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…as Rep. Committee On UBEC/SUBEB Inspects Projects in Ondo

…commitment To Basic Education Responsible For Our Achievements – Gov Akeredolu

The House Of Representatives’ Committee on Basic Education and Service, has commended Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Aketi,SAN, for the giant strides recorded in the area of Education, infrastructure and other critical interventions in the state.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, who spoke during a courtesy visit to the Governor at the Governor’s office, Alagbaka Akure, described the Governor as a true leader who has not restricted himself to the state or the Southwest alone but has been very proactive and vocal on burning national issues.

While describing the reconstructed and renovated public primary schools with perimeter fencing and other amenities in the sunshine state as a model, Prof. Ihonvbere added that children must be properly built giving the place of education in contemporary.

Responding, Governor Akeredolu said when he assumed office in 2017, nothing was done about the existing public primary schools in the state.

He said:”It’s a good thing that you are able to go round all the schools you visited. By the time we came in 2017, nothing was done about them at all. The last time we paid and assessed fund from UBEC was 2013 before we came in.

“Someone can decide to build mega schools, it doesn’t mean anything. Whether the schools are effective now or not it is now left for the people to judge. But we are putting them in better use now. We are giving them to our higher institutions.

“In our own time, we made up our mind that things will not be done this way. The Muslim school here became dilapidated and no one was going there. When we came here, we rebuilt it. From less than 50 pupils, their students are now over 200.

“We did place premium on education to do those things. Things were already hard when we came in. But we are committed to education. Our matching grant for 2020, we are processing it. The Covid-19 was part of what slowed us down. No doubt, we have tried.” He said.

…says both girl and boy child will get equal opportunities

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has warned perpetrators of violence against children to stay off the state, saying the State will be made uninhabitable for them.

The Governor said his administration is determined to wage war against rapists, ritualists, sexual violators and other criminals committing crimes against children and the citizenry in general.

This is even as Governor Akeredolu assured that he will not relent in his strong determination to ensure that both the girl and boy child are given equal opportunities to access formal education as gender equality shall continue to remain his administration’s top priority.

Arakunrin Akeredolu spoke in a special broadcast and Goodwill message to commemorate the May 27, 2021 National Children’s Day celebration.

While reminding the children that they are critical stakeholders in the country, Governor Akeredolu noted that they have a lot of responsibilities and roles to play in stemming the tide of insecurity in order to guarantee a secured and prosperous future.

“Towards this end, I encourage you to watch the friends you associate with. Moving with bad peer groups will only end up in spoiling your good habits.

“Avoid being used as tools in the hands of criminals, be vigilant to be able to identify individuals or groups that are likely to endanger lives and properties around your homes, schools, or community and promptly report such person to your parents, teachers or community leader

“Avoid loitering about the street while you are expected to be in school; and be conscious of your personal security all the time,” the Governor said.

He added that his administration will continue to fight COVID-19 head-on in the State, promising that the government’s health policy shall continue to focus on promoting the best interest of children in the State.

He said: “In line with global expectations from States contained in the United Nations Child’s Rights Convention, 1989, domesticated as Nigeria’s Child’sRights Act 2003, and Ondo State Child’s Rights Law, in 2007, our administration shall continue to ensure the realisation of the basic rights of children in the State. Hence, the Survival, Protection, Development and Participation of children shall continue to be priority issues to us as a government.”

The Governor disclosed that customised Covid-19 control kits have been provided in small bags for distribution to children in the 18 Local Government Areas of the State.

Richard Olatunde
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State.
May 27, 2021.

The Executive Chairman of Ese-Odo Local Government, Mrs. Folawe Sipasi-Aluko, has congratulated the newly elected Okiribiti of Sabome Kingdom, Prince Felix Adeyemi Koledoye.

The election that was keenly contested and well conducted yesterday at the Ese-Odo Local Government Secretariat by the Kingmakers of Sabome Kingdom and witnessed by Mr. Ayowole Ademoyegun, the Head of Administration of the Local Government, arrayed three contestants of Prince Felix Adeyemi Koledoye, Prince Ayodele Epebinu and Prince Omosuyi Samuel. Prince Felix Adeyemi Koledoye emerged the winner for the Okiribiti stool having got the leading votes of 8 Kingmakers out of 13, of which 3 Kingmakers did not vote while the other 2 were conspicuously absent at the venue of the election.

The election was held peacefully without rancour or skirmishes which punctuated the effective administration and management of Ese-Odo Local Government Area by Hon. (Mrs.)Folawe Sipasi-Aluko.

You would recall how recently Hon. Sipasi-Aluko managed the Invasion and confrontation of the Ex-militants in Ese-Odo Local Government Secretariat such that what would have been a major chaos turned out to be a well managed issue. She was able to calm the boiling nerves of the ex-militants.

This peaceful election of Prince Felix Adeyemi Koledoye is another success story of the able Chairman.

The Executive Chairman wishes the King-elect a peaceful and long reign on the throne.

Children have been advised to take their Personal hygiene necessary in order to be free from infectious diseases and other sicknesses particularly in this era of Covid-19.


The council boss, Odigbo local government, Mrs. Margaret Akinsuroju gave this advice in a statement made available to children at the 2021 edition of Children Day Celebration held at Saint Marks Anglican Caring Heart Primary School Ore in Odigbo Local Government area of the State.


Speaking on the occasion of this year Children Day activities, Mrs. Akinsuroju noted that both parents and children while at homes and in their workplaces should always take Covid-19 precautionary guidelines in to consideration to avert its menace among rural and community dwellers.

She enjoined children to be good ambassadors of their homes, state and Local Government by shunning social gives and take their academic serious in order to be able to be self-reliant aftermath.

She commended Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, led administration for taking children’s care a priority in some of his educative programmes in the state.

Some of the celebrants who could not hide their joys as they were given writing materials spoke vehemently on their feelings despite numerous challenges confronting the Nation.

Some of the public schools in attendance were  Saint Paul Anglican Primary School, Caring Heart Mega Primary, Muslim Secondary School, Ore Community High School Ore,and Isero Grammar school Odigbo respectively.

…as victims get relief materials

The Ondo State Government has reiterated its commitment to partner relevant stakeholders in finding a lasting solution to the sea incursion ravaging Aiyetoro community and other affected areas in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.


Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa who made the remark at the formal handover of relief materials to victims of the Ayetoro ocean surge in Igbokoda, the local government headquarters, said the world bank had been involved to fund construction works in Aiyetoro community which will be carried out by the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project NEWMAP.


While noting that it might not be easy for victims to fully regain all that was lost in the unfortunate incident, deputy Governor, lucky Aiyedatiwa said the relief materials would go a long way to mitigate the effect on the people while the government is working on a lasting solution to scourge with utmost urgency.

In his words, ‘the trend cannot continue. It must be stopped. Giving out palliative can only mitigate your pains for a short while. It is also not the wish of the present administration of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN that a hitherto enterprising and creative people be environmentally ham stringed from living their lives normally and functioning optimally.’ Aiyedatiwa said.

‘We have invited the attention of relevant stakeholders like the Federal Ministry of Environment, World Bank, etc to the plight of the people of Ayetoro.’

‘We have taken further steps by involving the World Bank to fund the design and construction of works to be carried out by Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, NEWMAP for the benefit of Ayetoro.’ He added.

The Deputy Governor, who appreciated National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA for rendering humanitarian assistance to Aiyetoro community, said the state government is holding talks with NDDC to earmark fund in its budget for the completion of Igbokoda Aiyetoro road.

In his remarks, the Director-General of NEMA, Air Vice Marsal, Muhammadu Muhammed (rtd) represented by Ekiti head of Operations, Olusegun Afolayan gave the assurance that the agency was willing to sustain its synergy with Ondo State Government to explore long term solutions to such natural disasters.

He called for deliberate efforts on disaster risk management and robust collaboration by stakeholders at the community and all levels of government.

Earlier in remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor, Olugbenga Akingbasote, who urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the materials, disclosed that arrangements are on to sensitize the citizens on emergency management as well as precautionary measures.

Responding on behalf of beneficiaries, Chief Iwasanmi Ajijo lauded the state government for bringing succour to the people in such a critical time, pledging that the materials would be put to good use.

Relief items distributed include Mattresses, bedsheets, roofing sheets, groundnut oil, provisions, foodstuff, cements and other items to alleviate the pain of victims in the Aiyetoro community.

Tona Sina-Adeyeye,
Deputy Governor’s Office.

A 34-year-old man, Okpegboro Avwerosuo, has allegedly killed his roommate in Sagbama Town, Sagbama Local Government Area (SALGA) of Bayelsa.

Okpegboro was alleged to have sold the deceased’s vital organs to a pastor in Port Harcourt, who is currently at large, for ritual purposes.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Asinim Butswat, confirmed the story.

Butswat said that the suspect, who hails from Ugheli North Local Government Area of Delta, was being detained at the  state Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.

He said that the name of the victim had yet to be known.

According to a neighbour who pleaded anonymity, the suspect invited the deceased, his friend, to Sagbama to join the motorcycle riding business, assuring him that the business is flourishing in the town.

Report says that the deceased had spent barely two weeks in the town when Okpegboro struck him on the skull with a pestle in the night and killed him.

The neighbor further explained that “after killing him, he dismembered the body, preserved the vital organs and put the other parts in separate sacks which he disposed off in the early hours of the following day.’’

He said that while disposing the sacks, another neighbour who saw him and suspected his movement confronted him and demand to know the whereabouts of his roommate.

“The suspect claimed that the deceased has travelled back to Delta State for an urgent business. Not satisfied with his response, the neighbour forced his way into the room and saw blood stains everywhere.

“The neighbour held him down and alerted the local vigilante which eventually called the police in to arrest the suspect.

“Upon interrogation before he was handed over to the police, the suspect confessed that he had sold the vital organs of his friend to a pastor in Port Harcourt, who is currently at large for ritual purposes,’’ he explained.

The President of SALGA Federated Youth Council Worldwide, Mr Preye Casey, in a statement, condemned the killing of the young man.

Casey urged the youth of Sagbama to be on alert to checkmate the activities of non-indigenes in the town as security tension continued to rise across the country.

“Just yesterday, the decomposing body of a young man was discovered in the bush with several parts of the body already butchered into pieces and placed in sack bags.

“The Nigeria Police, Sagbama Division, was alerted and it led to the arrest of a young man in Sagbama Federated Community, suspected to have been the perpetrator of the ungodly act.’’

He condemned the act and called on Sagbama youths to be vigilant as they went about their normal activities, especially in the wake of the rising insecurity level in the country.

The president, therefore, appealed to the security agencies to find out those behind the murder of the young man.

(NAN)

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, expresses shock at the news of the death of the Chief of Army Staff, General Ibrahim Attahiru and other illustrious officers who died in a plane crash in Kaduna on Friday.

Describing the deaths as huge losses, Governor Akeredolu says the nation lost a brilliant officer particularly, in General Attahiru who displayed his worth within the short time he served as Chief of Army Staff.

“Within the brief period he served, he gave his best. The late General displayed vigour and total commitment to the security of the nation. He died serving his fatherland with a dexterous passion” .

The Governor commiserates with the immediate families of the late Chief of Army Staff, as well as other gallant officers who lost their lives in the plane crash.

While commiserating with President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Akeredolu also joins the military in mourning the death of the highly decorated officers.

He prays for the repose of his soul and for God’s comfort for the families of the departed souls.

Signed :
Richard Olatunde,
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State.
May 22, 2021.

Aketi is indeed a leader prepared for this season, he has shown Mr. Abubakir Malami SAN that his priority is to secure the lives and properties of Ondo indigenes

INTRODUCTION

The present governor of Ondo state is indeed a born leader, that is timely and responsible. Mr. Akeredolu Oluwarotimi SAN has been governing Ondo state in the manners in which things should be handled in Nigeria.

The personality of our Mr. Governor is simple and he could be difficult sometimes, if you don’t understand him. He is a true Nigerian, a believer of society of peace, justice and unity. It is generally obvious that Nigeria is currently in self inflicted war of banditry, kidnappings and rapings. We can no longer say our unity is threatened because there is no unity anywhere again in the country. The ever coveted peace in the country is now a scarce commodity and justice which is a pivot of a sane society is no where to be found in Nigeria, the other ethnicities see Fulanis of being overbearing and ready to go any length to resist them.

The woes bedeviling the country called Nigeria is traceable to the lackadaisical attitude of the past and our present leaders of this nation . The selfish interests of many people who had one time and the other being in positions of authority contributed to our present pitiable state and the habit of playing politics with everything in the nation, including lives of the innocent citizens, has further dampened the hope of this country getting it right. In critical analysis of the happenings in the country over six decades of independence, the southern leaders might not have been in their best but better than their contemporaries from the northern part who only occupy themselves with competing with the southerner rather than liberating their people.

All the northern leaders, past or present, should rather bury their heads in shame, seeing what the entire northern states have turned to, there are some states today that you dare not travel to if you have not written your legal will. Imagine what Borno state has turned to, if Boko haram war ends today, it will take the state more than five decades to recover from the damages done to the state by senseless, self inflicted and preventable war called Boko haram. The Kaduna state, the previous headquarters of Northern region has turned to the den of bandits where kidnappings and killings of innocent souls are very lucrative businesses. I shouldn’t mention Zamfara state where it is obvious the state is only second to Borno state in terms of insecurity. The state that produced two heads of state, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakir , Niger state is being sieged by banditry.

It will be foolish for southerners, mostly their governors, to fold their hands until their lands are taken over by the same miscreants who made the Northern states unsafe for everyone, including their leaders. It is now obvious that Gov. Akeredolu is a Godsent to us, Ondo state vis-a-vis entire Nigeria and he has not failed in this regard. As a detribalised Nigerian who believes every man is equal before the laws of the nation and their security of lives and properties should be paramount to the government of the day, he has tried his best to be a shinning example of how things should be done by our leaders, i.e beyond the present state of nepotism and bigotry.

AKETI’S FEARLESS ACTIONS

When Mr. Akeredolu Oluwarotimi SAN showed interest in governing the state in 2012 under then ACN but lost the election to his age long friend, Dr. Mimiko of LP, hardly did anyone know that God was delaying him so as to be our Messiah in area of security in the nation at a time like this. He has been consistently showing his colleagues in governors’ forum how to go about responsive governance in their various states.

After he was sworn in as the governor of the state, having inherited the gains and liabilities from his predecessor, including insecurity from Fulani herdsmen, kidnappings, robbing and rapings of the innocent citizens of the state, he came up with idea of floating a paramilitary corps for the region, being a leader of the Southwest governors’ forum, the popular Amotekun was conceived, despite the hue and cry against this brilliant innovation, majorly from Northern leaders, the Amotekun is a reality today irrespective of whose ox is gored, Aketi believes that the safety of lives and properties of Nigerians should not be taken with levity.

The present Ondo state governor also ensured the illegal occupants of our forests were evicted, despite the shameless outburst from some Northern leaders, believing Aketi was after their citizens but today, Gov. Akeredolu has been proved to be right, as no innocent, genuine, law-abiding and registered Fulani herdsmen was evicted from any of our forests in the state and this singular action of Mr. governor has reduced the spate of kidnappings in state though not yet uhuru in security situation.

The recent, long awaited but welcoming Asaba Accord in which open grazings were unanimously agreed by the seventeen southern governors should be banned , i.e this barbaric norm of the Fulani herdsmen which has claimed many lives and properties of innocent Southerners, should be abolished. Considering the number of lives and fortunes lost to the senseless killings by these archaic pastoralists against their landlords i.e the Southerners , this latest action by the southern governors came a bit belated but better than never.

The response of attorney general of the federation , Mr. Malami, trying to work against the decision of the southern governors has met a quality response from Gov. Akeredolu who dared him to challenge them in the court of law if the solicitor general of the federation is very sure that seventeen governors are wrong by their decision to save the lives and properties of their people. The Ondo state governor, Mr. Akeredolu Oluwarotimi SAN, has shown to the whole world that he believes in everything that is right for Nigeria and he can’t be intimidated by anybody.

IN CONCLUSION

The votes and sacrifices of good people of the state in electing Gov. Akeredolu for second term by our people of the state is not a waste, Having unprecedentedly won 15 out of the 18 local governments of the state, Aketi has justified his second term and his readiness to serve the state and Nigeria is not in doubt and our Mr. governor is less concerned about personal or nepotic views, except the safety of lives and properties of all Nigerians.

Aketi loves us all as a nation and believes we can only do better as a nation, if we respect ourselves, promote unity and justice for all Nigerians rather than seccesion in fragments which can’t guarantee a better nation. I think Mr. Abubakir Malami SAN should try to be reasonable with southern governors and prioritize safety of the people rather than the present sectional view which has necessitated a lot of tongue lashings against him.

Dr. Akeredolu O.N, vice chairman, Aketi-Aiyedatiwa Medical Committee, 2020 campaign

Prominent Nigerians have urged the Ondo State Government to immediately relocate the residents of Ayetoro, a community in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state that had recently been ravaged by sea incursion, pending the time a permanent solution would be devised.

The call came from Ilaje Professors Forum during its courtesy visit to the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa in his office in Akure, the state capital.

In his address, the leader of the group, Prof. Aderibigbe Olomola, while congratulating Governor Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa, who is the first Ilaje indigene to be elected to the position of Deputy Governor, advocated for the rapid industrial development of the coastal area, using his influence in the Akeredolu-led government.

Calling for more efforts from the government to find a lasting solution to sea incursion in some parts of the oil-reach communities, Olomola called on the government to find means of immediately relocating Ayetoro residents to avert loss of lives.

‘With the continuous devastation of the environment, we call for urgent attention of the government.’

‘First, we need to consider urgent ways of evacuating and relocating the people because of this incursion. We need to start at how do we evacuate the people, where do we evacuate them to.’ The Professor said.

Reacting, the Deputy Governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa lauded the coming together of the erudite Professors to form the association, saying it would go a long way to help the state government in the just inaugurated Joint Planning Council to drive a long time development plan for the state.

He promised that arrangement would be put in place to relocate Ayetoro residents so as not to record loss of lives.

Ayedatiwa, who said the issue had been a protracted problem that government had been facing over the years, said the present administration has set up an agency called ‘NEWMAP’ that is working with the World Bank to look into how best the sea incursion could be tackled headlong.

He however appealed to the people to vacate the area as no one knows when the sea would come in full force, saying prevention is better than cure.

The Ogeloyinbo of Aiyetoro Community and Spiritual Majesty of Holy Apostles’ Church, Aiyetoro Headquarters W/W, in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Micah Olaseni Ajijo, has called on both Federal and Ondo State governments, all meaningful Nigerians as a matter of urgency to come to their rescue over the incessant sea incursion in the area.

Oba Ajijo, while speaking with our correspondent, said the community needs emergency response from the government, it could be total evacuation in order to put inplace surge protection.

He said; “half of Ayietoro is in the sea already, many people have become homeless.

 “People’s livelihood will be more threatened during this raining season, I’m appealing to the government to do something urgent to safe our people. 
He added that “in 2004,that the Niger delta Development Commission (NDDC) recognized the challenges of coastal erosion due to the activities of Oil exploration in the area, and decided to protect our surge, they awarded the contract to protect Aiyetoro in particular, to my utmost surprised nothing was done.

“Also in 2009, NDDC, awarded the contract nothing to show for it till date. This is 2021, seventeen years now that the problem has been marked by the government as to deal with it. Our people are frustrating. Half of the houses have deformed an Oil producing community for that matter. It high time the Oil companies show their social responsibility to our people,” the Monarch said.

No doubt , we will continue to partner with the Governments at all levels because nothing will can do , It is not that the government is not sincere but some functionaries take things with levity.  

In the same vein, the Secretary General of Aiyetoro, Mr. Sola Orisamoluwa, averred that the project has been awarded up to two times but nothing was done about it. 
He said “It’s a pity that an Oil producing community may be in a situation like this. However, nothing we can do than to appeal to the federal government and the state to come to our aid. It has been a long time pleading and our people are becoming more of the victim of sea surge”. 

Orisamoluwa, therefore, pleaded with the governments for urgent intervention.

Meanwhile, residents of Aiyetoro, community in Ilaje local government staged a peaceful protest on Monday calling on the Federal and the State governments to come to their aid as the ocean surge escalating every day in the area.

According to their agitations, “many people have been rendered homeless and many have become refugees in their own community. We have nowhere to go, we are appealing to the Federal Government, state government and well-meaning Nigerians to come to our aid,” 

The protesters also called their representative, Mr. Kolade Akinjo, to stop playing dumb in this instance. “We expect that he should be up and doing beyond purchasing JAMB form which is the job of a counselor. He should rise up to his responsibilities and hold contractors into account”.