₦airaland Forum

Ogun Considers Special Court To Try Cultists
...mulls amnesty programme

A Special Court is to be established by the Ogun State Government to try cult-related cases.

Also to be set up is a Joint Anti-Cultism Security Task Force comprising all major security outfits, with the mandate to rid the state of the menace of cultism.

The state is also proposing an amnesty programme for would-be cultists who may wish to surrender their weapons.

These decisions were arrived at after a joint security meeting, held at the Governor's Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Ogun State on Wednesday.

It would be recalled that Governor Dapo Abiodun on Tuesday hinted that his administration would enact a law that would pronounce the death penalty on anyone caught engaging in cult activities in the state.

The governor spoke during a visit to the palace of the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, following days of cult-related clashes in Sagamu, which left many dead and others injured.

The meeting, according to Governor Abiodun, focused on providing adequate measures to eradicate cultism in the Gateway State.

Prince Abiodun said: "During the Joint Security meeting that took place today (Wednesday), we engaged in fruitful discussions regarding the implementation of measures aimed at combating cultism in Ogun State.

"Our primary focus was on establishing a special court, forming a joint operational force comprising various security agencies, and implementing a death penalty for cultism offences.

"In addition to these measures, we also deliberated on the possibility of introducing a period of amnesty. This would allow individuals who wish to surrender their weapons and renounce their affiliation with any cult-related groups and activities the opportunity to do so without fear of prosecution.

"As an administration deeply committed to fostering a peaceful and violence-free society, we are dedicated to providing the Special Court and Joint Anti-Cultism Security Task Force with the necessary logistics and tools to support their operations effectively.

"The overall objective of our conversation is to address the issue of cultism through a multifaceted approach. This will include legal and enforcement measures, rehabilitation efforts, and community engagement through our respected traditional leaders.

"In conclusion, we are determined to tackle the menace of cultism in our state head-on. By employing a combination of legal frameworks, law enforcement strategies, rehabilitation initiatives, and community involvement, we believe we can bring about lasting change."

https://guardian.ng/news/ogun-considers-special-court-to-try-cultists/amp

Death penalty will henceforth be the end point of every cultist in Ogun State - Gov. Abiodun

Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has said that his administration would soon enact a law that will pronounce the death penalty on anyone caught engaging in cult activities in the state.

Governor Abiodun made this known on Tuesday at a meeting with the Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, and his chiefs at the Akarigbo Palace in Sagamu.

He expressed shock at the wanton destruction of lives and peace of Sagamu and its environs, even as he warned that the government would not fold its arms and watch unscrupulous persons run riots in any part of the State

He said: "I want to sympathize with the good and law-abiding citizens of Sagamu and of course, our referred paramount ruler and the kabiyesis and all those who have lost loved ones.

"We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that we bring any person directly, indirectly or remotely responsible for these occurrences to book. I have discussed with the Attorney General perhaps it is our disposition that allows for these occurrences of heinous crimes.

"It is well within my powers as the governor of this State to pronounce the death penalty on people and we are going to ensure that we enact that because when people appreciate and understand the consequences of their behaviours, perhaps they will begin to have a rethink.

"I have called on the Commissioner of Police, the Director of the State Service (DSS), the Commander of the Civil Defence, our AMOTEKUN Commander and all our security architecture to relocate to Sagamu for this purpose.

"We will rely on our kabiyesis because they are the closest to the grassroots, for all the intelligence support because these people are not spirits. They live within us, they are tenants in our houses.

"The last time I came here, I said any house that we arrest anybody that is connected to either cultism or kidnapping, we will find out where they live and demolish that house. And sadly, it has been very difficult for me to implement because they rent an apartment and the unsuspecting landlords who don't know what they do give their houses to them and after we arrest them and about to demolish the house, those landlords will come and beg us that they did not know the suspects were into that business.

"I am now pronouncing that we will no longer refer to these people as cultists or any other name. We are pronouncing them as murderers and we will mete out punishments that are deserving to murderers," he warned.

The governor said that henceforth, he would not entertain any sentiment from any quarter as the activities of the hoodlums were capable of sabotaging government efforts to bring more development to the state.

"This is an economic sabotage against our state and our people. No body should call me or my SSG nor the Commissioner of Police. I am warning parents, we are going to deal decisively with anybody caught in the act, and we will not spare anyone," he added.

He said his government was committed to the development and prosperity of the state, and no one would be allowed to draw the state backwards.

Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi decried the incessant destruction of lives and properties in the town, saying the needed development would not come to the town when people continue to cause havoc through criminal activities.

He requested mobile Police and military formations in the area for proper maintenance of law and order.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Assistant Inspector General of Police Olusola Subair (rtd) and Consultant on Security, retired Commissioner for Police Awolowo Ajogun traced the genesis of the clash to dispute on the sharing of proceeds from a land transaction, saying eight people were killed while nine suspects arrested in connection with the incident are currently under investigation.

Ogun reaffirms commitment to maintaining Abeokuta-Sagamu road

*To meet stakeholders for support

The Ogun State government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that the Abeokuta - Sagamu road remains in good condition for motorists and other road users to ply. The government also revealed plans to collaborate with truck owners and other stakeholders on the road.

Lamenting the continuous deterioration of the road due to the pressure daily put on it by the obvious increase in the number of heavy duty trucks servicing the large number of quarries and housing estates in the area, the state government, in a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works, Engr. Ade Akinsanya, said it will continue to seek ways to continue maintaining the road in spite of the huge financial implications to the state government.

According to the statement, there are currently about 30 quarries in Abeokuta, the state capital while not less than another 15 quarries operates along the Abeokuta Sagamu road. "The weight of the trucks bearing the granites, with some of them often overloaded, continue to cause immense damages to the road leading to the need to regularly rehabilitate the road at huge costs.

Akinsanya also added that further pressure is exerted on the road by trucks and other heavy duty machineries deployed by estate developers in the area. "We all can attest to the growing numbers of housing estates and other companies on that axis of the state.

"The influx of trucks and other vehicles bearing granites, cements, stone base, laterites and other materials exerts a lot of pressure on the road and causes a lot of damages leaving the state government with no choice than to constantly maintain the road.

"Everyday, you also hear of accidents that leave street lights damaged by overspending drivers. This, coupled with the incessant vandalisation of street lights and other infrastructure on the road by hoodlums, makes constant rehabilitation of the road a must.

"This is why, among other things, the government meet with the truck owners, quarry operators and other stakeholders to discuss ways of collaboration on the regular maintenance of the road to ensure that road users can comfortably ply the road," the statement said.

Ogun govt restricts movement in Sagamu

Following recent clashes among rival cult groups in Sagamu, a town in Ogun State, the government has announced restriction of government from 7pm to 6am.

The government, therefore, urged residents of the town to abide with the restriction order pending the time the security of the area will improve, as police and other security agencies are on top of the situation to restore normalcy.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Lekan Adeniran, the copy made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Monday, assuring residents of the town of their security and property.

"This is to notify residents of Sagamu and it's environs of total restriction of human and vehicular movement as a way of taking firm control of the security architecture of the area and protect the lives of the people and their property.

"We, therefore, implore the residents of the area to abide strictly to this restriction order and cooperate with security agencies to restore normalcy and bring perpetrators of these dastardly acts to book immediately", the statement read.

Police confirms 8 dead, 9 arrested in Sagamu cult clashes

The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of nine suspects following the killing of about 8 persons over the weekend in Sagamu as rival cult groups clashed.

Speaking on the crisis during a press briefing in Abeokuta, the state capital, CP Abiodun Alamutu revealed the remote cause of the clashes to be a land transaction that took place in the town.

"A land was sold and some form of commission or settlement was paid to a cult group by the owner of the land. A rival cult group got to know about the payment and went after members of the other group in a bid to get a share of the commission.

"The situation degenerated into an attack and counter attack situation which started from Wednesday las week and continued till Sunday, leading to the death of 8 persons," the Police boss said.

Speaking further, he revealed the arrest of some of the kingpins of the rival cult groups. "About nine suspects have been arrested as we speak with evidences of their involvement in the killings. Two guns and some rounds of cartridges with evidences that they were recently fired, were recovered from the suspects," he added.

Investigation, according to the Police boss, is still ongoing into the killings. Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Local Government Area, has imposed a restriction on the use of motorcycles in the area between 7pm and 6am daily as authorities battle to restore peace to the troubled town.

Abiodun Reads Riots Act, Ordered Crack Down On Cultists In Sagamu

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has directed security agencies in the State to rid Sagamu and its environs of the menace of cultists and cult-related activities in the State.

The directive came in the wake of renewed clashes among rival cult gangs in the town at the weekend, raising tension and panic among residents of the town.

Meanwhile, security agents are already on ground in the troubled town to restore normalcy.

Governor Abiodun, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Lekan Adeniran, regretted the avoidable loss of innocent lives and wanton destruction of properties by the hoodlums.

According to him, the police and sister security agencies have been given a matching order to deal ruthlessly and decisively with those disturbing the peace of the town.

Reiterating the state government's zero tolerance to acts of brigandage and lawlessness, Prince Abiodun warned that those responsible for this current crisis will find themselves to blame.

He said: " As a responsible and responsive government, we are very sad with the resurgence of activities of criminal elements under different outlawed groups, raising unnecessary tension in the sleepy town of Sagamu and it's environs.

"Let me categorically state that we are more than determined to put an end quickly to these nefarious activities of these hoodlums and enemies of our people; who are hellbent to truncate the peace of our land.

"Let these urchins be rest assured that the State will be too hot for them to operate as we are reevaluating the security architecture for greater surveillance and tactical operation".

The governor noted that the new security approach would be implemented in collaboration with the traditional institution, community and religious leaders, youth groups as well as other critical stakeholders.

Abiodun, therefore, appealed to the people to provide adequate and useful information to security agents for prompt response to prevent future occurrences.

Of Daniel and the ludicrous letters

By Seyi Bakare

THIS, it seems, is the season of propaganda by the lieutenants of Chief Gbenga Daniel, a former governor of Ogun State and senator representing Ogun East in the Red Chamber. The target is Governor Dapo Abiodun, and the aim is to paint him black and robe the senator in spotless white. The essay, “An open letter to Prince Dapo Abiodun,” written by one Kazeem Adenuga, an entity who claims, for strategic reasons of course, to be “from Iperu,” Governor Abiodun’s home town, is just one out of many darts aimed at the governor. The plot, in case you have missed the memo, is to suggest that even the governor’s flesh and blood are berating him on behalf of Daniel, a politician versed in the art of treachery.


Our writer, “an indigene of Iperu, a member of the APC and someone privileged to know to some extent, the relationship between you and the former Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD),” wants the world to believe that Daniel it was who had “deployed his political structures to support” Governor Abiodun’s “gubernatorial race which”, he says, was “narrowly won with 19,517 votes to beat Adekunle Akinlade, then, of APM.” Hence, “if the OGD's supports (sic) in Ogun East were to be discounted, no doubt, you couldn't have become the Governor of Ogun State.”


Just so we are clear, the writer, even if he lacks the courage to use his real surname, has not been appointed the spokesperson of Iperu people, and certainly does not represent the enlightened, politically savvy and culturally rooted people who inhabit that ancient locus. He is just an errand boy of a well-known promoter of dark and devious courses. To be sure, it takes mental decay and utter lack of integrity for anyone to claim, without batting an eyelid, that it was Daniel who assisted Governor Abiodun to win election, that the governor is fighting the same Daniel, and that he would not have won without Daniel. Our elders say even if you are sent the errand of a slave, you deliver it like a freeborn. It is certainly better, as Abraham Lincoln once quipped, to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.


It is such a pity that the media handlers of Daniel and their principal like to dress themselves in borrowed robes; to give themselves unearned importance in the political space. It is as if in Ogun politics, there is no one else but Daniel. If you give them the opportunity, they may even say that it was their principal who won election for Bisi Onabanjo of blessed memory; for Segun Osoba or even their principal’s arch nemesis, Ibikunle Amosun. They like to daydream and turn facts upside down just to satisfy their whims. We are not surprised because that is their stock in trade. They are professional fabricators and minters of lies. They lie recklessly and without any thought for tomorrow.

The government Daniel ran between 2003 and 2011 was noted for propaganda, lies and bigotry. Those who followed Ogun politics during that inglorious era would know the political temperature then. How Mr Governor lost credibility among the people and even the legislature is well known, including how members of the state House of Assembly were made to swear allegiances in their birthday suits! It is indeed an era better forgotten! It was a time when, for a long period, the legislators could not even sit in the hallowed chambers. It was no wonder, then, that when election time came in 2011, the sitting governor lacked the capacity to nominate a successor. The PDP having been hijacked from his hands, he had to go and borrow another party for his preferred candidate to run on. How ridiculous that somebody who could not install a successor as sitting governor is now being said to have installed Governor Dapo Abiodun long after his days in the political wilderness! How shameless these political imps can be!

If not that these people like to peddle lies as a vocation, how could they have forgotten that Daniel was in PDP until few days to the gubernatorial election in 2019 and was, in fact, the South-West coordinator of the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Committee? Daniel identified with Dapo Abiodun just three days before the election and, in that election, he (Abiodun) lost in Daniel’s ward. Thankfully, though, he won across the state and was declared the fifth democratically elected governor of the Gateway State. Yet in their usual character, Daniel and his lieutenants wanted to take credit for the governor’s election. During the eight years of Amosun, they were in the political wilderness, but now they want to claim glory for themselves. Within that period, if Daniel was so powerful, why was his senatorial ambition consistently defeated by Buruji Kashamu? How did Kashamu wrest the PDP political structure within the state from his control, if he was the political titan that he is now being touted to be? What has given him relevance now, beyond Governor Abiodun’s magnanimity and the demise of Kashamu?

In moving to APC, Daniel indeed played a strategic game. He came to APC alone and retained his supporters in PDP. The plan was for those individuals to start hauling stones into the APC house from outside the fold. When you look at all those supporting him, they are not APC members. It is an incontrovertible fact that Daniel deliberately worked against the governor, who helped him get the Ogun East senatorial ticket following the intervention of the Awujale of Ijebuland. The ticket would have been given to the then incumbent senator, Lekan Mustapha. After reportedly being given electoral logistics by Governor Abiodun, Daniel still went ahead and banded with the opposition in order to undercut his benefactor and ruin his governorship ambition. Yet during his own election, he had received the governor’s full support. How could an aspirant without any structure in Ogun APC have won the ticket without Governor Abiodun’s support?


The revisionism by Daniel and his lackeys won’t cut it. Their principal’s place in history has been firmly fixed in the chapter on perfidy, and no amount of deodorization can alter his fate. Undercutting whoever helped him, whether it is Bola Tinubu or Olusegun Obasanjo, is his forte. These “open letters” only reveal the dark souls of the hack and hired writers peddling them and their principal whose black record is known nationally.

Bakare sent this piece through seyibakare@aol.com

An unrepentant impostor and chameleonic Gbenga Daniel

By Olaniyi Ajibola

The raging controversy regarding the demolition of an illegal structure in Ijebu-ode, supposedly belonging to the family of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the former Governor of Ogun State has continued to generate reactions across the country and beyond.

At first, the potency of propaganda machine of the Daniels elicited some level of sympathy in some quarters, especially from those who are not familiar with the personality of the former Governor and who based their judgement on what they read on the social media, mainly from his foot soldiers.

However, the little sympathy was short lived, when facts began to unfold as how the former Governor and Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District brazenly violated Nigeria's extant laws with regards to business registration for lawful operation as enshrined in the Company and Allied Matters Act of 2020.

Perhaps, the most appalling of Daniel's manipulative tendencies is how himself and his wife continued to deceive the public by parading a mere enterprise as Limited Liability Company and criminally sought for approval to build and own property with the fake status.

Why Otunba Gbenga Daniel, as sitting Governor in 2009 recklessly abused his office by giving approval for an ordinary business enterprise known as DATKEM to build an edifice in the State against the dictates of the law concerning urban development can not be imagined by any critical mind.

Although, the recent revelation of Daniel's recklessness in power and deceptive inclination is not strange to many Nigerians, especially the people of Ogun State; it is on record that Otunba Gbenga Daniel ran the State as a personal business venture and family empire between 2003 and 2011.

The degree of lies and deceit he deployed to keep the people of the State in dark and perpetually at bay on the state of finance of the State for eight years, while he continued to loot the treasury and pilling up humongous debt for the State was
unprecedented.

That is the reason why after over a decade he left power, his shady deals in power continued to be exposed to the chagrin of many and to reinforce the perception of the majority about the chameleonic character.

Many analysts have argued that Daniel's physical appearance psychologically depicts total deceit; they allude to the way he steadily and strangely expose his teeth to reflect unwarranted laughter; in any case, it is incontrovertibly correct that Otunba Gbenga Daniel portrays a very treacherous personality that must not be trusted or taken seriously.

The recent issue of DATKEM practically gives credence to the above assertion. The pubic has become more aware of his atrocities and tissues of lies, I will, therefore, advise the Governor of the State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, to just ignore him and continue to deliver on his electoral promise.

Finally, Governor Abiodun should be commended for building strong Institutions in the State for systemic efficiency and functionality, as displayed by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development in this case of DATKEM ENTERPRISES.

Olaniyi Ajibola writes from Abeokuta

OGUN: DATKEM and lessons from the lawlessness of Daniel's

Going by the intensity of mixed reactions that trailed the demolition of DATKEM Plaza in Ijebu-ode, and the contradictory narratives that followed from the Project Manager in charge of the Plaza, as well as the former first family in Ogun State, who are the owner of the property; every critical mind will consider it paramount to probe further and carefully dissect the situation to ascertain what truly played out without emotion and sentiment.

It is against this backdrop that further interrogation of the scenario was carried out with damning revelation, Yes, damning!

Thorough investigation revealed that DATKEM is not in any way recognized by the law as a business entity and as envisaged by the Company and Allied Matters Act, 2020, which stipulates that every business establishment must register with the Corporate Affairs Commission before being recognized as an entity to operate in the Nigeria's economic environment.

To my greatest dismay, the family of former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, in which his wife, Yeye Olufunke Daniel represents the business interest flagrantly flouted the Nigeria's extant law and manipulated the system with reckless abandon.

Findings on the website of Corporate Affairs Commission did not come up with any result about Daniel's DATKEM in any of the categories on the website, except one DATKEM Fashion Centre in Ondo, which was registered in 2022.

Also, on the legality and the right of constructing the demolished DATKEM Plaza, facts have emerged on how Gbenga Daniel, against every decency and moderation in power gave approval for the construction of the edifice in 2009, as a sitting governor without recourse to the state's guidelines and code of building and without any consultation with the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development; but just approval by executive fiat. What an impunity!

As if that was not enough, after Daniel left power and subsequent notices on the building indicating a total contravention were served by the Ministry, instead of following the appropriate path to negotiate for quick adjustment and conform with the law, Daniel's, in connivance with their Project Manager played a fast one on the system and decided to apply for regularization through the backdoor by paying the sum of N500, 000 to allow them continue to violate the law as it is done in the banana republic.

To the chagrin of many, after their fruitless efforts to manipulate the process under the pretext of regularization, they even went further to erect more structures beyond what they were seeking to regularize and further contravened the building code in Ogun State.

Unfortunately for them, all the MDAs in the State are working according to the ideals of public service and in line with the philosophy of action as exemplified by Governor Dapo Abiodun, which gives priority to the ultimate benefit of the people above any interest whatsoever.

In line with that ideals, the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development swung into action to address this illegality and set a good example of upholding the supremacy of law above any considerations for the people to follow as responsible citizenry.

Several notices were served to intimate them of the legal consequences of their action but they defiantly ignored all and continued with the construction, until the last day of action by the Ministry, and the rest became history and lesson of obedience, integrity and patriotism for the rest of us.

However, the former first family should desist from peddling lies and whipping up unnecessary sentiment and painting the responsive government in Ogun State in bad light.

They should rather be sober and receptively learn from the indelible warning of the late Guinean revolutionary politician, Amilcar Cabral," Hide nothing from the masses of our people, claim no easy victory. Tell no lies. Expose lies whenever they are told. Mask no difficulties, mistakes, failures".

Olaniyi Ajibola writes from Abeokuta

DATKEM is an illegal company, not registered with CAC—Investigation

DATKEM Enterprises Limited, the promoter of DATKEM Plaza, Ijebu-Ode is an illegal company as it is not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), according to an investigation.

The illegal company is constructing the equally illegal 5-storey plaza, which was partially demolished on Sunday.

DATKEM belongs to the wife of the former Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunke Daniel.

The Plaza was without an approved plan. The structure also contravened the state’s physical planning laws and the building codes with numerous defects.

However, the most intriguing is that the company is operating illegally and is, therefore, not recognised as a corporate entity.

A search on the website of CAC failed to produce DATKEM Enterprises Limited. But there was DATKEM Fashion Centre Ondo, registered in 2022.

"When we searched the name of the company in the CAC pool of registered companies, we came up with nothing.

"It is curious that a company is purportedly registered as an enterprise and at the same time, a limited liability company. It's obvious that the owners of DATKEM Plaza wanted to use a fake company to obtain approval from the government, an action which ordinarily is unlawful.

"The implication here is that, having not registered with the CA, if the company has any problem, nobody can trace it," a source said.

The source expressed surprise that a former governor, who is also a serving senator could be involved in anything illegal.

The source also alleged that the 2009 building plan approval must have been done with impunity by the then Governor Daniel without recourse to the state's town planning laws and building codes.

Even at that, the structure on the ground was at variance with the approval.

This informed the series of contravention notices served the owners since May 2022.

We Won’t Tolerate Lawlessness, Violation Of Building Codes In Ogun-Abiodun


Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Monday, warned that the state government will not tolerate lawlessness and the violation of the state’s building codes.

The governor also denied any political motives in the partial demolition of DATKEM Plaza, Ijebu-Ode.

Prince Abiodun formally reacted to the demolition and the attendant accusation after inspecting the 8-kilometre Mowe-Ofada Road, in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state.

According to the governor, the partial demolition exercise carried out by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development was in line with the laws of the state.

He denied accusations in some quarters that the exercise was political, adding that necessary steps were taken by government officials when contraventions were observed in the course of constructing the edifice.

The governor noted that in Ogun State, and Nigeria, nobody is above the law. The law that governs ordinary citizens, according to him, also applies to the VIPs.

He said: “But for the fact you have ambushed me, I was not prepared to formally address that subject matter. And the reasons are very simple, we are a responsible government. We are responsible to our citizens. We are a law-abiding administration. I’m sure that everyone would testify to the fact that since I assumed office in 2019, I have ensured equity, fairness and upheld the rule of law. I have not in any way attempted to be vindictive or in any form or manner appear like someone who is trying to witch-hunt anyone.

“Having said that, because these are some of the insinuations I have read on social media and nothing could be farther from the truth. You all have seen the position of the Ministry of Physical Planning, which is the ministry that is entrusted with ensuring that people adhere to our different building codes. Because if we don’t respect building codes, if we don’t abide by building laws, it means that we are nothing but a chaotic society.

“These are the people charged with ensuring that our cities and towns are well laid out, well planned and the buildings that are constructed are safe to live in. We are all living witnesses to what has happened in the state and Lagos State when buildings have collapsed. And proactively, our government and across the country have brought some buildings down for violations of different building regulations.

“Only a few weeks ago, the new minister of the FCT said any person who builds in FCT without approval no matter how highly placed they are, be it a minister or anybody, the building will come down. And recalled sometime last year, when a building collapsed on Gerald in Lagos, a building that belonged to someone that I know personally, I held a press conference and said we would not allow for this to happen in Ogun State. You build without approval, you build beyond your approval, if you don’t build in line with our regulations, that building will come down.

“Now, let’s go to this DATKEM. First I can assure you that our physical planning team do not have the responsibility of unmasking who the owner of a company is. It is beyond their mandate. As far as they know, a company called DATKEM had applied for approval to erect a five-story building. That approval was filed in 2009, way beyond our administration. But sometime in 2022, a contravention notice was sent to the owners of DATKEM.

“In Ogun State and in Nigeria, we don’t have a set of laws for the common man and the VIP. That is not the way it works. There is one law for everybody. Nobody is above the law. And the law is not the respecter of VIPs or VIPPs. So, they sent the contravention notice to DATKEM, regardless of who the owner of DATKEM was, which was not their priority. After they sent that contravention notice in May 2022, they sent a stop order notice to DATKEM, saying you are in contravention, stop working on this project until you come and correct these contraventions. They followed that stop order with another stop order. They sent a violation order. They sealed the premises. “The owners of DATKEM in their minds must have felt they were above the law. It smirks of impunity if the Ministry of Physical Planning sends you a contravention order, sends you a seal order and you continue with the construction in violation of the safety of all of us in Ogun State.

“They sent you a demolition order, you still did not respond. You begin to sneak into the building at night, you begin to work there. You begin to attempt to grease palms so that they can overlook your contraventions. But, of course, a day of reckoning will always come.”

The governor said properties are demolished every day in the state without any noise being made, adding that he had instructed that if his property violates state laws, it should be brought down.

Addressing the accusation of vindictiveness, the governor recalled his intervention in another property belong to the alleged owner of DATKEM.

He said: “Let me take you down memory lane. The purported owner of this property, when I assumed office in 2019, had a property in Abeokuta. It was meant to be a hotel. My predecessor had sealed that property for eight years. He had issued a stop order. He was going to demolish that building, but for my intervention. I pleaded with him. That building remained under lock and key until I resumed office. The first day I was sworn in was the very day the owner moved into that property for the first time in eight years. And today, the property is called Conference Hotel in Abeokuta.

“How do you now begin to accuse the same me that facilitated the completion of that project despite different court actions that were brought then, despite different charges by the EFCC that were hanging around the project. I actually commissioned that project alongside the former vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. You are now trying to use media, trying to attract unnecessary sympathy, playing the underdog that I, Dapo Abiodun, demolished a property that first I didn’t know it was yours; your name is not on that property. You never came forward to say this property is yours.

“You expect that someone, who is a serving senator, a former governor of this state, would show a level of more responsibility. I have said it that I, Dapo Abiodun, if I have a building that violates the building code, bring it down.

“And by this, I am sending a strong warning to all of us across the state. There are many of you who have buildings without approvals. There are many of you who don’t even have C of O. If you have built without approvals, the long arm of the law will soon be catching up with you. We will not tolerate lawlessness in this state. We will not be defined by lawlessness and half hazard development when you just build anyhow.”

DATKEM Plaza Is An Illegal Structure, Contravenes Ogun Physical Planning Laws



Ogun State Government on Sunday said DATKEM Plaza, Ijebu Ode is an illegal structure without an approved plan.



The structure, the state government added, also contravened the state’s physical planning laws.



The government, in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Engr. Olayiwola Abiodun said the structure violated the building codes of the state with numerous defects.



He said several efforts made by the state government to halt further development on site were ignored by the developers.


He said government officials requested the structural engineer in charge of the building to avail the state of the structural equilibrium of the building, a request that was ignored.



The statement recalled the various incidences of building disasters across the country, adding that the Ogun State Government will not fold its arm and allow and such occurrence.



It noted that many of such disasters, such as fire outbreaks at Ikorodu, led to the loss of precious lives.



According to the permanent secretary, what the government did in partially pulling down the defective building was to be proactive.



Engr. Abiodun challenged the owners of the structure to produce evidence of government approval in their possession.



He said that for a commercial building of that status, there must be parking space to accommodate vehicular traffic within and outside the facility for workers and visitors. The provision of the law is for 45 to 50 per cent of available land for construction as a buildable area.



The permanent secretary added that the building lacked stage certification, which is usually issued at every stage of construction.



He said that owners were served the necessary notices, including abatement, contravention, stop work and demolition between May and October 2022, which were ignored.



According to the statement, DATKEM Enterprises Limited submitted application for an office building, located along Ibadan Road, Ijebu Ode in 2009 with registration number CB/05/299/2009.

“The proposal was for five (5) floors with airspace of 3 metres at the right, 5m at the left, 5metres at the rear and a setback of 32.5516 metres to the middle of Ijebu Ode/Ibadan road, Ijebu-Ode.



“The Zonal Town Planning Office observed during routine monitoring that the construction on site did not conform with the plan granted as there was a deviation from the airspaces and setback.



“In addition, the building had been modified and enlarged with an additional storey building at the back thereby becoming over density.



“In view of the above, the following actions were taken:

“Contravention Notice with Serial No. 0106983 was served on 24th May 2022.



“Stop Work Order with Serial No. 000623 was served on 24th May 2022.



“Another Stop Work Order with Serial No. 001065 was served on 22nd July 2022 when the first notice was ignored.



“Demolition Notice with Serial No. 0007549 was served on 11th October 2022.



Notice to seal with Serial No. 000815 was served on 4th October 2022.



The statement noted further that despite all these notices, the developer was recalcitrant and continued with the construction work.



“This prompted the re-sealing of the site on 1st August, 2023. But the sealing did not stop the developer from further construction as work continued on the site.



“However, the developer wrote an appeal for unsealing, which was considered so as to evacuate the belongings in the premises. Thereafter, quit notice with Serial No. 0030750 was served on 31st August, 2023.



“In view of the above, since the developer had remained recalcitrant, the Zonal Town Planning Office’s recommendation for the demolition of the office building was upheld,” the statement added.



The state government reiterated its avowed commitment to ensure the safety of its citizens, adding that any defective buildings in any part of the state will be demolished to safeguard the lives of the people.

Hoooooooo: Laolu Akande is still very pained by the ignominious loss of his Principal and Benefactor. I understand his plight and agony, may God heal his wound permanently.

Abiodun Congratulates Tinubu Shettima over Tribunal Verdict

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State on Wednesday congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President, Kashim Shettima on their resounding victory at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

The Tribunal, in a unanimous decision, threw out the petition filed by the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart Atiku Abubakar, ruling that President Tinubu was duly elected on February 25 as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Prince Abiodun said the tribunal’s verdict was an affirmation of the trust reposed in the President by Nigerians as evidenced in the outcome of the presidential election.

He described the judgment as sound, detailed and comprehensive, noting that the judges displayed unmatched courage in the discharge of their duties.

"It is heart warming that the tribunal judges did not succumb to intimidation by the opposition, who deployed various antics to sway the judgement in their favour.

"The judgement is a further testament to the fact that the judiciary is the last hope of our people," the governor said.

Ogun Clears Air On LG Funding, Says N1.8bn Invested In Executing Projects in Councils



Ogun State Government on Friday gave further insights into local government administration and funding, demonstrating its commitment to the development of the third tier of government.



At a press conference addressed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Tokunbo Talabi, and Economic Adviser and Commissioner-designate, Mr Dapo Okubadejo, held at the Olusegun Osoba Press Centre, Governor's Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the government said the process of funding local governments in the state is transparent, open and in line with constitutional provision through the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC).

The government noted that it has been augmenting allocations meant for local governments in the state from the federation account due to shortfalls occasioned by COVID-19 and the economic downturn in the country.

According to Mr. Talabi, at no time was there any disagreement between the chairmen of the local governments and the state government.

He denied any diversion of statutory allocations and zero allocation, insisting that the present administration has been transparent, accountable, just and equitable in spreading developmental projects to all parts of the State with inputs from local government chairmen in the last few years.

The SSG said the government routinely sends money to the councils to execute some projects to better the lots of the people at the grassroots.

“Up to date, the state government has provided over N1.8 billion for all these local governments to do independent projects, in addition to whatever the state government has done, in addition to whatever the federal government has done and in addition to funding the deficit.

“The concept of zero allocation has not taken place. Otherwise, how have we been paying the teachers? How have we been paying the healthcare workers? How have we been paying the traditional council? How have we been paying the pensioners? How have we been paying the local government staff themselves? How is the chairman getting paid all these years? And then, we have what is called the security vote for the chairman.

“Because we are in an environment where people want to see what you have done, His Excellency, from time to time, makes money available to each of these local governments so that they do some community-based projects; projects that are closer to them.

“At the beginning of this administration, His Excellency asked the local government chairmen and other stakeholders to present three roads that are more important to them in the order of priority. That is why this administration can boast today that it has executed projects in all local governments. And these were not done without the consent and inputs of the local government operatives,” he said.

Giving more insight into the workings of the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC), the Economic Adviser, and Commissioner-designate, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo noted that JAAC is a statutory and legal instrument that operates in other states.

Speaking on the process of fund allocation, Mr Okubadejo said: “The process of local government account, financing or funding started many years ago, with the introduction of what we refer to as the Joint Account Allocation Committee. That’s the body that is responsible for the administration and the management of the local government direct allocation from the federal government.

“When His Excellency took over the administration in 2019, and because of his pledge to be accountable and also be transparent, the Joint Account Allocation meeting started not long after that. That meeting is the one that is held every month. It is this administration that commenced, after a long time, the organization of the Joint Account Allocation meeting every month on the allocation of funds from the federal government to the local government and also the distribution of it.

“And that meeting comprises of representatives of local government chairmen and all the regular stakeholders in local government administration. So, you have local government chairmen, the association of pensioners, members of the traditional council and all other members that are seated every month at the Oba’s Complex to discuss every month, how much comes in for local governments and how that money is distributed.

“Now, the process is that the Joint Account Allocation Committee account is a completely separate account from the state government’s accounting process. It is managed and administered by different sets of staff that are involved in local government administration in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

“The account and signatories are separate from the State government. The Accountant General and the Director of Treasury are not signatories to the JAAC.

“On a monthly basis, the Local Government Service Commission prepares the vouchers of salaries and allowances of local government staff, SUBEB prepares that of all primary school teachers, Bureau of Local Government Pensioners prepares that of Pensioners, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs prepares that of traditional council members.

"All the data prepared by all these bodies are sent to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, where they are reviewed, collated, and validated. These figures are referred to as First Line Charges. The figures are taken to the JAAC meeting, and once the allocation comes from Abuja, with respect to the JAAC, they disclosed the amount at the meeting as money for Ogun State local government funding. They table all the distributions, which are the First Line Charges, and distribute on local government to local government basis.”

Okubadejo gave further clarification on the state government's intervention to the local governments allocations to the 20 local governments.

In 2020, N43.121 billion was budgeted for First Line Charges, while N34.750 billion was received from the federation account for the 20 local government areas, leaving a deficit of N6.619 billion.

The commissioner-designate also noted that the total allocation released for local governments in 2021 was N38.723 billion, while payment for First Line Charges was N47.845 billion.

In 2022, N48.074 billion was the total allocation for the local governments from the federation account, while N54.182 billion was the actual amount needed to pay First Line Charges.

“As we were getting into 2023, just for this administration alone, we were coming with a deficit that the state government has paid for of almost N17.4 billion,” he said.



He acknowledged that in January 2023, N7.6 billion was received as against the N7.221 billion total First Line Charges, leaving a little surplus.



In February, it went back to the normal trend, which was lower JAAC allocation and higher First Line Charges of N3.79 billion and N4.3 billion. The same thing in March and April.

In May, he said there was an increase of N6.348 billion to that of First Line Charges of N4.531 billion.



“Now, when you look at the total carried forward as of July just from 2019 to July 2023, you will see that there is a deficit of N13.591 billion.



“The state government covers this deficit because it affects the salaries and pension of local government staff, primary school teachers, health workers, and traditional council members.



“Again, you recall that about two years ago, His Excellency promised that he was going to be paying N500 million every quarter to clear the backlog of gratuities from 2011, which has now been increased to N1 billion for both state and local government staff. And, paying the local government portion of the gratuities is an addition to the state government’s intervention.



“In addition to that, the governor also directed that certain quarterly allocations should be made directly to local governments for them to undertake certain developmental projects.


"When people talk about zero allocation being distributed, they should be enlightened to know that they cannot talk about allocation in isolation of the First Line Charges which is the first thing that must be paid in local government allocation,” he added.

Answering a question on Ecological Fund, the Commissioner-designate, said the fund is periodical as it is credited into the state and local account through JAAC. He stated that the fund has a high level of oversight as it is meant for flood control, afforestation, and clearing of drainages, among others.

Wale Adedayo: Living up to his dark antecedents

CHARACTER, say the Yoruba, is a flame. It cannot be hidden. Because appearances can be deceptive, the Yoruba say you cannot determine a person’s character from his looks (oju o se fi m’owa eda), the same thought that the Bard of Avon expressed in Macbeth, where King Duncan, enquiring about the execution of a thane, says “there’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face.” If you have ever had to engage questions of the darkness of the human mind, like the British Nobel Laureate William does in the epochal novel Lord of the Flies, you cannot help but see how certain persons, in placing themselves on a pedestal above their peers, actually only succeed in hastening their own tragic fall. Which brings us to the ongoing drama of the absurd in Ogun State where a serial blackmailer and turncoat, Wale Adedayo, is being hailed as a hero by certain pernicious individuals.


Adedayo, the chairman of Ijebu East Local Government and member of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), pointedly accused the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, of diverting the funds meant for the running of local councils in the state without providing any evidence to back up his claims. As it turned out, Adedayo only acted a script for which he has been known since the onset of the current Republic in 1999. His stories made the front pages of the nation’s newspapers given its salacious nature, but then, barely 12 hours later, he quickly rallied his colleague chairmen on a pleading mission to the same governor he had just branded a thief before the whole world. He quickly recanted, apparently knowing that the governor had legal options to defend his name and image. Now, contrary to Adedayo’s claims, local governments in the state had actually been receiving their allocations, and in fact had shared N5.2bn in the month of August, the same month during which he made his unsubstantiated allegations.



During the meeting, held at the Governor’s office at. Oke-Mosan in Abeokuta and attended by 18 out of the 20 Chairmen, the Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, who also doubles as the chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, Mr Babatunde Gazal, acknowledged that in May, N4.5 billion was shared by the 20 council areas.First line charges, including primary school teachers salaries and check –off dues, came to about N2bn; payment of retired primary school teachers (about 1bn), retired local government teachers and chairmen’s imprest, which is N60m per month, among others. In June, N4.4 billion was shared, while July also saw the sharing of N4.4 billion. In August, N5.2bn was shared, out of which over N2bn was devoted to the payment of teachers. Coming to Ijebu East Local Government specifically, a total sum of N1.547bn was released to it in 2021. In 2021, the figure rose steadily 1. 955bn, a difference of N408million. In the current year, as of August ending, the council has received a total of 1.257bn. This is quite apart from the gratuities of local government workers that the state government paid on their behalf. Given these figures, how could Adedayo have made such transparently bogus claims?




In unpacking the ongoing macabre drama, a bit of context is necessary. Going by his antecedents, Adedayo is no stranger to character assassination and blatant falsehood. Just like the metaphorical leopard that never changes its spots, he is just living up to his history and image. While working at The Punch, Adedayo was on several occasions accused of character assassination, blackmail and manipulation, and his unceremonious exit from the reputable media house was only a matter of time. For purely political reasons, the then Governor Gbenga Daniel accepted him, rehabilitated him and made him Chief Press Secretary, giving him all the freedom in the world, and an imprest far larger than a commissioner’s. But what did our man do? He allowed all those things to get to his head and came to see himself as being bigger than his boss.


And when he realized that he had played himself out of favour by squandering/diverting the money his boss gave him to do media work, he went on a character assassination overdrive, declaring that his boss was after his life. He would later go on to write a controversial book where he maligned his boss and so many people. In the book, Micro-seconds away from death, Adedayo wrote: “On 10 January 2009, six assassins engaged me in a shoot-out. I managed to kill three of them and barely escaped from the scene. Being Chief Press Secretary to the Governor at the time, I knew it was my immediate boss, who arranged the failed assassination bid, given information at my disposal.” In this fantastic narration, the super hero was driving with one hand and gunning down the two OPC assailants allegedly sent after him by Governor Daniel with the other. He also claimed to have used the car to jump over the median along the expressway.


While pointedly accusing Governor Daniel of maintaining a killer squad, he volunteered the unsolicited information that in his family, people usually died at a very young age, and that his father never attained the age of 40. He went on to add that his (Adedayo’s) attaining that milestone was due to the sacrifices he had offered to the gods. The people he maligned in the book also include the current Aare Onakakanfo, Iba Gani Adams, a man at whose wedding he had served as best man. He claimed that Adams was collecting money across the South-West, and was one of the assassins sent against him. He said the former Vanguard Editor, Jide Ajani, failed a security test when he wanted to get him a job with the then Oyo State governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, and that his former boss, Chief Abiola Ogundoyin, must have slept with his wife when he was in detention! The book, Micro-seconds away from death, painted everyone else as a devil, providing ample evidence of a troubled soul, a man under heavy spell, and with a penchant for blackmailing anyone who tries to help him.

Is it any wonder, then, that the governor who chose to be magnanimous and made him consultant on media and later caretaker chairman of Ijebu LG, at his own request, is now the target of his latest attacks? As caretaker chairman, Adedayo contested and won election with the support of the structure that Governor Abiodun had built. Curiously, however, even in his local government, information emerged that he had begun hobnobbing with the opposition and working against his own party. Given his political prostitution, it was no wonder that during the March 18 governorship election, the governor lost woefully in his local government.


When you look at Adedayo’s trajectory and character, the fact emerges that he is not somebody that can be trusted, or that you can say has a stable mind. He is only consistent with blackmail, with no trace of omoluabi qualities, and the lesson for people like Governor Abiodun is that choosing to magnanimous in politics can have terrible drawbacks. Interestingly, though, the professional accuser is now being accused by his own council legislators of perpetrating monumental fraud, and has been handed a three-month suspension. The council says the disgraced chairman withdrew millions from the local government account for empowerment in 2022, but no empowerment was done to date; wasted N2million on August 20, 2022, on Isese festival; and N250,000 duty tour allowance in June 2023 and another N250,000 duty tour allowance for the chairman and other top officials engagement. The list of allegations is long, and he is definitely entitled to the fair hearing he grants no one, but the fact is that people who try to set a state on fire with false allegations ought to be made to have their day in court.

Anywhere Wale Adedayo goes, a dark cloud follows him, and one can only hope it does not push him to an ignoble end.

Ogun: Wale Adedayo and the affinity of Judas Iscariot

By Adewale Fadipe

As it stands today, the most widely acknowledged betrayal in the world is that of Judas Iscariot,one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ; who out of inordinate ambition and sheer mischief betrayed his leader and benefactor with attendant consequence of death.

Judas Iscariot, according to biblical account could not certainly justify the rationale behind his act of betrayal and mischief against Jesus Christ, the reason why he died in perpetual regret and his name etched in the sand of reproach for ever.

In the same manner and tendencies, the Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Mr Wale Adedayo, replicated the character of Judas Iscariot, by betraying the confidence reposed in him by the people of his constituency, his party, the All Progressives Congress(APC) Governor Dapo Abiodun, who supported his ambition wholeheartedly in all ramifications and the mass of Ogun State populace.

The statement signed by Adedayo and released to the press on Monday, alleging Governor Dapo Abiodun of diverting allocations meant for the 20 local governments in the state is not only appalling, it is the lowest anybody could go to smear characters of others for mere ambition and other parochial purposes revolving around power and influence.

Though, some people have started considering his pleas and that of his colleagues who prostrated to the Governor to seek for forgiveness on Tuesday as a show of remorse and admittance of guilt, however, I considered this idea of apology after deliberate atrocities as tactics in the hands of obscurantist.

It is a statement of fact that Adedayo was arguably a sound mind when he wrote the fictitious statement, and perfectly aware of how Governor Dapo Abiodun had been helping the local governments since the period of pandemic to the tune of 1bn monthly, and how he stayed far clear from every arrangement through JAAC, to allow local government administration to be viable and financial vibrant enough to fulfil their statutory obligations to the people.

At least, he has been regularly getting his N3m monthly allowance alongside his other colleagues, yet, he claimed they have been running the councils with zero allocations; what a chameleonic character with questionable soundness of mind.

All his colleagues acknowledged the fact that the total of N4.5bn was shared among them in the month of May, and in June, N4.4bn was shared among them, while the sum of N4.4bn and N5.2bn were shared respectively in July and August, so, where is the issue of zero allocations coming from and what exactly did the Governor divert?

Clearly, the style adopted by Wale Adedayo to defame the good personality of the Governor simply confirmed the allegation against him of working in cahoots with opposition PDP to tarnish the image of Governor Dapo Abiodun in the public, having realized their hopeless litigation at the tribunal.

Indeed, the speed and direction in which the party sent out a press statement calling for the impeachment of the Governor without logical analysis of Adedayo's statement confirmed a strong pact of conspiracy.

Finally, one can conclude that Adedayo, out of personal and selfish ambition and possible pecuniary reason was being influenced by external forces to betray his benefactor and leader, in the manner Judas Iscariot did, and ended up in regret obviously, Adedayo must also suffer some level of sanction as consequence of his shenanigans.

Fadipe writes from Ifo.

Ogun: Wale Adedayo and the affinity of Judas Iscariot

By Adewale Fadipe

As it stands today, the most widely acknowledged betrayal in the world is that of Judas Iscariot,one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ; who out of inordinate ambition and sheer mischief betrayed his leader and benefactor with attendant consequence of death.

Judas Iscariot, according to biblical account could not certainly justify the rationale behind his act of betrayal and mischief against Jesus Christ, the reason why he died in perpetual regret and his name etched in the sand of reproach for ever.

In the same manner and tendencies, the Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Mr Wale Adedayo, replicated the character of Judas Iscariot, by betraying the confidence reposed in him by the people of his constituency, his party, the All Progressives Congress(APC) Governor Dapo Abiodun, who supported his ambition wholeheartedly in all ramifications and the mass of Ogun State populace.

The statement signed by Adedayo and released to the press on Monday, alleging Governor Dapo Abiodun of diverting allocations meant for the 20 local governments in the state is not only appalling, it is the lowest anybody could go to smear characters of others for mere ambition and other parochial purposes revolving around power and influence.

Though, some people have started considering his pleas and that of his colleagues who prostrated to the Governor to seek for forgiveness on Tuesday as a show of remorse and admittance of guilt, however, I considered this idea of apology after deliberate atrocities as tactics in the hands of obscurantist.

It is a statement of fact that Adedayo was arguably a sound mind when he wrote the fictitious statement, and perfectly aware of how Governor Dapo Abiodun had been helping the local governments since the period of pandemic to the tune of 1bn monthly, and how he stayed far clear from every arrangement through JAAC, to allow local government administration to be viable and financial vibrant enough to fulfil their statutory obligations to the people.

At least, he has been regularly getting his N3m monthly allowance alongside his other colleagues, yet, he claimed they have been running the councils with zero allocations; what a chameleonic character with questionable soundness of mind.

All his colleagues acknowledged the fact that the total of N4.5bn was shared among them in the month of May, and in June, N4.4bn was shared among them, while the sum of N4.4bn and N5.2bn were shared respectively in July and August, so, where is the issue of zero allocations coming from and what exactly did the Governor divert?

Clearly, the style adopted by Wale Adedayo to defame the good personality of the Governor simply confirmed the allegation against him of working in cahoots with opposition PDP to tarnish the image of Governor Dapo Abiodun in the public, having realized their hopeless litigation at the tribunal.

Indeed, the speed and direction in which the party sent out a press statement calling for the impeachment of the Governor without logical analysis of Adedayo's statement confirmed a strong pact of conspiracy.

Finally, one can conclude that Adedayo, out of personal and selfish ambition and possible pecuniary reason was being influenced by external forces to betray his benefactor and leader, in the manner Judas Iscariot did, and ended up in regret obviously, Adedayo must also suffer some level of sanction as consequence of his shenanigans.

Fadipe writes from Ifo.

August 30, 2023.

Press Statement:
Alleged Illegal Deduction : Ijebu East Local Government Political Appointees distance selves from the allegations by the Chairman, demand probe of N100 million revenue

The Supervisory Councilors in Ijebu East Local Government Council of Ogun State have disassociated themselves from the false allegations made by the Council Chairman, Mr. Wale Chairman, Mr. Wale Adedayo.

In a statement issued on Wednesday and jointly signed by Supervisor for Community Development, Hon Folake Adetayo, Supervisor for Agriculture, Hon. Kunle Adesanya, Supervisor for Finance, Hon Jesse Osibanjo and Supervisor for Water and Environment Services, Hon. Fowora Abayomi, the local government functionaries said “we are not in tandem with his actions and wouldn't have been in support of any actions that will stall progress and development of the Local Government under any guise whatsoever.”

The statement reads: “The Association of Supervisory Councilors and other political appointees of Ijebu East Local Government has expressed our displeasure with the manner with which the Local Government Chairman is going about alleging and casting aspersions on the person of H.E Prince Dapo Abiodun, the Governor of Ogun State.

“We want to sincerely say we are not in tandem with his actions and wouldn't have been in support of any actions that will stall progress and development of the Local Government under any guise whatsoever.

“It is also note worthy to state emphatically that we are not part of the spurious the allegations raised against the Governor of Ogun State who have on several occasions sent monies in batches to the Local Government for development.

“The Chairman, in his own words, has said in his 2023 Budget Speech that the Ijebu East LG Council received N50 million (fifty million naira) from the state government in 2022 and generated another N50 million as IGR in 2022 totaling N100 million (One hundred million. Whether the allocations were judiciously spent is left for the Chairman, the Head of the Local Government Administration and the Local Government Treasurer to defend as they are best placed to state the position of things.

“On several occasions, spendings have been carried out without relating with other members of the cabinet Documents of financial transactions and approvals were never given to the Cabinet members as they are always secretly done between the Chairman, the HOLGA and the Treasurer. We Cabinet members have remain m figure-heads for long. Though, no charges have been made public, but we urge the State Government and the House of Assembly to set up Committees to look into the spendings of the Local Government since 2001 and know its true financial State.

We once again state unequivocally that we remain loyal and committed to the mission and vision of the State for the advancement and development of Ijebu East Local Government and therefore disassociate ourselves totally from the ignoble actions displayed in the last two days by the Local Government Chairman, Mr. Wale Adedayo

The commitment to a brighter future of Ogun State remains our priority and we therefore pledge our unconditional support to Mr Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, in his Building Our Future Together Agenda

Thank You.

E-Signed :
Ijebu East Local Govt supervisors

Hon Folake Adetayo
Supervisor for Community Development

Hon. Kunle Adesanya
Supervisor for Agriculture

Hon Jesse Osibanjo
Supervisor for Finance

Hon. Fowora Abayomi
Supervisor for Water and Environment Services

August 30, 2023.

Press Statement:
Alleged Illegal Deduction : Ijebu East Local Government Political Appointees distance selves from the allegations by the Chairman, demand probe of N100 million revenue

The Supervisory Councilors in Ijebu East Local Government Council of Ogun State have disassociated themselves from the false allegations made by the Council Chairman, Mr. Wale Chairman, Mr. Wale Adedayo.

In a statement issued on Wednesday and jointly signed by Supervisor for Community Development, Hon Folake Adetayo, Supervisor for Agriculture, Hon. Kunle Adesanya, Supervisor for Finance, Hon Jesse Osibanjo and Supervisor for Water and Environment Services, Hon. Fowora Abayomi, the local government functionaries said “we are not in tandem with his actions and wouldn't have been in support of any actions that will stall progress and development of the Local Government under any guise whatsoever.”

The statement reads: “The Association of Supervisory Councilors and other political appointees of Ijebu East Local Government has expressed our displeasure with the manner with which the Local Government Chairman is going about alleging and casting aspersions on the person of H.E Prince Dapo Abiodun, the Governor of Ogun State.

“We want to sincerely say we are not in tandem with his actions and wouldn't have been in support of any actions that will stall progress and development of the Local Government under any guise whatsoever.

“It is also note worthy to state emphatically that we are not part of the spurious the allegations raised against the Governor of Ogun State who have on several occasions sent monies in batches to the Local Government for development.

“The Chairman, in his own words, has said in his 2023 Budget Speech that the Ijebu East LG Council received N50 million (fifty million naira) from the state government in 2022 and generated another N50 million as IGR in 2022 totaling N100 million (One hundred million. Whether the allocations were judiciously spent is left for the Chairman, the Head of the Local Government Administration and the Local Government Treasurer to defend as they are best placed to state the position of things.

“On several occasions, spendings have been carried out without relating with other members of the cabinet Documents of financial transactions and approvals were never given to the Cabinet members as they are always secretly done between the Chairman, the HOLGA and the Treasurer. We Cabinet members have remain m figure-heads for long. Though, no charges have been made public, but we urge the State Government and the House of Assembly to set up Committees to look into the spendings of the Local Government since 2001 and know its true financial State.

We once again state unequivocally that we remain loyal and committed to the mission and vision of the State for the advancement and development of Ijebu East Local Government and therefore disassociate ourselves totally from the ignoble actions displayed in the last two days by the Local Government Chairman, Mr. Wale Adedayo

The commitment to a brighter future of Ogun State remains our priority and we therefore pledge our unconditional support to Mr Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, in his Building Our Future Together Agenda

Thank You.

E-Signed :
Ijebu East Local Govt supervisors

Hon Folake Adetayo
Supervisor for Community Development

Hon. Kunle Adesanya
Supervisor for Agriculture

Hon Jesse Osibanjo
Supervisor for Finance

Hon. Fowora Abayomi
Supervisor for Water and Environment Services

Ogun State Govt Constitutes 29-Member Committee On Palliatives Distribution

A 29-member Central Working Committee (CWC), headed by the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Engr. (Mrs) Noimot Salako-Oyedele, saddled with the mandate for the distribution of palliatives in the state has been empanelled by Governor Dapo Abiodun.

The composition of the Committee is aimed at ensuring that the palliatives reached every strata of the society, in line with the promise made to the people of the state by Governor Abiodun.

A statement issued on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Mr Lekan Adeniran, noted that there will be a similar Committee at the local governments to ensure the seamless distribution of the palliatives.

According to the statement, the Committee has the mandate to implement the various palliatives put in place by the state government for the citizens.

Members of the CWC were drawn from the 20 local government areas. They include Alhaja Salmot Badru, a former deputy governor in the state; Senator Shuaib Afolabi; Hon. Dewunmi Onanuga; Chief (Mrs) Yetunde Onanuga; Hon. Latifat Ajayi (Deputy Speaker, OGHA); Hon. Lukman Adeleye, (Minority Leader, OGHA; Alhaja Selimot Ottun; Oyindamola Oyelese Adesina; Hon. Femi Ilori-Oduntan; Ayo Shomide; Hon. (Mrs) Motunrayo Adijat Oladapo-Adeleye; Adewale Adeshina; Angel Adelaja; Ola Oresanya.

Others are Mrs Ogunremi; Mrs Abbas (Iyaloja General); Feyikemi Egbeyemi; Yemisi Dawodu; Mr Aiyelagbe Abduljabar; Damilola Otubanjo; Job Akintan; Kolawole Lawal; Biodun Akovoyan; Ayo Somide; Dr Fred-Omojole Omolayo; Mokesioluwa O. Seun-Adedamola; Hon. Oladele Kayode, Mr Sola Arobieke and representatives of labour unions.

The Committee at the local government level, according to the statement will include the council chairmen; members of the state House of Assembly; Leader of the House; secretary to the local government; former GLOs; two members from the CDAs; representative of the market women association; four nominees from non-governmental organisations and representatives from traditional rulers.

The inaugural meeting of the committee has been slated for Wednesday, August 29, 2023.

My administration augments federal allocations to Ogun LGs even to meet obligations for first-line charges-Abiodun


Ogun State Government on Tuesday, said that the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration has often had to augment the funds allocated to local governments in the state from the Federation Account to enable them to meet their obligations.

The government, in its reaction to a letter credited to the Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Mr Wale Adedayo, alleging zero revenue allocation to local governments in the state since 2021, said it had never tampered with local government funds.

It wondered how adding to the funds allocated to the local councils to enable them to meet their obligations amounted to hijacking their funds.

It said that funds meant for local governments in the state are being handled by the constitutionally recognised Joint Account and Allocation Committee (JAAC).

In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the state governor, Mr Lekan Adeniran, the government said that JAAC members ensure that the third tier of government gets the required allocations for optimal performance.

It noted that the latest meeting by the JAAC was held last week, and was widely reported in the media.

At the meeting, which was held at the Conference Hall, Oba’s Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, over N5bn was shared among the 20 local government areas, out of which over N2 billion went into paying teachers.

"Between May 2023 when the Governor was sworn in for the second term and July 2023, the JAAC shared among 20 local governments N4.531b, N4.444b and N4.497b respectively on first line charges and just last week N5.2b was shared among the local governments for the month of August "the statement said.

The JAAC, according to the statement, comprises major stakeholders in local government administration, including the Chief Economic Adviser to the governor, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Accountant General of the State, Permanent Secretary, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, all 20 local government chairmen, one representative from each of the four Traditional Councils in the state, representative of SUBEB, NULGE, local govt pensioners, retired primary school teachers, Local Government Service Commission, Local Government Pension Commission and NUT.

It has the mandate to meet every month to ensure that allocations to local governments are discussed and properly presented for fund allocation.

At such meetings, the state government makes full disclosure of the receipt from the federation account.

First-line charges, including local government staff salaries and pensions; primary school teachers' salaries and pensions; healthcare workers' salaries and pensions and emoluments for traditional rulers are tabled for discussion and fund allocation at the JAAC meetings, the statement said.

The statement added that this same pattern has been followed since Prince Dapo Abiodun took over the leadership of the state in 2019.

Governor Abiodun, the statement said, recently directed the local governments to identify critical roads that required government attention in their domains, with some already commissioned.

In the same vein, many schools have been rehabilitated, while others are undergoing renovation.

"In addition to these, the state government also disburse funds to all local governments for developmental projects periodically," the statement added.

Ogun police arrest 116 suspected cultists

Men of the Ogun State Police Command, at the weekend, arrested 116 suspected cult members in the Ifo area of the state.

The cultists, 70 males and 46 females, who are members of the Aye Confraternity, were arrested by the command's Anti-Cultism Squad at Galaxy Hotel, Ibogun Road.

They were picked up at about 0142hrs.

According to a statement by the command, the police had a security report on the activities of the cultists in the area, and that they would be having their initiation and anniversary ceremonies.

Following the report, the Anti-Cultism Squad was drafted to the scene, leading to the arrest of the suspects.

Items recovered from them include four axes, seven cutlasses, anniversary invitation cards, banners, axes, illicit drugs, and cannabis.

The statement said: "Today 26/08/23 at about 0105hrs, based on intelligence received on the celebration of the 20th anniversary of , a.k.a Aye Confraternity, Ifo Forum, the Commissioner of Police directed the Tactical Unit and men from Ota Area Command to the scene.

"Surveillance was mounted and over 300 cult members were sighted. These included female invitees gathered for the celebration to mark Aye Day in Ogun State.

"On sighting the team of policemen who had already cordoned off the scene, they fled in different directions and 116 suspects were arrested, including 70 males and 46 females.

"Exhibits recovered from the scene during operation include four axes, representing the symbol of their confraternity, weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, cultist anniversary banner among other recoveries."

The suspects have been taken to the Eleweran police command headquarters and are currently undergoing interrogation.

The state Police Commissioner, Mr Abiodun Alamutu warned that cultists and other criminal elements should stay clear of the state.

He said the police command under him will not tolerate any criminality in whatever guise, adding that all formations in the state have the mandate to comb all dark spots to rid the state of criminals.

Appointments: Between Gbajabiamila and the merchants of falsehood

By Seyi Bakare

FALSEHOOD is not a noble tactic, but some people don’t care. And the reason is not hard to see: ambition, vaulting ambition. People who want to have anything by force, especially political power and privileges, do not care whose name is soiled, whose family is wrecked, and whose reputation is tainted: their preoccupation is self-interest writ large. And that, quite simply, is why the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, is currently the subject of acerbic attacks by certain political actors. These naysayers have literally allocated preternatural powers to the distinguished public servant and consistently lay at his doorsteps, blame for their inability to occupy appointive office at the moment. They do not care for the fact that, as our elders say, positions come at the time destined (makan makan loye’ekan), and that “the position that has reached the people of Iwo will still reach the people of Ede.” Clearly, everybody cannot be a minister. But it has become a fad for anyone who lobbied for ministerial position but did not get it to blame it on the Chief of Staff!



Such people, to read what their foot soldiers publish daily in the media, believe that it is Gbajabiamila, and not the president acting in consultation with the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the governors and other key stakeholders in the polity, that appointed ministers and board chairmen, etc, etc. They are deliberately attacking Gbajabiamila, spreading falsehood against him just to discredit him and threaten his position simply because they missed out on the ministerial and other lists. The polity, they proclaim with vigour, has become Gbajanised, except that this so-called Gbajanization has no basis in reality!!

Happily, though, Nigerians are not buying the falsehood, and that’s why sociocultural groups like the Arewa Youth Forum and Ohanaeze Youth Movement have called on Nigerians to ignore the accusations thrown at Gbajabiamila over the constitution of boards of government agencies. The youth groups in a statement by their leaders, Kabiru Yusuf, Nwabueze Obi and Ekwem Eucharia, said those attacking Hon. Gbajabiamila are just envious of progress of President Tinubu’s administration, and spreading lies to derail the Renewed Hope Agenda. They therefore appealed to Nigerians to ignore the detractors, saying that the Chief of Staff is well experienced and capable of carrying out his duties.

Fake news has a way of gaining traction where left to fester. It is no surprise, then, that the lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, James Faleke, has had to disclaim the falsehood that he got a directive from President Tinubu to compile a new list of persons for appointment as board members of government agencies and parastatals. Faleke, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, made the denial in a post via his Twitter account, putting a lie to the claim that President Tinubu rejected a list of board members submitted to him by some aides and ordered him to compile a fresh list of APC members who worked for his victory. With this clarification, you would think the merchants of falsehood would cut the President and his able Chief of Staff some slack. Alas, that’s decidedly not the case!


No one who is familiar with Gbajabiamila’s antecedents as a public servant with a sterling record and a stickler for truth, fairness and due process would entertain the absurdities ascribed to him for a second. The Surulere, Lagos-born politician cum technocrat comes to the present assignment fully qualified. He had been in the House of Reps for two decades (2003-2023), boasting a record of unblemished service. As lawmaker par excellence, he held many sensitive positions, including that of Leader of the Opposition, an era during which he gave such a good account of himself, articulating his opposition to oppression, bad governance and maladministration with unique candour. And when eventually he assumed the position of Speaker in the last dispensation, he used the position to build unity and love across political tendencies, leaving imperishable legacies on the sands of time.



In any case, throughout his sojourn in public service, he has been a very close and loyal disciple of the president. Indeed, one of the sterling qualities that made him head and shoulders above his peers was that he was a bridge builder par excellence, a force for competence, integrity and people-centred lawmaking. Gbajabiamila commanded such a level of respect from his colleagues that he was often referred to as a Speaker of Speakers and a leader of leaders. He welded together, new and old members of the Green Chamber, many of whom transited to the Senate while some emerged as ministers, placing Project Nigeria above partisan pursuits.


In appointing the distinguished lawmaker as Chief of Staff, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took his track record and the actualization of his Renewed Hope agenda into consideration. The National Assembly, let us recall, is a strategic organ of the democratic state; it serves checks and balance functions over other arms of government, performs oversight functions, makes laws and appropriates money to various ministries and parastatals. The 360 members of the Green Chamber and the 109 members of the Red Chamber represent the people of Nigeria. They screen and approve ministers before their assumption of office, and they invite ministers and their lieutenants to the legislative chamber for questioning over issues that need clarifications. It is a no-brainer, therefore, that any government that wants to succeed needs somebody who understands the workings of that arm of government, and pray, who is better suited for that role than a former Speaker, a lawmaker of two decades standing?


As Chief of Staff, Gbajabiamila’s job is a very challenging one. He should be allowed to do his job in peace. Casting needless aspersions on him won’t cut it. It’s too early to seek to derail the Tinubu administration with blatant falsehood. The media should be wary of the desperadoes planting negative stories against an innocent public officer. Fairness is more than a slogan.

Bakare sent this piece from C27 Winning Clause Estate, Gwarimpa, Abuja

ÒMÌNIRA Ọ̀DỌ́ VANGUARD, OGUN STATE.

PRESS RELEASE

..., ..... Of August, 2023.


The Òmìnira Ọ̀dọ́ Youth vanguard reiterates our support for Hon. Ladi ADEBUTU, the Ogun State People's Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 governorship election and legitimate winner of the elections.

Hon. Ladi ADEBUTU is a seasoned administrator, lawmaker, politician, and philanthropist who has over the years demonstrated his love and commitment to the betterment of the people of Ogun State. We strongly believe that our great party, the People's Democratic Party, and our candidate, with the amount of undeniable facts and evidence before the tribunal, will end up victorious at the election tribunal.

In the same vein, we condemn the incessant media attacks, both in print and new media, believed to have been sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Dr. Dapo Abiodun on the person of Hon. Ladi ADEBUTU. To set the records straight, it was Dr. Dapo Abiodun who orchestrated the largest vote buying across all sectors in the just concluded 2023 gubernatorial elections in Ogun State.

We urge our party members and teeming supporters to continue to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding, as we are sure of reclaiming our mandate through the tribunal, which is set to deliver its judgment on September 4, 2023.

Thank you all, and God bless.


E-Signed;

COKER Oluwapelumi.
CONVENER

PDP/Adebutu's case against Abiodun pack of lies, distortions, says APC, gov in final written address

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the March 18 governorship election in Ogun State, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, are on a wild goose chase at the Ogun State Election Petitions Tribunal, as their petitions rest on inconsistencies and distortions, Governor Dapo Abiodun and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have said.

Abiodun and the Ogun State Chapter of the APC made this submission in their final written addresses as respondents in the case brought against them, arguing that the petitioners did an awful job and failed to prove their case.

This, they said, was because Adebutu and PDP presented tutored and unreliable witnesses, relied on documents that contradicted their witnesses' case, and presented experts whose testimonies and documents lacked probative value.

They argued that Adebutu and PDP who are accused of vote buying with credible evidence, have unclean hands and could not receive equity with those unclean hands.

They further said that out of the 87 witnesses of the petitioners, 38 stated they were polling unit agents but did not tender any evidence to prove their claim, adding that the 49 who testified as voters testified the same thing word for word, making the same mistakes, thereby creating a situation where the tribunal ought to hold that their depositions were too obvious to be coincidental and were therefore unbelievable and of no probative value.

Arguing that the petition itself was based on provisions of the Electoral Act that do not support the margin of lead principle, Abiodun/APC contended that while the Margin of Lead principle is rooted in section 134 of the Electoral Act, the petition is based on sections 24, 47, 51, and 62 of the Electoral Act.

Relying on the Supreme Court verdict in Oyetola v. Adeleke, they argued that the petitioners did not prove overvoting, as Adebutu did not tender the BVAS machines for any of the 990 units complained about and did not even tender any BVAS machine.

Again, while noting that the petitioners expressly stated that Governor Abiodun was "duly sponsored" by APC, the respondents said Adebutu did not present any evidence to back his forgery allegation against Abiodun, and that at the governor's request, the Tribunal summoned a WAEC official who produced a certified copy of the same certificate that the governor submitted to INEC.

They further said that while the petitioners claimed that Governor Abiodun should not be Governor because he had been convicted in Miami, USA, they provided no judgment in evidence of the alleged conviction.

Arguing that non-qualification is different from disqualification, Abiodun/APC said that even if such judgment exists, it relates to events that purportedly happened 37 years ago, whereas a disqualifying conviction must occur within the last ten years preceding the candidate's election.

They added that while the petitioners claimed that Adebutu and PDP scored the majority of lawful votes after APC's unlawful votes are deducted and their own excluded votes added, they never proved the unlawful votes credited to Governor Abiodun or the source of their excluded votes, even as the figures in the petition (63,015 and 35,228) conflicted with the figures in their witness' report (62,998 and 34,368)

Finally, while indicating that the petitioners provided no admissible evidence to prove their allegations of vote-buying against Governor Abiodun, the respondents drew the tribunal's attention to the massive and proven details of vote-buying conducted by Adebutu during the election, which had been established in two police investigation reports and for which Adebutu (now at large) and other PDP chieftains are standing criminal trial.

ICPC ranks Ede Poly 1st in Osun on Ethics & Integrity Compliance Scorecard

The Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State has been adjudged as 1st in the recent ranking carried out by Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission(ICPC) on Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS) among MDAs in Nigeria.

The Polytechnic moved from a score of 50.45% in the year 2021 to 71.1% in 2022, with a ranking of 101 out of 404 MDAs and 1st in Osun.

This feat, therefore, has elicited huge applause and commendations from across the country and within the Polytechnic community on the quality leadership and prudent inclination of the management team led by the Rector, Engr. Dr. Man Yahaya Sani.

Meanwhile, the Rector, in his reaction through a congratulatory message to the Polytechnic Community signed by the Protocol, Media and Public Relations Officer, Sola Lawal, admonished the entire Polytechnic community to be patriotic and diligent at all times.

He urged them to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently in accordance with extant laws of the land, advising them to be prudent and follow due process in their day-to-day activities.

The Rector, also enjoined the entire workforce of the institution to sustain the tempo of excellence and accountability as the hallmark of the school and work assiduously as good ambassadors of the Polytechnic.

He, then used the medium to commend the Chairman, Anti corruption and transparency unit, of the school, Engr. Goddy Enwerem, for his efforts so far in ensuring openess and accountability in all strata of the institution and total eradication of every form of infraction in the system.

Channel your complaint about Abeokuta-Ibadan road to FG, Ogun govt urges Obong of Calabar


The Ogun State Government, on Friday,said the Obong of Calabar, His Royal Majesty, Edidem Abasi, directed his attack on the deplorable state of the
Abeokuta-Ibadan road at the wrong quarters.


The Obong, who is the Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), had on Thursday lamented the poor state of some roads in the state.


But the state government, in a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Works, Engr. Ade Akinsanya, said the road in question belongs to the Federal Government.


He said that the Dapo Abiodun administration in Ogun State had been giving quality and adequate attention to all roads in the state, whether federal, state or local. This, he said, had led to the rehabilitation of over 400 roads.


Besides, according Akinsanya, the contract for the rehabilitation of the road has been awarded to Kopek, which has already started work from the Ibadan end.


He added that the state government started working on the road from Adatan in Abeokuta but the Federal Government directed the State Government to stop construction at Moore Junction because it asked KOPEK to take over the road.


Akinsanya noted that the state government was yet to receive major refund from the federal government on the money expended on federal roads.


He listed some of the roads to include; Ijebu-Ode-Mojoda-Epe, Lafenwa-Rounda (to be extended to Alamala), and Atan-Lusada-Agbara road, adding that part of the Sango Ota-Abeokuta road had been done, especially the Sango Ota area.


The statement reads: "On Thursday, the Obong of Calabar and Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), His Royal Majesty, Edidem Abasi, was reported to have lamented the deplorable condition of roads in Ogun State. Narrating his unpleasant experience on the way to the university to attend some of the activities marking its 30th convocation ceremony, the Obong called on traditional rulers in the state to use their offices to appeal to Governor Dapo Abiodun to pay attention to the roads.


"The Obong reportedly stated this at his lodge within the university campus when he played host to three traditional rulers in the state, namely the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle; the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Saka Matemilola, and the Ajalaye of Ilogun South, Ijebu Northeast, Oba Emmanuel Olusanu.



"Without necessarily joining issues with His Majesty, there is a need to make a clarification. The road about which the revered traditional ruler spoke, namely the Abeokuta-Ibadan road, is a federal road. We are aware that it is residents of Ogun State that inhabit the area but there is still a need to set the records straight. "Interestingly, the road in question has now been awarded by the Federal Government to Kopek Nigeria Ltd.


"To be sure, the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led government in Ogun State has, in line with his ISEYA agenda, been giving quality attention to all roads in the state regardless of their ownership status.



"For instance, the Atan-Lusada-Agbara road being rehabilitated by the Ogun State government is a federal road, just like the roads in Sango-Ota which are receiving adequate attention. Others include Epe-Ijebu Ode road, Siun -Kobape-Abeokuta road .



"It is important to recognize that because of the way Ogun as a Gateway State that borders Lagos, Oyo, Ondo and the Republic of Benin is configured, it has many federal roads which the State Government are also working on.The Ogun State government has had to repair many of them and awaiting refund from the Federal Government.



"The Obong, a Federal Government appointee, directed his plea to the wrong quarters. It is the Federal Government that has authority over the road.



"On Ogun State’s part, the state government has been able to do over 400 kilometres of roads across the state. Indeed, there would still be work left to do if the Ogun State government devoted all its resources to reconstructing federal roads in the state. They are that extensive.


"Our revered traditional rulers are urged to seek clarifications and make investigations into issues so that they do not direct their grievances at the wrong authority and make statements that may put government in bad light.


"The Obong of Calabar should plead for the immediate release of funds to Kopek rather than making sweeping allegations against the Ogun State government."

Adeniyi Sanni’s murder: Abiodun commiserates Sen. Adeola, family members, calls for swift action to nab perpetrators

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has condoled the Senator representing Ogun West senatorial district, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, over the killing of his aide, Adeniyi Sanni, on Saturday in Lagos, calling for an immediate and discreet investigation to unravel the assailants and bring them to book.

The governor, in a statement issued by his media office in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Sunday, also sympathized with the family of the deceased, describing the killing as cruel and barbaric, adding that such a heinous act can never go unpunished.

He extolled the virtues of the slain aide while alive, saying his exemplary record of diligence, creativity and loyalty while serving his principal would be sorely missed.

"The cold-blooded murder of Niyi Sanni, one of the closest aides of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, the Senator representing Ogun West senatorial district on Saturday was bestial, inhuman and barbaric to say the least; it was a very sad development in our polity.

"By his record, the late Sanni was very diligent and loyal, a very responsible and reliable Nigerian, who was cut short in his prime by enemies of humanity.

"On behalf of the government and the good people of Ogun State, I deeply commiserate with Senator Adeola and colleagues of the late aide in the office, as well as family members he left behind. May God in his infinite mercy grant them the necessary strength to bear the irreplaceable loss, as I pray God to rest the soul of the departed.

"I also charge security agencies to quickly move and deploy all their apparatus in intelligence gathering as a matter of exigency to fish out every individual behind the dastardly act and make them face the long arm of law," the statement read.

Ede Poly emerges 6th best Polytechnic in Nigeria by 2023 Webometrics ranking

The Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State, has been ranked the 6th best Polytechnic in Nigeria by the 2023 ranking of Webometrics, going by its degree of academic excellence and stable academic activities among other considerations.

The ranking analysis indicated that the citadel of learning, which proudly parades over 80 PhD holders with global academic reckoning, performed better than many notable universities in Nigeria.

Recall that two students from the Polytechnic recently clinched second and third positions respectively in the Students' Projects competition organized by the Committee of Deans of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, in which they were selected to represent the South West zone in Abuja.

In a congratulatory message to the polytechnic community by the Rector of the school, Engr. Dr. Man Yahaya Sani, signed by the institution's Protocol, Media and Public Relations Officer, Sola Lawal, mnpr, a copy which was made available to newsmen on Sunday in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, the Rector commended the resilience, doggedness and total commitment on the part of members of staff since he assumed the mantle of leadership on Monday 2nd January, 2023.

He added that the enviable feats the schools had attained since then were total reflection of the collective efforts of every member of the Polytechnic community, and a testament to spirit of cordiality and cohesion among management, members of staff and students alike, urging them to sustain the tempo.

Engr. Dr Man Yahaya, also used the medium to appeal to the students to take their studies serious and be a good ambassadors of the institution wherever they found themselves in future.

He said, management is committed to providing enabling environment for learning and the students must reciprocate the gestures for the upliftment of the institution.

August 4, 2023.

The Editor
Punch Newspaper

Dear Sir,

RE: DSS GRILLS OGUN SSG OVER BALLOT PAPER PRINTING, COVID-19 FUND
Our attention has been drawn to an unethical report by Mr. Daud Olatunji and published in The Punch of Saturday, August 4, 2023 titled DSS grills Ogun SSG over ballot paper printing, COVID-19 fund
The highly misleading report whose author is notorious for unethical journalism, has left us, like many other avid readers of your publications wandering, if this is The Punch that we used to know.

Superflux Nigeria Limited, a security printing company, where Mr Talabi once held sway as Director had earlier issued a statement, which was widely used in both the print media and various online platforms, describing as barbaric and spurious, allegations that the company was contracted to print ballots papers by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) as well as money laundering, and in the process linked the SSG to the frivolous allegations.

The company in the said statement also frowned at being tagged as conduit for money laundering, siphoning COVID19 funds, saying such allegations are clearly handiworks of mischief makers and traducers who were hell bent to tarnish the reputation of the company before it's numerous customers and that of it's former Director, who is presently the Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi.

It was against this backdrop that Mr Talabi petitioned the DSS and subsequently visited the service to defend his petition and provide more clarification.

It is then worrisome and shocking the way the report projected a petitioner as an accused person, as the reporter knew that it was the SSG who actually submitted a petition to the security agency asking for investigation of the baseless, evil and politically motivated allegations against him by faceless people. His visit to DSS office to speak to his petition did not last more than 40 minutes.

Why your reporter has chosen to mislead his editors with the report full of contradictions may not be unconnected with the information among the correspondents circle that he has been promised the slot of Chief Press Secretary by political opponents who are obviously day dreaming of unseating the present Administration in the state.


We are aware that last year, The Punch, unusually, was forced to do a retraction based on the complaint of the Ogun State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) against a report filed by this same unethical journalist. We are also aware that, on another incident, the management of The Punch placed the same reporter on suspension for weeks.

It now seems he has damned the management and ready to go for the broke since he has assurance of employment and regular compensation by his political sponsors.

Sir, we urge you to investigate yet another sub-standard report by Mr. Olatunji and take corrective steps to save the reputation your newspaper organisation has made over the decades; probably when Olatunji has not entered elementary school.

Sincerely,

E-signed

Adegoke Oyebade,

Information Officer,

Office of Secretary to Ogun State Government