₦airaland Forum

My take

I have taken time to study this situation seriously, both as a man who has practically lived in Ibadan since 1965 and although, I’m Lagos bred, Ibadan is my permanent home.

First it’s sad that Ayefeles property was demolished, but I note it was not total.

But even a brick that someone worked for is important. I used to be a budding musician and know how hard it is to make one kobo from music.

I’m always gratified to see a musician build even a bungalow, not even the huge edifice that sprang up at the entrance to challenge roundabout which he built.

However let’s leave the aforesaid as tangential, or I would be as guilty as YA supporters, who plead they were witchhunted, without any evidence that they complied with the building code.

By the way, this code is prescribed by government, inspected by government and enforced by government and not on popular sentiment, however popular the owner is.

The fact that you can bribe your way in breach, or that thousands are in breach of this code does not stand up in law.

However let’s examine the technicalities succinctly.

Unless your eyes need examining, I have passed the building many times and wondered, a contractor myself , how on earth can someone build so close to the dual carriageway.

Even as a layman I saw buildings on the set back.

Though this is in no way justifies the demolition, but clearly, those who breach this code are gambling with their property.

That one gets away with it, in no way obviates the social deviation caused by such structures.

The gamble you make is that you hope forever, no one notices, and usually that the tip you gave the low level town planning officials to look the other way, lasts forever.

In this case, however, for one reason or the other, it appears that this structure came to public attention of a commissioner and governor.

Vindictive you say?
I’ll come to that, I’ll but site examples which may buttress government resolve to make a scapegoat out of an alleged societal deviation from the building code.

I live in Bashorun in my own house since 1993. A year ago there was massive demolition which was unimaginable.

I’ve been passing Bashorun because road for over 25 years, and I could not imagine that many huge houses were actually encroaching on the proposed expressway, long since earmarked for that area.

The bulldozers came.
because itself lost structure, Islamic High School and many many structures bigger than Ayefeles were literally cut in half!!!

This was done by bulldozers and, by the way, they don’t have to come during office hours.

In fact, judging by the crowd of fans who came later, it appears a wise move to come at dawn, rather than risk lives and possible violence, if a crowd confronted the demolition men.

I reiterate at this juncture to say that I am not supportive of any demolition, but facts must be devoid of sentiment.

If there can be massive massive demolition under Ajimobi at Bashorun then why not Ayefeles at challenge?

All musicians have fans and the amount of love and support expressed should not obfuscate facts.

Again, on the way to my budding estate on old Ife road, I saw massive demolition for up to 3 miles from Gate to Airport road. Buildings again cut in half.
Huge earth works and massive drainage.
A new expressway ongoing.
The benefit of all Ibadan, rather than a few landlord money bags.

My people, I love and will die in Ibadan, but it is the most unplanned city ever.

Even new areas are turned into dead end, and what I call the ‘agbole ‘ mentality.

Churches built in residential area with no parking at all. Express way turn to single lane with kiosk and sheds.

Ajimobi transformed Ibadan more than any living government since 1965 when AG and NNDP started their fight which paralysed development on the alter of politics.

Tell me which government has done more in terms of infrastructure and modernisation of Ibadan?

Now to Ayefeles arguement that it was a witch hunt.

I don’t listen to his FM, but let’s look at it dispassionately.

I have courted the press in my activism for over 30 years and I know a thing or two about confronting government.
Not for political ends but to effect social change and exposure of fraud in high places.

First is that Nigerian politicians don’t like to be held accountable or portrayed in bad light or even criticised.

Musicians have long been used for political purposes, from Ogunde to Sonny Okosun to Fela.

All politicians want you to sing their praise and if you deviate, they try to cultivate you, first.

That government uses radio station to propagate views is no big deal. Ajimobi may well have on air interviews on your FM, but that does not insulate you from government ire, if they think you work for the opposition.

I’m again not saying that the FM was partisan. But politicians are at a crossroad now, with Nigerian politics in a state of serious anomy. Carpet crossing.
You don’t know who is who?

If I were government I’d be very jittery. This is no time for a maverick FM station. That is if his station starts to air anti government posting.

But even if it were so, why Aiyefele?
Why target his building?

You see, radio is a very very powerful weapon and if I want to enter politics I would seek to control or corner its views.
Question of objectivity is after election.

In election time, any press that just even looks like it’s criticising government needs to be bought over or shown who is boss.

Music is music. Praise singer is praise singer, but a radio with millions of listeners?
It’s gotta be taken out or forced to toe the line.

My speculation is that the building code had been breached long long time, but government sought to assert control by dusting up old files and writing to them to regularise the buildings.

No evidence of letter of reply is given by Ayefele.

My friends, when you are in the crosshairs of a government desperate to retail political power as APC are in the West, and they write to you to
“ come regularise”
you do not ignore their letter.

They want you to come negotiate.
What you don’t do is silence then go to court.

Ah! Eyin boys. Take government to court? Why not? But you see, those who come to equity must come with clean hands.

Obviously there is a written breach of the building code communicated since 2017. You now go to court to contest and government rightly or wrongly perceive a challenge.
What do you want them to do?

There’s a note of inspection which clearly states the breach.

Three day letter is all the law requires.
Now it’s demolished, and the case is still in court.

This is not new. Ask Maroko, people, ask the inhabitants of Jemibewon Road,

What is different is that Ayefele says his own is personal. That because his radio did not support government. That one commissioner is behind his travails.

Well good luck to him in court.
He’s going to learn a lesson that it’s difficult to fight government.

In 1983 my friends and I had the most successful night club ever in Ibadan called Aristocat which was rented from Odua, a government company.

We were there for 4 years then government gave immediate quit notice in the middle of that years rent. It was the former deputy governor residence which we renovated.

We investigated and discovered
that a political party affiliated with government found out that that building was next to a proposed FEDECO office and “games” were about to be played with election materials.

Our legal advise was that if government wants something badly they’ll get it. If not , it’s your tax clearance. If not, it’s your building permit. Your office registration.
Then your business permit. Then your liquor licence. Then fire and safety. And if not.... your life.


So we cut our losses and closed Aristocat which was loosing money anyway by that time.

So my advise to Ayefele. If your FM wants to be a fearless voice of the people, holding all politicians to account, you need to gird your loins.

When you want to be the champion of the masses, politicians will come at you.

Get a damn good lawyer. Fela had Kanmi Oshobu. Full time.

But my candid advise? Let it go.
Regularise your papers. Go to court and get compensation.

If you want to make money out of your radio, avoid partisan politics which killed Sketch.

Calling out a commissioner is an exercise in futility.

Ask for intercession with government and
unless you are in the opposition, it’s not really worth it.

Stick to your gospel songs. Or find a Gani and become the people’s champion.

Your choice.

Dr Dolapo Sikuade

Did Ayefele tell you that he received the first letter on 14th June, 2017?

Did Ayefele tell you that they served him letters four times and he did not respond?

Did Ayefele tell you that they gave him more than 7days ultimatum according to the laws of demolition?

Did Ayefele tell you that he was contacted by the ministry before demolition?

Did Ayefele tell you that bulldozer was at the Music House for three days before demolition?

Did Ayefele tell you that only the extension was demolished and the building still stands?

AJIMOBI REMAINS THE KOSELERI OF OYO STATE

Yes, it has never happened in Oyo state that the laws of the state will be greater than individual or certain set of famous and popular persons.

We will never forgive, and we will never FORGET !!

George Stinney Jr, of African descent, was the youngest person to be executed in the 20th century in the United States.

This young black was only 14 years old at the time of his execution by electric chair.
70 years later, his innocence has just been officially recognized by a judge in South Carolina.
From his trial to the execution room, the boy always had his Bible in his hands while claiming his innocence.

George was unfairly accused of murdering two White girls (Betty 11 and Mary 7), whose bodies had been found not far from the house where the boy and his parents lived. At that time, all the members of the jury were white. The trial lasted 2H30, and the jury made the decision of his sentence after 10 minutes.

The boy's parents, threatened, were barred from taking part in the trial after being ordered to leave the city.
Prior to his trial, George spent 81 days in detention without the possibility of seeing his parents for the last time.

He was imprisoned

On Fresh FM Demolition Notice

I love Fresh FM. That's the only station I listen to in Ibadan. Fresh FM is a breath of fresh air (no pun intended) to radio broadcast in Ibadan. From the days of Radio O-Y-O with impresarios such as the ageless Yanju Adegbite (your music merchant), Aunty Deola Alagbe and the popular duo Komolafe Olaiya and Olalomi Amole, to Splash FM with the innovative and pacesetting Yoruba newspapering programme 'T'ifun T'edo with Kolawole Ladoke, Aunty Folake Otuyelu and others, now to the creativity of Fresh FM, radio broadcast has never been this fun and competitive.

Ibadan has a bouquet of radio stations such as Inspiration FM, Petals, Lagelu FM, 32FM, Naija FM, Lead FM, Space FM, Star FM, Impact Business Radio, Amuludun FM, Oluyole FM, Beats Radio, Diamond FM and Raypower FM among others including those previously mentioned, it is quite clear that Fresh FM is the undisputed leader.

O Gbenutan is a programme almost everyone tunes to in Ibadan. The use of Yoruba language and the delivery is so succinct you can't afford not to love the programme. It's a daily five-star broadcast. Freshly Pressed is absolutely good. I have fallen in love with Alhaji Abolade Salami's night broadcast where he tries to mediate on community issues with some other elders in the land. I was glued to the radio in my car the night Oga Yinka Ayefele had to take over the driver's seat and mediate between Alhaji Salami and a popular female Muslim travel agent, Alhaja Kaola. One of my favourites remain Enitan EOB and Yinka Ayefele's collabo. That is one programme that flows with unusual creativity and wit. Initially, I wasn't impressed with Rolake Bello on her evening shift but she has now settled into her own skin. Olalomi Amole and Komolafe Olaiya are simply ageless. They have reinvented themselves and refused to go away. Kenny Ogunmiloro is in a class of his own in terms of sports presentation. Lori Papa with Mr Sports is the best Yoruba sports presentation anywhere. You can take that to the bank.

My all-time favourite however is the Thursday Mind Your Language with Adedotun Adeniyi. That guy is good! And the programme is absolutely educative. His delivery is flawless and unique. It seems all the presenters were carefully selected and that is why the station keeps getting rave reviews every time.

So it is understandable that the demolition notice served on the station will cause some public uproar. However, where sentiment rules, truth is the first casualty. Did Fresh FM contravene Urban planning and building regulations? I think this is the key issue. Were they served demolition notice in the past? I think this has been acknowledged. Have they regularized deficiencies noted at that time? That is a question to answer.

Looking at the road as you approach the Music House, it's quite obvious that certain things are not right. We can't violate town planning policies and regulations and leverage on public approval to whip up support. It doesn't even matter whatever we feel about the government of the day. Laws are laws. No one should be above them.

I suggest Fresh FM can approach the courts for a stay of the exercise while they approach the State Government to consider regularization of identified breaches. I also think this issue was badly managed by Fresh FM as it shouldn't have been made a public issue. I listened to many callers on their programmes yesterday and it was akin to whipping up public sentiment.
That was a faux pas.

Credit:Sharon

Oyo goes tough on human traffickersLIFESTYLE

BY QUICKSILVER

Oyo State Government has vowed to bring to book any culprit found culpable human trafficking in the state.

This came to the fore during a meeting between the State Government officials and Stakeholders in the Travels and Tours industry at the State Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism in Ibadan during the week.

The State Government condemned the spate of trafficking especially women and girl child, calling on parents, guardians, residents and its citizens to prioritize their values and desist from employing the services of visa fraudsters and traffickers in order to seek greener pastures.

The State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun decried the increase in human trafficking and the attendant unholy acts of slavery and prostitution, assuring that the government will not negate its responsibility of protecting the citizens of the state.

He appealed to the governing body of National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) and National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to collaborate with the State Government in apprehending travel agencies and individuals who engage in human trafficking.

Arulogun expressed government’s commitment to protecting the lives of its citizenry, noting, “the Oyo State Government has been inundated with series of complains from the citizens on how citizens of the state for prey to the antics of these human traffickers who promise greener pasture but turn their victims to slaves in the foreign land.

“These traffickers dangle juicy carrots of greener pastures at their would be victims but the victims end up coming back with harrowing experiences. We owe it to the people to protect them from unpleasant experiences and this is why we are calling on all stakeholders to see to the end of this unholy act. We urge the media to verify the success stories of these so called travel tours before airing their commercials to save a lot of innocent souls,” Arulogun explained.

In his own remarks, the Special Adviser to Governor Ajimobi on Community Relations, Mr. Abidemi Siyanbade said with the collaboration of NANTA and security agencies in the State, the State Government will soon curb the activities of fake travel agencies, who sell women and girls into slavery outside the country.

Speaking, the National Vice President, NANTA, Mr. Dagunduro Olatokunbo called for urgent action in sensitizing the populace about the dangers involved in such journeys to the diaspora.

A person assistant who symbolizes the ideals of loyalty and service,we join Governor Abiola Ajimobi to wish Mr Dayo Iyaniwura,a Happy Birthday and more fulfilling years ahead.

Senators Fatai Buhari and Soji Akanbi were also on hand,together with some members of the Governor’s staff to celebrate the Senior Special Assistant.


Photo Credit: Tolani Alli

OYO SAFE CITY PROJECT: CCTV installation enters advanced stage.

The installation of CCTVs at chosen and strategic locations across Ibadan, the state capital, under the Oyo Safe City Project initiative, has entered an advanced stage.

The main aim of this initiative, commissioned in the last quarter of 2017, is to complement the existing security apparatus in the state and make Oyo state even more secure, and smartly at that.

In developed countries all over the world, this technological and digital way of aiding security rose to prominence after the 9/11 terrorism attacks, and has since remained a key component of community security setup.

The major advantages of this technology include boosting vigilance, providing intelligence, premptimg and preventing crime and ultimately promoting justice. These are the advantages the Oyo State government have decided to graft into its proactive security efforts.

These CCTVs will be manned and synchronized with a main control center to ultimately aid the efforts of all security agencies in Oyo state with its provisionnof real-time feeds and information.

In an explanatory remark, the Special Adviser on Security to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Mr. Segun Bolarinwa, reinstated that the SAFE CITY Project was developed in tandem with the government's recognition of security as the bedrock and foundation of development, adding that the Safe City/CCTV Initiative will help sustain the peace and security that the current administration has managed to achieve.

Additionally, the Special Adviser ICT, Mr. Niyi Ajao, in a brief remark stated that the configuration and site installation is also ongoing across locations within Ibadan as well as remote connectivity tests to the data center/command room.

The implementation of the Safe City Project involves a working partnership between the Oyo State Security Trust Fund (OYSSTF), the OYSG-ICT department, and a couple of multinationals including HUAWEI, MTN, and others, like the Ibadan Electrical Distribution Company (IBEDC) and Fast Deploy; not without mentioning the superb support of the communities hosting these strategic locations.

Pics don't lie,this pics we saw shows us how the Gov himself piloted you into his suv. You didn't enter by force. What goes around comes around,ve you forgotten when you father was the Gov of Oyo state how you intimidate people?

It's unfortunate you came up with this kind of story,what we saw in the pics that went viral was the Gov piloting you to his own suv. Pics don't lie,as you pose.....does it look like u were forcing your way into this suv?you should ve a bit of conscience,ve always thought you ve intergrity. Don't get over ambitious,try on build on what your father has built. Where you are today is God,what your father did and Ajimobi.

[sup][/sup]It's sad if you can come up with this kind of story,in the pics that went viral what we saw was the Gov piloting you to his own suv. Pics don't lie,as you pose..... How come you are claiming he pushed you? You should ve a bit of conscience Dapo,dont ruin the name your father has built with intergrity. Don't get over ambitious....where you are today is God,Ajimobi and what your father did in the past.....

OYO WARNS TROUBLE MAKERS TO STEER CLEAR OF LG ELECTIONS, CONGRESSES

NEWS BY QUICKSILVER

Oyo State Government has warned groups and individuals against activities capable of disrupting Saturday’s local government election and party congresses, saying that security operatives have been put on red alert to ensure peaceful conduct of both exercises.

A statement by the Executive Assistant, Political to the Governor, Dr. Morohunkola Thomas, on Thursday, said that the warning became necessary following the fresh plans by dissident groups and their sympathisers within the All progressives Congress to cause mayhem on Saturday.

Following the scuttling of the initial plans of the group to burn down the state secretariat of the APC, he said that intelligence revealed that they are restrategising to disrupt the peace of the land and render the LG election and congresses inconclusive.

The government said that necessary security arrangements have been put in place to protect lives and property and to ensure that residents exercise their franchise without let or hindrance.

According to him, latest intelligence has revealed that the members of the Unity Forum are planning to use their thugs to unleash terror on innocent electorate and loyal members of the APC.

He said that the government appealed to all citizens, including the self-styled Unity Forum to embrace peace and allow the elections to hold in a peaceful atmosphere in the overall interest of the state and sanctity of democracy.

“The government has put security operatives on red alert to ensure the safety of election officials and voters. It has therefore become necessary to warn groups and individuals bent on fomenting trouble on Saturday to have a rethink.

“The law of the land is no respecter of anybody, no matter his or her position in the society. As leaders in their own right, those crying blue murder should rise above pettiness and join hands with the government and our great party.

“The government is using this opportunity to caution all political parties, including APC and their followers against any act of violence before, during and after the local government election and party congresses. The full weight of the law will be visited on troublemakers without discrimination.

“The government wishes to tell the public that an earlier interim injunction stopping the LG election had been vacated by a Federal High Court, Ibadan, thus clearing obstacles before the conduct of the election.”

Oyo Government Uncovers Plot To Burn APC Secretariat

NEWS BY QUICKSILVER

The Oyo State Government said it has uncovered a sinister plot by the self-styled Unity Forum, a dissident group within the All Progressives Congress (APC), to burn down the state secretariat of the party in their desperate bid to scuttle Saturday’s local government election and party congresses.

The government said that it received intelligence that members of the group have been holding clandestine meetings at different locations in Ibadan to perfect the plot by recruiting thugs to carry out this hatchet job.

A statement on Wednesday by the Executive Assistant, Political to the Governor, Dr. Morounkola Thomas, said that the group included some members of the House of Representatives, a minister, as well as former and serving political office holders

As a decoy, the state government said that the same set of people have been going around and granting press interviews claiming that the state Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, was after their lives.

The statement said that the group has been meeting in the homes of two of their members in Bodija and Samonda areas of Ibadan, with a view to causing chaos and panic among the good people of Oyo State.

The government, however, warned the group to be prepared to bear the consequences of their planned action having taken precautionary measures to scuttle their plans, while it urged law-abiding citizens to go about their businesses without fear.

“Oyo State is peaceful and will remain peaceful with the support of every law-abiding citizen. The governor has been a peace-loving leader and chief promoter of peace in the last seven years of his administration.

“He will, therefore, not fold his arms and allow any group or individual, irrespective of status, to take the state back to the dark era of political brigandage and violence.

“The protesting members of the House of Representatives and their leaders are all beneficiaries of Governor Ajimobi’s generosity and should be grateful to him, instead of biting the fingers that fed them.

“We are aware that they are looking for relevance and the only way they can get this is by linking Governor Ajimobi to the imaginary threat to their lives and well-being. Would anyone planning to injure you inform you before the act? They should have come up with a more believable tale.

“These are the governor’s political sons and I don’t know what will profit a father to kill his own son. The Almighty has been sufficiently good to him with every sense of modesty and he will not take issues further with them.

“All their tantrums are mere distractions and a plot to derail the governor from his focused cardinal objectives of transformation, reformation and repositioning agenda, which have indubitably transformed the face and fortunes of the state.

“It sounds unbelievable that the said Reps members and their ilk could claim that the same governor who single-handedly propelled them from political irrelevance to the limelight will now be plotting to take their lives.

“The ward congresses have come and gone. The congress committee and the so-called Unity Forum adjudged the congress to be free and fair. An appeal committee has been put in place and I will only advise those aggrieved with the outcome of the congress to explore the opportunity.

“The governor has turned his attention to the task for which he was elected for the second term by the good people of Oyo State and will not allow himself to be distracted by the noise of the marketplace. I will rather advise them to get busy with the business of lawmaking for which they were elected.”

Is Dapo Lam Adesina a liar? [PHOTO Exposé]

Dapo lam Adesina and his cohorts have been lying all weekend till now that Governor Abiola Ajimobi attacked, pushed and shoved him violently, at the Oyo State party secretariat, Oke-ado on Saturday. This was has the party prepared for its statewide ward congress.

Dapo Lam Adesina, in a blatant show of desperation, specifically said the Governor was after his life, while addressing the press in the company and of Communications Minister, Adebayo Shittu, and Senator Monsura Sunmonu

Whereas, the true picture of what happened was that Ajimobi, a sitting Governor but father first, shielded Dapo into the Official Governor's car, to protect him from the resistance the people wanted to unleash on him for trying to disrupt the ward congress proceedings.

Does this make a Dapo Lam Adesina, a supposed Honourable member of the House of Representatives, a dishonorable liar

Well, pictures don't lie!

Please, what was Adeolu Akande doing with the Appeal Committee by 12 midnight at Golden Tulip with 'Ghana Must Go'?
Na wa ooh!

Are these people true party faithful like this?
#OyoAPCWardCongress

Hon Saheed Akinade Fijabi Urge the People of Ibadan and Oyo State

Hon Saheed Akinade-Fijabi, Chairman House committee On Communication Federal Republic of Nigeria, has called on the good people of Ibadan and Oyo State Generality to unite against all forms of division currently threatening the peace of the State.

He made this call at the meeting held in Ibadan the capital of Oyo State

The Chairman Committee on communication urged all APC stakeholders across the state to make the required sacrifice and forge a united front to defeat the Opposition.

He urge all Oyo State Citizens to be calm and be of good behaviour as many opportunities is in our doorstep

Hon. Saheed Akinade Fijabi said Governor Abiola Ajimobi has reposition the state on a true path to peace and prosperity via restructuring and strengthening of critical national institutions of Government.

Let us come together to rally round and support the Good work of our Governor, Together we can build it

Ki Oyo leee daaaaa
Ajumose gbogbo Wa ni

OYO APC WARD CONGRESS: Questions for Minister Adebayo Shittu and his group

It is important to caution the Minister of Communication, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu and his group made up of Senator Monsurat Sumonu, Dapo Lam- Adesina et al. After his attempts to take over party secretariat with thugs was thwarted, he is now crying foul.

Pls kindly ask them, What was their business at the party secretariat when Congress was supposed to take place in the wards. Shittu is from Saki West LG. Monsurat Sunmonu was from Oyo West LG. Fatai Ibikunle from Ibarapa East while Prof Deolu Akande is from Itesiwaju and Dapo Lam-Adesina from Ibadan South East LG. So what were they all doing in Oke Ado (Ibadan South West) which is Hon Fijabi local govt if not to forment trouble.

Now, security agents stood up to them and they are now changing the story. It won't work. When the plan to disrupt proceedings was thwarted, they have again gone to town that SENACO group is distributing fake forms at one time they even claimed that the group was shopping for a bank to issue teller.

That is what happens when lies are not properly co-ordinated and there's no way it can be because they are lies and must always, constantly change. Is he saying that SENACO did not purchase form for lack of money, knowing fully well it is a precondition?

The lies will just not fly.

We know their plans to bring in fake forms, unknown to them that there is a way to identify the fake from the original. Congress is ongoing and it is peaceful.

Let me also caution the Minister before he is led to Golgotha. He is swimming with sharks.

Senator Monsurat and Hon.Dapo Lam Adesina are working for Lanlehin and by extension Ladoja. As for Prof Deolu Akande, he is a well-known Atiku man. When their task is done...hmmmn, a word of caution for the wise.

Though wisdom is not the forte of some people.

APC IN OYO WILL STAND FIRM!

OYO APC WARD CONGRESS: Questions for Minister Adebayo Shittu and his group

It is important to caution the Minister of Communication, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu and his group made up of Senator Monsurat Sumonu, Dapo Lam- Adesina et al. After his attempts to take over party secretariat with thugs was thwarted, he is now crying foul.

Pls kindly ask them, What was their business at the party secretariat when Congress was supposed to take place in the wards. Shittu is from Saki West LG. Monsurat Sunmonu was from Oyo West LG. Fatai Ibikunle from Ibarapa East while Prof Deolu Akande is from Itesiwaju and Dapo Lam-Adesina from Ibadan South East LG. So what were they all doing in Oke Ado (Ibadan South West) which is Hon Fijabi local govt if not to forment trouble.

Now, security agents stood up to them and they are now changing the story. It won't work. When the plan to disrupt proceedings was thwarted, they have again gone to town that SENACO group is distributing fake forms at one time they even claimed that the group was shopping for a bank to issue teller.

That is what happens when lies are not properly co-ordinated and there's no way it can be because they are lies and must always, constantly change. Is he saying that SENACO did not purchase form for lack of money, knowing fully well it is a precondition?

The lies will just not fly.

We know their plans to bring in fake forms, unknown to them that there is a way to identify the fake from the original. Congress is ongoing and it is peaceful.

Let me also caution the Minister before he is led to Golgotha. He is swimming with sharks.

Senator Monsurat and Hon.Dapo Lam Adesina are working for Lanlehin and by extension Ladoja. As for Prof Deolu Akande, he is a well-known Atiku man. When their task is done...hmmmn, a word of caution for the wise.

Though wisdom is not the forte of some people.

APC IN OYO WILL STAND FIRM!

Clarification on Oyo State 3-day mourning period for Rt Hon Adeyemo


The sudden death of the Honourable Speaker of the  Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Michael Adesina Adeyemo  has left the whole state in a sober mood and since the sad incident, the State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi led the State Executive Council and Assembly members on a condolence visit to the deceased's country home, Lanlate.

Governor Ajimobi had earlier declared a three- day mourning period, effective Monday, April 30th to Wednesday, May 2, 2018 and flags should be flown at half mast across the state.

It is important to inform the general public that the three-day mourning period does not imply a work free day or public holiday in the state. The people of Oyo State are enjoined to go about their normal businesses while the state continues to mourn a bridge builder and a patriot.    

Meanwhile, all public engagements by government officials have been suspended.

Announcer,

Mr Toye Arulogun

Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism

Good morning Friends and Family!
I need your help; We need your help.
Adeola is not only a friend but also my adopted family.
Any amount will help in saving her plssss!
! HELP!! HELP!!!
Here is our dear precious and lovely sister Ope-Lawal Adeola Oluwatosin (Nee Adeboje). Adeola is wonderful scholar in Physics who graduated from University of Ado-Ekiti (Now Ekiti State University) in 2010. After her mandatory one year NYSC service, Adeola whose love for Physics can not be over emphasized proceeded to the nation’s premier University (University of Ibadan) for her second degree. She bagged her second degree in Theoretical Physics in 2014. Currently, Adeola is a doctoral student of the same University of Ibadan.
Presently she has end stage kidney failure and she has been on thrice weekly dialysis for the last 3 months. Finally, Adeola was was advised to have a kidney transplant and to do this, She urgently needs 12 million naira for her to have another chance at the life we all so love well.
Please and please, nothing is too small to give just to save the life of this scholar. I pray God will always come to our aids anytime we need His help.

Account details of Adeola are given below.
Name: Ope-Lawal Adeola Oluwatosin

Bank: Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), Nigeria

Naira Account
0030635147

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Dollar ($): 0214812382
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A 72 BILLION NAIRA DRY PORT IS COMING TO OYO STATE - The Gains, The Lessons

1. A dry port (sometimes inland port) is an inland intermodal terminal directly connected by road or rail to a seaport and operating as a centre for the trans-shipment of sea cargo to inland destinations.

2. The Ajimobi-led government has provided 60,000 hectares of land in lieu of a partnership with the Nigeria Shipper's Council to bring this kind of modern Dry Port described above to Oyo state.

3. This Modern Dry Port coming to Oyo is the latest attestation to the Investment-friendliness that has surged in the past 6 years, and it will be situated along the Oyo-Ibadan expressway.

4. Named "The Ibadan Fry Port", is estimated to provide 10,000 direct jobs, as it'll serve as the main conduit for the passage of goods to the entire southwest and other parts of Nigeria.

5. Additionally, and for efficiency, the Ibadan Dry port will have a 35,000 hectare Truck Transit Park, set up together with it.

6. On its own, the Truck Transit Park will generate an additional 25,000 jobs, as it will provide added security for cargoes through seamless tracking of goods.

7. By gains, this Ibadan Dry Port is set to geometrically boost the internally-generated revenue of Oyo state.

8. The overall economic benefits and impact are massive, especially for the people, as there'll be maximization of the employment opportunities.

9. Also, there will be a reduction in road carnage along the expressway, as this dry port is poised to function together with the ongoing Lagos-Kano Rail project, decongesting heavy traffic on the road.

10. Ultimately, a key lesson here is that the Governor Abiola Ajimobi-led government has proven again, that consistently attracting investments of this size and impact to the state, is NOT rocket science.

#AsiwajuNiWa
#AjumoseInfrastructure
#IbadanDryPort

DILAPIDATION OUT, TRANSFORMATION IN
Model School, Mokola, Ibadan || Before and After | The FINISHING TOUCHES!
#AsiwajuNiWa
#AjumoseEducation
#Koseleri
#RestorationTransformationRepositioning

SHIPPERS’ COUNCIL PARTNERS OYO, CHINESE INVESTORS FOR N72BILLION DRY PORT PROJECTS.


The Nigerian Shippers’ Council has entered into partnership with the Oyo State Government to establish a $200m (N72bn) modern dry port, as well as a truck transit park in the state, in conjunction with some Chinese investors.

This was made known when the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the council, Mr. Hassan Bello, visited the State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, in his office, in Ibadan, on Wednesday.


Bello, therefore, solicited the release of 60,000 hectares for the dry port and another 35,000 hectares along the Oyo-Ibadan road for the proposed park, which, he said, would improve the economic development of the state and the nation in general.

He said, “We are here because Oyo State is critical to development in transportation in Nigeria. Since 2006 the Federal Government had taken a decision to establish inland port in the six geo-political zones of the country, of which Oyo State is important. We have others in Abia, Jos, Kano, Maiduguri and Funtua.


“Because of the strategic importance of Ibadan, we have had inquiries from a serious Chinese investor for the project. Five days ago we signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop this very important Ibadan dry port project.

“What we are looking for from the state government is to have, along the railway line that is currently ongoing, a 60,000 hectares of land to develop a modern dry port, while the transport transit park will require 35,000 hectares of land.”

Enumerating the advantages of the modern dry port project, he said it would provide job opportunity for 10,000 people, adding that the truck transits park would equally generate 25,000 jobs.

Bello said that the project was heavily dependent on the ongoing Lagos-Kano rail project, which would decongest the heavy traffic on road transportation of goods from the Lagos port to the rest of the country.

He disclosed that the proposed park alone would gulp N4.8billion, through the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP).

According to him, apart from helping to diversify the country’s revenue base, it would enhance the internally-generated revenue of the state government, as well as provide security for cargoes through seamless tracking of goods.

When completed, he said that the park would have hotels, motels, resident doctors, restaurants, shopping mall, commercial banks, among other facilities for the convenience of transporters.

In his response, the governor, who said he was marveled by the concept of modern dry port and TPP, promised the support of the administration and called on the council to hasten the paper works required for the project to commence soonest.

The governor said that the projects would cause a remarkable reduction in road carnage, improvement in economic activities and maximization of employment opportunities, but called for strict enforcement of rules guiding parking of trucks on completion of the park.

Ajimobi said, “We will be glad to start as early as yesterday, as we are ready with our representatives to go the whole hog. We have the highest reasons to have the project sited here in Oyo State.

“There is no reason the state should not have been considered earlier, looking at the geographical and human capital advantages we have over other states in the country.

“We are supporting these projects because of the advantages and its overall economic benefits. I am appealing that we should not just witness the marriage of this project, but the birth of its baby. The PPP arrangement you said would be adopted for the project has mitigated my fear and doubts.”

By Quicksilver

Can you guess where this Roundabout is being set up in the Ibadan metropolis?
Without redefining infrastructure, can there be further gains of good governance, like further influx of industries?

Well, transformation agenda in cue!

#AsiwajuNiWa
#AjumoseInfrastructure
#Koseleri
#ReportProgess
#RestorationTransformationRepositioning

Embrace demand-driven research, Ajimobi charges tertiary institutions

EDUCATION:BY QUICKSILVER

Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, on Thursday charged tertiary institutions in Nigeria to embrace demand-driven research and courses capable of solving the country’s peculiar challenges.

He also urged them to pay closer attention to technical courses and ICT that would make their certificates globally competitive.

The governor gave the charge while inaugurating an information technology building donated by his wife, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi to her alma mater, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, as part of activities marking her 59th birthday.

Ajimobi, who described technology as the bedrock of development, said without deliberate focus on technical education, Nigeria would continue to produce graduates who would not be able to contribute effectively to the country’s socio-economic development.

He also emphasized the importance of ICT, saying that most of the successful entrepreneurs in the world made their fortunes through information and communication technology.

The governor said the state had taken the lead in tackling this problem by establishing the first technical university in Nigeria which he said was equipped to impart `practical and practicable’ skills in its students.

He urged the students to take the advantage of the opportunities provided by the new ICT centre to improve their skills.

The governor said: “Our new education structure in Oyo State is built around technology because the illiterates of tomorrow are not those who cannot read and write but those who cannot harness the power of technology.

“This is why I am calling on our tertiary institutions in Nigeria to embrace demand-driven research and courses that are capable of solving our peculiar challenges as a country.

“My wife has, through this donation, contributed to the advancement of technology in Nigeria. I urge you, the students, to take the advantage of this facility to horn your skill in technology.’’

Photo Credit: Tolani Alli

FLORENCE AJIMOBI: 15 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS AMAZONLIFESTYLE

BY QUICKSILVER
1. Florence Ajimobi was born in Benin City on the 5th of April, 1959, to the Hajaig family of Lebanon, but she grew up in the ancient city of Ibadan.

2. She is a graduate of Secretarial Studies and Management from The Polytechnic Ibadan.

3. She got married to Abiola Ajimobi in 1980, and the marriage is blessed with five successful children – Abisola, Ajilola, Ajibola, Abolaji, and Abimbola.



4. She possesses a Doctoral degree in a management science. On the 12th of October, 2017, she was conferred with a PhD in Public Administration by the Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo.



5. She became the First Lady of Oyo state in 2011 when her husband, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, won the gubernatorial election – a position she’s been adjudged to have brought a lot of professionalism and colour to.



6. She championed and chaperoned the idea of bringing the wives of public office holders in Oyo State together under the aegis of Oyo State Officials’ Wives Association (OYSOWA), a platform she had made to become an intellectual hub where women and women-centric issues are recognized and discussed. Participants, (numbering over 1000 at the last edition), converge from across the nation and the African continent for the annual OYSOWA summit, which has been successfully staged for 6 straight years.



7. She is the mind behind the Ajumose Food Basket, a program that gives food items to a number of people across the 33 local government areas of Oyo state on  a monthly basis.



8. She founded the Access to Basic Medical Care (ABC) Foundation, which set up an easy-access to medical care centre. This foundation was recently adjudged the Most Outstanding NGO in the South West by the House of Representatives.



9. She is also the mind behind the “Educate A Rural Child” project – providing educational materials for indigent children in Oyo state.

10. Florence Ajimobi is a strong believer in the power of prayer. She leads the women in the state to intercede for their homes, the state and the nation at large through the women’s prayer gathering called, Women Intercessory Network (WIN). The platform does not only serve as an intercessory avenue, but also serves as a homely oasis where women are counseled and guided in making better decisions that will positively impact their homes and the society.

11. She is the Yèyé Ààré of Ibadanland – a title conferred on her by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, on the 16th of December, 2016.



12. In honour of her 58th birthday in 2017, Mrs Florence Ajimobi donated a fully-equipped ICT centre to the Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo.



13. Amongst several other laurels and awards, Florence Ajimobi is an awardee of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) for professionalism and excellence.

14. To mark her 59th birthday anniversary this year 2018, Florence Ajimobi presented gifts and undisclosed cash gifts to 10 orphanages within Oyo state.

15. Her husband, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, fondly calls her his Masterpiece of Nature (MON), to the allure of many.



59 happy cheers to an Amazonian woman who has made exemplary strides for herself and stood firm beside her husband in the restoration, transformation and repositioning mandate for Oyo state.


Photo Credit:Tolani Alli

By:Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan

The Oyo State Government has reiterated that adequate security measures have been put in place to address the insecurity situation in the Oke-Ogun area of the state following the spate of kidnapping.

The State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun stated this on Wednesday during a live radio programme in Ibadan.

Arulogun explained that after the various meetings held with farmers, herdsmen, traditional rulers, security agencies and other stakeholders, the Governor of the state Senator Abiola Ajimobi recently set up a task force to look into the spate of kidnappings, maiming and crisis between the herdsmen and farmers in the Oke-Ogun Area, noting that the task force visited the zone to ascertain the present situation of things in the area.

Mr. Arulogun said that the government has mandated security agencies in the state to beef up security around the state and improve on their intelligence gathering, stating that these efforts have been yielding positive results with the arrest of some suspected kidnappers by the security agencies.

He said that the increase in surveillance by the security agencies has doused the tension in the area, assuring that the state government will continue to provide adequate measures to ensure that lives and properties are secured in the State.

According to the commissioner, “the security situation in the State is not as bad as being portrayed by some mischievous individuals. The breach was more from external than internal persons. Our administration is known for peace, safety and security. This is evident in the 4-Star rating as a Well Qualified State to help foreign and domestic investors given by the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, NIPC. Also, the state was adjudged as the 4th best investment friendly state and one of the only five states that attracted investment to the country in the last quarter of 2017 by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

“It is based on the peaceful cum secured environment that new businesses are springing up with a renaissance of the night economy in the state and government is getting a lot of investment requests. We cannot allow anything to disrupt the peace in the state and that is the reason the Governor setup a task force to address the issue of Oke Ogun in addition to the existing security apparatus.

“The security agencies in Oyo State are living up to expectation and we should all join hands with them to ensure that security is not breached in the state. We should commend them for their improved intelligence as well as pro-activeness to ensure that the state is not turned to crisis torn state. On our part, government will not renege to provide adequate security for its people and support all the security agencies to perform their duties well,” Arulogun added.

NYSC boss bemoans dilapidated facilities at orientation camps

 

The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, has expressed concern over what he called the dilapidated state of facilities in many orientation camps across the country.

Speaking at the opening of the 2018 Batch ‘A’ Pre-orientation Workshop, held in Ibadan, on Wednesday, he said that facilities in many of the orientation camps were nothing to write home about.

He, however, commended the Oyo State Government for what he said was its continued support for the NYSC through the provision of standard orientation camp, located in Iseyin, and its routine maintenance.

Kazaure also said that the provision of an enabling environment for the operations of the scheme in the state was commendable.

He said that the law establishing the NYSC scheme placed the responsibility of provision and maintenance of orientation camps on state governments.

The NYSC boss therefore reiterated his call on stakeholders to live up to their statutory responsibility through provision of necessary facilities at orientation camps so as to make the scheme more effective.

Kazaure said, “Permit me to use this occasion to remind all stakeholders that the law establishing the NYSC scheme places the responsibility of provision and maintenance of orientation camps with the state governments.

“On this note, I wish to reiterate our call on them to live up to this statutory responsibility. This call has become necessary in view of the dilapidated state of the facilities in many orientation camps.”

The DG said that the workshop, with the theme: “Achieving the NYSC mandate through an effective orientation course,” was aimed at evaluating previous orientation exercises with a view to mapping out strategies for the successful conduct of the forthcoming one.

He added that the workshop would set the tone for the 2018 Batch ‘A’ orientation course, through the formulation of policies and operational guidelines for all players involved in the conduct of the exercise.

Declaring the workshop open, Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, acknowledged the pivotal role of orientation exercise in igniting the interest of corps members to render service to their fatherland, being their first point of contact to the scheme.

Represented by his Deputy, Chief Moses Alake-Adeyemo, the governor described the idea of holding periodic review of the NYSC programmes as a step in the right direction.

As a keen watcher of the scheme, Ajimobi expressed happiness that NYSC had continued to live up to the dreams of its founding fathers by grooming youth in the service of the fatherland.

The governor said: ``I am delighted to equally note that the present management of the scheme has made giant strides in making the scheme respond to the dynamics of the society.

“I, therefore, call on the management to consolidate on the many operational innovations it had started.

“Pursuant to the desire of the Oyo State Government to enable the scheme actualize its lofty objectives, we have stepped up efforts geared towards improving the welfare of corps members serving in the state.”

These, he said, included the payment of the corps members’ monthly allowances and provision of necessary assistance to the secretariats for the smooth conduct of orientation courses, among other gestures.  

 

Communication Team 

Governor's Office

Ibadan

IBADAN: The Changing times | Sayo Aluko

Two nights ago, when Adetunji called to inform me that he was relocating (back) to Ibadan from Lagos, the excitement in his voice instantly found family in a thought that has found seat in my heart for a while now. This thought that Ibadan, the largest city in West Africa, is presently experiencing rectification, a gradual shift of some sort into what’s truly befitting of Nigeria’s culture, intellectual and political capital.

For a city with this sociocultural, people and geographical expanse, and also proximity to the nation’s economic nerve centre, one would expect it to be more than a mere domiciliary where residents just subsist with lil’ or nil economic activity. But, when I berthed here 8 years ago in search of a second academic degree, that was the kind of city I met – bland, bare and boring, worse still, dirty.

Back then, to the average young mind with dreams to cease merely existing and get productive, acknowleging that Ibadan was in terminal decline practically became a conventional legend. Ibadan bled and suffered a menstrual efflux of its youth, they literally ditched the Ibadan identity and deserted in droves for the accepting anonymity of Lagos. They ran for dear life, from the slow death offered by an older generation that was trapped in rhetorical gossip, political illiberality, personal conflict and unproductive traditional rituals. They ran from the early evening shut downs and the lazy hand of routine that plagued the city. And, who could blame them?

That Ibadan of then was an existential testament to the fact that the state as a whole had lacked Promethean leaders right through the early years of Nigeria’s nascent democracy. Leadership in the state was infamously steeped in amala politics and gbegiri policies, so much that the unanswerable underdevelopment and palpable stagnate state of Ibadan and its people wasn’t really farfetched. For example, to insiders and outsiders alike who watched Oyo from a distance, governance and its delivery was mostly limited to the crude wit of the Mòlété generalissimo, Alhaji Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu, albeit, in a 21st century; how contrasting, that. More so, quoting the common colloquial phrase, Ibadan was ‘big for nothing’, it was so obvious that its leaders at the time lacked insight to maximize its expanse for competitive good, per governance.

But as I said in the opening paragraph above, any keen and objective mind in the Ibadan of today, will observe that the state is presently undergoing a drift along the lines of rescue. This ongoing return to a place of pride is definitely gradual in pace, understandably procedural in delivery, arguably tardy in impact, but unarguably assured in intent. And without doubt, just as many residents of Oyo would unreluctantly attest, one can ascribe this gradual drift to the undamned style of governance of the self-christened “constituted authority”, Abiola Ajimobi, the incumbent governor of Oyo state.

His style of governance is a sharp departure from the towob’Obe (dilute) type that was obtainable prior to his term, and from reports, he “gored the ox” of the political establishment and stuck to his gun, whilst armed with a contagious intention to set his government on a course to redeem Ibadan and Oyo state from the damnifying effect of aged reverse. It took time, clearly.

Personally, as a rite to the idea of good governance, I’ve always had a thing for any government that thinks; nothing seldom besets a government with vision and the attendant chutzpah to implement it. For example, till date, anytime I enter the University of Ibadan (UI) and take in its organizational and structural expanse, I get lost in awe of the vision of the founding fathers. I mean, at a point in this same Nigeria, some leaders sat together, thought about setting up a university, and for that, they secured 1, 032 hectares of land? They made their vision occupy such huge stretch albeit from a little beginning? These men commissioned projects with a vision of the future in mind, and I’m always awed at that fact, while also always disappointed that years after, we’ve not been able to replicate such visionary mileage from a relay of leaders who rather choose to bask in cosmetic and/or transient achievements.

But then, this is why I’m somewhat impressed with the ongoing efforts at making Ibadan better via a similar ‘thinking’ perspective, and not a merely political perspective. I mean, for the first time in a tiring while, things now appear to be done for the electorate indeed, more than just seeking political or propagandist mileage. I say these after considering efforts the “constituted authority’s” government has channeled into making Ibadan a beehive of promising activities, where people, brands, institutions, parastatals, businesses and industries now come in to seek productivity and empower residents.

Before now as a case in point, I didn’t really understand why past governments in Oyo state could not seriously identify insecurity and dirt as the main and first antagonists to development and investments that’d make the state maximize its potentials to thrive. Prior to this present day, 6 out of every 10 people in Ibadan must have been either “obtained” by urchins of Idi-Arere or Molete, or must have stepped on human faeces at the city centre in Iwo road. And this was even toppled by the episodes of violence brewed by thugs. In fact, past governments and politicians actually seemed to have resolved to maintaining a romantic indulgence for rascals who produced man-made mayhem almost on a daily basis.

Don’t get me wrong, insecurity, even till date, is a national scourge happening everywhere in pockets, but, in this Ibadan of then, it was a staple, an almost subconscious expectation that lives and properties would be destroyed when these thugs chose to have their fill.
One would then ask – How could such city thrive or attract investments and human activities befitting of its history, expanse and heritage? How did past governments not know that the primal agenda of any thinking administration meaning to redeem Ibadan was to tackle insecurity and clean her up?

Well, this was what the Ajimobi administration got right at first cut by the manner of foremost thought. The preventive cum punitive policies, and the obvious headlong approach to discouraging crime and securing lives and property in the Ibadan of today have been nothing short of evidently effective; such that businesses are back, such that hotspots where no one dared to stay past 8pm, are now places where night life beams and booms. Relaxation spots and nightclubs now sprouting like autumn mistletoe leaves, one would never believe ’tis the same Ibadan.

Additionally, my friend is relocating back here because, like some other reported 3,000 skilled professionals, he just got a job (as a HR officer) with one of the over 100 foreign and indigent companies setting up shop in the 4,000 hectare (read that again, four thousand hectares!) Free Trade Zone and industrial park established by this government via a public-private-partnership (PPP) arrangement, right at the Ibadan end of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. Just almost opposite this industrial park is the newly established Technical University by the Ajimobi government, another PPP initiative. The rave reviews this new university had before it was commissioned about two months ago were so good I had to attend that commissioning to see for myself; and impressive, it was. According to reports, this Ibadan Technical university was conceived by Ajimobi himself after visiting a technical university in Texas, USA. And basically, the idea behind a technical university is to equip young minds with applicable, practical, balanced, and most importantly, hands-on education that suits the needs of their immediate environment, thus making them direct participants in the development drive and active employers of labour.

Today, the Ibadan Technical University stretches over a million square metre of land on that expressway, it is the first of its kind in Nigeria and Africa, and it is set to propel the city into international limelight. The best part to this is the array of truly direct-impact courses to be offered – Bio-technology, Environmental engineering, Renewable Clean Energy Resource technology, In-vitro fertility technology, Aircraft Maintenance/ Repairs, Industrial and production engineering, nanotechnology, Robotics, Automation, Cyber-security, Mechatronics, Tropical Agricultural Engineering/Food processing amongst others. 12 of these courses have been approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC), the school already has a board, it is presently recruiting more administrative and academic staff, and the first set of students are to resume by October, 2017.

In short, the whole of Ibadan, and by extension Oyo state, is back buzzing, productive human activity is on the rise, all of this simply because there’s a thinking government fuelled by insight and foresight in Agodi.

No, chill, don’t fret. This isn’t to emblazon an individual or state executive that is simply doing a job it was elected to do, rather, I’m aiming adulation towards the fact that a job is being done relatively better than predecessors, visionarily at that, and most importantly that the people are better for it. That’s the kókó of all these atótónu of mine – the PEOPLE being better for it!

To the Ajimobi government, I advice not to take their foot off the gas in the drive to make Ibadan and Oyo state become a reference point for transformative governance. In the remaining two years of its unprecedented 2nd term, more should be done per maintenance of projects done so far, especially roads, and more effort should be channeled into educating and enforcing compliance amongst residents as regards keeping the city clean. To us the electorate, I advice not to stop contributing our quota, at least, by continous objective criticism of this government, while we arm our thoughts with the need to elect an even better state executive come 2019. This state I’ve come to fall in love with its people and rich heritage, MUST NOT get back into sóóyòyò and agbádá armada governance.

This Ibadan, this sprawling megalopolis on Seven Hills, this expression of all Oyo state represents, once described as a “running splash of rust; and gold, flung and scattered” by J. P Clark in his “Ibadan” poem, is an endearing city of the ancient that is presently enjoying gradual matrimony with the modern; and this needs to be beyond celebrated, sustained.

Is Ibadan or Oyo state already at Uhuru? No, not at all, not even near it per se. But, I like this drift towards what’s befitting for the state and benefitting for its residents. It is gradual as I said above, but it is accelerating, clearly upping pace as the seconds tick by. Beyond anything, I think this should just be encouraged.

Ibadan mèsìògò, e kú changing times ooo.

Photo credit:Tolani Alli
__

Written by Dare Adeniran

OYO FINANCE Commissioner, BIMBO ADEKANMBI

Like a Goldfish which has no hiding place, the Oyo state’s Commissioner for Finance and Budget, Abimbola Adekanmbi has proved his mettle as a thoroughbred technocrat in this dispensation. He is one of the exceptionally brilliant men in Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s cabinet. Last week, City People’s Correspondent, Dare Adeniran was able to pin the charismatic commissioner down for some minutes after several attempts. Adekanmbi, in this interview, speaks extensively on achievements of Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration in the past 6 years, his experience as Commissioner for Finance as well as many shocking things people don’t know about him. It is quite revealing.

We have less than a year before the end of this administration, how did the government fare in these past years, especially in the area of development?

Let me go far back. when the government came in they had this tripod agenda which is Restoration, Transformation and Repositioning. It was meant to be that we will restore the lost glory, at least bring it back to ground zero from negative, then we now Transform and then do the Repositioning. I will tell you gladly that those tripod arms had been achieved. How has it been achieved?

By Restoration, we know there used to be a lot of brigandage in Oyo State, it was known as the Wild, Wild, West and a place where anything goes. But now, you can see that the security of lives and properties are better, we can’t say 100 percent because only God guarantees that, but to a great extent we have been able to make the state peaceful.

In terms of the infrastructure, we all know that it had completely collapsed, all the roads, the bridges were not working, they had all collapsed and it was a disgrace and this was made worse by the flooding of August 26, 2011 where every thing collapsed but now we can see that the major bridges, especially those ones that were affected by the flooding are now in top shape.

What the government did was to go to the World Bank and tell them we can’t do it by ourselves. We got a credit intervention from the World Bank, we started the project as a response to that flooding and you can see that for the past six years there had been no flooding.

It’s not automatic, its because serious work went into that. For instance every year all the rivers are dredged, all those bridges had claimed a lot of lives, look at the Restoration Bridge, a lot of things had come into place. Look at the Eleyele roads, all those major roads, exit and entries into major towns, Ogbomoso, Iseyin, everywhere had seen the touch of the government and this had never happened before. If you look at the successive past administrations, if they had been doing these things that the Ajimobi administration has been doing, they would have been building so that the next government will build upon what the previous had done. Something has been established which other government can do. These are tangibles, hard achievements.

If we go into the soft achievements you will notice the mind set in Oyo state, there’s now a renewed urgency on the streets. Go to Ring road, you can see the activity there, the night life has been revived, companies have started coming. Look at the Lagos- Ibadan expressway, even in real estates things have started going up. Feel the mind set, come to the public service you can see that in the civil servants there is now a renewed urgency, there is an application to work that was not there as much in the past prior to this administration.

People now take their work more seriously and they are even proud and you can see the results. It’s not as if the government is already there 100 percent , but a lot has changed, soft changes, hard changes, tangibles, infrastructures all over the place, mindset, paradigm shift, security all over the state.

Take for instance the IGR which is the bedrock of government. Like I said, that is where the government is running itself from because all the other money we get, everything goes into the salary,to make sure that the welfare of staff and their emolument we don’t play with it.

We’ve done the Revenue law of 2015 which gives autonomy to the board and when its fully implemented it becomes private entity, it changes the game totally, because you get the best brain and you are supposed to decluster it from the civil service.

Other areas where you see legacy changes is that the emolument and pensions of civil servants had suffered a lot in the past from neglect, so we had over 60 billion of arrears in that area. When people are talking of Oyo state government and the debt profile they don’t go into some components, the major chunk is the arrears of pensions and gratuity.

What the Ajimobi administration has done is to introduce the Contributory Pension Scheme which is aimed at stopping all these arrears from blowing up unnecessarily. What will happen is that the government will make contributions, so far so good we have made almost more than 8 months of contribution even while we are waiting for the Labour to join and we have put in place all the technical requirements to support this.

A lot has happened, I believe you know this government is not one that blows its trumpet, a lot of things that are shaping the fabrics of society in Oyo state have been done. As a matter of fact we are doing what we should be doing and not shouting from the rooftop and that is why the noise is not as much as it should have been.

Despite all efforts you have mentioned, why then was it difficult for the Government to meet its obligations by paying workers salary as at when due?

I will give you a wholistic explanation for that, from the macro to the micro. From the macro I mean at the Federal Government level, it first started from the drop in price of oil because all that did was to affect the kind of allocation that used to flow down to the state and by extension what we saw was that where we had a salary, wage bill of about N5.2B and we had allocations that were almost matching it and we were now dropping to allocations of about N2B, N2.1B there about, automatically the arrears started to grow.

So from macro which is Federal government, mono-economy , dependence on oil prices and then oil prices crashing and then the negative head winds on allocation to the State and by extension, expenses were greater than the in-flow, that was what happened and we started piling up arrears of salaries.

What were the measures put in place to control that?

I want to give you a background so as to put them in proper perspectives. When this started to happen the Labour Unions embarked on a strike and they were adamant they were not going to call off the strike unless the arrears were settled. Of course we started negotiations and at several of the negotiations we made all the data available, that was revenue expenditure and after a while the Labour too faced the reality, they found out that there’s no way the arrears could have been settled based on the prevailing condition at that time and it was agreed to shave that N5.2B which was unmanageable, we were talking about N5.2B wage bill and an average of about N2.4B coming in at that time and it was very bad. So we said look, let’s shave the wage bill, we paused some items, we didnt remove them. I used the word paused with great respect.

Items like Car loans, Housing loans that’s why I used the word pause. So we said let’s put these things, the ones we can decrease, by subvention we started decreasing it to 50 percent for tertiary institutions and I think the bill dropped to about N4.2billion and like I said there were arrears that were already built up and the money that were coming in were not enough. So for every two months at that period we would get N2.4B and that is a wage bill of about 4.4billion, so we started saying every other month we are paying off a month, so we started going down on the arrears.

Other measures we put in place is that we keyed into the opportunity available at the Federal level. For instance we had a Budget Support Facility which the Federal Government introduced then and initially we were going to be given N1.39 billion for the first three months and N1.11 billion for eleven months after that, so the total of it was about N14.9billion, so we keyed into that and we were now applying 100 percent of what was coming from Abuja and 100 percent of the fiscal support plans which was the bail out money.

We now applied it towards the salary and it started going down little by little.

Another area where we were able to manage the arrears and bring it down is that we started keying into the Paris Club, the refunds given by the Federal Government. What happened was that Oyo state was supposed to have been excluded, we were told that we were not eligible for the Paris Club refund in any way, shape or form.

So the Governor went to Abuja where he made a case asking how could we be left out, they said we had collected it in past administrations. The Governor went and made a case for the state to be included, we did a lot of reconciliations and meetings which was passed through the Federal Ministry of Finance, eventually Oyo state was placed on the list of states that were receiving the bailout, so we started receiving the money .

Immediately the bailout was received, the first one we received we spent 60 percent of that on salaries, as it was stipulated by the Federal Government that we should spend minimum of 50 percent of it on salaries . The first one we received we spent 60 percent on salaries, we started paying what we called ‘onibeji’, those were the response to the arrears. What we did was that we paid two months of arrears as supposed to one month, so that the next salary we get from the Paris Club bailout we had allocation from Abuja which was 100 percent, Budget Support 100 percent, we had dumped everything at the arrears in a bid to bring it down.

The second one which was about 5.03 billion, we used 100 percent and we paid the onibeji again.

The third one, I think we spent about 65 percent. With the Paris Club we never spent 50 percent, we always spent a minimum of 60 percent, there was a time we spent 100 percent. So we were able to pay the onibeji, we were very dogged and we applied urgency to it and we used it to cover for money we had been using elsewhere. The only money we use even up till now is the IGR and to the glory of God, from owing seven months we are now almost down to zero, that is the journey of the arrears.

What else is the state doing to boost the IGR?

The key and most physical thing is structure. If the body that will generate the revenue is sick then the revenue will be sick . We talked about the IGR and the 2015 Revenue Law which we granted full autonomy, and of course for that law to be implemented we’ve done the advertisement for the roles, we’ve done some interviews for the management cadre and the appointments will happen any time soon,so the structure needs to be right.

Other areas to improve revenue, if you have been following news in recent times you will notice that. budget is predicated on two key areas, one ministry of lands, we are expecting that we will be making about 40 billion from there, how do we want to make it? the government has opened up six new GRAs, so we expect a lot of money to come in from those GRAs, its not like the laws are actually bad but a revenue as bad as it should be, what has happened is that there are lot of gaps in enforcement so the government is wiping that aspect.

The level of compliance in Oyo state is very low, the ratio of Gdp to tax in Oyo State is small,its not even up to the minimum standard prescribed by all the economies in the world.

In terms of tax rate we are not going to increase tax but we are going to widen it, one of the ways to do that is by enforcement. We have a board of internal revenue, the structure is better which hopefully should bring about efficiencies in the operation. It should bring about best practise and then we are blocking leakages and widening enforcement, the introduction of tax cut, and then we are working with informal sector which are the much neglected area of the revenue . We are getting good support from the informal sector, the NURTW, the marketers, the traders they have been very supportive. those are the areas we hoped to increase tax.

Another thing is, by the time you bring in security and infrastructure what normally happens is this, when you are spending those kind of money in the economic sense what it does is that it stimulates the economy. When government spends it makes activity to happen more in the economy.

For instance at the very basic level people will be more attracted to come to Oyo State knowing that they have good infrastructure, they have security, the courts are working, we have a customary court now, things are working, slowly but surely. What will happen is that when companies come there will be change in the economy because there is more money, the velocity of money increases, so generally its good for the economy. You can see an upward curve. I agree its very slow because a lot of things had got very bad from many years but that but that curve is slow but it’s surely going up.

The Governor’s recent journey to understudy cattle ranching in Denmark drew some criticism, what are the gains of that trip?

The gains are too many, they are manifold. For instance the major discuss in the contemporary space in Nigeria right now is about the herdsmen clashes and its not restricted to only Fulani and Benue people, it’s happening in Taraba, Adamawa, Ekiti, Ondo where a former Minister, Chief Falae was abducted, even in Oke-Ogun here there are several clashes all the time.

I borrowed from a quote I don’t particularly agree to but its a quote I borrowed from the Minister of Interior who said that the blocking of the traditional cattle routes is causing the reaction, the herdsmen clashes has been alluded to blockage of grazing. Mind you whether you are blocking routes or not the fact of the matter is that these clashes continue to show up everywhere in the country.

The fact of the matter is that people will continue to eat beef, there will always be demand for cattle no matter how much the sentiments. People on social media have said let’s boycott meat, let’s boycott dairy products but I’m not sure if anybody has been able to do that successfully for one day.

Fast forward to the Governor’s visit to Denmark, the Governor has been a CEO of a multinational company in the past, the governor is a savvy businessman. The best way by which you can make money is to capitalise on opportunities. I believe anybody who is sound should see what the governor is doing, this is obvious to the savvy minds. Cattle will continue to be in need in Nigeria, dairy will continue to be in need.

The skirmishes and flash points are going to affect.the delivery and supply of this down to the South. The best monies are made in period of chaos, the governor is being industrious by saying lets position ourselves, cattle is a multi billion dollar business in Nigeria, so why don’t we position ourselves and have ranches because cattle is not going away, dairy won’t go away. Why don’t we position Oyo State, have ranches that bore expertise and can supply not only Oyo state but the Saharan West Africa region.

I rewind to about two years ago, there was what we called the Oyo State Agric Initiative, go and look at the mission statement, it said Oyo state is going to be the food basket of Africa, its ambitious but of course the negative head wings arising from the herdsmen clashes is providing the opportunity for that mission statement to come into reality.

So somebody is now saying he wants to go and understudy the best practice in cattle ranching, I think people should be falling over themselves for this. It is unbelievable that anybody would wake up and start thinking that the visit is empty.

What are the things you don’t like about public service?
I think the rot in the country generally has been allowed to emit into the public service, the things I don’t like is allowing the rot to affect the professionalism that should be in the public service. In Eastern African countries. The Civil Service forms the core and the growth of these countries. The best brains in those countries, they line up to go into the civil service. In the UK and, America they call them the stars, in Malawi, Angola the best of the people, even in Zimbabwe as bad as that country is they have solid civil service.

Nigeria is not devoid of people that are cerebral in the civil service, we have smart people, of course over the years the culture of mediocrity has been allowed to to take hold in Nigeria, you find out that it has eaten deep into the Civil Service. Those are the things I don’t like.

Civil Service sometime seems to have lost its focus and a lot of politicisation has come in and a lot of mediocrity has been allowed to take hold.

You find out that in the early days there was a lot of kicking and biting to get people , there are lot of criticism and you ask why did that happen. I will tell you something ,people keep talking about corruption in Nigeria and corruption in the civil service, I would rather say its incompetence that is the danger and the enemy of progress in Nigeria because if you are competent you don’t have to steal.

 

Look at places like China they kill them for corruption all the time, things are happening because they are competent. Those are the things that I have issues with, we need to wrap up on that, the Governor has tried to have people thinking and kicking out of that primitive stage, like I earlier said it was part of the achievement, the paradigm shift, the change in orientation that has happened in Oyo state.

JUSTICE FOR ABDUCTION OF MY WIFE THREAT TO OUR LIVES AND INTIMIDATION BY COMMODORE GBENGA OYETOYAN ATTACHED TO NAVAL BASE SAPELE, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA.

This commodore whose photograph appears below and his boys stormed our facility located at Ilupeju Rd, Oluyole Extension Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria around 1 pm on 25th of February, 2018. demanded from my wife where she kept his wife and children.

My wife responded that she doesn’t know what he was saying because she doesn’t know him, he responded by saying my wife was pretending and instructed his boys to beat my wife openly this act drew the attention of the customers and passerby at the premises who intervened only for him to point gun to them he will kill anyone who tries to raise any alarm.

They bundled my wife inside the tinted glass Toyota Camry they brought, denied her to pick any of her belonging and zoomed off without trace or contacts on how to locate them.

I received a call from one of the customers my wife was attending to at her beauty care salon that some people approached my wife, assaulted her and took her away forcefully threatening to shoot anyone of them that tries to raise any alarm.

Immediately, I rushed down to the salon but before I got there two of the customers that witnessed the incident had gone to lodge complaint at Oluyole Police Station in Ibadan, while I went to Kuola police station where I was referred to Apata Police Station which they said falls under the jurisdiction of where the crime took place.
At both Oluyole/Apata Police Station, our statement was taken and immediately an Anti-robbery squad was dispatched to my wife’s beauty care salon for further interrogation from the customers on the ground.

More than two hours later, I received a call from my wife with a strange number informing me that she has been taken to Mokola Officer’s mess that commodore Gbenga Oyetoyan said his wife and kids were in her custody, claiming he has the call log between his wife and my wife, to which my wife told him to show her the evidence.

I promptly went to the officers’ mess, but on getting there, I was informed by the officer I met at the military police post at Mokola officers mess that commodore Gbenga Oyetoyan has moved my wife to Odogbo after he was informed by the officers on duty that his actions were not right. Then I hurriedly went to Odogbo military base, on getting the military police post at Odogbo to lodge my complaint in respect of my abducted wife, the story took any new turn.

The desk officer told me that he (commodore Gbenga Oyetoyan) only came to lodge complaint about his absconded wife and some other issues that made her run away from home, and drop his details, and that he never told them that he took my wife hostage, which apparently make it clear that he had gone there to cover up his evil deed. My statement was taken and the officer told me he (commodore Gbenga Oyetoyan) is their superior officer equivalent and they will not be able to do anything to him.

But offered to help me out by calling the CSS and relate the issue with him, The CSS later came to the military police post and called him (commodore Gbenga Oyetoyan) to verify my claim only to find out that it was true. The CSS told him to come back to the post, but he claimed to have been far from the base but later agreed that he would drop my wife at Sango in Ibadan where I went to pick her around 6:30 pm in the evening more than six and half hours later.

On sighting my wife, she told me how she was unlawfully assaulted by the men that came to abducted her with the Commodore and threatened to kill her if she does not comply with any order given to her during the time of her abduction, I later took my wife to the hospital where she was admitted as a result of the assault and stress she went through thereafter but since then she hasn’t recovered from this emotional trauma which has been subjected to for more than six and half hours.

More also in his desperate attempt to stop us from taking action against him, he sent a message to me through my wife threatening that he would be back to shoot kill me if I try to pursue this matter further and to assure me he’s not joking on Monday 26th of February, 2018, I got an IMO internet call on my phone, and a deep voice speaking to me to be careful with my steps that what I saw on the previous day was just a tip on iceberg my phone later reveal the anonymous name to be Taiwo Oyetoyan.

In the light of the above, it is glaring that he’s desperately using his influence and position to intimidate and suppress us so that we will not be able to demand justice.

It is hard to understand his motive behind all this evil but more distressing is the fact the personnel who have been saddled with the task of protecting the citizen of the country will be the one terrorizing them. We also encourage him to come forward with this evidence of the call logs of how the kidnapping was carried out since claiming to have it.

I have written a letter and also tried to reach the Chief of Naval Staff over this matter but met wall of silence, it is more threatening to my family in the commodore continual boasting that he will kill me and my wife like common criminal and that the government will not do anything because he has been licensed to kill anyone which he retorted each time he is talking.

This petition will be on public notice about his impending action towards my family, that should anything happen to my family, both now and in future. He will be brought to justice.

Please help bring this officer to book by signing my petition calling on our President and Commander in Chief of The Armed Force, His Excellency Muhammad Buhari, The President of the Senate, His Excellency Dr Bukola Saraki, and The Honourable Speaker House of Representative, Hon. Yakubu Dogara to use their good office to carefully investigate the official intrigues against my person, my wife, the threat our lives and allow due process of law to prevail in the unfolding scenario and to preserve my fundamental human rights.

Thanks

You are the largest city is Nigeria and West Africa and you have seen impressive infrastructural growth in recent years.

You are now more secure than ever.

You have seen received renewed road infrastructure which keeps experiencing interesting expansion till now.

You have attracted even more investments towards your pacesetting self of late.

Ditto the Industrial Park and Free Trade Zone

Ditto 5 Mega Malls - The Palms Mall, Cocoa Mall, Heritage mall, Ventura mall, and the Jericho Mall

Ditto 3 Startup Incubators - Wennovation Hub, iBridge hub and Alftech.

Ditto international retail and hospitality brands like Miniso Japan, Ibachi, etc.

Ditto 3 buzzing Cinemas - Filmhouse Dugbe, Filmhouse Samonda, and Viva Cinemas

Ditto an avalanche of 5-star hotels - Golden Tulip, Best Western, Calton Gate, etc.

The best and first higher institutions - University of Ibadan and the UCH.

Then, you got the first ever Technical University on board and running.

You are championing and e-Governance and automation drive that's being understudied by others

You've got the highest number of functional Research Institutions - IITA, NISER, NIHORT, IAR&T, FRIN, CRIN, NABDA, and NACGRAB

The lush and refurbished the Agodi Gardens.

A seriously growing and attractive Nightlife.

The influx of radio stations, telecom HQs and Public-Private Partnerships of different spans and effect.

You court and engage one of largest crop of upwardly mobile youths who are mostly involved in tech based summits you host.

Under this one named #TheBuilder, you are smoothly jetting urban, while also preserving your ancient beauty.

Ibadan, keep moving, keep rising.

#AsiwajuNiWa
#Ibadan
Photo Credit:Tolani Alli

AJIMOBI CONGRATULATES PARENTS OF DAPCHI 104, URGES PRAYERS FOR DECEASED GIRLS’ PARENTS

NEWS BY QUICKSILVER
Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has congratulated parents of the 104 Dapchi girls released from the captivity of the Boko Haram insurgents, on Wednesday, just as he urged prayers for the parents of the five deceased students.

In a statement by his Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy, Mr. Bolaji Tunji, on Thursday, Ajimobi also congratulated the Federal Government for deploying what he called timely cutting edge reconnaissance which, he said, culminated in the early release of the girls.

The governor said that the FG had again demonstrated its resolve to tackle the security challenges confronting the country, especially the North-East, with renewed vigour and alertness.
He declared that security was a joint responsibility of the government and citizens, thereby advocating eternal vigilance among citizens to nip criminality in the bud.

Given the country’s vast population and the daunting security challenges confronting it, especially insurgency, kidnapping, militancy, herdsmen menace, banditry and other forms of violent crimes, he said securing the country could be overwhelming.

Ajimobi said, “At a time like this, all hands must be on deck. This is not the time to apportion blames or call the intelligence gathering and combat-readiness of our security agencies to question. These are indeed trying times for the country.
“I know the trauma that the kidnapped young girls must have gone through while under captivity, but I rejoice with them now that they are back with us. And as a parent, I can imagine the agony of their parents, especially those who lost their adorable ones to the incident.

“While congratulating the parents of the 104 girls recently reunited with their parents, I solicit prayers and empathy for the parents of the five deceased children for God to comfort them and wipe away their tears.

“I commend the Federal Government and President Muhammadu Buhari for rising to the occasion. With fervent and sustained prayers, I’m confident that the Chibok girls still being held by the Boko Haram will also breathe the air of freedom soon.”