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The Secretary to Ondo State Government, Princess Catherine Oladunni Odu, has congratulated the Acting Chairman of All Progressive Congress in Ondo State, Engr. Ade Adetimehin on the occasion of his birthday celebration.
The SSG, a soft speaking law luminary and former SUBEB Boss in the State described Adetimehin as a political strategist who has exhibited uncommon wisdom and exemplary style of leadership in piloting the affairs of the APC in the State.
“Happy birthday to a distinguished Nigerian, political strategist and jagaban of Ondo politics, Engr Ade Adetimehin.”
“As the APC Chairman you have exhibited uncommon wisdom, remarkable vision and exemplary style of leadership in piloting the affairs of the our party in Ondo State.”
Odu who referred the acting chairman to a political jagaban in the state wished him well and congratulated him for his new age.
“I wish you well on this auspicious occasion. Congratulations Sir.” SSG added.
As we mark another chapter in the history of our dear Country; Nigeria, it’s time to unite and make Nigeria an indivisible entity irrespective of religious, ethnicity and Socio- Political affiliation.
As we mark the 61st Independence of our darling Country, we should strive more in prayer, unity and peace to ensure that the labour of our heroes past for our freedom from the colonial masters does not be in vain.
I urge all Nigerians especially the Ondo State indigenes to give thier solidarity and undying support to the Ondo State Gov. Arakurin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu led administration in making the sunshine state safer to live, invest and do business.
Let’s help support the fight against Banditry, Kidnapping among other social vices. Let us continue to support our dear Governor in making Ondo State a Tourist attraction state as this will definitely boost our economy, attract more investors, bring about entrepreneural developments, create job opportunities for job seekers and increase our standards of living.
I wish every Nigerian a Peaceful and Successful Independence Day Celebration and a New Fruitful, Prosperous Month.
*United We Stand; Divided We Fall. *Nigeria can be great again. *Let us stand stronger with a beautiful smile and determination to remain United. *Let us uplift the face of our Great Nation. *Let us Rise for Nigeria to Rise Again!
Pardon if this is not another pleonastic piece to rant on our poor governance, education, medical facilities, infrastructures and all other blah blah blah familiar woes.
In March 23, 1991, the Revolutionary United Force, (RUF) with the support from the special forces of Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia intervened in Sierra Leone to overthrow the government of Joseph Momoh. The war, according to Wikipedia lasted for 11-years, leaving over 50,000-300,000 dead and over a million internally displaced.
These “change advocates” irrespective of their ages , joined the RUF movement because they grew tired of the docility and found a discomfort in the constant fetor of corruption, mismanagement , electoral violence, and a collapse in their educational sector.
While this may sound and look familiar in the Nigerian sphere, the thought of police tear gassing, endless court sittings, detentions, which is a case of striking the sheep and see the flock scatter, are several ways to maim our armies and remove the tooth of our venomous vipers.
Recently, I came across essays written by The Late Blessed Jacob-J.S Odulate, essays way back to 1920s especially one titled, “African Shall Rise-When? There, he addressed a series of issues ravaging the African continent from selfishness to a projectile of other sadden issues, and in retrospection, these issues are uncommon to the shores of 60-years-old Nigeria.
Similarly, while a Ghanaian merchant was coating our linking plastic GP tank, I quizzed him about the Ghanaian Revolution which was becoming like a fawning story because of the dauntless and chivalry approach of most Ghanaians that have been widely rumored, and to my amazement, he affirmed.
It has been a long aged question of why we need a revolution, and even the emphasis on now, but this innocent and timely question should have a time lapse( even though change is gradual, but with a persistence),- of when we need this revolution, how do we want the revolution, and who will lead the revolution.
It’s often said, that Nigerian youths should belong to a political party to drive change, but not in a system where the law isn’t supreme and a lot of ageists who wouldn’t want the fresh idea to see the light of the day.
I may be a mugwump concerning the Nigerian political parties but certainly not towards the truth, advocacy, and transparency should I see that in an individual.
Perhaps, before we talk on having a revolution or why we need a revolution, how fit are the revolutionary armies, how vast are they? How prepared are they? How angry are they? And are they not complacent beings who are waiting patiently for an Armageddon to wipe the bad eggs without lifting a finger or a voice?
It’s very common for the majority to join the bandwagon. And I must say, most people term for revolution is for a change of hands from old to young, or a split, a defection from one Political party to another. And to some quarters it is the secession of a people for the birth of an already named country existing breathlessly in a country.
Revolution is not just the pursuit for separation, because of an aged long wound in the bowels of a group for the pogrom, nor isn’t the Nigeria’s reluctance to granting a secession the type of needed revolution. Revolution is also not the powerless cliché of a change beginning with you. Revolution is breaking the chains of the demi-gods dictating the affairs of the country. So, how angry are we to achieve that?
Revolution comes from an angry soul. And we talk about it, when we are angry. Angry about corruption, tribalism, injustice, nepotism, opacity in governance, and a sit tight syndrome amongst the civilian representatives. Hike in education, and all.
But why can’t the revolution be about a change of political system to another, and agitation for the supremacy of the law? Yes, this is a vision too, a diminishing of quota system, incompetency.
Then we talk about when, “Now”, is a present state and that alone creates an ambiguity to our revolutionary period. Stating “Now” as a time frame has no specificity for a specific beginning neither for a specific ending. Although it gives the feeling of urgency, action, but it is only as powerful as it is written or spoken. For example, I want you to come ‘Now’. That is an urgent command, and all I can say is yes, and I might refuse to take steps to begin my advancing journey. I could argue of my business then-(which was that now) and procrastinate for another ‘Now”.
Then we determine how we want it. There are several ways to achieve ones motives, even though protest and strike is one, the other one is through force. Right from the days of John the Baptist, the kingdom suffered violence and the violence takes it by force.”
Now force is largely discouraged but necessary, and it’s seems to be the only language we’ve come to understand as a nation. Yet force isn’t all about blood shedding, but actionable decisions.
Perhaps the story of Rosa Parks might be handy here. Boycotting transport systems? Remember? Do we read? Not just a sector strike but a total national shut down of angry people. This does not involve violence but just a shut down, but would we?
Aside the independence granted that was on a platter of gold, as described by Chinua Achebe, the history of the nation’s change of governance has always been with force, which was what we witnessed during the military regime, and it is the only language we have understood.
But sadly, we forget the pre-colonial struggles and aims achieved by defiant Nigerians-individual and groups, to oppressive propagandas, and statutory bodies. I believe the lack of history- no, it is the boring presentation, or portraying these heroes from a religious lens in our school that has made many Nigerians see the stories of Aba woman riot, the Jaja of Opobo, King Overamme, Ogoni’s men, Madam Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, as societal nuisance rather than change agents who looked oppression in the face till change is seen. Now, I hear a whipping heart says but it was costly and many were killed. Yes, they were. Revolution is costly, it cost sweats, time, and life. So we must agree on if that’s what we want, remember “Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. ”
So how do we want this revolution? While negotiation is like rubbing the palms to appease ones victimizers, force is taking up ones rights and demanding the necessities.
I must say that social media is giving the Nigerian keyboard warrior communities a global voice to propel a change, but what happens if these change advocates are summoned to show their faces?
Free press? Long detained journalists? policies on information deregulation? The gang of youths who would prefer to be used as thugs for electioneering manipulation? And no amount of hypocritical INEC jingles on vote buying to change the stony hearts to fleshy ones?
Aye! Zeus knows we are not angry enough for a change or revolution. Or are we? Why then do we need a revolution? I have digressed.
The corpse of a young aged lady whose identity is yet to be known has been deposited around the Redeemed Church and CAC Oke-Temidire, in Oke-Ijebu Akure, Ondo State capital.
Report says the corpse was suspected to be dumped by ritualists believed to be internet fraudsters popularly known as Yahoo Boys who drove off after dropping the dead body.
The dead body was wrapped in white cloths and other items were dumped with the corpse.
The court of appeal sitting in Akure has reserved judgement in the appeal of Founder of Sotitobire Praising Chapel Akure, Prophet Babatunde Alfa.
Prophet Alfa’s appeal is seeking to quash his life sentence conviction by an Ondo State High Court in Akure over the disappearance of one-year-old Gold Kolawole in his Church in 2019.
The presiding Justice, Rita Nosakhare Pemu after listening to all the arguments of both parties reserved judgement to a date that would be communicated to all parties.
Ondo State Deputy Governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Thursday said, the proposed Ondo Sea Port would change the economic fortune of the state when it eventually takes off.
Aiyedatiwa made this assertion while playing host to representatives of the Traditional Rulers from the Southern Senatorial District of the state who paid him a visit in his office in Akure, the state capital.
While lauding Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, for his kind disposition towards the southern senatorial district in terms of life-changing projects and political appointments particularly in this dispensation, the Deputy Governor said the district had never had it that good with its sons and daughters in top-ranking cabinet positions.
He noted that despite the challenges of funds, the government would continue delivering more dividends of good governance to the people across the state.
Speaking on the lingering electricity problem in the area, Aiyedatiwa said, Ondo State Government would continue to engage the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC on delivering the ongoing electricity projects as well as road projects in the area.
In his words, “we cannot but thank Mr. Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN for the kind of love that he had shown to us in the south… We want to thank him for the appointments he has made and the position he has taken to support the south to be the next Governor after him”.
“Yes, there are some other challenges or issues that had been raised.. We will definitely look into all of these” , Aiyedatiwa, added.
“It is continuous engagement… for example, the Deep Seaport in the South, it is not a fluke… we are working day and night to ensure we get that port declaration”.
” Arakunrin is not leaving any stone unturned…he is talking to anyone he needs to talk to… And because it is on the exclusive list of the Federal Government, we cannot just go ahead and the project. We are just waiting for the final nod from the Federal Government” , he further said.
He, therefore, urged the people to continue to support the Akeredolu-led government for a successful tenure.
Equally too, Aiyedatiwa enjoined the Traditional Rulers to work and pray for somebody who can buy into the vision of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, “let’s pray for a successor who can buy into the vision of Arakunrin particularly his laudable vision for Ondo State Deep Seaport” .
Earlier in his address, the spokesperson of the group, Oba Festus Olumoyegun, the Oniju of Iju-Odo had appreciated the State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN in given the Traditional leaders deserved attention in the scheme of things in the State.
“We are glad to note that the Akeredolu Administration takes matters affecting traditional rulers, and indeed the traditional institution, very seriously” , he said.
The visiting monarchs however called on government to expedite actions to restore electricity supply to the southern part of the state as well as fix their roads.
Other monarchs, on the delegation, includes The Ahaba of Ajagba, Oba Timothy Adesayo, The Orunja of Odigbo, Oba Rufus Akinrinmade, The Odogun of Igbekebo, Oba Oba Bamidele Dabo and The Olugbokoda of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo.
Kenneth Odusola-stevenson, Press Secretary to the Governor ( Office of the Deputy Governor ).
The Ilaje Rural Development Advocacy Committee (IRDC) has advocated peaceful co-existence between oil-producing companies and host communities in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Mr Roland Akintoye, the IRDC Chairman, gave this advice while speaking at a town hall meeting on Thursday with residents of the riverine Akinsolu community in Ode-Ugbo.
It was gathered that IRDC, a community-based organisation established in 2005 to support oil exploration companies in bringing succour to residents of host communities.
A Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) between NNPC/Chevron Nigeria Limited and the state government, which gave birth to IRDC, allowed oil communities the ownership and management of various projects solely funded by NNPC/Chevron.
Akintoye, who was represented by IRDC Secretary, Mr Adedeji Ikuepenikan, said that the peaceful coexistence of all the parties would further engender vast development in the riverine area.
He further explained that the oil giant has contributed immensely to the development of the area by sponsoring developmental projects as well as empowerment and medical programmes for host communities through the IRDC.
“We need to tell our people that the era of money sharing (peace bonus) is over as the GMoU signed by the state government and NNPC/Chevron is to fund projects and programmes to bring succour to residents. “We have commissioned our permanent secretariat, awarded scholarships to students and distributed notes and textbooks to primary and secondary schools.
“We have distributed fishing gears and safety kits to fishermen and women, organise free medical outreach and as well conducted skills acquisition training for women and young girls.
“We have also commissioned two solar-powered energy cabins to supply electricity to 200 residents in Awoye and Odofado communities and the Mother and Child hospital will be commissioned soon,” Akintoye said.
Chief Peace Happiness, the Baale of Awoye community, while responding on behalf of the host communities charged the oil company to continue to foster cordial relationships with host communities.
He said that the host communities would ensure the protection of installations of oil companies, saying that they must also abide by all agreements signed with the government to ameliorate their sufferings.
“We plead with NNPC/Chevron to relate with the government to solve the ocean surge which is a great challenge to us and other meaningful projects that will be beneficial to us,” Happiness said.
Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum and Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has declared that the state will make an example of any herder, who dared breach the anti-open grazing law, to show the level of implementation of the law.
Governor Akeredolu, who was fielding questions from newscasters on ARISE TV NEWS @9 on Wednesday, assured that the Southern Governors are implementing the Anti-open grazing law with vigor.
Reacting to the comment made by the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who posited that the anti-open grazing law was not implementable and also accused the Southern Governors of “politicising” the herders/farmers crisis, Governor Akeredolu said his major interest is protecting the livelihood of his people.
The Governor maintained that the Meyetti-Allah in the sunshine state are already cooperating with the government.
He said the statement made by the Kaduna State Governor was capable of inciting herders who were already cooperating with the government on the alternative means of the animal husbandry.
“We have had one week workshop for Meyetti- Allah and others. Ranching is big. Individuals can have their herds in a particular place and feed them. Here, they are not waiting to be incited. Whoever goes against the law will face the consequences.” Arakunrin Akeredolu said.
Governor Akeredolu disclosed that his administration is working round the clock to involve private public organizations in ranching and provision of feedlot.
He vowed to continue to do what is right in the interest of the people of the state, adding that he was elected to protect and serve the people.
“My own interest is that the livelihood of my people in Ondo state is not destroyed. It is better to haul cattle and bring them here for people to come and buy. The way of life of bringing them here is anachronistic .
“I’m happy he (El-Rufai) is now setting up ranching. I am happy Kastina state is also setting up ranches. We don’t want to destroy the means of livelihood of our people. We are voted to protect the people.”
When asked whether the insistence of the Southern Governors that the South must produce the next President will not further tear the fabric of the nation’s unity, Governor Akeredolu explained that the only way the country can remain United is to have fairness, Equality and Justice.
He stress that since the North will be spending eight years, it is only fair that the power rotation must now come to the South for justice and equality.
“The only way we remain united is that there must be fairness, equality and justice. We are saying if the North has eight years, we must have it in the south.
“When we say south, those of us Governors in the south who met in Asaba are 17. We never mentioned which area in the south. We are not segmenting south. If it goes to the southeast, we will support them.
“We have a right of association. We are discussing matters that affect our interest. We have taken our decision and we have our strategies. Part of our strategies is consultation. We don’t have to tell you.” He stressed.
When asked to clarify his description of the former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the “Capon” , Governor Akeredolu said what he meant was that Tinubu was ‘Boss of all Bosses’.
Richard Olatunde Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State.
A 90-yr-old woman has reportedly died while her grandson was injured at the early hours of Tuesday when a storey building collapsed at Fanibi in Akure.
It was gathered that the 90-year-old deceased and her injured grandchild were sleeping in their one-room apartment when the building suddenly collapsed around 3 am.
Some of the tenants in the house were, however lucky as they were rescued unhurt from the collapsed building.
When The Hope Metro visited the scene, friends and family members were seen at the front of the house lamenting the tragedy.
Tenants and neighbours who spoke with our correspondent said that one of the beneficiaries of the inherited property, was trying to add another building to the existing seventy years old structure without any structural engineering backup.
The wall of the renovated one-room close to the deceased’s room was said to have suddenly collapsed and fell on the woman while asleep and she died instantly.
The people said that might have led to the sudden collapse of the building .
One of the tenants of the collapsed building, Abimbola Oke said the woman died on the spot as the wall suddenly fell on her, adding that her grand child sustained a serious injury and has been taken to the hospital for treatment. Other six people trapped in the collapsed building were able to be rescued uninjured.
It was learnt that for over two hours a distress call was put across to the State Fire Service, there was no response, but the neighbors came to the rescue.
However, the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development has ordered that the remaining part of the collapsed building be sealed while a single soul would not be allowed to remain there .
It has also instructed the law enforcement agencies to see that the directive is being enforced immediately.
Speaking with newsmen at the scene, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Bayo Philips, lamented the occurrence for the fact that a life was lost, saying it is quite unfortunate.
He said, “The government cannot fold its arms for the citizens of the state to be in a danger like this even if it’s self-inflicted. This build has been sealed’
The Permanent Secretary later charged many people in town living in old buildings where the landlords are not showing enough concern, to contact them in the ministry.
“Government will not allow his citizens to be in palpable danger even though it’s self-inflicted. It is not going to be tolerated under Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
“As we speak, the Governor has directed the Ministry to carry out a survey and the physical audit of the buildings in town as if he had the premonition that this would happen. And we are already on the exercise.” Contacted, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Fanibi, CSP Femi Joseph confirmed the death of an aged woman, saying a boy also sustained injuries.
He said other four occupants of the collapsed building survived and are hale and hearty.
Joseph said the police will invite the owner of the building for questioning, adding that his men were already there to ensure hoodlums do not cart away properties of the victims. He, therefore advised house owners to cultivate the habit of taking adequate care of their buildings in the overall interest of their tenants.
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