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Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele, Executive Director (Engineering and Technical Services) Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited and a leading governorship aspirant of the APC in Ondo State, has finally broken his silence over his frantic efforts and the active role he played to ensure the restoration of power supply to Ondo South Senatorial District that has been in total blackout for over 10 unbroken years.

Oyedele who confirmed to have resisted numerous pressure from his associates to take political advantage of his efforts in restoring power to the region, said it became necessary to put the record straight having observed, at different times, that the aides of the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu and some politicians in the state, are striving to distort the tremendous interventions of the NDPHC under his watch with unfounded narratives.

“The issue of restoration of power supply to the deprived people of the five Local Government Areas after twelve years is beyond politics. It is about the livelihood of a people, it is about the economic prosperity,” Oyedele said

“This is why I have restrained from making political mileage out of the misery of my people. I am committed to the welfare of my people without wanting to gain from their misery.”

He said he learnt the act of selfless service from his late father Chief Matthew Olakunle Oyedele, M.B.E who made immense contributions to the development of Ikale land and the building of Ondo State Civil Service.

The aspirant, who also hail from Southern Senatorial District, broke his silence on the issue in a friendly response to a question tossed at him by a Former Commissioner in Ondo state, Femi Adekanmbi, on two of the most popular Ondo State WhatsApp news platforms, TRACE News Magazine and TRIANGLE News Magazine, demanding to know what has been his interventions on the issue of the total blackout that has crumbled the once bubbling socio-economic activities in five local government areas of the district – Okitipupa, Ilaje, Irele, Ese-Odo and Odigbo.

Oyedele explained that the entire distribution network to Ilaje L.G. Area, Okitipupa L.G. Area including Ode Aye have been fully reticulated under his watch as Executive Director (Engineering and Technical Services) in Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd. He said the contract for the line going from Okitipupa through Ikoya, Iju-Odo, Ilutitun, up to Igbotako was recently completed and it is awaiting certification from Nigerian Electricity Management Service Agency, NEMSA.

He also said that a 7.5MVA substation has been completed in Ajagba while the networks around Ese-Odo Local Government have also been completed and certified by NEMSA.

“It is trite to state that by the Electricity Power Sector Reform Act, it is only Benin Electricity Distribution Company Ltd. (Benin DISCO) to which the entire Distribution Networks in Edo State, Ekiti State, Delta State and Ondo State were sold that has the exclusive authority to operate the distribution networks. Benin DISCO is now metering the consumers in these areas and some of the consumers have started to enjoy power supply from the National Grid.” The NDPHC Director confirmed.

Oyedele stated further that he is presently facilitating the direct supply of power from NDPHC Omotosho Power Plant under the Eligible Customer/Willing-Buyer Willing-Seller Declaration which is capable of delivering 24 hours of uninterrupted power supply directly to the affected LGAs when it is completed. He said that the arrangement has reached advanced stages and will soon receive the approval of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC.

“It is a novel model in that these Local Government Areas will be the first to benefit from the introduction of the Eligible Customer Declaration in Nigeria” He said.

The NDPHC Director also said that he has facilitated the contract for installation of solar powered generators in Okitipupa General Hospital, Primary Health Centres in Ilaje and several other essential facilities in Ilaje and Okitipupa Local Government Areas. He said the equipment imported for the project have been cleared and it is presently being assembled for installation.

Oyedele then confirmed that the Ondo State Government led by Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu was fully briefed before the commencement of the projects. He said he personally encouraged the Governor to follow his team to the stakeholders’ meetings organised by the NDPHC in Igbokoda and Okitipupa before the project was flagged off.

The governorship hopeful said that the projects would not have been possible without the compassionate help of President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and his colleagues at the NDPHC – the Managing Director, Mr. Chiedu Ugbo and the Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Mallam Babayo Shehu, who sympathised with the plight of the people in Ondo South Senatorial District and gave full approval and support for the executuon of the projects.

“I am also grateful to my colleagues in NDPHC especailly for supporting one of their own to achieve this milestone.” Oyedele concluded.

The West Africa (ECOWAS) Youth Council (EYC), through its Chairperson, has continued to give out palliative materials to over a hundred persons in Akure, the state capital of Ondo State.

Recall that the West Africa Youth group gave out relief materials to the less privileged across the region recently to ease the pains of lockdown in many parts of the region.

The Chairperson, Amb. Oluwaseun William-Ologun, while distributing the relief materials, announced that the Council is ready to give back to society as one of the best ways to reduce poverty and inequalities.

He further stressed that giving to the needy is Godly and an opportunity to serve the purpose of existence.

In his words: “The government of country members of ECOWAS have dedicated enough resources in a bid to fight this pandemic and to complement their efforts, we are ready to give back to the society.”

Amb. Samson Alabi and Amb. Emmanuel Iyamu , who are the financier of this laudable project, confirms their readiness to impact the people and communities that made them and over-time they have been very much supportive to the council.

EYC has vowed to share palliatives to the people in these times of trials and will continue to impact the voiceless, helpless and hapless.

The chairperson, Ambassador Williams has stated that the West Africa region will defeat the pandemic through a concerted effort.

Amb. David Germu
Secretary-General
West Africa (ECOWAS) YOUTH COUNCIL

The West Africa (ECOWAS) Youth Council (EYC), through its Chairperson, has continued to give out palliative materials to over a hundred persons in Akure, the state capital of Ondo State.

Recall that the West Africa Youth group gave out relief materials to the less privileged across the region recently to ease the pains of lockdown in many parts of the region.

The Chairperson, Amb. Oluwaseun William-Ologun, while distributing the relief materials, announced that the Council is ready to give back to society as one of the best ways to reduce poverty and inequalities.

He further stressed that giving to the needy is Godly and an opportunity to serve the purpose of existence.

In his words: “The government of country members of ECOWAS have dedicated enough resources in a bid to fight this pandemic and to complement their efforts, we are ready to give back to the society.”

Amb. Samson Alabi and Amb. Emmanuel Iyamu , who are the financier of this laudable project, confirms their readiness to impact the people and communities that made them and over-time they have been very much supportive to the council.

EYC has vowed to share palliatives to the people in these times of trials and will continue to impact the voiceless, helpless and hapless.

The chairperson, Ambassador Williams has stated that the West Africa region will defeat the pandemic through a concerted effort.

Amb. David Germu
Secretary-General
West Africa (ECOWAS) YOUTH COUNCIL

Two gubernatorial aspirants in Ondo State, Barr. Bimpe Olatemiju and Engr. Omoniyi Ogunwa Oboli has given their side of the story as regards the controversial shadow primaries held amongst aspirants from Okitipupa local government under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) where Dr. Eddy Olafeso was unanimously resolved to be the sole aspirant from the local government.

Speaking at the Okitipupa PDP Stakeholders Meeting yesterday Friday at Okitipupa, Olatemiju, a lawyer, said “I was shocked when I read the rebuttals from Sen. Kunlere and Otunba Akingboye. On March 26 this year, Engr. Ogunwa Oboli and I met Olorogun Olafeso, Otunba Akingboye and Sen. Kunlere at the Ode Aye home of Oboli. We agreed to work with ourselves and ask our supporters to sheathe their sword on social media. As a follow up, we met again yesterday (Thursday) and after lengthy deliberations we decided to cast our votes. The process was that you write the name of whom you want as the sole aspirant of the party, then write the date and sign below. The ballot papers are still with me.”

Buttressing his colleague, Oboli Ogunwa who hosted the meeting said “After we casted our ballots, Olafeso had 3 votes, while Kunlere and Akingboye had a vote apiece. Sen. Kunlere prayed for Olafeso and even cursed those who will betray the agreement. Akingboye offered his Akure campaign office and even urged us to buy the form for Dr. Eddy in solidarity. They both promised to collapse their structure, that informed the plea in the resolution paper to our supporters who we know might not be comfortable with the outcome of the historic exercise. It’s sad politics is now without honour, dignity and integrity. We started this alliance to ‘retire’ Dr. Olafeso but now that he won, we have no option than to support him.”

All five aspirants from Òkitipupa, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, the national vice chairman (south west) of the party, Sen. Bolu Kunlere, Mr. Akingboye, Olatemiju and Oboli had on March 26 met to form an alliance pledging to unanimously pick a sole aspirant from the local government to enable a strong force. They had cited the alleination of their people and the need to take Ondo state out of the hand of the ruling APC.

Responding at the Okitipupa meeting, Rt. Hon. Jumoke Akindele thanked the aspirants for at least sitting down together to reason. She however expressed disappointment about the refusal of the duo of Kunlere and Akingboye to accept the outcome of the shadow Primaries. “When you subject yourself to an election, you should know that you’re bound by the outcome.”

Olafeso at the meeting thanked the leaders of the party and asked that they intensify efforts towards uniting the chapter of the party. “We are all one. We know for sure that a house divided against itself is going to fall. I will keep talking to my brothers.”

The stakeholders meeting however resolved to keep the conversation going as the chapter cannot afford to have a divided house.

The National Vice Chairman(South West) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and a gubernatorial aspirant in Ondo State has emerged as the sole aspirant of the party from Okitipupa LG after he won a shadow election conducted amongst all aspirants from the LG on Thursday, 30th of April, 2020 at Ode Aye.

Five aspirants from the LG had on March 26th met to work towards a peaceful reconcilation of their ambitions. They were Senator Boluwaji Kunlere, Otunba Bamidele Akingboye, Engr. Omoniyi Ogunwa Oboli, Barr. Bimpe Olatemiju and Olafeso. They had resolved to work towards producing a single candidate with the aim of “alleviating their people from the enforced suffering and poverty necessitated by government neglect”.

In a statement signed by the five aspirants, they all unanimously resolved to ” to conduct a gentleman shadow election amongst ourselves. At the end of the historic exercise, Olorogun Eddy Olafeso emerged to represent the other aspirants to contest the primary election.”

The Ilaje Advancement Forum has expressed disappointment about the manner the Ondo State Government have treated the inferno and unwanted destruction of properties of one Mrs. Taiwo Menukuro in Igbokoda citing complicity of men of Nigerian Navy attached to the Forward Operating Bass sited in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government of Ondo State. In a press statement by the organization termed “Attack on Provision/Medicine Store in Ondo: Naval Officers Excesses,  Unspoken Truth and Justice for the Victim”, the group said “We are particularly worried that up till the time of this publication, ODSG is yet to set up a judicial committee of enquiry to verify the claims of Mrs Taiwo whose shop was completely razed down as a result of the activities of the overzealous naval officers that resulted in the complete destruction of a pharmaceutical shop valued at about 1.5million naira.”

While urging the state governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu to disregard rumours as to what eventually happened on the sad day, the group said it is “regrettable that Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu was misled by a  beer parlour gist (now deleted) published on the 17th April 2020, on Facebook by one Mrs Tokunbo Ehinmowo Igwe (who has been known with questionable character). For the sake of posterity we wish to correct the false narrative sold to the state government by the said Mrs Tokunbo Ehinmowo Igwe, who wasn’t at the scene or even in Igbokoda on the day of the incident, 16th of April 2020. It is not correct that Mrs Taiwo sells petrol or diesel in the pharmacy/provision shop, neither was she cooking at that material time. We can independently confirm that Mrs Taiwo uses that shop as both accommodation and business after she lost her residence to the flood that overwhelmed Igbokoda in the month of  April 2019.”

“In the same breath we wish to clarify that the statement credited to Major General John Enenche, Defence Media Operations(DMO) is not only wrong, but an attempt to cheat Mrs Taiwo, who is a struggling mother of three. Major General John Enenche, in his publication on Tribune newspaper of 19th April 2020 claimed that “The fire gutted a small medicine shop built with block and wood, it was reported that the owner, as with others, on sighting Nigerian Navy patrol vehicle while enforcing the 7:00 pm curfew enforcement imposed by the state, ran into the shop and exited through the back door of the shop.”

“On the contrary, we visited the scene, took video recordings of the remnants of the burnt shop and can confirm the shop had no back door.”

“We are at an austere period where  government is giving palliatives to  citizens, we do not expect the Nigerian Navy officials to be complicit in the destruction of properties in the midst of a ravaging COVID-19 menace. In the spirit of fairness, we believe Mrs Taiwo Menukuro (NEE) Omosehin deserves a fair hearing on this matter.”

“We plead with ODSG to set up an independent judicial committee of enquiry to look into this matter and ascertain the veracity of the claims of the poor woman with a view of mitigating the economic hardship imposed on her family by the alleged arson.”

Indications have emerged that the Akwa Ibom State Government may have sealed off a private health clinic in Uyo and has embarked on contact tracing and isolation of all possible persons who may have had contact with a COVID-19 victim, Late Dr. Dominic Essien, recently.

An inside source, who is a member of the Incident Management  Committee confided with  our reporter that with the victim’s test result finally confirming suspicions that he died of the Coronavirus, the Covid-19 Committee is tracing all the possible contacts of the late doctor.

The three new confirmed cases, are products of the aggressive testing by the Akwa Ibom COVID-19 team, in its proactive steps to ensure that the disease is contained in the state.

Late Dr Essien, it was gathered, was on self-medication in his private medical facility, and died within 16 hours of being rushed to state medical facility.

According to the source,as a trained medical professional, the deceased may have had reasons for not reporting his symptoms appropriately on time, but sued that since he is no more alive, his privacy and family should be accorded some respect and confidentiality.

He advised members of the public to eagerly embrace the aggressive testing by the State and to always call the emergency COVID 19 numbers for prompt attention rather than embark on self- medication.

With the three additional cases confirmed on Sunday, one being the late medical doctor, Akwa Ibom now has 5 active cases of the Coronavirus. 

Meanwhile, the prognosis of the two latest patients in the state are said to be very impressive, fuelling speculations that they may soon get a clean bill of health from the authorities.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor, says his government will review the nearly three weeks-long lockdown in the state in the next seven days.

THISDAY reports that the governor, at the second virtual meeting with Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) on the COVID-19 Business Challenges and Support, assured them that “strategic relaxation of the lockdown may be implemented.”

The meeting was convened under the aegies of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), and attended by 28 managing directors/CEOs of organised businesses and companies in Nigeria.

Sanwo-Olu also promised the CEOs that he would speak to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, to address the issues of charges on cash deposits and cheque clearing, especially during the lockdown.

The governor would also speak with the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, to facilitate the fast-tracking of clearance of essential raw materials from Lagos ports as well as speaking with his colleagues in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to enhance the ease of access to passage for businesses in their states.

“More assistance will be given to (business) organisations involved in packaging to enable them to support other essential sectors,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The governor, however, sought the assurance of the captains of business community that supply and distribution of essential goods and products would continue in the state.

He urged them “to ensure stability of prices during this critical period and post COVID-19 period as the purchasing power of the masses would likely be weakened and adversely impacted by the scourge.”

Sanwo-Olu also urged businesses to “endeavour to ensure that job security is guaranteed.”

He assured them that his office would “be open to further collaboration and suggestions in writing from organised businesses on how to drive growth and development in Lagos State.”

“The government has set up the Post-COVID-19 Economic Stimulus Agenda with the view of fast-tracking economic recovery,” he said, adding that he “will invite organised businesses to a breakfast or lunch session within one month after the COVID-19 pandemic to discuss and review how to strengthen the collaboration.”

Sanwo-Olu also addressed the security challenges threatening the distribution of food products in the state and assured the members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) that “from today (Wednesday) there will be additional deployment/presence and patrol (24/7) of mobile policemen, the military and paramilitary personnel in Lagos State.

“The security architecture is being led by an Assistant Inspector General of Police. The security agents have been briefed to act professionally and responsibly while businesses were encouraged to be more security-conscious and take pro-active steps to protect their staff and properties.”

The OPS members commended the governor for the proactive steps he has taken to address the challenges facing businesses in the state and briefed him on emerging threats to business continuity during the lockdown.

The issues brought to the governor’s attention included security, the stimulus for businesses, the need for banks to scale up/increase operation scope and the fact that “most of the police checkpoints are now extortion points.”
According to the CEOs, businesses in the state are faced with the worsening problem of security situation and the risk of escalating civil disturbance.

They noted that “risks of attacks on the branded company trucks by hoodlums in highly populated” have dwindled supply to retail malls and outlets.

“For the retail markets, the inability of suppliers to transport supplies to shopping malls and retail outlets have remained a big concern in view of the worsening security situation,” the CEOs said.

They also called on the state government to intensify the publicity of the 28 emergency markets set up in different schools to boost patronage.

The CEOs asked the state government to consider specific stimulus and palliatives for businesses, noting the need for banks to scale up their services instead of the current skeletal services they are rendering during the lockdown, which has hindered smooth business operations.

“Also, with the volume of cash transactions that is ongoing, it will be necessary for the state governor to speak to the governor of the CBN to suspend the charges on cash deposit and also relax the embargo on cheque clearance,” the CEOs said.

The CEOs added that companies in need of packaging materials, especially pharmaceutical, were facing a paucity of materials as all the companies producing the packaging materials were not allowed to operate by the lockdown order.

“It is important for the Nigeria Customs Service to give priority to the clearing of foods raw materials, drugs, pharmaceuticals. This is presently not the case.

“There have been reports of frustration of company trucks and delivery vans by the police, even when necessary means of identification are provided. There is an urgent need to stop the excesses of the police.

“As most of the markets are closed, there is the need to assist wholesalers to take their products from warehouses in the closed markets to the retail outlets.

“There is the need for Lagos State governor to assist in reaching out to other state governments on the lockdown to ensure free movement of essential goods and provision of security for organisations,” the CEOs said.

They also expressed concern about whether the foods and materials donated by corporate organisations and individuals would reach the targeted group of most vulnerable and elderly people.

The governor, however, assured them that there “is ongoing engagement with over 200 local food vendors in Lagos to provide at least one meal a day to people in densely populated neighborhoods.

He added: “Government has identified religious and political leaders in all Local Government Areas (LGAs) and the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). They will serve as distribution points for bulk food stuff. This is to decentralise the food distribution activities of Lagos State Government and also complement the efforts.

“Data collection is ongoing using the telcos and other means with the view of facilitating cash-transfers to youths and residents of Lagos State. Interest waiver for three months for all the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises under Lagos State Employment Trust Fund.

All arrested and impounded vehicles during the period of the lockdown will be released at the end of the lockdown without payment of any penalty/free of charge,” adding that “day-to-day food delivery to the most vulnerable and elderly is still on-going.

NECA director-general, in his concluding remarks, appreciated the governor and his team for providing leadership and supporting the organised businesses in this critical time.

The director-general, however, “noted that the business community will be willing to host the governor rather than him hosting the business community.”

“This is to allow for a more inclusive attendance/for other CEOs that could not attend the meeting to participate in the breakfast or lunch meeting,” he said.

He also appreciated the management of the Nigerian Breweries Plc for its support that made the virtual meeting possible.

Source: This Day online

A leading governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State and Executive Director (Engineering and Technical Services), Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited, Ife Oyedele (FNSE), has felicitated with Christians in Ondo State and across the country on the celebration of Easter.

Oyedele urged Christians to take the opportunity to offer supplication to God at this period when the world is being confronted with an unseen enemy.

In a statement by his media aide, Yomi Adebayo, Oyedele said the Easter season which represents the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, should not only be about wining and dining, but should be seen by Christians as a time to reflect on the teachings and life of Christ who taught about loving our neighbours and also demonstrated this love by offering himself for the sin of the world.

“As Christians, it is not enough to read and listen to sermon about the exemplary life of Christ as documented in the Bible,” he said.

“It is very important to live out his greatest teaching which is loving our neighbours as ourselves. This trying times offer us another opportunity to prove that we are truly followers and believers of the teachings of Christ and it’s a call to us to reach out to people around us who have been affected by the COVID-19 lockdown and struggling to earn daily living.”

He added that his foundation has rolled out economic stimulus packages across Ondo State to give succour to households affected by the pandemic.

“On our part in the Ife Oyedele political family, we have rolled out food and cash palliatives targetted at 18,000 households across the 18 Local Government Areas of Ondo State to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown. It is our little way of living out the ‘love thy neighbour’ teaching of Jesus Christ and we call on others who have enough to share to do same in the little way they can,” the governorship hopeful said.

A leading governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State, Ife Oyedele (FNSE), has described a former governor of Lagos State and APC National leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the occasion of his 68th birthday, as a leader whose personality radiates all that up and coming politicians need to know and learn about impactful and responsible leadership.

Oyedele, in a special birthday tribute to the APC Leader said, Tinubu at 68, has emerged a colossus in the political field of Nigeria, that the option of ignoring him hardly exists even by those who disagree with his style.

“Indeed, the question of how best to describe the personality construct of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who has evidently become the main institution in our National polity today is exceedingly tasking.

“My fervent prayer is that the Almighty God sustains His grace, kindness and protection over his life as he sustains his effort in the direction of identifying, assisting and nurturing competent and responsible political leaders for the general good of our dear Nation.

“As he continues to move up on the ladder of leadership and elder statesman, we pray that the Lord will keep him safe and sound to see his dream for Nigeria come true in no distant time.” Oyedele said.