Happy Holiday!
Wishing Our Esteemed Readers A Very Happy And Prosperous Eid!
May Allah Shower His Blessings Upon You And Grace You With Joy And Happiness Always.
(Ameen)
WHATSUPIBADAN…what’s going on in IB City…and more!
Oyo Govt To Complete 1004 Housing Units In 12 Months
The Oyo State Government has commenced the construction of two housing estates, with a total of 1,004 housing units to be completed within the next one year. This is in addition to the over 2,000 units already being constructed along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. The estates known as ‘‘Lakeside Residential Estates” situated at Idi Ishin Reservation Area and Elenu Shonsho area of Ibadan, the state capital, occupy about 20 hectares of land. The Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, speaking about shelter being one of man’s most important needs, said that his administration embarked on the housing project to ensure that citizens do not lack those basic needs. He added: “I’ll particularly like to state that we also envisage that this is the first phase, the other phases will come and it will cumulate in a total of 10,000 housing units.”
Ajimobi urges Nigerians to be tolerant, forgiving
By Adebisi Onanuga
Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has urged Muslims to reflect on the essence of Ramadan and its message of tolerance for the other person as well as forgiveness of sins. In a Sallah message yesterday in Ibadan, the state capital, by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, the governor noted that Ramadan is meant to affirm that even as mortals, man can move towards perfection through the denial of the desires of the flesh. He said this would in turn lead to the purification of the soul. Ajimobi urged Nigerians, especially Muslims, not to abandon the lessons of Ramadan by remaining within the virtues of the holy months and by tolerating one another. According to him, the moment Nigerians are tolerant of the human limitations of their fellow beings and seeing everyone as God’s creation, all the vices that threaten to tear the country apart would be eliminated. The governor urged Oyo State residents to continue to shun violence and brigandage, as they have done in the last three years of his administration. He said the people have sent a message to the world that the profiling of the state as a hotbed of violence was misplaced. He said: “Peace is what has opened doors of prosperity to our state. We all know what this state was when it was ruled by fear and bloodshed. I enjoin all of us to pray for continued peace in Oyo State. When we all live in peace, development and prosperity will come our way, even more than they have done in the last three years or thereabout.” Also, the governor’s wife, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, yesterday urged the residents to pray for continued peace.
Oyo APC urges prayers for peace
The Oyo State branch of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged Muslims to pray for lasting peace ahead of next year’s general elections. The party, in a message yesterday in Ibadan, the state capital, by its Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, felicitated with Muslims for successfully fulfilling one of their religious obligations, as stipulated in the Holy Qur’an and the teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW). APC said: “It is very important for a party like ours, which respects the rights of individuals to religious practice, to identify with our Muslim brothers and sisters on this year’s occasion of Eid-el Fitri.” It urged Muslims to always exhibit the virtues of sacrifice, humility, love and service to God and humanity beyond the holy month. APC called for prayers to make peace reign in Nigeria, especially as insurgents have held the nation by the throat for years. “Our dear pacesetter state equally deserves special prayers, even as we urge residents to be vigilant and not succumb to the antics of retroactive elements who are bent on returning Oyo State to the era of impunity, recklessness and bad governance,” it said.
Eid-el-fitri: Akala, Makinde, Olubadan, others felicitate with Muslims
Culled From Tribune
Nigerians must turn a new leaf —Gbolarumi
Former Deputy governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi, has urged Muslims and Nigerians to ensure that the teachings of 2014 Ramadan reflect on their character after the eid el fitri. Alhaji Gbolarumi made this known in a statement signed by the director of Administration, Hazeem Gbolarumi gubernatorial campaign 2015 office, Mr Bayo Idowu, and made available to newsmen at the weekend. He said: “Muslims should be ready to ensure that the society feels the impact of the fasting period in their character and relationship.”
Olubadan felicitates with Muslims
AS Muslims all over the world celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Fitri, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I, has congratulated all Muslims in Ibadanland, Oyo State and Nigeria in general on the successful completion of this year’s Ramadan fast, and prayed for Allah’s protection on all during and after the celebration. The traditional ruler, in a message issued by his personal assistant, Chief Isiaka Akinpelu, enjoined all Muslims not to allow the lessons and significance of the Ramadan fast to end with it.
Alao-Akala felicitates with Muslims
Former governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, has felicitated with Muslims as they celebrate Eid-el-fitri, urging them to continue in the pursuance of peace for national development. Alao-Akala, in his sallah message made available to the journalists on Saturday, in Ogbomoso, urged Muslims nationwide not to return to their sins, having pleaded for forgiveness in the last 30days through fasting and prayers.
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Oyo assembly member donates to education supervisors
A member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, representing Akinyele Local Government Constituency II, Honourable Adigun-Hammed Abiodun, has donated three motorcycles to education supervisors of the council area for effective service delivery. Donating the motorcycles at the local government education board headquarters, Moniya, Ibadan, last Friday, Honourable Abiodun averred that the motorcycles would enhance the performance of education supervisors in getting to the rural areas for effective supervision. While saying that education is one of the cardinal programmes of the present administration in the state, aimed at revamping and restoring the economic base of the state, the lawmaker said that before the government came on board, education was in a state of comatose, adding that all necessary machinery would be put in place at ensuring that human capital development of the council is given priority. He said that as part of efforts to boost education in the area, he had built classrooms across schools in the local government. The lawmaker said that at Atan/Ajobo community, a block of three classrooms and a staffroom was donated by him for the commencement of a secondary school while he had also obtained approval for the establishment of a primary school at Oluana-Lagbe community, with the construction of classrooms ongoing.
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UCH inducts 105 into medical, dental profession
By Victor Ogunyinka
THE medical and dental professional body has inducted 105 new members of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, into the profession. The induction was held at the Paul Hendrickse Lecture Theatre of the college. At the event, where eminent personalities of the profession were present, Professor Rasheed Arogundade, President, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, who was the guest lecturer, spoke on ‘Medical professional life beyond graduation.’ He stressed that though postgraduate studies was still an option in Nigeria, he encouraged the inductees to study further and specialise in their areas of interests. “I want you to know the five attributes of a five-star doctor; a good care provider; good decision maker; good communicator; good community leader and a good manager.” He, however, advised them to know where to draw the line during crucial moments. The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Isaac Adewole, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Emilolorun Ayelari, sympathised with the inductees for the unplanned delay in their programmes. “I want to congratulate the parents of the inductees for their sacrifices, to make the inductees what they are today, and to the inductees, continue to be good ambassadors of the institution.”
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Drama, as mad man ran into a mosque in Ibadan
THERE was a mild drama on Saturday morning as a mad man, half naked, zoomed into the Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola Alao mosque, situated at Iwo-Road, Ibadan, causing panic among worshippers. The man, who entered the mosque when a congregation on Ihtikaaf were sleeping after observing the early morning Zubhi, was speaking incoherent English language, saying “leave me, I came to see Umar Kamara from Senegal”. The congregation, who were scared, suspected he might be a member of the dreaded Boko Haram sect. When the suspected mad man was questioned further, it was discovered that he was not mentally stable and only missed his way by entering the mosque. The Chief Imam of the Mosque, Imam Abdul Rasaq Akuru, however, pleaded with the people around not to beat him.
I’m an ex-prison inmate, my brother is in prison —Robbery suspect
FIVE suspected members of a gang which had two siblings as its members have opened up to the operatives of Special Anti Robbery Squad of the Oyo State Police Command on their criminal activities, after they were arrested in Ibadan, Oyo State of Nigeria, with three guns recovered from them. One of the two members of the same family, Lawan Kabiru (30), was among those arrested in Ibadan while his brother, Lawan Ramon is currently in Ilesa prisons where he is being remanded after his arrest in Ikirun, Osun State, after a robbery operation. Kabiru escaped arrest then. Other suspects are Biola Alaba, Dolapo Olayinka, Adedeji Ibrahim and Sunday Oyewo. Information gathered by Crime Reports indicated that the suspects were arrested on July 4, 2014 when SARS operatives stormed a mechanic workshop at Iyana Church area along Wakajaiye community, Ibadan, after a tip-off from a good-spirited member of the public. The team of SARS operatives were said to have met some suspected hoodlums drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis sativa. They were all arrested and in the course of investigation, SARS operatives noticed a bullet hole in the boot of a black Golf 3 car with registration number AJ 821 JJJ belonging to one of the leaders of the gang named Ola. Upon interrogation, Crime Reports learnt the arrested suspects confessed that they were armed robbers and had robbed over 50 houses in Ibadan and Ogbomoso in Oyo State, and Gbongan, Ilesa, Ikirun and Esa-Odo in Osun State. They also took the operatives to their hideout where the guns used during robbery operations were kept. Among items recovered were one pump action gun, one English-made double barrel cut-to-size gun, one locally-made single barrel gun, 68 live cartridges, 12 expended cartridge shells, gas cylinder and charms.
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Revival pill for moribund Ibadan dry port
The Ibadan Inland Container Depot, now being reclassified as a dry port, is about to spring into life six years after it was established, thanks to a renewed partnership between the Oyo State government and the Federal Government. BISI OLADELE reports that the project is set to galvanise the economy of Ibadan and provide no fewer than 5,000 jobs.
Like a sleeping economic giant, Ibadan dry port lays waste on a large expanse of land, waiting for a big shove to wake it up from its deep slumber. One of six similar projects set up six years ago across the country by the government to reduce pressure on the existing coastal ports, but which have seemingly been abandoned, the dry port with capacity to create no fewer than 5,000 jobs and boost the economy of the largest city in Africa south of the Sahara, was set up to cater for the import and export needs of the entire south west region. At its ground-breaking ceremony on August 11, 2008, top Federal Government functionaries, particularly in the maritime sector turned up with fanfare at Erunmu, an Ibadan less city on the Ibadan –Iwo highway to turn the sod of the dry port project. The seriousness attached to the event suggested that the project would hit the ground running, but that was not to be. The building donated by the Oyo State Government which is standing on the large expanse of land and other physical facilities offered by the state government, have since then been abandoned while weed overgrows its frontage and the facilities depreciate. The inland container depots (as originally named), one in each of the six geo-political zones, were planned to take port activities to the hinterland, decongest existing ports, improve the economy of the new cities and states as well as make the business of importation and exportation easier for importers and exporters.
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Abiala seeks sustenance of Ramadan virtues
As Muslims across the globe round off the holy month of Ramadan, Nigerians among them have been charged on the need for the sustainability of the virtues inherent in the 30-day exercise for the betterment of the society. Labour Party (LP) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Olu Abiala, stated this in a statement personally signed by him and made available to journalists in Ibadan. Abiala, the former scribe of the state wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), said the virtues of Ramadan fast, were those things being enjoined their sustainability. Such virtues, he stressed, include abstaining from worldly and sinful ways, seeking the face of Almighty Allah, alms giving and religious piety in all ramifications, He maintained that if all these virtues are sustained after the holy month of Ramadan, the society would benefit immensely and be better for it, noting that rather than go back to the old ways, the Muslims should endeavor to remain on the path of piety they were during the fasting period. Abiara charged them to do everything in moderation during the celebration, taking into consideration the time needed for all the internal organs to readjust to another system of feeding. He also called on them to be security conscious in every place of large concentration of people bearing in mind the activities of the insurgents, the Boko Haram people, who could not even spare the holy month in their dastardly acts.
Pasuma set to rock Ibadan
Fuji star, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, will be thrilling music lovers in the ancient city of Ibadan, Oyo State, to a special Ed-el Fitri celebration tagged Itinu Awe, on Tuesday, July 29, at the Sablak Event Centre, Sanyo Area, Ibadan-Lagos Expressway. Organiser of the show, Adeniyi Kazeem, CEO, ADK Links Ventures, speaking on the show, said that his organisation has put everything in place to ensure that music fans have a memorable Itunu Awe celebration. “Adequate security has been put in place. Pasuma has also promised to make the day one to relish for a long time to come in the ancient city and its environs.” Other acts billed to perform are Taiye Currency aka Apesin Oganla, Tiri Leather and fast rising Tungba exponent, Femo Lancaster.
2015: Forum cautions Oyo gov aspirants against desperation
THE Oyo State Unity Forum (OSUM) has cautioned aspirants seeking to hold the exalted position of the governor of state on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to throw the state into chaos and violence in their desperation to win the party’s ticket. It warned that tension had risen over threats of ethnic gang-ups across the state. The forum, comprising indigenes and non-indigenes of the state spanning over five zones of the state, expressed worry that the recent reports and boasts of gang-ups against one another based on ethnic bases, by seven aspirants and a former governor of the state were capable of bringing back the long-forgotten days of politics of violence and killing in the state. The forum, according to a statement jointly signed by its chairman and secretary, Mr Olusoji Oyelakin and Pastor Benjamin Akpan, respectively, maintained that in as much as it was the right of each aspirant to use any strategy he considered necessary for his aspiration, a situation where wrong and parochial methods with potentials of causing disaffection, hate and fight among the people ought to be avoided. “We condemn in its entirety, the ganging-up of seven aspirants that met in the house of a former minister in the late Sani Abacha-led regime, Elder Wole Oyelese, which came out with a communique limiting the choice of governor for the state to Ibadan. We equally condemn the boast of a former governor of the state, Chief Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, in a recent interview in the Tribune that he was equally ganging-up with Senator Ayo Adeseun and other other aspirants from his area against aspirants from a particular city.
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Why ibadan artistes are not making it big —Teazer
By Segun Adebayo and Seyi Sokoya
Ibadan-based music producer, Damilola Grand Aluko, otherwise known as Oluwateazer, is gradually making himself a known and respected factor in the music industry. The graduate of Economics from Lead City University believes his time to hit the big stage is fast approaching and would do everything possible to make his mark. He speaks with Chidi Emeka-Ben about his plans and music career.
As an upcoming beat maker, how long does it take you to produce a good beat?
For me, it does not take too much time but it also depends on the kind of song and the beat one is making. But basically, some take weeks while some may take just two hours.
Who do you think is the best producer in Nigeria currently?
Don Jazzy and Shizzy are the top producers in Nigeria today. These guys are not just beat makers they are also hit makers. Music production does not mean that you have made a great beat. The beat should be able to ignite something inside the artiste during recording and post production. I think Don jazzy and shizzy have these qualities. They have been consistent in making hits for years; they have always re-invented themselves.
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Kidnappers did not invade Ibadan —CP
By Oluwatoyin Malik
The Oyo State Police Command has described as false, mischievous and misleading, the story that kidnappers invaded Ibadan, which made headlines in some national newspapers during the past week. In a statement issued on Friday and signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Olabisi Okuwobi-Ilobanafor, the command said that though the authorities of Onireke High School, Ibadan apprehended a mentally challenged man whose presence had been noted in the school’s vicinity over the years on the suspicion that he could be pretending, the scenarios painted in the newspaper publications never existed.The statement read further that the suspect was handed over to Eleyele Police Division where officers confirmed that he had been brought to the police station on several occasions and had earlier been charged to a magistrate court.It disclosed that the magistrate sitting over the court where the case was being heard declined further hearing on the suspect’s case on May 4, 2013 after he was confirmed to be of unsound mind by medical personnel in Agodi Prisons, Ibadan, where he was remanded.
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Why impeachment can’t happen in Oyo State —Deputy Chief Whip
The Deputy Chief Whip of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Michael Adesina Adeyemo, speaks with DARE ADEKANMBI on the rumoured impeachment proceedings against Governor Abiola Ajimobi, the constitutional provision for an impeachment process, among other issues. Excerpts:
As a lawmaker on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), how do see the recent impeachment processes in some states being controlled by your party and which has seen the removal of Murtala Nyako as Adamawa State governor?
About the Adamawa situation, I have a mixed feeling in the sense that the process and final impeachment failed to comply with the provisions of the law and summarily, I can tell you that it is an abuse of power. The essence of having the provisions for impeachment in the constitution is not something that is there for victimising opposition or suppressing the opinion of the people. Rather, it should be genuine with good intentions because it goes a long way to remove an elected governor. As you can see it, we have never experienced it at the federal level. Where people feel that the last resort is to apply impeachment, I think it is not good enough. We have processes by which we can put an end to gross misconduct of a governor. We have a way of checking it. The lawmakers that were used to impeach the governor, are they God? Are they saints? We must search our conscience. It is something we should be really concerned about if we want our democracy to stand. We need to develop our democracy and not use power in a way that suppresses all the tenets and principles of democracy. Also, our institutions should be above board. A situation where we have a security institution being used to satisfy the interest of the so-called commander-in-chief without considering the public interest will not work well for this country. When you talk of security, it must first and foremost be concerned about life and property, which is the main duty of any security outreach. And I don’t see why any of our security organisations shouldn’t turn down any president or governor that acts against public interest.
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Industries get tax holiday, discounts on land acquisition in Oyo
By Remi Feyisipo
In its bid to attract local and foreign investors, especially in the agricultural sector, Oyo State government is set to grant discounts of between 70 percent and 90 percent on land acquisition. Also, the government is ready to grant 100 percent tax holiday for up to seven years to eligible industries. The disclosures were made at a round-table interaction between the state government and Organised Private Sector (OPS) in Ibadan. Tosin Ayoade, senior special adviser on trade and investment, to the state governor, told Journalists that genuine investors willing to set up companies in any sector of the economy would enjoy the incentive from the state. Ayoade said the discounts were meant to attract investors into the state, adding that “it depends on what to do on the land, whether is educational, pioneer industries or from any other sectors of the economy.” While saying that the gesture had encouraged many investors to move to the state to invest, he noted that an investor had just acquired 10,000 hectares of land in Tede, out of the 25,000 hectares needed for the planting of the Soyabean in the Oke Ogun area of the state. The investment policies, he stated, had paid off with many companies springing up along the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway. He said that Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s several business trips abroad to source for foreign investors had started yielding results with industries coming up.
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Chibok Girls: Secondary school students mark 100 days of abduction in Ibadan
By Oseheye Okwuofu
It was a moving scene yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as hundreds of secondary school students gathered to mark 100 days of the abduction of 276 students of Government Girls’ Secondary, Chibok by the dreaded Boko Haram sect. The programme, “Missing: A Tale of Chibok Girls,“ was put together by Mrs Oyindamola Ige, a former lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan. The students, selected from over 15 secondary schools in the state, appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to intensify his efforts to ensure a safe release of the abducted girls. The programme, comprising a play, cultural display and drama on the unity of the country, was held at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan. It was attended by many dignitaries from the University of Ibadan, civil society organisations and government agencies. Mrs Ige said the play, ‘Missing’, was performed by the students of the University of Ibadan Theatre Arts. She explained that the main objective of the play was to use the medium of creative art as a form of expression and advocacy for the release of the abducted Chibok girls . She said: “On April 14, the nation witnessed one of the worst attacks on the country by a terrorist group when 276 girls were abducted from their school in Chibok, Bornu State. Since then, the mood in the nation has been one of shock, confusion and fear. While some of the girls escaped and are now with their families, an estimated 180 girls are still missing.
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Alariwo blasts Police PRO
Crossover musician, Alariwo, has blasted the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Ilobanefor, for saying the police were not aware of his shooting. Earlier last week, Alariwo took to his Facebook to inform his fans and friends that he was attacked and shot by armed robbers in Ibadan. But the police spokesperson said the singer should have reported the incident to the police rather than going to the social media. However, Alariwo said he couldn’t have gone to the police to make a formal report because he was rushed to the hospital in order to be operated on. “How do you expect me to go and report to the police again when I was still in the hospital and was being operated on? It was my manager that wrote on my Facebook page that I was shot and was okay. “Did the PRO expect me to stand from the hospital bed to go and lay complaints?” Alariwo said it was actually some policemen who arrived at the scene of the incident that rushed him to the hospital. “It was the DPO of Oluyole Estate police station, Mr. A. Rasheed who sent a patrol car that led us to the first hospital that refused to open their gate before they led us to the second hospital, ZOE Hospital, where my wounds were attended to. “The police stayed with us throughout the surgery and they even picked the bullet cartridge from the scene as evidence. They asked us to come back to the station when I fully recover so as to make a formal report which I did on Tuesday, July 22 after the doctor confirmed I was fit,” he said.
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He used juju to keep me in purdah —Wife •She wants to move in with her lover —Husband
Mrs Aisat Kehinde has appealed to the Mapo Grade ‘C’ Customary Court, in Ibadan South-East Local Government Area of Oyo State, to dissolve the five-year-old marriage between her and her husband, Abdulrahamoni Adedoyin due to a claim that he forced her into using the purday (veil) through diabolic means. Aisat, who lives at Idikan, Ibadan, Oyo State capital, told the court that Abdulrahamoni maltreated her and forced her to wear the veil despite the fact that she was never a Muslim. “I did not know when I started wearing the clothing. I found it on myself. He must have used diabolic means to control me. “I’m not a Muslim and I’m no more interested in our marriage. “Besides, he’s fond of beating me and he won’t stop until I start bleeding. “Abdulrahamoni is not a responsible husband. He doesn’t cater for the needs of his children not to mention me.” According to her, their marriage was blessed with two kids. She pleaded with the court to grant her custody of their last child due to his tender age. Responding, Abdulrahamoni refuted the allegations levelled against him by Aisat, saying he did not cast a spell on her.
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