, said that the relief materials were donated by United Nations International Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Akure Field office for schools affected by rainstorms in the state.
Gov. Ajimobi disclosed that the distribution of the relief materials is to maintain Oyo state's leading status in education, saying that it is a pity that the natural occurrence affected the structures of schools in the state.
Some of the relief materials distributed are educational/Instructional kits, sporting kits, building materials, recreational kits amongst others.
The Governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Otunba Moses Adeyemo said "education is the bedrock of any progressive society/state and we will not relent in our continuous strides to enhance the standard and quality of education in the state."
He maintained that the educational revolution has commenced in the state with the Schools Governing Board (SGB), noting that SGBs in various schools have started improving the quality of schools’ programmes, efficiency of teachers as well as raising students’ achievements.
The Governor further stated that the distribution of these palliative materials by UNICEF became pertinent so as to ensure that the learning process is not hindered pending the time the classrooms will be renovated.
Sen. Ajimobi however appreciated UNICEF for its continuous support in complementing the state government’s activities and for its keen interest in Socio - Economic Development through Intervention programs.
He admonished Teachers, Parents and Students to rise up to the collective responsibility to raise the standard of education in the state, saying that Government cannot do it alone.
In his goodwill message, the state Head of Service, Mr. Soji Eniade, charged parents and teachers to uphold public trust in order to justify the support of the donor partners.
He advised teachers to make judicious use of the materials for the benefit of the children, saying that they (Teachers) are the bridge between the government and the parents.
While speaking, the representative of UNICEF, Akure field office, Mr. Muritala Adogi Muhammed appreciated the state government for the laudable partnership and its quest to develop education, pointing out that generational poverty can only be broken by Education.
Mr. Muhammed, who is the Education Specialist covering Southwest, stated that the mission of UNICEF is to make Oyo state a model in the Southwest and that the relief materials distributed is a model for future donations.

"I remember when I first saw my name on the white paper pasted on the dirty wall at the back of the lecture room that was right across the kitchen. I managed to squeeze through the sticky bodies that were covered in sweat from the rush to see whose names were there and whose weren’t. I gasped in relief at sighting my name, spread across the then almost thinned-out paper that bore details of my next step in life; but right beside it was “OYO” typed in bold letters. My heart skipped as I thought, “Oyo? My state of re-deployment??” My mind screeched "YEKPA!" in uppercase and in unbelief, even though my mouth couldn't mutter it.
Rooted in shock, I dialed my mother’s number immediately as I forced my way out of that sea of sweat. But even more shockingly, I couldn’t understand why she was excited for me after hearing the news, when I clearly wasn’t. It pleased her that Oyo State was close to home, Lagos. Still, I begged her to arrange for my re-deployment again to Abuja, but she refused.
I dreaded the thought of going to serve there. I mused, "that Yoruba Land?? I would just be lost!" It took me days before I finally agreed to get on a bus to Oyo State, but as I alighted from the white and green cab that took me to the place called “Iwo Road”, I started to think differently as I looked out across the road in awe.
This clearly was not what I expected.
All the way from there to the NYSC Secretariat, I had imagined the roads to be a lot worse than what I saw, but they werent, even while they were obviously under construction for expansion, as the cab-man intoned too. Also, the people I met were far friendlier than I could ever have thought they would be. They praised me, gleefully yelling "kopa kopa fine kopa!!ò! [fine corper], almost at every turn. Right there in the cab, an elderly man even offered to pay my fare.
I was short for words.
What then further seized my attention as I sought my way to where I would lay my head for the rest of the service year, was that Ologuneru road. I had loved the smooth drive on the roads that led to this one, but unlike these other roads, my white was bathed with dust from Ologuneru road. I remembered laughing at the bike men I saw parked at Eleyele roundabout, who were donned in red dust from head to toe, not knowing my portion was waiting patiently to welcome me with its broad, open arms.
But, I didn't get mad, rather, I got surprised, and really impressed that the road in this very far place away from the city center was being taken care of, with laborers seen working tirelessly to build that kind of inner road that no one would bother really touching in some other cities I have lived in. I was impressed by the desire I saw, ethics of cityhood, written on the faces of these labourers and the government that aids them.
Now, as I dress up and bake my face daily in preparation for my registration and service, nobody need warn me to take a scarf to cover myself; else, the dust would give me another makeover that can almost change my hair color.
All these and some more, have changed my mindset completely about Oyo State, for I saw firsthand, the commitment the government and the people show to make the state stand out and have a lasting impression on a visitor or non-indigent Corps member like myself.
It's been 4 weeks and half, and I now look forward to going out more, not because of the dust’s embrace and makeover, but so I could see more variants of this beautiful state.
Ibadan is a place I’m growing to love, I’m sure I have the government and the people to thank for it

Utilizes 72% of Paris Club Funds......
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has approved the payment of April and May 2017 salaries for workers in the state from the refunded second tranche Paris Club Fund and June released Monthly allocation from the Federal Government.
The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, who disclosed this on Thursday, explained that about 72% of the N7.9bn Paris Club fund was committed to the salaries and salary related payment, at both the state and local government levels to abate the salaries irregularities of council workers.
Arulogun said that despite President Muhammad Buhari's directive that at least 50% of the Paris Club refunds should be committed to the payment of the salaries of workers in the states, Governor Ajimobi has always displayed his humanitarian and welfarist disposition and commitment to workers’ welfare by committing above the stipulated 50% to salaries and salary related.
The Government spokesman recalled that the governor committed 100% of the N5.003bn second inflow of the first tranche of the Paris Club fund to workers salary, pensions and gratuities, noting that 60% of the N7.2bn first inflow was committed to the same course.
He pointed out that the Oyo state government has paid two months salaries four times in the last 7months, expressing optimism that the government would soon be free from owing workers salaries.
According to him, “our government is committed to the well-being and welfare of the people of the state. We have said it many times that the leadership of the state is not happy with the situation of workers in the state and has never not relented in its efforts to correcting the anomaly. The Governor is consistent in reiterating his commitment to permanently resolving the issue of outstanding workers salaries.
“Before the financial crisis in the country, we used to pay on or before 25th of every month. Workers also received a 300% increase in salaries between 2011 and 2015. We strongly believe and are committed to getting back to the rosy days. We will all recall that the governor said at the 2017 inter faith service in January that the state will survive this period. As at then, we were owing workers in the state about six month salaries.
“It should be noted that with the payment of April and May salaries, we will be owing workers in the state only June Salary and by extension July in some days time. The prophecy is already coming to pass and we believe that everything will soon be back to normal as we can see the light at the end of the tunnel."
“We appeal to the people of the state to bear with us and continue to support our administration. We will continue to strive to fulfill our electoral promises and improve the quality of life for the citizenry in Oyo state. We do not politick or politicize people’s welfare,” Arulogun stressed

In line with a mandate by Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, a one-stop investment centre is to be established in the state in two months.
Executive Secretary, Bureau of Investment Promotion, Mr Yinka Fatoki who disclosed this, said the centre is to be a centralized point of call for investors to access information on the state’s potentials and process necessary documentation.
Fatoki, who spoke while addressing stakeholders to make up the centre, added that the centre will be a hub for information on investment opportunities, land allocation, especially for starting businesses in the state.
According to Fatoki, the centre is to be established within state Secretariat, Ibadan, has the overall intent to ease doing business in the state.
Stakeholders at the meeting who expressed interest to partner on the functionality of the centre included representatives of the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Oyo State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OYCCIMA), Ibadan Chamber of Commerce and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
In his remarks, Vice President, MAN, Mr Vikram Deepak urged Oyo state to take a cue from the centre established by the Nigeria Investment Promotion Council.
Also, Chairman, OYCCIMA, Mr Olaitan Alabi prayed that bureaucracy be checked to ensure applicants get their approval with minimal obstacles.
He also called for institutionalization of relevant infrastructure at the centre to boost the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Furthermore, Mr S. N. Anyaoha of SON, averred that the centre’s operation be seamless to reduce manhours spent in registering businesses.
He added that such centre would engender the sustainability of existing industries and encourage the setting up of new ones.

Right now, one pertinent question that should be stuck on repeat on the lips of every concerned and deeply thoughtful student or persons directly affected by the lingering anomie at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) is this - "How long does it take to perform an external audit nitori Olórun?". Please, permit the Yoruba for emphasis.

As far back as February 2017, the Visitation Panel that was set up by the two owner states had delivered its recommendations, where an external audit of the school's financial and administrative activities, was prominently prescribed as the main course of action to set the school back on track, and to also prevent another breakdown like this ongoing one. Swiftly, the two owner states secured the services of the international and independent audit firm, KPMG, to commence the external audit and pave way for the reopening of a productive and transparently managed LAUTECH.

But, since this February, the audit, which shouldn't take more than 3 weeks, has been unsuccessful till date, thanks solely to a lack of cooperation from the school management. Reportedly, as recent as just a week ago, the KPMG team were rebuffed and not given full cooperation by the LAUTECH management, and this is at the second time of asking. We are now edging into August, and so, to put its effect in proper perspective, this lack of cooperation has shut down the school for an extra one hundred and eighty (180) days, needlessly, and painfully too.

From clear cut fact-finding, the reason why the three (3) months of work of that Wole Olanipekun-led Visitation panel arrived at the feet of an external audit among other recommendations, was the level of financial impropriety and maladministration revealed in the process. A shocking highlight from that exposé was the fact that no audit, be it internal or external, has been performed on LAUTECH activities for the past 6 years, the school has been on autopilot into doom for a long time. The White Paper from the panel, which has since been made public, advised a more robust and complementary pattern of funding for the school, but, it also inferred strongly that no further funding should be provided until after an external audit is done to fix what's clearly broken within the system.

In other words, while a more collaborative funding of LAUTECH should be practically encouraged, (that is from a combination of government subvention, a broadened internal enterprises, a raised IGR, Grants, TETFund, etc), an audit MUST be done first, in order to prevent pouring scarcely sought resources into a bucket riddled with holes. Quite simple, right? Good.

But, the question now is even simpler. What is making the LAUTECH management not cooperate with this external audit? What is making them not give full access to KPMG to make them perform and complete this audit in record time? Who is afraid of the LAUTECH forensic audit

While we nibble on these pertinent questions, this delay leaves only one scenario to the imagination of any keen mind, and this is that, the school management are dillydallying with the process of this KPMG audit simply because they know heads will roll if it is successfully done, and are therefore hell-bent to either frustrate it, or take time to "clean house" before it is allowed. No? Oh! If there lies nothing to hide, why grind their teeth against an external and transparent audit?

The reason why this is even more disheartening is the fact that the LAUTECH management have seemed to fed fat on our collective ignorance for long, probably even till now. At one point or the other, we've all pointed all accusing fingers at the two owner states citing funding shortages, unbeknownst to us that funding, wasn't really the problem, both then, and now. In fact, despite the effect of a nationwide recession that barked and bit almost every sector, the owners coughed out 584 million naira earlier in the year to meet the school management at the centre, and thereby encouraging a forward-looking audit. Yet, nothing.

Now, listen. This above, is why without an #AuditLAUTECH, any attempt to #FundLAUTECH, either directly or by 'bambianllah', will possess striking similitude to a sham.

Should the two owner states insist on this audit before further financing is provided? I say absolutely yes! This is because the seemingly underhanded manner with which the school management had approached this important move, gives room for major doubts. At this point, both Oyo and Osun have the right to demand for checks and balances before issuing more cheques to make the school balanced. The LAUTECH management is demanding 1.9bn from the owners, and how sufficiently laughable that is, because really, what reasonable owner will sink additional N1.9bn into a fledging cause without a forensic audit?

In fact, it will be self-inflicting for the owner state governments to allow themselves get hoodwinked and blackmailed by the LAUTECH management into taking a course that will keep coming back to hurt us all, the school's reputation and subsequent students, particularly. It'll be nothing short of trying to cure a malignant cancer with a topical balm or 'aboniki'.

In light of all these, won't it therefore be wise and instructive, to sound a charge to every hurt LAUTECH student, parent, guardian and concerned heart out there, to recycle and rechannel our collective pains behind the right demand to #AuditLAUTECH and tax the school's management to cooperate with the government and KPMG to rid LAUTECH of rot and pave way for a reopening?

_Praise Ifedayo, a LAUTECH Alumnus and a HR Assistant at Intel Nigeria, wrote from Lagos._

The Oyo State Government has disclosed that 60% of the latest Paris Club Refund of N7.9bn will be expended on salaries, wages and pensions of workers in the state, saying that its decision to use 100% of its federal allocations for workers' welfare still stands.
The government has also explained that about 80% of its much touted debt profile of N115bn by political opponents is made up of salaries, gratuities, pensions and wages owed workers and pensioners in the state, emphasizing that it also includes gratuities and pensions predating Governor Ajimobi's administration.
The State Commissioner for Finance and Budget, Mr. Abimbola Adekanmbi made these explanations while featuring on a live Programme on a private radio station in Ibadan at the weekend, saying that the remaining 20% is largely composed of financial support from the federal government such as budget support and infrastructural loan.
Adekanmbi stated that the the Abiola Ajimobi's administration is very committed to the welfare of the entire people of the state, hence, its decision to deplore 60% of the first disbursement of the first tranche of Paris Club Refund for workers welfare which is more than the 50% suggested by President Muhammad Buhari.
According to the Commissioner, "We will all recall that President Buhari has told state governments to use at least 50% of the refund for workers' wages, salaries and allowances. We are doing more than the 50% in Oyo State. When we collected the first tranche of N7.2bn, we used 60 % for workers' salaries and wages. We also collected a part two of the inflow of the sum of N5.003bn and committed 100% to salaries and salary related payments of workers in the state.
"We have paid two months salaries three times consecutively and the governor has not relented in his efforts to clear all the outstanding wages. We will all remember that Oyo State was initially excluded from the refund, but the governor's tenacity and strong will ensured that we also got our share.
"It amazes me when people throw figures in the air without proper explanation or understanding. It is ver disappointing when people who claim to be knowledgeable bandy figures for mischief with malicious intent for cheap political gain. Our books are available for all to see and the leadership of the workers' unions meet with us regularly. We devote 100% of our federal allocations to workers' salaries and salary related and we did not borrow all the N115bn debt.
"About 80% of it is an accumulation of outstanding salaries, pensions, gratuities including those from previous administrations. We will do all within our capacity to always set the record straight and put things in proper perspective with a view to enlightening the public," Mr. Adekanmbi said.

The Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, on Wednesday ordered the immediate reopening of the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, EACOED, Oyo.

A statement by Yomi Layinka, media aide to the governor, said the order came against the backdrop of apologies and promises by the students’ representatives that their colleagues will turn a new leaf.

Mr. Ajimobi, who gave the directive shortly after meeting with the students’ leaders, admonished them against unruly acts that might truncate the peace of the state.

The state government had through a statement by the state Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Adeniyi Olowofela, shut the college on June 2 in the wake of violent protests by some students of the institution.

On Wednesday, the governor warned the students against a recurrence of the violence, adding that dialogue and engagement “were civilised ways of resolving grievances and issues bordering on welfare, no matter how knotty they might be.”

“We have forgiven you. But you must turn a new leaf. We are grooming you to become future leaders, but not through acts of hooliganism, destruction or any form of violent protest over issues that will still be resolved through dialogue and engagement,” Mr Ajimobi said.

In his reaction, the Provost of the EACOED, Rasaq Adefabi, appreciated what he called the role played by the governor in resolving the crisis.

He disclosed that the school management had set up a counselling unit saddled with the responsibility of attending to the welfare and concerns of the students.


Meanwhile, the governor has restated his appeal to the stakeholders at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, LAUTECH to allow unfettered access to auditors engaged to study the records of the institution.

This, he said, would pave the way for the reopening of the institution.

Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has inaugurated new boards for the state’s Civil Service Commission, Universal Basic Education Board, Teaching Service Commission and Hospitals Management Board
The inauguration ceremony took place at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Ibadan, on Wednesday.
The Governor implored the new appointees to ensure fairness to all in the discharge of their duties, while he also advised them to embrace godliness in their service to humanity.
Ajimobi reminded them that they were chosen among other eminently qualified people in strict recognition of their track records, past contributions to the state, competence and personal integrity.
He said, "The expectations of our people from this government are huge and rightly so. They expect that we must be willing and able to put in place policies, strategies and programmes that can ensure that our state regains its pioneering and pacesetter status.
“I expect you to bring forth new innovations capable of improving the lot of our people in different areas. For those of you saddled with education and health responsibilities, you have to do more because you have critical assignments ahead of you.
"Those of you who are to work in the education sector must work conscientiously with the schools governing boards system to ensure that we lift the morale of the school authorities and students.
“Similarly, those of you in the health sector must work with your colleagues across the board to ensure that all critical stakeholders are encouraged to key in into the state’s Health Insurance Scheme."
Speaking on behalf of her colleagues, Mrs. Aderonke Makanjuola, pledged to deliver on the mandate entrusted to them, while she assured the governor that it would be a new dawn for primary education in the state.
Apart from part-time and full-time members, the civil service commission would be chaired by Mr. Doja Oladele; while the SUBEB will be chaired by Mrs. Aderonke Makanjuola on a full-time basis.
The teaching service commission is to be chaired by Alhaji Bashiru Ajibade; while the HMB is headed by Dr. Adegoke Adeyemo, on a full-time basis

Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has inaugurated new boards for the state’s Civil Service Commission, Universal Basic Education Board, Teaching Service Commission and Hospitals Management Board


The inauguration ceremony took place at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Ibadan, on Wednesday.


The Governor implored the new appointees to ensure fairness to all in the discharge of their duties, while he also advised them to embrace godliness in their service to humanity.


Ajimobi reminded them that they were chosen among other eminently qualified people in strict recognition of their track records, past contributions to the state, competence and personal integrity.


He said, "The expectations of our people from this government are huge and rightly so. They expect that we must be willing and able to put in place policies, strategies and programmes that can ensure that our state regains its pioneering and pacesetter status.


“I expect you to bring forth new innovations capable of improving the lot of our people in different areas. For those of you saddled with education and health responsibilities, you have to do more because you have critical assignments ahead of you.


"Those of you who are to work in the education sector must work conscientiously with the schools governing boards system to ensure that we lift the morale of the school authorities and students.


“Similarly, those of you in the health sector must work with your colleagues across the board to ensure that all critical stakeholders are encouraged to key in into the state’s Health Insurance Scheme."


Speaking on behalf of her colleagues, Mrs. Aderonke Makanjuola, pledged to deliver on the mandate entrusted to them, while she assured the governor that it would be a new dawn for primary education in the state.


Apart from part-time and full-time members, the civil service commission would be chaired by Mr. Doja Oladele; while the SUBEB will be chaired by Mrs. Aderonke Makanjuola on a full-time basis.

The teaching service commission is to be chaired by Alhaji Bashiru Ajibade; while the HMB is headed by Dr. Adegoke Adeyemo, on a full-time basis.