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seunlayi: the misadventure of Ajirebi is gradually making people to regret voting for him, now Oyo state wants Akala back

The House of Representatives has asked its
Committee on Education to take another
look at the resumption date announced for
private and public schools in the country.
This directive was necessitated by growing
concerns amongst the public, especially
parents and guardians of students, over the
recent decision by the education authorities
to reopen schools for the 2014/2015
academic session on Monday, September
22, 2014 despite the threat of the Ebola
Virus Disease which has killed seven people
in Nigeria.
In the wake of the outbreak of the dreaded
disease in the country, Education Minister,
Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, had announced a
postponement of the resumption date of
schools from September to October 13, so
as to give the country's health authorities
enough time to ensure the containment of
the disease.
But in reaction, private school owners had
vehemently opposed the revision of the
resumption date, compelling the Federal
Ministry of Education to bring forward the
date for schools to reopen to September 22,
after a meeting with stakeholders in the
sector.
But responding to inquiries from journalists
yesterday in Abuja, the Deputy Chairman,
Media and Public Affairs in the House of
Representatives, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene,
stated that the House leadership resolved to
mandate its Committee on Education to take
another look at the issue “in the overall
interest of the pupils and students, parents,
guardians and the general well-being of the
entire country”.
Ogene said: “You will recall that upon the
outbreak of the dreaded Ebola virus in
Nigeria, the House Committee on Health
rose up to the occasion by interfacing with
the health authorities, the result of which is
the positive containment efforts and call-off
of the strike by doctors in the country.”
Continuing, the deputy spokesman of the
House said given the reality of some
persons still under surveillance, and the
likelihood of having other cases, there was
the need to put the safety of the children
and that of the entire country into
consideration, in arriving at when best to
reopen schools nationwide.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government
yesterday said it had directed its Ministry of
Justice to commence the prosecution of
employers for allegedly disengaging two
persons who survived the disease.
The state government, also said the First
Consultants Medical Centre had been
certified free of the deadly virus, noting that
it had been given clearance to reopen for
business, thus confirming THISDAY’s
exclusive report yesterday that the hospital
had been given the all clear by the
authorities.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris,
spoke on the discriminatory practices of the
employers at a news conference he
addressed at the Bagauda Kaltho Press
Centre, Alausa, alongside the Special Adviser
on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina and
his information counterpart, Dr. Lateef Raji,
among others.
At the conference, the commissioner said
two cases of stigmatisation by employers
“have been referred to the Ministry of
Justice for prosecution. The case will only
be dropped if the employers withdraw their
stigma cases against the two Ebola
survivors”.
He said the Ministry of Justice “will take up
the case of those victimised by their
employers. Anybody, whether a discharged
patient, or a contact followed up, who feels
stigmatised can petition the Ministry of
Justice and the Attorney General of Lagos
State”.
The commissioner assured them that the
justice ministry would take up their petition,
noting that it was not fair nor was it right to
stigmatise the survivors of Ebola.
He warned that being Ebola-free did not
mean that the people should lose their jobs,
while appealing to the state’s residents not
to stigmatise people with Ebola-related
cases.
“The social problem being faced by
discharged cases has been reported
severally. This ranges from stigmatisation,
eviction from their accommodation, being
asked to stay away from work and
termination of employment.
“We have had cases of employers just
terminating the employment of their staff
members who were just mere contacts, not
even suspected cases. We believe this is
unfair. We also feel this impedes on their
fundamental human rights.
“I wish to implore all Lagosians once more
not to stigmatise all cases and contacts that
have been given a clean bill of health and
passionately urge all of us and all
employers inclusive to facilitate their
reintegration into the society,” Idris pleaded.
Idris added that stigmatisation would further
make contacts and suspects to go
underground and could reverse the gains
made so far in the containment and
management of this outbreak.
The commissioner explained that if people
felt they would be stigmatised once they
submitted themselves for scrutiny, they
would have been discouraged from doing so
to the health authorities.
“Even when they come up with symptoms,
they may not come out and jeopardise not
only their lives but their family members and
other people they come in contact with.
That’s why it is essential that people should
stop that,” he explained.
Idris also urged those on contact list or
under surveillance not to travel out of the
state and advised them to alert the rapid
response team on manifestation of
symptoms or signs.
“Lagos residents are enjoined to report any
case or cases that may want to embark on
this kind of dastardly misadventure. We
have had very serious meetings with
mortuary operators because this is another
area that might facilitate the spread of the
disease.
“We have given them protocols they need to
follow when they are dealing with suspected
cases, like what they should do and what
kind of precautions they should take so that
we can reduce the spread. We also want to
urge operators to adhere to their
professional best practices when handling
such corpses,” he said.
He also urged patients and associates of
First Consultants to continue to patronise
the hospital, adding that the hospital
remained a top-notch institution, especially
after the government had given it a clean bill
of health.

Recently, the former Governor of Oyo State,
Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala,
launched his bid to regain control of Agodi
Government House which he vacated for
Governor Abiola Ajimobi in 2011. Ademola
Babalola was there
“Therefore on this day and at this defining
moment, I have listened to your appeals and
accepted your requests and hereby offer
myself to you in the name of God Almighty
to contest under our party (PDP) for the post
of the governor of Oyo state in 2015. I
promise to rule with the fear of God.”
With the above quotation of former
Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala at last week’s
official declaration on intention to contest
the February, 2015 governorship under the
platform of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP), all appears set for the titanic battle
ahead as the race to secure the party’s
ticket next month hots up, among the
party’s leading governorship aspirants.
If there is anybody still in doubt as to
whether or not Akala, will contest, such
individual, by now must have realized that
Akala is in this race for real. The sixth
civilian governor of Oyo, who first had a
stint as governor of the state for 11months
in 2006 following the now quashed
impeachment of his former boss, Governor
Rashidi Ladoja, Akala later got elected as
substantive governor and ruled the state for
four years (2007-2011).
To him, the calls and appeals by members
of the public and supporters across the state
for his return to government house, were not
deafening but too loud and compelling
enough to be ignored, hence the reason why
his mind is made up to give it another shot
having failed to win the re-election in 2011.
And by the next election in 2015, it would
be almost four years after he left the saddle
following defeat by the incumbent Governor
Abiola Ajimobi of the then Action Congress
of Nigeria and now All Progressives
Congress (APC).
However, unlike in 2011 when he had a field
day as arguably the sole aspirant of the
party who went the whole hug to grab the
ticket as its gubernatorial candidate ‘on the
platter of gold’, this year’s contest, is
however a different ball game altogether as
no fewer than eight of his former aides are
not leaving anything to chance to give the
Ogbomoso-born ex-police officer a run for
his money and a test for his much-flaunted
popularity.
Leading contenders for the sole ticket of the
party are a former Senate leader, Teslim
Kolawole Folarin; a 47year-old oil magnate
and philantropist, Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde;
an Ibadan-based millionaire businessman,
Olufemi Ademola Babalola; two former
Deputy-Governors, Alhaji Hazeem
Gbolarumi; Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; a
US-based Vascular Surgeon, Dr. Azeez
Adeduntan; a serving Senator who recently
crossed over from APC to PDP, Alhaji
Hamzat Ayoade Adeseun; a former council
boss and veteran journalist, Alhaji Kehinde
Olaosebikan are some of the politicians who
will confront Alao-Akala at the October’s
party primary.
The list is endless but other notable
contenders are former Minister for Sports,
Prof. Taoheed Adedoja; former SUBEB boss
in the state and Prof. Soji Adejumo.
Interestingly, save for two or three aspirants
above, others are former aides, business
partners and political associates of Alao-
Akala. To show seriousness with which they
are all presently attaching to their individual
aspirations, none of the aforementioned
graced Akala’s inauguration, fueling
speculations that the die is cast and
chickens may have come home to roost for
the ex-helmsman.
But Alao-Akala appears unperturbed by this
development as he was full of thanks to God
at the ceremony. The moment he was
handed the microphone by the rappateur to
speak at the event, he, in his charismatic
manner, bent down, knelt and thereafter
began to roll on the bare floor platform;
apparently in appreciation of God’s undying
love and kindness to him, all these past
years ‘with a promise that he will conquer
and regain the position he lost in 2011
again’. His accapela praise song
accompanied by a baritone voice was a
perfect reminder of the 18th century great
composers of the Westminster in Britain.
While rolling on the floor, the following
statements must have been running in his
minds “if I am to count my blessings all
these years; especially my political exploits
from being a former council chairman in
Ogbomoso North in 1999 to miraculously
emerging a deputy governor in 2003, acting
governor in 2006, elected governor in 2007
and now governor in waiting in 2015 going
by the presence of huge crowd of supporters
here at today’s declaration,”. To him
therefore, having been so kind to him all
through the journey of life, God deserves
nothing but all the praises he could muster
under the sun in appreciation of His ever-
faithful love for him.
All that notwithstanding, Akala, while
speaking at the epoch-making rally at PDP
state secretariat on Queen Elizabeth road
and the ground celebration held at
Watershed Events centre, also on Old-Ife
road, Ibadan, spared a thought for some of
his action and inactions in government by
saying that he was not oblivious and
unmindful of the fact that ruling a state as
cosmopolitan and politically sophisticated as
Oyo was not without some hitches, hence
the need for him to beg for pardon of those
he might have wronged one way or the
other.
He left no one in doubt that pleading for the
forgiveness from those he offended while he
was governor was a needful assurance of a
man ‘born well’ of a woman adding that,
“none of our actions were deliberate or
personal vendetta.”
Explaining reasons why he is gunning for the
seat of power, Alao-Akala said in the last
few months, he had received emissary from
across the state, urging him to come out
once again and contest for the post of the
governor of the state.
“I must say that these past three years, I
have had time to reflect on our
performances as I believe many of you have.
Did we satisfy the yearning of the masses?
As a government, did we provide the much
needed succor for the people? Were the
masses impressed by our people-oriented
policies and programmes?
“It is indeed gratifying to note with a deep
sense of modesty that we made positive
impacts on the lives of the people, as
attested to by the greater majority and also
the international community. The world bank
and the World Health Organization as well
as the UBEC, CBN, and the Federal Ministry
of Transportation recognized our
contributions by giving our government
awards on our performances on local
empowerment programmes, agriculture,
roads, transportation, education, health and
the environment among several others.”
While stressing that he ran his government
with human face, Alao-Akala however
regretted that “the present is characterized
by anti-people policies as evidenced in the
wanton destruction of means of livelihood;
imposition of higher taxes; capital flight and
outright dismissal of public servants on
flimsy excuses.
“Our government was characterized by
friendly policies, people-oriented projects,
accelerated commerce through micro-
finance loans at zero per cent and without
collateral, rural development, job creation,
that is, by using home-based and local
contractors for minor and major contracts,
opening of new roads in the rural areas,
release of grants to schools which enhanced
educational development; respect for the
work-force and job security for public
servants. This is in addition to purchase of
skip-eaters for environmental sanitation,
purchase of fully equipped ambulances,
renovation of public places such as Mapo
hall, Atiba hall, repositioning of because with
modern equipments and opening of new
radio stations in Ogbomoso and Oke-Ogun
axis. And more importantly, our
administration established good and
qualitative leadership as against the present
situation where we now experience
leadership of a Group Managing Director
running state affairs as a private
enterprise.”
He said if given the opportunity again, he
would re-invent the 13 point agenda he
pursued vigorously in his first coming,
stressing that, “I have heard the cries of
market women whose shops were destroyed
and means of livelihood taken away. I have
listened to the agonies of landlords whose
houses were destroyed without
compensation. I have seen civil servants and
top ranking officers of government sacked
ignominiously, but today I come to you with
a message of hope and assurance of a
better tomorrow. You shall be duly
compensated and those unjustly sacked
shall be reinstated. You all have seen how
our rating plummeted, with government of
the day struggling to pay our children’s
WAEC fees. Before I left three years ago, we
constructed over two thousand schools with
two awards from Universal Basic Education,
but today our children are learning under
dilapidated classrooms.”
In their solidarity and goodwill messages, a
former Chief of Staff to Akala, Dr. Saka
Balogun said God has answered the prayers
of PDP because of the perceived hardship
being meted out to citizens by the ruling
APC. He tasked all members to join forces
to send the government of the day packing
in the next election. To Balogun, whoever
emerges as the party’s candidate would be
supported by all and sundry.
Prominent fuji musicians like Abass Akande
Obesere, Taye Currency, Juju maeestro
Femo Lancster, among others addeed colour
to the event.
Others at the ceremony were the acting
Chairman of the South-West PDP, Lanre
Orimoloye, senator Brimoh Yusuf, Mrs. Kemi
Akala, Chief Babalola, Hon. Segun Odebunmi
(Bunvic), Mr. Festus Alade, Mrs. Kemi
Jayeoba-Olorunsogo, Hon. Depo Oyedokun
amongst others.

handysuzy: Let me keep shut lest I get reprimanded.

handysuzy: Okay. Following

lomaxx: Men have upgraded. Beauty with no brains is a liability. No beauty with good brains is an asset. The good thing with beauty is it can be worked upon. The bad thing about brains is- once you don't have it, you don't have it.

Love, i think

rozzay: Pls wat am I selling

thuley: yeah, i'm drunk in love like beyonce..

marieolae: hello, the op is not trying to say that. I dnt see anything wrong in a guy spoling his girl now and then. A lot of guys these days have this stingy mentality, really its not going to get you nowhere. Its up to the guy to wisen up!

mukina2: my poor fpl goalie Timmy

but i want more goals for costa!

and injury for cesc

lastchild: guy be serious,

I wasn't bothered about it since am getting girls for phuck but am concern now because I have to get married someday

lastchild: Many people misunderstood this my thread, as am typing this am expecting a girl to come around by 2.pm for a hot phuck

Some of you pity me as if I can't get a girl,I do get girls more than people in a relationship, my problem is that these girls like hanging around me for phuck or something best known to them but not as a gf

paddysday: the calls should come in before wednesday according to a staff(wsnt soo sure tho). I just check my box everyday.