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Ondo State Security Network Agency code name Amotekun has evicted another 137 illegal occupants of forest reserve in the state who are suspected to be security threat to the state.
Barely 48 hours after the Ondo State government returned 42 suspected Fulani invaders to their home states, another 100 with no clear mission were on Tuesday sent back to their states.
It was gathered that the people were apprehended at Elegbeka forest along Ifon-Owo road on there arrival from unknown destination.
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu had few weeks ago ordered the eviction of illegal occupants of the state government forest reserves who refused to register with government.
The governor’s action followed the gruesome murder of the Olufon of Ifon, Oba Adegoke Adeusi who was shot dead on the Owo-Ifon route few months ago and the killers are yet to be known.
In an interview with the State Commander of Amotekun Corps, Chief Adetunji Adeleye narrated that the the illegal forest occupants would be escorted out of Ondo state to where they came from.
“We got an Intel that very many people bombarded (forests at) Elegbeka–Ifon area in the state.
“We moved in on questioning majority of them said they were from the northern part of the country and other said they are from Ogun state.
“We asked for thier mission they were not able to give us a clear cut of what they are here for. We brought some of them (to Akure) and there sponsors here to the headquarters (of Amotekun) for proper investigation.
“We profiled them and we found out that they were conniving with some persons in Ose to be given space for settlement in the government’s forest reserve which makes them illegal occupants of the forests.”
“We are sending them back to where they claimed they came from,” Adeleye said.
Muslims in Nigeria have been assured that death at the hands of terrorists and bandits will earn them a place in paradise.
The assurance was given by an Islamic cleric and deputy chief Imam of the National Mosque, Abuja, Professor Ibrahim Maqari.
He made the point while stressing that Islam does not permit Muslims to pay money as ransom to enemies they are at war with. According to Dateline, Professor Maqari made the comment at this year’s Ramadan tafsir at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
He said it is in the context of that rule that kidnappers should not be paid the ransom so as to starve them of the funds they could use to boost their arsenal and sustain their evil campaign.
“Since Allah (SWT) has forbidden the payment of money to an enemy who is at war with you, in order not to empower them to continue to fight you, then contributing money as ransom for the release of kidnapped persons, is haram (prohibited),” he said.
Quoting a Hadith (prophetic tradition), Mr Maqari narrated the story of a man who approached Prophet Muhammad, asking him what to do if someone tried to rob him of his money and the Prophet told him to resist the person.
The man then asked the Prophet “what if the person fights me, and the Prophet told him to fight back.
“What if I kill him,” he asked, and the Prophet said, “He goes to hellfire.” He asked again, “What if he kills me?” and the prophet said, “you enter paradise.”
The Hadith, the deputy chief Imam emphasised, upholds the impermissibility of giving ransom to kidnappers.
He also explained that Islam’s code for discouraging criminality provides that material demands imposed as conditions by criminals are to be ignored, no matter what havoc the criminals threaten to unleash, if the demands are not met.
Refusing to meet the demands of kidnappers would inevitably turn them into losers who wasted their money to feed the captive, wasted their bullets in killing them and wasted their time, he asserted.
“But he (the criminal) has been made aware that the money is never going to be paid and the one who is killed (the victim) is going to paradise,” he said.
Maqari said applying the Islamic provisions can effectively address the challenges of kidnapping currently affecting society.
“But as long as people will continue to give ransom to secure the release of their loved ones, the recipients of the money will continue to use it to acquire more arms that they will use to perpetrate their atrocity and promote it as a business,” he advised.
Another implication of submitting to kidnappers’ demands, he pointed out, is that the vice will grow and be hard for security agents to handle.
“So the best way of stopping it, is for the criminal to know that if he kidnaps someone, he can choose to chop his body into pieces,” but he will not get what he wants.
He, therefore, advised Muslims that getting killed by kidnappers is a sure way of going to paradise.
A team of policemen, operation Harmony patrolling Ajase Ipo/Ilorin road, has arrested one suspected ritualist, Kehinde John Moses, with fresh human head and hands.
The police during a stop and search stopped a commercial bus and in the process of searching a bag, a boy took to his heels but his partner was held.
In the course of interrogation, he confessed to have killed the victim named Mohammed in Ajase Ipo with his fleeing partner for ritual purposes.
On the strength of the discovery, the Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Lawal Bagega PSC, directed the homicide section of the State criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to thoroughly investigate the case and arrest anybody connected to the heinous crime.
According to the police public relations officer, SP Okasanmi Ajayi, took a team of investigators to where the body was dumped for purposes of recovery and subsequent transfer to the hospital for autopsy.
Ondo state government has directed all taxi drivers to register their data and that of their vehicles with the the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS) and State Information Technology Agency (SITA)
Senior special assistant to the governor on strategy and special duties Dr Doyin Odebowale while briefing journalist on the development said the move was to make government know commercial operators in the state also to address insecurity threats in the state, especially those involving commercial vehicles and motorists.
He said anybody who is going to drive must be registered
Dr Odebowale added that payment of 2000 naira registration fee per viechle should be made to the Ondo state internal revenue service across the 18 local government areas.
Abductors of students of the Greenfield University, Kaduna have threatened to kill the remaining 17 students if ransom is not paid on Tuesday.
DAILY POST reports that about 22 students were abducted from the university campus on April 20 when gunmen suspected to be bandits invaded the school premises.
The gunmen within a week, killed five of the victims as the State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai vowed not to engage in negotiations with any bandit.
But the leader of the bandits who identified himself as Sani Idris Jalingo, while speaking in an interview on Hausa Service of Voice of America (VOA), monitored by Daily Trust, said the remaining students would be killed if the government failed to meet their demand.
According to him, the demand includes N100 million and 10 brand Honda motorcycles which he referred to as ‘Boko Haram’.
“You are speaking with the abductors of Greenfield students. We heard the utterances of the Kaduna State Governor that he will not pay ransom to bandits to purchase additional arms.
“If they fail to bring N100 million and 10 brand-new Honda motorcycles known as Boko Haram by Tuesday, I can assure you they will use trucks to evacuate the bodies of the remaining students,” he said.
APC stands the chance of breaking uncommon record, Aketi’s second term is very crucial to the future of the party in the state
Ensure Covid – 19 free Ondo state by washing your hands, using face masks, hand sanitizer, social distancing and avoid unnecessary gathering
INTRODUCTION
Records are meant to be broken, either good or bad, there are a lot of records politically that have broken in positive direction. Mostly, Ondo state is very unique in her political intrigues, you need to know the terrain for you to understand, if you study the political history of the state, you will see God in actions in the affairs of the state so far. From my research about the political happenings in the state, I’m convinced about the hands of God over the state. The state that was created more than four decades ago, to be precise, the state was created in 1976. Apart from military administrators, the first executive governor was the Awoist par excellence, Pa. Adekunle Michael Ajasin from the same town with our Arakunrin. He ruled the state for four years and three months before that dispensation was truncated by the Khaki boys led by General Ibrahim Babangida and General Buhari eventually became the head of state. Many of the political gladiators were arrested and a lot of them were sent to prisons.Those of them who ran from Nigeria were the few who didn’t taste the bitter water of affliction of that era.
Evang. Olomilua also governed Ondo state, in less than two years reign in old Ondo state i.e modern day Ondo and Ekiti states. This was insignificant politically except for the retrenchment of state work force and brought some political juggernauts to limelight like late Dr. Olusegun Agagu who was the deputy governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko who was then commissioner for health and Barrister Isaac Kekemeke who was the minority leader of the house of assembly then.
Since inception of this democratic dispensation, Chief Adebayo Adefarati took over the affairs of the state as governor and governed for four years, late Dr. Olusegun Agagu took over for another six years, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko era came that lasted two terms of eight years, now is the time of Arakunrin, presently in his first term that comes to an end in few months and has the mandate for second term already. These various governors of the state have different records unique to them.
THE GOVERNORS AND THEIR POLITICAL RECORDS.
Chief Adekunle Michael Ajasin, a Foural Bay college of Sierra Loene trained teacher who had PGD in Education from the University of London , he was the first principal of Imade college, Owo and proprietor of Owo high school. He was elected as first executive governor of old Ondo state i.e Ondo and Ekiti states, he was the first governor in the state to win his re-election through election tribunal when he was rigged out in 1983 by his estranged deputy governor, Chief Akin Omoboriowo who decamped to the NPN( federal party) to contest against UPN of Chief Ajasin. The victorious joy of this our patriarch in Owo/ Ose ( his wife Babafunke Ajasin, nee Tenabe, was from Idoani in Ose LG) was cut short by military who overthrew that dispensation of political activities.
As earlier said, the era of Evang. Bamidele Olomilua was not significant in the political history of the state, he governed the state for less than 2 years and constructed the first and only overhead bridge in the state located at Oja Oba in Akure.
Chief Adebayo Adefarati who was the father of present commissioner for agriculture in the state, Chief Gboyega Adefarati. Chief Adefarati popularly called Baba peace took over from Col.Moses Fasanya when military handed over power to democratic government. He was among the six Alliance for Democracy governors of South Western Nigeria that held sway in this region of the country. He has the record of being the first elected governor in the state to lose his re-election and never went to court to challenge the outcome of the election, as his appellation connotes, Baba peace allowed peace to reign between him and late Dr. Agagu.
Dr.Olusegun Agagu who governed this state for six years and was the first to win his re-election in this political dispensation, this was cut short by Appeal court judgement that declared Dr. Olusegun Mimiko as the governor of the state in 2009.
Dr. Olusegun Mimiko with intimidating political credentials ruled this state as longest serving governor of the state.
The political records in the state (such as the first elective governor, first governor to win from election tribunal, first governor to serve state in two terms as stipulated by law i.e longest serving governor) have been broken by different governors that governed the state at one time or the other.
THE POLITICAL RECORD NOT YET BROKEN BY ANY POLITICAL PARTY OR GOVERNOR
To some people, this part of article may seem too early but to politicians, the earlier you plan the better it is for your outcome. Like Osun state, it was Ogbeni Rauf Aregbosola that broke the jinx of ‘the governor of a state not producing a successor’. The present governor of the state, Governor Gboyega Oyetola is from the same political party with his predecessor. The unequivocal progress achieved in Lagos State could be traced to uninterrupted and concerted efforts of Tinubu led progressive in producing successive governors in the state.
Dr. Olusegun Mimiko tried to ensure his party produced his successor but failed to APC where our Arakunrin won. Fortunately for Dr. Mimiko and Ondo state, Arakunrin never abandoned any projects started by his predecessors which is quite unsual in Nigeria political arena, even Dr. Mimiko abandoned ongoing projects started by Dr. Olusegun Agagu’s government e.g the Ondo state University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa.
The second term of Arakunrin is very crucial to determine the future of APC in the state, the fortunate party members who will form his cabinet in second term which kicks off in less than 60 days , should be ready to serve the people of the state and portray the party in good image. Arakunrin’s actions so far after winning his re-election show he means business in second term. The way he addressed issues related to salaries of the civil servants , his promise of paying WAEC FEES HENCEFORTH for students in public schools, and the fast pace at which contractors are handling the ongoing projects in the state. All these are good signs of what we should expect in his second term.
IN CONCLUSION
With the unusual God’s grace that has seen Arakunrin through the darkest period of his political journey , nothing is impossible for man with God on his side, with cooperation of party leaders and members, Arakunrin may not be the only governor that APC will produce in Ondo state. This is not automatic, it lies on, God’s purpose, Arakunrin’s success in second term, putting party first over personal ambitions by our party leaders and support from party members. This may be an opportunity for APC to break age long jinx in the state. Time will tell the readiness of our party for this challenge.
Dr. Akeredolu O.N, vice chairman, Aketi/Aiyedatiwa Medical Committee, 2020
Forty-two persons from the northern part of the country whose mission to Ondo state is not clear to the state government have been returned to their states of origin.
The suspected invaders, who were rescued from being lynched at Okitipupa by the Amotekun Corps, were later rounded up and profiled by the Security agency.
While parading them in Akure, the commander of the Amotekun corps, Adetunji Adeleye claimed that they came for a private firm security training.
The explanation provided by the men and women was not satisfactory to the state of governmment
These men and women were first sighted in Okitipupa local government area of Ondo state on Thursday where their arrival created unnecessary tension and apprehension among many residents of the community.
The people who came from Jigawa and Kano states were said to have come for a mission unknown to government.
Their contact was said to have invited them for a special training.
They have been escorted by the officers of the Amotekun Corps to the state boundary.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Ondo State Council has received with displeasure the unruly behaviour of some officials of the state government issuing tickets at Arakale market car park in Akure who assaulted a female journalist on Saturday at the park.
In a Press Statement signed by the State Chairman of the Union, Adetona Aderoboye and the State Secretary, Leke Adegbite, NUJ notes that it is unfathomable that uncivilised and people with questionable character would be engaged to manage public facilities like car parks that is resulting in incessant harassment and verbal attack on law abiding citizens.
It would be recalled that drama had ensued at the popular Arakale car Park in Akure the Ondo state capital yesterday as government officials deployed to direct motorists almost beat up one of our female members working with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN over an argument.
It was gathered that the incident occurred following a slight argument with the lady issuing ticket over the condition of the #50 paid by the journalist and one of the boys claiming to be government’s official directing car at the park emerged from a point with tainted hair using abusive words on the said journalist and aiming at slapping her.
But for the timely intervention of passersby, the official with an unkept look would have beaten up the journalist as the boy’s unruly behaviour even went beyond the control of the co-ordinator of the park.
However, Ondo NUJ views this ugly development as unacceptable, barbaric, and calls on the State government through the ministry of transport to prevail on the private company managing car parks in Akure to instill discipline and decorum among its officials especially those at Arakale market car park.
The Union urged the state government to beam searchlight on the activities of car parks officials and flush out bad eggs among them to prevent further assault on the citizenry.
The Union commends the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Transport, Pastor Kayode Ogundele for his efforts dousing the tension generated by the harassment of the female journalist.
Workers in Ondo state have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to seek international help without further delay if he can no longer guarantee safety of Nigerians.
They lamented that the country was no longer a safe place to live.
Speaking at workers day celebration in Ondo state, the state chairman of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Mrs Helen Odofin said that ” the level of insecurity of lives and properties in the nation has gotten to a height that one continues to wonder if the country has not completely failed.
She said the traditional warfare method being used by our military is no longer fashionable and can never resolve the current spate of insecurity in the land.
Also speaking, the NLC state chairman Sunday Adeleye said that ” Nigeria, l am afraid to say is sliding into a state of anarchy where some elements in the name of bandits, kidnappers, herdsmen daily kidnap, pick up and kill innocent citizens unchecked is nothing short of an anarchical situation.
He called on the Federal government to intensify effort to stem the tide of insecurity by embracing advanced technologies in fighting insurgency.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu speaking through his Special Adviser on Union Matters and Special Duties, Dare Aragbaiye said his administration would continue to make workers welfare its topmost priority.
Akeredolu said ” Undoubtedly, in the last four years plus, we have displayed a total commitment to the welfare of our workers.
“We believe the workforce is the engine room of governance. We have placed a premium on sanitizing the civil service and depoliticizing the system.
“We have severed ties with the obnoxious practice that views all issues affecting the civil service from the prism of politics and ethnicity”
Aketi has tried for the state despite the meagre resources at his disposal, we must all support and encourage him to financially liberate the state like what Tinubu did in Lagos state, otherwise, this perennial problem will persist, even if an angel becomes the Ondo state governor tomorrow
INTRODUCTION
You need to be a devil for you not to feel concerned about the happenings in the state . The civil servants in Ondo state are wonderful , dutiful and productive. Recently, the tide has changed for the public servants in the state. The tensions and agony of these people are palpable everywhere in the state despite all efforts by Aketi to ameliorate this unpalatable situation.
The total number of these public employees in the state should be below fifty thousand(50,000) both for the state and 18 local governments which is < 2% of the state population of three million people. As small you may think they are, they control about 70% of the transactions in the Ondo state currently. Invariably, anything that happens to them affects more than 70% of the state.
This is different from state like Lagos state where the private sector dictates the runnings of the state and also employed bulk of the working population. This issue of staggering salaries have become perennial issue, from time of Evangelist Bamidele Olomilua to this present administration, people have been pointing accusing fingers to the government of the day and this ugly trend has not changed.The essence of this article is for us to rub minds together on way forward. This issue of salary payment in the state is an emergency, we all need to come together and find a lasting solution to this monster of staggering salaries.
Owing salary under any guess is anti-moral , anti-Biblical and anti- Islamic , but with the present economy of Ondo state, even a saint or an angel as the governor will have no option unless, he will do money ritual to pay the workforce , because all human efforts have failed the present caring government of Arakunrin in taming this ugly situation
The leadership of state labor unions has tried its best in assisting the state government and ensures no state worker loses his/her job. These labour leaders are always at the receiving ends, the state government believes they are not sincere with the realities on ground during negotiations. The civil servants also believe that their leaders have been compromised or bribed, this is their plight and price of leadership for them. Despite their sacrifices, I have this advice for them, they should work with state government on how to find lasting solution to this issue, instead of this present surface -dressing approach.
PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS IN THE STATE
The experiences of the civil servants in the state were not palatable during the ignoble rules of military administrators in the state.The treatment meted out to them was nothing to write home about. The late Gen. Abacha led government of the country was the worst as many civil servants almost lost their lives to the famine of his reign.
During the little stint of Evang. Bamidele Olomilua as governor of old Ondo state ( now Ondo and Ekiti states), the era of Ikere Ekiti born diplomat was characterized by unending drama. I remember vividly though as child then, that he came on air i.e on television and he was working mathematics on the state monthly incomes i.e both IGR and federal monthly allocations.
He later concluded that the state then had no enough money to pay her teeming workforce and sacked some of them. This so called government was so confused to the extent that he re-absorbed some of the sacked workforce back because his government couldn’t pay their gratitude and pensions.
Late Chief Adebayo Adefarati and late Dr. Agagu led administrations were a bit lucky in this regard, the economy of the state was stable and they had no issue with regular payment of salaries.
Immediate past administration of Dr. Mimiko in the state, started on a good note, was paying 13th month as bonus and some incentives. Civil servants were even paid before month ending, this didn’t last long as he ended up impoverishing the state and left with unpaid seven months salary arrears.
Aketi’s government started well, paid six out of seven months salary arrears and he was paying as at when due until the onset of Covid- 19 pandemic that crippled state and federal economy. Mr. governor had to borrow five billion naira to augment the last month allocations and paid 170% for state civil servants that covered the rest of December 2020 and Jan. 2021.
Now, the latest allocations from federal accounts after statutory deductions and debts remain about 2.8billions naira and the state government will need up to #600 million to augment even if it must pay the proposed 60% of salaries to the civil servants. As usual, the state workforce rejected the offer through their unions.
The question is that , when are we going to overcome this staggering salaries? From Evang. Olomilua , Dr. Mimiko to Aketi, this story is the same. For how long are we going to continue this way? It is now obvious that issue of this unstable salaries goes beyond any governor of the day but depends on reality of present economy.
IN CONCLUSION
Despite the unusual performances of Mr. governor in all sectors, one thing Mr. governor must do to have his name indelible in the hearts of Ondo state, is to liberate the state from depending on monthly federal allocations. This will be the best legacy he can leave behind for the state after the completion of his 8 years of impactful governance .
He needs to take some drastic steps in the tax systems for the state and other means of revenue generation must be effectively explored irrespective of whose horse is gored, this perennial monster must stop.
Arakunrin should be encouraged to do the needful, the state can’t continue with the old story, he should crown his efforts of taking the state to the height of our dreams by financially liberating the state which I believe our Mr. governor can do. The state unions of civil servants should work with government on long term financial stability plans and not the present surface dressing approaches. I believe we can do it ,we will do it and Ondo civil servants will never forget Aketi’s drastic actions in the same vein Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu is being celebrated in Lagos state today.
Happy workers day celebration to Ondo state civil servants. With Aketi , we have great days ahead.
Dr. Akeredolu O.N, vice chairman, Aketi-Aiyedatiwa Medical Committee, 2020 campaign
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