By Oluwakemi Ishola 

Dr Olusola Ayandele, an APC Chieftain in Oyo State and business mogul has commiserated with Gov. Seyi Makinde on the death of his mother, Madam Abigail Makinde.

This is contained in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen on Friday in Ibadan

Ayandele, who said he received the death of the governor’s mother as a rude shock, describing it as painful and sad.

He said that the loss of mama would leave a vacuum in the lives of the children, family ,friends and the good people of the state.

“The late mama Abigail was a pleasant and industrious woman. She was a pillar of support to her son. Mama’s death was never expected at this time.

“It is God who giveth and taketh. We least expected that mama will go now, but who are we to question God. We take solace in the fact that mama lived a fulfilled life,” he said.

He prayed that God grant mama’s soul eternal rest and the Makinde family fortitude to bear the loss.

By Oluwakemi Ishola 

By Oluwakemi Ishola 

The Authorities of The Polytechnic, Ibadan (TPI) have condoled the Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde on the death of his mother in the early hours of Thursday 15th October, 2020.

In a letter of condolence addressed to The Governor and signed by The Registrar, Mrs Modupe Theresa Fawale, the death of Mama Abigail Omojolagbe Makinde was described as a huge loss not only to the Makinde dynasty but to the state as a whole.

The letter reads in part:

“On behalf of The Chairman, Governing Council, Professor Kunle Akinyemi, Members of Council, Management, Staff and Students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan (TPI), I write to condole with your Excellency on the transition to glory of your loving mother, Mama Abigail Omojolagbe Makinde on Thursday, 15th October, 2020.

Her transition came as a rude shock to our community as this is a time that her motherly love, guidance and prayers are required by your Excellency and your siblings.

We however take solace in the fact that she lived up to a ripe age of 80 years, led a good and responsible life, trained her children who grew up to become positive examples and leading light in the society.

We pray to God to give your Excellency, your siblings and the entire Makinde dynasty the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
Accept our condolences sir.”

By Oluwakemi Ishola 

Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation (OOF) has distributed text and exercise books to primary school pupils in Iseyin local government area of Oyo State.

The programme held at L.A. Primary School, Oke Esa, Iseyin was influenced by an illustrious son of Iseyin, Alhaji Ahmed Raji, SAN.

In his address, the Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Dr. Olalekan James Makinde expressed that the foundation was formed as a result of importance attached to health, agriculture and education by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo especially on how these can affect lives of the masses positively.

“Today’s event is to assist masses especially children in under-developed and developing communities in every nook and cranny of Nigeria and beyond,” Dr Makinde disclosed.

The CEO charged the pupils who benefited from the free books gesture of OOF to make best use of the materials given to them so that they can become useful to themselves, their parents, families and entire human society in the neaesy future.

In his own address, Alhaji Ahmed Raji, SAN lauded the former President Obasanjo for his commitments and dedication towards making life worthy of living for the downtrodden masses.

The legal luminary, on behalf of people of Iseyin appreciated the foundation for making Iseyin, one of the beneficiaries of free books for primary school pupils across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

Raji said “I am extremely happy . I and my people give glory to God and Baba Obasanjo for given us the priviledge and honour to have this kind of event here which we believe is going to encourage our pupils to be more serious about their education”.

He added ” we thanked Chief Obasanjo because this is a project for the whole of the Nigeria and Iseyin is one of those favoured. We are very happy and we thank Chief Obasanjo and his foundation.

He however admonished the pupils to face their studies and put in their best so that they can all become prominent and useful personalities in future.

The legal icon appealed to the foundation to extend its agriculture and youths empowerment projects to Iseyin in order to get the youths in the town engaged productively.

“We are looking forward to seeing a better society free from miscreants so that it would not go down,” Barrister Raji, SAN emphasized.

Among the personalities that made the event historic were: Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Dr. Abdulganiyy Adekunle Salau, Oloogunebi-Ajinese I, Chief Imam of Iseyin Land, Fadilat Sheikh AbdulAkeem Babatunde Olajori, Chairman, People’s Democratic Party, Oyo State, Alhaji Yunus Omokunmi Mustapha, Alhaja Seliat Adeniji, Alhaji Saheed Adejare Yusuff, a.k.a. Alaran, Hon. Mufutau Osuolale, Abilawon, Alhaji Tajudeen Afuku, Hon. Raheem Ajibola Fasasi, and the Publisher, National PointBlank, Prince Azeez Semiu Adewole.

By Oluwakemi Ishola 

The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Oyo State Wing on Friday described the exit of Mrs. Abigail Makinde, mother of the Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde as shocking and devastating.

Mrs. Makinde died on Thursday at the age of 80years.

The NUT in a statement signed by its State Secretary, Comrade N. M. Abdullahi, said it received the news of the demise of Mama Abigail Makinde on Thursday, with rude shock, and so, ‘we deem it fit as a matter of the union’s corporate responsibility to commiserate with our amiable Governor, His Excellency, Engr. ‘Seyi Makinde and, by extension, the entire family members of the Makindes in particular and the good people of Oyo State in general.’

The NUT stated further that, ‘although, the sudden death of our dear beloved Mama Abigail Makinde is considered as a colossal loss considering her fervent Christian ethics, social pedigree, native intelligence, distinctive wisdom and above all, her sophisticated intellectual orientation which over times have been manifesting in leadership outputs of His Excellency as a special gift of God to human race. But death is inevitable. Hence, our condolence message.

“It is our fervent prayer that, God who is our source of strength will speedily grant unto our performing governor, the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss of the matriarch of the Makindes’ family.

“Once again, accept our condolence,” the NUT further stated.

By Oluwakemi Ishola 

Dr Olusola Ayandele, an APC Chieftain in Oyo State and renowned business mogul has felicitated with the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III as he clocked 82.

This is contained in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen on Friday in Ibadan.

Ayandele described the Alaafin as an embodiment of knowledge and a revered monarch, who has contributed immensely to the development of the state as well as Nigeria.

“Our father, Iku Baba Yeye, the Alaafin of Oyo is an embodiment of royalty, reservoir of knowledge, repository of history and epitome of intellectualism.

“He has been a great promoter of Yoruba culture, tradition and peace. A cerebral monarch, whose commitment to the upliftment of Yoruba race is unquantifiable.

“Oba. Adeyemi is a brave warrior, an archive of culture and traditions. He remains a revered institution across the globe,” he said.

The senatorial hopeful commended the monarch for his commitment towards ensuring unity of the Yoruba race.

“Iku Baba Yeye, as you continue to age with grace, I wish you long life and sound health. May your reign continue to witness more peaceful accomplishments.

“Ka de pelo ri, ki bata pe lese, k’esin yin je ko pe ooo, ase,” he said.

For those who were not too young in 1984 during the first round appearance of General Muhammadu Buhari as Military Head of State, you won’t forget in a lifetime the obnoxious almighty “Decree 4”.

Decree 4 is the  “Public Officers Protection Against False Publications”. And in no time the Decree was promulgated, two former journalists of The Guardian Newspaper, Ndukar Irabor and Tunde Thompson, were on their way to prison for refusing to divulge the source of a story, which allegedly embarrassed the Buhari/Idiagbon military junta.

This is the ugly background by which I viewed the recently circular reference number AD1. 36/VOL.111/186, dated 24th September, 2020 and signed by Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun, the Oyo SSG. While Gmb’s Decree 4 was to protect public officers from libelous media publications, the GSM administration in Oyo state is trying to muzzle free flow of information about government activities from getting to the masses. Even the memo (attached), doesn’t exempt the administration’s Commissioner for Information.

It is not wrong therefore to opine that the Governor of Oyo state, His Excellency, Engineer Seyi Makinde, is somehow finding it difficult to contain his government disgust for “FREEDOM OF INFORMATION”.  Seventeen months into the new administration and after a successful transmission of power from a ruling (APC) to opposition party (PDP), the government should be seen to be doing things differently and positively. The memo in discuss brings a nostalgic feeling of converting from LEFT HAND DRIVE to RIGHT HAND DRIVE of 1972 when many deaths were recorded due to the asymmetric change.

In fairness, no government is immuned from malicious publications especially, by opposition/janjaweed media Houses and self appointed table shaker social media analysts: and every government must find a better way to checkmate the would be blackmailer. But muzzling or centralising the process of public/government information dissemination isn’t only archaic, opaque but also anti progressive with the cyber pace of 21st century digital world. Awaiting at least five  working days, according to the memo, before approval isn’t only preposterous but could be counter productive to the public order the state government is trying to protect and defend.

Oyo State citizens are far from being accustomed to this brand of democratisation. Imagine a situation where citizens’ rights are violated by government agencies.
A situation where the likes of #MayorIsaacBrown,
#EdmondObilo,
#OriyomiHamzat,
#KolaOlootu,
#MrDoubleA,
#DapoFalade, #AdemolaBabalola,
and a host of other vibrant radio presenters and renowned journalists had no access to government response that could immediately douse public outcry.

Where farmers were killed by herders without arrests, prosecution nor conviction.
Where innocent teenagers were raped without visible protection.
Where #EndSARS protesters were shot at indiscriminately. Where #PMS officers could beat any female journalist to stupor.
Where government flouted court orders like the directives  of an irresponsible father.
Where immunity of the impunity of the privileged class against common class isn’t responded to with alacrity.

I am of the belief that Oyo state should not return back to Babylon (captivity). A place where citizens  are losing faith in government’s capacity to protect them and resorting to self help. Delayed information breeds ambiguity: ambiguity leeds to assumption: assumption results into public misinformation which the government is trying to jealousy protect. And only God knows to where the explosive reaction to wrong information could lead.

Critically speaking, the mover of the idea, the SSG, is introducing corporate penchant for secrecy into public/govt administration which demands transparency and a need to always come out clean and true to the masses……. Thereby exposing the limitation of appointing a private sector mindset to administer public sector.

When do Oyo citizens become “omo lo s’ile lo gb’esi wa”

Conclusively, the Seyi Makinde administration is advised to create a digital portal for public information dissemination “only” where citizens, media professionals and yellow media, could browse seamlessly without resulting to false assumptions or scandalous hate speech.

As the need arises, government could digitize information documents at the point of origin and automate complex, error-prone manual tasks.

While government is rightfully concerned that her confidential information is protected as required by law and regulation, the 21st century citizens want options to engage with government online rather than awaiting the “five working days” centralised feedback from government.

By Oluwakemi Ishola 

The Chairman, Civil Service Commission, Oyo State Alh Kamoru Abiodun Aderibigbe has commiserated with the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency Engr Abiodun Olúwasèyí Mákindé FNSE on the sudden death of his amiable mother, màmá Abigail Mákindé, who was called to glory on Thursday, 15th of October, 2020 at a ripe age of 81.

Alh Aderibigbe described màmá as a mother in a million, a devoted Christian with a large heart. He said màmá was also very generous and accommodating.

He prayed that Almighty God grants màmá eternal rest and also gives His Excellency Engr Abiodun Olúwasèyí Mákindé, the entire family members and the good people of Oyo State the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

By Oluwakemi Ishola 

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Oyo State Council, on Friday, commiserated with the State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, over the demise of his mother, Madam Abigail Makinde.

Mama Makinde died on Thursday in Ibadan at the age of 80 years.

A statement signed by the NUJ Chairman, Ademola Babalola and Secretary, Sola Oladapo described the passing of the matriarch of the Makinde as shocking, moreso that there was no sign of major ailment ascribed to the deceased, who was full of life, until the unfortunate development.

The NUJ urged Governor Makinde to take solace in the fact that Mama lived well and was fulfilled as a great woman, who touched lives positively and witnessed his ascension to the office of the State Governor and positive strides made in the last 20 months.

“Your Excellency Sir, at a time like this, all journalists in the State share in your grief and admonish you to be man enough to withstand this trying moment. Its not easy to lose one’s mother especially a woman of such influence in the society.

“Death is the necessary end of all mortals and it will come when the Almighty so wishes

“We pray God to forgive Mama her trespasses and grant her eternal rest. God will grant you the fortitude to bear her irreplaceable loss. It is well Sir,” the statement added.

By Oluwakemi Ishola 

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, has reportedly all his political appointees from further engaging or speaking with journalists without obtaining clearance before doing so.

In a well scripted Circular letter captioned; “Guidelines On Media Appearances By Public Office Holders/Party Officials”, that was dated on 24th September, 2020, with reference number: ADI.36/VOL.III/186, and which was duly signed by the Secretary to the state government, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun.

The letter reads; “In order to prevent un- coordinated and counter-productive media exposure of public office holders and ensure that they are well guided, the following are the guidelines on media appearances:

“All media appearances by public office holders must be target driven.”

“Public office holders who wish to appear on radio/Television programs must secure the approval of His Excellency through the Secretary to the state government via His Excellency’s the Governor’s Media Department.”

“Officers of State I.e the Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff, Head of Service, Deputy Chief of Staff are to engage in media appearances strategically and Sparingly”

The letter continued, “Honourable Commissioners, Director Generals, Chairmen of Boards /Parastatals and State Government spokespersons that engage in media appearances must restrict themselves to issues affecting their Ministries, Departments and Agencies. They must not appear in crossfire or confrontational programs.”

“Public office holders who wish to engage in media appearances to speak about the administration, project initiatives or counter wrong narratives must be encouraged to request for at least five (5) days’ notice from the media house . The notice period must then be used to secure the necessary approval and engage His Excellency’s Media Unit to prepare for any possible, emerging or contending questions ahead of the media appearance.”

“Public office holders scheduled to appear on media programs must be familiar with the idiosyncrasies of the media house/anchor in question.”

“Political office holders must understand that the media is the most most viable vehicle through which government activities can be communicated and they must adapt to the terrain while being flexible.”

“It is important for all affected government officials to comply with these guidelines in order to prevent embarrassment to their persons and the state government”, the letter warned those aides, as not to fall victim of the consequences.