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The leading governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo state and the Executive Director (Engineering and Technical Services), Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited, IfeOluwa Oyedele, FNSE, has appointed Abayomi Adebayo (@Yomisaint), as the Director of Media and Publicity for the IFEOLUWA OYEDELE  Governorship  Campaign Organisation.

Abayomi, an astute Digital Media Strategist and Publicist, was a Media Assistant in charge of both Traditional and New Media in the Office of the Chief Press Secretary to the immediate past Governor of Ondo state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and was a Team Lead on the Ondo State Government House Digital Media crew till February 2017.

An alumni of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Abayomi brings to the team his vast years of experience in political and public communication.

He was also the Creative Director for #EniCares – the Eni Akinsola Ondo South Senatorial Campaign Organisation in 2018/2019.

Abayomi is the principal partner of Trumpeters Media. He is also the co-founder and handler of online-based multimedia platform, OndoTv. He has consulted for several other organizations and individuals in the private sector.

For his new assignment, Abayomi will design and implement a workable media strategy, relate with traditional and new media practitioners, as well as create content and engagement‎, for the public to ensure the success of the IFEOLUWA OYEDELE Governorship Campaign in the next APC Gubernatorial Primary Elections.

His appointment takes immediate effect.

The Ilaje Advancement Forum(IAF) has decried the attacks on Ilaje Communities by men of the Nigerian Navy under the guise of fighting sea pirates. It was earlier reported that four communities in Ilaje Local Government of Ondo State came under heavy attack after some sea pirates were arrested in one of the coastal towns of Ilaje about a week ago.

In a press statement released by the agitating body, the group described the attacks as unprovoked, recurrent, and provocative.

Here is the full release:

NAVAL OFFICERS BRUTALITY IN AWOYE, GBAGIRA, MESE AND ODOFADO COMMUNITIES IN ILAJE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ONDO STATE.


It is with grief and sadness that, We, members of Ilaje Advancement Forum received the news of mass exodus and internal displacement of the peace loving ilaje people in Awoye and other neighboring  communities.


It is extremely devastating this time around because it is not due to the perennial ocean attacks, usually occasioned by perpetual governments inactions and neglect, but because of repeated unprovoked attacks on the people by some assailant and agents of death masquerading as Nigerian Navy to perpetrate unwholesome act and using the four riverine communities as target Practice.


The Navy we know are perfect gentlemen whose white uniform epitomises dignity and complete professionalism. But those elements currently invading homes, looting shops, stealing every valuable in sight, beating up vulnerable women, children and elderly men are anything but naval Officers.


It is assumed that the Naval Officers deployed to the Igbokoda base are specially and specifically recruited,  trained, equipped and paid to assault, thwack , raid, molest, rape, inflict pains and grievous bodily harm on law abiding ilaje citizens.


We are particularly disappointed by the attempted criminalisation of the entire Awoye, Gbagira, Mese and Odofado  communities over a crime allegedly committed by a handful of unknown individuals.


For the sake of clarity and correction of the flawed narrative of falsehood that had been fed to the public, it is imperative that we state categorically that the sea piracy and alleged murdering of some uniform men took place in Bayelsa state and not Ondo state as wildly publicized.


It is also on record that the said sea pirates who are neither from Ondo state nor Ilaje indigines had hitherto passed through Bayelsa state unhindered by  security operatives. They also passed through Delta state unchallenged until they got to Ilaje territory in Ondo state where the patriotic act of the Ilaje people aided the arrest of those currently in custody.




While we understand the possibility of some individual hoodlum trying to steal guns in the ensuing melee while the operations lasted at Ilaje territory, it is however an abnormality for the Naval operatives to engage in full fledge war with the entire Ilaje communities over the incidence of a missing gun when they could have easily employed the conventional and potent method of intelligent gathering to fish out the alleged perpetrators. 




This unfortunate Incident of mass brutality by Naval Officers against the law abiding ilaje people resident in Awoye further questions the integrity of the Commanding officer. 




We believe the inhumane treatment meted on the Awoye, Gbagira, Mese and Odofado citizens violates their fundamental human rights and contravenes the sacrosanct provisions of Section 33, 34, 35, 37, 41 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.


The Action of this Naval Officers is also prejudicial to Service discipline as enshrined in the provisos of Section 104(1), 107(1a-b), 108 and 110(a-b) of the Armed Forces Act Cap A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. 


On this note, we are making the following prayers: 


1. Naval authorities should prevail on the rank and files wrecking havoc in Awoye and other ilaje communities to immediately desist from this barbaric act. 


2. The commanding officer should as a matter of urgency restitute those whose properties were destroyed and carted away by unknown naval officers within 7 days from the publication of this press release. 


3. All naval officers involved in this dastardly misconduct should immediately be deployed to Borno state where their services is most needed. 


4. OSOPADEC, NDDC and other interventionist agencies should take an inventory of properties destroyed with a view of mitigating the economic hardship imposed on the law abiding people of the mandate communities. 


Signed.


Comrade Daodu Oluwajuwon George ~ Moderator 


Mr Oluwajuwon Ogunbiyi Esq.~ Chairman IAF Committee of Federal government affairs 


Barr Ojamomi Fadeshola ~ HOD IAF’s Legal team

Good Governance is not Rocket Science, it only requires putting people with Brains in charge, rather than some unprepared, and over-pampered owambe specialists or drug addicts.

Yesterday, Oyo State  government launched a new Park Management system to generate revenue from the motor parks across the state. While the ban on NURTW remains, the state rolled out a plan to engage consultants that will be collecting revenue on behalf of the state to boost IGR. Not random thugs.

The state appointed park managers in each 33 LGAs and two disciplinary committees. The park managers will work with consultants and they will be fully licensed by the ministry of finance. This is totally different from the NURTW arrangement that is now banned.

The new Park system has nothing to do with NURTW.
Revenue that used to be lost to NURTW will now be captured by the state and can be used to upgrade those parks.

There is no sane society anywhere in the world, except in Nigeria, where one of the most critical sectors of the economy (Transport) is completely left in the hands of illiterates and state sponsored thugs. Only in Nigeria.

The decision of the Oyo State government, would obviously improve the revenue drive of Oyo state and her local governments.

One hopes other States will in the nearest future go this route, except in Lagos where NURTW has become a government of its own and their activities fully aided by the political actors in the ruling party in the State.

O’dabo 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♂️

The traditional rulers in Iwoland were on Friday thrown into confusion when a prominent monarch in the zone , Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi suddenly descended on another monarch , Oba Dhirulahi Akinropo, Agbowu of Agbaagbaa and allegedly beat him to stupour.

The unfortunate incident according to Oba Akinropo occurred at the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 11, Akanbi allegedly attacked and punched Oba Akinropo.

But Oluwo Debunked the allegation, saying there was no issue at all.

News correspondent who visited Asubiaro hospital where the wounded monarch is receiving treatment saw no fewer than eight monarchs in the hospital to sympathize with him.

According to a reliable source, the attack occured before the AIG and other monarchs from Iwoland when they were called to a meeting for settlement over land tussle in the area.

A source said the Oluwo has been asking the monarchs to stop selling lands because the lands in Iwoland belong to him and the monarchs resisted, a situation that prompted the AIG to summon meeting to forestall breakdown of laws and order.

The source said: “It was in the course of the meeting that Oluwo gave the Agbowu a punch on his face and this brought an end to the peace meeting.

“Oluwo was the first to get out of the meeting in annoyance, creating scene and shouting within the AIG’s office

“Me, Oluwo, Agbowu is calling me a mad man. Ordinary Baales want to be challenging me. I will show you my worth and there will be war in the entire Iwoland.

“I am the only Oba in Iwoland, others are Baales that I gave land, they now want to be challenging me. Can any Baale in Ifeland do that to Ooni”, he fumed.

Another monarch at the meeting, the source said, was heard commenting that Oluwo has gone beyond his boundary and would be dealt with and even vacate the stool.

As at the time of filling this report Oba Akinropo was still at the trauma centre for treatment.

While reacting, Oluwo while speaking with one of journalists, said there was no issue, saying the monarchs are just being sensational about it.

“We held a peace meeting and we are handling it. I don’t know why they are sensational about it. It was just a peace meeting and that was all”, he said.

The Students Union President of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, Adegboye Olatunji, claimed he was charmed by unknown cultists and taken to the bush for initiation.

Adegboye said he was on his way to the church when he lost his consciousness and found himself in the bush with some cultists, and later arrested by men of Ogun State Police Command.

He said this, on Tuesday, at the Police headquarters in Eleweran during a parade of 77 suspected criminals, including Adegboye for various crimes ranging from cultism, robbery, gun-running, murder and assault among others.

Adegboye was arrested on Sunday in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of the state with one Olanrewaji Taiwo for alleged involvement in cultism.

Less than 24 hours after the incident, the school management promptly suspended Adegboye and was later impeached by the Students’ Representative Council of the institution.

The state Commissioner of Police, Kenneth Ebrimson, who paraded the suspects, said, “He (Adegboye) was apprehended with his regalia and we have refused to let him pull off so that he doesn’t deny, and you can see it for yourself.”

Earlier during the parade, the Commissioner of Police, Kenneth Ebrimson, told journalists that the suspect had confessed to him during an interview that he is a cultist.

But when Adegboye was engaged by journalists, he promptly disagreed with the CP, claiming, “I never confessed any of such thing to him.”

He said, “Before I knew what was happening, they have started beating me. What I heard was that I know how to fight on behalf of students that house rent is high, that’s what I heard and they tore my clothes, put me inside the boot and took me to school.”

On his mission in the bush before his arrest, Adegboye said, “I don’t know how I got into the bush. I was charmed, I don’t know how it happened

“I was going to the church around 7 am on Sunday, I left the school’s hostel. When I was leaving, I greeted the security man and told him that I will be back probably at 3 pm, that my brother called me to come for the service and I want to rush there.

“I sent a message to the choir coordinator of my church that I am going to Judah parish, in llaro, my Rector is also going to that church and he hates anything cultism.”

While expressing disappointment over the way he was treated by the school authority, Adegboye said, “They didn’t fight for me because they didn’t make their proper findings. If I was shot dead there, that’s how they will say that the SU president has gone.”

On his membership in a cult group, he said, “I don’t know anything about this. I’m not a member. When they brought this cloth, I wanted to drag it with them that the cloth is stuffy and it is not my cloth; it was the vigilante that sprayed pepper on our faces.”

“I don’t know anything about this and I have been brought here, my school hates cultism or anything that will disrupt the academic calendar, so, we don’t even try to cause any riot.”

He also lamented that he was abandoned by his colleagues and the Rector of the school, saying, “Nobody to fight for me now except the National Association of Nigerian Students. Everyone has abandoned me.

“I don’t know what to do, why will my Rector abandon me without a proper investigation?

“Assuming that I’ve been killed, what will he be saying? What would have been the story?”

On whether his parents are aware or not, he said, “My parents are in Osun State and they are coming, I didn’t confess anything, all my statements are there.

“I didn’t confess anything, I don’t know anything about it, make an inquiry, they searched my room, while I’m still here, they didn’t find anything, I don’t go out, I stay in the hostel throughout.”

When he was asked why he did not go to the church with a Bible, he said, “The Bible is at Orita, I was going to Orita to get some documents also.

“Before I became the SUG president, I had stayed at Orita and some of my belongings are still there.”

When the other suspect, Olanrewaju, who was arrested alongside Adegboye, was asked whether he knew Adegnoye, he said he had never seen him before their arrest.

He also denied being a cultist, saying, “I am not a cultist, I didn’t see him (SUG President) before we were brought here.

“I swear to God who made me, I don’t know how I got to the bush.”

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Osustech branch, welcomes the renaming of Ondo State University of Science and Technology,Okitipupa to Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology. In a statement signed by the branch chairman of the Union, Comrade Dayo Temola, the Union asked the Government to complement the name change with improved funding and welfare of the institution.

“We maintain that Olusegun Agagu as Governor of Ondo State then  conceptualized and established the University with a view to salvaging  the scientific and technological needs of not only Ondo State or Nigeria but for global competitiveness.”

“To name the University after him needs to go beyond the face value but must be accompanied with quality teaching, ground breaking research,community services, among others. In actualizing these goals, the Ondo State Government must of necessity, improve on the funding, welfare and support for the University. It is only through these, that the change of name would be impactful and have any meaning.” he added.

“Besides,it needs be added that Dr Olusegun Agagu represents quality and as such the best way to immortalize him is to appreciate what he stood for. We wait in the following days to see beyond the renaming.”

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Osustech branch, welcomes the renaming of Ondo State University of Science and Technology,Okitipupa to Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology. In a statement signed by the branch chairman of the Union, Comrade Dayo Temola, the Union asked the Government to complement the name change with improved funding and welfare of the institution.

“We maintain that Olusegun Agagu as Governor of Ondo State then  conceptualized and established the University with a view to salvaging  the scientific and technological needs of not only Ondo State or Nigeria but for global competitiveness.”

“To name the University after him needs to go beyond the face value but must be accompanied with quality teaching, ground breaking research,community services, among others. In actualizing these goals, the Ondo State Government must of necessity, improve on the funding, welfare and support for the University. It is only through these, that the change of name would be impactful and have any meaning.” he added.

“Besides,it needs be added that Dr Olusegun Agagu represents quality and as such the best way to immortalize him is to appreciate what he stood for. We wait in the following days to see beyond the renaming.”

A pro-grassroot development advocacy group, Centre for Suatainable Grassroots Development, has said that its expects every well meaning  Nigerians to suppprt the recent clamour for law to back the establishment of Community Policing initiative to curb the menace of insecurity ravaging the rural communities in Nigeria.

This, as contained in the statement released to the press by the Executive Director of the organization, Com. Olubodun Tayo Marcus. The team leader said the bottom to top approach in community policing and local intelligence gathering architecture is vital in achieving adequate and sustainable security of lives and properties in various communities in Nigeria.

Com. Marcus said a well secured society engenders sustainable economic development,  that no society can experience accelerated development without getting its security architecture and discharge system correctly.

He hailed the Federal Government for changing its perception of Amotekun, Western Nigeria Security Network and supporting Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NIFU, to ensure that local government administrations enjoy independence on how they discharge their resources for community development through statutory allocation. That the only vital organ of the society that needs adequate attention to withness sutainable development is a working grassroot security mechanism, Comminty Policing, in which an average Nigerian repose confidence

Com. Tayo Marcus also commended the National Assembly for amending the constitution to ensure that the local government system is autonomy, while encouraging lawmarkers at State Assemblies to follow suit in order to strengthen our democracy.  He appreciated the National leadership of National Union of Local Government Employee, NULGE, for being consistent in the agitation for an efficient, responsive and autonomous Local Government system in Nigeria.

He opined that people must be encouraged to not only take ownership of their security but also be given the opportunity to be part of decision making on how they can properly be secured. He said it will enhance reduction in emergency response time and equally motivate rural dwellers to have needed confidence to flush out the bad eggs among them, and give vital security intelligence.

“Effective grassroot security mechanisms through community policing will engender accelerated sustainable grassroot and rural economic development that will discourage rural-urban migration. This will naturally discongest urban settlements which will also positively affect distribution of resources and make the urban atmosphere more habitable.

Majority of the rural dwellers in Nigerian communities are agrarian and peasant farmers, securing our various society will ensure food security. Our farmers, without fear of any danger, can farm and be efficiently to boost food production and also be in a better position to contribute to the development of the society because a better policed community and a more secured society is pivotal to sustainable grassroots economic development.” Marcus said.

…Seeks Stakeholders’ Support for Institution.

Reliable reports have it that the Ondo State Government has lawfully renamed the Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH) Okitipupa after the former governor, late Dr. Olusegun Agagu.

Speaking on this development, President of Ondo South Advancement & Welfare Consultative Association (OSAWA), Comrade Adejare Oluwajuwon Ade-Aworetan appreciates the government of Ondo State for the decision to rename OSUSTECH after one of the legend, but past heroes of Ondo South and Ondo state at large.

Stating that the decision is commendable, Comrade Juwon said, ” Immortalising such great  institution after the late Agagu is very commendable and long overdue based on his effort and consideration towards the establishment of the institution.”

While commending the governor, he said, “We hereby thank Gov. Akeredolu for acceding to the yearnings of the indigenes to immortalise Dr. Olusegun Agagu.”

Comrade Oluwajuwon went further to call on all stakeholders to support the institution’s  infrastructure development and other amenities.

“However, we demand more attention from the state government to enable good running and funding of the Institution,” the President maintained.

He emphasized that Ondo South Advancement & Welfare Consultative Association (OSAWA) is a registered body that cut across the Southern Senatorial of Ondo state with membership worldwide, saddled with the responsibility to reduce isolation and strengthen the bond between the government and our people so as to bring about meaningful social change to all throughout the district and as well promoting good governance; it is important we call for critical stakeholders meeting to chart development path for Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OASUTECH) Okitipupa and that of  Federal Polytechnic, Ileoluji we can only assure the public that all people that matter will be involved.”