The Students Union Government (SUG) of Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH) Okitipupa in Ondo has appealed to Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for further reduction in its tuition fees.
This was contained in a statement issued by the institution’s SUG President, Comrade Damilola Okunomo on Tuesday in Okitipupa.
Okunomo pleaded with Akeredolu to prevail over the institution’s Governing Council for further reduction of the tuition fees to be in tandem with the economic reality with the best legacy that could be handed over to unborn generations.
It was gathered that students were paying between N80,000 and N100,000 which was hiked to between N150,000 and N200,000 for indigents and non-indigens respectively.
According to him, Akeredolu recently reduced the tuition fees of other state-owned institutions but OAUSTECH was neglected with no reason whatsoever.
“OAUSTECH fee hike, an ugly phenomenon have dealt a huge blow to the future of Nigerians and Ondo students and youths. It negates the founding ideology of the great citadel of learning.
“On different occasions, the Police attacked, intimidated and harassed our students as they shot teargas and bullets in their bid to disperse us while pressing home our demands and some students were hospitalised for sustaining varying degrees of injuries.
“We have defy all odds to exercise our inalienable rights as provided in section 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because we are fighting a just cause.
“The hike in school fees is contrary to the ruling party’s All Progressive Congress (APC) manifesto that promised free and qualitative education.
“To survive in the modern economy, education is a must and as such, responsible leadership must view education as a public right and no longer a luxury to be engaged only by those with the money to purchase it for themselves.
“He who does something through another person is deemed to have done for himself as the visitor and principal, you have been vested with the power of absolute ratification of OAUSTECH governing council’s decision.
“Without any iota of ambiguity and all sense of humility, we plead with you to come to our aid especially in terms tuition fees,” Okunomo pleaded.
The Palace wishes to notify residents of Akure and its environ that the Deji and Paramount Ruler of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, Odundun II, has approved the reversal of the earlier directive for the closure of all Markets and Shops in Akure during the Amole festival scheduled to hold on Wednesday 9th September, 2020.
2. In view of this, all shops and markets in Akure will remain opened during the celebration of the age long traditional festival.
3. The reversal of the earlier directive is premised on His Majesty’s decision to cushion the effect of economic hardship on our market women occasioned by the adverse effect of covid-19.
4. The palace wishes to enjoin the residents, Market Women and shop owners to go about their lawful duties without let or hindrance during this celebration.
5. It is equally important to restate that, the festival will not in anyway restrict human and vehicular movement.
6. Akure a gbe a oo
Signed. Adeyeye Michael Chief Press Secretary to the Deji of Akure. 8th September, 2020
Tragedy has struck the University town of Akungba-Akoko, Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo state, as a reckless truck was reported to have crushed 7 vehicles in a road mishap, leading to the untimely death of many commuters, Sunday night.
From an eye witness, it was learnt that many persons sustained various degrees of injuries. The injured have been rushed to nearby hospitals.
An Okitipupa Customary court has dissolved a 13-year old marriage between one Mrs. Titilayo Olayeye, and Mr. Akintusi Olayeye on grounds of cruelty and ill treatment.
The Court presided over by His Worship Benson Omotayo, ordered that the petitioner, Titilayo to refund the sum of N2,500 to the respondent, Akintusi been the Bride price paid on her.
It also held that there was a valid customary marriage between the party but has failed and broken down Irretrievable, therefore dissolved the marriage and granted the custody of the three children in the marriage to the respondent.
Earlier, the petitioner, Mrs. Titilayo Olayeye, who sought the court for the dissolution of the thirteen years old marriage told the court that her late father gave her as wife to his friend who was an old man, when the respondent(husband) was sick because she was the one taking care of him, and when he recovered from the sickness, “he told me he has willed me out to his younger brother one Gbenga Adeoye, by name but I declined the offer which made Adeoye furious at me”. She said.
In her evidence, the 38-year petitioner, a farmer who lives at Ajegunle street Ode-Aye, said she is tired of the marriage and wants the court to dissolve the marriage, adding that she did not have capacity to take the custody of the children , hence, the court should grant custody to the respondent.
The marriage was blessed with three issues, age 12 “f”, 5 “f”, and 3 “m” names withheld.
However, the Respondent Akintusi Olayeye , did not show up in the court to defend himself despite several summons sent to him.
With the evidence given by the petitioner, the court believed that there was a valid customary marriage between the parties and as the petitioner had said , she does not have the capacity of having the custody of the children as the court also observe same.
The court held in plethora of cases that the custody of a child should be given to the person who has best interest and welfare of a child at heart, the petitioner also affirmed to the court that the respondent is an old man.
“Be that as it maybe this court has no choice than to grant the custody of the three children to the Respondent”.
Having proved by the petitioner the claim of cruelty and ill treatment by the respondent, the court held that the marriage has failed irretrievable.
The presiding president of the court Benson Omotayo granted the custody of the children to the Respondent, and gave an order that the petitioner shall have unrestricted access to the children in custody of the respondent without hindrance.
“Education and maintenance of the children shall be a joint responsibility of the party, that the petitioner shall refund to the respondent the sum of N2,500 been the bride price paid on her.”
The Ondo state branch of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by a prominent member, Banji Okunomo is set to dump the party. Banji and his supporters, It was gathered that they are on their way to the ZLP.
Their grouse, it was further learnt might not be unconnected with the choice of Mr Ikengboju Gboluga as a running mate to Mr Eyitayo Jegede against their leader.
Members of Okunomo campaign organisation expressed their displeasure in a communique issued at the end of a meeting in Okitipupa.
The communique reads “The BBO executive session views with emphatic disapproval and absolute sense of rejection the undemocratic and unpopular dimension in which Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN chose to foist the nomination of Ikengboju Gboluga, a serving member of the House of Representatives representing Okitipupa Federal Constituency on the PDP as his running mate and Deputy Governorships candidate in stiff defiance to all wise counsels to the contrary portraying him as a rigid conservative person that will always overide superior major view”.
Three persons have lost their lives to a substance suspected to be ethanol/toxic chemical deposited at a reserve place by Wewood Nigeria limited at Omotosho, in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The Ethanol substance was described as a natural byproduct of plant fermentation and also can be produced through the hydration of ethylene”.
The casualties are Mr. Akinmusire Monday(35), Mr. Samuel Louis (45) and Master Ododolewa Adebowale(19).
It was gathered that the deceases went into a farm at the Government Reserve area in Omotosho last week Wednesday but met their untimely death as a result of suspected ethanol chemicals used by WeWood Nigeria Limited which reportedly flooded their farm.
According to Samuel Louis, a father of four children, was a contractor who deals in wood, while Akinmusire Monday, a father of five children, was an operator of the saw machine used in felling and cutting tree to sizes.
Ododolewa Adebowale, who’s writing the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examinations(WASSCE), was a helper.
On the fateful day, Louis hired the duo and went to fell trees in the forest reserve, but unfortunately they never returned home again to their Akinfosile community also in Okitipupa Local Government Area.
Younger brother to Monday, Akinmusire Emmanuel, revealed that the victims went to the forest to fell trees as usual, but when they didn’t return at the normal time, they decided to go to look for them in the forest.
He disclosed that they saw the motorcycle on which the three of them rode to work where it was parked.
They called out their names, but no one answered. When they entered the forest, they saw some people who were felling and cutting trees.
When they asked if they saw the victims, they said no. After searching for them to no avail, they went back to the community to give report to the community leader, the Olufara of Akinfosile, Oba Olamide Ayodele.
The traditional head told newsmen, who visited him in his palace on Friday in respect of the incident, that when he was told three of his subjects were missing, he called the Divisional Police Officer, the Vigilante Corps and the Amotekun Corps and informed them about the development.
The officers with some youths of the community went into the forest reserve the following day in search of the missing persons. After much search, they stumbled on their dead bodies covered with black substance.
Emmanuel, who went into the forest with them, said they saw a big pit surrounded by heap of sand believed to have been excavated from the pit.
But a part of the sound had been watched off by the toxic waste discovered to have been discharged into the pit.
The toxic waste overflowed the pit and flowed down the slope where the trio were working and submerged them.
Emmanuel, said the bodies of the victims were seen on the flowing track of the toxic waste which killed them instantly as there were no sign that they attempted to struggle with death.
When youths in the community realised that they were killed by toxic waste generated by the Chinese company, which is into cassava to ethanol processing, they protested to the company to alert them about the incident.
With joint operations of all security agencies in the state, the bodies of the victims were evacuated and deposited in a private morgue in Ore.
Akinseye Omololu, a brother-in-law to the late Samuel Louis, disclosed that the Ondo State government leased the forest to the Chinese company to clear and replant trees thereby allowing saw millers and plank dealers to fell the existing trees in the forest but paid tax to government officials monitoring their activities.
Meanwhile, J.I Adeyanju Esq. and Dayo Akindejoye Esq. who are attorneys to the the late Akinmusire Monday’s family confirmed that the incident occurred on Wednesday, September 2, 2020 at Omotosho Okefara forest.
They ascribed the terrible incident to “the recklessness, irresponsible and dumping of toxic, corrosive, harmful, explosive and hazardous substances by a Chinese Company (WeWood).”
They stated that the “deposited (WeWood) waste product led to untimely death of the younger brother of our client, Mr. Akinmusire Monday, aged 35 and two others after inhaling the hazardous substances.
“Evidently, the Company flagrantly violated the provisions of the enabling laws with impunity which is detrimental to the host communities without adherence to Environmental Safety and International best practices.
“The Environmental Impact Assessment Act, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency ( Establishment) Act, and the Harmful Waste (Special Criminal Provision) Act spelt out guidelines for dumping of hazardous substances which were clearly violated.
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (Establishment) Act specifically prohibits discharges of harmful quantities of any hazardous substance into the air or upon the land and the waters of Nigeria or at the adjoining shorelines.
“Rather than complying, WeWood chose to honour these laws in the breach. Ever since the WeWood came on board, its activities have been a threat to life, natural resources and properties.
The Ufara River remains constantly polluted, the water which the inhabitants’ progenitors used to drink is no longer good for drinking and no fishes to peasants in the community for consumption.
The air pollution regularly been experienced have made many business owners and residents to desert the neighbouring Community.
“The younger brother of our client (Akinmusire Monday) was a vibrant, responsible and caring young man with a wife, five children, aged mother, in-laws and siblings who depended on him for their survival.
Since his remains and others were deposited in a private morgue at Ore, all the dependants have not been finding it easy to sustain themselves. In fact, the aged mother has developed a blood pressure over the shocking news the sudden death of her presumed survivor and devastating incident.”
The attorneys to the family of Akinmusire, however, promised “to do all that is legally allowed within the ambit of the law to ensure that justice prevail and the rights of all the dependants are protected.”
Public Relations Officer for the state Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police Teo-Leo Ìkorò, who confirmed the incident, said it was an accident as a result of the toxic waste that overflowed where it was discharged.
He said: “There’s a company producing ethanol in the area, Omotosho, and it was an accident as a result of waste from the company. “The bodies of the victims of the accident have been deposited in a morgue.
“But the company and the families of the victims are already talking and making arrangement on the matter.
Solomon Ede was in the habit of never failing to wear his face mask in order to protect himself against the dreaded coronavirus otherwise called Covid-19. At bed time every night, he would usually remove the loose-fitting piece of protective cloth.
Penultimate weekend, however, he made a costly error that sent him into early grave. On Friday, August 28, the 50-year-old private guard popularly called Baba Rita and attached to a building in Alako area of Abeokuta, was said to have gone to bed without removing his face mask shortly after he took a local gin popularly called ogogoro. His lifeless body was found face down with his face mask the next day, suggesting that he died of suffocation from the face mask.
Sources revealed that neighbours who came to fetch water at the compound of the house where the deceased worked as a guard until his death banged on the gate of the building endlessly but Ede did not come out to grant them access to the tap.
It was said that the noise at the gate of the building alerted Ede’s boss who opened the gate for the visitors and decided to check on Ede in his room, but the door to his room was firmly shut. His boss then forced the door of the apartment tucked inside the security house of the building open only to find Ede lying face down on the bed lifeless and with his face mask in place.
The boss was said to have raised the alarm which attracted other residents to the building, with many blaming the deceased’s tragic death on his obsession with alcohol. The news of the guard’s death triggered emotions as sympathisers had a hectic time consoling his widow, who had rushed to the scene on receiving the news of her husband’s death.
It was said that the expectant wife of the deceased’s boss was shell-shocked and almost passed out at the scene but for the quick intervention of female sympathisers who took her away.
A source said: “But for the noise from those who came to fetch water in the early hours of the day, no one would have known that a tragedy had occurred. “It was when the deceased failed to come out of his apartment to attend to those fetching water in the premises of the house that his boss came out and discovered his body.”
Shocked by the discovery, the unnamed Ede’s employer reported the matter to a police division at Kemta, Idi Aba. Sources said the deceased was recently persuaded by his boss to open an account in a bank for the purpose of receiving his salary, following the way he was lavishing his money on alcohol.
A neighbour who spoke in confidence said: “Earlier on the day of his unfortunate death, his employer reminded him of their previous discussion about opening a bank account so he could be paying his salary into the account without delay, especially when he is out of town.
”He was to be paid his salary same Saturday his lifeless body was found in his room.” Some sympathisers revealed that Ede took to alcohol after suffering depression. He was said to have been warned by his employer and residents of the neighbourhood many times to desist from excessive consumption of the local gin.
“He usually removed his face mask before going to bed. But he took some ogogoro late in the evening and was downcast. Those who saw him at the entrance of his apartment asked him to remove the mask on his face and go to bed, but he refused.
”However, he went to bed forgetting to remove his face mask and slept face down. He was probably choked to death by the face mask,” said a source who spoke in confidence. The source added: “No one would believe that he started working as a guard in the building in March this year, because he was a likable fellow who related with everyone pleasantly. Hence, he had unhindered access to his boss’ apartment.
“He was a very easy going man, only that he could not restrain himself from indulging in the consumption of local gin which eventually led him to wear a face mask to bed, leading to his death.”
A resident identified simply as Olamilekan disclosed that the deceased had rebuffed those who pleaded with him to retire to bed when he was discovered to be drunk.
“He was sighted on Friday seated at the entrance of his apartment at the security house where he worked. He was looking downcast and was asked to go into his room but he refused. It was shocking that he died overnight. “From the look of things and without prejudice to police investigations on the cause of his death, he was so drunk and probably forgot to remove his face mask before sleeping face down and suffocating to death.”
Policemen from Kemta Police Division in Idi Aba were said to have evacuated the body of the deceased to the mortuary at the State General Hospital at Ijaiye, Abeokuta. The spokesman of Ogun State Police Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), promised to revert to our correspondent when he was contacted on the phone.
He said: “I haven’t heard about the incident, but I will confirm the story from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Kemta Division and get back to you,” he said. He, however, had not done so at press time.
The convener of Progressive Coastal Drive, Princess Olawumi Annah Fayemi of Mahin Ward 4 in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State do congratulates Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN and Lucky Ayedatiwa on the official flag-off of the AKETIDATIWA 2020 campaign.
We at Progressive Coastal Drive with our base in Ilaje and Ese Odo LGAs will strive till we are victorious.
10102020 is our code.
For further details about the Progressive Coastal Drive contact the Convener on 08124421725
Ahead October 10 governorship election in Ondo state, some members of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday dumped their parties to join forces with the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) to support the ambition of the state Deputy Governor, Hon Agboola Ajayi.
While the immediate past Chief of Staff to the state government, Dr Kola Ademujimi led the PDP defectors, Chief Bepie Akintunde led that of APC into the ZLP at a meeting of ZLP in Idanre Local Government area of the State.
Speaking on the defection, Ademujimi said the ranks of PDP was been depleted on daily basis since the primary election that brought in Eyitayo Jegede SAN as candidate of the party.
Ademujimi regretted that the Deputy Governor, Hon Agboola Ajayi was made to leave the party because of the hostility displayed to him by members of the party in the state.
According to him, Ademujimi, who is the Director General, of Agboola/Gboye Campaign Organization, said he left PDP in order to help realise the ambition of Ajayi as governor of the state
His words “People are defecting from APC, PDP and others ever since the deputy governor picked the governorship ticket of ZLP.
“Agboola Ajayi is out to win this election. Ajayi’s coming to join PDP was an advantage to PDP but they lost it the opportunity. They attacked some of our members because of the Deputy Governor.
Similarly, Mr Jimi Akintade, who led over 100 members of PDP to ZLP in Idanre, said they decided to dump PDP because those they met in PDP were hostile to them.
Akintade said “We went to APC with former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, but we left and joined the deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi, when he defected to PDP.
The former Senior Special Assistant (Direct Labour Agency) to Governor Olusegun Mimiko-led administration said: “We were treated like unwanted guests in PDP, that is why we defected to ZLP. ZLP is very accommodating.”
Speaking on the chances of Agboola Ajayi and his running-mate, Engr. Gboye Adegbenro, at the poll, Akintade declared that whoever would win the election in the state would be determined by Idanre Local Government Area.
He noted that whichever party emerged victorious in Idanre Local Government Area would win the election.
Akintade said: “Only two people are contesting. Akeredolu who is running a government for his family by his family, is contesting with Agboola Ajayi.
“It is not yet time for the central, so Jegede is not contesting. The way PDP is treating people from Idanre, PDP cannot win any election here.
“We chose Agboola because whenever he held the fort as acting governor, he paid staff salaries on 24th, 25th day of the month.
“He knows to how to help the downtrodden. He can do better than Akeredolu.”
Chief Bepie Akintunde, who led the APC defectors said: “We left APC because since we had been there, we did not gain anything from them. So we have to defect to ZLP. And ZLP will win the election.”
Receiving the defectors, the leader of ZLP in the Local Government, Dr. Ayewamide Olaiya, declared that the state Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, who is the standard bearer of the party would emerge victorious at the October 10, 2020 gubernatorial election in the state.
He enjoined all members to go home and enlighten the people of the local government to vote for ZLP candidate in the election.
Olaiya said: “We have been working with them(defectors), we will deliver Idanre to ZLP . I still received over 50 from PDP today and over 100 from APC yesterday.
The running-mate of the Deputy Governor, Gboye Adegbenro appreciated the people, and promised that he and Ajayi would not disappoint the people.
He assured that all the people-oriented programmes executed by the former Governor Olusegun Mimiko-led administration would be resuscitated and new one added.
Adegbenro lamented that programmes such as free baby delivery, lighting the streets in Akure have been jettisoned by Governor Akeredolu-led administration.
He assured the people that the ZLP government would review downward school tuition that’s currently not affordable.
He, said “I am convinced that Idanre is secured. I will never disappoint you.”
The Governorship Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, has appealed to all the leaders of the PDP in Ondo South to put every divided interest together and work in unity for the interest of the party to reclaim Ondo State from the ruling APC by October.
Jegede, made the appeal at a stakeholder’s meeting organized by the Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Otunba Nicholas Tofowomo, in order to put an end to all the crisis rocking the Party.
This was as a result of the fall out of the governorship primary and the subsequent announcement of Hon. Ikengboju Gboluga as running mate for Mr Eyitayo Jegede (SAN).
The meeting which took place at the Senator’s country home of Ileoluji, the headquarters of Ileoluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State lasted for hours.
The meeting was aimed on how to reconcile and appease all aggrieved members of the party to ensure the victory of Jegede, and his running mate ahead of October 10, 2020, gubernatorial election. Many issues were raised but there were divergent positions and submissions with some people allegedly refusing to reveal their minds.
However, Banji Okunomo, the only governorship aspirant from Ondo South who graced the meeting expressed his grievances and advised Jegede, to act fast before it getting too late.
The Hope also gathered that Hon Bitire Solomon, one of the aggrieved leaders of the PDP from Ondo South also expressed his anger during the meeting.
Moreover, the meeting ended with a resolution that Jegede should spring into action to meet all the aggrieved members and leaders of the PDP across the six local governments of Ondo South before things got worst for the party ahead of the election.
Meanwhile, other governorship aspirants from the Senatorial District, who were expected to be at the meeting but did not honour nor gave a reason for their absence were: Chief Eddy Olafeso, Chief Sola Ebiseni, Chief Godday Erewa, Senator Boluwaji Kunlere and Otunba Bamidele Akingboye.
In a similar move It would be recalled few days ago, when Okunomo, met with his teaming supporters to remain calm and be focused as the little misunderstanding among the leaders of the party would soon be resolved.
At the meeting held at Donvab Hotel, Ayeka Okitipupa, many supporters and PDP stakeholders across the state in attendance, there, he also thanked them for their support during the primary election and after.
He enjoined his supporters not to swap by the current happening in the party as great future still await them.
