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Insecurity: Alaafin applauds police, South-West Govs for partnering OPC

By
Peter Ayoade
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By Ademola Babalola
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has applauded the police and the Southwest Governors on the recent move to partner with the Aare Gani Adams – led Oodua Peoples Congress in their efforts to curb the spate of insecurity in the zone.
Oba Adeyemi made this known on Wednesday shortly after he held a closed- door meeting with the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, at the palace in Oyo.
Adams had visited the Oyo Palace, on his way back from Ogbomosho, where he met with royal fathers, including the Soun of Ogbomosho, Oba Jimoh Oladunni, the Onijabata of Jabata, and the Ajase monarch.
Adams said the ancient city had, in the past, produced six Aare Onakakanfos all together, where the Ā recent OPC’s National Coordinating Council meeting was also held.
Speaking, Alaafin said, with the new move, the police have shown a lot of commitment to stop the spate of insecurity in the region.
He said the partnership with the OPC will definitely bring the much needed peace and tranquility across the Southwest.
“As custodian of Yoruba culture, the traditional rulers have the native intelligence of their respective domains and kingdoms.
“We are very close to the people at the grassroots, and on daily basis, we are fed with information that is crucial to the growth and development of the region.”
“For instance, in Oyo town and its environs, I have all the information from across all the 14 local governments in the state. So, the traditional rulers will always have their ears on the grounds on all issues, especially, issues that have to do with the safety and security of their respective domains.”
Alaafin said after meeting with the Aare Onakakanfo, they have fine tuned the strategies and methods of approach, saying OPC will incorporate other notable groups, including the Vigilante, Agbakoyas and other reputable security outfits.
Oba Adeyemi expressed optimism on the new move by the Inspector General of Police, saying efforts should be made to fast track the initiative, with effective modalities put in place to get all the stakeholders involved without further delay.
Meanwhile, the Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, said now that the police and the southwest governors are ready to partner with the OPC,he would call a meeting Ā with leaders of other security outfits and stakeholders, including the Agbekoyas, Vigilantes, leadership of all Ā community hunters, and other relevant security outfits across the southwest.

Makinde Assents Revised N182 bn Budget

By
Peter Ayoade
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Oyo state governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde has signed the revised 2019 budget of N182 billion into law.
The state house of assembly had on Tuesday reviewed the 2019 budget of N285 billion signed into law by the immediate past Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
It therefore removed N103 billion from it, leaving the state with N182 billion to spend for the year.
Speaking at the signing in ceremony held at the Executive Chamber, Governor’s office, Makinde said the earlier budget was unrealistic, pointing out that the budget performance would be poor if government adopt it as passed by the eight Assembly.
Makinde promised that he would work harder to improve the economy of the state and internally generated revenue to enhance higher budget allocations next year.
The governor therefore urged the people to support his administration in the task of developing the state.
Speaker of the state house, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin noted that the need to plan according to the resources necessitated the revised budget.
Mr Ogundoyin said the assembly would continue to discharge its duties diligently for the betterment of the state.

Akinremi, Ibadan North Rep hails Olubadan at 91

By
Peter Ayoade
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By Ridwan Oyebamiji

 

The lawmaker representing Ibadan North federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Prince Musiliudeen Olaide Akinremi has congratulated the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji as he clocks 91 years on Monday.

 

A statement made available by the media office of the lawmaker quoted the APC lawmaker, eulogising Oba Adetunji for the rare gift of life that Allah bestowed on him for over nine decades.

 

Akinremi who is the Vice Chairman, House committee on Science and Technology, called on the subjects of the first class monarch to use the opportunity of the celebration to seek for continuous peace of Ibadanland under the reign of Oba Adetunji.

 

He also thumbed up for the Olubadan as a colourful monarch whose life of service to humanity has been remarkable in both his private business and administration of the city of Ibadan.

 

Akinremi popularly called Jagaban said, “our Kabiyesi, the Olubadan has weathered the storm over the years. I thank Almighty Allah for bestowing the Olubadan with the grace of reaching this milestone in sound mind and quality health.

 

“This celebration presents a rare opportunity for all the high chiefs to sheath their swords and embrace long lasting peace in the Olubadan-In-Council.

 

“Ibadan is our proud heritage and Olubadan is our symbol of royalty. I therefore pray that the ongoing efforts at resolving the grievances between the Kabiyesi and some High Chiefs, end in ‘no Victor, no vanquish situation and ‘win win’ for all sides.

 

“Kabiyesi, may your reign further spur this land to greater glory and more abundance. You will celebrate more years in quality health and sound mind. As one of your subjects, I, Prince Musiliudeen Olaide Adewale Akinremi is proud of your towering influence among the comity of other Obas in Yorubaland,” the statement further stated.

 

 

Prof. Banji Akintoye emerges New Yoruba Leader

By
Peter Ayoade
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By Adams Akorede
Ā 
Amidst the presence of notable Yoruba leaders including a 135-year-old Pa Olamilekan Akekaka, an 84-year-old professor of history, Adebanji Akintoye was elected on Thursday in Ibadan, Oyo state.
Ā 
The session moderated by an activist, Dr. Tunde Amusat was convened by Comrade Victor Taiwo, founder of Oodua Redemption Alliance.
Ā 
Taiwo said a notable Yoruba leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo had been severally contacted to be the new leader but he turned down the offer on age ground.
Ā 
In attendance at the Glory View Hotel, Bodija, Ibadan at the gathering tagged “Assembly of all Yoruba groups worldwide” were Baale of Ekotedo, Chief Taye Ayorinde; Chief Deji Osibogun; clergymen; members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (New Era); Oodua Redemption Alliance; Majiyagbe Oodua Vanguard; Awari Omo Oduduwa; among others.
Akintoye was unanimously adopted by the overwhelming people in attendance.
Ā 
Sheikh Abdukraheem Aduranigba , Chief Imam of Yorubaland representing Yorubas in Kwara and Kogi states had moved the motion for Akintoye as new leader.
Ā 
The overwhelming majority including all the elders present backed Akintoye’s nomination.
Ā 
Amidst loud applause, Akintoye was adopted as the fourth Yoruba leader, coming after the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo; Pa Adekunle Ajasin and Senator Abraham Adesanya.
Ā 
With 14 leadership qualities itemised by the convener, Akintoye was said to possess wisdom, high intellect, patriotism to Yoruba cause, passionate commitment, bravery, uncompromising trait, probity, honesty, truthfulness, integrity, friendliness, sense of arbitration, physical agility, mental alertness, accessibility and amiability.

21 New Kings may lose Crowns to Olubadan as Makinde opts for out-of-court Settlement

By
Peter Ayoade
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By Adams Akorede
The appeal filed by former Governor of Oyo state, Abiola Ajimobi challenging the nullification of all the processes that led to the crowing of 21 kings in a single day in Ibadan, may soon be withdrawn by the incumbent Governor Seyi Makinde, any moment from now.
A two-page ‘terms of settlement’ dated August 20 and signed by the counsel to a former Governor Rashidi Ladoja; the Osi Olubadan who challenged the installation of new kings and got judgment, Mr. Michael Lana and Mr. Gbadegesin Adetunji Wasiu, the Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary of Oyo state, stated the procedure for settlement.
Tagged ‘official service’ and received by the Registrar of the court of appeal on Tuesday, the Governor of the state, who is the appellant/applicant and appellant/defendant, Ladoja and Justice Boade Akintunde (for himself and on behalf of all members of the judicial commission of inquiry on Olubadan chieftaincy), respectively agreed as follows:-
The terms of settlement which carried both the appeal number CA/99 & 99A/2018 and suit no. M/317/2017 stated that the report of Boade-led commission of inquiry created disharmony “because of the subsequent elevation of chiefs in Ibadan among the chiefs and the Olubadan of Ibadanland.”
It also observed the fact that the new administration of Oyo State stands on the of rule of law and the two parties have also recognised the fact that the House of Assembly has not amended the Chiefs Law of Oyo State.
The need for truce was further premised on the fact that amendment could have probably given legal backing to the gazette that led to the installation of the 21 new kings.
Makinde, according to a top government aide who spoke to Pacesetter News on anonymity believed that there is the need to restore peace, communal interests and relationships that existed before the said report and gazette in Ibadanland.
Ā 
The terms for truce stated further that the parties had met and agreed that all gazettes affecting the chieftaincy laws of Ibadanland issued during the pendency of the appeal be set aside, particularly gazette no. 3, volume 43 dated 29th March, 2018 being Oyo state legal notice nos 20 to 67.
Ā 
It also made reference to the judgment of the state high court in suit no. M/317/2017 between Ladoja against the Governor of Oyo state and another.
Ā 
The aide said the Governor has taken it upon himself to discontinue the matter where Ajimobi left it, adding that, “the governor will reconcile all parties involved to foster unity and harmony in the protection of the tradition of Ibadanland as relates to the chieftaincy laws of Ibadanland.”
Ajimobi had, on Sunday August 27, 2017 crowned all the 21 kings. Ladoja who was also a beneficiary stayed away from the ceremony and instituted a court action, which gave him victory.
Justice Olajumoke Aiki of an the State High Court delivered the judgment on January 19, 2018, and declared that the Justice Boade-led Judicial Commission of Enquiry that reviewed the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration and other Related Chieftaincies in Ibadanland as unconstitutional, illegal, null, void and of no effect.
But administration of Ajimobi appealed the judgment, giving 11 grounds why the judgment of the lower court should be upturned.
The appeal was still pending when the the All Progressives Congress-led government left power on May 29, 2019, to which pave way for Makinde’s Peoples Democratic Party.

Global IT lauds Buhari over Appointment of 39-year-old Abdullahi as new NITDA DG

By
Peter Ayoade
-

 

By Rebecca Akinkanju

 

An Information Communication Technology hub in sub-Saharan Africa, ‘Global IT’ on Wednesday lauded President Muhammadu Buhari over the appointment of Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi as the new Director-General/CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency.

The country’s director of the the Global IT, Rasheed Bakare in a commendation letter to the President, applauded the appointment of the 39-year-old Abdullahi, who they described as ‘a digital guru and industry key player’ with passion to surpass predecessors’ achievements in NITDA.

According to Bakare, “Abdullahi, for a couple of years has shown and proven to be a world class professional who will use his wide network to take NITDA to the next level, in line with the vision of Mr. President and the agency’s role as the clearing house for all IT projects and infrastructural development in the country.”

The Global IT which congratulated Abdullahi on his well deserved appointment, admonished him to leave above board and justify the confidence reposed in him by the president.

The new NITDA boss was born on February 21, 1980. He is a graduate of Computer Science from the prestigious Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi and Massachusetts Institute of Technology ā€“ MIT Sloan ā€“ trained strategist with 15 years of experience in IT operations, business transformation and solution architecture, across both private and public sectors.

 

He attended Leadership and Management courses at Harvard University in the USA, University of Cambridge in the UK and IMD Business School in Switzerland.

As the 1st Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) in Nigeriaā€™s Public Sector, he is also a certified project manager and solution architect. He also has many professional certifications in networking, telecommunications, service management and Solution design such as: Huawei telecommunications engineer, Cisco design professional, ITIL, Prince2, etc.

 

He has worked at Galaxy Backbone as Network Engineer, IP Network Field Engineer, Senior Network & Lead, IP Operations Team, and Senior Solution Architect & Lead, Technical Solution Design Team between 2004 to 2013.

 

In 2014, he joined Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as a Technology Architect, where he dedicated his time to developing Technology Architecture Repository that gives 360 view of the Bankā€™s IT infrastructure and easy decision on new IT investment. He was part of the team that executed software license rationalization which has increased cost savings for the bank in license annual subscriptions.

Mr Abdullahi was a key resource in the development of IT standards for the apex bank, which has reduced mean time to deploy/integrate new system by over 20%. One of his major achievements as a Technology architect was the production of 7 Solution Architectures for critical IT initiatives that helped in achieving cashless society in Nigeria.

 

He joined NITDA in 2017 as Technical Assistant to the Director General/CEO. Being the IT regulatory body in Nigeria mandated to implement National ICT policy, he Managed execution of strategy which has increased ICT contribution to Nigerian GDP by over 13% in Q2 2018.

 

The new DG coordinated Local Content initiatives that has increased ICT local production by over 200% in 2017.

He also overhauled IT clearance process and encouraged shared services among agencies. This has helped Federal Government saved over 16Bn NGN from IT projects.

 

Mr Abdullahi also oversaw procurement process that has reduced cost of major projects by over 5% in two consecutive annual procurement cycles.

 

Additionally, he managed project execution that has implemented over 300 IT infrastructure intervention.

Mr Abdullahi is a member of both British Computer Society (BCS) and Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) in addition to many memberships to his credit.

He is a recipient of 100 Leading Telecom and ICT Personalities in Nigeria ā€“ By Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON).

Mr Abdullahi is from Hadejia, Jigawa State, and he is married with children.

Oyo Impounds 395 Vehicles, 60 Motobikes in Seven Months

By
Peter Ayoade
-
By Adams Akorede
The Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority has revealed that 395 vehicles and 60 motorcycles have been impounded from January, this year.
The Director, Administrative and Supply, OYRTMA, Mr Tunde Aiki disclosed this in an interview after one of the agency’s operations on Wednesday in Ibadan.
The operation which took place around Agodi-Gate area, Ibadan saw the agency’s officials defying heavy rainfall to arrest traffic law offenders.
OYRTMA held the responsibility of maintaining the State’s road traffic laws as well as maintaining orderliness and control in the road traffic system of the state.
Aiki noted that the existence of the agency was not to generate revenue for the government through collection of Ā fines from traffic law offenders as most people believed, but to increase the compliance level of road users to traffic laws.
“We have discovered that more commercial road users violates basic traffic laws, especially those who do not make use of the designated bus stops as their pick up or drop off points for passengers and offences committed by private motorists are more grievous which include leaving one’s lane to face an oncoming vehicle and parking inappropriately on the road.
“We want to appeal to pedestrians and motorists to always take into consideration the safety of other road users as well as acquaint themselves with the traffic laws of the state.”
Meanwhile, some road users who spoke with our correspondent commended the agency for their efforts in ensuring a traffic friendly environment in the state but however called on the government to create more motor parks for both commercial and private users.
A private motorist, Mr Obinna Chukwu said “We know that what Ā OYRTMA is doing is for the good and safety of everyone, but most times the unavailability of motor parks especially for private motorists causes a lot of issues. So if the government can build motor parks at designated and busy places in the state, it will go a long way to reduce the clumsiness on our roads”.

Makinde tasks Council Administrators on Accountability

By
Peter Ayoade
-
By Ridwan Oyebamiji
Oyo State government has called on local government administrators to be accountable to the people at the grassroot so as to make the leadership style operating at the State level cascade to the local government.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Orisadeyi said this on Tuesday while hosting members of Conference of Local Government Administrators at his office in Ibadan.
Orisadeyi said for the people at the grassroot to key onto the policies and programmes of the seyi Makinde administration and give their maximum support, they should be carried along on what the local government administration have in stock for them.
She called for periodic stakeholders’ meetings between the local government and their respective communities so as to engender open government system which she said the incumbent governor held sacrosanct.
“While appreciating this visit, I want to call your attention to the need to carry the people at the local government or the grassroot along on the programmes and policies of the present administration.
” The government at the State will always rely on your capacity to represent its interest in extending good governance to our people.
“No individual will fail to support government when the government is always carrying the individual along as regards its plans to develop the people and physical infrastructures.”
Speaking on her capacity to perform as a woman commissioner, Orisadeyi said she would bring to bear, her experience in administration and as a lawmaker at the State House Assembly in administering the ministry.
Hon. Oyadeyi is the first woman to hold the office of the Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.
The former lawmaker appealed to the Local Government Administrators to cooperate with her and be diligent in the discharge of their duties for a better Oyo state.
The chairman of the conference of Heads of Local Government Administration, Mr. Waheed Raji, who led the team, said they came to congratulate the commissioner on her appointment and to commit their support to all government programmes for the development of the local government areas in the State.

600 Million People lack Access to Electricity in Africa – UNILAG DVC

By
Peter Ayoade
-

By Adams Fakorede

 

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola on Tuesday said that over 600 million people in Africa lacked access to electricity.

Ogunsola at a public lecture on “Africa rising: harnessing the power of disruptive technology to bridge the development divide in education and health – an imperative for tertiary education,” said 600 million Africans accounted for the one billion people without electricity globally.

She stated this at the 7thĀ annual public lecture of the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa, held at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan.

According to her, Nigeria must therefore embrace the use of renewable solar energy to increase access to electricity at home and the continent.

While maintaining that the digital revolution requires energy, the don attributed low access to electricity to high population growth rate and uneven development.

She advised the government to urgently work on how to control the population saying unless the population is controlled, infrastructure development would not match a geometrically growing population.

Ogunsola tasked Nigeria on data generation for the future, advising that the Nigerian government should also address health care system problems.

The varsity don further maintained that for Nigerian health institutions to be ready for the future, it must digitize patient records in an electronic management system.

The university administrator who disclosed that very few countries of the world spend over one percent of their Gross Domestic Product on research, lamented that Nigeria spends less than one percent of her GDP on research.

According to her, government must invest in human capital development rather than in infrastructure saying only a literate populace would develop infrastructure.

ā€œThe digital revolution is dependent on energy. The access rate to electricity in Africa has been slowly rising since 2000 and currently stands at 43percent but Africa accounts for 600m of the one billion people globally without access to electricity.

“The projection for sub-saharan Africa is that access will double by 2030 but there will still be about 600million without access due to high population growth rates and uneven development.

“This low rate of access can be turned to a major advantage with the embrace of renewable energy such as solar energyā€

In his speech, Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Idowu Olayinka who was represented by the Provost College of Medicine, Prof. Oluwabunmi Olopade-Olaopa said that Africa researchers must conduct locally relevant researches that could leapfrog the continent into a global power.

According to him, African scientists are more relevant to solving Africaā€™s problems.

Preventable Blindness: Rotary Club calls for Philanthropic Support

By
Peter Ayoade
-
Pacesetter

By Admin

The Rotary Club of Ibadan, Jericho Metro District 9125 on Tuesday, called for philanthropic funding and partnership to reverse the trend of preventable blindness in the country.

The humanitarian organisation made this call during a community eye outreach conducted in Kuola, Apata area of Ibadan on Tuesday.

The eye outreach which involved free eye screening, free cataract surgery and free drugs was conducted by the Rotary Club in collaboration with the Opthamology Department of the University College Hospital, Ibadan and Kakanfo Inn and Conference Centre, Ibadan.

The President of Rotary Club, Jericho Metro, Mrs Bisi Yomi-Layinka, said that through their collaborative support, Rotarians would easily reach out to hundreds of thousands of people across the country who have limited access to quality and timely healthcare.

ā€œOn behalf of the Board and members of Rotary Club if Ibadan-Jericho Metro, I welcome you to this edition of Eye Outreach.

ā€œOur Club is made up of professionals of diverse professions.We work in communities bringing succor to them.

ā€œWe have been having this program for five years in partnership with UCH and Kakanfo Inn in schools and communities.

ā€œSince inception about 5000 people have benefitted with 20 participants benefitting from our free cataract operations.

ā€œToday, Ā we are looking to screen a minimum of 50 persons while two participants will benefit from the free Cataract operation; two identified beneficiaries will be expected to follow the team to UCH today to enable the operation to be done tomorrow.

She reiterated that members of the club would continue to undertake meaningful initiatives that will impact the lives of many people, especially in the rural areas.

ā€œWe seize this opportunity to call on other individuals and corporate organisations to join hands with us by sponsoring this project so that it can reach more communities and a wider audience,ā€ she said.

The Chief Nursing Officer at the Community Eye Outreach Department, UCH, Mrs Grace Illuyomade, said that cataract and glaucoma are two leading causes of a preventable blindness in the country.

She Ā said that the public health burden of preventable blindness remained cumbersome due to lack of easy access to healthcare, untimely medical intervention poverty and low level of public awareness.

ā€œPreventable blindness is blindness which could be either treated or prevented by known means.

ā€œAlthough there are many other causes of vision loss, glaucoma and cataract are the two leading causes in the country.

ā€œWe are appealing to philanthropists and well-meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of these indigent patients, many of whom cannot surgical fees, and this has resulted in blindness in many cases,ā€ she said.

Illuyomade said that the collaborative support will also boost effort of community eye outreach to provide quality medical care and intervention in hard to reach rural areas.

According to her, Ā by helping to improve the lives of people in rural areas it will contribute to efforts aimed at solving the problem of preventable blindness in the rural communities.

An Octogenarian, Ahamadu Bello, who was diagnosed with cataract during the free screening said that the outreach was a worthy cause for those who couldnā€™t afford medical checks.

Bello said he had been experiencing the symptoms for over two years, but ignorance and cost of medical care made him helpless from seeking intervention.

Unveiling Dr. Salako idris: New Lagos Commissioner for Physical Planning & Urban Development

By
Peter Ayoade
-

“stakeholders see his appointment as breath of fresh air among Lagos commissioners”

Stakeholders in Lagos state and Nigeria at large have described the appointment of Dr. Salako Idris as the new Commissioner for Physical Planning & Urban development by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu like a square peg in a square hole and is expected to be a breath of fresh air in Lagos civil service.

The appointment of personnel into any office or position should elicit some excitement. Appointments are a call to duty and a call to serve and make a difference.Ā  They should not be viewed lightly or seen as funfair or used as some form of patronage, but should be viewed as a serious issue. This is because when one gets the appointments wrong, or makes the wrong choice, it can cause incalculable damage, as well as breed mediocrity and incompetence.Ā  Appointments are meant to be inspiring; fortunately, that can be said of the appointment ofĀ  Dr. Salako Idris.

According to those familiar with the sector, the appointment of Dr. Salako Idris is encouraging, inspiring and worth celebrating as he’s seen as a square peg in a square hole, who until his appointment was the Managing Partner at Adesanya Salako & Associates; member of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) and a member at the Town Planning Registration Council of Nigeria (TOPREC).

As a first-time Commissioner, Dr Salako Idris is expected to win the confidence of the people within the shortest possible time, by reassuring them that he is the right man for the job. Like other commissioners, the new Lagos State helmsman has the onerous task of translating his promises to action. Governor Sanwo-Olu who chose him is not expecting anything less than good governance and the implementation of programs that will impact on lives of Lagos citizens and residents.

Lagos is a city with enormous opportunities and potential. A cultural melting pot, it is estimated that an average of 6,000 persons from various parts of the country come into Lagos daily. Thus, the city is only growing in population but without corresponding infrastructure development, a challenge Dr. Salako ldris has the right credentials to solve.

Dr Salako Idris was born in 1968 in Lagos, Nigeria to Nigerian parents from Lagos State. He earned a Bachelor of Technology in Urban and Regional Planning, Federal University of Technology Akure and went ahead to obtain M.Sc. and PhD in the same field [Urban, Regional Planning] at the prestigious University of Lagos State (Unilag).

He is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners and a member of the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON). Dr. Idris commenced his career in urban and rural planning as an Estate officer at Jide Taiwo & Co. between 1997-1998. He joined Hussplan Consult ā€“ Planning Practice as a Town Planner in 1998. He was an Environmental Officer at b-Environmental between 2001-2010.

He, however, joined the public sector between 2001-2003 as a Town Planning Officer at Oshodi-Isolo Local Planning Authority. Dr. Idris established Adesalako & Associates in 2004, where he has managed, conceptualized; as well as executed several projects in Nigeria.

Among these many projects include but not limited to: Ikorodu Sub-Region Master Plan (2016-2036); Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development (2016); Large/medium/Small Scale Agro-Industrial Parks at Imota Ikorodu; Mowo, Lagos-Badagry Expressway; Ibeju-Lekki;Ā  Ijanikin; Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Lagos State Government (2013-2015); Preparation of Development Schemes for the Redevelopment of Agbado Oke Odo UnityĀ  Market, Alagbado Lagos State, 2013; Development of an Environmental Preservation Control and Conservation Database for the Niger Delta; Preparation of Environmental Impact Analysis Report/Planning Technical Study Reports for the New Tejuosho Market (Phase 1); Medium and Large Scale Industrial Park, Ilara-Igbonla, Epe.

Others include: Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Lagos State Government (2014); Project Manager, Ogun State Sub Regional Plan (Ogun Waterside and Ijebu East Local Governments-Sub-Region 5) 2007; Preparation of Development Schemes for the Redevelopment of Kuyasin Awuse Market and the New Kotangowa Market, Lagos State, (2009); Development plan for a Leprosarium at Ijebu Itele, by the Redeemed Christian Church of God ; Project Planner, Ogun State Sub Regional Plan (Ogun Waterside and Ijebu East LocalĀ  Governments, 2006).

Makinde: Why I Appointed Owoseni, former Lagos Police Commissioner as Special Adviser

By
Peter Ayoade
-

 

By Adams Akorede

 

The urge to deliver on the security of lives and property, being one of the four pillars of my administration’s commitment to develop Oyo state made me to appoint aĀ former Commissioner of Police in Lagos and Benue states, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, as Special Adviser on Security Matters.

The Governor of Oyo state, Engr. Seyi Makinde made this known in a statement on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa.

Makinde said Owoseni’s appointment, took effect from August 1.

The statement indicated that Owoseniā€™s appointment falls in line with the recognition of security as one of the four pillars of the Makinde administration in Oyo State.

Governor Makinde had also promised to unveil a new security architecture for the state before his first 100 days in office.

The Governor, in the letter of appointment, wished Mr. Owoseni, who has been working as a security consultant since his retirement from the police after 35 years of meritorious service, success in his new assignment.

Governor Makinde also urged Owoseni to discharge his duties with absolute loyalty and dedication.

The retired Commissioner of Police was born on August 17, 1962. He retired from the Nigeria Police with the enviable rank of Commissioner of Police earlier this year.

Owoseni, a holder of a Bachelor of Arts Bachelor in International Studies and Diplomacy from the University of Benin and a Diploma in Police Management (DPM) from the University of Jos, as well as several certificates in police and professional courses at the local and international levels, began his police career in the early 80s.

He rose through the ranks as an Inspector of Police and became the Commissioner of Police in charge of General Investigations at theĀ Ā  Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), Abuja.

He also served as the Commissioner of Police (CP) in Lagos State, the commercial capital/nerve centre of Nigeria, which has a Police strength of over 30,000 personnel, the highest in country.

He was reputed to have served more than two years on the Lagos hot seat, ranking among the five longest serving (out of about 35) Commissioners of Police, who had served in the State.

While on his tour of duty in Lagos, he effectively harnessed and utilised the available human and material resources to ensure safety of lives and properties as well as providing the enabling environment for social and economic development of the former Nigerian Federal Capital city.

He was subsequently deployed to Benue State at the height of the Herdsmen and Farmers clashes and he was reputed to have recordedĀ Ā  remarkable achievements towards quelling the spate of violence in the food basket state.

He equally served as Commissioner of Police (Administration), at the Department of Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja, where he made immense contributions especially by ensuring the success of the collaborations between the UNDP and the Police towards the successful conduct of the 2015 general elections.

It is also on record that Owoseni contributed immensely to the overall performance of the Nigeria Police Force in the 2015 general elections particularly in the areas of personnel training and writing/production of ā€œHandbook on guidelines for Police Officers deployed on election duties,ā€ (the first time ever in the Police).

The retired Commissioner of Police also served as an Expert on Mission and Seconded Staff (at managerial level -P5 position) to the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) and the African Union- United Nations Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), while he made significant input (UN Police Component) into the United Nations Security Council Resolution on UNAMID, including the different levels of support programmes offered to the African Union by the United Nations, Department of Peacekeeping Operations (UN-DPKO).

The statement indicated that the newly-appointed Special Adviser on Security Matters is expected to bring his wealth of experience garnered over the decades through many local and international assignments to bear on the security situation in the Pacesetter state.

Makinde is borrowing over N1bn Monthly to pay LG salaries – Oyo ALGON

By
Peter Ayoade
-
By Adams Akorede
The embattled local government chairmen sacked by Governor Seyi Makinde has disclosed that the state government was leaving on borrowing spree, in order to be seen as nice.
The ousted ALGON chairman, Mr. Ayodeji Abass-Alesinloye who made the allegation in a recent chat with this reporter, said that the government borrows over N1 billion monthly to pay council workers since June.
Responding to a question on Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) June 1 deadline for governors to allow councils access funds from the federation account without interference, “I don’t think they have been following it. In the state/councilsĀ jointĀ account, no transaction should occur without the primary owner which is the democratically elected officials.
“I believe no transaction has occurred in the State Joint Allocation Committee otherwise called JAC since we left office becauseĀ they refused to recognise chairmen to work with; there is no way even if that money goes to councils, they can’t have access to it,” Alesinloye claimed.
On how they have been paying salaries till date, Alesinloye said, “I learnt they have been borrowing money to pay because they don’t want anything negative to happen to their government.
“So they have been rallying round to source for money to pay local government workers.
“There is no way they can access the money coming from Abuja to local governments for now.
“We have written letters to the banks and I am sure the banks have not been honouring their cheques. They (Oyo government) don’t have access to the money.
“NFIU should monitor it because the money is meant for democratically elected chairmen, not the caretaker arrangement.
“And I know that NFIU is monitoring the disbursement and there is no way they would make any transaction in that joint account.
“If they do, that will be an illegal operation of councils funds and it is an illegal thing to do.
“You may wish to ask me for how long they would sustain it, under the guise of populism, because you want to be seen to be nice; to be good, to be people-oriented, no problem but for how long can they sustain such borrowing?
He puts the monthly salaries of council workers at over N1.1 billion.
Responding to the NFIU directive and the claims by the ousted ALGON boss, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa said there was no iota of truth in the claim by Alesinloye, just as he said the NFIU had been taken to court.
Adisa said, “but the Nigerian Governors Forum took that matter to court. As far as the matter is in court, status quo remains. Each state can now design how it manages its local governments.”
Asked to comment on the claim that the state government had been borrowing to pay council workers, Adisa said, “the state House of Assembly passes law on the running of the local governments.
“The matter is in court. The NFIU can’t do anything for now.
“The so-called ALGON wants to remain in the news. They want to remain relevant. Whatever they are saying, let them continue. We don’t want to engage them,” Adisa stressed.
Reminded of the claim by Alesinloye that the state government borrowed to pay June and July salaries, Adisa said, “it is not true. If they have such evidence, let them show the media.”

Again, Parents, Students drag UI to Court over Hijab Use in International School

By
Peter Ayoade
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By Ademola Babalola
Some Muslim parents whose daughters were banned by the authority of the University of Ibadan International School from wearing Hijab (head scarf)Ā have returned to court to enforce what they termed as fundamental human rights of their wards in line withĀ their religious belief.
The Hijab controversy became a public issue in November last year when the parents under the banner of UI-ISI Muslim Parents’ Forum petitioned the University of Ibadan, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) UI who doubled as Chairman of the board of Governors of the school; the school principal, Mrs. Phebean Olowe and the school for disallowing female Muslim students in the school to wear Hijab.
The crisis generated a lot of arguments for and against from parents, students, academic and other stakeholders, the development which led to the shutting of the school for a week.
The Muslim parents on behalf of their wards later approached an Oyo state High Court in Ibadan, asking it to mandate the school to allow their wards to use Hijab on top of their school uniforms.
However, Justice Ladiran Akintola of the State High Court 9,Ā on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, struck out the fundamental human rights suit filed by the parents on behalf of their wards.
Akintola in his ruling, premised his judgement on the fact that the section of the constitution on human rights issues should be filed individually and not collectively as done by the parents.
The Muslim parents while speaking on Sunday, said that they had complied with the court directive to file their matters separately.
Chairman, Muslim Parentsā€™ Forum of the School, Alhaji Abdurahman Balogun while said that the applicantsĀ have now complied with the court directive to file the matter individually.
Balogun said, “We are back in court. This is to inform you all that sequel to court directive to file the matter individually as regards Fundamental Human Rights, we had since complied and new casesĀ  assigned as follows:
(1) Fareedah Moshood vs UI is on Monday 19 Aug 2019 at High Court main premises ring road before a vacation judge;
(2) Hamdallah Olosunde vs UI is coming on 20-8-19 before court 17 Iyaganku;
(3) Iman Akinoso vs UI is coming on 20-8-19 before court 17 Iyaganku;
(4) Raheemah Akinlusi vs UI is coming on 21-8-19 before court 17 Iyaganku;
(5) Ikhlas Badru vs UI is coming on 21-8-19 before court 17 Iyaganku;
(6) Mahmudah Babarinde vs UIĀ  is onĀ  27 Aug 2019 at high court main premises ring roadĀ  before a vacation judge;
(7) Aakifah Dokpesi vs UIĀ  is on 27 Aug 2019 at High Court main premises Ring RoadĀ  before a vacation judge and
(8) Aaliyah Dokpesi vs UI is on 27 Aug 2019 at High Court main premises Ring RoadĀ  before a vacation judge.

Balogun maintained that the decision of the students to return to court is simply to ā€œliberate our children and Muslims who were oppressed, intimidated and coerced not to express their faith freedom as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

 

With over One Million Population, Rep seeks Splitting of Constituency

By
Peter Ayoade
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With over one million population, Rep seeks splitting of constituency
By Rebecca Akinkanju
With the growing population of over one million people across Iseyin, Kajola, Itesiwaju and Iwajowa local governments in Oyo state, the member representing the area in the House of Representatives, Shina Peller has demanded the splitting of the constituency into two.
Keller, at a town hall meeting attended by the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Andulganiy Adekunle; a former Rep member in the area, Dr Wale Okediran; students, artisans and chiefs, assured that he would sponsor a bill to make case for the matter.
Peller said the nation cannot grow in the face of injustice which placed some federal constituencies at the receiving end.
The lawmaker said he would rally his colleagues in the house and senators for inclusion of the area in the constitution amendment.
Speaking to journalists during a town hall meeting and N10 million empowerment at the Iseyin city hall, Peller said, the huge size of the constituency and its large population necessitated the move to seek for a legislation for the splitting of the constituency into two to ensure that development gets to the people at the grassroot.
According to the APC lawmaker, aside the fact that Oyo state remains the largest state in the country, there is urgent need to push for the splitting of the constituency .
He said ” The population of the four Local Governments is over one million . And the land mass is more than many other federal constituencies in the country. I remember one day i went to Somolu to Bariga in Lagos , within 35minutes you traveled from Somolu to Bariga .
” Here from Iseyin to Kojola you will spend more than three hours travelling , and that is within one federal constituency. Iseyin has eleven wards, Kajola has eleven wards, Itesiwaju has ten wards, and Iwajowa has ten . And in total i’m representing 42 wards . “
Ā He expressed grave concern over security challenges faced by the people , saying that contrary to rumours that the federal was jettison the state police, the National Assembly would soon come up with a legislation for the establishment of local policing to further strenghten the existing security architecture in the country.
He the inauguralĀ  meeting which is coming two months after the 2019 general election, was in line with his campaign promise of meeting the people every two months .
” As for me, i believe in challenges . And i like to challenge myself . I believe so much in public opinion if the people have electric me to represent them, there must be periodic meetings and give them feedback on what i have done so far , and meeting them would help me to see myself how far i have gone and also help me to see my mistakes and correct them to be a better person ,” he said.
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